I hate cooking!
I'm sorry to say it, but it is so true. Baking I enjoy but cooking, well, let's just say I would rather be used for experimental medical procedures. Fortunately for me I had a great excuse not to cook what with being very pregnant and then having a newborn to take care of. I really enjoyed the luxurious seven months off I gave myself. But along with the new year I have turned over a new leaf. One of my New Year's resolutions was to cook dinner for my family every night-- ambitious is putting it mildly.
Anyhow, John sat down with me and we drew up a dinner calendar for the month which has been immensly helpful. Just having the chore of deciding what to make already done for me makes preparing the dinner not so awful.
Of course I still have the problems with cooking that existed before I took my pregnancy hiatus
1) I am married to the world's pickiest eater
2) My children resemble their father in almost every way-including his pickiness
3) I still really just don't like to do it.
So what John and I have done is plan meals that have at least one thing that everyone will eat and then we have instated a rule that we all (John icluded) have to eat at least have one small portion of everything that is served for dinner. I also make a dessert every night. Other than the first week when I thought I was going to strangle my kids because they whined so much, it has worked out surprisingly well. The dessert has been especially helpful as an incentive to get the kids to finish their food.
So the results from my cooking resolution so far:
My kids (and husband) are eating better than they have in a long time. Since we are having a real dinner, ready at a regular time, we are all snacking less and eating more healthily. As much as a struggle as it is for me to do this every day (yesterday I was rolling meatballs while bouncing Matthew in the baby bjorn), it is obviously what my big boys need and that makes me feel like a better mom! It is totally worth it.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
movies and books
John and I signed up for Netflix a few months so I have been furiously catching up on all of the movies I wanted to see but never got the chance. Below are my reviews of a few- in case you are interested.
Julie and Julia: I inexplicably LOVED this movie! I laughed my head off at the entire pretext and Julie's freak-outs in the kitchen. I loved the characters and the pretext and pretty much everything about it.
John's comment: The very few funny places were not worth the time it took to watch the entire movie. I think, secretly, he liked it, too! Ok, not really.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Although I wasn't majorly impressed with the character development (aside from maybe the mother and the main little boy), the movie was a thought provoking glimpse of how regular German families/families of soldiers reacted to the atrocities of WWII. Actually, the indoctrination process of antisemitism reminded me a little of "The Book Thief" (a good read!). However, the ending made me physically ill. I would not recommend this movie to anyone with kids or a tender heart or feelings in general.
John's comment: It was not as good as some of the other WWII movies we have seen (ie: A Beautiful Life), but not bad.
Terminator Salvation: This is probably my favorite of the Terminator movies. The only reason I say that is that we really enjoyed the Terminator: Sarah Conner Chronicles tv series and since this movie was all John Conner all the time (plus, Christian Bale to boot!) I felt some sort of connection to the characters. I was also not nearly as terrified as I thought I would be. Can we say desensitized?
John: It was okay.
(FYI: John's comment "It was okay" could mean anything from so so to loved it, just so you know.)
As for some good books:
Our book club just read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Anyone with boys should read this book and then read it to their boys. It is so much fun! (appropriate for kids maybe 8+)
I also just reread Catching Fire which is book two of The Hunger Games series. Oh. My. Goodness. Read this! I have a copy if anyone wants to borrow it. (YA Lit)
I also just finished The Mislaid Magician which is book three of the Sorcery and Cecilia series. These are fun books written as letters of correspondence. There are two authors for these books and they don't discuss the plot ahead of time so they never quite know where the story is headed. (YA Lit)
Speaking of books written as letters of correspondence, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a great read! (adult historical fiction)
And my last recommendation is a book I have not yet read but it is sitting on my to-read shelf. It is Heir to Sevenwaters, book four (I think) continuing on the Daughter of the Forest series by Juliet Marillier. She is an incredible writer. Her stories are beautifully told and the characters are riviting and thoroughly enjoyable. (adult fiction/fantasy)
Julie and Julia: I inexplicably LOVED this movie! I laughed my head off at the entire pretext and Julie's freak-outs in the kitchen. I loved the characters and the pretext and pretty much everything about it.
John's comment: The very few funny places were not worth the time it took to watch the entire movie. I think, secretly, he liked it, too! Ok, not really.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Although I wasn't majorly impressed with the character development (aside from maybe the mother and the main little boy), the movie was a thought provoking glimpse of how regular German families/families of soldiers reacted to the atrocities of WWII. Actually, the indoctrination process of antisemitism reminded me a little of "The Book Thief" (a good read!). However, the ending made me physically ill. I would not recommend this movie to anyone with kids or a tender heart or feelings in general.
John's comment: It was not as good as some of the other WWII movies we have seen (ie: A Beautiful Life), but not bad.
Terminator Salvation: This is probably my favorite of the Terminator movies. The only reason I say that is that we really enjoyed the Terminator: Sarah Conner Chronicles tv series and since this movie was all John Conner all the time (plus, Christian Bale to boot!) I felt some sort of connection to the characters. I was also not nearly as terrified as I thought I would be. Can we say desensitized?
John: It was okay.
(FYI: John's comment "It was okay" could mean anything from so so to loved it, just so you know.)
As for some good books:
Our book club just read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Anyone with boys should read this book and then read it to their boys. It is so much fun! (appropriate for kids maybe 8+)
I also just reread Catching Fire which is book two of The Hunger Games series. Oh. My. Goodness. Read this! I have a copy if anyone wants to borrow it. (YA Lit)
I also just finished The Mislaid Magician which is book three of the Sorcery and Cecilia series. These are fun books written as letters of correspondence. There are two authors for these books and they don't discuss the plot ahead of time so they never quite know where the story is headed. (YA Lit)
Speaking of books written as letters of correspondence, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a great read! (adult historical fiction)
And my last recommendation is a book I have not yet read but it is sitting on my to-read shelf. It is Heir to Sevenwaters, book four (I think) continuing on the Daughter of the Forest series by Juliet Marillier. She is an incredible writer. Her stories are beautifully told and the characters are riviting and thoroughly enjoyable. (adult fiction/fantasy)
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Samisms
Sam was on something today. Every time he opened his mouth he had us cracking up!
For example:
Sam (looking at Matthew): Oh! He's growing a neck!
later:
Sam: Dad what was your grandma's name?
John: Well one of my grandmas was named Regina.
Sam: That's a pretty name. I know a pretty R name too: Rachel. That is Tigress' middle name!
FYI
Tigress is Samuel's tiger webkinz now apparently named Tigress Rachel Traverso
Rachel is a girl in Samuel's first grade class who rides the bus with him. He also happens to have a little crush on her. In fact, he takes his smallest elephant stuffed animal to school with him almost every day because it is Rachel's favorite and he knows she will sit with him on the bus if he has it with him.
Watch out girls, here he comes!
For example:
Sam (looking at Matthew): Oh! He's growing a neck!
later:
Sam: Dad what was your grandma's name?
John: Well one of my grandmas was named Regina.
Sam: That's a pretty name. I know a pretty R name too: Rachel. That is Tigress' middle name!
FYI
Tigress is Samuel's tiger webkinz now apparently named Tigress Rachel Traverso
Rachel is a girl in Samuel's first grade class who rides the bus with him. He also happens to have a little crush on her. In fact, he takes his smallest elephant stuffed animal to school with him almost every day because it is Rachel's favorite and he knows she will sit with him on the bus if he has it with him.
Watch out girls, here he comes!
Monday, January 11, 2010
5 months
.JPG)
Matthew is starting to hit the playful stage. He LOVES when his big brothers talk to him (and they do- in a cute little baby talk), he LOVES when Daddy holds him or talks to him or looks at him and he is also starting to enjoy his toys.
