Mommy of Many®

United Through Reading is a program that believes in uniting families through reading. They have a military program that is offered through the USO at selected USO sites. A service members can stop into the USO and pick a book for each of their children and then make a video of themselves reading the book or books.

Yesterday, we received 2 packages at our doorstep. They were each filled with books and Beanie Babies (not sure if the Beanie Babies are part of the program or just a fun addition). There were 9 books inside, one for each of the kids (Kateri and JJ, I will send yours along). They were accompanied by a DVD of Clay reading some of the books and talking to the kids. They loved it! The 4 youngest sat down and watched the video. They followed along with their books as Clay read. Maddi took her book, retreated to her room and came out an hour later, declaring that she’d finished it and proceeded to tell me the whole story.

When Clay first left on this deployment, he made a video of himself reading one book and the video and book were sent to us. But the DVD was very small and I couldn’t get any of our players to read it. This new one is regular sized and played right on my computer. Everyone was happy to get the replacement!

Lex with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (it was read SEVERAL times last night)

Gabi, Max and Tristan with their new books

Gathered around the computer to watch and listen to their stories

Clay reading Love You Forever to the kiddos

Happy faces

Thanks USO for making this program available. And thank you to the DFW International Airport Community which helped make our video possible and all the generous, everyday Americans who help to support this program and make it possible for so many!

Have a great day~

This question recently came from one of my readers. With her permission, I thought I’d share it and my answer;

Hi. So I’m asking for M.O.M advice. I know a lot of big families but they either have all small kids or they tend not to be involved in as many activities as my kids. Yours seem to be in a lot of stuff, too, so here’s the question. Or problem. Mine are driving me absolutely nuts with the last minute stuff. I forgot my… I have rugby practice… I need a…. This morning at 6:20 my son informed me that he needs a flash drive because he lost his a long time ago. But he needs it today. He knew I went to staples last night. Then, he forgot his rugby stuff. Which means that I have to drive it to him instead of him getting a ride to rugby.

Here’s the thing: If I stop them from going to sports because they forgot their added practice or gear, I feel like I’m punishing the team, not them. But I’m trying to get them all over the planet and work… So I’m being punished.

Any advice?

Laura

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Yeah, I’ve been there (and still am from time to time). I totally understand what you mean about punishing the team. But…the kids key into that quickly and understand that you’re not willing to let the team down, so they’re off the hook. So, sit them down and tell them (I like to tell them things AND have it in writing so that they understand it’s not going away) that the next time that you have to run around because of their forgetfulness or mismanagement of time, that you are going to give them an extra chore that they can pick from a list of extra chores (make it something substantial, that doesn’t usually get done, but that you REALLY WANT to get done). If it happens again, after an extra chore has been given, then tell them that they will be fined (this is IF they have $. A teen’s $ is usually hard enough earned that they don’t want to have to relinquish it for something that isn’t what they WANT). IF it happens AGAIN after that (make sure you keep track) then they lose the privilege of the sport for the day/week/one game…you decide. BUT, they will have had PLENTY of advance warning, so it’ll be THEIR decision to let the team down. AND let them know that they will have to give the coach (and team, if you choose) an apology for letting them down and tell them why it happened. This all puts the ball in their court. They have plenty of advance notice of what the cause and effect are and the decision is theirs.

That’s my advice. It’s hard to make them accountable for their actions, but it can be done.

Good luck!

I didn’t mean for this to happen. Every day I think of the funny moments that happen around here. I make a mental note of how certain things get done or that we are WELL into this year of deployment and how it’s all successfully happening in this house. I’ll shoot a quick Twitter update, or refresh my facebook status but then…I come home from work, get the kiddos settled with an after-school snack, give them a stern talkin’ to about their homework, drive whomever needs to get wherever they need to go, make dinner, serve it, give instructions for pj’s and bath time, make sure the teeth are brushed, line everyone up for the nighttime prayers (there’s plenty to be thankful for and to ask intervention on), lie the lil ones down, kiss their lil heads, glance at the LLLOOONNNGGG list of “must do’s”, pour a glass o’ vino, read emails, add a few things to the list and head to bed. WAIT!…what happened to sitting here and documenting how I’m Doing the Dance of the Children?! Heck, I even have someone assigning a daily song for me to do the Dance to. And yet, I find it challenging to write about each day. They are all so dang full!

I am floored that we are 2 days into December! My list grew by MANY entries when I realized all that must be done before Christmas and the arrival of the 3 missing members of this Lang Clan. I’m slightly overwhelmed!

