We Love the Library

This is the typical-sized stack of books I bring home from the library every 2-3 weeks. I've been scouring the children's bookshelves on my knees picking dozens of books at a time for about 5 years now, and I love it! 

I love it because there are so many gems in children's books. I love discovering books old and new, beloved authors for generations and brand-new, first-published authors. 

I love it because of the great messages in many of the stories. I especially love the ones that make me AND my children laugh. And occasionally I find some that make me cry, and I love those, too.

Usually, a handful of what I bring home we only read once, because they are...well...boring. To the me AND the kids. Some times I love a book more than the kids (like all the Sandra Boynton books--they are great...but my kids don't think so). And there are always a few that my kids want to read one time (or three or five times) too many.

But the majority of the books are fabulous! Over the last few years, my love for picture books has grown. In fact, it's not uncommon for me to use them when I teach adult classes. We all can learn from them!

Thanks to the library pamphlets of age-appropriate books, I'm always able to find books and authors that match the development of my kids. The only problem is there are too many books and life is simply too short to flip through all.

If you know me, you know I like to purge and declutter. This is why I love the library so much. I do buy books (and of all stores, bookstores rank up there next to Target on my list of favs), but I'd rather utilize the library to save money and storage space (occasionally, of course, there's a book we borrow from the library that I MUST own). There are so many reasons to love this library routine of ours.

And, of course, a major bonus to these stacks of books is the benefit my kids get out of it. They, too, are gaining a love for books and learning more than studies can even pinpoint. Plus, we get to cuddle and spend some one-on-one time together. 

What's not to love about a big, heavy, fresh stack of children's books?

A Nanny: Wouldn't It Be Lovely?

Sometimes I daydream about how nice it would be to have a nanny. I've never had one. I've never been one. I couldn't afford one. And I don't actually want one--I'm way too particular about doing things the way I want it done. Just ask Sam.

It would, however, be nice if I had a nanny handy in these specific situations.

1. When the baby is napping and I need to go to the store. When my baby sleeps, I usually get a lot done around the home and/or for work. But sometimes I need to run to the store. Most of the time I can get to the store after I drop the preschooler off but before the baby needs a nap, though not always. Morning nap comes quickly and it sure would be nice to have a nanny to hang around at home, listening for the baby that probably won't wake up, while I run a quick errand.

2. When the baby is sleeping and I need to go pick up or drop off the preschooler. This happens all the time lately...poor little one's nap is cut short way too often. Hey, I'd even be okay with the nanny dropping off and picking up.

3. When cooking dinner. I saw this meme a few months ago and thought is was perfect. Why is it that while you can do other chores around the house without much difficulty (usually), making dinner is incredibly difficult for the children? That is exactly the precise moment every day that they want everything and anything from me. If a nanny were around I could think about the meal without burning it or forgetting an ingredient. Or simply have dinner ready in half the time, as I'd be distraction free. That'd be lovely.

4. When I get ready in the morning. Most of the time, I can get ready before the kids wake up. Or at least on the days when I wake up at 5:30AM to exercise. Those are always my best days. Other days I wake up later and try to squeeze in a workout, but I might not get done before they awake, or the baby wakes earlier than usual. I can get ready really quickly when someone isn't pulling on my leg or begging for breakfast.

5. When making a quick trip somewhere--up the road to a neighbor's to drop off stuff, etc., when I have my arms full. Sometimes loading/unloading kids in car seats or using a stroller isn't conducive or is more effort than it's worth. We just don't live in a world where the kids can stay in the car longer than a moment.

6. When I need a power nap. Every now and then my kids will play nicely together in another nook of the house, but no matter if they just began or have been playing for a while, as soon as I lay down on the couch they are all over me. It's like the very thought of "oh, it'd be nice to have a nap" is a magnet for the kids. No matter what they are doing, they have a sudden and urgent need to find me and prevent such a nap. Even if the nanny only kept the children in the other room for 5 minutes, it'd be worth it.



Of course, sometimes my husband is around to fill these nanny-needs. Sometimes. We're pretty busy folks, and we do a lot of passing of the batons (the batons are the children). One day my kids will be older and they can fill these nanny-needs. Until then, I'll keep daydreaming.

My Son Eats Like a Rabbit

The last year or two it has been quite a battle getting my son to eat. But I think I've finally figured it out. It's not that my 4-almost-5-year-old son doesn't like to eat, it's that he's a rabbit--or at least he eats like a rabbit.

He will always eat rabbit food. You know, fresh pieces of fruits and veggies--unseasoned, uncooked, un-sauced. Cold, crisp, cut pieces of lettuce, carrots, radishes, red peppers, green peppers, yellow peppers, gold peppers, cauliflower, cucumbers, celery, kale and cabbage. Juicy, fresh pieces of apples, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, watermelon, pears, peaches, plums, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and grapes.

