La Regina della Cucina

I have been a very busy girl this week! Ever since I went to visit my domestic goddess of a sister, Lauren, I have been really stepping it up at home. Fancy deserts, decorating, rearranging, new meals added to my repertoire... I have really earned that "La Regina della Cucina" apron my sister picked me up in Assisi.

Two days ago I made these incredible mint brownies and chicken fried steak. Yesterday we existed off the leftovers and my dad visited to install the new shelves (40 dollars at IKEA) that we got to organize the toys in the playroom. So my home is really becoming a home now.

Today we went apple picking. Well, actually.... we attempted to go apple picking. We never really got past the petting zoo and the hay rides. Even though Madeleine had NO interest in petting the animals she was fascinated by them and insisted on making animal noises to them. She couldn't quite grasp the concept of "chicken". To her a chicken is something on her dinner plate that she dips in ketchup and then eats. Therefore, the chickens were called "DUCK" and subsequently quacked at.

The hay ride was lovely, we were the only family for our turn so Kyle took that opportunity to ask me for a roll in the hay, clever one that husband of mine. Found himself hilarious. Juliette crawled between us during the ride, confused and thrilled by the texture of the hay under her hands and how it stuck to her clothes. Madeleine sat by herself, she is very into doing things by herself and having sat on either of her laps would have been an insult to her independence.

We had to leave without apples in order to make it to mass on time but have vowed to go to an even closer place just to pick up some fresh apples from their farm stand. Nothing from the grocery store can compare.

And of course, because she is a perfect angel, mass was Madeleine's favorite part of the week without question and that makes this momma very happy.

What else have I been up to? Kyle has been sleep talking more so laughing at him has kept me very busy and I've recently become addicted to Pinterest. I spend a decent amount of time after the kids go to bed coming up with outfits I would wear if I actually had money and a reason to get out of my sweat pants, things I want to cook, ways I would organize a home school room, and recipes I want to make. It's a fantastic organization tool. I also baked Kyle's boss her favorite baked goods (those mint brownies) and had Kyle deliver them to her with the message that there would be more with any raises or promotions. So I expect he will be promoted to CEO in no time. I am THAT good of a baker.

My life is simple but very joyful. Play date tomorrow followed by daddy's days off. I vow to put up pictures of the girls at the farm. You've never seen anything cuter.

My confusing love affair with Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a special, special place. Now, I may be a native New Englander but growing up in Connecticut I did not often find a reason to venture to our northern borders. Sure, there was the occasional Six Flags New England trip, the Steubenville conference in Attleboro each summer during high school, and once and a while our cousins would allow us to invade their house for a day or two. But I never really WENT to Massachusetts. Like, really EXPERIENCED this state.

I'd heard tales... tales about these people, our northern neighbors. Called Massholes by some and Baaaahhhhstonians by others. They ALL wear red sox hats every day and they can't say their "r"s and the use the F word in every sentence and they drive with their middle finger up and ready to use at a moments notice. AND NEVER GO TO SOUTHIE. And they are ALL Irish. Which is cool, because I am 1/4 Irish too.

But these things were all folklore as far as I was concerned. The few people I had met from Massachusetts seemed... normal? But maybe they had a shrine to Big Pappi in the Cah they Pahked in Hahvahd Yahd at which they sacrificed poor unwitting Yankees fan hoping to break the Curse of the Bambino. I couldn't be sure. All I knew was my friend Blair told me that all the roads turned to dirt after the border because Massachusetts sucked and Connecticut ruled. And Blair would NEVER lie.

In late spring 2008 Kyle and I were living in Texas when I got a job offer for a youth ministry position in a tiny town south of Worcester and quickly accepted. Massachusetts was close to home and to my family and from my experience in college that I knew I would fit in better in any part of fast paced New England than I ever would in the south. In the years that had passed since high school I had realized that there were a lot of reasons I could like Massachusetts. They drove fast... I drove fast! They liked the Celtics and Patriots.... I liked the Celtics and Patriots! They drank beer.... I drank beer! We would be so very happy there!

I mean, there were a few irreconcilable differences. For instance, October 2004... I still hold that it never happened and should never be mentioned again. Also, I am a registered Republican.

And so we left Texas and headed north. Now, I may have lived in Worcester county for two and a half years but as anyone in Massachusetts will tell you, that doesn't count. My REAL Massachusetts experience began in Metro West, right around when the Bruins were cruising to the Stanley Cup. Living in Worcester county was confusing. When I was home, I hated it. When I drove closer to the city, I was in love. So pretty! So much to do!

