For Love of the Crockpot

I feel like I need to get it out there that the runner up to this photo was one of me actually kissing my crockpot. Yes, I do love it THAT MUCH.

I have been on the crockpot bandwagon way before it was even cool. Yes, it is cool. A couple weeks ago, I was reading the news and in the article, some big time chef dissed the crockpot. I instantly felt defensive. And may have even considered writing this lady a letter. I mean, she hadn't just dissed an acquaintance of mine, but a super close and super reliable family member of mine. Since I knew a letter would be no help, except to maybe give her a laugh in her day, I thought I would instead share some of my favorite go-to crockpot recipes.

I try new crockpot recipes almost weekly. Pinterest is my go to source for recipes. The problem is, it is hard to find ones that are at least semi healthy, don't require a ton of extra work (so are more one pot style meals) and aren't soups. There are a couple soups on this list, but all these recipes are meals I have made numerous times and are winners in my house.


Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies - Bonus points for this being a "one pot" recipe because the veggies are already in it!

Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs - In full disclosure, I use pre-made meatballs, making it literally "stupid easy" (see the name of the actual recipe on the link to get that one).

Sausage Spinach Tomato Soup - So incredibly much flavor. And given how much spinach that goes in, I consider it a one pot recipe as well. Bonus points for this being a soup my husband actually loves…I'm the soup lover in the family, not him.

White Chicken Chili - It only has five ingredients. It really can't get any easier.

Southwest Chicken Soup

Teriyaki Chicken - This one may take a couple extra steps to make the sauce thicken at the end, but it tastes really good.

One of my ultimate favorites, I don't have a recipe for, Rootbeer Pulled Pork. You literally just throw in the pork roast, completely cover it with rootbeer (I have had better results having the pork roast completely submerged vs. using a specific amount) and cook it all day. At the end of the day, pull the roast out and shred it. Then add some rootbeer from the crockpot and come bbq sauce and mix it all together with the pulled pork. It is so dang good.


Wow, I really proved that big time chef wrong there, didn't I?! But seriously, the crockpot is one of the most used items in my kitchen. And I am loving life come dinner time when all the work is already done and we just get to eat. So I think it and I will be best buds for a long time.

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Callum {4 months}

Weight: 14lbs, 8oz

Length: 25.5 inches

Likes: People smiling at him, anything he can put in his mouth, looking at himself in the mirror, sitting up, being in his jumper

Dislikes: Sleeping through the night, getting hungry

Callum has grown and changed leaps and bounds this month. He has definitely left all his newbornness in the dust. He now laughs, smiles at any happy face, babbles, found his feet. But don't you worry, he still isn't rolling over. The kid is trying to sit up, but won't roll over. I am semi convinced that he will be walking before rolling. #priorities. 

Sleepwise, Callum started the month on a high and ended the month on a low. He had started consistently giving me an 8+ hour stretch and now I am getting like 3 hour stretches out of him. But it is getting better. It started when we went and visited my parents for spring break, so I don't know if that just derailed things and we are now needing to get back on schedule or what. I am still getting one really good nap out of him a day…that is, as long as the other kids don't do anything too crazy. They have been found "checking on him" while he is asleep (aka: touching him until he wakes). 

In super good news, Callum has finally embraced his car seat. No longer am I listening to constant screaming in the car and it truly is joyous. Of course, I think it helps that he can now grab toys and put them in his mouth. So, he can "play" while we drive, rather than just sit there. Callum likes putting pretty much anything in his mouth these days. He will even grab my fingers and try putting them in his mouth. Callum likes chewing on Sophie the giraffe. This makes me particularly excited because I bought that overpriced, overhyped toy when Connor was a baby and neither him nor Isla really showed much of any interest in it. At least I am (sort of) getting my money's worth. Of course, I learned the lesson long ago to not get caught up in the hype of baby gear…the hype always lets me down.

Callum likes his independence. He really enjoys being on his playmat, playing away. And he also really enjoys being in his stroller. I just started sitting him up in it (before I was making him lay flat) and he pretty much thinks it's the best thing ever.

Sizewise, Callum is long and lean. Though in the past week or two has started to chunk up. Like his little double chin chub just showed up about a week ago and I totally love it. Many people have commented on how big his feet are. Given that I have never measured any of my kids feet, they just look like feet to me, but apparently they are big. Callum started wearing 6-12 months clothes. Can you believe that?! I kind of can't. Like they genuinely fit and aren't too big. I actually had to pack up some 3-6 month things already because lengthwise, they just don't fit. Diaper size, he is in a size 2 and those still fit him well. It's crazy how quick babies grow. I forgot about how rotating clothes and shoes is a constant thing. Of course, I am still loving reliving Connor's babyhood through his clothes. 

 

And, in case you care, here is Connor's 4 month update and Isla's. I always try to not look at them until I am done writing Callum's…that way I can truly compare them afterward.

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15/52

Connor: It may be slightly out of focus, but I will take a genuine smile any time I can get one…especially when he is running around playing.  

