Mom or superhero?

Mason and Brant are in a "superhero" phase that began full-force two days ago.
A superhero is defined as possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers" and dedicated to protecting the public. Hmm well I'm very dedicated to protecting my kids - maybe I fit the superhero description?

My superhuman power: My ability to keep running even when I'm totally out of fuel.
My costume: pjs and an apron. Yes I wear an apron to literally protect me from slimy, cold, sticky hands. I know... its far from spandex.
Special weapon: No, not Thor's hammer but baby wipes. Helps me fight the evil dirt/germ monster on an hourly basis.
Weakness: Kryptonite was Superman's - mine is the sound of chewing. If someone chews loudly I easily turn Hulk-like.
Secret specialized automobile: My minivan - it's definitely my Batmobile. Although voice activation would be nice. "Quite Screaming kids."
Secret identity: I do feel like when I'm doing a chocolate tasting, a fundraiser or an event that I have a costume on...like Clark Kent dressing up in a suit. I have make up on, my hair is done, I have my "nice clothes" on without tiny finger prints on them (hopefully), I'm wearing a shoe or boot on that has some kind of heel, I have jewelry on, etc. People who talk to me have no clue that I'm most likely humming one of Elmos songs in my head. Or I'm trying to concentrate on putting a complete sentence together. I talk so basic at home to the kids. "Do you want a snack?" "Talk nice, please." It's difficult for me to transition to adult words and sentences. In fact by the time I feel I'm getting good at it is when its time for me to pack up and leave.

But who am I kidding? My kids are the real superheros here. They have "saved" me countless times - continously bring out strength in me I never knew I possessed. When I feel low and think, "gosh all I am is a maid, (or a cook, or a referee, etc.) around here." They unknowingly do something to remind me how important it is to have love and to love in this life. This reminder rescues me from taking a stroll down that degrading, untrue path. I'm picking up toys not because I'm a "maid" but because I don't want someone to trip and get hurt. Cleaning? An act of love? Never thought I would feel that way but I do. They save my soul from becoming cold and bitter by bringing pure joy into it - just by them being themselves.

Favorite fresh fennel salad recipe

The fennel season is nearly ending - it runs fall through the spring. I highly recommend trying fennel if you have not already; it's awesome in a salad. Very refreshing - sweet and has a slight licorice taste. I'm not a fan of licorice and never thought I would like fresh fennel as much as I do.
Don't feel intimidated by the looks of it. Just wash it and start slicing up the bulb - the entire bulb is edible (should not have brown spots). Throw it in salads, soups, stews, relishes, slaws, etc. Sprinkle some S&P over it and roast it or grill it. The feathery "fronds" can be used as a garnish or in salad dressings, gravies, etc.

If anyone has ever tried Gripe Water with their newborn may have noticed the licorice scent it has. That is because it contains fennel extract. Fennel has been known to help flatulence - from the young to the old. It also been known to help increase production and secretion of milk in lactating mothers. Yogi makes an organic women's nursing tea and the second ingredient listed is organic fennel seed.

Below is my FAVORITE fennel salad. It's full of flavor and easy to make.
Chicken Salad with Orange and Fennel (from Cuisine at Home):
Ingredients

• 1/2c mayo (I only use a couple of tablespoons)
• 1/4c Greek yogurt or plain yogurt (I increase to make up for the mayo I omitted)
• 2 Tbsp orange juice
• Zest of half of orange (highly recommend doing this!)
• 4 cups diced cooked chicken (I just buy a whole roasted chicken at the store it tastes amazing and cuts down my prep time)
• 1cup halved red grapes
• 3/4 c diced fennel bulb
• 1/4c slivered almonds, toasted
• 2 Tbsp chopped fennel fronds

Whisk mayo, yogurt, orange juice and zest in a bowl. Stir in chicken, grapes, fennel, almonds, fronds and S&P to taste.
Eat with a croissant or on a bed of greens.

Infuse, infuse, infuse!

When I'm cooking, I try to infuse as much as possible. It helps enhance the flavor of anything you are cooking.
Here are some examples:

• Infuse your oil. Heat your pan up and then pour whatever oil you are using into the pan. If I'm making pancakes or french toast I add a little vegetable oil and then infuse it with butter. It gives it that diner taste. The vegetable oil helps protect the butter from burning. If I'm searing steak i would get the oil hot and infuse it with a fresh herb or garlic (careful not to burn though, burnt garlic is awful).
• Infuse your cooking water. When I boil noodles, rice, coucous, etc. I infuse the water with something that is in the dish - whole peppercorns, fresh herbs, half an onion (whole), whole cloves of garlic, half a lemon (whole with rind), etc.
• Infuse your powered sugar. Make vanilla powered sugar by sticking a vanilla bean inside the bag/container. It's great for homemade frosting.
• Infuse your high-proof alcohol. Make your own vanilla extract with vodka, rum or bourbon (80 proof). You need three vanilla beans per 1 cup. Store the mason jar in a dark place and in two months you have vanilla extract! 
• Infuse your whipping cream. Pour a cup of whipping cream (or however much you need) into a tightly sealed container. Add whole coffee beans, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour and up to 24 hours. When you are ready to whip your cream, pour whipping cream through a strainer. Beat cream on high speed in a cool, stainless steel bowl - add a little vanilla and powered sugar and you will have amazing, homemade coffee-infused whip cream. YUM!
• Infuse your breakfast syrup - real, fake, organic...whatever! Pour some in a small pan and add fresh blueberries, strawberries, pecans, almonds, apples, cinnamon sticks - possibilities are endless! Make sure its on very low heat. It doesn't take long for the syrup to heat up.
• Infuse your simple syrup. When I get any citrus on sale I juice them and make limeade, etc. I usually take the rinds and use them to enhance my simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar). In the summer time when I have loads of fresh herbs from my garden, I will also add herbs along with the rinds. I have made limeade with mint simple syrup and lemonade with rosemary or basil simple syrup. I have also made grapefruit juice with cinnamon syrup (cinnamon stick) and orangeade with lavendar syrup. It's refreshing and subtle.

Opposite land and binoculars

Ever feel like you are living in Opposite Land? It felt like that today.

• My house is supposed to be clean and its dirty.
• Right now, it's 9:35pm and everyone is supposed to be sleeping but I can hear the older boys are up.
• I was supposed to incorporate more healthy foods into my diet but I ate junk food.
• Right now I'm laying down typing and I should be standing up, cleaning.
• What was supposed to be in, was out. (I gave Jaxon a pain reliever for his teeth. He was so mad that I gave it to him he literally spit it across the room.)
• I would ask the boys to talk quietly and they would scream.

On a better note, we made binoculars out of toilet paper rolls today. Emtpy paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls are something I'm so quick to recycle than stash somewhere for future projects. But I actually remembered this week.
I used masking tape to connect the rolls instead of a stapler or glue because its easier to adjust once on their face. The boys decorated the rolls with stickers and quickly jumped on the couch to play "boat." They used the binoculars to look for sharks.

Lovin this Mom thing

I had one of those moments today where you are just loving life - who you are with, where you are at, etc. In that moment anything that was hanging over your head is no longer, the knot in your stomach has untied.
It was a random moment with Brant and Mason. I was cooking french toast and they were both standing on a chair next to the stove watching me cook and helping me dip the bread in the batter. I had Modest Mouse playing and we were all dancing. Brant gets this look when he is really feeling the music - eyes are slightly squinted and his little lips come together. The stuff they say and do while we dance cracks me up. "Look mommy my butt is dancing." "Mommy you hear a drum?" They have no walls up. Right now its cool to hang out with me in the kitchen and show me their dance moves. What more could I ask for?

Wood floor and plastic toy solution

So many of us have wood floors now throughout our house. For me there are WAY more pros and than cons. But an obstacle I came across when Brant, now 4, was 8 months old was he would try to hang onto a toy to help himself up and the toy would slide. Of course he would fall or get frustrated. I bought a "Thick Grip Shelf Liner" from Target for my cabinets and had some to spare. I started putting it under these toys and it helped keep them more stable.

Daily Planner

I saw this Daily Planner from One Step Ahead and went crazy over it. My mom of course remembered and bought it for Brant last year for his birthday. I think its a great item.

Pros:

• Opportunity to talk to Brant and Mason about the days of the week, weather, month, seasons, etc. My favorite part is the "feeling" category. One time Mason was really mad and hit Brant. I took them both up to the chart and I held up the "mad" face. I said, Mason are you mad? He said, "YES!" We talked about why he was mad and how its ok to feel mad but you cannot break the rules while you are mad. "It's ok to feel mad but it's not ok to hit Brant because you feel mad. Now that you hit Brant, he is now sad (I take out the "sad" face)." Brant chimed in, "yeah and Brant wants to feel happy (takes out "happy" face)." It lightens up the mood which makes it easier for all of us to talk about how they are feeling and what happened, etc. During these talks I also refer to the list of rules that is written out and hung in our kitchen. I think knowing what is expected of them helps everyone stay on track.
• It's interactive. I'll say, "Go look out the window and tell me if the sun is out." Or we see/hear rain and the puddles the rain is making. While we are looking at the rainy weather we usually always see an animal running in the rain, bathing in the rain or drinking the rain water. We talk about how everything is wet, how the clouds are gray, or how everyone takes a bath, etc.
• I like the size of it
• There are a row of numbers on the bottom. It helps them strengthen counting skills.

Con:

• It's tough keeping track of the pieces.