Now that we've lived in Metro West for almost a year I've learned something. Massachusetts and I... well, we just work. Massachusetts is like that friend you've had forever who always acts like a complete idiot and you laugh and roll your eyes, act like you have no idea who they are and then wonder why you are still friends. Yet there you are, always kickin it with them because you know you'd miss all the hilarity if you were gone. Let me give you an example.

The other day I was at the bank trying to deposit a check in the drive up ATM. Someone two cars ahead of me was taking too long so the car in front of me started to leave. As they pulled out the car at the ATM did as well. Well, wouldn't you know it Mr Impatient stopped his car blocking the exit to the back, got out, and started cursing out the person who had taken so long at the ATM. Only in Massachusetts.

And after I got over the fear and decided dialing 911 would only escalate the problem I just had to laugh to myself. Only in Massachusetts would Harvard students protest the rich with Ipads in hand. Only in Massachusetts would the signs along the highway reminding people not to drunk drive be changed to memorial signs after Ted Kennedy died. Only in Massachusetts would you get flicked off by an old lady for taking too long loading your double stroller and kids into the car. And yet I love it here.

Those aren't the reasons I love it here. To understand, you'd really have to walk around Boston and see the historic sites of the Revolutionary war, drive around the hills in the fall when the leaves change color, prayed in the gorgeous and historic Catholic churches, seen the patriotism shown on the anniversary of 9/11, and just experience the passion of Boston sports fans... the real ones... not the pink hats. (And I mean, I HATE the red sox.) Maybe it's because my family has been here since the early 1600s. Maybe it's because I think America RULES! Maybe it's because I grew up in Connecticut, a place actually quite similar, and realize that for every mean person there are 50 kind and decent ones.

Whatever it is, unless you experience these things first hand you will have no idea what Massachusetts is all about and you might be like my former self. You'll buy the stereotypes. Some of them are true but still, it's a great place to live and I love it.

But seriously, stay out of Southie.

Sleep talking Kyle- BACK WITH A VENGEANCE

So as you know from previous posts, my husband likes to talk in his sleep. Luvs it. And it's pretty much my favorite too.

This tends to happen when he is really sleep deprived. It used to only occur when I would go into bed at night to force spoon him and catch some Zzzzs before the Milk Monster wakes me up to nurse. He would wake up, babble some nonsense, I would LOL, put up a facebook status about it, and then tease him in the morning.

WELL for the last two nights it's been a horse of a different color. If I had to describe the color of the horse it would be "crazy-messed-up-tie-died" because no single color can adequately symbolize the hilarity of "Sleep talking AND walking AND doing stuff Kyle"... or as I fondly call him, my new favorite Kyle.

Last night, 11:20. Kyle has been in bed for a few hours and I am winding down with my two good friends Detective Mac Taylor and Very Berry Martini. Kyle stumbles out of the bed room and leans against the kitchen counter. Serious looks.

Kyle- I just remembered I have twenty minutes to do the thing.
Sarah- (starting to smile but still trying to look serious. This may be good) What thing Kyle?
Kyle- I have to attach the thing to the thing on the bed.
Sarah- (Smiling broadly) What thing on the bed?
Kyle- (frustrated Kyle faces) You know, the chain! The chain or else it will fall off. I have 20 minutes!
Sarah- (fighting laughter. if I laugh he will stop talking and I want to see where this goes) I have no idea what you are talking about.
Kyle- You know!!! (getting frustrated. angry serious face) The chain on the bed. I have to do it. 20 MINUTES!
Sarah- (loses all decorum) BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Kyle- STOP LAUGHING! I HAVE TO GO GET IT DONE!
Sarah- (snorting, not even fighting it) HAHAHA You go do that Kyle HAHAHAHA!
A few minutes pass by and I hear shuffling in the bedroom. This can not be good.
Sarah- Kyle! Go back to sleep! You are not awake!
Kyle- Fine but it won't get done.
Sarah- That's fine, just go to sleep. (more laughing. posting on facebook followed by even more laughing. I can't wait to talk to him tomorrow)

So I had in my head that this was the greatest birthday present he could have given me. I've been sick all week, confined to the house, wiping snot off of Juliette's face and keeping Madeleine from shoving pieces of paper into the PS3. This is God's gift to Sarah.

Then, tonight... I got an encore.

Same scene. I'm on the couch, it's 12:30 and I am once again visiting with Detective Mac Taylor and a glass of water with lemon. Out comes Kyle, serious face and all.

