Facebook Pictures by Uncle Troy

I think I have the most beautiful kids ever. It's just the way it is. All moms think that about their kids. We're just built that way. But the thing is...I know that right now, Jayden looks girly and Harper looks boy-ish. I mean... duh. JJ is my mini me and Harper is mini Vinh. Harper could be wearing all pink with a head full of bows and people will still ask me how old "he" is. And when Jayden's hair is beyond long, people will ask me if "she" wants to ride the train. I don't really correct them because I know we'll never meet again, and it really is hard to tell with babies (and with kids too, I guess). But let's take a mental note people, look at the clothes first.

A few weeks ago my brother-in-law posted these pics of the kids. His album was titled Sunday with the Nephew and Niece .....

Can you see where I'm coming from? 

P.S. I got a new van! 

Things I don't want to forget

Jayden was kind of a late talker. He really didn't express himself until he was closer to 2. I think a part of it is because he seems shy. Now that he talks a lot more, I don't want to forget the words that were hard for him to say.

Kitchen. For some reason, he can't say it. I will enunciate it for him and I see him watching my mouth. But no matter how many times I correct him, he always says, chicken. That's right, chicken.

Heater. Our house is two stories, and the heating is horrible. During the winter, no matter how high we turn up the heat, the first floor is ice cold. So we have portable heaters planted throughout the house. He asked what it was one day. I told him, heater. Then one day, he says, "Mommy, I want to turn on the Peter." Peter. And again, I enunciate it for him. Sound out the H sound. He watches my mouth very carefully. But Peter still comes out.

Blue. He used to say that word very clearly. I swear before 2. Then one day he started to say Byoo. I don't know why. I don't know what happened, but he says it now.

More = mo-yore
Store = sto-yore
Door = do-yore
Please = pyease

Love that kid.

P.S. I think Harper is going to crawl soon. Go, H, go!

Potty Training, Part 2

So I'm talking about potty training... of course poop will be involved.

JJ has a hard time going number 2. He has since about 11 months. Because of this, he's had a prune filled life... from juice, puree, to prune mixed with other fruit. Then there was benefiber and miralax. All not so fun. And because of some painful experiences from 15 months on, he started holding it in. I didn't realize he was doing that until I read Toddler 411! It made me so sad, especially when friends would kind of joke about it because he would run off and hide. I know it wasn't malicious, but it still hurt me. Like other parents, when my kids are in pain, I am too. But anyways. The whole point of all this is that finally... Finally!!! He went #2 on the potty without my husband and I having to chase him down, pretty much wrestle him, and get him to sit on the potty! Normally when we force him to sit, he'll cry, complain and get really angry. But last night, he finally realized it wasn't so bad! He let his dad help and he went! I feel like I'm about tear up just thinking about it. 

Potty training is not my favorite milestone. I very much hated the whole process, but to watch my son change and mature (is that the right word?) really makes it all worth it. On Facebook, I have friends who hate statuses by parents who give play by plays on their kids... on different milestones they have reached or icky things... like pooping. I get it... and I'm usually one of those parents.... But to know what we've been through for almost two years... I really want to scream it from the rooftops and tell everyone that will listen... JJ is now pooping on the potty!!!!! I love, love, love that kid!

Bumbleride Indie Twin

I purchased the Bumbleride Indie Twin (Movement Edition, Fog) a couple months ago, and I haven't really had the chance to use it. I have always been too tired or too busy to use it. And I'm also a bit chicken... In the winter, it was getting dark around 6 PM, and I'm not a fan of walking in the dark by myself. My intentions with this stroller are to walk my kids and get back into shape. Although the Indie isn't a full fledged jogging stroller (like the Bob), it can handle light jogging. And let's face it, I haven't really ran since I got married; so I thought it was a good fit. My children are always so comfortable in it. Harper seems to fall asleep pretty quickly, but Jayden likes to fight it off until the very, very end. 

The pros:

It's pretty... I don't say the same about the Bob

huge basket

Two front tires (I have that people complained about the Bob Duallie tipping over b/c of its single front wheel)

huge canopy

Adjustable footrest

Movement fabric is waterproof

Adjustable handlebar 

Great push

The cons: 

Front wheels shake when jogging; you must lock the wheels.