So, the blogging has been makin it’s appearance on the ish. You know…Wednesday-ish. Next week-ish. Hopefully identifying this will change it.

Here’s to facing the fact that the Holiday Season is in full swing, that the year has blown past us and that life is WAY TOO full!

Good night~

Mommy of Many’s Mexican Lasagna

JJ requested this tonight and I realized I had forgotten about it.  For awhile it was a staple around the Lang house.  Having Kateri and JJ home for a little while in the summer brings back some of the things I used to do and have just let get dusty in the back of my memory. So, here’s a simple recipe that serves 8-10 but, as with every recipe I post, it can easily be modified to serve fewer or even MORE!

Tortillas

1 can refried beans

1 can black beans

1 can cut tomatoes (you can use any type or even substitute a chunky salsa or Rotel if that’s what you have on hand)

1 can corn

Cheese, sour cream, salsa, olives, avocado….whatever you want to top it with after it’s been cooked

Preheat oven to 350

In a large bowl dump the refried beans, black beans (drain first), can of tomatoes (do not drain) and the can of corn (drain first).

Mix well

Line the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan with tortillas. I use 3-4

Top tortillas with mixture from the bowl

Top mixture with tortillas (again, 3-4)

Cover pan with foil and bake for 35 minutes

Uncover, top with cheese and bake for 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted

Cut and serve with chosen toppings

Done!

EASY and INEXPENSIVE!

Let me know how you like it or if you modify it and, as always, feel free to share your recipe ideas.

Good night~

I’ve gotten several requests for simple dishes that feed a group and for easy, inexpensive dishes that are family friendly.  In the last couple of days, I’ve prepared 2 dinners that I think fit both requests and thought I’d share.  Please remember that I get in the kitchen and just cook.  So, measuring can sometimes be a guessing game.  But neither of these dishes require much work, so the amount of particular ingredients can be done to taste.  Also keep in mind that I’m always cooking for roughly 8-12 people and that is what these dishes will feed but they can easily be cut in 1/2 or even doubled.

I suddenly feel a great responsibility! Wow! I’m nervous that you guys will try these and think they’re terrible!

Well, here goes-

A Make-It-Up-As-You-Go dinner

This is a twist on a recipe that one of my favorite bloggers posted about a year ago.  In her’s she added chicken and when I went to make it, either we were in a seasonal fast or I didn’t feel like messing with the  chicken and decided to use beans instead and this is what it’s transformed into.

Tortilla Chips (I like to use what’s left at the bottom of the bag or the ones that are stale b/c kiddos opened a bag, didn’t close it and left it in the cupboard for a few days)

One can refried beans

One can black beans

One can broth (chicken or veggie)

One can cream of chicken soup

Cheese

Crush the tortilla chips and create a layer on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish (I like a thick layer)

Dump refried beans, can of crm soup and broth into a bowl

Drain and rinse the black beans and add them to the bowl of other ingredients

Mix everything together and pour it on top of the crushed tortilla chips

Bake, uncovered, for about 45 minutes at 350.

Top with shredded cheese, cool and serve. Of course, you could go all out and top it with salsa, sour cream, or avocado, but I’ve kept it simple and just added cheese. The bottom layer should take on a consistency that reminds me of corn bread or stuffing. Yum!

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Colorful and Easy Radiatore

I threw this together one night about a year ago and it’s become one of my favorite pastas. It can be served hot or cold.

1 bag of veggie radiatore

1 jar alfredo sauce

2 bags of krab rounds (I like the rounds because then the pieces don’t break up as easily and aren’t *lost* in the pasta)

pine nuts (I buy a bag at Costco and use about 2 handfuls)

julienned, sun dried tomatoes in olive oil

garlic

olive oil

Cook pasta according to pkg directions, drain, dump back into pot and set aside

Add a small amount of olive oil to pan

Add crushed garlic to warmed olive oil (I use 2 cloves)

Add krab pieces and toss with garlic, just to warm

Pour alfredo sauce over pasta

Add krab and garlic

Toast pine nuts and add to pasta, sauce and krab

warm sun dried tomatoes and add to pasta mixture (use as much or as little as you like. They can be omitted all together if you’re not a fan of tomatoes)

Toss and serve

I LOVE this pasta! I have some kids who LOVE it and some who just want to pick the krab pieces out to eat.  But it’s a colorful and flavorful dish!

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There you have it! 2 easy dishes to serve a crowd, or just a large family!

Have a favorite dish to share? Post it!

