SB 510

I think people have a vast misconception of "food safety," and SB 510 is the representation of this misconception. Sure, we all want and have the right to safe food, but corporate farming/agribusiness has made our food cheaper while not making it any safer. Our meat is doused in bleach to clean it to meet FDA standards. Why? Because it comes from a confinement yard where animals live in their own shit. We spray chemicals on everything in the name of "safety." We genetically modify food for "safety." The reason foreign countries don't want our food: it's covered in shit and chemicals and radiation, and it's genetically modified. It has nothing to do with the way small growers grow and process food and everything to do with how corporate farms process food. Small growers make food that is more safe and more nutritious (and vastly more expensive) with fewer interventions. Now the small grower will suffer because we are trying to protect our food from harm that exists mainly because of the way corporations farm. Don't get me wrong, though. The FDA has to be around to make sure we have health standards. However, the definition of "healthy" food and food "safety" have definitely changed since our grandparents were cooking.

It's really crazy. I guess I'll have to have the FDA inspect my kitchen before I make those Christmas cookies for my neighbors! The FDA is trying to make our food standards equal to foreign standards so they will buy our food - which will never happen because in order to meet foreign standards we'd have to actually cut down on the amount of processing done to our food instead of increasing the amount of regulation. Europe and Asia are saying, "Hey, we don't want irradiated beef and modified corn." The US is hearing, "We need safer food, so let's increase regulations" which is the wrong approach on our part.

Check out cornucopia.org and search SB 510 for more information. They are some smart folks, much smarter than me, and they have a great idea for risk-based regulations. I keep trying to post a link to their website, but I can't get it to work. Told you they are smarter than me.

Tree Skirt

A few years back, Colby's grandmother made us a lovely skirt for our Christmas tree. It's really lovely and sentimental.

Here's the thing: our male pets have since their arrival in our household found the need to pee on the tree skirt. I have washed it nearly every day since we put up the tree. Thank goodness it is a well-crafted skirt. Lesser skirts would have fallen apart long ago.

I'm leaving the skirt off from now on. Seriously, boys, the whole pee thing is disgusting. It's a short drive to the pound, gentlemen.

Thanksgiving in Seward

As usual, we spent Thanksgiving day at my dad's house in Seward. My step-mom's recently widowed mother joined us for the festivities. We supplied a big-ass ham courtesy of the endless supply of hams, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs from Colby's work. We also brought from-scratch green bean casserole, cauliflower and goat cheese gratin, and broccoli cheese rice. I made Oreo cookie bark for dessert which sat beside pecan, pumpkin, cherry, apple, and cheesecake pies.

My kids stayed the night at grandma's house so that Colby, my brother Alex, my sister Emily, and I could go Black Friday shopping the next morning. I think this exchange of kids will become our new Thanksgiving tradition.

This Thanksgiving leaves me with such a grand list of things for which I am thankful. My family is beautiful, happy, healthy, and together. My life has been blessed by so many friends this year, more lovely women than I could ever have hoped to know. Our life here in Lincoln has become a familiar routine of school, trips to the YMCA, activities, outings with friends, and the occasional night out away from the kids. I realized that the only things I don't have this year are a big house, a new car, beach vacations, and expensive clothes. I'd say my life is pretty awesome when that's all I'm lacking.

Rotini and Cheese

Feeding a large family can be time consuming and costly, especially after I decided to take as many processed foods as possible out of our diet. No more quick meals of Hamburger Helper or pigs in a blanket. I also stopped buying fruits and veggies in a can because of all the worry about chemicals seeping into the food from the metal cans. I definitely spend more time preparing and planning our meals, and the kids many times aren't as satisfied with what is offered to them. It's a daily struggle, but it's one that I hope someday they appreciate.

When I saw this Rotini and Cheese recipe in Cooking Light last month it looked like a kid pleaser: bacon, pasta, and cheese are always popular. With the availability of more nutritionally dense pasta, meatless meals are a cheap but still healthy option for kids.

2 bacon slices
1 Tbl. butter
1 Tbl. olive oil
1 c. finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tsp. all purpose flour
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 c. low fat milk (I used skim, and it worked fine)
3/4 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp pepper
5 c. hot cooked rotini (about 8 oz uncooked pasta)
3/4 c frozen peas, thawed

Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet until crisp. Take it out of the pan, crumble it, and set it aside. Over medium-high heat, add butter and oil to the bacon drippings and swirl to coat the pan. Add onion and saute for 5 minuted stirring occasionally. Add garlic and stir constantly for 30 seconds.

Check out these happy onions in their bacon dripping-olive oil- butter bath. I guess if I had to be cooked, I'd like to be cooked just liked these onions. And my goodness did they smell good!


Add flour, and saute one minute stirring frequently. Stir in mustard. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly with a whisk, and bring to a boil. Cook for 3 minutes or until slightly thickened.


Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. Add cheese, salt, pepper stirring with a whisk until smooth. (note: I had to return the pan to low heat and continue to stir the cheese so it would melt.)

