Last Days

There are many times where I think about my blog and how I don't want to update anymore.  

But for some reason I always end up updating it.  

Sometimes I don't want a blog anymore...do I really want people reading about everything that is going on in my life?  

Kinda scary if you ask me.  Yet I continue to do it.  

So here goes another post. 

Last Thursday was my last day of work.  It was bittersweet.  I will sure miss those 8 kiddos.  

Yes, there really is 8.  

And yes, at times I really did watch all 8.  

It was crazy at times, but we had fun!
I keep asking myself what I am going to do for 4 more weeks...
Beats me.

On Thursday I took the two youngest boys to the "BIG orange hot air balloon" at the Great Park in Irvine.  It was cool, kinda scary, and very hot!  

Was it worth the 45 minute wait with tired, hungry kids?  

Probably not, but as Shania Twain would say, I can now say that I have "gone and done it." 

They talked about the little toy cars down below

Truman and Matthew

This little one is hilarious. One time I told him to feel my baby kick. 

He felt her kick and asked, "does your baby have shoes on?"

I told him, "no, she doesn't have shoes, but when she comes out we can put shoes on her."

Now almost every time I see him he asks, "does your baby have shoes yet?"

When I leave work he asks where I am going. 

I tell him I'm going home and he says, "no, I don't want you to leave yet!"

Those are the sweetest words a nanny could hear.

(I don't know why my words are underlined)

Truman

and this one is a feisty one, yet can be very sweet.  

He never wants help doing ANYTHING!!

Yet, when we read books together he snuggles up next to me.  

Love that. 

Matthew

It was a fun last day of work.
I'll miss my two boys! 

(and the other six)

Healthy Eating

Ever seen the movie Food Inc.?  Rent it this weekend.  

It will change how you eat and look at food.

(I'll warn you, it is a documentary so some parts are a little boring, but it is very interesting!!)

Here is a yummy pasta recipe I made for dinner tonight.  (to make it even healthier use whole wheat noodles)

Lemon Pasta with Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 pound dried bowtie pasta
• 2 chicken cutlets, cut into fingers
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
• 2 lemons, juiced (I used 1, because that's all I had.  It still tasted good)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Directions

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, until al dente. Drain well.

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a large grill pan over medium high and add chicken. Grill until golden and completely cooked. Remove to a plate and slice.

Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to a saute pan with 3 tablespoons of olive oil and saute until fragrant. Add the cooked pasta and turn heat off. Mix all together.

Remove pasta to a large bowl. Add chicken to the warm pasta and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle in chopped parsley. Add the juice of 2 lemons and mix. Before serving top with Parmesan.

Try it out!  Very light and fresh.   

I am in need of some new recipes!!  Healthy or not. :)  Send them my way!

I am thinking about doing a recipe exchange.  Anyone else interested?  Let me know! (even if I don't know you.)

The Remarkable Soul of a Woman

{photo via etsy}

        Last week I ordered a book called “The Remarkable Soul of a Woman.”  

It arrived today and I loved what I read...

     “Your birthright-and the purpose of your great voyage on this earth-is to seek and experience eternal happiness.
One of the ways you find this is by creating things.  

If you are a mother, you participate with God in His work of creation-not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also by teaching and nurturing them.  

            You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us.
The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano.  

Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before-colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter...

What you create doesn’t have to be perfect.   

So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned?  

Don’t let fear of failure discourage you.  

Don’t let the voice of the critics paralyze you-whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.”

Get your copy here.
{25% off online discount code: 10SCONF}