Have a great day~

I’m sure you’ve heard me say it before, but I LOVE THE APPLE STORE! I don’t go in there as much as I used to because I’ve stopped taking their weekly classes but I had to bring my computer in, yesterday and it reminded me of how much I love dealing with the staff there and how happy I am to be a Mac user.  I have had some emailing issues, so I drug my computer and external hard drive in and with a smile and a joke, they got everything back to normal.  I always leave there with a smile on my face. 

Each time I leave, I ask myself why it feels so good to go in there and to deal with the staff.  I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s passion.  There’s something intoxicating about dealing with people who are passionate about what they’re doing.  It’s contagious and makes everyone who’s around feel great!  I see this when people talk about anything they truly love and believe in, whether it be their children, their business, food, travel or even…..working at the Apple Store!

Let’s each strive to find a little passion in this day! Not only will it make each of us want to get the most out of the day, but it will rub off on those around us and there will be a whole lot of people stepping a little lighter and smiling a little broader.

Have a great day~

This morning I’m rushing Max through the morning routine, because he tends to lollygag through everything, refusing to stay on task.  So, as I was fixing his hair, I was giving him a M.O.M. speech about staying on task and getting with the program.  

He looks at me and says, “I don’t like this program! Where’s the remote?”

All I could do was laugh and give him a big hug.  

Kids!  Gotta love ‘em!

Have a great day~

We are back from our weekend away.  The van is unpacked.  The laundry is washed and folded and we’re on day 2 of Vacation Bible School.  Whew!  

The weekend was great!  It was in a beautiful place on Mt. Palomar.  We all enjoyed being surrounded by nature.  At one point Max was MIA and we found him laying on the ground under some trees. He was just enjoying being outdoors and the quiet of nature (it was a little scary to have him missing though!). The kids were able to hike, swim, enjoy archery, flag football, soccer, volleyball, shooting at the range, playing in dirt and being surrounded by people who were willing to lend a hand if and when needed.  One family, in particular, really helped me out by welcoming my kids along on their family’s activities.  I was able to steal away for about 1/2 an hour, at one point and sat in the sun, watching a hawk.  Beautiful!  This was a weekend through our church, so on top of it all, we were able to spend time tying all the beauty that surrounded us, to God and all he’s laid before us.  It was a great weekend.  Though, I must admit that it was tiring for me.  

Yesterday we were in full swing of being back home.  Three of the littler kids started a week-long Vacation Bible School and we have some friends visiting from out of town.  Although summer can be exhausting with the demands of keeping the kids busy, I love that the schedule is open and all ours.  Last night we had the freedom to plan dinner with friends and not have to worry about getting everyone in bed on time or if their homework was done.  Yes, it’s all very tiring, but we get to CHOOSE to be tired.  

Summertime around here also means birthdays.  We have 5 summer birthdays!  JJ celebrated his 17th bday while we were on our trip and we have Arianna’s 14th coming up in a few days.  Time for M.O.M. to do a little bday shopping and get ready to enjoy some cake.  I’m a little floored with how these years are flying by and how we have some many teens!  

I hope you’re each getting into the routine of summer and enjoying it as much as we are!

Have a great day~

Potty-training……

Well, I’ve been down this road 8 times and I’ve always started right around each kiddos second birthday.  Last year, as Luke-Xavier’s second birthday was approaching, I decided to wait a little while since Clay had just deployed and I knew that it wasn’t the best time to try to introduce any other life changing events.  So, I waited.  Then summer came and we were busy running around and I thought, “well, I’ll just go through the summer and we’ll worry about potty-training when everyone’s back in school”.  Then school started and I found myself homeschooling two 7th graders and I thought, “well it’s certainly not a good time to worry about potty-training!  Maybe after Clay gets back from deployment and we’re into the holidays….”  And so it went with one “reason” after another until yesterday when I thought, “ok, we HAVE GOT TO GET THIS DONE”!  Not only has his 3rd birthday come and gone, but he’s going to preschool in the Fall and he MUST be potty-trained to be there.  So my mind started working on strategy (I’m a little out of practice).

The other night when he was in the bath, he started to pee and stopped himself and I put him on the pot and he finished there.  Hmmmm….not bad!  So, I know he’s got some control over the whole thing.  Hmmm…..how to motivate him?

Ah Ha!!!!! M&M’s!  I remembered the old trick of giving an M&M (or other small treat) every time a trip to the bathroom is successful.  So, I told him we were going to go to the store to buy a bag and he quickly reminded me of the successful pee episode of the other night and that I owed him ONE M&M.  Who was I to argue with memory, math or motivation?!  One bag of potty-training motivators was purchased and ONE colorful candy was dispensed into a eagerly waiting hand.  

