Year: 2020

COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 7

COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 7

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Well, today is officially a week since our oldest last went to school.  We’ve survived! Woo hoo!  After going to the grocery yesterday and picking up a few things I knew I’d need to prepare meals for a while, I feel more relieved today.  After the storms last night we had warm weather this morning, so we were able to go for a walk and open the windows most of the day today.  This was handy considering the dog ran from me and peed behind the couch at 5 am after I had been up with him since 3 am because of the storms.  Yeah… he’s my favorite.  Moving couches and hardcore cleaning carpet is what I always want to do at 5 am after being up all night.

I digress… the tiny people ate their lunches and healthy snacks (minus the Reese’s Pieces) all day, our oldest did his school work (reluctantly, but we tried to make it fun, so he enjoyed it), I made dinner that EVERYONE actually ate (here’s the recipe if you need an easy crowd pleaser!).  The youngest actually had three bowls and I had time to make brownies with the oldest after dinner.

I was able to get 4 loads of laundry done and most of it folded and put away, which usually takes at least a week to do.  The youngest refused to take a nap,  but eventually passed out and I was able to get nearly half a day of work done while the oldest did some school work and made up his own art projects to do.  There was a lot of coffee today.  A LOT of coffee.

I’m starting to feel sad.  Not about not being able to go anywhere, but that life isn’t just normally this way.  This is how it should be.  Not too rushed, enjoying time with kids, and just taking things as they come.  No rushing to get the oldest on the bus, then the youngest to the grandparents, run to a store on the way to work, rush to get the oldest off the bus, pick up the youngest, wonder how I’m ever going to be able to get dinner finished before people starve to death or heck… just pick up dinner every night.

I actually love cooking and baking, but I hate cleaning up because every evening is so rushed after school, work, homework, and the list goes on and on.  Simple is best.  Simple allows us to take it all in.  I’m a creature of habit and hate change, but this change… this change is good.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 6

COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 6

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Foggy day here in the DYT.  I ventured out for a “quick” grocery trip that turned into much longer than expected.  I had a list of things I thought we may need and I figured I’d get a little Easter candy shopping done just in case.  Just in case of what I’m not really sure… total shutdown maybe?  I don’t know.  Just seemed like it would give me some sense of normalcy somehow.

Anyways… this post is dedicated to all of the individuals who are working overtime in grocery stores all over America.  Every aisle I went down contained at least two employees stocking, cleaning and scrubbing, and doing everything they could to keep the stock coming in and the store as clean and safe as possible.  Lines weren’t long, a lot of lanes were open, and the employees seemed tired, but optimistic.  Please be kind to your local store employees.  They’re risking their health serving us and they’re pulling long hours away from their families, so be kind and make their lives a little easier!

Easy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Easy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

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I’ve made this a few times this winter since the cold and flu season hit us HARD this year.  I figure it might be a good comfort food for everyone right now, so here’s my adjusted recipe from Family Fresh Meals.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (I use frozen since it’s usually what I have on hand)
  • 2 cups carrots peeled and chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced (I use frozen chopped onion-no smelly chopping!)
  • 3 stalks celery chopped
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaves
  • 7 cups chicken broth
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 cups (or more… we love noodles… I use more!) wide egg noodles, cooked per package directions
  • 3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Directions

  1. In a 6 quart crockpot add in whole chicken breasts, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, olive oil, thyme and bay leaf.
  2. Next, add in chicken broth and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Cover and cook on low heat 6 – 7 hours or high heat for 3 1/2 hours.
  4. Cook egg noodles per package directions.  I usually cook an entire package of noodles and save the remaining noodles for another dish the next night.  Two meals out of one?  Yes, please!
  5. Remove cooked chicken breasts and cut into bite sized pieces. Place chicken back in to the crockpot and add in egg noodles and parsley.
  6. Enjoy!
COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 5

COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 5

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No pictures today.  No cute little crafts to display.  Reality has set in.  It has set in that the world has lost its dang mind.  Completely.  It’s raining, which is making it all the more depressing and ominous because if it continues, I know I will be getting zero sleep tonight due to the neurotic chiweenie that claims residence in our domicile.  The kids aren’t here, since I’m working from home (which… per my previous post, Karen, you can’t fully commit to working when kids are home… you just can’t).

