Payday!

A stay at home mom never knows when her payday is coming, especially a stay at home mom of twin tunas.  I say "tunas," because trying to snuggle with one of my 22 month old dynamo boys is like trying to hug a tuna fish - a giant, live, writhing tuna fish just out of the sea.

See, me and my tuna fish! 

Bwahahahahahaha!  I love Google Images, don't you?  Seriously, if that WAS me and my tuna fish.....I'd wear a bikini year round!   I was trying to find a funny picture of a tuna fish and when I saw that, I just couldn't resist!  Because that could've been me, 10 years ago! Okay, what was I saying?  Ah, well...children, yes...the boys.

This morning the tunas woke up around 7:45 (glorious!  Hallelujah #1!), and N lifted his arms to me to be picked up.  Then he snuggled his little goldilocks head into my shoulder, so I sat down and rocked him like that for 10 MINUTES!!!  He didn't move, and, here's the miraculous part: M didn't holler with jealousy!  M rolled around in his crib, sucking on keebie and talking to his teddy bear.

Cha-ching!  THANK YOU, GOD! was my first thought.  (Hallelujah #2!) This is why I stay home, was my second thought.  I naively thought that stay at home moms spent DAYS doing this sort of snuggling - years ago.  Boy was I wrong, on that and many other accounts! 

Then, as if I couldn't ask for more...BOTH boys ate their entire breakfast (1 frozen waffe and 1 yogurt tube)! This is a huge victory in the meals department this week.

So, yeah, today is freaking wonderful and it's just 10:00 am.  I know that's a little early to be claiming victory, but I've got a playdate scheduled with a good friend and sunny 50-degree weather on tap for the rest of the day.  Add to that I totally scored a $40 train table (with trains!) on Craigslist!

That's not to mention all my other blessings going on in my life everyday.  I am the most blessed woman in the world.  Thank you, God, for paydays like today.

The real me and Tuna N

Cumulatively Wonderful Day

Have you ever had one of those days where everything goes right?  If you're like me, it doesn't happen often, so you've got to write it down to remember it!  Yesterday was one of those days, and while none of the events were earth-shattering, they were, cumulatively, wonderful.

• I had intelligent, child-free discussion with a group of fabulous women at Mom's Group
• Someone who owed me money paid me back
• Two weeks after it went kaput, the dishwasher part I've been waiting for arrived
• Because the weather was unseasonably beautiful, hubs came home early and the 4 of us took a long walk at a nearby park and had some unexpected fun family time in the middle of the day
• I found a pair of pants and a top that fit me when I exchanged a clothing item!
• My peanut butter fudge was the "most popular" dessert at the MVMOM meeting last night, which was a blast - getting to hang out with other multiples' moms always is!
• I actually won a prize when my name was drawn last night and now have a very cool Christmas gift for one of my nephews.
• A new-mom friend and I got to catch up last night and for over an hour, we shopped, snacked and chatted.
• And one of my readers (at the dessert table, nonetheless!) asked me, "Are you Twin Engines?" and told me all about how she likes to read my blogs to get traveling tips b/c her twins are 4 months older than mine and they fly a lot.  I was so surprised to have found an actual READER! who's not my family - it tickled me pink!
• My friend, E, debuted her business, Marigold Baby, at the Holiday Boutique last night and sold a bunch of items and took orders!  I'm very proud of her because she's worked so hard to get everything up and running.  You can check out her business at www.marigoldbaby.etsy.com.
• The dishwasher part was installed when I got home! What a fabulous hubby I've got.

Marigold Baby G

Peanut Butter Fudge

1/4 c. milk
3/4 c. peanut butter
1 lb. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. margarine

Mix together well.  Microwave on high for 2 minutes.  Mix well and fast.  Pat mixture into a glass pie plate.  Cool and enjoy.

By the way, that recipe is from an old church cookbook  (it's my mom's friend's recipe on page 139 of the CCC 2003 edition).  I've had it for many years and last night was the first time I tried the fudge because I had to make something to take for the dessert table - I remembered at the last minute.  Whenever I'm in trouble, I crack open that old church cookbook and I find something every time!

So I fell asleep last night a happy lady, thinking maybe I do make the world a better place by writing my blog and trying out new recipes on unsuspecting folks.  And knowing that God has blessed me with some wonderful people in my every day life.  

Counting My Blessings

The boys and I were driving this afternoon on a sunshiny country road, pointing out tractors, cows, and horses on our way to family in our congregation.  Three boys lost both parents in just a week's time last month and are living with their grandfather.  We were taking a meal to them - chili and cornbread, one of my favorite comfort foods.  

Since I know my boys are inputting more than they're outputting, I'm trying harder these days to explain things to them.  So I told them we were taking a meal to bless a family whose mommy and daddy died.  Even though I don't know this family, the words were still hard to say and I choked up.  That was the whole conversation.  It lasted just a few seconds.  M said "Neigh" once when we saw a horse and N laughed.  I wonder how I'll explain these types of things in a year or two when they are in the "why?" stage.  I want to be truthful, especially when I'm showing them how to care for others. 

So I'm counting my blessings tonight.  The thought of three boys, ages 18, 12, and 9, growing up without parents brings tears to my eyes.  And if I think about it too much...*sigh*...I think I'll go eat some chili.

2 med. Onions, coarsely chopped

1-1.5 lbs. ground beef, browned and drained

2 garlic cloves, minced

¾ c. finely diced green peppers

2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes

30-32 oz beans (kidney and/or pinto)

8 oz can tomato sauce

1 tsp. ground cumin

½ tsp. pepper

1 tsp. seasoned salt

1 Tbs. or more chili powder

1 tsp. dried basil

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.  Cover, cook on low 8-12 hours or high 5-6 hours.  I serve it with cornbread muffins and shredded cheese.

 

I am Blessed

Steve's work schedule took him out of town tonight for the first time since July, so I was on my own for bedtime tonight.  Fortunately, my good friend A. came over so I had a hand with the bedtime routine.  Thanks, A!  The evening was nice and calm, I'm happy to report.  After our nightly stroll, warm baths and babas, the boys went down like champs.

Being alone in this quiet house tonight has got me thinking about how incredibly blessed I am.  I have good friends who will lend a hand on a moment's notice, like tonight.  My babies are healthy and happy as can be, sleeping like logs these days - nothing short a miracle for 16 week old twins!  And best of all, I have a devoted husband whom I love more every day.

Nathan and Matthew had their regular bedtime routine tonight, but I don't.  Even though we talked and said our bedtime prayers over the phone, like we always do when he's on the road, I'm missing Steve more than usual. He's been traveling for his work for over three years now, so I got used to him coming and going.  Now that I've had him home for most of the last four months, I've decided I like having him around. 

He's such a great dad!  My heart fills with pride when I see him bathing our sons or hear him singing lullabyes to them.  I nearly cried when he read Goodnight Moon to Nathan last night.  Sweet little Nathan's eyes closed a tiny bit more with every turn of the page until, at the very end, when Steve read, "Goodnight noises everywhere," he was asleep in his daddy's arms. 

Even though I'll go upstairs in a few minutes and do my teeth-brushing and face-washing routine alone tonight, I will fall asleep with thanksgiving in my heart for my many, many blessings.  

One of Nathan's first baths at home with Daddy.