Mom to the Screaming Masses

Riley and The Antlers

The trip has been a wee bit difficult for the smallest of the Screaming Masses. Today, she went outside and looked around for something to destroy look at, and she discovered half of a pair of deer antlers. She grabbed them up and brought them in to me, and begged to keep them. I turned down her request, which didn't go over well.

At all.

Allegra took her outside to calm her down and Riley threw the antlers off the porch. She became immediately upset, because she just knew that someone would find those antlers and take them. My dad overruled me, Allegra told Riley she was now ALLOWED to keep them, and she went flying off the porch and rescued them. The next thing I knew, we were the proud owners of a half pair of antlers. (I know. You want to be me.) I told her she'd have to take them outside and leave them on the porch, and she was less than enthused. But there she went, and they sat for a minute or two, contemplating the beauty that was the half antler.

Here is the conversation that followed:

Allegra: Wow, Riley, I'm getting eaten alive by the mosquitos.

Riley: Yeah, me too.

Allegra: I'm gonna head inside, you coming?

Riley: No, someone has to stay outside and guard my antlers.

Allegra: Well, Riley, no one is going to take those antlers.

Riley: I don't wanna leave them out here!

Allegra: Ok, well then, let's hide them.

Riley: Ok, good idea.

Allegra walked over to the other side of the porch where it's cooler and shady.

Allegra: How about over here?

Riley: Allegra, people aren't stupid! Obviously, they are gonna see them and take them! They are so awesome!

Road Trip Minutia

When you are taking a road trip, there's a lot of stuff that you have to think about.

Who is going to get the mail? Will  you be gone over a payday and need to bring your bills? (answer: yes)

What medications do you have to bring? (I needed to make sure I brought my migraine meds, all asthma meds for the kids, vitamins, fish oils, epi pens, benadryl, arnica, hydrocortisone and tons of bandaids.)

Do you need to bring pillows, sheets, and how in the world will you keep track of the shoes? (I don't know about you, but my kids ALWAYS take off their shoes and when it's time to stop, no one can find their shoes. I ended up grabbing their shoes as they sat and put them all together into one spot.)

What about if you are gone over the weekend and want to go to church?

Where will you store the vodka?

(I'm kidding. Mostly. Although this trip WAS kind of rough. It's better now, though.)

One thing that I worried about A LOT was breaking down. Happily, I was loaned a car to drive, because I don't know that my van would have driven the distance I've already covered, much less get me back home. And there were very long stretches of time on this trip that my Pandora didn't work, my cell phone had no coverage, and the roadside attraction signs that inform you of the local food/gas/lodging offerings -

were TOTALLY empty. Seriously. I've never seen anything like it.

I started to get worried, though. What if the car I was driving had a problem? How would I handle it?

Click here to find out what my solution was...

The Best Friend a Girl Could Ever Have

I first met Kalisa I think about 9 years ago. We were the second and third place winners in some contest for bloggers that I've long forgotten. I was, admittedly, upset to come in second, but the best thing in my life happened (well, except for my husband and my kids, natch) when I got to meet Kalisa.

We've held each others hand online through the best and worst of times. She's been there for me in times of good and times of bad, and any time I need advice or a friendly ear - she's one that I know I can count on.

When I planned out this road trip, I knew I would want to stop and see her if there was any way possible. The best parts of last year's Blogher and this year's Blissdom conferences were being able to hang out with her, and I just knew that spending time with her would help complete the trip. The only catch was that I'd be traveling with FIVE kids. Would she be insane enough to want to host all six of us?

When I first broached the subject, there was no hesitation, no "let me think about it" - although I DID ask by email, so she could have screamed and vented to her husband before she graciously said, "Yes, of course!"

Not only did we invade her house and fill it with much noise and crying - much of it done by ME - but she planned out activities! We watched The Princess Bride with her, and we went out for Pizza - I can virtually guarantee that it was the most insane dinner that they've ever experienced. We went to the Peabody Hotel to see the march of the ducks:

We took a trolley ride around Memphis. While I held an INCREDIBLY IRRITABLE Riley, Kalisa shared the sights and sounds of the city with my kids.

