Blogging Running Cooking OH MY!

So it's evident that I still suck at blogging. I think I'm about to turn over a new leaf. The past two days have been a very interesting to say the least. Carol has decided after being a little too relaxed over this summer that we're all going to do a couch to 5k training program. "All" as in: she, Johanna and me (GASP!) No, no - really she asked if I was interested. I've always wanted to push myself harder to get into better shape. Why not now!? :)

If you are not very familiar with this type of program it looks like this:

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

We have started something very similar. We hope to be ready by October for the Salmon Days 5k. I however, opened my big mouth and agreed to do a 5k "Beer Run" (lolz) where you do the 5k and at the end is a beautiful beer garden awaiting your sorry tired butt to guzzle a hopefully cryogenically frozen beer (lolz again). This nice run just happens a week or two before the Salmon Days run. I'm hoping I'm ready.

Yesterday -Carol, Jo,Jackson, River and myself walked for 30 around Pine Lake Middle's track. I didn't think I was pushing myself hard enough. I could talk just fine the entire way around the track and never really broke a sweat. We finished and I pushed Jackson back to the car in his stroller. Once we hit the car, I was beet red and rather warm. Guess I did a decent job after all.

Today - HOLY COW! My only goal was to not pass out and Carol have to pick me up off the ground. I'm not a runner. Have never really been a runner. Have always been afraid of running due to being top heavy. We started out walking for 2 minutes. Ran for the 60 seconds following those two minutes and continued this way for 10 laps around the track (correct me if I'm wrong Carol). The first few runs were ok. I thought I could hang with it. We stopped for water. The next few became increasingly harder! I got to the 5th run. I could still stand but it was starting to become work. 6th run - I'm still standing - I can still see. 7th run - Uh how many more of these are there!?!?! 8th run- OMG I think I'm gonna have to stop..... gasp gasp gasp. WATER! 9th run - Ok I've kinda caught my breath I can do this (last 20 seconds of this run ... maybe not) Ok - "Last run! Make it your best!!!" (Yeah, thanks Carol!) :) I pushed myself as hard as I could. A personal trainer would have made do the same thing if it was my last one of the day - I ran hard and by the end I was gasping pretty hard for air. BUT I DID IT! I did all 10 MOFO laps and didn't die! I said a nice 4 letter S word (sorry Carol) :) a few times.

It probably took me the entire rest of the lap to catch my breath and some water. We stopped to stretch out so we wouldn't hurt that bad later. OH WELL. Still hurt! :) I hope tomorrow doesn't suck since it's a walking day. :) I'm looking forward to the success I have with this program and having my sister and niece by my side while I do it. I know it will be one of the hardest things I'll ever do besides birth children. I promise to complain A LOT but I also promise not to give up. Thank you Carol and Johanna for being there for me! OH, Sasha and River too! :)

Did I ever post the pictures of the Taco Lasagna?? It's not the most difficult casserole I've ever made. It takes about 15-20 minutes of prep work. After it looks like any cheese topped dish you bake but boy is it tasty!

1pg Ground Turkey (1.25lbs)

1pg favorite taco seasoning (I like McCormick)

6 Medium Tortillas (we like Mission)

48oz or 3lbs of your favorite salsa (Spikes All Natural Santa Fe Chunky is my fav)

4 Cups Mexican blend cheese

1 can refried beans

In a 9x13 baking dish spray with no stick cooking spray

Line two tortillas in the bottom over lapping and splitting a 3^rd and placing the straight edges along the ends of the baking dish

Warm refried beans to can specifications and spread about half on top of tortillas. They are gonna move so you’ll need your fingers J

Cook turkey and drain

Add taco seasoning and water required by package

Add 16oz of salsa to seasoned turkey and combine completely

Spread half of the meat/salsa mix on top of refried beans

Top with enough salsa to cover the meat mix – spread as evenly as you can J

Top with 2cups cheese or enough that salsa isn’t visible

Repeat layers! J I promise it’s worth it!

Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 30 minutes (that’s just about long enough to warm everything back through and melt all the cheese)

ENJOY!

Much love!!!

TL

Recovery, cooking & Jackson's first trip to the pool!

So yet again, I forget the camera to another weekend! We were set to go to the Island on May 30th to celebrate Toad's birthday on the 31st. The Thursday before, I had made appointments for the boys to have their Annual check up's at the Doctor's office. It was a beautiful sunny day. Typically days where Nate has a doctor appointment he will beg to get out of going to school. "Mom, please can I stay home? I'll clean!" HA! This day was not much different than those days before where he tried to get out of going to school after a Doctor appointment - EXCEPT he complained of a tummy ache. I just knew that it was due to his sunny day fever and nothing more. We left VM and headed home. Knowing in the back of my mind, I'd have Nate grab his stuff and take him to school. He protested over and over that his tummy hurt and that he really shouldn't go to school. I even asked him to tell me the truth - that it was really only because of a sunny day that he wanted to stay home. We get home, come up stairs and Nate starts throwing up! DAMN IT! I felt like such a jerk for not believing him!

24 hours later, Nate recovers - after many towels and missed attempts at throwing up in the toilet. Friday we plan our trip to the Island. Saturday morning - we pack up and head out.

We reach the Island only to have Jackson start throwing up early Saturday afternoon. Puke just rolled down hill from there! In it's wake - the casualty list: Nate, Jackson, Matthew, Lauren, Nick, ME, Meghan, Joe, Mom - I believe in that order :)

Even after the illness - my stomach cramped after eating for days. I think everyone is finally in the clear.


