Enchiladas...Yummy!

I have used either the canned stuff or the packets that you add to the tomato paste and water, in the past. Needless to say, I have not made enchiladas in a long time.  I hate all the msg and other yucky ingredients.  Today I searched online for recipes and this one had awesome reviews.  I added a couple of ingredients and decreased the salt.  It is delish!!!  

After making the sauce...I poured a thin layer of sauce in bottom of 9x13 pan. Then I cooked up about 2 pounds of chicken along with some onion and bell pepper in some canola oil.  Once the chicken was cooked through I added the Enchilada sauce to the meat mixture.  I scooped about 1/4-1/3 cup of the mixture into a small taco size tortilla, sprinkled on some cheese and laid it, seam side down, in the prepared pan.  Once the pan is full, pour more sauce over the top to coat.  Then sprinkle more cheese on.  Bake @ 375 degrees until sauce is bubbly and cheese is melted.  Enjoy!!! 

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/8-1/4 cup chili powder, to taste with more chili powder the spicier ( I used 3Tbsp)

2 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1/2 teaspoon salt (1/4 tsp)

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon oregano

2 teaspoons sugar

½ tsp onion powder

½ tsp garlic powder

cayenne, to taste if you want more spice (I didn't use this.  My kids don't like spicy foods at all!) 

Directions:  Heat oil with cornstarch in saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 1 minute.  Add in chili powder and cook for another minute.  Gradually stir in the broth, mixing well with a whisk to make sure you get out the lumps.  Stir in the remaining ingredients.  Simmer until thickened on low.
http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-enchilada-sauce-222519?oc=linkback

Job Description

Some of the things you NEVER hear about being a stay-at-home mom would make some turn quickly on their heels and run away screaming in hysterics.  I think it's one of life's best kept secrets.  Being a stay-at-home mom is one of the most rewarding jobs that exists.  AND at the same time the HARDEST, most challenging career any woman could choose to pursue.  The blessings greatly outweigh the costs, but at times I can easily see why women might want to quit...and run away screaming!

The paycheck stinks...let's be honest now.  LOL!
The hours are horrific.
The job description is scary.

I mean WHAT would it say, if it were listed in the classifieds?

In need of good, strong courageous women who are willing to be up at all hours of the night; becoming sleep deprived beyond compare.
Willing to clean up after little people again and again and again...and even yet again!
Willing to clean up ANY bodily fluid at a moments notice.
Able to clean crayon and marker off the walls.
Needs to be good at cooking, cleaning, doing mounds and mounds of stinky laundry,wiping tears, kissing booboos, wiping boogers, stopping fights, reading bedtime stories, playing pretend, giggling and being silly, getting dirty, being creative, consoling a crying child...

It's is an overwhelming task that without the help of my Heavenly Father, I wouldn't be able to do it.  But somehow the positive outweighs all of those negatives.  There are days when I want to rip all my hair out...but then I'd be bald and that just wouldn't be very flattering!  So, I choose an alternative.  I fall to my knees and ask for help.  I don't have a clue how to do it all.  But Father in Heaven does!

So, even though this job is the hardest I have ever had, it is the best job too.  I am so thankful to be able to see the good things that come.  What trials we thought we could never get through have a way of passing and then we look back and see how far we have come; what we have learned that we might not have learned otherwise; we see the blessings.  I love the tiny things...the firsts.  The first smile, laugh, belly laughs, sitting up, crawling, the wonder of discovering their hands, the first words.  I love when they want to be "BIG" just like me.  I love when they find joy in Heavenly Father's creations; and no matter how often they see them they bring wonder and happiness to their eyes.

The first day of Nursery is sometimes scary and eventually they learn to love it.  The first day of school is terrifying and exciting and I learn to let go a little.  Now TJ is 14 and has had his first dance.  He'll start High School in a few short weeks...along with early morning seminary. Before I know it he'll be heading off on his mission.  When I think about it that way, I enjoy the sitting and holding the baby even more.  I soak up every moment with them.  We don't have to be perfect house keepers or perfect at making fabulous dinners.  We have to try our best.  One moment at a time.

I think peanut butter and jelly for supper is a wonderful idea!!!

Mending

There are those things that we put off until we have time to do them. And eventually we find a free moment and we remember that thing that needs doing and we finally get it done.

I have been meaning to fix Alex's winter jacket for about 8 or 9 months now.  We bought it new last year. After a short time wearing it Alex came to me and showed me how frustrating it was to zip. You see...the way it is made, there is a flap of material that is supposed to lay flat behind the zipper. I'm still unsure of it's purpose. I'm sure someone in the sewing world would know this random piece of information right off the top of their heads. But not me.

This lovely little flap kept getting caught in the teeth of the zipper EVERY time he tried to zip it up. Even though I tried to show him how to protect the fabric by putting his finger behind the zipper as he zipped up, the material began to tear. Finally,after there were a few small tears plus a larger, more noticeable one, he decided he didn't want to wear it anymore and we found an old coat of TJ's that was stashed somewhere, forgotten, and he wore that instead.