You know, the weird thing about all of this isn’t the virus-I couldn’t give two craps about the virus.  I’m not afraid of it or its affects-it’s no worse than the flu (do your research, don’t argue with me… it’s DIFFERENT… not worse).  What kills me is the response to all of this and the mass hysteria that has ensued.  Sheeple are scary.  VERY scary.  The amount of misinformation, panic, and outright incorrect information floating around is astounding.  I’m also perplexed (although not terribly shocked) about how willingly everyone is to allow full government control of this entire situation.

Hear me out for a minute here… I realize the entire point is to “flatten the curve” by “social distancing”, but if I hear those two phrases again someone will receive a quick punch to the face.  Everyone gets it… we all get it.  Stay away from other people.  But honestly, you’re grocery shopping.  You’re around people.  You WILL see people.  I’m just shocked that responses are “protect those with low immune systems!”.  Yeah, we get it.  But when do the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many?  Here’s a little example: one child in an entire school has a mild peanut allergy.  Should the school ban peanuts entirely due to one child? No.  The answer is no.  Everyone is too quick to answer, “Yes! Do what we can to protect the one!”.  No.  Not even close.  You are demanding everyone else take care of the one.  Now, don’t get me wrong… proper hygiene, stay home when you’re sick, make common sense decisions, but come on.  An entire country quarantined for the few that this will affect?  Those with low immune systems should be urged to self-quarantine until it runs its course.  The flu?  Ever heard of it?  Did you know that over 80,000 people in the United States alone died from the flu in the 2017 – 2018 flu season?  You didn’t?  Now you do.  The CDC estimates that there have been 22,000 – 55,000 deaths due to the flu since October 2019 and 370,000 – 670,000 hospitalizations due to the flu during this time period.  How many have died worldwide from coronavirus, you ask?  8,944 worldwide.  Approximately 56 of every 1,000,000 Chinese citizens tested positive for coronavirus.  Doesn’t sound so scary now, does it? Yeah, yeah… I know not everyone was tested.  Still, not as staggering of a number, is it?  Why are we treating this different than the flu that has already killed as many as 55,000 people in the United States since October? Why????

This virus spreads fast, it’s semi-unpredictable and hasn’t been studied extensively, so precautions are being taken to not overcrowd hospitals.  I’m not debating that that doesn’t need to happen, but what I’m debating is HOW it’s happening.  The blatant fear mongering that’s taking place at a state level is astounding.  Stop “guesstimating” numbers to scare people.  Present facts.  Stop telling me you’re getting take out for dinner to support local business… guess what?  All local mom and pop business are now in economic RUIN.  People’s financial lives have been destroyed completely.  So, you economically devastate a large majority of a country to protect the small minority that are immunocompromised?  There’s something more to this.  Time will tell…

For now, have fun at home with your loved ones, peeps!

 

COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 3

COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 3

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Well, the tiny humans are still alive.  Only major catastrophe has been a water paintbrush was used on a book of real paints… still trying to figure out how the heck he even got this out of the giant, heavy craft bin under the coffee table.  Toddlers, man… they’re little Houdinis!  I haven’t found what else the paint ended up on besides in the book.  Surprises are fun, right? Right…

Here is what I learned on Day 3:

  1. I apparently lack the ability to get myself ready if I don’t set an alarm.  Pajamas are still on, teeth are unbrushed, face is unwashed, and hot mess status has been achieved.  Tomorrow I set an alarm.
  2. I have this home school thing on lock. I mean, I rocked it.  This one was a pleasant surprise.  I have a plan for the rest of the week (and really the next 3 weeks, thanks to suggestions by Liam’s awesome school!), I made sight word flash cards and dry erase math worksheets.  I moved Liam’s Melissa and Doug calendar to the dining room so Liam can keep track of the month, day, year, weather, and any holidays that come along, thanks to Tia (thanks, Aunt Astrid!)!
  3. I put together a modest lunch of any perishable items I thought the tiny people would eat.  Matchstick carrots were thrown on the ground, guys… it got ugly.
  4. I am a horrible, horrendous, heinous mother.  My kids have had “screen time” by 2:30 pm (*gasp*).  Seriously, moms?  Chill the heck out.  If your child is addicted to a screen, fine, do what you need.  If not, let them play games… chances are they’ll learn something or gain a skill you never expected.  I’m sure every child is different and some are more addicted than others, but dang… the mom guilt is real on this one!  It’s not a competition of who is “momming” harder than everyone else.  In the words of Tay Tay… you need to calm down.
  5. I also learned that I am a horrible mother because I do not have a schedule.  A SCHEDULE.  My little people get to have 3 weeks (at least…) out of school and you people are complaining about your schedules being ruined on the first day already.  Really?  *full eye roll*  I’m just over here like “anyone know what stores still have frozen chicken?  I need some…”.  I get it, kids need structure sometimes, but a schedule down to the half hour?  Nope.  Not even going there with a toddler in the house.  Sure… I have a plan so education can continue, but holy cannoli, Batman!  Take a deep breath!
  6. Kids hear EVERYTHING.  The image for this blog entry is of my kids’ kitchen.  Just before taking this picture I found Liam cleaning the entire thing wearing an apron and a chef hat.  I noticed the “closed” sign on his chalkboard and asked why his restaurant was closed.  He said “Corona Virus” as if it was a normal, everyday occurrence for a restaurant.  Bless their hearts.  I think most kids are dealing with this situation better than the adults.  We can learn from their hopeful, matter-of-fact attitude in life.
  7. If we shouldn’t be having mass gatherings, why are we voting tomorrow?  Seriously… think about it.  We’ll be in line less than a foot away from each other when we’ve basically been quarantined to our homes, but we’re supposed to do our civic duties to vote.  Wow.  Just wow.

Hope your days at home were pleasant, peeps!  Have a fabulous St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow!

COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 2

COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 2

by Engineered Mama ♥ 2 Comments

Here we are.  Day 2.  Pretty much the same as Day 1.  Today I’m now thinking about how to get items we’ll be needing in case everything goes on lockdown.  I mean, they can’t shut down grocery stores, right?  I’ve been cleaning, which inevitably is undone as soon as I clean it, but hey… we won’t be living in filth.

I’m starting to devise a plan for grocery shopping.  Target seems to be fairly well stocked on most items compared to other grocery stores, so maybe I’ll attempt a lot of pickup items there-boxed items, rice, things like that.  Then, I’ll head to Meijer for meat.  But when do I go?  Morning, night?  Guys… when are the crazies not out?

COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 1

COVID-19 Quarantine – Day 1

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Wow.  All the emotions here today.  So, the world has lost its dang mind, apparently toilet paper holds more value than platinum, silver, or gold, and Ohio is the laughing stock of the country with our governor’s panic-inducing press conferences and health official’s asinine “guesstimate” of the number of people walking around our state with the virus.

I’m no expert, but I feel that common sense should generally apply to such matters as this, but what do I know?  Here are the current thoughts running through my head… like they matter… 😉

  1. Canceling school for three weeks and not daycares seems counterintuitive to me, but hey… what do I know?  Daycares likely harbor more bacteria and viruses than any school system… maybe.  I don’t know.  I’m just thinking that they AT LEAST spread just as much as a typical school.
  2. Parents… CALM DOWN.  I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m honestly glad my children will be home rather than stuck in school.  Is it stressful sometimes?  Sure!  Especially here with two boys things get loud, they get crazy, and I know they’ll be frustrated being stuck inside, but we’ll try to do what we can to still learn, still have fun, and make the most of it.  So help me if I see one more “I don’t have enough wine!” posts from moms.  Put your big girl panties on and get. the. heck. over. it.  I’m sorry, but if you’re trying to get through the day with your children until you can pop that cork at the end of the day, reevaluate your priorities, momma.  Yeah, I’m sure I’ll lose a lot of friends over that one.  Don’t. Care.
  3. TP.  TOILET PAPER.  Wow.
  4. We will now have everyone “working from home”.  Riiiiight.  We all know Karen won’t be doing her job, so everyone else will be picking up her slack.  Thanks, Karen.
  5. Do we need more meat?  Maybe.  Yes, we definitely need more meat.
  6. Why are the kids eating a million times more than usual?  And why are they using so many paper towels.  Fail.

Ok.  End of rant for today.  I’ll check in tomorrow!  HANG IN THERE!  We’ll get through this, people!