Mebee not the most flattering picture of me, but Riley has been ridiculous this trip. (When we went to Mass in Memphis, I asked the priest to give her a special travel blessing.While he had his hands on her head, I asked if I could change the blessing to an exorcism. And no, I'm so not kidding.

When we got back from Mass, her wonderful husband had cooked a BBQ and Kalisa (!) made a pie (!!!) with my girls.

We had the best time ever, and my kids are super duper sad to leave.

Everyone in the world deserves an amazing friend like Kalisa, and I am blessed beyond belief to have her in my life.

Out of Their Comfort Zone

That's what my husband told me tonight, and that's what I've got to remember.

So far, the trip has been awesome. We drove into Atlanta, spent two days with friends, swam in their pool and had a delicious bbq.

Wait. Let me add this in as a explain-or. I'm not going to use any kids names here, so as to protect the innocent and help me stay alive - I'm really certain you can figure out who is who, but please don't guess, ok?

One of my kiddos had a meltdown of epic proportions that first night. And that second night. Said child wanted to go home, please let me go home, I want my own home.

On The Road Again

(Apparently formatting is screwy. Ignore the lack of spacing here) So. I apparently decided that my summer was not stressful enough. That I had nothing to do. That my mind was perfectly sane and my sanity was fully in place and I could handle anything that my kids sent my way. I decided to drive to Texas to visit with my dd and stepmom. It's a long trip, about 18 hours, according to Mapquest, and so I broke it up into a real, honest to God, travel across half of the country ROAD TRIP.. Step one is completed. I'm in Atlanta, or close enough by it to be legal, and the trip that the GPS said would take 9 hours took 11. My husband sent me on 95 instead of 85. Not that I'm bitter or anything. We will be here for two days, in order for my sanity to renew. Then I'm going to Memphis to hang with Kalisa - and because I'm typing on a phone I can't link to her blog. Long time readers here should know about her, she's one of my greatest friends. THEN, and only then, will I drive 10 ( or so, time is apparently a fluid concept for us on this trip) hours to spend 6 days with my dad. I'll be returning home a different way to hang with other, non blogging,friends. Pray for me. We've already had fights and arguments and mommy used the *very quiet* voice - the one that comes AFTER the yelling, when you really mean business. Keep checking back for *all* the scoop.

It's All Pot Pie Up In This Here Place

This is my entry into the "Knorr Four" Trip to Blogher Recipe Contest. 8 winners will be chosen and those winners will get a free trip to Blogher, where they will cook their recipes for one of 4 year long ambassador spots. This will be the only way I get to Blogher this year, so everyone keep your bendy parts crossed for me. Please.

Long time blog readers will know that I was on a mission, for a good.long.while - to master pie crust. And it took time, and effort and lots of tears and suddenly, one day - I made a pie crust.

As soon as I'd figured out that I could make kinda, sorta, ok, well, yes, darnit! really good pie crust, I made a list of pies I wanted to make. Apple. Pumpkin, of course. Apple Cheddar - I made this as a kid once time from one of my moms cookbooks and it stuck with me forever and ever. Blueberry with a lattice top.

And Chicken.

Yeah, I know - one of these things is not like the other - but I promise that not only is it NOT like the others - it's better. Oh, is this pie yummy.

Chicken Pot Pie is one of my comfort foods from long ago. As a kid, I have fond memories of those miniature aluminum pans baking away in the oven as I watched the After School Special. I found a recipe and made it, and it was decent. Not the best stuff I ever made. So I took it and tweaked it, adding vergetables and wine - yummmmmm, talk about comfort foods - cooking the chicken slowly in the broth to help perk up the flavor a bit more, and my Chicken in Every Pot Pie hits it out of the park. When I say I'm making Chicken in Every Pot Pie, I have to make three. Two for us and one for my husband's coworkers, who all clamor for a serving. I even bartered computer repair for a Chicken in Every Pot Pie.