The model I purchased didn't come with a pump or rain cover as years passed

Buying the accessories can get expensive

Vita is discontinued (This con is really for me...a personal thing and shouldn't be taken seriously)

If I was a serious runner; I think I'd definitely get a true jogging stroller.... Just because I don't like that I have to lock wheels in order to jog. That's just my preference. I heard that the 2013 Indie Single has been updated to be more of a jogging stroller, so it can still be considered... but the Twin has not been updated at all. 

I went for a walk this past weekend with the kids and it was probably one of the most miserable walks of my life. Mostly because I had to wear my glasses; and because of the heat, they kept sliding my down my nose. It just really bothered me... plus I had a runny nose because of my darn allergies. And the wind. You'd think I lived in Chicago. During the walk, there were a few hills. And to get through it a bit faster, I tried to jog up them. Let me tell you, I run at a snail's pace. If you saw me from the road, you'd think I was walking. And the stroller shook. It bothered me that I wasn't even going that fast... a very, very, very slow jog (in high school, we called it slug). How can it not handle that pace? I will trying running with the wheels locked to give my true opinion on its jogging function. 

Even though I was miserable, I was happy to get a workout in... and c'mon. Look at how happy the kid is! It was worth it!

Time to make the donuts!

For a couple of months of now, I've been wanting to make homemade donuts for the family. I have memories of my mom making them for me when I was little except she made them from canned biscuit dough. She would fry them up in her cast iron skillet, and I would shake them in a paper bag full of sugar. It was such a treat for me, so it's something I was excited to do for my son. And while I was daydreaming about how happy my son would be to see me making donuts in the kitchen, how he would ask me to make them every weekend, how excited he would be to cut the donuts out with the cutter... he was completely oblivious in real life. He preferred to play Subway Surf on the couch and watch Cars on TV. And when I gave him a little donut hole to start off with, he reacted the same as if we got them from Shipley's. Fun. But I haven't given up hope yet.

Yeast Raised Donuts

recipe from King Arthur Flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 cup (1 3/4 oz) sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast

3 cups (12 3/4 oz) unbleached all purpose flour

1 large egg

1 cup (8 oz) milk

2 tablespoons (1 oz) butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 cups (2 lbs) vegetable oil or shortening (2 1/2 lbs), for frying 

1.Whisk together the dry ingredients.

2. In a separate bowl, combine the egg, milk, butter and vanilla and stir into the flour mixture, mixing until well combined.

3. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes, then knead for 6 to 8 minutes by hand or mixer until you have a smooth, soft dough.

4. Place the dough in a buttered bowl, turn it over to grease the top, and let it rise, covered, in a warm place for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until doubled in bulk.

5. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.

6. Gently roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with a round cutter.

7. Cover loosely with greased plastic wrap and let rise again for about 1 hour, until doubled again.

8. Place oil or shortening in a heavy pan or deep skillet and heat to 350°F.

9. Place the doughnuts in the oil, two or three at a time, and fry until golden brown.

10. Turn over and cook the second side. This should be no more than a minute on each side. Overcooking will make the doughnuts tough.

11. Drain on paper towels.

Glaze

recipe from The Pioneer Woman

3 cups Powdered Sugar

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

1/2 cup Cold Water Or Milk

1. Mix all glaze ingredients in a bowl until completely smooth.

2. One by one, dip doughnuts into the glaze until halfway submerged. (Note: completely submerge doughnut holes, then remove with slotted spoon.)

4. Remove from glaze, then turn right side up on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet (to catch dripping glaze.)

