See You Later Crocodile

Sure the line normally is See you later alligator, after while crocodile. But since when have we ever done anything normal in our home? .... um... well with the exception of me finding some sense of normal recently, the answer is never!

The twins love the alligator/crocodile good byes, but they like to do their own version.  Their version is much more fun too.  This morning, as Bryce told me goodbye and shut the door, he said, "See you later Robot." So I responded, "Bye Bye Alligator."

And since the twins can't read yet, I can share a few things with you.  Recently the boys discovered My Little Ponies.  We watch them nearly every day on Netflix, and they LOVE them.  Each boy has his favorite horses.  Bryce loves Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash. I think it is fitting as both are leaders on the show, as is Bryce.  One is a leader for her mind and the other her athleticism. Brendon absolutely loves Pinkie Pie. She loves sweets, and is often found entertaining herself with her pet alligator. He also likes Fluttershy, who has pets of all kinds. Nen is my sweets hound, and he is the one that can play and ignore everything else around him. With this new found love, I'm sure you can guess what they are getting for Christmas! We cannot wait to see their faces when they open them.

The sad thing is, I know so many dads would not allow their boys to get pink and purple ponies as a gift. I'm so thankful it's a non-issue in our house. I know my boys are growing up better adjusted than some because they don't have a family forcing gender stereotypes on them.

Stereotypes

I keep hearing how you can't be country if you don't... or you aren't stylish if you do... And I wonder, what would I be?

I wear cowboy boots with my Vigoss jeans, but I can also walk flawlessly in 4 inch heels with a dress.

I can shoot a gun, catch a frog, and play in the mud just as well as I can run a meeting or plan and execute an event.

I go to church, and I believe in Jesus, but I also believe in the right to choose, gay marriage, and affordable health care for all people.

I refuse to fit into one of society's boxes.  I'd rather stand alone on what I believe in, than stand with others for something I don't.

The Consequences

I learned something new on August 9th. Breaking bones doesn't hurt. I felt nothing unusual when I hit the floor that day. The bone breaking doesn't hurt, but the effect of the broken bone hurts. By the time I got my first dose of morphine, I knew a new kind of sharp, excruciating pain, which was a stark contrast from the fall that broke the bone.

Being in a manic state doesn't feel bad. It's quite the opposite. Even though there are negative voices in your head telling you that you aren't good enough or worthy of love and attention, you live on a high of hormones and energy that make you feel invincible. But like the broken bone, afterward, there is hell to pay. There are apologies to make, relationships to mend, and hardest of them all; forgiving yourself for actions you were aware of at the time, but had little control over.

I haven't forgiven myself yet, but I now live every day realizing that what I do will have consequences. I'm trying to live so that those consequences aren't something that make life hard for me or those I love later. It never hurts during the act, whether saying an unkind word or giving a compliment, but there will be a consequence in the end. Make it a good one.

A Modern Day Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, there was a girl.  Not a girl so much, but a young woman, recently married and keeping home for the first time.  She didn't know why, but things that were simple to others around her were impossible to her.  She was frustrated that she couldn't do basic tasks like dishes, but resigned herself to the fact that she was different.

That girl soon had a child, and while her little one was just a baby, things felt hopeless.  That hopelessness stuck around, until her next child was on the way.  After that child was born she was finally put on anti-depressants.  Those meds helped, but they didn't help enough.  She would go off and on them.  When off her temper was awful, and she often felt like she was a bystander watching her own life.

Many years later, after having twins, she slipped and fell on water they spilled.  Immediately she saw her leg was broken.  Home alone with three boys, she sent the oldest out to find a neighbor. Soon an ambulance took her away, with lots of drugs to ease the pain.  Emergency surgery left a rod and pins in one bone, and another bone left to heal in the splint.  The next week was spent sleeping, but by week two, she began to get stir crazy.  The energy she had felt building in her prior to her slip was back.  The heightened emotions and euphoria that were matched with a sense of worthlessness and doubt, were back.

By the third week, she was batshit crazy. She went back to work, but couldn't focus.  She felt like a battery was sending charges through her, and demons were climbing through her chest.  She couldn't sleep, and couldn't sit still.  She couldn't get enough attention, and made life miserable for all around her. When she saw the psychiatrist she was desperate for help.  And help her, he did.  The very next day she was diagnosed as Bipolar, and he put her on Lithium three times a day, and within a few weeks she started a new anti-depressant.  And she saw him often to track her progress.

Soon she was doing dishes by hand every night, where before she couldn't even fill the dishwasher. Her kitchen began to stay clean.  She could sweep the floors. Sleep was no longer elusive.  And before she even realized what was happening 22 pounds fell right off of her.  She no longer binged on food and drink.  And she quickly realized that what she was experiencing was what most people called "normal." She kind of liked normal.  Normal had a nice rhythm to it.

Maybe that rhythm will include more writing again.  Or at least more sharing of photos.  Normal won't include Family Baseball League though, as I will not be in any shape to run.  And I finish my story, it's not really an ending, my story is the beginning of a new and happier "normal" life.

Our dream

Our dream is not dead, see the new blog post: http://wallaceorbust.blogspot.com/
This blog isn't dead either.  And in spite of multiple crazy stunts, none of the children are dead.  They do however keep us super busy.  Some day, I will write the comedic book about raising the Bobos.  Complete with stories of cat litter (fresh from the bag, not used) mountains for monster trucks, and playing on top of the Suburban.

Scents

I have decided that Pier One really gets my senses.  I stopped by to use a gift card the other day, and fell in love with some of their scents.  Now their pumpkin spice scent has always been Fall to me.  I love it, and cannot get enough.  However, I hadn't realized they would have scents to speak to me in 3 other seasons.

