Paige and Food

For as long as I can remember, Paige has been a good eater.  She enjoys food (preparation and intake of).  She has also always been a definite carnivore.  She loves meat.  Well, here are a couple of recent food stories:

1.  Today Paige had leftovers in a thermos.  It is a pasta dish that would not generally be a kid-friendly food in that it is chock-full of spinach and tomato, but she LOVES it.  Apparently, several rude children at her lunch table held their noses and said it looked gross.  She said that she told them they should try it.  Apparently one child had tried this dish before and said it was gross. Paige's reply?  "Well, you must have different taste buds."  YES!  Go strong-willed girl! 

2.  Tonight I made 2 huge T-bone steaks for dinner (rare).  The kids acted like wild animals and practically ate their weight in it (excluding Cole who had one taste of steak sauce and wouldn't touch the meat again).  Anyway, while on her 67th helping, Paige said, "Oh, mom, this would be a great lunch in my thermos with a little container of A1."  I can hear it now as the lunch table opens their lunch boxes of PB&Js and Paige opens hers..."Steak again?"

Glue Sticks Are Cool

I recently stocked up on glue sticks due to a sale and thank goodness because Will is into them.  He LOVES doing projects and a project just isn't a project without the use of a glue stick. 

Unfortunately, he gives these little tubes of stickiness a little too much credit, using them for jobs meant for more serious glue varieties.  Here is the latest.  When I pull the real train set out, something is bound to break.  Overall, both boys are very gentle with it.  But the tiny road signs and other parts can be taken out in one bump.  So...Will took it among himself to fix it today:

If you'll notice, the sign isn't even up on the base that it broke off of.  It is just nestled in a messy wad of glue stick.  But, I'm happy to report that when I went down tonight to take this picture, it was holding strong! 

And the funniest part is that he has passed this along to Cole.  Yesterday Cole came trotting to the table with a few sheets of white paper and a glue stick.  You know, to do a project.

The Way I Like It

We all seem to be fighting this little cold virus now.  Will and I are hardest hit at the moment.  It kept us from gym class today and will probably keep him home from school tomorrow.  Actually, while contemplating this I asked Will if he felt like he was going to feel good enough for school tomorrow.  He replied, "I can't.  Remember?  I have one of those hot head things?"  Yes.  That would be fever.  Not to be confused with a short temper - which he has also had a bit of due to his faucet-like nose.  He has had a fever the previous 2 nights, but thankfully not tonight.

So Cole has a bit of a cough and Paige does also (but whether that is remnants of her last virus or the start of a new, I don't know).  And while this is a bummer, it is just that.  Cole is still a pistol, Will is still goofy and Paige is still giddy.  And that's just the way I like it. 

Quotable Quote Awards

The award goes to:

PAIGE (while arguing with Will about who loves me more): I love her 200 times to Pluto and back and around the whole tri-state area and back.

Honorable Mention:

WILL (After being asked if his room was cleaned up after quiet time):  Yeah.  I didn't even play with anything...I just walked around my room the whole time.

COLE (After seeing me set the table this evening):  Din-ah!

When Mom's Sick

I'm not even really that sick.  Just a little achey - but I've nearly completely lost my voice.  This really makes you realize how much a mom of 3 young kids needs to talk throughout the day.  And I wouldn't say that the kids are overly comfortable with the situation. 

Will on the way to school: Mom - maybe you should try to say "ahem."

Paige while we're talking after school: Have you tried coughing to see if you voice comes back?

Paige after agreeing that she'd be okay if I read her a book in a whisper voice: Why don't  you trying clearing your throat to see if that helps.

It's just not the same when mom's not 100%.  I was reminded of this sentiment when reading a "Ramona" book with Paige recently.  When kids are quite young, they tend to think of moms & dads as invincible and not susceptible to pain/illness.  I remember having that feeling, and knowing that my kids may have that same feeling of me is just so surreal. 