5. Serve warm if possible, or room temperature.

Potty Training

I hate potty training. I can't help it. I do! It's been a pain on my backside since I've began. I feel guilty for even saying it. But the truth is, if potty training was a person, I wouldn't be friends with him. They say that boys are harder or that some kids just train easier than others. But I think it's just luck. You just have to pick the right method at the right time. I've tried starting with Jayden before he turned two. I wanted to get him used to sitting on the potty, so I would just put him on it every night before his bath. He hated it, so we took a break. Then after two, we tried again. He still hated it and took another break. At about 2.5, we tried to focus on training but it was almost like a game to him. Even up until a month ago, we had a hard time. I pictured him being 10 and in diapers. There was no light at the end of the tunnel. Then at the recommendation of his teachers... I switched him cold turkey to undies. They told me to bring tons of clothes and they'll just do what they can to make it work. And all of the sudden it clicked for him. For that whole week he was in underwear, he went on the potty at school every hour. He had one accident on the playground and none at home. The scary thing about the transition was that after only five days, we were going on a road trip to Houston. I went back and forth on what to do... if I should put him back in the diaper, but I read it would confuse him... So I put him in underwear, packed him in the car, and crossed my fingers. I'm happy to say that there were no accidents. NONE! He even started telling me that he had to go instead of me just mechanically taking him to the potty every hour. I was beaming with pride. I can't believe how much this kid has grown. And although we have conquered the number ones.... we are still working on his number twos. :( He's getting there though, and I'm ok with that. 

Some things I'll remember for when Harper starts PT:

-Don't feel pressured to PT just because everyone else's kids are ready. It's not a race. 

-Maybe train her on the toilet instead... I hate cleaning those trainer toilets.

-Or maybe I should consider elimination communication and get her started before she knows how to complain. 

Vinh's birthday!

This is us exactly 9 years ago on Vinh's 30th birthday. His hair was short and spiky and mine was on its way to being blonde. We weren't dating yet, but I guess we were getting there. We all had dinner at a nice restaurant. We went out to a friend's bar and celebrated into the wee hours of the night. Then without any sleep, I left to catch a 6am flight to Colorado to go on a snowboarding trip! The ride to the airport was pretty painful... but oh my have times changed since then. Just the thought of an all-nighter hurts me!

For my hubby's 39th birthday, we spent a quiet evening at home with our kids and some family. I made an Italian dish, and to be quite honest, I'm not even sure if Vinh really likes that type of food. My inspiration was an episode of The Pioneer Woman that featured her Chicken Parmigiana dish. She made it for her husband on his birthday... so I kind of copied her. 

To continue with the theme of Pioneer Woman inspired recipes, I made her blackberry cobbler, too. I love this recipe because it's more cakey than a true cobbler. I've never been a cobbler fan until I've had this one. It's so easy to bake and very simple. 

To round out the desserts, I made the rest of Ina's chocolate chunk cookies. Tasted even better and baked so beautifully after a few days of refrigeration. 

(Just bought a Silpat and love it!)

(A few snapshots of kids... Harper loves that Cozy Coupe!)

And at the end of the birthday dinner, we gathered around and sang happy birthday to Vinh... and of course, the little guy blew out the candles! Whew. I'm so tired from all the cooking, but so happy that everyone enjoyed the food and had a good time. I'd say this birthday party was a success! Happy birthday, honey!!

Chicken Parmigiana

recipe from The Pioneer Woman

4 whole (up To 6) Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, trimmed and pounded flat
½ cups All-purpose Flour
Salt And Pepper, to taste
½ cups Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Medium Onion, Chopped
4 cloves Garlic, Minced
¾ cups Wine (white Or Red Is Fine)
3 cans (14.5 Oz.) Crushed Tomatoes
2 Tablespoons Sugar
¼ cubes Chopped Fresh Parsley
1 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 pound Thin Linguine

Mix flour, salt, and pepper together on a large plate. Dredge flattened chicken breasts in flour mixture. Set aside. At this time, you can start a pot of water for your pasta. Cook linguine until al dente.

Heat olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium heat. When butter is melted and oil/butter mixture is hot, fry chicken breasts until nice and golden brown on each side, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.

Remove chicken breasts from the skillet and keep warm.

Without cleaning skillet, add onions and garlic and gently stir for 2 minutes. Pour in wine and scrape the bottom of the pan, getting all the flavorful bits off the bottom. Allow wine to cook down until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.

Pour in crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Add sugar and more salt and pepper to taste. Allow to cook for 30 minutes. Toward the end of cooking time, add chopped parsley and give sauce a final stir.

Carefully lay chicken breasts on top of the sauce and completely cover them in grated Parmesan. Place lid on skillet and reduce heat to low. Allow to simmer until cheese is melted and chicken is thoroughly heated. Add more cheese to taste.