This is goooood stuff.

Chicken in Every Pot Pie

This recipe serves 6 people. Unless they are really hungry - then it serves 4.

1 whole chicken
4 carrots, peeled and diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 rib celery - sliced thin
1 large broccoli head, cut into florets
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1.5 cups frozen baby peas
1/3 cup butter
1 med. onion, finely chopped
2 T chopped garlic
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup milk and 1/3 cup dry white wine (2/3 cup milk if you'd prefer no alcohol)
2 packets Knorr Homestyle Chicken Stock
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 unbaked pie crusts
1 T. butter

Place chicken in a 2-quart saucepan. Pour just enough water over to cover all and add Knorr Homestyle Chicken Stock packet. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until meat is cooked through. Remove chicken from pot, allow to cool and then remove all bones. While chicken is cooling, boil potatoes in the stock for 15 minutes. After 5 minutes, add in broccoli, carrots, green pepper and celery and boil the remaining time. Dice chicken into bite size pieces and return to the pot. Add red pepper and peas to pot and simmer for 2 minutes. Drain water from pan, reserving 2 cups of the water; set aside meat and vegetables.

In a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, cook onions and garlic in 1/3 cup butter until soft. Stir in flour and allow to cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in wine and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in reserved water and milk; stir in one packet Knorr Homestyle chicken stock, and pepper. Simmer sauce until thick; remove from heat and set aside. (Taste to be certain it's seasoned enough and add additional salt or pepper as needed.)

Place one pie crust in a pie plate. Fill with cooked chicken and vegetables and spread evenly into crust. Cover with prepared sauce. Place second crust on top, fold and seal. Prick holes in top of crust.

Bake in a 425 degree oven for 20 minutes. Cover edges of pie with aluminum foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Rub butter over top of hot crust. Cool for 10 minutes before cutting.

Total cook time: 1.5 hours

Happy Fourth!

We had a tremendous family party yesterday - my father in law turned 90(!!) - I can't even imagine turning 90.

But then again I never could fathom being 41, so I guess there's that.

We had most of the extended family in, and I'm BEAT. It was a GREAT time.

For your reading pleasure - and some tremendous recipes (one from my sister in law, one from my husband's niece and a couple of ideas from me) - I'd love it if you'd join me over at The Parenting Connections Family Meals blog. I may or may not have eaten my weight in Avocado Corn Salsa...

And oh my goodness - Basil Lemonade. My new best friend.

Easy Family Meals are featured over at Diets In Review. Think about those nights when you have three kids going in three different directions and you don't know how in the world you will feed everyone.

How to Make Healthy Eating Fun is featured on Cafe Mom with yet some more tremendous recipes for your eating pleasure.

If you feel so inclined, I'd really enjoy some love on those posts. It helps my bosses to know that I should be kept around and I'm worth my pay...

Tomorrow I'll be posting my most favorite recipe EVER and then on Wednesday, I'll tell you alllll about my road trip.

Enjoy your holiday!

Moral of The Story: Read The Label

Yes. Yesterday was completely insane. Thankfully today was a bit better - the only thing I had to deal with was a migraine. <sigh>

I gave you several choices of blog topics a week (few weeks?) ago, and one of them was:

      *D) An allergic reaction that no one expected that lead to an anxiety attack*

One of my children has multiple anaphylactic food allergies. He's been able to drop both almond and coconut, but he's highly allergic to peanuts, cashews, macadamias and just about any other nut there is around.

Except donuts. He came up with that line when he was 6 and I laughed until I cried.

I'm careful with labels and I have taught him to check labels. It's HIS allergy, not mine, and I'm not always going to be there. It's his allergy and he has to be comfortable with it and around it - he also has to be able to stand up for himself in dealing with his allergy. Adults don't always take him seriously when he asks to check the labels, but I stand behind him for back up and encourage him to continue to ask.

I check labels on all of the food I buy. I thought that my other grocery purchasing partners in the house did so as well.

I was proven wrong last week.