Kyle- I have to set the alarm. What was the thing you wanted me to do before I wake up?
Sarah- (smiling. I can't believe how FUN married life can be!) Why are you setting your alarm Kyle? I didn't ask you to do anything?
Kyle- YES! I have to do the thing before I wake up.
Sarah- What thing?
Kyle-The thing you asked me to do. I have to do it before I wake up. Or else the thing.
Sarah- (OHEMGEE but still maintaining composure) I didn't ask you to do anything.
Kyle- (completely at a loss for WHY his wife does not understand) I am making perfect sense!
Sarah- Perfect sense Kyle. Go to sleep.
Kyle- grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (heads to bed)
Sarah- (waiting until door shuts) BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA (heads to computer to put up status and write blog post)

In short, I adore my husband. Not only is he a wonderful man when he is awake but he is endlessly entertaining in his sleep. I really do love every minute with him

Walking, counting to six, and other very useful tricks

I've been sick for the past week. Nothing serious, just one of the colds that makes you feel like you could probably crawl up and sleep for a week. And I probably would have too but little miss Juliette had the same cold so I was in super mom mode.

There is nothing worse than watching your baby suffer. Praise God my kids have only had light illnesses but I still hate it. She was all stuffed up and giving me the sad eyes. And her sad eyes are particularly powerful because they are huge and brown with her long eyelashes clumped together with tears. And then if you can tear your eyes away from her's you'll notice the runny nose and the quivering lip and you are about ready to sell your spleen to get the money to fund some scientists effort to cure the common cold.

But there were good times too. When we were all happily drugged up Juliette discovered that she could walk using her walker. And boy was she ever proud of herself! The first time she did it I was in the kitchen cooking and I saw Juliette laughing and cruising across the room. At first I thought nothing of it because she has been mobile (of the four legged, crawling variety) for a few months now. But I did a double take and noticed her expectant face and her upward position. She was So. Freaking. Proud. of herself and wanted to make sure that I had seen her big moment. So I ditched the stupid cooking and ran to her clapping and scooped her up.

Now she is hooked, can't get enough of the walking with the walker. I'd imagine within weeks she won't even need it anymore. She spends her time going back and forth across and around the living room, laughing and beaming. And when she finished walking she lets go of the walker and claps for herself. It's adorable. It makes me want to cover her cheeks with chocolate syrup and just nibble on them. But I will restrain myself.

And Madeleine keeps making advances in the prayer department. She now prays grace before she eats anything (calls me on! I usually forget!) and if you ask her who's Mary she will tell you, "Jesus mommy." She can also count to six which she demonstrates usually when she is about to get into trouble. A typical scene goes something like this;

Me- "Madeleine. Give that back to your sister."
Madeleine- "Nooooo mom!"
Me- "Madeleine, mommy is going to count to three."
Madeleine- "One, two, three, four, five, six"
Me- "Madeleine, I am proud of your counting but you need to give that to your sister before I count to three."

Then, depending on her mood, we happily do as I ask and get on with our lives or she is counting the two minutes she spends in time out. But for the most part, she always does as her mommy and daddy ask. She loves to please, that one.

There is never a dull moment around here.

This week was my birthday and I came to the realization that I am ridiculously happy. So I really don't need anything. But Starbucks cards are always welcome if you are asking ;) Just kidding... but seriously... but I'm totally joking.

I am also thankful for the time this week I got to talk to some dear friends. Life gets busy and I often forget how much holy friendships build me up and enrich my life. Especially friendships with holy women. Amy and Sara, if you are reading this talking to you this week was such a blessing. You are both visiting me very soon.

Juliette and I are both doing better today but please keep praying our little bug goes away and that Kyle and Madeleine do not catch it. If we all stay healthy there will be apple picking and petting zoo fun in our near future. And lots of adorable pictures to go with it!

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays without a care in the world...

Apparently mommy and daddy were not dancing with her so her Doggie had to fill in. Adorableness ensued and was captured on camera. She's already learned to leave room for the Holy Spirit when she slow dances.

The gift of fertility

Every single cycle it's the same thing. The fear of another ectopic pregnancy, the fear of losing my fertility and never being able to have kids again hits me like a brick wall, a punch to the gut, and it knocks the wind out of me. I become paralyzed by fear and overwhelmed by my lack of control.

I can't even talk. All I can do is say, "Jesus." over and over and over again. He knows what I need.

Women, please cherish and respect you fertility. It is such a precious gift.

Typical Prayer Time with Madeleine

"Madeleine, do you want to pray?"

"Yes." *points to chest* "Father, Son" *folds hands* "Amen"

"Madeleine, what do you want to pray for?"

"Thank you Jesus.... ummm... baby, daddy, mom, grandmom, gra, launnick, hannah, carly, daddy, mom, hannah, lainey, grammy, barney, baby bop, bj bop, elmo, mom, daddy, baby, madeleine, nick, cars, grandmom, carly, daddy, baby, barney, cookies, Jesus, mass... ummm... daddy. Amen"

What about Jesus' mommy?

"Yes. Hail Mary. Amen."