The Teen Years Start at Eight?

We have an eight year-old.  Eight, going on 16.

Today Annie drove home the fact that she's "matured" quickly.  I use the word "matured" loosely as their very little about her behavior that is mature.

I asked Annie to get in the shower right after dinner.  She not-so-slyly asked if she could "help me out" by helping give Ashley her shower.  "I know your back hurts and I want to just help you."  Yeah . . . I'm not stupid.  But she kept trying and I kept saying no thank you!  The destruction that occurs when those two are in the same shower is unreal!

So, she shifted gears and just asked me outright.  "Can we take a shower together?" 

"No, every time you two shower together it gets out of control."

Whining she swears, "It won't this time."

"That's what you said last time and it didn't work out."

"Noooo, reeeaaalllly.  I prrrrroooooomise.  We'll be good this time."

"That's also what you said last time.  And last time I said that you will never, ever, ever, ever shower together again.  And it is not ever, ever, ever.  So, no."

She stomped her feet down the hallway and I called after her to get in the shower.  Two minutes later she's standing over my shoulder.

"Yes?" I ask.

"Nvrmind, Iknowhatch'llsayanyway," she mumbled from half-way down the hall.

"What?  I couldn't understand a word you said."

"NVERMND.  Iknowhatch'llsayANYWAY."  Yes, Annie, I can understanding your mumbling better if you scream it at me.

Ashely pitched in to help, "She said 'nevermind. I know what you'll say anyway."

"Well, Annie, you won't know if you never ask," I sagely reply.

"I was going to ask if Ashley and I could take a shower together."

"Well, Annie, since I've already said 'no' to that question several times, you are right.  You do know what I'll say.  And I'll say no again."

Annnnnd, then the crying commenced.  But she finally got in the shower!

Other proof I was given from Annie that she really is a teenager in an eight year-old body include:

• the overuse of the word "fine", generally being screamed, after Holly or I have asked for something to be done (or stopped being done) numerous times. 
• eye rolling
• hair flipping
• a ridiculous obsession with her hair

Now, I could be wrong.  Maybe this is how all eight year-old girls act.  But if it is, Ashley is going to be seven forever!

On a completely different note, I'm learning to drop stitch.  Thanks to Crazy Aunt Purl.

Penny's Scarf

Oh, this scarf was an exercise in being patient for the right yarn.  I still didn't get the yarn I would have really liked.  Do you know how hard it is to match a brown and pink together?  Gravy!

In the end I picked this skinny yarn and through Holly's genius we doubled it up and knitted it together.  The yarn is fairly soft and the knitting went pretty fast.  Then I fringed for the first time.  Because my sister Penny is a fringe kind of girl!

Ashley being a model:

Chilly Children and Chili for Dinner

Aiden to all 3 kids: It's pretty chilly outside this morning.  You might want a warmer coat.

Alex: Nah, I'm good.

Annie: I'm just going to wear this one.

Ashley: *crickets chirp as she ignores me*

Aiden: No, really.  It's way, WAY colder than it has been.

Annie: How much degrees is it?

Aiden: 31.

Alex: That's below freezing.

Aiden: I know.  Are you sure you don't want a heavier jacket?  I know I would!

Fast forward to 10 minutes later at the bus stop.

All 3 Kids:  I'm soooooooo cold.  It's soooooooo cold outside.  When's the bus coming?  It's soooooooo cold.

Aiden: I know.

Does anyone else parent this way?  Holly's classes called it "natural consequences".  I call it, "hey dork! I told you so!"

Now, for dinner.  I made Holly's mom's recipe.  I guess I could just say "my mother-in-law's" recipe.  Duh.  Anyway, it's super easy and super good.  And I'm cheating and making Jiffy Corn Muffins from a box.  Hey, I get a night off.  And the box of mix is like 33 cents!

Mom's Chili

or

Aiden's Mother-in-Law's Chili



1 lb hamburger (we use ground turkey)

1/2 onion sliced

1 or 2 cloves of garlic

1 can crushed tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)

2 cans chili beans (15 oz cans or one large can)

Cumin, salt, pepper and chili powder to taste

1/2 C ketchup

Brown meat, onion, and garlic in 5qt stock pot.  Drain fat if needed.  Combine with tomato products, beans and ketchup.  Stir in spices *(I also season the meat while it's browning).  If you want/need to thicken you can add potato flakes, flour, or corn starch.  Cook to warm through *(I put mine in the crock pot about 2 hours ahead of time just for ease, since I can't always guarantee I'll feel good enough to stand at a stove later).

A Rant

I'm not one to blog about political issues.  I like to blog about happy things like cooking, cleaning, children, and the like.  But I am MAD!

The GOP appointed Veteran's Affairs chairman is all mad that the VA budget has increased annually over the last decade and wants to curb VA spending.  Well, of course the damn budget has increased!  We've been in two wars fought by veteran's who have to keep going back over and over again.  They have needs!  Thank goodness the Democrat counterpart (Patty Murray, Cal) to this yahoo from Florida (Jeff Miller) promises to watch him "like a hawk".  Because, Jeff Miller (who is not a veteran), the people who promised to defend and protect their nation to their death deserve the very best care we can provide them.