When Simple Birthday Parties Aren’t So Simple…

When Simple Birthday Parties Aren’t So Simple…

by Engineered Mama

You’d think a child’s birthday party would be simple, wouldn’t you? Invite a few people, have some cake and maybe some snacks, call it a day. Well, like the saying goes, nothing worth having ever comes easily. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love celebrating my children and I love for friends and family to enjoy themselves. Please don’t take this mini-rant as a complaint or that I’m saying I don’t get enough help when planning things. I have a wonderfully helpful husband (and when I say helpful it’s not him “helping”… he loves me and our kids and shares in the load of everything), an amazing mom who’s always there and somehow knows how to help without even asking (thanks, mom… you rock!), and many other family members and friends who are the most helpful and caring people. Like my previous post of the mental load on mothers, wether they work outside the home or at home, the mental (and in this case, physical) load on the designated party planner is more than many people realize. Is it self-inflicted? Maybe… I always say that if something is worth doing, it’s worth over doing, so maybe I’m at fault here, so I’ll own it. This is just a little glimpse at why a simple child’s birthday party is anything but “simple”…

Months before the party, planning begins. What is the theme? Did someone else already have this theme (why the heck I care, I’m really not sure…)? How many people will be coming? Where will I get the invitations? How soon do I need to send the invitations? Are we having the same food we had last time? I need to make a food list for when I go grocery shopping…

Ok… theme planned. It will be construction equipment. Again. Why am I doing this theme again for the second child? Is that bad? Should he have all of his own themes? Nah… he won’t know the difference and I chose it because he likes construction equipment, so construction equipment it shall be. Ok, date? Preferably a Saturday after his actual birthday, since it’s on a weekday. Wait, where should we have it? Fortunately my grandmother graciously allows us to use her condo clubhouse which worked out perfectly last year, so we’ll go with that again. This way I don’t have to *gulp* cllleeeeeeannnn. Ok, at least that part is settled. Oh, but I need to contact them and see if that date is available and see when I need to get a check to them.

Alight, the date is available and we’re on the schedule. Order invites. Is it bad to use the same invites as his older brother? Yes. I say yes… so, let’s make sure I put all of the correct information before I place the order… that would be bad to have people showing up at the wrong place or coming to a 2nd birthday for our 5 year old. Check the invite 10 more times, ok… place in cart and…. order. Dang, that was expensive. Next? Decorations.

Looks like we never used even half of the construction hats last time, so we have those, caution tape, what does Amazon have? Ohhhhhhh… look how cute these little signs are! Wait, I have signs from last time. But these are different! They come with cupcake decorations! And balloons! Ok… place in cart. Look at the matching goodie bag coloring books! I wasn’t going to have goodie bags. But these are so cute! Place in cart… again. Promise, I’m done with decorations.

Oh crap… cake. Cake? Cupcakes? Fortunately, my amazingly talented friend makes the best cakes and cupcakes I’ve ever seen, so I’ll see if she’d like to do them. Cupcakes are easier, so we’ll do that. Oh, but our oldest had a super cute cake… is that bad if our youngest just gets cupcakes? No… cupcakes will do. Yay! She’s making the cupcakes, so I know those will be adorable AND delicious. Food?

We’ll do fruit and veggie trays, those always go fast, I’ll order pizza this time because that has to be cheaper than sandwich trays I usually do, chips, chip dip, tortilla chips… I’ll make a few things. Meatballs always go over well, so I’ll make those, buffalo chicken dip, my mom makes amazing pasta salad, so I think that covers everything. Drinks? A cola, an uncola, CapriSun for kids (and big kids…), bottled water, and I’ll make some of that lemon/cucumber/mint water people like so much. Ok… mentally noted all food, and place order for fruit and veggie trays… wait? What time should I pick it up? well, I’ll be setting up in the morning and the party is at 2, but I don’t want to get it too late. Ugh… 11:20? Sure. Why not. I’ll order the pizza closer to the party date.

Paper goods… how many tablecloths do I need? A lot. Maybe 5? Sure… 5 sounds good. Plates, cake plates, cutlery, cups, napkins. Is that it? I think so. Mentally noted all paper goods and I’ll head to Party City the week before the party.

Ok… even at half off the pizza will be significantly more than the sandwiches, so sandwiches it is and… go to place order and… pickup time? Crap. When was the last pickup time? *Check email* 11:20. Ok, 11:20 for this one too I guess.

Well, crap. The oldest has a basketball game at 1 and the party is at 2. Ok, Pop to the rescue while mom and dad will be running around like crazy before the party.

Set up the time to drop off the check and get the keys to the clubhouse at 9 am the day of the part. 9 am? Is that too early? Do I get ready first or after? Last year I got ready 10 minutes before the party in the bathroom of the clubhouse, so no… 9 am isn’t too early and I’ll get ready after.

