Daily Dose of Romero

It seems like each day is more hectic than the next. Just when I think I'm caught up with the dishes and the laundry I take a little break and then I turn around and there's a sink full of dishes and piles of laundry back in my room. 

Slater got a much needed groom today. He was just part of the crew in the back while driving home. 

All clipped and cleaned!                             

Got a glimpse of those cute little pearly whites coming in! 

A long day landed us like that. I came to Isabella's room to find this. She was calming his sobbing.  

And I came back from putting Juliette and Avaree to bed to find this!

She actually put him to sleep.  What would I do without her!!

Xoxo

What's for Dinner: Meatball Soup

I am kicking off my What's for Dinner series! First off, this amazingly delicious Meatball Soup. It is superb. The recipe is from a wonderful cookbook, Deceptively Delicious. Her book is basically all about hiding fruits and veggies in the food that you make for your children. It is an awesome way of making sure they have their daily intake of fruits and vegetables! I love this recipe, simply because it tastes good and an added bonus: it is super easy to make! Here is the recipe, which is adapted into my own words.

Let's Get Started!

Ingredients:

• 3oz whole wheat pasta shapes (about a cup), cooked
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 sm onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 (28 oz) can whole peeled tomatoes, with juices
• 1/4 c carrot puree*
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 c chicken broth
• 3 slices whole wheat bread, cubed
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/4 c sweet potato puree*
• 1/4 c nonfat milk
• 2 tbsp grated parmesan
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/2 lb lean ground turkey

1. Over medium-high heat, add oil to a large pot. Let heat, then add onion and garlic. Cook until softened.
2. Puree tomatoes with their juice in a blender (if you don't have a blender just add canned tomato sauce, it may taste the same) and add to the pot with 1/2 tsp of salt. Add broth. Bring to a simmer then reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered for about 10 minutes.
3. For the meatballs, add the bread to a bowl with egg, sweet potatoe puree, milk, parmesan, 1 tsp of salt, pepper, and paprika. Let the bread soak until softened. Add the ground turkey and mix. Form into meatballs about 1/2-inch in diameter.
3. Add the meatballs to the pot and simmer 12 to 15 minutes. (The meatballs floated to the top when they were cooked!) Stir in cooked pasta and VOIILA!

Here is the finished product:

*The purees are simple and easy and if made ahead of time can be frozen so all you need to do is take out of the freezer and add to the recipe! Basically, you roast the sweet potato at 400 degrees fahrenheit for about an hour and steam the carrots until soft, then puree in a food processor for about 2 minutes or until smooth. If you don't have a food processor, you can easily just mash them with a fork. It will taste the same and you will still get the extra veggies! Super easy!

Ta-Da!

Remember this? I finally edited the pictures I took and picked out my favorite! I'm thinking of printing a large 16x20 of it and putting it in between their bedroom doors. Now, I'll just have to wait for Shutterfly to have a good deal on prints! Here is the final product! What do you think?

What would you do for a good picture?

Think about it... really...

Would you wait for hours for the sun to hit that spot just perfectly?

Would you stand in the most awkwardly position in front of everyone just to get the right angle?

Would you?

Would you sweat profusely, taking shots over and over again until you get both of your kids to smile?

Would you get bit up by ants and not even care because they both just smiled at the same time!!!?



What about the person on the other side of the camera...

Would you jump off a really high cliff (into water) to getting that awesome jumping pose?

Would you pull off of a major highway to take a picture in front of the "Welcome" sign?

Would you?

Would you put on pretty dresses and go outside in the hot sun, even though you are tired?

Would you gladly accept cake, just for one more smile!!??


Today, I became crazy mother. I have been wanting a good picture of my two kids so badly and I did whatever it took today to get one. I bribed Isabella with food. I let her pick anything she wanted to eat, just so she would put her dress on. After I finally got her outside, with Avaree, I stood in our driveway, searching for the perfect spot. I quickly discovered that Bella and I were both standing in an ant bed. Bella began crying and I knew my chances were all over. This is what we got...

"But Mommy, I don't want to take pictures.."

"Take your fafa out of your mouth!"

Where's Avaree?

Where's Isabella?

"Get your foot out of the camera!"

"The sun is in my eyes!"

"Please stop taking pictures Mommy!"

"There's something in my eye!!"

So we went inside, took a break, and then I tried round two. I bribed Isabella with food once again. She accepted and we went outside. I took dozens of pictures. Bella laughed in some while Avaree made a weird face. Avaree smiled in some while Bella cried. I just looked up into the sky and said, "Why can't I get a good picture!!!?" Then, I flashed back to my childhood. I remembered how awful and miserable it was when my mom said, "Let's get a picture!" All seven of us children would moan and groan as we lined up. My mom would even make us pose at the beach, sitting in each other's laps. I remembered at that moment how miserable I felt and just wanted my mom to stop taking pictures! So, I took one last picture and put my camera down. There's always photoshop! Stay tuned for the final product!

 

And I did actually give Bella her special treat.

Stationery card

Lovingly Welcome Girl Birth Announcement

Turn your favorite photo into a birth announcement.

View the entire collection of cards.

Independent Woman

After getting dressed this morning, I walked into the kitchen and found Isabella standing on her stool in front of the counter and indulging in some plain ol' sugar. She turned around with that look that I have been seeing quite often recently and gave me a smile. As I walked her to the bathroom I asker her, "Did that taste good?" She instantly replied, "MMM HMMMM!!" I cleaned her hands, mouth, and shirt and as she turned off the light to walk away she said, "Thank you mommy, that was tasty, thank you!!!!" You're welcome Isabella for forgetting to put the sugar away. I can assure you that that will never happen again!

Flyin' Old School

I had a moment that mattered most the other day. Terry got Isabella her first bike. He has been wanting to get her one for a while now. She woke up from her nap and found it in the front doorway.

After much excitement, consisting of jumping up and down, climbing on the bike, and asking daddy to push her around, she said, "It's just like the missionaries! YAY!" You see, we have had the missionaries over our house at least once a week due to Terry's new calling in church. They usually travel to our house with their bikes. That little statement of hers meant more to me than she will ever know. I think of this quote: "Diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world." Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Having those missionaries in our home has been such a blessing to our family. What a wonderful spirit they have. If you would like to have that same feeling, have them over your house. I promise you won't regret it. Go here.

Isabella has been giving me those "aha" moments a lot lately. She has been reaffirming me that I am actually teaching her things and she is learning. As a mother, those moments mean so much to me because I feel like I am actually accomplishing something. As a mother, it is hard to feel accomplished. There is never a moment where you can say, "I'm finished and look what I have done!" Even when my children grow up, I will never be finished being a mother. But, in those special moments, you realize that you are actually doing something that is rewarding. I am happy to know that it will actually pay off in the end. That will be when eternity begins...