chickens in the burbs

Monday, May 10, 2010

thanks to the rain...

...it was an easy decision. No walk. No eggs. No pancakes. Not today anyway. We'll have them tomorrow morning though. :)

Now I need to find a sitter for tomorrow afternoon to watch Cababy. My two go-to-girls can't do it!

Oh, and there was a whopping 1 egg this morning. Boo.

UPDATE: We got some QFC coupons in the mail the other day and, get this, there was one for a free dozen eggs. So, I'll still have to make something eggy...maybe this...but at least I can still say I've only bought eggs once since the chicks started laying in full force.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

would you believe it?

BREAKING NEWS
I, proud owner of 4 chickens, who has only bought eggs once in the last year and a half...am OUT of eggs! :(

I need 4 for the yummiest buttermilk pancakes eva (Martha Stewart's). But a girl can't be upset about this since it is because she had a delicious scramble this morning courtesy of one hubba-hubba hubby. I also made a from scratch yellow cake last night that took 5. Again, nothing to hate about a yummy, buttery, yellow cake.

*sigh* It is a conundrum though because Cababy LOVES some buttermilk pancakes. Oh, and trying to be the organized mommy, I have everything else measured out and ready to go...including the buttermilk, which is in the fridge, but needs to be used asap. I was all set...that hardly ever happens!

The issue is, do I walk down to the market (tomorrow morning with both kids), which is a lovely place and only about .8 miles from my door, to buy 12 eggs when all I need are 4? Further, there will likely be 3 eggs in the box and 3 more tomorrow and the day after that, etc. An acquisition of 12 eggs will create a glut that will necessitate making a quiche or a bread pudding or some other eggy thing.

Maybe there will be four in the box tomorrow. Come on girls, is it really too much to ask that you all get on board here and lay me some nice eggs in the morning?

Well, I'll know in just a few hours...which is my cue to go to bed. :)

xoxo

p.s. I am so in love with this being the big problem of my evening. Thanks to God for taking care of everything in our lives so that these are the issues of the day. We are very blessed in this house!

Happy Mother's Day!



Happy Mother's Day to all of the mommies that we know!!

I got a card from each of the kids this morning along with the only version of Pride and Prejudice that I didn't already own (ironically the Collin Firth version). (Oh, it's ironic because of how gorgeous he is as Mr. Darcy.)

Even waking up with a horrible sore throat...these cards made my Mother's Day. The cards were exactly the same except for the inscription, they read:

Cover: "Happy Mother's Day from your FAVORITE!"
Inside: "Oh, Please. It's so obvious."

From Cabrini:
(It's okay - you don't have to tell Peter...it'll be our little secret.)
Mommy - Thanks for being the best mommy in the entire universe! I've met lots of other mommies in my life, and you are much better than all of them at making me happy. Daddy is the luckiest daddy in the entire universe to have you as his wife! He better have gotten you a nice Mommy's day gift - like a gym or pool membership or something. Mommy, I love you! Cabrini

From Peter:
(It's okay - you don't have to tell Cabrini...it'll be our little secret.)
Mommy, I may not show it all the time (especially between 7:30 and 8:30 in the evening) but I love you! When I cry it means I just want you more. Nobody makes me smile like you do (when I smile for anyone else - even Daddy - ti's my fake-cheesy smile. With you it's the real deal). Daddy says you're the most beautiful mommy and wife out there and he's right! I love you Mommy! Peter

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Adele on Sound Insight

Dr. Tom Curran is an awesome Catholic speaker who lives in our area. We are very lucky because Tom has a daily radio program on Sacred Heart Radio (AM 1050) called Sound Insight. On Monday's show he talked about the Ritter family and how little Adele brought them closer to God through her short life.

Take a listen here. If you listen to the whole show you'll hear Tom Ritter give the Catholic Financial Minute early in the program and Tom Curran's reflections on Adele begin around minute 33.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

hello old friend

Ah, Running Mix, it's been so long (14 months to be exact). I finally decided there's nothin' to it but to do it.

Were we running together like we used to?
Not really.

Was my warm up/cool down pace my max today?
Yes, yes it was.

Would you classify what we did as a wog?
You betcha.

But did it feel great to be moving again.
Yeah, jiggly, but great.

Highlights that I've missed:
  • Yellow - Coldplay
  • You Picked Me - A Fine Frenzy
  • Such Great Heights - The Postal Service
  • Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's
  • Viva la Vida - Coldplay
  • I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Now I just need to keep this post-workout feeling in the front of my mind to help with motivation. It'll be easier when I can put Petey in the jogger...a few more months.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

home is where strangers don't ask you inappropriate questions

Most of the time we stay home. I am, after all, a "stay-at-home mom." A SAHM, if you will. There are lots of reasons why we are home most of the time. For instance, Ed drives the car to work (this is a big reason), we avoid colds, flu and nasty germs in general, 1 mommy + 2 babies = very inefficient, etc. However, I'm beginning to realize there is another reason to add to the list. The questions and comments. I know a lot of my friends out there will relate. I never thought 2 kids would garner these rather rude and personal comments...but they do when they're so close in age.

So, maybe I can just put the answers out there on the big old internet and hope that everyone in the Greater Seattle area reads my bloggy thoughts and stops asking the questions. I won't hold my breath...but a girl can dream.

Yes, they are close in age.
No, they are not twins. (yes, people actually ask that.)
They are 11 months, 2 weeks and 1 day apart.
They are 350 days apart.
They are 8,397.5 hours apart.
They are 503,850 minutes apart.
They are 30,231,000 seconds apart.
Yes, my hands are full.
Yes, I am very busy.
Yes, I do know how "this" happens. But I'd bet a big bag of money that you do not know how we were blessed with our children.
No, God willing, we are not "done."
Yes, God willing, we do want more.

I know there are more, but these are the ones that we get the most. Granted, the majority of people say very nice things...but there are always the "bad apples" that spoil the bunch.

So, good people of Seattle, please turn on the little censor in your head before you leave the house. Please realize that a lot of people do not see children as burdens to be grudgingly accepted or sterilely planned. A great many families understand that the capacity to love increases with each miraculous addition and that God wants to give parents everything they need to do their jobs with love and patience...you just have to be willing to ask and receive.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Saint Adele Marie, pray for us.

Sweet Adele Marie has gone to her eternal reward. This tiny life touched so many and spoke so powerfully of the love of God. Every life is worthwhile. Every baby is a blessing to be cherished. Please keep the Ritter family and their intentions in your prayers. Please also ask Adele to intercede on your behalf. As her Papa said, there's no way Jesus could say no to that sweet face.

(On the joyous day of Adele's confirmation)
Thank you, Ritter family, for being such a blessing to all of us who know you.

This family joyfully welcomed their newest member knowing that the world would view their perfect baby as "broken". They shared their joy and their suffering with us all. Their walk with Christ through His passion, death and, ultimately, His Resurrection. We are confident that sweet baby Adele, with the grace of her baptism and confirmation, is enjoying the glory of the Beatific Vision. She has taken her place in the Heavenly Kingdom and will be continually unpacking her 2 suitcases of intentions at the feet of Jesus. The Ritters are an extraordinary family and I thank God for them.

Adele's story can be read here.