He doesn't just eat rabbit food, he eats like a rabbit, too. He nibbles and nibbles and nibbles, and while it looks like he is chewing lots of food, he really is just very thoroughly chewing the same. little. bit. over and over and over. Lots of nibbles, very few bites. It takes For. Ev. Er. I think he burns more calories eating than he actually absorbs from the food.

I know, great, huh? My son enjoys eating vegetables and fruits. Yay! He'll stave off many chronic illnesses, like heart disease, cancers, high blood pressure, etc. etc. etc. 

BUT. I think the realization that my son eats rabbit food has brought another realization: No wonder he is ornery and whiney often! I mean, really, how many of you have tried a diet of purely veggies and fruits? Don't you get hungry for carbs? Brains need carbohydrates to function. Doesn't your body crave fat? Fat and carbs are awesome sources of energy (calories) that my son doesn't get much of, because he's too busy chewing that stick of celery.

I've tried adding calories to things--peanut butter to celery (he refuses), peanut butter to apples (riiight), nutella to numerous fruit (no way), ranch or other dip for raw veggies (he'll run away), butter and cheese to potatoes (maaaybe, but not without a fight).

Not too long ago someone recommended that I try concentrating on feeding him high-calorie breakfasts. I realized we tend to already do this, but I made a more concentrated effort to do so. He's pretty good about eating breakfast, as he always wakes up with an appetite (I wonder why...). It seems to work. He'll almost always dive into a bowl of maple and brown sugar instant oatmeal (I switched to full-sugar kind cooked with whole milk for extra calories; sometimes he has two packets), a pancake or two with chocolate chips, or pieces of toast with butter, honey and scrambled eggs. He's usually great about drinking a cup or more of whole milk, so at least there's a good chunk of energy for him.

There are other things he'll usually eat. This kid loves kidney beans, cheese, cookies and brownies. But that's about it. I'm doing my best to practice patience as he is yet again hungry because he won't eat more than a few pieces of lettuce and a clementine. Good thing he's cute!

Granola: The Super Human Food

My husband has been running like crazy. Like trail running. In the mountains. For hours on end. The snow doesn't even stop him. I can barely keep up with his running blog: orangetrailmonkeys.blogspot.com

My food budget has been forced to expand due to all his running. We now add items like cliff bloks, protein powder drinks, frozen burritos, and powerade to our regular shopping list. Not to mention he just eats more and more ice cream to keep up with all those burned calories! I keep telling him it's expensive, but a lack of exercising would one day be more expensive, so I guess it's okay.

(Side note: you know what's amazing? Sam weighs more now than he ever has since I've known him. Running is filling out his body in a good way. No longer skin and lurpy bones.)

One food Sam eats way more quickly than I get around to making is granola. When a fresh batch is in the pantry, he eats a large bowl every morning. This recipe fills a whole #10 can, but he downs it in about a week. I'm lucky to get some to sprinkle on yogurt for a snack (which is so yummy!).

I've tried making a few different granola recipes. Most Sam likes, but some he hasn't. This one I created by combining a few and adding my own changes. One day I want to add peanut butter, but I have yet to try that.

It's easy to adjust granola recipes. Don't have oil? Use applesauce or melted butter. Out of nuts? Don't add them. Don't like raisins? Forget about them. Like coconut? Sure--add it in!

Homemade Granola – Runner’s Superfood

8 cups rolled oats

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup chopped walnuts

½ - 1 cup shredded coconut

¾ cup honey

1/3 cup canola oil

1/3 cup applesauce

¼ cup packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

dash salt

dried fruit (optional, add after baking)

*Note: this is doubling the recipe and it makes enough to fill a #10 can. You will need to bake it in 2 batches.

1.     Preheat oven to 350F.

2.     Mix oats, nuts and coconut in a large mixing bowl.

3.     Combine honey, oil, applesauce, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a pot on stove over medium heat. Mix until smooth (no need to boil).

4.     Pour honey/oil mixture over oat mixture. Mix until well incorporated.

5.     Line 2 large baking sheets or jelly roll pans with parchment paper sprayed with baking spray. Pour half granola on each pan.

6.     Bake each pan for 10 minutes. Then stir to prevent burning. Bake another 5-10 minutes until desired texture. Remember, the granola will continue to cook after removing from the oven.

7.     Stir well upon removing from the oven if you’d like a non-clumpy granola. If you want it clumpy, don’t stir much after removing from oven.

8.     After cooled, store in airtight container. Eat with milk like cold cereal, or perfect in a yogurt parfait.

*Tips:

o  This granola will be slightly crunchy. Reduce heat to 275F and bake for 25 minutes if you want a softer granola. Or “bake” in the microwave.

o  If you don’t like any of the nuts or coconut, or don’t have all of them, they can easily be omitted. Sunflower seeds can also be added.

o  Oil, butter, and applesauce can be easily interchanged, based on what you have on hand.

oHoney and brown sugar can also be interchanged. Also can use corn syrup, though not as flavorful.

One day while this was baking Winston walked in the kitchen, took a great big sniff and said, "Mmmm...that smells yummy." He's right--baking this makes your house smell mmm, good!