So today, while folding laundry, I finally found the determination to get this job completed. I took the flap, folded in half toward the zipper, while tucking the torn part inside, and sewed it down with a quick whip stitch (thanks to Cheryl Helm for teaching me that lovely little stitch!). It was a bit tedious and time consuming, to say the least. Once the hand stitching was complete I took that lovely flat and layed it flat, against the inner lining of the jacket, away from the zipper.

Then I used the sewing machine and did a simple, but effective, straight stitch from the inside of the jacket with a color that matched the jacket. Once complete, I put the jacket onto Alex and showed him how smoothly it glided up and down because that silly little flat was effectively tucked away. It didn't seem to impress him all that much, but it put a smile on my face! I just saved myself some money. :) That ALWAYS makes me smile!!

Now, when I purchase a jacket that has one of those flaps, I am going to take it home and sew the flap back against the inside of the jacket.

A fresh start

It's Monday morning.  The alarm clock blared and in my sleepy fog I thought I was dreaming something.  My brain cleared.  I looked at Cassie, sound asleep next to me, and realized the obnoxious noise was the alarm clock. I quickly leaped over her and smacked it into silence.

"It can't be morning already," I groaned to myself.  I slowly, unsteadily, plodded to the bathroom since I was up.  Up...maybe in body, but not in mind.  I came back to the bed and looked at my two sweet, sleeping girls.  Both snuggled peacefully into my bed.

"I'm not ready to be awake yet." I thought.  I slowly climbed onto the foot of my bed, careful not to jostle the sleeping angels, and curled up for a few short minutes...my legs dangling off the edge.

I bolted upright...there is was again.  I'm glad I hit snooze the first time the alarm went off.  I slid from my spot and my knees hit the floor.  I needed to say my morning prayer.  I rested my forehead on the mattress. My brain still so foggy.  I know He understands.  I stumble through my morning prayer.  I need the strength He can give me.

I slowly stand up, stretch and stumble to the kitchen, wiping my sleepy eyes.  TJ is already up and eating breakfast.  I'm so blessed.  It was a good day yesterday.  Mother's Day.  The boys made me breakfast and made sure to help out a lot more.  I smile to myself.  My life is good!

Homemade Laundry Soap

Disclaimer...I had not tried this before I posted it...silly me!!  So, I used too much water...LOL!  It is still just watery.  But I simply doubled the amount I put into the washer and called it good.  So, NEXT TIME I will try adding only 22 additional cups after the first 10 (I adjusted the recipe below to reflect that).  :)  Post any comments on what worked for you! That would be FANtastic!  (6/13/12 - I made my second batch of the soap today.  I actually enjoyed using the soap the first time I made it, it was just watery. I spilled it down the front of my washer a lot.  Haha! Until I decided to put it into an old laundry soap bottle.  It made our clothing smell fresh without the perfume-y kind of smell.  The clothes came out just as clean as they did with Gain and Tide.  Woot!!!!)

In an effort to save money and be...awesome...Hahaha...I decided to try making my own laundry soap. So, I found a couple of different blogs with recipes and made a combination of them to try out for our family. 

This is what I did:
1/2 bar of grated Dr. Bonner's bar soap (I used Citrus) ( You can use Tom's of Maine for a less expensive, natural version.  If you don't need to worry about natural soaps you can also use Fels Naptha, or Ivory)
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup Arm and Hammer washing soda
1/4 cup Oxy clean (optional)
a few drops of Essential oil for scent (lavender or tea tree work well, I used both.  I added about 10-15 drops of each.)
5 gallon bucket with a lid
water

First, grate 1/2 of the soap and put it into a large saucepan. Add 6 cups of water and heat until soap melts. Add the washing soda, borax, and stir until dissolved. Pour 4 cups of hot tap water into the bucket. Add soap mixture and stir together. Add essential oil. Add 22 cups of water. Stir. Cover and let the soap cool and set up for about 12-24 hours.  Then add the Oxy Clean (I found I don't like to add the oxy clean to the soap.  I only add it if needed in a load now) and it will remain gelled.  Yay!  If you add the oxy clean along with the washing soda and borax the mixture will not jell up, but it still works great!!

When the finished product jells up it won't have a normal consistency. Part of it will be like jello and part will remain liquid. It's all the same thing and dissolves in the laundry tub. No need to try and break it up. Each load takes about 1/2 cup of laundry soap.

Pour your mixture into a large empty laundry soap container that has a spigot for easy dispensing!

Here are the websites that I got most of my info from:
http://grocerycartchallenge.blogspot.com/2008/10/homemade-laundry-soap-wfmw.html
http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/homemade-laundry-detergent-safe-for-cloth-diapers/

This website give more good information:
http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

I made my second batch on June 13th and because I added the Oxy Clean along with the washing soda and borax it is still liquid-y but it still works, so I'm not going to fret about that.  LOVE LOVE LOVE that I can add all of these products to my home storage and have enough to last me for a year easily.  I LOVE to save money and feel good about something I accomplished!!