Place pan over low heat. Stir in bacon, pasta and peas; cook for one minute or until heated through.

I didn't get to see how much the kids ate because I had to run out the door to bowling league. I'm sure Soren, Brody, and Evie ate around the peas and probably ended up leaving most of the peas on their plate. I also forgot to take a photo of the finished product due to my rush out the door, but I snapped a photo of the leftovers.


The dish was really good fresh, but the leftovers were disappointing. I will definitely make this again, though.

Evelyn Loses Another Tooth

Evelyn finally worked that other bottom-front baby tooth out after a couple of weeks of wiggling. The adult teeth are already coming in, so it was obviously time for those baby teeth to fall out.

I look forward to seeing her toothless little smile every day after school.

Cookie/Ornament Exchange

As mentioned in a previous post, I set up a fundraiser for my friend Maggie. Saturday was the big day, and my home was soon filled with my girlfriends and lots of kids. I set a goal to raise $200 for Maggie's fund, and thanks to my wonderful friends I met my goal and went beyond!

The best part of the evening, though, was getting to see our new nephew/cousin Kort again. He was definitely the star attraction despite all the other things going on.




As much as I love babies, having Kort around and hearing my sister-in-law detail days and nights with a fussy newborn is yet another reminder that we've had enough babies. Colby is already planning vacation days for his vasectomy. Let's just say it's the gift that will soon stop giving.

Putting Up the Christmas Tree

This year's production of raising the Christmas tree was different in a few ways. First of all, we decided that our huge Christmas tree needed to be retired. We got the tree while living in a rather large house in Norfolk, and our subsequent homes have been much smaller. Though majestic and beautiful, the tree had to go for the sake of space.

Second, we put the tree up about a week earlier this year because I wanted it to be up for my fundraiser tomorrow night. Tradtionally we get the tree out on the day after Thanksgiving, but after a little convincing (nagging) Colby and the boys dragged all of the Christmas decorations in from the shed a week early.


Colby had the honor of picking out our new tree. He and the boys picked out a slim tree with blue and white LED lights. It still holds the ornaments just fine. It's still a popular sleeping spot for our pets, there's just one more pet to sleep under the tree this year. Some things never change.

Did I Mention I Don't Have a Teaching Degree?

Backstory: While trying to teach Evelyn her numbers beyond ten, I told her that most times you just say the number and then "teen." She has number flashcards, so we started working on the teens.

Me holding up a flashcard for number 11.
Evelyn: One teen!
Me and Colby laughing our asses off.

Me holding up flashcard 12.
Evelyn: Two teen!
Me laughing so hard I'm crying.

Okay, my strategy sucks.

My Week of Charity II

My friend's mom called me last weekend asking me if I would be willing to help out a family she knew that was in a tight spot for child care this week. In a continuing attempt to be charitable, helpful, and less selfish, I agreed. I had daycare kids before and know it's tough work, but I have nothing planned for the week and really had no excuse not to help.

The kids are 18 months and three and a half years old. The older child is at preschool until after lunch, so I thought it would be an easy job. Now, the kids are exceedingly good. Little man cries only briefly when mom leaves him in the morning, and big sister is quiet and friendly. All the kids are thus far getting along really well.

However, do you have any idea how much work toddlers are? Good god, how could I of all people forget?? They poop in diapers, try to eat cat litter, and like to be held a lot when they are unhappy. They don't generally worry about their safety and henceforth do dangerous stuff. They put Barbie shoes in their mouths. They run off in Toys R Us.

After only three days with a toddler again I have one more thing to add to my "I'm thankful for" list: birth control.

My Week of Charity

As the Thanksgiving/Christmas seasons approach, the desire to reflect on one's blessings and give back to those who aren't as blessed is at its peak. Particularly for me this year, I am thankful that my husband hasn't spent any amount of time away from us like he has in previous years.

On that note, I am spending some time this week raising money for my old friend Maggie. I have previously spoken of Maggie on my blog: she is a single mother of three who needs a double lung transplant. Maggie arrived in Pittsburgh a few days ago; she is on the transplant list there for new lungs. Unfortunately, Maggie's three children are without her. They remain in Norfolk, hopeful that their mother will come back to them but worried that she won't. She will be away from her family this Christmas season, and she has a long struggle ahead of her.

Maggie's transplant is covered by Medicaid. However, her living expenses are not. She needs at least $15,000 for the next 6 months' living expenses for herself and her mother (who is her only support system in Pittsburgh). Maggie doesn't know when lungs will become available for her, but no matter what, supporting a household in Pittsburgh without any source of income is tough.

That's why I am holding cookie/ornament exchange fundraisers this week. The least I can do is raise a little bit of money to help out with Maggie's living expenses. I've already made $50, and I'm hoping to have $200 in the end. I know it's not much, but hopefully it can help.

Being thankful for all that we have is fabulous, but it isn't enough. Being generous with what we have is the true measure of human kindness, even if all we have is $10 and a plate of cookies.

