The times, they are a-changing

So Isaac's job has changed again!

I tell ya, Navy life is a veritable rollercoaster o' fun!

He is still going to the same battalion, they haven't changed that. But his job in the battalion has changed.

He is now in charge of a detachment of guys in Japan. The good thing is that it's great for Isaac's career. God had to line up a lot of stuff to make this happen.

The bad thing is that they want him to be part of an advance party, which means they want us to move May 1, instead of May 18.

And that's just two weeks after we go househunting.

I've never bought a house before, but I'm thinking that's not quite enough time for things to close and whatnot.

So we're not exactly sure what God has in store for us, house-wise, but it will be interesting to find out!

Just a reminder, we leave Monday, and Isaac's surgery is on Tuesday. The Navy does something that is not LASIK, and starts with a P. I forget the name, but what I do remember is that it is extremely painful for about three days.

And all five of us will be staying in one hotel room while he recovers.

So, if you get a chance, please pray for us next week!

I'll let you know how things go when we have internet access, possibly from the hotel, but maybe not until we get back.

My Recent Bad Day and Benefiber

So I recently posted about how I was having a bad day, and my friend Sheree commented that she was surprised I'd found time to blog.

It made me think.

I know she didn't mean it as a criticism, but it made me wonder-

Why did I feel it necessary to blog in the midst of a frustrating time with my kids?

And then I realized that it helped me to dispel the urge to spank the ever-lovin' daylights out of my kids.

And not to discipline them or anything. Just to relieve my frustration.

And it always helps to hear that other people have the exact same feelings and same bad days.

And it never hurts to get a new way of sneaking fiber into your diet, now does it?

Because, really, now that we've all given birth, our bodies just aren't the same.

So, I am here to reassure you- you can't tell that the Benefiber is in the coffee at all. But stay away from the Metamucil, because that stuff is just nasty.

Snotty Von Whinypants

You know those days where everything just comes together?

You get a shower in and even manage to do your hair and make-up, the kids are dressed and have their teeth brushed, no one watches too much tv, and you just plain enjoy your kids?

Today is not one of those days.

In fact, this week is not one of those weeks.

I started the day off on only an hour and a half of sleep.

By one o'clock, Luke was crying and dripping snot everywhere because I finally turned the tv off after, oh, FIVE HOURS.

Chloe was sobbing dramatically in her room because I told her she couldn't slam her bedroom door in Luke's face.

Audrey was screaming because she was not attached to my bre*st and she is apparently going through a growth spurt.

Finally everyone is napping, and man, do I wish I had a shot of something to add to my coffee.

Besides the Benefiber that is already in there, that is.

Cashew-Lime Chicken

Because you asked...

(From Quick Fix Meals by Robin Miller)

1 cup rice, cooked
1 tsp peanut oil
1 tbsp peeled and minced ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/4 lbs chicken, in bitesized pieces
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp finely grated lime zest
1 cup cashew pieces

Heat oil over medium-high heat. Add ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, one minute.
Add chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
Add salt and pepper and stir.
Add broth, hoisin, and lime, stir and bring to simmer.
Partially cover the man and simmer until chicken is cooked through and sauce slightly thickens, about 8-10 minutes.

*You can cool this and refrigerate up to three days.

Serve chicken over rice and top with cashews.

My husband loved this the way it was, but next time I will use less broth and hoisin :)

*edited to add- you can partially cover the man if you want, but I don't think it will help in the cooking of dinner. You'd probably better partially cover the pan instead.

And it was such a nice day...

We had a great morning. The kids were finally starting to feel better from their virus and we had a lot of fun playing.

Nap time was peaceful.

And then Luke woke up screaming and clutching his head.

Tylenol and a lot of very awkward cuddles (Audrey also woke up and was ready to nurse at the same time) finally got him to stop crying, but he remained pretty fussy.

I finally got Audrey fed and Luke and Chloe settled with crafts, and started dinner. I got my onions sauteeing on medium-high heat and then Audrey started screaming, and was ready for her evening nap.

The phone rang as I got her ready to sleep. It was my husbad saying he'd be home late.

As I was talking to him on the phone and jiggling Audrey so she wouldn't scream, I noticed that Luke was coloring on his plastic elephant.

With marker.

And my onions were burning.

Onions off the heat, elephant in the sink, Luke to his room for a time out, Audrey in a rocker.

The onions barely survived, so I got the soup quickly into the food processor.

And pressed on.

And had mashed potatoes and broth EVERYWHERE.

It flew out the top and leaked out of the bottom.

And of course it was on the counter opposite the sink, so I had to carry it across the kitchen to clean up.

There are a whole lot places for mashed potatoes to get stuck in a food processor.

When my husband gets home, I'm going to Panera Bread.

Alone.

Menu Plan Monday

I got the new cookbook "Quick Fix Meals," which I am loving, and most of my recipes come from it this week :)

Monday- Potato Cheddar Soup, Baby Spinach Salad (uses leftover mashed potatoes from last week)
Tuesday- Teriyaki Chicken with Soba Noodles, Broccoli
Wednesday- Leftovers
Thursday- Focaccia with Capicola, Mortadella, Salami and Provolone, Ministrone Soup
Friday- Steak, Sauteed Mushrooms, Salad with Strawberry Pecan Dressing
Saturday- Cashew-Lime Chicken and Rice, Sugar Snap Peas

Don't forget to visit Laura to join in the menu-planning fun!

In Which I Fail Greatly To Be Insightful

We had some dear friends come and stay with us last weekend. Since then I've been wanting to write a deep and insightful post -with pictures- about the blessings of friendship over time. But I'm just way too tired.

And the snot.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Three snotty kids just makes for a lot of snot.

(That's a pretty icky word, isn't it? Snot.)

(And do you think I could say it a few more times?)

So some other time when I haven't been woken up every hour for three nights in a row, I will hunt down pictures and be all insightful and stuff.

Today my brain is limited to dwelling on snot.

Oh, and PEPPERS! Did you know that you don't have to saw away at peppers to cut them?

I really like my new knife.

And I still have all my fingertips.

In case you were wondering.

Although, with this level of exhaustion I have acheived, maybe I should just hold off on using my new sharp knife for a few days.