Messages from My Kitchen

Things I have learned from my kitchen:

1. I do not need to buy any more frozen bell pepper strips. I went to make a veggie for dinner and found nothing except for three packages of those things. It's like I live in fear of never knowing when I will have to make a ginormous emergency batch of fajitas or breakfast burritos. Seriously, Yo' Mama, let it go. Start on another vegetable. Broccoli never gets enough lovin'.

2. A quote hanging on my fridge: "[When things are stressful, remember that] the joy of motherhood comes in moments." I knew that already. I must confess that I knew already that child rearing isn't one continuous blissful moment, but rather an gathering of wonderful experiences. In fact, I learned that early on when I realized that a newborn was running my life and he and I had different plans. He just wanted to eat and poop, and I just wanted to sleep. We have since met in the middle and are enjoying a nice treaty in which he (and his brother) gets a lot of what he (and his brother) wants, and I just try and impart profound wisdom and guidance as needed.

3. You should always clean up a mess when it's wet. It doesn't matter what it is, always remember, it is much easier to clean up wet than dry. Trust me, I know. It's true for juice, milk, water, oatmeal, barf, and even blood.

4. The best way to cheer anyone up is to offer them their favorite cookie. The best way to cheer up your kids is to let them help. The best way to cheer me up is to buy me a store made cookie cake with lots of frosting on it. You could never disappoint me if you brought me a cookie cake. Even if you were there to tell me that my house was on fire, I would embrace you with open arms.

5. Don't let V-8 fool you. Even though you are getting a full 2 servings of vegetables in each glass, it is still gross.

6. Good Food + Good Friends and Family = Heaven On Earth

7. If you husband is making a strange concoction of eggs, peas, and cheese, don't take the can of peas that he just barely opened and throw them out before he adds them to his dish when he has his back turned because you are mindlessly cleaning anything you can get your hands on. They hate that.