Credit Where Credit is Due

WILL
I have to give Will credit for being such a good listener lately.  If I say no to something, he does not do it.  Then today he kind of slipped up and here's how it went down: I went into his room during quiet time to tell him if he cleaned up his room he could come downstairs.  Then I noticed while telling him this he was standing completely still with his hands behind his back and was very quick to affirm what I was saying (so as to get me out of there quickly).  That's when I asked him what was behind his back.  He pulled out a pencil.  He said, "I had to go into Paigey's room to get this because mine didn't have a re-acer."  That's how literal he takes my "rules."  Quiet time is meant to be in his room - that is as opposed to downstairs or running around.  Certainly borrowing a pencil from the next room was acceptable.  But I like his guilty conscience.  It'll keep him honest.

PAIGE
She has been much more generous with the big hugs as she runs off the bus and they vocal "I love you's."  This is music to my ears and I will take it whenever I can get it!

COLE
He went through this don't-mess-with-any-part-of-me-unless-it's-my-idea phase that made everything from doctor visits to diaper changes to washing in the tub WWF.  Suddenly, though, this is just...over.  When I get done washing his body in the tub he lays himself down to do his hair.  He lies completely still to get a diaper change and has been taking his preventative Tamiflu like a champ! 

Kudos to the kids!

As Requested

I have to iterate that I wasn't necessarily raving about the meatloaf last night.  It doesn't excite me much - and this one is especially not exciting, but good for kids.  My point was all the "meatloaf" talk, and then Will asks for more of that chicken.  For Will, all meat = chicken. 

But, here is the recipe.  I make it because I HEART crock pot recipes.  I added some worchestershire sauce and we think the "sweet" glaze on top should be traded for more of a ketchup/A1 type mix or something.  Not digging the sweetness.

Tried and True Crockpot Meatloaf
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
2 eggs
3/4 c. milk (I use soymilk)
3/4 c. bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/4 c. catsup
2T. brown sugar, packed
1 t. dry mustard
1/4 t. nutmeg

Combine beef, eggs, milk, bread crumbs, onion, salt, and pepper; mix well.  Form into a loaf; place in a slow cooker.  Cover adn cook on low setting for 5 to 6 hours.  Whisk remaining ingredients together; pour over meatloaf.  Cover and cook on high setting an additional 15 minutes.  That's it!

Dinner

Tonight I made a crockpot meatloaf recipe that seemed to be popular among the fam.  My parents had visited before dinner and taste tested the meatloaf.  Rich commented many times about how the meatloaf was good during dinner.  Paige wasn't sure she liked the meatloaf at first, but then ate the meatloaf gone.  Cole was a fan of the meatloaf with "dip."  Then, finally, Will spoke up...

"Can I please have more of that chicken?"

Effects of Older Siblings

I took a big dive into Christmas shopping over the weekend and feel confident with my start.  While I struggle a bit with things that Cole should get for Christmas (since he loves so much of what Will loves), it's still possible to find little things that reflect his taste.

However, it is funny when I'm debating about a gift for him and realize the package says age 6+.  Uhhh...yeah, he is so past the 18-month+ type toys that this is the reality.  More reality is when he giggles at Tom and Jerry which is new in our household in the past 6 months to a year, or dances to the High School Musical with some killer moves, or rides in a battery powered monster truck.

The kicker was tonight when I was doing dinner dishes.  I keep a doubled rubber band on the knobs of the pantry cabinet - mainly to avoid the constant "inventory" habit he had.  Tonight I watched him walk up to it, take the rubber band off, grab his after-dinner snack of choice, and put the rubber band back on (which is what Paige and Will do when they get things for themselves).  Who, exactly, is the 18-month old securing the pantry from?  Right.  No longer effective. 

I'm not complaining.  I think it's a riot.  I loved this phase of Will, too - when he joined the big kids as if he SO belonged there.  Here's the crew during "leaf day" at Grandma and Grandpa's:

Thanks for the opinions on my blog layout.  It's going to stay like this, even though I find it a bit blah.  At least I think it will stay like this.  I don't know, maybe not.

Help!

As you can see, I've decided to change my blog layout.  Only I'm pretty indecisive about it.  I think this one because it seems a little wintery and is centered.  (Wasn't able to stand the left justification of the last new layout; I'm pretty symmetrical).  So now I need a vote!  Here are the options:
1 - origainal layout (greens - stock Blogger layout)
2 - the last one that was here a short time with green / red circles
3 - This one!

Thanks!