And let's talk about this care for a second.  My own personal experience has been awful at times, occasionally spectacular, but generally just fair.  I wait ridiculous amounts of times for prescriptions and appointments.  Overworked staff are unable to call me back for days sometimes, leaving me in excruciating pain with no help.  Just yesterday I learned that my local VA lost a copy of an MRI that needed to get to a specialist in Portland, thus delaying treatment even further.

*Please note, very little of my frustration is directed at the people who work at the VA.  Well, the Walla Walla VA and the Portland VA, at least.  Their issues stem from having to care for far too many veteran's with a very limited number of staff.  My experience at the Spokane VA, well, that was different.

So, that's what I have to have to say about that.  Political beliefs aside, it is ridiculous to send our men and women off to war and then not provide them ample care upon their return.  It makes me sick to my stomach.  And now I'm done complaining.

Dinner's On!

In an attempt to cut back on our food budget, my shopping has gotten a little boring.  But thanks to some decent planning and the fact that I'm a stay-at-home parent, the food has actually gotten better!  I've decided to go all 50's style and make most of what we eat from scratch.  Homemade breads, mac n' cheese, chili, etc.  Yummy!

Today I made Southern Style Biscuits (Alton Brown's Recipe) to go with our Chicken Fried Chicken and gravy, mashed potatoes and steamed carrots.  I ended up just shaping the biscuits as best as I could by hand because I'm one of those people who will overwork bread dough until it's dead.  So, my biscuits aren't pretty, but damn they turned out GREAT!

I posted my chicken frying technique on my old blog, but I'll give it to y'all again.  I prefer to cut boneless/skinless chicken breasts into strips. They're just easier to handle and the kids don't have to cut anything!  I take 2 egg whites and 2T of water and beat together in a bowl.  In a separate, larger bowl I crush a stack of saltines (or you can use flour or bread crumbs, the saltines just add a nice crunch) and mix in pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika (or just season to your taste).  You can also add some finely shredded cheese to make it extra delicious, but not extra healthy! 

Now, dip the chicken in the egg whites and then coat in the saltines or flour.  Now, here's the important part: refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before frying!  It helps the breading stick!  And I prefer to fry in a non-stick skillet so the breading doesn't get stuck and I can use far less oil.  Depending on the thickness of the chicken, it takes anywhere from 5-10 minutes on each side.

Well, we're not eating very healthy tonight, but sometimes you just have to have some good fried chicken and gravy!  Yum!

Bugs and Scary-Pokey-Things

So far Walla Walla has proven a really good fit for us.  We're liking the town, loved the fair, love the schools and just really like where we're at.  Now, if we could just take care of a couple complaints: bugs and something called puncture vine.

Here in Walla Walla we have earwigs a plenty.  Barf.  I love putting pictures on my blog, but I will not include a picture of these creepy-crawlies.  Nor will I include pictures of the many different spider species I've discovered.  However, these strange green bugs that we have, which are called Green June Beetles (according to google), I will share.  Here's one:

There are lots of other creepy little things, but that's about all I have the stomach to share for now.  I guess I should be happy we don't have the yellow jacket problem like we had in Pullman.  But I'm not happy.  I don't like bugs and neither does Holly.  At least I'm fine with killing them, otherwise we'd have an even bigger problem on our hands!

Now, puncture vine is a pain in my ass.  Or more specifically, my feet.  This bastard of a plant has seeds that stick into your shoes and then get transported wherever you go.  Like into the house.  Where people walk barefoot.  Like right after a shower.  When they're feeling really good.  Until suddenly they're cursing enough to make a sailor blush.  (Can you guess what happened to me this morning?)

So, if someone could just take care of the bug and scary-pokey-things for me, I'd be very much obliged.

Pumpkin Mini Muffins

Oy vay, I owe you all a lot of posts.  Things have been so crazy around here with Holly's class starting this week, the kids being in school, county fairs, a new car, and a couple of quick out-of-town jaunts this weekend.

But for now I'll post this recipe since so many of you have requested it.  I'll give you fair warning that baking these will make your whole house smell like fall.  Also, just like Lay's Potato Chips, you can not eat just one.  Well, there you have it.  Don't say I never told you!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

*You will need a mini muffin tin and I strongly suggest getting baking cups (or papers or liners or whatever you happen to call them!).  These can be found at WalMart (sometimes in the baking section, sometimes in the craft section where they have cake decorating stuff), some grocery stores, or Michael's craft store.*

Preheat oven to 350

Yield: Approx. 6 dozen

Ingredients:

3 C all-purpose flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

4 eggs

2 C sugar

2 C canned or cooked pumpkin (one large can is more than enough)

1 1/4 C vegetable oil

1 1/2 C mini chocolate chips

1. Combine flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in large bowl.
2. Beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil in a separate bowl.
3. Stir into dry ingredients until just moist.
4. Add chocolate chips.
5. Pour into greased tins or baking cups (seriously, baking cups!).
6. Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes.