i know you, you know me

recipe - mac n cheese, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

i had a request for this recipe and post, written on my old blog.  post written july 21, 2010.

my family has a few die-hard recipes that we always go back to. i've never been a fan of mac n cheese. i admit it. my mom didn't make it all that often and i've never really liked cheese. and then once i found out that dairy and i are not bffs, well. cheese and i parted ways.


but then i found myself pregnant and able to eat cheese without any repercussions (gross, i know) and my sister's mac n cheese became my favorite.


her secret? using seasoned salt instead of regular table salt. i like to mix it up, so i use 1/2 tsp seasoned salt, and 1 tsp regular salt.


anyway, her recipe is hands-down the best recipe, and now i have friends calling me for it. so much that i typed up a pretty recipe card so i can give it to them and they'll hopefully save it and stop calling me. and i feel like i should share it with you, too.

i'm no superman.

waterbury tulip festival, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

on thursday night, i drove to class and the theme song to scrubs came on my ipod. i'm no superman. i sang along, loud and proud.

see, i usually arrive late to wherever i am going. i forget to finish things and i leave things to the last minute. i take on more than i can handle.

when it is important, i can finish it, but man, is that hard with the responsibilities of being a mom. this week, i needed help. the stress of the impending exam saturday morning was more than i could handle. friday night, i was mean to my family. i snapped. it was due to the stress. it was because i was not trusting that God could handle it for me.

 so this week, i am late, once again, to grateful friday. but i am grateful. grateful for help from my mom and mother-in-law. babysitting just when i need it. a husband who has made dinner for the family many more times than he should have, as a man who supports his family only on his income. for friends who study with me. for the peace that God can give us when we just trust him.

i'm no superman. but i think i did pretty stinking good on that exam. and i'm also grateful that is is over, and i can move on to the next challenge.

*random picture added because pictures make even my depressing posts just a little bit happier.

delicious.

IMG_0217, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

my sister and the kids came over for memorial day so i made sure to have some popsicles on hand. and i was so grossed out by the food coloring on the tongues and faces. i'm pretty sure that the popsicles (cheap ones from target) had no real fruit or fruit juice in them. gross.

so last week i bought a popsicle mold from amazon.com. then i went looking for recipes. one of the easiest ones i found was on martha stewart. puree watermelon and a tiny bit of sugar and freeze in your molds. the kids were crazy about them and chris and i even had one. i'm definitely more likely to have a popsicle on a hot day if i know what is in it.

and for the kid in me, the rocket shape helps too.

back in baby's arms

IMG_0105, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

i have my camera back. i am so happy that it is fixed but more overjoyed that it is back in my hands. i have missed it. i have lots of work to do this week, with a very important exam on saturday. but i could not resist this photo of my niece dancing with andrew. i love spontaneous moments.

grateful friday, late.

i've been focusing on studying for some exams and trying to enjoy the nice weather during the rest of my time.  and with a broken camera, i've been able to step away from the computer and do other things.

always thankful, albeit a little late.

- my sweet husband planted a bunch of things for me.  we have this terrible root network in our backyard.  we have lovely raspberry bushes and strawberries growing, and i wanted to plant blueberries as well.  he worked so hard just for me.

- fresh, stove popped popcorn. nothing better.

- gorgeous spring weather.

- park dates and picnics and running into friends.

- good grades and a wonderful feeling of satisfaction with the semester over.

- a full week without driving to new haven.  ain't nothing better.

grateful friday.

- the largest of my end of the semester papers has been handed in. i actually did a victory dance.
 - afternoon cups of tea with my sister.
 - sunshine after a grey, rainy week.
 - playing video games with andrew. yeah, i know that they are bad, whatever. they work as an excellent reward for good behavior, and his bed has been made every day without prompting.
- chris planned a date night for us this weekend. i am incredibly excited.
- good advice from my mom not to take anything more on my plate. she's always right (and sometimes i hate that.)

living these moments.

i am just so tired.  my semester is almost over and then i have a summer course and exams to pass.  i want to go lie down in my bed and not move for a week.  i want to close the computer.  i want to live without worrying about what is next.

the other night we took a walk as a family after dinner.  we almost didn't go even though we had talked about it beforehand.  the boys were eating too slowly and chris and i were getting annoyed.  however, we told ourselves that we promised we'd go out, and so we did. 

why am i wishing away the time?  why am i not enjoying these moments?  all i can seem to do is wish toward when i don't have to run off to class, when i don't have to worry about money, when i can be present.  the truth is, that is never going to be.  there is always going to be somewhere, something, anything on my mind.  i need to give my worries to God and enjoy the moment. going for walks with my family.  playing legos with christian.  listening as chris tells me about his day.  reading with andrew. in the moment, living these moments.

a few images from our family walk the other night.

IMG_6478, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

IMG_6485, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

IMG_6486, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.