Asparagus Soup

I am not the type of girl that loves asparagus. It is something green I eat occasionally because I know it is good for me, so when I made asparagus soup I was very leery about how it would taste. Seriously gross were my thoughts.

However, as soon as I put the spoon to my lips my taste buds were in heaven! I wanted to grab a straw and suck the whole pot down! My husband had the same reaction.

Asparagus Soup

1bl young asparagus (thinner are less bitter)
3 tablespoons butter*
6 shallots (or 1/4 cup onion), sliced
1 tablespoon flour
2 1/2 cups veg stock or water (we used veg stock w/o tomatoes)
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Wash the asparagus and break off bottom of stock. (Hold the bottom and bend it. Where it breaks is where it is less tough and fibrous.) Break the rest into 1-2 inch pieces.

Melt butter in large pan and saute the sliced shallots for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add asparagus and saute over low heat for 1 minute.

Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the stock or water and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes until asparagus is tender.

Cool slightly and process the soup in a food processor or blender until smooth. Enjoy!

The whole recipe has approx 400 calories.

*This could easily be made vegan without the butter. It changes the flavor slightly, but it is still good.

Homeschooling Day 2

Today was another good day of homeschooling. Kristofer started on his work right away and was done at 8:30am. He thinks it is so cool he gets done long before the kids at school get out.

It is amazing to me how much I can visibly see that his stress is reduced. It is like he is a different kid. He is very loving and kind and reaching out for affection instead of pushing me away.

The boys had a good time practicing team work while playing Lincoln Logs. Some things you can't learn in a text book.

First Day of Homeschool

We have decided to homeschool Kristofer and our decision to homeschool was not taken lightly. In fact, as a former homeschooler I had no desire to put the burden of my children's education on my shoulders. Seriously, I have enough on there just trying to raise them right.

However, as the school year has progressed we are noticing the lack of family time and as a result there are unpleasant behaviors. When a child is needing attention they will get it however even if it means using a negative approach.

A few things I have read along the way was Arleta James' blog post about schooling, Christine'sblog post about unschooling and this article about socialization.

For our curriculum I am using what the school gave me that we had already paid for. It covers math, spelling and language arts and for everything else we are using books from the library. In first grade it is all about making it fun and hands on.

After one day of homeschooling I am so happy with our decision and can't wait to see where this leads us.

I had to take a picture of London today when we were heading out the door to pick up Kristofer. I mean really, who is cuter than this?! And lets not forget his stellar red carpet look. It is definitely the training pants hanging out that make this outfit. Wait, maybe it is the white socks. You decide!

Guess what Kristofer learned at school today?

Yep, he learned how to make spit wads.

Today I am getting sneaky in the kitchen!

Yesterday, I made a vegetarian chili and today I decided to add some pureed spinach to it for lunch. I am having a hard time getting good veggies into my kids so I thought I'd see if they noticed.

While I was heating the chili in a pan I put the spinach in the blender with a 1/2 cup cold chili and blended away.

When the chili was heated, but not boiling I added the spinach/chili mixture and heated until just warm. This way the nutrients do not get cooked out and the taste of the spinach was undetected.

"Mmm, YUMMY!" Says the boy who will not eat green!

I learned all my deceptiveness from Jessica Seinfeld and you can too in her cookbook Deceptively Delicious!

You know you are a mom of boys when...

In our family we call the penis a winky. Why? I have no idea. That is just what we do. This past weekend we started calling it by the correct name and the boys got a good laugh about it. I guess it sounds funny to them.

Today, Kolton was waiting his turn to use the bathroom and said, "Mommy! I'm holding my peanuts!"

Why Love Isn't Enough: Part Three

Why Love Isn't Enough: Part Three Check it out and educate yourself!

How Full Is your Bucket?

The book How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids by Tom Rath is a great way for kids to see how our emotional bucket is affected by others around us and how we treat others. I am hoping that by reading it to our boys they will see how treating others the way you want to be treated is truly the right thing to do.

Why Love Isn't Enough! Part Two

Check out Arleta's Blog post: Why Love Isn't Enough: Part Two. There is a lot of good information there.

Children's Book-Horace

This looks like a great children's book about adoption and fitting in.

Why Love Isn't Enough! Part One

Check out this blog series written by Arleta James.

She is a phenomenal therapist who works at the Attachment and Bonding Center of Ohio and has helped our family tremendously in the past 7 months.

He thinks I'm squishy.

Kristofer woke up to go to the bathroom this evening and when he came out I carried him back to his room. He snuggled into me and was rubbing his hands on my upper arms and said, "Mama, you are so lovable because you are squishy and cold, and warm, and squishy and just nice to love on." My heart just melted. Who knew that being called squishy could be such a compliment?

In the past few weeks I have noticed some some real progress with Kristofer and his attachment to me. He is smiling at me more, having less disrespectful talk, reaching out for love and affection, and opening up and talking to me.

Before his brothers came home, I believe he was very attached, but in the course of trying to help his brothers attach his emotional needs were not being met. This caused us to have some detachment in our relationship. I am so thankful things are on the mend and I am thrilled to have my lovable boy back.