Isla: Snails are her jam. And there may have been a little snail funeral and a lot of tears after an accidental snail killing this week.

 Callum: This kid is so into looking at himself in the mirror. He can literally be screaming his head off and if I hold him up to a mirror, he stops and smiles at himself. 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

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tball

 

 

 

Tball season is in full swing over here. Connor is loving it. And another year older for him is proving him to have more focus on the game.

It's weird that we are at that point in parenthood that we have to start figuring out how to not let extra curricular activities dictate our lives. It's easy to say "each kid gets one", but then you think about how they also need swim lessons. And they show interest in other things. And blah, blah, blah. We have gotten to this point.

The point where your kid is a part of something they are proud of, and for that, you are proud. But, it is also a bit stressful. Because between driving across town for the games, arriving early to practice, then the game itself…not to mention getting home right at bedtime and doing all this with an almost four month old…it can feel like a bit much at times. Really, it just feels like I am always failing someone. The weather turned cold on us yesterday and I showed up at the game with everyone dressed in summer attire. That, combined with the game lasting plenty past Callum's bedtime, led to me sitting in the car, nursing Callum, while keeping him warm….watching Isla play with other kids in the grass…and jumping out of the car whenever it was Connor's turn to bat. It all just felt a bit like a juggling parent fail.

I know next year will be a bit easier…instead of a grumpy infant, I will have an I-want-to-be-independent one year old on my hands that will hopefully be happy playing in the dirt piles, like his big sister.

It's hard because I know at times I need to give myself a break and realize I can't do it all. Yet, on the flip side, I don't want to let my kids down and for Connor to some day be lamenting in counseling about how his mom sat in the car during his tball games.

But then again, this is only the beginning of this phase of life and I need to find something that works for our family. So, you know, we all survive the next 15+ years of life.

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California Science Center

Last week, the kids and I headed down to LA to hang out with my parents during spring break. One of the things we did was spend a day over at the California Science Center. Having never been there before, I didn't know what to expect. But, let me tell you, I will be singing this place praises from now on. First off, it's FREE. I love me something free. Now, we did pay for the Journey to Space exhibit, but everything else there is free. And the space exhibit was totally worth paying for…at least if you have a little space junkie like I do.

I was nervous that the museum was going to be totally packed, given it was spring break. I was happy (and somewhat surprised) that I was wrong about that. We got there not long after it opened and practically had the space exhibit to ourselves. We spent about five hours at the museum and didn't even see everything there. It is a very large museum with a lot of fun things to see and do. The kids got to pet starfish, play like they were on tv and watch a vulture stalk its lunch.

^^ In the Journey to Space exhibit, there was a space station simulator. Let's just say, I had to run out and stare at a wall because I literally thought I was going to fall over. I never knew I could get motion sick so quick.

^^ There was a space station with astronaut dolls for the kids to play with. Both Connor and Isla totally loved it and spent lots of time at it.

 

^^ While I thought we were going to get to go in the Endeavor (boo…), it still was fun to see a space shuttle up close. The coolest part was actually watching the video of them transporting the space shuttle to the museum through the streets of LA. They had to move power lines, take down traffic signals, etc. 

 

^^ What's more fascinating than watching yourself on tv?! 

On our way out, we took the kids into the museum store. Isla had been looking forward to this from the time we entered the museum. She picked out a stuffed animal to take home. Connor, on the other hand, got the space suit of his dreams. He was so excited about it. It was really stinking cute. So, we made a little photo of him looking like a real astronaut.

I definitely plan on going back here again…because, well, it's FREE and there is so much to see and do. Did I mention there are areas that are only for under the age of 7?! Yeah, it's a pretty awesome place.

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14/52

Connor: Sometimes you need quiet time to decompress, even when visiting Papa and Memaw. Also, Connor lost TWO TEETH this past week. 

 Isla: The saddest looking horse with the happiest looking little girl on it. 

 Callum: This kid was such a trooper. He did amazingly on the trek to LA and back. He was great going on adventures with us and was happy being in anyone's arms. 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

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three kids

 

 

 

Even though sometimes (ok, most of the time) I wish the older two would give Callum less "love" than they do, it's pictures like these that melt my mama heart. Just look at Isla's little hand resting on Callum's head!!! I'm pretty sure God made babies pliable because he knew so many would have older siblings and would constantly be manhandled. I about have a heart attack ten times a day for how ungentle they treat Callum. Yet, he reserves his biggest smiles for them, so I guess he loves it. But seriously, when you find your six year old having picked up your three month old, letting his head flop about, your heart literally jumps out of your chest. You rush over, only to find said three month old with a huge smile on his face and think to yourself, "What the heck?" then make said six year old promise not to do that again...because, you know, shaken baby syndrome.

I really shouldn't complain about all the love going on around here. Sure the older two are rather rough on Callum. It could be worse. They could be throwing toys at him in his bed and feeding him a lifesaver…both things my older brother did to me when I was a youngin. Or they could just not like him at all. So, for that, I truly am thankful for all the rough love that goes on around here.

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