After watching a heartwarming, awe inspiring, amazing video this morning about a mother who chose to keep her baby, even though she KNEW he would have something wrong...I am so thankful for my blessings. This amazing mother gave birth to an sweet baby boy who not only had a cleft palate but cleft eyes. He eyes did not form. He is blind. You can probably imagine the stares, whispers, pointed fingers, and horrible comments that she received as a result. In the video she tells how hard it was at first. And then she tells of the joy that came and continues to bless her life. It's one of those stories that makes you feel so exceeding thankful for the tiny blessings that are all around you every day. This mother chose to keep this baby, not abort it. And when she did, she made a choice to be blessed each day by the sweet spirit of her son. She chose to love him the way that our Father in Heaven loves him. She chose the better way. I have only had small moments in my life when people have made rude comments about my parenting skills because I had a toddler who was throwing a huge screaming tantrum in the middle of the check-out lane. When that has happened I have wished I could say, "My child has Autism. You should go take some time to go learn about it." I have wanted to be unkind in return. But usually I would simply gather my children and get into my car as quickly as I could...while I was close to tears. Eventually we stopped going to stores with our toddler. Now those days seem like they happened eons ago. That toddler is now 10. NOW...he can go into stores with me and knows what to expect and how to handle it. These experiences and those of others make me think how vitally important it is that we show love and kindness to others. Instead of pointing fingers...instead of whispering negative comments... if more people could simply smile and allow themselves to be touched by the spirit of another. Lend a helping hand or find a positive thing to say when we see another who is struggling. One moment at a time, we can all make this world a better place to live in.

Put simply...life is crazy!

Another day passed...and what in the world did I get done? I ponder this on occasion and then I remember to STOP! LOL! Then I assess the situation...kids are fed...kids are clothed...kids are healthy...We're doing well! I'm always trying to come up with strategies to help the kids want to help me. :) This year we are giving allowances ... which can be discontinued without prior notice. It's working fairly well. I love to read and Todd convinced me to purchase a Kindle so that I can have multiple books stored in one convenient place; something that travels well. So, I decided on the Kindle Fire. Very pretty! Not only can I read on it, but I can get free apps. I think my favorite app, so far, is the LDS Gospel Library. *squeal* It has the scriptures and manuals I use for church. I LOVE it! The other free apps ... used as motivational tools ... are games. I am not a fan of video or computer games. They can be mind sucking, brain cell wasting, wastes of time. BUT I will use them to motivate my children to get things done. So, yesterday, after downloading a few games to my Kindle, I asked TJ to please unload AND load the dishwasher. He groaned. And I smiled ... scheming to myself ... and said, "I'll let you play 5 games on my Kindle if you do it for me!" Five games means when they choose Angry Birds, for example, one game is finished when it says game over. Sometimes that only take them 2 minutes. You should have seen the eye popping, shocked look on his face. Yes ... One "mom victory"! So, his 5 games took him 20 minutes ... lesson learned. LOL! He has learned how to make them last a while. Next time I'll offer a smaller number of games. Even still. He did his job WITHOUT complaining! THAT, my friends, is amazing! Being 14 is simply hard. I remember feeling hormonal (though at the time I didn't realize that's what it was) as a teenager. I couldn't figure out why I felt so ... BAD. Being a teen IS hard! But being a Mom is hard too. Hahaha! I put miss Cassie Boo down for a nap this morning, in my room, and let Alyssa watch a show. Why do 3 year olds have such a tough time NOT yelling? GRRRR! So, every time I put the baby down, Alyssa YELLS from the other room, "MOM!!!" And you'd think it was something super important, but NO it's not. She just doesn't want to get up and come talk to me. Yelling, apparently, is much much easier than walking to another room. Silly girl! So, now Cassie is awake and only got a 30 minute nap. She'll need another nap later, for sure. I realize I run from place to place, cleaning up messes, putting toys back, wiping up spills, doing dishes, doing yet another load of laundry, and cleaning up more messes. Our jobs are never done. So, I am trying to take the time to remember to sit and enjoy the precious moments. Cassie used to snuggle. Then she had RSV and was poked and prodded in the hospital. Not long after that, she stopped snuggling. It has made me very sad. Recently I started taking the girls to see my chiropractor (since I just found out that those who are 6 and under are free!!!). Soon after getting their first adjustments they started pooping better! Yay! No more constipated baby!!! Alyssa started sleeping better. And Cassie started to snuggle on a occasion. The joy and sweet peace that comes from those tiny moments are so precious and do something so wonderful for the soul. Every time Cassie lays her head on my shoulder ... I stop whatever I am doing and soak it all in. These are the moments that make it all worth while!!! Now... on to my crazy day!! I hope yours is a bit crazy too!! :)