PREGNANCY AND FRACTURED TOES.........

I hate to be a stereotype, but it seems that I am consistently clumsy with my phalanges when I'm pregnant, 3 for 3 now. Not surprising since the term phalanges is derived from the Greek word Phalanx which means "a straight projection." They seem to stick out a mile and have a radar to ram into anything. Not exactly sure what my deal is. It's not that I can't see where my feet are going, since I can still see my feet. I don't get the big cute round basketball belly...thanks to extra wide hips I just look "fat." So I guess it boils down to the fact I'm just a clutz. At least I've alternated the damage to every other foot every 3 years. With Logan, I fractured my left second toe on a door frame while running through the house on the way to church....yes, I was late...Again! With Silas, I fractured my right big toe when I pulled out the silverware drawer too far and it came crashing down on my toe! Yes it was extremely, extremely painful! And TODAY, it was the fourth toe on my left foot (the one next to my piggy) slamming into the bottom of the ottoman in the office. The bright side is that at least the toes on my left foot have had over 6 years to recuperate from the last injury. How do I know it's fractured? Been there, done that and if you've ever had ONE before, you just know. It's the initial crack then the nauseating dull ache that goes all the way to the nerve in your hip, followed by the burning/stinging and searing pain that doesn't go away for hours! Can't bend it or move it without shooting pain, and because I'm pregnant I have to suffer through it. Now I'm no stranger to pain. I've had quite of bit of physical pain in my life so I'm built tough and made tough. Today however, I'm wishing I could have a Percocet, and really, really wishing I hadn't throw away the therapeutic walking boot I used to nurse the last broken toe back to health.

THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE ABOUT SPRING.......

Walking out of a cold house into the warm sunshine

Blooming tulips

The sound of birds chirping early in the morning

Butterflies
Wet grass between my toes

PB&J picnics in the backyard on a blanket with my 3 yr. old

Cherry blossoms

The hollow pitter-pat of falling rain on leaves and flowers

The sweet and rusty smell of wet dirt

Easter!!

LOOK WHAT I FOUND IN A NOOK OF THE CRANNY!

I love the Nook & Cranny in Lehi. It's the cutest little ma and pa antique and second hand store this side of the Mississippi. You really never know what you are going to find there. Almost everything is on Consignment so it changes every day. My house is literally full of wonderful N&C treasures; antique glass bottles, cups and saucers, old drawer trundle chest, etc., etc. I stopped in Friday with my SIL-S Andi for a quick shop, and low and behold tucked away on a little shelf I found:

I know, I know, it's just a bag of chips....but not just ANY chips, Old Dutch Salt n' Vinegar from our good ol' neighbors to the north, that being Canada for those of you who don't know your geography. Don't worry, they're not antiques. One of the Consigners is from Canada and he comes baring treats of deliciousness all the time, mostly candy bars so I've never seen these before. Looking upon this bag of chips brought back a flood of memories from an entire family vacation to Canada back in 1989. Truly, one bag of chips did all that! We ate these on our trip, so suddenly I was whisked back to hot pink earrings and a ruffled mini skirt over black lace leggings, New Kids on the Block, relaxing in a bean bag in the camper of our Ford 350 Club Cab Dually (lovingly known of as The Blue Mule cuz it was bright blue and dad had a silver mule as the hood ornament that had orange eyes that lit up when the headlights were turned on) as we drove the winding roads around Glacier National Park with the back camper window open. Good times. I was 14, can't believe all the possibilities I dreamed of on that vacation, one of which was marrying Jordan Knight from NKOTB. My brothers were just toddlers then, now they have toddlers. Life goes too fast. I hope my memories never fade.

LITTLE LOOSTER!

Where has this been all my life! The Little Looster (Booster for the Loo!), invented, created and developed by a mom in OR. I love industrious, intelligent women. I used three step stools around the base of the toilet while potty training Logan, and looked for something like this. Seriously, how excited can I get? I would kiss it, if it wasn't on the floor of the bathroom! It fits all around the base of the toilet and it's not in the way for adults. Brilliant! I bought 3 of them, and paid full price and didn't even cringe, which is a first for me! Just in time for potty-training Silas....which is a long, sordid story for another day.

ORANGE CHICKEN

1/4 c sesame seed oil
3/4 c finely chopped green onion
1 TB finely chopped garlic
4 large chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
Enough flour to coat the chicken pieces

1/4 c seasoned rice vinegar
1/4 c white vinegar
2-3 TB cornstarch
6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate
3 TB Worcestershire sauce
3 TB soy sauce
3 TB sweet chili sauce
1/3 c honey

In a deep frying pan heat oil and saute onion and garlic for a couple minutes, then add the chicken pieces. While the chicken is cooking whisk together the cornstarch and vinegars in a bowl. In a separate saucepan over med/high heat add the remaining ingredients. Bring the orange sauce to a boil and whisk in the cornstarch mixture until it thickens. When the chicken is fully cooked add the orange sauce and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve over rice, with steamed broccoli. You can also add sesame seeds, almonds, mandarin oranges, or red and green bell pepper if you wish.

DIAPER DUTY!

In case you are wondering, no, you are not looking at a picture of the diaper aisle at Walgreen's. This is a shelf in the baby's closet. I managed to round up this stash during an incredible Walgreen's diaper sale. Why so many? Because what are regularly $9/ea jumbo pack ended up netting $2.50/ea thanks to a buy one get one free sale, as well as a coupon for $2 off per pack! Yes it was a major victory in my book. These diapers are truly fantastic. They are as good if not better than the name-brand, so when you can get them at 75% off, it's almost highway robbery! I bought every size, including training/night time pants. I am hoping I bought enough to last until she is in underwear. So I guess I officially have a 2+ year supply of diaper (food) storage. Too bad they are not edible. I guess if worse came to worse I could barter them off, or use them as first-aid compresses if someone is bleeding to death. A big thanks to my fabulous SIL Andi who gave me the heads up on the sale...and to Silas. My sweet little 3 year old, who not only endured being dragged in and out of his car seat for half the day while I drove to 8 different Walgreen's, but for doing it without one tantrum, fit or tear. It was a good day!

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS...

Silas says to me, "I haf a girlo fwend mom. Ya know who et es?". "No", I say, "who is it?"
"Ets a seekwet but I'll tell yew."
He bends over and whispers in my ear: "You!" then kisses me on the cheek.

The boys were belting out the Scooby-Dooby Doo theme song and Silas was saying, ""Sooby cooby doo....wet awe yew!"

I went to check on the boys, who were apparently playing cops and robbers in their room because Silas says to me, "Mom don't come in heo, or we will haf to shoot you in the nuggets!"