Judging (venting session)

I can remember my mom raising me to “never judge, always accept everyone the way they are, and be open minded to everyone that I interact with”. We have raised our boys the same way. I will give a pat on my back to know that so far our boys especially Sport has really lived up to that. He doesn’t care about age, color, shape, size. He is the kid on the block that will make a game for EVERYONE to play including Adults at anytime. Gosh I love him! A couple weeks ago he tried to surprise me by wearing a tie to school for his school pictures and also concert. He didn’t care that he was the only, I repeat ONLY one in the school wearing a tie but it was also about 1 foot too short (oh my!) But he kept the chin up, huge smile and didn’t care. That’s my boy!!! I was speechless and will say YES that was a surprise but when I noticed he didn't care what people thought and did it just for me I also decided I didn't care what anyone though.

I am boggled by so many that surround me that chose to dwell on the negative and almost thrive on making others feel bad about themselves or how they think/feel.  When someone smiles they want to know why?  When they hear someone got a raise/bonus, they want to get more or claim it should’ve been there’s.  Why is life so competitive?!? Whatever happened to people really being happy for someone?   I don’t understand how people can have such strong feelings about someone, without really ever trying to get to know them.  Instead of trying to see the good in a person, they assume that they are up to no good.  I have made a promise to myself to not lose sleep over people such as that. I am who I am.  If you have to be better than me then go ahead, but the fact is you don’t even really know me.

Ethnic Night 1- Greek Night

Καλή όρεξη! (Kalí óreksi!) - That is the translation in Greek for Let's Eat/Enjoy.

Our first day of Ethnic Night was so much fun! There was so much learning involved. First what do we eat? We talked with some friends and created a good Greek Menu which included a true Greek salad, Spanokopita (Spinach Pie), and stuffed grap leaves.  We hit up the farmers market and got as many of the items we could including fresh spinach, large onions, and herbs.  I thought we would find grape leaves but that turned into a challenge. After going to 3 stores (in the rain) with the boys I finally found them at Randazzos. However not where I was looking. I thought leaf=lettuce... NOPE they are jarred and in the deli aisle by the olives.  Speaking of olives while we were there I hit up the olive bar and got a variety of olives (pitted, unpitted, stuffed with cheeses, stuffed with jalapenos, garlic...).


All the groceries in hand we now had to prepare the food.... We began this process while Stinker was sleeping but it took much longer than that.  Some of the things we learned and researched while we were cooking the food.
* Grape Leaves are used in many countries for medicinal purposes. 
* In the poor areas of Greece if not enough spinach is found you can substitute it with leeks (we had plenty!)
* Phyllo dough is made with flour, water, and a small amount of oil/white vinegar

Sport has not been in the kitchen often so he was very eager to measure and stir. We also took some time to discuss some math with him and discussed cups to quarts (4 cups -1 qrt), 1 Tablespoon = 3 teaspoons.

Sport got a lesson on the airflow through the container.

We had to wash each leaf and pat dry.

Even Stinker got to roll one.

He is so proud of it! Although he tried to take a bite right after and they weren't cooked yet.



The full meal ready to dig in.

As a family we got an assembly line going and rolled the grape leaves (after washing each leaf and drying).  about 2 hours later after everything cooked and settled it was time to EAT... The taste test results:
* Sport loved the spinach pie... funny because he hates spinach (hmmm maybe him help cooking helped). He discovered not everything taste as bad as it smells (AKA feta cheese he said it smells like feet but it tastes pretty good).
* Chef Dadda ate everything but wasn't too thrilled said the grape leaves had too much lemon (we followed the recipe exact so a good note to make for next time)
* Stinker he loved the inside of the grape leaf.
* I enjoyed it all and even ate a couple extra grape leaves. 

This was a great trip to Greece with my family. We learned alot and had a great day in the kitchen together. I look forward to our next destination next month.

What's Cookin

About 3 years ago I was brainstorming about creating my own cookbook. I know, I know stop laughing. Me in the kitchen?!?! It doesn't happen often and when it does I normally complain about it.  However, my plan for the cookbook wasn't to create all new recipes but to adapt ones to my family's needs, taste buds... however I realized that's what everyone does and let's be real its probably best I leave the REAL recipe mixing and changing up to someone else.  My real favorite part about the kitchen is the planning and the creativity!!! Its teamwork in our house about 60% of the cooking is done by my hubby "The Chef".  I like the behind the scenes but still help out with about 40% cooking when we are in a pinch or he is on travel. in addition to pulling the menus together, find sales (couponing is another addiction of mine),  my ultimate favorite part is adding a twist to the kitchen/menu each and every possible way.  We have huge holiday menus with artsy looking food, playing with our food, games with our food. After doing this for a while I realized that we really do have something to share and hope that you and others enjoy it too! Together me and hubby are like the perfect ice cream sundae. He is the ice cream (gets the food prepared and cooked) and I add the syrup, sprinkles, whip cream, and cherry (all the fun, creativity, and finishing touches)!  We are't chefs (well he does have experience in the kitchen), you won't find many "original" recipes on here but the creativity is endless and so is the fun! Enjoy!!!!

