Bitch, bitch, bitch

It occurs to me that I have spent a good deal of the summer thus far complaining, whining and/or bitching about how hard it is to be a full-time stay-at-home parent of two small children.  And it is.  And I have. 

It is mind-numbing, back-breaking, completely defeating and just really fucking hard.  (Allow me the liberty to swear here as I try not to do it around the children...Try, anyway).  Our big parent bodies are sore and bruised and broken from the work of it.  Our minds are as mushy as our bodies, our thoughts often incoherent.  It is impossible to hold conversations with friends about anything but the children and how challenging they are, especially if we've been granted a few hours of freedom and a few beers...  Sorry about that.

Being stuck so far into the middle of the "baby tunnel" that we cannot yet see the light at the end may be socially debilitating, but it is also wonderful, amazing, beautiful, full of love and happiness, unabashed joy, sloppy baby kisses and gigantic hugs for no reason at all.  We sometimes sit on the floor and just play with the babies and stare at each other with amusement and awe at how lucky we are.  Our kids are healthy, happy and bright.  We laugh every day.  We've gotten just what we wanted.  We're happy, actually!  Really! 

We're just tired.  And, we knew it'd be hard, we were fully aware of what we were getting ourselves into... although that knowledge doesn't really in any way prepare you for the grinding reality... Oy.

I now fully understand that glazed-over and vacant look that some parents get when their child is crying/yelling/screaming in public.  I used to think, why isn't that mom doing anything about her kid?!  Wow.  I get it now.  It's because this is the millionth time she's fought the same fight, possibly just today, and she hasn't slept in weeks and there was no fucking way she was going to cook and so they are at this restaurant anyway and she is going to drink the beer that is in front of her and she doesn't give a fuck that her kid is screaming about her Elmo doll right now because she deserves that beer, goddammit, and so she's going to just tune it out and stare at the TV and drink that beer and fuck you for judging her, the end.

So, yeah, we're doing just fine despite the whining and the bitching.  The luxury of being able to spend all day, every day with my babies is mostly blissful.  I get to eat graham crackers and play pretend and go for walks and play at the park and cook yummy things and am rewarded daily with hugs and giggles and snuggles and kisses.  Which is so much better than bitching about back-stabbing office politics and shitty bosses.  Around here, the bosses are just occasionally poopy, and that's pretty easily cleaned up.

Siri's 1st Year

Happy 1st Birthday to my beautiful baby girl!!!

Click here to watch a slideshow of Siri's 1st year:

http://www.flickr.com//photos/46002720@N04/sets/72157626866684885/show/

Make the house smell AWESOME

Moroccan Chicken and Couscous Tagine

1 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1 1/2lbs boneless chicken, breasts or thighs

2 tbls olive oil

1 med onion, small dice

1 large carrot, small dice

1/2 red bell pepper, small dice

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

juice of one fresh lemon

1 1/4 cups couscous

1/2 cup canned chickpeas

1/4 pitted green olives, halved

1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds or pine nuts

Chopped cilantro or parsley

Mix spices together in a small bowl.  Rinse and dry chicken well then generously coat with all of the spice mix.  Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and cook the chicken 4-5 minutes per side.  Remove to plate and cover with foil.  Add veggies to pan and saute until soft, 5-8 minutes.  Add liquids and bring to a boi.  Remove from heat and add couscous, chickpeas and olives.  Cover with tight fitting lid and let sit 5-10 minutes.  Top with nuts and cilantro.  EAT!

Mi Familia

Well, since Hank is already 2 1/2 and Siri is nearly a year, I thought that, maybe, it was about time I had some professional photographs taken of us as a family.  You know, I get around to these things eventually.  So, we called in our friend Nataraj whose is a great photographer from Madison, WI.  He had taken photos of me very pregnant with Henry and so it was natural that he finally take some of the actual children.  Please visit his website to see more of his amazing work: http://eyedance.blogspot.com/

Mississippi River Challenge

Dear Friends and Family,

My best bud, Amy, and I are going to paddle 44 miles of the Mississippi River in a canoe in July.  Why?  Because we love the river and care about its well-being.  We are also big fans of canoeing and being outside in general.  To that end, we are raising money for a wonderful nonprofit organization call Friends of the Mississippi River whose mission is to protect the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities area. 

So, I ask that you please show your support for me and for the Mighty Miss-a-sip by donating some money to the River Challenge.  I promise to write you a lovely thank you note and to post pictures of our adventures.  It's tax deductible, by the way, and giving always feels good, right? 

Please click here for more information and to donate online: http://www.mississippiriverchallenge.org/profiles/8935d3bb

If you are uncomfortable giving money online, you sure can send me a check the old fashioned way :)  I have an initial fund raising goal of $500, but would love to exceed, even double, that amount!
Thanks!!

Easter and Lowell's 70th Birthday Party in Pictures

Henry and Shianne had a great time playing together!

Siri looked lovely in her Easter dress

Grampa's Boy

Happy Birthday, Dad!!

The food and cake at Brenda and Scott's house was DELICIOUS!

Siri had her first tractor ride with Grandpa Lowell.  About 5 minutes in, however, she fell asleep!

Happy Baby

Siri at 9.5 months