You might be too big to rock...

...if your feet touch the floor and you can help do the rocking.

He kept snuggling deeper and I didn't have the heart to shoo him to bed. He is such a snuggle bug. Sigh...

I think I can.

One if my guys likes to scream and cry and say, "I can't" when he is trying to do something that takes a little effort. Sometimes he whips out the fussing even when it is something he knows how to do.

Last night when I was reading stories I decided to read The Little Engine That Could. I think we need to read this more often to help encourage them to try harder even when it looks difficult.

My Homemade Happiness: You Know You're A Mom of Boys When...

My Homemade Happiness: You Know You're A Mom of Boys When...

You go to open the fridge and this is what you find.

Check out: Why Love Is Not Enough.

Kristofer had a behavioral blow up last night and what it came down to was not being able to spend much time with mommy.

I try every day, when he gets home from school, to be attentive to him, but one of his brothers works his hardest to not let it happen. Said brother will throw a fit, and you might think it is easy to blow off, but he screams in our ears, destroys the house, or tries to run outside which of course puts the attention on him. Arleta's blog post explains why this happens with said brother.

I decided to make a special date with Kristofer tonight so I wrote him a note.

When he got home I sent him to the mailbox to get it and he was so excited. After he read it we had this conversation:

K: Mommy, what is a date?

Me: A date is when you go do something together. Like papa and I will go to dinner or a movie by ourselves.

K: Oh, so are we going to go to dinner together and that is a date.

Me: Yes.

Kristofer was so sweet to me for the rest of the day and open for hugs, loves and kisses.

We went to our favorite restaurant and had a good time together. Kristofer opened up to me about school and we had some good conversations. It was really sweet because he opened the doors for me and held my hand. He has a hold of my heart pretty tight. Sigh...

This is a video of the boys swimming in the pool for the first time without me. Normally, I am in the pool and they swim to my hand. I am so proud of them and they are awesome swimmers.

The audio from me is a little loud so watch your volume.

Today we loaded up and headed into Louisville to have lunch at a hot dog stand and go to the Science Center. The boys thought it was fun to get the hot dogs and it brought back childhood memories for me.

In the middle of eating in the park we had to pack it up and run back to the van. I forgot to put money in the meter. Clearly, we do not head to the "big city" often.

We ate lunch in the park nearby.

After we ate lunch, we drove a few blocks to the Science Center and after we parked we had a grand adventure walking down the street.

First we checked out the man on the bench...

Then we discovered the drains in the sidewalk...

Stopped to take a cool picture on the fence...

And found a bat on the sidewalk to take a picture with. Then we made it to our destination.

Kristofer was on the go so it was hard to get his picture.

London the Pilot

Kolton had a grand time dressing in the Dr. coat and pushing the baby and groceries around.

London is working hard to put the belt buckle together.

And now our favorite part, the water tables. Kristofer loves to put pipe together and watch the water flow.

London was having a grand time sticking the sponges on the wall.

On our way out the boys had to dance a jig in front of the mirrors.

Ah, it was a good day.

This Breakfast Parfait is now my favorite breakfast. I got the recipe from jillianmichaels.com and I love it because it is 210 calories for a large serving, it gives me good energy, and keeps me full for 4+ hours.

16 ounce(s) yogurt, fat-free, Greek-style, plain
2 cup(s) cereal, flax, such as Nature's Path
1 cup(s) blueberries, fresh or defrosted frozen
1 cup(s) strawberries, fresh or defrosted frozen
4 teaspoon honey
4 teaspoon nuts, almonds, slivers
1 medium orange(s), peeled and thinly sliced

In 4 small bowls or large cups, place 2 ounces of yogurt to line the bottom. Layer 1/2 cup cereal, 1/4 cup of each berry, and 1 teaspoon of honey. Cover with another layer of yogurt (2 ounces per bowl or cup each), and top each parfait with 1 teaspoon of almonds and 2 to 3 orange slices.
Serve cold. Serves 4

Per serving
210 calories
2g. fat
7g. fiber

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Today, my guys spoiled me with a gift card to Coffee Crossings Coffee Shop. Thank you!

Today is bitter sweet for me. I love to mother my boys, but I can't help thinking about their feelings today and their birthmothers. I am grateful to their birthmothers for giving them life and to their birthmothers I say thank you for entrusting me with the job of raising their child. I love you boys and I can't imagine life without you. You three are so precious to me.

The Woman I Never Met

There is a woman out there,
One I do not know
She gave me a precious gift
My son I love so dear

I say a prayer of thanks
And one for her as well
There is possibly a hole
In her heart that can't be filled

Thank you dear sister
For giving me your son
This is a gift I can not repay
For it is a special one.

God entrusted his care
Into my arms that day
And as I said before
This is a gift I can not repay.
© 2003 Kari Hunt

Kristofer and I's conversation when I picked him up from school today.

Kristofer: "Mom, on Wednesday Roman said I could be his BFF and BFF's get to go to his house!

Me: "That's awesome Kristofer. Do you know what a BFF is?"

Kristofer: "No."

LMAO!!! I thought this started in the tween years or something. Not kindergarten!