But today!  Oh today!  He gets it!  Man does he EVER get it!  He’s come to me saying he’s gotta go, several times.  So, off with the diaper and a boost onto the potty and he sits there until he makes himself go.  Then he excitedly puts his little hand out for the ONE M&M.  This last time, he was so determined that he spent 20 minutes sitting there, insisting he had to go.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I found something that was gonna work and work fast, but this kid has the patience of a saint!  

So, let’s hope he stays motivated and that it’s quick and easy!  I’d love to make my next shopping trip without purchasing another box of diapers!  

I’ll let you know!

Have a great day (and an M&M!)~

Yesterday I was sitting at coffee with a friend and Gabi and Luke-Xavier and Gabi started this conversation-

Gabi-I’m going to be better when I’m a mom

Me-a better mom than me?

Gabi-yes

Me-what are you going to do that I’m not doing so well?

Gabi-I’m going to be nicer

Me-How?

Gabi-I’ll take my kids anywhere they want to go

Me-Oh.  What if it’s dinnertime and your kids want to go to the movies?

Gabi-then I’ll take them to the movies.  

Me-what about dinner?

Gabi-There’s popcorn there.  I’ll buy popcorn.  That’s how it’ll go. (when she said “that’s how it’ll go”, it was all I could do to keep from laughing!)

Me-ok.

My friend-What if 2 of your kids want to go to 2 places at the same time?

Gabi-I’ll take one to where they want and then the other where they want to go.

My friend-No, they want to go at the SAME time.  They don’t want to have one go first.  One wants to go to the movies and one wants to go to the beach.

Gabi-Then I’ll take them home!

I knew right then that she’ll do just fine!

Have a great day~

I was grocery shopping yesterday, moving through the store (whinny 6 yr. old in tow), meal planning and thinking about what was already in the fridge, when I realized that I have a pattern of Sunday being the day when I clean everything out and start over again.  When we get home from church on Sundays, I take out all the leftovers from the week (though “week” means more like the last 4 days) and put it all out for lunch.  It’s really the only time I present leftovers and it makes Sunday afternoon easier because I don’t have to prepare a large lunch.  It also gets the fridge cleared out.  

With everyone’s busy, family schedules, I’m wondering what some of your “clean it up and clear it out” strategies are.  Share!

Have a great day~

Veggies!

Tonight, I saw a post by one of my facebook friends and she was talking about “hiding” veggies in the meals she makes for her kiddos.  Quickly, another of her friends chimed in with her own story of how she “hides” veggies in her meals.  Here is the chance for all of you mamas who are “hiding” veggies to help me understand this.  What’s going on that veggies can’t just be presented at meal time and enjoyed by the kiddos?  Are we starting too late?  Are we told as new moms that kids naturally don’t like veggies and so the hiding begins without even trying to present them alone?  Are we not being diligent about presenting and representing until the kiddos understand that veggies aren’t going away and they better figure out which ones they like and how they like them?  Isn’t that the key to many aspects of parenting?  If we have a child who likes to be naked (as many toddlers do), do we give up on clothes? Nope!  We keep dressing the kiddos until they understand that clothes are part of life. Yes, I know about the book.  I just never picked it up because I didn’t find it necessary.

I am NOT scolding any of you who have decided that veggies must be hidden to be eaten and enjoyed by the kiddos.  I just truly don’t understand.

When my kiddos start gnawing and chewing and teething, I hand them the fattest part of a carrot or fat chunks of cored and peeled cucumber.  They learn from the beginning of trying solid foods that veggies are a huge part of what they will be eating.  Green beans-yum!  Peas-yes please!  Butternut squash-requested.  Tomato and cucumber salad-More!  Carrots, cooked or raw-Daily.  Purple cabbage-Tristan used to have his lips stained by it.

So, here’s your chance to teach me something.  If you’re a mama who’s tried and tried and just can’t get the kiddos to eat veggies unless they’re hidden, tell me your story!  Help me get it!

Can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

Good night~

I’m realizing that sometimes I have so much going on that I stop talking all-together.  Once I realize it, it’s hard to know where to start again.

This time I want to start by sharing a great event that I attended last Thurs.  National Mom’s Nite Out.

This event was put together in San Diego by Deb of San Diego Momma, Mel, A Dramatic Mommy and Charity and was held at Busters Beach House and Longboard Bar, in Seaport Village (love that place!).  It was a great event, complete with swag, great food, give-aways, $5 drinks and a silent auction who’s proceeds went to support the March of Dimes.  Way to go, ladies!  I had fun meeting everyone and networking with other, local moms who find themselves with an on-line presence.  

