Talks with a Preschooler

So... we pick Olivia up from school the other day. I ask her how her day is and she is telling me all about it. I asked her some questions I normally ask such as ... what did you learn about today? Who did you play with? Read any good books? And then I asked..... what did you guys have for snack? This is when she informed me 'junk food'. Then she goes on to tell me that she asked her teacher why they always feed her junk food. And I said (stifling a laugh) so what did she say? She pipes up and said "she just looooooooooked at me... like this" (immitates a glare).

It cracked me up.

Kids really do say the darndest things. And I am sure her teacher thinks she got that from me. Ooooops!

Criminals, Media, and our fellow Americans - A Small Rant

This is something that I had no intention on blogging about. However, this is something that constantly resurfaces in my mind especially since the Casey Anthony trial exploded through the media.

I am experiencing frustration and disappointment, not just with the despicable crimes that are becoming even more common, not just with the common failures of our justice system, but also with my peers. We can expect our media to glamourize crimes, it happens all the time. It's news. The media is filled with speculation, assumptions, arrogance, opinions, and even entertainment. The justice system is imperfect. No one has the solution to common problems and everyone wants to make an example of someone to promote their own agendas. Lawyers do this, judges do this, and now... jury members do this. But sense when do Americans feel it necessary to play God and determine another person’s fate without proof?

Everyone seems to be on a modern day witch hunt with the Casey Anthony trial. Everyone is emotionally fueled and not thinking clearly which is why our justice systems motto is "innocent until proven guilty". There was no proof of anything substantial in the trial and yet everyone wants to see this woman get the death penalty. People scream that the justice system failed.... failed how? My letting a woman go that the government couldn't prove did a crime? Perhaps we should give people life in prison and the death penalty based on assumptions? Would they feel the same way if the person on trial was their mother, father, or child?

It is a terrible tragedy that a child was harmed and her life was cut short, this is undisputable. However, without any motive or proof for Casey Anthony it is now between her and whichever god she prays to. It is not our job to hold our peers accountable... it is the lords. Perhaps we should all practice love, forgiveness, and focus on our own lives instead of promoting a witch hunt fueled by vindication. Let us ask ourselves not what can we do to punish but what can we do to help keep our own loved ones safe?

Kids say the darndest (and most embarrassing) things!

This evening my family was putzing around Big Lots.. just shop looking, mostly. When I paused to look at some pictures for the living room walls... and it just HAPPENED! Olivia single-handedly mortified me in less than 5 seconds!

"Hey mom... what does SHEEE have in HERRR Tummy?"

After I realized what she said I looked up, horrified, to see a rather large woman walking towards us. Luckily she wasn't looking at me, although I am sure she heard it. I quickly turned our cart around and moved swiftly 3 isles back where my husband was admiring bathroom furnishings. I quickly told him what she said, but I think he was only half paying attention. Still mortified, I quickly told him I would tell him later. It just occurred to me... I forgot to tell him.

So in hushed whispers, frantically looking all around us, I explain to my three year old why we don't ask those questions. This is a very difficult task because to her, it was a perfectly legitimate question to ask, but to an adult it was a perfectly rude statement to make. I paused for a moment weighing the pros and cons of explaining weight issues and carefully planning reciprocating answers for each following question that would surely ensue...

But why are some people overweight?

Why don't they fix it if they don't like it?

Why do people eat bad food?

Why don't people exercise?

What kind of health issues?

Will I be overweight?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

It was at this point that I settled on .... because some peoples tummies are just larger, but saying that might hurt their feelings. If you want to know an answer to something like that just quietly ask momma next time. We will save the explanations on the hardships of life for another day.

Finger Paint Fun

It has been raining quite a bit lately, so we planned a bunch of indoor activities. One, of which, was making our own finger paints to paint with. Olivia is a bit old for finger paints, but lately she has been asking to do them so I figured... sure! Why not? I was so excited when I just happened to find a recipe online to make your own. We gave it a whirl. He is the recipe:

You’ll Need

* 2 tbsp sugar

* 1/3 cup cornstarch

* 2 cups water

* large sauce pan

* food coloring

Directions:

In a large sauce pan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and water.

Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat (under adult supervision), stirring constantly until the mixture thickens into a smooth gel.

Pour into individual containers.

Place food coloring in each container and mix while it is still warm.

Let cool, then store in the glass jars (or other container with a lid).

Use like any finger paint.

Luckily, just as we were done making out finger paint the rain parted ways. We packed up our stuff and headed out to the patio to do our painting out there. I always prefer to do messy things outside.... soooo much easier to hose off a patio than scrub a carpet, wouldn't you agree?

Oh... and in case you didn't notice.... wee do crafts in our jammies. That's right! It helps the creative juices. Or maybe... we are just silly! :)

Have a great week!

xoxo

MO, Marriage, and More

Sadly, I am quite behind in blogging. I will be making an attempt to catch up to speed and get back at it.

We moved to Kansas City, MO and we live out in the outskirts in the middle of no where. We just love it here. It is quiet, peacefully, and we are surrounded by trees, plants, and other shrubbery. It just smells greener here. :) Our house is much larger, which we all love. And we have a backyard again... which we also all love.

Also, Jared and I got married on May 20th. Sooo... feel free to send us a present. Just kidding. :p Someone asked me the other day how married life is. How does one answer that? It feel just like shacking up did... but a bit more official. All is well and we are all happy. Olivia is happy to have a dad.

Hope you are all having a great day!

xoxo

KC Bound!

So this will come as a surprise to everyone.. but we moved again! We left the beautiful majestic mountains of Colorado for... Missouri! However, I was so very pleasantly surprised by how wonderful it is here. Our house is beautiful, much larger, and way more affordable and we have a yard again. That isnt even the best part, the best part is the area! I just love that we are surrounded by greenery in all forms: tall wild grass, lots of trees, great lawns, and even some wildflowers! It is just beautiful here and oh-so-quiet. We live in this very unique subdivision of Kansas City that is surrounded by vacantness (is that a word?). I never realized how much I was ready to get out of the city. I just love the peace and quiet here and we are only about 15 min from civilization and highways.

On another note... I also didn't realize how much I missed the heat!! Colorado fluctuated greatly but the mornings and evenings were frigid regardless! Here? It is 75-80 at night and 90 during the day and sunshiney beautiful and I just love it!

We took a great walk around our subdivision yesterday afternoon: just me, Liv, and the dog. We all enjoyed the fresh air and vitamin D as well as achieved a little first summer glow.

This morning I sat on my patio and drank some coffee in shorts and a tank while reading the news. A little in love. :)

Tip: Hard Boiled Eggs

I am 27 years old, and I love to cook all kinds of foods. However, one thing that seemed beyond me is, quite possibly, the simplest thing in the world: hard boiling eggs!

I never trusted that they would come out right so my theory was to boil the hell out of them. This often results in too firm yolks in the middle and even discoloration. I never minded too much, because it was better than raw! However, I recently learned a trick and I was impressed that it has evaded me all of these years. So... I thought I would share with you!

For the perfectly hard boiled egg:

1. Place the eggs in water and turn on the stove (Med High is good)

2. Wait for them to boil

3. When they boil, turn the burner off and cover the pot with the lid

4. Wait 10-12 minutes... then they are done!

Who knew? Probably you did.... but at any rate, I learned something new!