Jungle Java

The school year is going really well. I had a groupon that had to get used up so we let Sport invite a friend "B" to walk home with him from school. The played soccer, basketball, and started up some video games while we go dinner ready.  After a simple dinner grilled cheese and soup we packed up and took a short road trip.  Jungle Java was a mad house today but still great laugh. It was great to see the 2 older boys playing tag throughout the playground. They were great and took Stinker through the area a few times. It is crazy how fast the little ones learn. We went to Jungle Java not even 5 days ago with the Elges family and Stinker was afraid of everything in there. Today he was acting like he was owning the place. It was a very nice evening away from the nasty cold wet weather we are having. We hid inside enjoyed some great java. Jason and I shared a Snickers coffee... yumm!  I think my favorite part about tonight was putting down the camera and running through the playground with Jason and the kids. We were all kids together! That's what's best about our family... drop everything and play! We then came home and got ready for the BIG 1st game of the Tigers Championship but in the 2nd inning it was rained out.  I look forward to whatever the weekend holds... PJs, books, our first Ethnic night "Greek", Jay and I are having our first night for our couples bowling league once again drop everything and enjoy time for eachother. I'm really enjoying this new view of life and how I'm choosing to reflect on my days and capture my family time.

This was our first visit to Jungle Java with the Elges family. Stinker and T are testing out the Toddler World.

Overview of the Big Kid Jungle are. Looks pretty cool but note to self it can get busy!

All 4 of our kids decided to take over the Toddler area.

This is Sport's first time playing Lazer Maze at Jungle Java that was pretty neat to watch. He did it on his first try!

Quick snap shot of my little soldiers... I love the mini me (Stinker) following EXACTLY what his brother is doing.

It's Tiger time in our house.  Stinker is ready to watch the game if you can find him. He has his 2 Paws Pillow pets, his little paws he carries and his new blanket Nonna made him for his birthday.

Round 2 at Jungle Java Stinker ventured into the Big Kid Jungle only if Jay and I would go with him. This is Jay and Stinker climbing up to the slide.

Sport and B getting ready to swing on the glider.

Stinker and Jason saying "Hi" to me from waaaayyy up high.

Me and Stinker getting ready to take one of the several trips down the slides.

Daddys turn going down with the munchkin.

Stop the clock!

When did my boys grown up! Lately I have stepped back from the chaos of the everyday life and really took time to listen to my boys.  Although they both amaze me everyday with new words and experiences which I love to watch them explore and grow; I also can't help but have this feeling wishing I could stop the clock sometimes too.  Right now in the midst of a CraZY typical evening in our house, I got home today at 3:50 and had 15minutes to empty my lunch bag and Sports then pack his "snack" for religion while he did his homework. We left and went to Religion class which he had to be there by 4:45... DO NOT be late. Been there done that, yikes!  Anyways, in the crazy rushed evening I took some time to chat with Sport on the ride to religion and also on the way home. No radio, no phone, just me and him.  Well my little GQ apparently has a "crush" on someone in the class as he not only put on a very cute outfit just for class but also spiked up his hair and grabbed his cologne (sigh).  As we walked into the church he got all shy and said I couldn't hold his hand because I was "embarrassing him"  (crushed). I kept the mood light and threatened to pinch his butt and give big kissed.  However inside I was bursting into tears right then... what?!?! Me embarrassing?!?! We then got into church and he asked me to stay and sit by him until some more classmates came in. I couldn't help but compare myself to each mom that walked in... look at her she is in PJs, look at that one her 6th grader gave her a kiss (ok but he was major dork)...as I sat with a smile he had no clue I was actually really sad by just a few simple words he had said.  He went to class and I went to drowned my sorrows in a glass of wine over at my parents. Now on the way home from Religion just me and him again we had a great and silly drive dancing it up (like normal) but once again in my head I was thinking (see I'm not embarrassing I'm the cool Mom).  We got home and Stinker was ready to play and Jay was on his way out the door to travel.  Its' now almost 7pm and I still had to feed Sport dinner, clean up, pack lunches, and of course fit in a little me time with the boys.  Like always I make time and get it done. As I'm laying on the couch with my little Stinker he starts rubbing my head and signing his "Night Night Song."  What?!?! That's my job I'm the mom.  Ahhhhhhhh the boys were killing me and didn't even know it.  Now its time for teeth, potty and bed. Although I don't think he is really there yet we have started to take baby steps to potty training.... yup you involve an M&M and he is in. Singing out little "pee pee in the potty" he mastered it this is our 3rd night in a row.  Ecstatic and ready to say Good-Bye to diapers, yet again I just wanted to shout STOP THE CLOCK!

What's Ethnic Night

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My family and I will begin a new family tradition and experience together traveling around the world. Once a month we will have Ethnic Night. We will have a true ethnic dinner prepared by all of us together and at times we will have family and friends assist us with the preparation if they are from that ethnic background.&nbsp;We will research the area/ country, they eating habits, well known recipes and with family and friends hopefully learn about great traditions they can share with us. </span>Grab your passports and join us on our travels!<br />
<br />

Reseigh VS Food - The Not So Wimpy Burger Challenge

Around the corner from where I grew up there was a Coney Island and served the best "Wimpy Burgers" aka slidders.  I tried to recreate these awesome burings and turned it into a family challenge using Hawiaan dinner rolls (24), 2lbs of burger, and a whole bag of steak fries. 

Yummy! These were soooooooo tasty!

Yes this is JUST his  plate with a beer to wash it down.

Sport 1st down. I lost count how many he really got down I think 5 or 6.

All smiles from our little stinker. He did pretty good and even cheated gave Rosie our dog a few bites but we let it slide. She is part of the family too!

My boys are quitting on me. Notice I'm behind the camera... I actually quit on them much sooner than I hoped. The fries was the big kicker...WAY too much!  Chef Dadda started eating about 3 at a time to get them down faster. Sport has one more burger to go and we win the challenge!

Pretty sure Sport passed out at the table BUT the Reseighs are back on the board and won the challenge!