Why isn’t there a Mommy Olympics?

You know, with relays like the 4×100 quadruplet diaper change? The triathlon of making dinner, extracting the popcorn kernel from your toddlers nose, and bouncing the colic-y baby one your hip? I’d surely be a contender for the decathlon of juggling too many projects and so many kids all at once.

In high school, one of my favorite teachers wanted to know what event we’d like to take gold in if we were Olympians. For me then, it was a tie between the gymnastics all-around (It always has been my favorite. I was a tumbler as a kid.) and the individual medley in swimming. Either way, you’re the best of your sport, having mastered all aspects of it.

Looking back now, I’d never be caught dead on global TV in either a leotard or a swimsuit. (That would cause an instant drop in ratings. )

Thankfully, my quest for Mommy gold allows me to wear my pajamas  whatever is clean — and not skin tight.

In what event (dream or real) would you take gold?

I must confess that though Italy’s Andrea Minguzzi
earned his medal, the mom in me
wants the shout, “Get that out of your mouth!”

I recently heard about this book in which Moms divulge their “dirty little secrets.” You know, the little fibs they tell their kids and whatnot. I think it would be an interesting read, but I have my own take on revealing our imperfections. I’ll call it “slacker mom syndrome.”

Hi, I’m Christa and I’m a slacker mom.

I really am.

Here’s why: I do not make my children make their beds. In fact, I rarely make my own.

*GASP*

I know, I know… But here’s the deal. We’re a family of nappers. Nate’s schedule often lends to us staying up late, yet we get up about the same time every day. Thus, we love our nap time. Even the “older boys” will often sleep, or in the very least, lay down for awhile in their beds.

So, our beds get quite a bit of use and are, therefore, never made.

I’m just offering that confession for those of you brave enough to come by our house.

For the rest of you, what are your “Mom confessions?”

98 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

I’m not really sure how they scored this thing. Honestly, I’m very, very surprised! Who knew?

How’d you do?

So far, we only have one picky eater. Though Andy’s picky, he’s easy to figure out. He really only dislikes raw, crunchy things . . . and cooked carrots. But the things he does like, he really loves.

Like my sloppy joes.

I really think the boy could do a happy dance in a vat of my sloppy joes. They aren’t anything spectacular, but they aren’t any goo out of a can, either. I make mine from scratch and there are even a few secret ingredients.

Today, I was making them and he came into the kitchen.

Andy:“Mommy, you make the BEST sloppy joes. They smell so good and they taste so good. I can’t wait!”

Me: “Why, thank you, bud.”

Andy:“You should make your sloppy joes for a food game!”

Me: slightly puzzled, “You mean, like, a contest?”

Andy: “Yeah! On TV.”

Me: “Oh! Well, that’s sweet of you, honey.”

Andy: “You would even beat Bobby Flay!”

I told you, when he likes something, he really loves it. I guess he can take it a bit too far. I mean, my sloppy joes would neverwin a Throwdown against Bobby Flay.

But, thanks, Buddy. Next you’ll be telling me I’m skinny and I have great hair.

This week’s Works-For-Me Wednesday is a themed edition: Five Ingredients Or Less!  Shannon says, “Offer up your simplest recipes and link back up here on Wednesday.” I thought about stealing my sister-in-law’s chicken parmesean recipe – or her one for enchiladas – and putting it up here, but she should get the credit. Maybe she’ll post one of those. At any rate, I’m mourning the loss of cheese and butter in our everyday cooking, so I’ve got them on the brain. Here’s my old stand-by: smothered chicken. Please make this and tell me how yummy it was, OK?

My recipe here isn’t super fast, but it is super simple. It’s also a family favorite and has been raved about by company. It takes about 5 minutes to throw together this entree and its sides. Sound good?

When things are chaotic, I make my version of smothered chicken. Here’s what you’ll need:

• boneless, skinless chicken breasts (enough for your family)
• butter 
• mozzarella cheese
• French-fried onions
• (optional) green pepper, diced

Here’s how to make it: Take some boneless, skinless chicken breasts, throw them in an oven-safe (I prefer Corningware because it has a lid!) dish. Put a small pat of butter on top of each one. Bake at about 400 degrees. After about 15 minutes, flip the chicken breasts over about half-way through (total baking time is about 30-45 minutes, depending on whether your chicken breasts are fresh or frozen).

About five minutes before you wish to serve dinner, sprinkle the top of each breast with mozzarella cheese and French-friend onions. (You know what those are… those things often found atop green-bean casserole this time of year. They’re better on this!)

As an added bonus, I often sprinkle diced green bell peppers on top of each one, too. Slide them back in the oven long enough for the cheese to melt. SOOOOO yummy.

I generally make baked potatoes or rice with green beans, a tossed green salad, or something like that with these. All of those sides are easily and quickly made, too. So, while it may take 30-45 minutes for this dinner to actually cook, it only takes 5-10 minutes to prepare. THAT works for me.

Try this dinner. Soooo delicious and comforting. It may not be the healthiest thing for you, but no one here and bloggy-ville will be counting your calories.

Now, check out more great last-minute meal ideas at Works for Me Wednesday.

I’m used to taking forever at the store. When you’ve got five children, how could it ever be a quick trip? Honestly, just buckling car seats and then situating everyone in (or around) the cart is exhausting.

So, I was giddy with excitement to do some real grocery shopping all alone today. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE being with my kids… but sometimes I miss the efficiency of errands that I had before we became parents.

Anyway, back to today’s trip. I went to two stores and it still took me three hours. THREE hours. Both stores are within five miles of our house, too.

Know why? ‘Cause reading almost every food label to check for dairy ingredients and milk by-products takes some time and patience. Whew! I think I did OK though.

Even though it still took forever, I’ll count it as a success. After all, it was an investment in Brady’s health!

Now… what to do about those cookies he ate right before I got home? They had whey in them and he didn’t think to ask Daddy. Ugh!

We mid-westerners have been recycling for a very long time… Longer than it’s been en vogue, that’s for sure.

When I was a kid, we sometimes rode our bikes around the neighborhood asking for everyone’s empty “pop” cans just so we could sell them to the local collector. I’m not sure what he did with them, but he’d give us a very minimal amount for them and we’d then waste our earnings on sugary sweets from the neighborhood Village Pantry. (Wow… We were even giving economic stimulus packages to the dentist back then, too!)

When I was a kid, we made makeshift kites our of plastic garbage bags. We created a slip-and-slide out of a roll of plastic and the garden hose. And we made our bikes cooler by clipping a baseball card against the frame so it flittered in the spokes and sounded like a real moped. (Do those even exist anymore?!)

I remember going to family reunions and seeing salads served out of repurposed ice cream buckets. We bought “vintage” clothes from garage sales and “recycled” them by wearing them ourselves. We drank from Ball jars. (OK, my husband and I still do this… but so does our local steakhouse!) 

So, I may not be Leo DiCaprio now, but I still know a thing or two about living green. I’d explain more, but I’ve got to go. I’m “repurposing” dish soap to fill my kids’ bubble machine.

Tell me, now, what memories do you have of “living green” when you were a kid?

Somedays my brain lacks major creativity… maybe it’s because all the creative juices in my body have gone into my graphic design projects? At any rate, today is one of those days. I do, however, have a simple Works-for-Me-Wednesday idea to share.

This tip is for those of you with small children!

Since we have five kids, five and under (three in diapers), we have quite an assortment of “sippy cups.” (Is that what you all call them?) Some have spouts, some have spouts and valves, some have straws that flip down, etc…

When I bought the first batch about five years ago, I never realized what a pain all the small crevices and spouts would be to clean. I actually saw some crazy tiny sponge like devices glued to sticks sold in the baby department that were made just to clean certain kinds of cups, but they didn’t address the straw ones.

Then I got a clever idea! Buy a package of pipe cleaners! You can bend them to fit any spout and you can thread them through any straw! Voila!Cleaner cups for waaaay cheap!

I bought my first package of pipe cleaners about five years ago. I throw them out and get a new one out each time one gets yucky, yet I still have some left in that pack! I’m sure the entire thing was less than $1 and it has saved so many cups. Cheap and easy… my favorite. Works for me!

For a huge index of tips better than mine, visit the Works-for-Me Wednesday list hosted by Rocks in my Dryer.

Sorry I’ve been AWOL more often recently. This graphic design gig I have is taking off more everyday and I’m tredding as much water as I can.

I’m not complaining. It’s a ministry I love, and I enjoy it. Sadly, we’re almost to the point where we’ll have to turn people away… or hire a housekeeper and nanny.

Just teasing about that last part… but I’ve got to go. Laundry beckons.

My kids love waffles. I like to make the homemade ones in my waffle maker. My husband likes those, but still likes the frozen/toaster kind, too. So, we still buy them. My boys will eat either kind, but they’re messy.

Until now (insert infomercial voice here!)

I’ve thought of a way for them to eat waffles and syrup that’s not only cleaner, but easier for me to serve, too!

I simply cut their waffles into strips with kitchen sheers. They end up about the size of those pricier dunkin’ strips. Then I take empty baby food containers and put some syrup in each one. It ends up looking like this:

The boys simply pick up a strip, dunk and bite. Yum!

Those baby food containers work great for ketchup, salsa and ranch, too. Reduces double dipping.

That’s my deep thought for the day. Hope it helps. Check out Rocks in My Dryer for more great Works for Me Wednesday tips.