POOP IN THE POTTY

We have got poop IN THE POTTY people!

I repeat Nathan has POOPED ON THE POTTY!

And he has definitely been doing awesome going number 1 on the potty.

In the week since we started real undies during awake time he has only had 4 accidents!

That leaves an uncountable number of successful potty visits!

YAY!! I'll take most of my Pampers money back now please!

spaghetti

The story goes like this:

Spring of 2005. I was chatting with my friend at work, Melissa.

Melissa is Italian and from New Jersey... So imagine her New Jersey accent in her part of the conversation...

Me: I think I'm gonna make some spaghetti tonight.

Melissa: How do you make your spaghetti?

Me(perplexed): uhhh....I brown meat add Prego and dump it on pasta.(doesn't everyone)

Melissa(blinks way more than normal): Can you please just try making your own sauce? Please? Prego is garbage. Can you please try to make the sauce?

Me: Okay I guess I can. (obviously she was really worried about it, so I shouldn't upset her further)

Thank God for this conversation. I can count the number of jars I've bought since then on one hand.(only in a bind)

So here I share the recipe I have based off the BHG New Home Cookbook.

You deserve better than Prego or Ragu. Stop buying that trash in a jar, and just try it!

Will you please? Please?!

Brown:

1 lb ground beef -don't forget to salt and pepper the beef

Add and cook:

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2-4 stalks of celery, diced small(I use organic so I use 4 since they are smaller)

3/4 cups chopped green pepper(unless you find it offensive, then forget I even mentioned it)

Let the veg get tender.

After a few minutes add :

1 teaspoon chopped garlic

STIR IN:

14 oz can diced tomatoes

14 oz can tomato sauce(or crushed)

6 oz can tomato paste

water-I fill the empty tomato paste can as my mode of measuring

1 teaspoon dried marjoram

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 teas sugar

and a little S&P

stir it well, then turn the heat down to way LOW. I think 2 hours on a low bubble makes it super yummy. The pic above is how it looked when I had stirred everything in....

This is what it looked like after 1hour... yum

Now when the 1.5 hr mark comes around start your pasta water. Cook your spaghetti, but before you drain, grab a little of the pasta water in a mug. Then drain your pasta, toss it in the sauce, then add that little splash(like 1/4 cupish) of pasta water. Then stir it around into a pot of wonderful! SEE!!

YUMMY YUMMY. I top with fresh Parmesan. (you should too!)

Fessing Up

Makes me nervous when I hear "sorry Mom". Cause normally we have to tell him to apologize. But I guess he wanted to show his work but already knew it was bad and he would be in trouble.

And he was happy to show off his wrong doing for the camera..

But he is so darn cute.

And he knows, that I know, that pens shouldn't be left where he can reach them.

*spoken in a screaming preacher voice* BE HEALED!

The day after Jukibird moved in I woke up and found his beak black, apparently bruise from flying into something. It was sad and ugly.

Then the other morning I uncovered Jukibird and BAM its gone! Only pristine healthy beak showed. Its a miracle! I went to take a photo, and Jukibird apparently wanted to show off cause I got this shot....

and then he turned his head to get this shot!

Moment of the Week

Somebody has joined the undies wearing population!

Mushroom Meatball Meatloaf

This is a fav around here. It tastes like my mom's italian meatballs, but in a meatloaf!

Combine:

1 beaten egg

1/4 cups fine plain breadcrumbs

Add:

2 Tablespoons apple juice(or beer or water)

1/4 med onion-shredded(or chopped as tiny as possible)

4 oz can mushroom pieces and stems-drained, and chopped small (I use a food processor)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire

2 Tablespoons Ketchup

1 Tablespoon dried parsley

1 Teaspoon dried oregano

Stir this mixture well.

This is what it will look like

Add

1 1/2 pounds super lean ground beef

*Mix in with your hands.

*press into a loaf pan. (I use a fork to rake to top to make pretty lines)

*Bake 350 about 1 hour. Until the top is crispy.(and the meat thermometer reads 170)

Loose Jukibird

He is pretty tame. Sits on your finger. Doesn't bite. So we have let him out to fly a couple of times.

Funny thing, the first time he landed he did so on the dog's bed!