One of the best parts of the night was that this event was sandwiched in between 2 other events I had on Thursday (told you it’s been busy!) and Clay was a part of both the other events (HSC-23 Change of Command and the COC party), so we decided it made sense for him to tag along and then we’d head to the COC party afterward.  Hee Hee!  He was the only guy in attendance.  At first, he got some unwelcome glares, but as the evening moved on, he let the ladies know that he was just tagging along with Mommy of Many and would stay out of the way.  He ended up being a welcome addition to the evening and it gave him a glimpse into another part of me (the ladies night out part).  

Thanks to Deb, Mel, Charity and all the great sponsors for making this night possible!

Charity and Mel getting everyone excited about a give-away

Tonya, Anissa (also proud military spouses and busy mamas) and me 

San Diego Mamas having a great night out

Me and Deb

Thanks again ladies!  I hope to see more of you in cyberspace and at other great, San Diego events!

Have a great day~

I got the opportunity to have my newest goddaughter for the whole day, today.  Whoo Hoo!  I haven’t had a baby in the house in a while, so I jumped at the chance to cuddle this sweet little bundle.  I pulled up in front of her house, moved Gabi’s car seat to the second row of seats in the van, put Lauren’s seat in the first row next to Luke-Xavier and went in to grab the baby and all that she would need for a day away from her house.  Once I got her car seat locked in and her bag put in the back, we were ready to go.  I got into my seat and turned around to Luke-Xavier’s voice saying, “here”.  He was trying to give her a peanut!  All of a sudden I realized what I was up against!  I have 2 preschoolers at home, who have no idea about having a baby around.  They are both excited about the idea, but have never really been around babies.  Luke-Xavier has no concept of needing teeth to chew or that babies only drink bottles.  I’ve always taken for granted that my kids learned about babies as we went.  Wow!  I had to give a 3-minute talk on what babies could and couldn’t do, what the ate and how they slept, not to mention safety factors like, “you can not pick the baby up”.  So, we got home and unloaded.  

I am SO out of practice!  It’s not even just the baby stuff, like needing to entertain them or hold and burp them (love the holding part!), but it’s the fact that you have to spend so much energy keeping the other kids off the baby!  It’s the not being able to say, “mommy has to work for a few minutes, watch your movie”.  It’s not being able to go to the bathroom without the baby, for fear the well-meaning preschoolers will give her a toy that isn’t safe, drop something on her head, step on her or pick her up.  I DO remember that babies take a lot of time and energy, but it’s all the worry and equipment and guess work that I forgot about.  How? How did I possibly forget after doing this 9 times?  Well, all I can come up with is that all those years are such a blur.  They were a constant flow of movement and thought.  Yes, now I’m always Doing the Dance, but it’s so different!  I can take 5 minutes to myself when I need it.  I can schedule social engagements and count on the bigger kids to lend a hand.  

I wouldn’t trade all of those years, even if I could and I certainly wouldn’t change saying “yes” to today, but it flashed me back to things I’d forgotten and how much work and how different things were for so long!

Babies are one of the greatest gifts and joys that you can be given.  Luckily, all the work and energy that goes into them fades away into distant memories as life moves forward.

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Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for details on how you can be the next winner of a pair of tickets to the Shecky’s Girls Night Out, coming to San Diego May 14th! 

Have a great day~

It’s a BEAUTIFUL day in So. Cal! I had a busy day planned with two dentist appointments and then LOTS of packing and cleaning since the house is being remodeled starting on Friday. After I got the kids to the dentist, I realized that the sunshine was calling my name and that I couldn’t resist the call. So, instead of heading home to put the kids in the playroom or the back yard, we went to the train at the mall (I have a stash of tickets that I keep in my purse) and then couldn’t help but walk around and enjoy the day.

My silly kiddos with their prizes from the dentist

The train on a sunny day!

La Jolla has been overrun by cows and these 2 were displayed at the mall. Gabi was trying to show Lex how to milk this one. Never mind that we live in San Diego and truly have no idea how to milk a cow!

A stop at the fountain for some wishing was in order. Lex took his wish pretty seriously!

A trip to Pottery Barn Kids for plenty of hands-on fun is always a good idea.

Gabi looked and looked through these beautiful skirts in the hope I would say we could buy one. Not today.

As you can see, it was a really nice morning. But now, I’m back home, all the kids are home from school and I’m faced with all the work I didn’t do. I suppose that’s what the un-sunshiny evening is for!

Have a great day~

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Don’t forget to check in tomorrow to find out how you can win a pair of tickets to the Shecky’s Girls Night Out in San Diego on May 14th!