Sorry I've been absent for a bit.  This last week has been fuller than most since the school year started.

The library we usually frequent is closed for long-overdue repairs, so I finally decided it was time to find another one.  I found one in mid-city on the library website, then I looked it up on Google, and we were off.  There was no library at the given location.  This has happened SO MANY TIMES since we moved here.  It doesn't matter that Google says it's there, CALL FIRST.  Another reason for a smart phone.  Those things are looking more and more like they're worth spending too much money on!  We did finally find one, and got some great books, so that was good.  It just took up the whole afternoon.

Speaking of books, our FIAR book this week is Who Owns the Sun? by Stacy Chbosky.

This book is amazing, beautiful, and very hard for me.  And not at all hard for my children, which is fine, but makes me wonder if, well, I'm doing something wrong.  Like if I were teaching it correctly, they would understand.  But really, they just can't comprehend it yet.

The story is about a boy who adores his strong, wise father and asks him, "who owns the [sun/stars/wind, etc.]?" and his father responds with a description of the beauty of each of these things, and the answer, "no one can own the sun." 

Then one day, the boy overhears the man his parents work for talking about his father.  He is full of pride at the complements to his dad's strength and work ethic until the man says, "I wish I owned ten more just like him."

The conversation the boy has with his father afterwards is heartbreaking.

Stacy Chbosky was 14 years old when she wrote it for a school competition. 

For obvious reasons, race and prejudice have been on my mind consistently since we moved here.  As I talk with my kids about differences, it would seem that they are truly unaware of skin color and the value people place on it.  I am so grateful.  So grateful.


Well, I'm kind of worn out just thinking about that, so I guess I'll be back tomorrow with the rest of what we've been up to around here.  

Milestones

Isaac has reached another glorious toddler milestone!  

He can now take off his own poopy diaper in his crib.

The event was celebrated with much weeping, 

an extra load of laundry and a bath. 

Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole

I have been in such a cooking slump.  At least a couple times in the last week, my poor husband has come home from work at 5:45 to find a wife staring at the refrigerator with disgust and the declaration, "I hate cooking.  I don't know what we're going to eat tonight."

So it is with great joy, that I present food!   Yummy food!  Food that my family liked, and will eat again tonight (THANK YOU, JESUS!).

At our life group this week, someone brought a chicken, rice and broccoli casserole.  I pretty much hovered over that thing.  The one they brought was from a big box store, and those of you who know me well, know that I try to avoid processed foods (not that you can tell, since our last trip yielded a bulk box of Ritz).

Chicken, broccoli and rice are three ingredients I keep on hand at all times, so I figured there must be a way to make one... and I did!  I did a little search of the interweb, and found one that did not have rice, but also didn't call for any canned ingredients.  So I altered it a bit, because I wanted the rice in there.  I thought I'd share the recipe because my family declared it a hit.  I will say, though, that it required a lot of dishes, because you cook the ingredients separately.  Oh, and since I don't follow directions that well, I added in parenthesis what I actually did.

Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole

2 Chicken Breasts, cooked and shredded (I used one really big breast)
1 head of broccoli, steamed (3 or 4 cups frozen)
1 c. uncooked rice (I used a brown and wild rice mix)
32 oz box Chicken broth
3/4 c. mayonaise
1 T. of your favorite spice mix.  
2 c. shredded cheese
1 c. Bread crumbs (I used the afore-mentioned ritz)
4 T. butter

Cook the rice in 3 cups of the broth.

Grease a 9x13 pan.  Layer the broccoli, rice and chicken in the pan.  If there is any liquid left in the rice, add it.

Mix remaining cup of broth, mayo and spice mix, then pour over the chicken.

Sprinkle cheese, then bread crumbs, then dribble butter over the top.

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes, then let sit for 15 minutes.

A Difference of Opinion

So I really like the new beds we got, as do the kids.  Brian thinks we paid too much for them (they came as a set with the hutch/dresser for $400) but I disagree.  As the person who has been pricing these suckers, I think I'm qualified to say that for solid wood pieces, we got a great price, even if they're not in perfect condition.

I was really surprised that Nathan fell asleep on the top bunk with no fanfare... I really was expecting some fear and trepidation, or at least some pretend fear for our benefit, but nope.  He's all good. 

The second night he slept up there, we heard a HUGE thud around 9:30 and took off at a sprint up the stairs.  He had JUMPED down to use the restroom.  We both just about had a heart attack!

Yesterday I told them I wanted to paint the set and asked what color they'd like.  I was envisioning some lovely soft grays or taupes, a la The Nester with bold details inspired by the houses here in New Orleans. But alas, both my children really like "the nice brown color."

Brian reminded me that the beds are "brand new to them", and if I wait a few months, they'll probably be more on board.  I'm counting on it, 'cause when I saw these, I immediately pictured them painted!  Crazy kids with their own opinions!

A Week in Review

Nerf Wars!

 The dreaded Birthday Song

Candles!

Sprinkles!  And sweat.

A new haircut

 Legos!

A new bike!

A run in with a bowling ball.

Lots and lots of riding bikes.

A beautiful new doll doomed forever to nudity.

A daddy who has blessedly come to terms
with his boys and the color pink.

Admiring of a beautiful sky and a handsome husband.

New beds!  I plan to paint them.  What color(s) do you think?

They're coming for you!

Four

(For the record, Brenna would like to note that she is NOT four, because she isn't any bigger than when she was three.)

I Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Think I Can...

We are half way through Birthday Week here in the Chatty household.  I am TIRED!  This year, Nathan's birthday fell on Monday, and Brenna's is on Friday, which has effectively made our whole week a mess!  We have a house full of food that is normally off limits, and new toys that, for this week, are being allowed to take precedence over taking care of the house.  We are slowly working our way back to our normal routine, but really, I can't wait for next week!

Sunday, we had a crazy (CRAZY!) day, teaching Sunday School in the morning, bringing a bunch of boys home from church with us for a party, then heading to our life group after it was done.

Monday we relaxed for Nathan's birthday, played with new toys, did a little school, but mostly just hung out.  Oh, and I let the kids watch a bunch of TV since I wanted Nathan's actual birthday to be special too, but I was done.  Just DONE.

So there's today, then tomorrow, then Brenna's special day. 

It was fun to talk with Nathan about how his birthday is special for me too, because this is the anniversary of the day he came out of my tummy!   That got a big hug for me. 


TMI ALERT!

(That's 'Too Much Information' for you old people.)
 
Men, stop reading now if you're squeamish.



Okay, I warned you!

I was extra tired because The Curse decided to show up NINE DAYS LATE.  Needless to say, the extra stress really added to the festivities.  Ladies, have you noticed that the side effects are worse when you're late?  That was my experience.  Crying all day long one day, then bad cramps all day the next.  Ugh.

So.  I'm pretty sure next week will be more relaxing, though I'm sure my kids will start on oh, Saturday, planning for next year!