I made an attempt at Turkey Stroganoff. I wasn't sure how it would turn out since I was using ground turkey. It wasn't bad! Not bad at all!

At the grocery story I found Frenches Beef Stroganoff seasoning packet and followed the directions. I decided it needed some tweeking! McCormicks Garlic and Pepper grinder, White Pepper and Salt to add additional seasoning. Real onion and mushroom. Since most ground turkey packages are more than a pound - I doubled the sauce receipe.

Not the healthiest dish in the world - but pretty darn tasty over egg noodles! I'm a complete failure since I didn't take pictures of the finished product for you - but I swear I won't do it again! :)

Yesterday, Nate and I took Jackson to the pool. You would be AMAZED at just how much effort it takes to get a toddler ready for the sunny outdoors when they are as pale and pasty as a sheet of 8.5 x 11 lined paper!

I change Jackson's diaper. Might as well have bathed him in a vat of baby sun screen (arms, legs, belly, face, neck, ears- could have done his scalpe if I wanted to have a greaser for a child) He had on his little SPF 50 shirt, little swimmers underpants and swim trunks. He looked so cute but was so grumpy I couldn't get a picture - I tried several times!

I pack up a sippy cup, snack, towel and we stroll down to the pool. Jackson enjoys the stroller ride to the pool. Nate lets us in. You could see the confusion in Jackson's face as to why all these kids at the pool were squealing with delight. "I know that stuff is water! But those kids seem so happy about it!" I pick JD up and we head toward the water. I walk down the stairs into the water and JD starts to whine until his feet hit the water. It was all over from there! He screamed bloody murder until I got out of the pool. Holding him close to me above the water wasn't going to do it! He was PISSED! I got out of the pool - his immediate silence was enough for me. We headed home.

Our adventures in the water will not stop here - we will continue to try. Maybe his Aunt Mae Mae will have better luck?? She's a water baby so I hear :)

Tonight's dinner will be Taco Lasagna - I will post the receipe and take pictures this time I SWEAR IT! :)

Much love!

I suck at blogging!

So! I apparently suck at this blogging thing! I've not made it a priority and I've had a hard time finding a normal time to do it. Ah! The joys of being a SAHM! There's always something else going on. Cleaning - Cooking - Throwing up children. JOY!

Lets see - what have you missed since my last blog ?

My Mom came to visit from Baltimore to visit. Nate and Jackson had their birthday's. We've had beautiful weather and I've cut my hair! Shew!

Aunt Mae Mae is gifted with the camera and in the kitchen! She made Jackson's birthday cake for him to dive into! It was the most delicious Vegan Chocolate cake I think I've ever had the pleasure to taste! I mean words just can't describe how good it was! (Wouldn't you agree Tiffany!?)

Matthew's Mom also purchased a cake for both Nate and Jackson from Blackbird Bakery. They have a great product! It was also a hit among the adults! Most of the kids had cupcakes. Nate decided to play face smash with his cupcake as to not feel left out of the "lets get messy" part of Jackson's 1st birthday. Jackson instead of diving in face first chose to be rather meticulous about how he approached his cake. It was a great party! Thanks to all who showed!

We also discovered that weekend that Jackson will follow in the footsteps of his Father and Uncle! Looks like he's gonna skate!

This weekend we will visit the Dewey clan once again over on the beautiful Bainbridge Island. I will be sure not to be so LAME - take the camera- snap some shots and blog about it! :)

I will leave you with some cute and awesomeness! :)

Joyful weekend - Spring is here!

It's been a joyful weekend. All my boys are home and I've enjoyed their company even though 2 out of 3 are currently trying to kick a cold. Jackson spent Friday night running a fever and miserable but we made it through the night thanks to the graces of Motrin.

Matthew has been making homemade bread recently and I can't tell you just how nice it is. Walking through the house with the scent of baking bread is just so heart warming. He's getting really good at it too - no bread machine - all hand made. Imagine home made bread - toasted- with just enough butter to make you say "mmmmm" out loud. YES! It's that good!




Spring has sprung and things are warming up quickly. Nate is spending lots of time outside playing with his friends. It's nice that he has an abundance of friends to play with here. Jackson and I get out every day that it's sunny and go for a stroll. I've learned if I lay him down in the stroller that he WILL nap while we're out walking. It's nice that there are so many paths here in Issaquah for us to take walks. I don't think we'll get bored.

I've been trying to get a little creative with the camera here recently. I've been taking more and more pictures. I'm not very good just yet, but the more I take and learn about how to use it's features, the better I figure I'll get. Here's one I took of some Gerber's I had at the table -




I've taken to cooking - never thought I'd say that. :) My mother would be so proud! :) Healthy cooking has become a goal. I'm going to start trying out new stuff - posting the outcome and sharing the recipes with you here. I've got a few cookbooks that I'm looking through now. Once I decide what my first new dish will be- I'll let you know :)

I will probably start blogging about several things -

Mommy stuff
Cooking Healthy
Local Markets (my reviews cause I'm determined to visit ALL of them)
Working out - the joys and the struggles
Days of Our Lifes - yes, yes, the soap - I'm an addict
Photos
and just general rants and raves

I'll let this one go for now :)

Much love!

This is new!

Well Family, Friends and who ever else might be inclined to read :) I'm new at this blogging thing - but I'm going to give it a shot. I can't promise that what you read will be interesting, but it will always have some meaning to me or what I blog about will have touched me in some way. Don't hold back on comments either! :) Sometimes brutal honesty is a good medicine! :)

Much love -

TL