A Ghost Story

So this is another peek inside Miss P's adorable writing journal. A fiction entry this time. I have to save this memory! (Again, spelling corrected) You know six year olds have a 'thing' about chapter books! I have left out the description of the pictures on each page, they match the words. Should I *read* something into the fact that I am the hero in the end?? Hopefully, I can remain a hero forever...

The Ghost under the Bed
by P**** R****

Chapter 1
What's that, I said.
Is it a ghost?

Chapter 2
Or is it my mom?
I don't know!

Chapter 3
I'll look under my bed.
Aah! It is a ghost!

Chapter 4
Oh. It is just my furry rock! (???)

Chapter 5
Right. There are not ghosts.
But wait. I hear a scratching sound....

Chapter 6
Is it a ghost again. Or is just my imagination? (spelled amajanashin)

Chapter 7
I guess I'll never know? But wait. I hear it again!

Chapter 8
It is a ghost! Whooo! whooo!

Chapter 9
What should I do??

(ghost pictured scaring her - boo!)

Chapter 10
Mom help! Mom help! Pretty please!
Ok!

Chapter 11
Thanks. Everyone is fine.
The end.

Something Sweet

A smile. This week for miss P's homework, she was asked to write about something close to her heart. This is what she wrote independently (spelling corrected for your ease):

My home is the place I want to be. Because it is the right place to be.
My reasons
My home is fun!
I love my mom and dad
My home has memories
Every home does
It's a clean place
It smells good
And the food is good there
yum! and delish!

Tonight: a little fitness!

Tonight was leftover chicken from Monday night. And, yikes! I missed it. I stayed a little later at work while E took Paige to swim lessons. I thought they'd wait for me, but they ended up eating early. Can't miss any other nights this week now! They did eat together and then sat with me while I ate, so not a total loss.

Tonight's after dinner activity was P's choice, but I *influenced* it without her really realizing it. In my quest for healthy family activities, I've done what I always do. Get books on the topic! One new book I just received is Missy Chase Lapine's Sneaky Fitness. Inside was an activity just made for P and our tri-level house. Pet hospital! We turned the downstairs den into a hospital, complete with cribs and equipment. As we 'worked' (P logging stats into the computer), we would receive emergency phone calls, requiring us to run to the top level of our house, fetch hurt (stuffed) animals, then run to the middle level, climb our helicopter, do some laps around the table, and then return to the hospital on the bottom floor. Repeat. Not a major fitness experience, but something!

Day 2 - Carbonara

Day two found us dining on Pasta Carbonara. This is one of my favorite dishes, however it always turns out a little different! This is a variation on what I usually do:

Bacon and Egg Pasta or Carbonara
Ingredients
1/3 pound bacon
Olive oil
garlic
4 eggs
Parmesan or parmigaiano cheese
8 oz pasta

Cook the bacon, drain the grease and set aside
Cook the pasta (undercook it a smidge)
Meanwhile, mix up the egg and cheese in a bowl
When pasta is done, drain most of the water
Then, put back on the stove with a bit of the hot water left
Add in the bacon with some garlic and egg/cheese mixture
Cook until the eggs scramble and everything is nicely mixed

This was yummy! As always. This particular night we played a game called, "I'm going on a picnic." It's a good critical thinking skills game. One person (or in this case, both P and I) made up a secret rule for this conversation game. We would talk about things around the table that we would bring on a picnic. However, the items had to all consist of just three letters. Like you could bring a 'bag,' or a 'hat' or a 'dog.' The other players have to ask, "could I bring this on the picnic?" (Like a book?) You answer 'yes' or 'no' until everyone figures out the pattern. Another way to do it, is everyone can only bring things that start with the first letter of their name. Like, Paige will bring pizza. (I think that is a pretty common game). We decided to make Tuesdays art night, so after we made turkeys out of brown craft paper, with foamy feathers and crayons.

Miss P is already on board with this new tradition, asking each day, "what is our theme tonight?!" E has appreciated the cooking and a more organized evening.

Night One of the Family Dinner Challenge!

No, it's not pretty, but it's real. Here's night one's meal (E's dish with a salad, not pictured). We had Honey Mustard Chicken and it was dee-lish! I know chicken is good for you, but I always find it so bland. Not so with these toppings! (Naturally, you can use less, to make it lighter and healthier). Miss P set the table, and we actually did have the TV on since it was the final game of the world series (thank God that is over).

After we played some games. One was "Rattlesnake Tag." One person closes their eyes and the other shakes a rattle or bell. The blinded person has to try and tag the rattler. A third person observes to make sure everyone is safe! Then, we played "Graveyard." (Also can be called "Statues.") One or more people have to lie down and be still. The other has to try and make the still player(s) laugh. In the 'statues' version, the players have to pick a pose and remain still. Fun night at home!

OK, here is the recipe:

Honey Mustard Chicken
Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
8 strips bacon
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 c. honey mustard dressing

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook bacon strips (I like to microwave cook them), break into pieces and set aside. Brown chicken until no longer pink. In a baking dish, layer as follows: chicken breasts, bacon strips, cheddar cheese, and then drizzle honey mustard on top. Bake for 10 minutes. Voila!

New Challenge!

In honor of this month of cooking, eating, and gratitude, I have decided to do a family meals challenge. You *may* remember my new year's resolution (oh, who am I kidding) to improve my cooking abilities. I actually have not done a bad job this year. I learned a handful of new recipes, had 'stints' of cooking dinner marathons. Tried some new techniques. Did a 'fruits and veggies' challenge with my family. Even started a short-lived blog about my attempts, The Riley Food Revolution. Anyway.

For the month of November, our family will have dinner together (at least) 6 nights a week. Five of those nights it will be cooked by me. This leaves us two 'freebie' nights of eating out (with one potential date night). We will make a ritual of the meals, with everyone playing a role. Miss P will *decorate*, set the table, or help cook. We will say grace and leave the TV off. We will have games sometimes.

I will post my recipe, a photo, and tell a bit about how it went. I can't promise that the recipes will be super creative, original, (and 95% of the time they won't be mine), or always really healthy. I will pick things that are quick and easy to cook, usually comfort type foods, that kids and adults both might like.

Posting here will keep me accountable, be a fun personal record, and may give you some ideas (or help you feel a whole lot better about yourself and your efforts!!) Oh, and since I love, and am a sucker for cookbooks, I'll give some deets about the newest ones. Pictured above is our school's community cookbook (first grade fundraiser this year). It has some awesome recipes! Also, an inspiration for this challenge - The Family Dinner, by Laurie David. Bon appetit!

A little random creativity!

Last weekend Miss P's aunt and cousin "C" made a pilgrimage to SoCal to get P and C's American Girl dolls' ears pierced (bit of a tongue twister). P is so excited with her doll's assortment of new earrings. So excited that she decided to peel the wax from our candles and make her own fancy hoops! Ingenuity!