Kroger saves the day… order pickup for all party food and everything is in stock (don’t judge… I am an order pickup mom… I’ll do whatever makes my life easier working full-time with two kids at this point…).

Ok, time for Party City purchases. Grab everything in coordinating colors and some cute balloons ordered and $120 later. Wait, $120 for plates, napkins, and cups? Dang… pickup time? What were the other pickup times? Sometime around 11 I think, so 12? Sure… 12 sounds good…

The day before the party, so time to pack literally EVERYTHING. Will all of this fit in the car?! Thank goodness for ginormous IKEA tarp bags! If you don’t have them, GET THEM. Ok, plates, napkins, cutlery, cups, bottles of pop, water, decorations, scissors, tape, string to hang/set up decorations, bowls to serve food. Now, set out all food ingredients and dishes for food that has to be made the day of the party. Meatballs, buffalo chicken dip, cut the lemon, cucumber, and mint for the water, and I think that’s it… I feel like I’m forgetting something.

Day of the party: load everything like I’m moving at 8 am, get gas, pick up 44 lbs of ice (yes, yes… my husband was right… we didn’t need that much ice, but hey… we didn’t run out, people!), pick up my trusty sidekick (aka mom) at 8:30 am, Starbucks line is too long, so I pretty will be nonfunctional for the remainder o the morning. Give the rental check, unload the car for what seems like an eternity, and start the setup. Thankfully set-up went quick, finally made it to Starbucks, and raced home to get ready.

Get ready and head to Kroger to pick up the food… late. Ok, sandwiches come out and… no vegetable or fruit tray, so I wait… and wait… and wait some more. They don’t have an order for a fruit or vegetable tray, but had a fruit tray made from yesterday and they’re working on the vegetable tray. And… wait some more. Text my husband to say “prepare yourself to go get balloons and the number 2 candle I totally forgot to pick up because they are SUPER late and we won’t make it”.

Finally get the vegetable tray and BOLT in the snow/rainy mess because of course the day you have a party the weather can’t just be sunny and pleasant. What fun would that be?! Run into the house, grab the meatballs, grab the buffalo chicken dip that I luckily premade and stuck in the fridge the previous day and shove it all in the back of the car with the rest of the food sliding around because I’m driving like Dale Earnhardt Jr. The birthday boy is still sleeping, so while my husband and I trade batons to finish this insane relay race, I wake him up, get him out of his pajamas, take the dog out because he’s now looking at me like I’ve lost my dang mind, get the birthday boy in the car, and pick up my mom who is waiting on me since my dad is now facilitating the pro basketball player at his weekly game.

Get to the party, set the rest of the food up, my amazing friend brings in her dirt cupcakes (seriously… SO cute!), and the party can now begin!

Now, the fun part… party time where you really don’t get a chance to chat with anyone (which is the best part of a party!), make sure you’re on time since you have rented the space only for so long, only to clean it all up, pack it all up haphazardly into multiple vehicles, and get home only to unload it all and try to figure out what to do with this jumble of party aftermath.

You guys… I’m tired from just writing this. And THAT is why a “simple” child’s birthday party is NEVER simple. Aren’t you so glad I laid it all out for you?

Party on, party people!

Valentine’s Day Hand and Footprint Craft

Valentine’s Day Hand and Footprint Craft

by Engineered Mama

It’s almost Valentine’s Day… time to get crafty! I wrote this how-to a long time ago and never published it (fail… I have two kids… it gets hard, y’all…). It’s pretty simple, so there really isn’t much to explain, just to show! Here’s a list of what you’ll need:

Supplies

  • Canvas, board, or other display surface (Hobby Lobby to the rescue for this one!)
  • Paint (acrylic works great for this project)
  • Pom-poms of various sizes (if you’re making a bear)
  • Felt sticker decorations (if you’d like to use them, but they’re optional!)
  • Tiny hands and feet to make the prints

  • Directions

  • First, decide what kind of design you want-this is where Pinterest comes in. If you search for “Valentine’s Day handprint” or “Valentine’s Day footprint” the possibilities are endless… literally. Choose what you want, grab your paint and stickers and get crafty. They are fairly simple, cute, and kids always love to see their hand and footprints on wood or canvas. Happy Valentine’s Day!