Place cooked noodles on a plate and cover with sauce. Place chicken breast on top and sprinkle with more parsley. Serve immediately.

Blackberry Cobbler

recipe from The Pioneer Woman

1 stick Butter
1-¼ cup Sugar
1 cup Self-Rising Flour
1 cup Milk
2 cups Blackberries (frozen or fresh)

Melt butter in a microwavable dish. Pour 1 cup of sugar and flour into a mixing bowl, whisking in milk. Mix well. Then, pour in melted butter and whisk it all well together. Butter a baking dish.

Now rinse and pat dry the blackberries. Pour the batter into the buttered baking dish. Sprinkle blackberries over the top of the batter; distributing evenly. Sprinkle ¼ cup sugar over the top.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until golden and bubbly. If you desire, sprinkle an additional teaspoon of sugar over the cobbler 10 minutes before it’s done.

Extras

-For the chicken dish, I used chicken broth instead of wine. I'm not opposed to cooking with alcohol, I just didn't have any wine.

-I didn't use any onion because I don't like them... unless it's an onion ring.

-I did freshly grate my parmesan. I actually freshly grate all my cheeses now. I learned it from Ina. 

-I used one big can of crushed tomatoes and a small can of diced since I couldn't find three small cans of crushed. 

-I used frozen berries in the cobbler.

Red Velvet Cake

I baked this red velvet cake and... oh my goodness... the batter alone is most definitely what dreams are made of. Trust me! I've scoured the internet and I've read a lot of comments on what a true red velvet is. There's all kinds of different information out there. What seems to be consistent is that the cake was made famous by New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Which is strange to me because I always considered it a Southern Cake...  I mean Hello... On Steel Magnolias the groom's cake for Shelby's wedding was an armadillo shaped red velvet! But all historical information aside, this cake is a winner! I was really interested in trying a roux based frosting for this cake, but I decided to go with cream cheese because I was just too lazy to make the roux.

I threw out all the extra frosting before I realized I could have piped some pretty borders on it. It would have definitely covered up my bad icing job. But even though I think it's a little plain, my son gave me tons of encouragement by telling me how pretty it is. Love that kid!

And since it's my husband's birthday tomorrow, I decided to do an early blowing out of the birthday cake. Mostly because I was eager to cut a slice and I'm not baking another cake for tomorrow (he's getting a birthday cobbler). And also because my oldest just loves the whole thing... the song, the cheering, and especially blowing out them candles. He's a hoot! 

Red Velvet Cake

recipe from Hummingbird bakery

8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 egg

5 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

4 Tablespoons red food coloring mixed with 2 Tablespoons water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 teaspoons distilled white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour two 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pans.  Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about three minutes.  Turn mixer to high and add  the eggs.  Scrape down the bowl and beat until well incorporated.

In a separate bowl mix together cocoa, vanilla and red food coloring to make a thick paste.  Add to the batter, mixing thoroughly until completely combined.  You may need to stop the mixer to scrape the bottom of the bowl, making sure that all the batter gets color.

Turn mixer to low and slowly add half of the buttermilk.  Add half of the flour and salt and mix until combined.  Scrape the bowl and repeat the process with the remaining milk and flour.  Beat on high until smooth.

Turn mixer to low and add baking soda and white vinegar.  Turn to high and beat a few more minutes.

Spoon batter into prepared cake pans and bake for 25-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center cupcake comes out clean.

Let rest in the pan for 20 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

recipe from Hummingbird Bakery

4 2/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted

6 Tablespoons butter, room temperature

8 ounces cream cheese, cold 

Beat the powdered sugar, and butter together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.  Mix on medium-slow speed until it comes together and is well mixed.

Add the cream cheese all at once and beat on medium to medium-high until incorporated.

Turn the mixer to medium-high and beat for 5 minutes, or until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. Do not over-beat as the frosting can become runny.

Extras

-I used 2 9-inch pans, but sliced the cake into four layers and I ended up needing double the frosting.

-I froze my cakes after it completely cooled because I read that it made cakes extra moist. I could not tell the difference, but it might be a trial and error kind of thing. 

-I only had one 2 oz bottle of red food coloring (McCormick Red) so I added an additional 1/4 tsp of gel (Americolor Super Red). 

A messy home is a happy home.