Deployment Survival Must? Twice a Week Gymnastics!

Many people have commented on the fact that it must be difficult to be alone all of the time, what with Army seducing W and everything, and it is. One solution? Getting out of the house. Another solution, feeling joy. Combine both of them and you have the makings of a great day.


I defy you to find a better joy-bringer than attending a toddler class of any kind. Dance recitals, soccer games, karate--all are acceptable for enjoyment. Most, however, do not take kids until they are three.

But gymnastics loves the terribles! (Think about it--the Chinese and the Russians get them in the womb to start doing handsprings. That is why they get gold medals, people!)

If you are ever feeling lonely or blue, get yourself out of the house, call up a niece or nephew, and watch their class. If you are lucky, you will see the following things:

• tantrums from toddlers
• tantrums from competitive mommies
• nose picking
• random singing and dancing
• twirling
• crotch grabbing
• the "ta-daa" moment

This final point is the must for sure--that moment when you have never been happier in your whole day, because the kid did it right--whatever it happens to be. Maybe they kicked the ball, did the right move, or figured out where their hips are located. But at that moment, you MUST yell "You did it! Ta-Daa!" and the kid lights up completely. Excitement is high. You cannot help but soak it in. It is addicting.

And so I present Joojia Comanice Lou Retton.
(And the twice a week gymnastics class!)




Showing off her "Ha-Haaa!" before she goes to "Jinkies."

Jumping and climbing. She is in heaven.
She then gets a sticker and a sucker.

Friday's Must? Mint Chip Icecream

In an unprecedented move, we chanced the Fates of Stickiness and Jooj had a bath before dinner. Then she got to eat her favorite meal. The Jooj ate 3/4 of a box of Annie's Shells and White Cheddar sprinkled with Penzey's Sandwich Sprinkle. That is a TON of Mac N Cheese. How can someone so small fit so much in her belly?

Let me back up

Her stomach is completely empty because she has learned how to touch her uvula. (That's the thing in the back of the throat, right? Not a thing in her Hoo, right?)

She can stick her entire fist in her throat.

She likes to do this in the car. Because she can see herself in the rear-view mirror.

So her stomach is empty because of her Bulemia.

And she is covered in vomit.

Which is why I gave her a bath in my special, extra-deep bath tub before dinner.

Let me back up.

When I went to put her in the bath tub I filled it before hand and made that frantic timed race to get her naked and into the full tub before she peed all over everything.

So I didn't really LOOK in the tub.

But Jooj did and saw this


Got it so far? Vomit, Scorpion, Mac for Jooj, ice cream for Mami.

Let me back up.

So she gets into my tub and asks me to get in with her. I figure that she has had a rough time and so I get in and put in bubbles. Cool Mami, that's me.

And then she makes a very concerned face.

And then I start freaking out "Jooj did you make poo poos in the tub?"

And then she nods.

And then I start trying to part the bubbles while praying it was just a tooter.

And then I offer a prayer of tearful gratitude for tooters.

And then I ate a big bowl of mint chip ice cream for dinner and Jooj ate 3/4 of a box of Annie's White Shells and Cheddar with Penzey's Sandwich Sprinkle

Musts for Better Breathing

Here are some things that are helping me to breathe this week

1. Mami's hot new boyfriend

I saved for over a year to justify it, and I have been so ticked I didn't just go into hock for it a year ago. It picks up dried, ground in play-dough from the carpet. FROM BERBER CARPET, for the love of Mike!

2. Feeling smart and literary

I bet I can read this new one five times before I get even half of the references

3.
It is really more like the best and worst dessert/snack/lunch ever. I would not recommend it for breakfast.

4. Burn Notice on USA on Thursdays. I find it very entertaining. And sometimes he takes off his shirt, which I find VERY entertaining. Plus it has Bruce Campbell.

5. New niece.
Baby NoJo is very breath-inducing.

Cooking Musts

Every magazine has a must list, and I have decided to throw my lot in with them on Fridays. This week, because it is less hot, I am back in the kitchen. Here are the first Friday Musts:

The Spice Stack. Amazing. It holds 60 little bottles or 30 big ones, or a mix of sizes in between. And it fits in my cabinet. I love it, because my spices are everywhere, because I can't get enough from
Penzeys.com
The fragrances are amazing when I open the box. My current favorites are the apple pie spice (which I use on everything from bread to beef), Rocky Mountain Seasoning, and Sandwich Sprinkle. And they send free samples when you order a medium amount of spices. The catalog is full of recipes, and they are in their second year of publishing a great magazine, called Penzey's ONE. I love it.


Oh, Nigella, I love you. And this book never fails me. Especially when it is warm outside and I need fresh ingredients in my body. We are currently living on the Hasselback Potatoes
and the Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova

And every day we temper our Hasselhoff and Merenguey indulgences with some good, fresh bread made with King Arthur Flour. I love everything from them. The recipe that I use for bread is the same as is on the bag--and it is amazing. I have been trying to find the perfect bread recipe for years, and I think we are getting very close with this one. I also really like their sticky bun sugar and their sweet dough flavoring. And the glazed bread loaf pans are fab. And so is their bread proofer. And I am dying to get the yogurt maker...
6. Speaking of bread and King Arthur, try this recipe:
Chocolate Fudge Monkey Bread

Finally, my most secret ingredient for successful cooking? That would be the DVR playing


Because the play kitchen only holds her attention for so long...