A little man's best friend....

Adventures of Rollin.....

Rollin has been busy this week getting into all kinds of mischief while Mommy tries to sneak away and lie down any chance I can get. I found him in his favorite naughty spot...climbing bookshelves....... later he emerged from my bathroom with red lipstick all over his head. We wiped it off, but it wouldn't come totally off. No time for a bath before we had to take Nina to school and errands, so away we went with lipstick hair. One of the few things organized in my house right now is my closet, and he took my shoes out of their boxes and pranced around in heels like a pro. He loves makeup and blowdrying his hair and high heels more than the girls. He is all boy though when it comes to his new love of matchbox cars and any kind of shovel or digger. He loves to run free at Sela's horseback riding lessons. The sawdust pile grew huge this week, so he had to dig around in that. Breathing sawdust with a cold and cough was not so good for me. And why can't I kick this crazy bug? Hmmm.

Nina is on the mend....

After nine days of being very sick and listless, Nina finally started to regain strength today. I have never seen any of the kids so ill and I was so worried about her. I slept so close to her I could feel her breath because she seemed so fragile. She was so sweet and so tired, but even on her worst days, she would whisper little funnies to me and have me totally cracking up. My experience thus far with sick kids has been that after about a day, even with symptoms, they are romping around the house, much to my astonishment. But, no so this time. The naturopath said this flu is particularly long and drawn out and lots of symptoms show up as it runs its course. Zig also got sick and said it feels horrible and had such sympathy for little Nina's situation. Rollin and I had much milder cases and I am already feeling almost back to normal, just a nagging cough. Super Sela has been the only one who remained 100 percent untouched by the virus. We all started taking garlic again (the deodorized kind) and hope to ride out the rest of this winter healthy. We'll see. But, I am just feeling so thankful today for nina's improved health. She still went to sleep at 5pm totally exhausted, but it's a huge improvement.

Chicken Noodle Soup

As I mentined previously, we're out of school this week. So far, it's been just fantastic. Two lovely sunny days and we are so thankful. Darcie and Geoff came over yesterday with their kids and we just laid on a pallet outside for hours while the kids played. Good times.

I've decided to let the girls plan the weekly menu this week since they are out of school. They are going through their cookbooks and selecting recipes that appeal to them. Tonight was no surprise, Chicken Noodle Soup.

We have made a lot of chicken noodle soup this year, not because I love it. It's not my favorite. But it does last for a couple of days, it is extremely healthy, and it guarantees a joyous mealtime. We have fun making it too...this part I do enjoy. Here is our method:

We begin with a rotisserie chicken. Sela gets two bowls and places all the chicken pieces worthy of the soup in one bowl and the other bones and scraps in the other. She probably gets twice the amount of chicken off as I do when I do the same job. She is so thorough and she really likes to do it. She loves finding the wishing bone and making a wish with Nina.


















While she does that, I chop garlic, an onion, two carrots, and two or three celery sticks.

Nina wipes and slices mushrooms which I will saute' and put in the soup last. Mushrooms are just for me, I love them in the soup.




















Once Sela has enough bones and other stuff, I start making stock with my veggies scraps, plus others I've saved, some spices, and peppercorns.


















Then I saute the chopped veggies. When the broth is good and ready (about 20 minutes), I strain it (reserving all the bones and veggies for Max) and add it to the sauteed veggies. Then we add Sela's chicken. I season with salt and pepper and add fresh herbs...usually thyme or parsley. Then we add the noodles (already boiled) and not just any noodles. Lisa, a friend of mine, makes the best chicken noodle soup. The noodles taste homemade...more dumpling like than pasta-like. The difference for me is huge! I finally called and asked her where to find these noodles and she directed me to this brand I had never before seen or heard of. I bought 8 bags, just in case they were in short supply. I think it makes all the difference. They were found at just a regular grocery store around here, something like a Safeway. They are Mrs. Weiss's egg Kluski egg dumpling noodles. They come dried and they are just so yummy. I like chicken noodle soup so much more because of them.














And finally, sometimes I add a couple dallops of pesto for more flavor. I find CNS bland sometimes, so I try to bring the flavor up a notch . I will also add chopped greens if I have them.



This whole process takes us an hour or so, but it's a very harmonious time in the kitchen because everyone has their specialty and there's no arguing as to who does what. Nina would never lay hands on a chicken and Sela likes it that way :) No one fights me for an onion to chop either.

We feel the love....

We received some very sweet packages in the mail from grandparents and great-grandparents this Valentine's Day and the girls and Rollin are so appreciative. Dad's came first, and it really touched me and made me miss him very much. He and I have a special bond when it comes to fishing. He had Mom take a picture of him with the fishing rods he bought for Sela, Nina, and I for our upcoming visit to Texas. He had also collected shells on the beach and wrapped them all up in tissue for the girls to let them know what was waiting for them in April. They just loved it and can't wait to go shelling when we get to the beach. I hope they can find more shells, because as of today, Rollin has managed to step on or break at least half...to the shrieks and shrills of his sisters. Poor little guy. They just aren't as flexible as wooden blocks.















Mom sent the girls a yummy box of chocolates and heart cookie cutters and some super cute valentine's kitchen towels. The chocolates were devoured by all of us. Luckily it was a small box, for our own good!

Babcia Tina sent the girls a lovely package with some darling purses with animals inside and porcelain bears. They girls also loved the carefully chosen cards. They kept saying how happy they were and how much they love and miss Babcia.

















Maw Maw's package came today and as soon as I saw who it was from, my mouth began to water for the homemade fudge I hoped would be inside. The girls have come to look forward with anticipation to this yummy treat from their great grandmother. She also had little valentines for each of them and charm bracelets for the girls. Nina has been asking for a charm bracelet since Sela got one for her birthday so she squealed when she saw it.

So, thank you to everyone. We did not expect anything, but what wonderful surprises. Lately the FED EX man has only been delivering mole traps (another story for another post) and roof samples for the chicken coup, so the girls were happy to see something a bit more exciting :)

We love you all and again, we appreciate all the sweet gestures this valentine's day.

p.s. Zig also felt the love (or at least that's what I told the kids!) when we decorated his car at work on Valentine's Day. Shoe polishing a car sure takes me back to the good ole days. I'm such a loving wife. Some spouses make candlelight dinners...isn't letting the kiddies color daddy's car almost as special?

the honey jar

After months of scheming, Rollin finally pulled a fast one when I was out of the kitchen. He pulled the chair to the counter, climbed up, and started going to town in the honey jar. When I came in and saw the sheer delight in his eyes, I just coundn't be upset. I let him enjoy a bit more honey and then cleaned both he and the honey jar up. Now don't you want to come and have some bread and honey at our house? Just kidding, it's all clean and sterile :)
























Rollin loves to have "jobs" like his sisters, especially in the kitchen. His favorite right now is putting paper liners in the muffin tins. His other favorite job, understandably, is sprinkling sugar...on anything.

Rollin in "lovey" heaven

I found Rollin burrowing in silky heaven on the floor of the laundry room.


This is the life.