Chicken Pot Pie

My husband loves pot pie. My children do not. In fact, my children are rarely excited about what I make for supper mainly because it isn't "out to eat." I have long since given up trying to please them and have focused more on pleasing my not-so-picky husband. Pretty much the only things he won't eat: anything "curry" or sloppy joe's.

So, with two homemade pie crusts stashed in the freezer, I decided to whip up a pot pie. I followed a recipe from allrecipes.com called Chicken Pot Pie IX. I made a few substitutions, but I think most cooks who read this recipe will know where to tweak.

Using homemade pie crust is yummy, but it makes a much bigger mess than frozen pre-made crust.

All the yummy veggies and chicken chopped, boiled, and ready for the sauce.

And now the sauce is ready for the veggies.

It's not the prettiest girl at the prom...

But looks can be deceiving. Yum!!

Soren's Hair Cut

I was officially tired of the screaming. I have honestly given birth making far less noise and shedding far fewer tears than this child. So, Soren, we are headed to Cost Cutters. You see, my dear, Mommy can only take so much screaming and crying while I try to brush your hair as nicely as possible. Mommy can only buy so many different kinds of detangling concoctions before I have to surrender to the power of your hair's knots.

I think your new hair cut is super cute, little lady, and it will make Mommy's job so much easier.

The Crying Game

I have never before faced the challenge of a child who flat-out refuses to attend and cries uncontrollably about swimming lessons...until now. Soren passed her last session of swimming lessons but for some reason is now absolutely refusing to participate. Her only explanation is that she doesn't want any boys in her class. Huh?? It's surprising and embarrassing. Today she even cried while at the YMCA daycare, something she has never done before.

I am at my wit's end and don't know what to do. I tried to bribe her with a pack of gum. I tried to threaten her with the wrath of Daddy. I tried to be supportive, all to no avail.

So, I am calling this a phase and am hoping Soren will grow out of it. Until then, no more swimming lessons.

Playing at the Park

My friends Sara and Travis are on a very sad journey today. They are in Norfolk standing beside Travis's mom as she passes away. Our mothers are with us when we take our first breaths, and we may one day be with our mothers as they take their last. It will be a sad day for my friends, but hopefully also a day that brings them relief from suffering.

Sara dropped their kids off at our home this morning knowing that she wouldn't be able to pick them up from daycare before it closed. I am happy to have them, and I hope that by keeping an eye on their children, Sara and Travis know that we care so much about them. Of course, little children are much more immune to the pain of suffering and death, at least we hope, because they don't understand such complicated things. Even as their grandmother's life is ending, their lives are just beginning, and they continue to live every moment as only a child can: enjoying simple things and relishing every moment so much that they don't want to miss a thing.

We went to Pioneers Park this morning for a little exercise and exploration.

The swings were a popular plaything this morning.



Big drainage ditches always make for great fun.


They all held hands while they walked to the pond.


They had to try to get the icky moss out of the pond but ended up just getting it all over their pants and shoes.



No matter what the future holds for any of us, appreciating the here and now is what makes life beautiful.

Dancing Queens

I spent all day Thursday and Friday running errands with Soren. I have no idea how people with "real" jobs get everything done because I can barely get stuff done in the six hours the kids are at school. I spend so much time driving here and there and everywhere. Between the coupon hunting, the list making, the shopping, and the driving, I feel like keeping the refrigerator/pantry stocked and making sure everyone has toothpaste is my full time job. :-)

One of my favorite places to go is the second hand kids store called Once Upon a Child, especially when I have a 15% off coupon. Holla! This trip I scored a few cute dance outfits for the girls. The girls were so excited about the leotards that they just had to try them on. The results were undeniably cute! I ask readers to note that Soren is wearing a hair pretty. Yay!




Saturday we have dance in the morning, Colby has to work at 5 a.m., and Brody has a birthday party to attend. Plus, the Huskers play, the house needs to be cleaned, and the signs for Jacob (who's coming home from Marine boot camp) need to be made. Oh, and Colby's car is currently broken down in Crete and will spend the weekend in the Farmland parking lot. Thank goodness he could drive the company car home and that we have an extra minivan at home just in case. Don't we all need an extra minivan??

Evelyn Lost Her First Tooth!

Evie came home from school Monday missing something and carrying something: she lost her tooth at school and put it in a little treasure chest! She was so excited about her tooth and the treasure chest the school gives to kids who lose teeth at school. She has been telling everyone she knows, "Hi! I lost my tooth!"

She has been working and working on wiggling her loose two bottom teeth. They were both barely hanging on, but one is still hanging tough despite her efforts. She got a dollar bill from the tooth fairy. She placed in the tip jar at the coffee shop this morning(Saturday) as an extra thank you to the barista for the bagel with cream cheese. I told her the dollar wasn't enough for the bagel, and she said, "It's enough for the tip jar!" So funny!

Family Photos

This year instead of heading to JC Penney for our family photos, our friend Amanda took them at Pioneers Park on Halloween morning. They turned out really nice considering that it's nearly impossible to get six people to all look decent in the same photo.

Here's a sampling of photos of our BIG, HAPPY family! Thanks to Amanda for the lovely photos!