let's turn this ship around....

this morning was one of these....

actually, it's been one of these types of weeks.

everyone seemed to wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

charlotte was just plain cranky.

and rocking a new cough and runny nose.

fun.

yesterday she screamed, kicked, and scratched for 44 minutes after her nap.

i was not looking forward to a repeat performance.

(do you think i'm mean for taking these photos rather than comforting my child?  

first... i totally did try to comfort her.  she was not having it.

if you get near her, she scratches you.  (see bella's face for example.)

and...i thought that i needed evidence for when she was a teenager.)

i had planned on a fun morning with my girls.

some nail painting,the park, and some exercise.

there was no way i was going to paint nails with all that kicking and flailing.

and taking her in public?  no way.

and honestly, exercising with a screaming toddler is, well, futile.

what to do?

how to start over?

i could feel myself starting to fill with frustration.

this was NOT how i wanted our day to go.

i decided we needed a craft.

monday we had decorated for fall with a few items i had boxed up.

i have a billion things on pinterest i want to make,

but none of the supplies.

or today, the patience.

what could we make with what we had?

i decided to bust out the paint.

i started helping bella make handprints.

charlotte was soon intrigued, stopped screaming, and wanted hers done too.

we had a few minutes of quiet respite while the girls painted.

(as soon as she was done, she was back at it. yikes.)

after jackson was done with school,

he made his handprints, too.

i hung them outside to dry while we ate lunch.

after lunch, it was naptime for the char-nado.

that kid hit the pillow and was out.  sweet relief for everyone.

we still had some crankies happening

thank you, jackson, for adding to the mix

so we grabbed our old bananas and made a batch of banana bread.

just before we put it in the oven,

jackson decided it needed chocolate chips.

so it was chocolate chip banana bread.

(i did LOVE that jackson read all the instructions for us in the recipe. 

he couldn't quiet figure out the fraction measurements :)  

and.... it made me smile to see him in my apron)

the bread was in the oven,

charzilla was down for a nap.

so we went outside to finish our handprints.

i drew pumpkins on the painted papers for the kids to practice their cutting

while i cut out the handprints.

our cutting still needs some work.

sadly, the batteries ran out on my timer.

so the bread overcooked a bit.

but the kids were so proud and excited to try their creation!

i taped their little handprints around the frame on our mantle to make a little wreath.

nothing fancy-

i don't think anyone will be pinning this :)

but it made me happy.

and it made the kids, at least the big kids, happy, too.

nothing today happened or turned out quite like i planned or hoped.

but sometimes different is just as good :)

charlotte should be asleep for another 30 minutes.

let's hope she wakes up happier.

otherwise...

i'm going to need another craft.

jeff's away casserole

is there anything you ate as a child that you still just love?

the ultimate in comfort food.

i have one of those recipes.

i wish i could say it is something amazing.

it's not.

in truth... the rest of the world would probably turn their nose up.

and... i get it.

but to me- it is just something that makes me feel warm.

if you are what you eat, i currently must be chicken nuggets and mac & cheese.

cause i'm living on a kid-food diet right now.

i have reached the point where i am just ready for jeff to come home.

i'm feeling a little lonelier, a little less patient, and just plain tired.

i thought making that old classic recipe would help warm me up inside a bit.

(definitely don't need to be warmed up outside with this weather!)

i've named this meal the "jeff's away casserole" because i can only make it when he's gone.

he hates it.

again.... i totally understand.

it is basically a mix of noodles, peas, corn, cheese, olives & meat.

i would never order that on a menu.

but tonight... nothing sounded better.

it didn't magically bring my husband home, but i do feel a little better now.

good thing i have left overs.

for all you crazy people that actually want to make it:

1. cook 2 cups of elbow macaroni

2. brown 1 lb. ground beef ( i like to add dried onion for flavor)

3. 1 can creamed corn

4. 1 can peas (drained)

5. 1 can olives (drained)

6. mix ingredients together

7. cover with shredded cheddar cheese

8. bake at 350 for 30 minutes in a casserole dish.


and i have more cans because... i made a double batch!

i promise my next recipe will be fancier ;)