First I smelled the Patchouli and was ok with it.  Then I found the Asian Spice.  I was in love.  My Suburban and my office smell like Asian Spice now thanks to the hanging air fresheners.  I purchased a oil diffuser thinking I was picking up the same scent.  Whoops, no, I picked up Patchouli.  I like it much more now that it is in my kitchen.  So much that I took an empty AirWick plug in oil diffuser and filled it with the Patchouli oil scent and plugged it in on the first floor.

I do love a house that doesn't stink!  (And I admit, our house has been pretty stinky lately)

Sad Day

Sad doesn't even describe the day.  It honestly sucked!  I just had a bad day, and it only got worse when I got home.  I peeked into Kaia's room while chasing a twin, and noticed Ratly in the corner of his cage.  Something didn't look right.  Our beloved Ben, aka Fatly Ratly, was dead.  Funeral services will be very soon.  For now, his body resides in our freezer, along with deer parts.  Long story, not as creepy as it sounds.

We will miss you Ratly!

Corned Beef Hash

It's what's for dinner!  We've never had corned beef hash.  Actually, I usually struggle to use up leftover corned beef, even though we all love it.  So tonight we will try hash.  I looked up many, many recipes.  Alton Brown, Emeril Lagasse, user submitted... all are pretty much the same. I'm going to take the leftover meat and potatoes, add onions, chop it all up, fry it and serve with eggs.  Hopefully the meal goes over well with the family.

Wednesday Night Supper

Dinner tonight continues to be cheap, gluten free and pretty healthy.  I'm cooking up 2 pork chops and several organic chicken drumsticks.  Both were purchased for $1.28 a pound.  This morning I boiled potatoes, and for a few weeks now I've had hard boiled eggs in pickle juice, I'll add some onion and celery and a bit of mayo for a potato salad.  We will also have brussel sprouts.  I picked up a few bags of frozen sprouts when they were on sale.  What's for dinner at your place?

I found this chart the other day, and I found it very helpful.  I hope you do too!

Food, Glorious Food, Wonderful Food

It's March, and gorgeous weather here in Central Washington.  That means we have begun planting our cold weather crops for the year!  Kaia has been especially eager to plant, and I hope she is just as eager in the summer when we need to  weed and water daily. 

We are still growing everything in the front year, as I want to give the backyard 1 more year to get rid of all dog poop.  (see I told you my life is full of poop!)  To date, we have planted Arugula, Mesculin Mix, Spinach, Lettuce blend, and Kale in pots out front. We have also planted sugar peas and radishes in the front garden.  Last year was pretty much a bust.  Nothing really grew, and I didn't plant too much.

This year will be different.  It already is.  We will also be planting, watermelon, cantaloupe, corn, beans, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers and more!  I hope to have most of our produce coming  from our garden and supplementing with the fruit stand that opens in late June next door. 

It's going to be a good year!  What are you planting?

Texas Hash, cheap and gluten free

This is a repost, but I wanted to share tonight's dinner.  It's a favorite in our house!



Ok now that you've read the recipe, Ignore it! 1 pound of ground beef and 3 onions?! No way. I use half a pound to three quarters of a pound. About half an onion or less works just fine too. Last, why in the world would you bake a rice dish like this? I never have. I usually use more than half a cup of rice too.

So prepare as directed with less ground beef, less onions and more rice. Add extra liquid to make up for the lack of liquid in the can. (remember it's 1 part rice to 2 parts liquid) Then cover on the stove and cook for 20 minutes until rice is done. You can also add some broken up spaghetti pieces during the browning. This gives the dish a bit more of a Rice-a-Roni feel. Sometimes we add some shredded cheese to the top of this too.

I turned this power and time consuming "Budget Casserole" into a quick and easy after work dinner. I hope you enjoy.

We're Back....

It's been a crazy year, and it's only March.  I've thought of blogs on occasion, I've wanted to write, but my hands have been full.  If you follow me on facebook, you will know that my life is full of chaos and poop.  Lots and lots of poop.  At some point though, I must pull it together and write again.  If not for your entertainment, then for my sanity.

So stay tuned!  I will be posting often.  I'm embarking on simplifying our life. First step, meals.  Next step, getting rid of excess clothing and toys.  The meals though are easy.  You will get regular posts of our recipes.  Our meals will consist of meat, veggies, beans, rice and potatoes.  Nothing fancy will be gracing our  home as we attempt to stick to a strict budget and eat healthy. 

Tonight's dinner is a bit fancy, as it's St. Patty's Day.  We are having corned beef, potatoes, carrots and cabbage.  I'll be using leftovers later this week in a hash.  Don't worry, recipe and photos will follow.

Today's Crazy:  Bry was playing outside with Kaia, and as he walked up the steps to the front door, he pulled down his diaper and peed in the dirt.  I'm sure the neighbors would appreciate that view!

Proud

I got a wonderful comment from the latchkey teacher not long ago.  She told me that she didn't know what they would do next year, when Kaia is at the Intermediate School.  They said not only is she old enough to help, but she understands how to help.  I smiled and my heart felt light.  My girl is a good helper, and a good little mommy.  Sometimes a bit too good, as I do have to remind her that I can be the parent to the 3 boys.  She's a good kid!

Dana and I both received quite the shock at Morgan's Christmas Concert.  Some of the kids got to do a small recitation from The Night Before Christmas.  Some kids rushed through, or stumbled their words.  Then one little boy got up and spoke clearly, on tempo and perfect.  Dana asked me afterward, "Was that Mo?" Yes, yes it was.  We were shocked.  Our odd, quiet kid did such a good job!