Matthew has also started some solids. He is a champion cereal eater and is a big fan of sweet potatoes and squash. (Are we sure he is our kid?) He is also adamantly opposed to peas. (Yep. He's ours!)
It won't be long before Matthew is rolling over and sitting up. He can do both about halfway right now (you try moving all of that bulk!) and he is working on his jumping skills in his free time.
.JPG)
Saturday, January 9, 2010
The Big 10
10 years ago yesterday John and I got married in the St. George Temple. Looking back on it, ten years has flown by! Of course, we have had our moments- as I am sure every married couple does, but for the most part it has been amazing. I am having a hard time trying to commemorate this occasion on blogger.
I tried silly:
Here are a few highlights and some things we have learned over the last ten years:
I can't believe how quickly the last 10 years have flown by! At moments I am surprised we haven't killed each other. But mostly, just like the song I sang to John at our reception, "I wouldn't change a thing that happened on my way to you," I wouldn't change a thing about the last 10 years because I love where we are right now and wouldn't risk losing that for anything.
But really, the best thing to say is:
Wow! Ten years down, an eternity to go. I can't wait!!
I tried silly:
Here are a few highlights and some things we have learned over the last ten years:
- Don't agree to do "a little" rapelling with Jared (especially the day before your wedding!). Little to Jared means off a 250 ft cliff.
- Erin is crazy on birth control pills- HUGE apology to everyone who knew me the first year John and I were married, those things have way too much hormones for me and I become a complete basket case on them! I think I may have scares some of my college friends away from the whole marriage thing. So, listen up! Marriage is good! Seriously good!
- Being fiscally ultra conservative is a good thing, honest. John has been trying to get me to believe this since the day we married. I'm almost convinced... some of the time... I guess. =)
- You can take the girl out of Utah but the boy isn't budging from Delaware County.
It is a good thing I love the area! - Having siblings live with you can be fun- for a short period of time - like a day. (Just kidding Ty and Becca and Jared and Steph- come back soon, we miss you!)
- Kids are amazing and fun and sweet and wonderful and exhausting and crazy and all sorts of things we never imagined.
- Take the number of kids you would like to have and subtract one. Daddy is the biggest kid of all!
I can't believe how quickly the last 10 years have flown by! At moments I am surprised we haven't killed each other. But mostly, just like the song I sang to John at our reception, "I wouldn't change a thing that happened on my way to you," I wouldn't change a thing about the last 10 years because I love where we are right now and wouldn't risk losing that for anything.
But really, the best thing to say is:
Wow! Ten years down, an eternity to go. I can't wait!!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
my sweet Mr James
We went to buy James' special friend, Gracie a birthday present today. He picked out a pink mermaid Barbie because Gracie loves Barbies. The following conversation ensued:
Me: James, do you think Gracie will like her present?
James nodded yes
Me: I am sure she will because she loves Barbies, doesn't she?
James: But Mama, she will love the present anyway because it's from me!
So cute!
Me: James, do you think Gracie will like her present?
James nodded yes
Me: I am sure she will because she loves Barbies, doesn't she?
James: But Mama, she will love the present anyway because it's from me!
So cute!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Traverso Christmas Letter
I didn't have my act together early enough this year to send a letter out with our card so here is what I would have sent...
David Letterman's Top 10 Crazy Things the Traverso Family Has Been Up To This Year:
10. Jack-of-all-trades-John learned that while pruning trees is not as difficult as it seems, getting rid of the resulting loose branches takes far more ingenuity. If it hadn't been for Erin's dad's help and the threat of actually- gasp- paying to have the branches removed, our back yard would still be an obstacle course. You will be happy to hear it is safe to send your children over to play now.
9.Following in his father's footsteps, Samuel, 6, took on the wonderful world of wrestling. He won a whopping 1 match but smiled his way through each and every pin. When questioned on his feelings about wrestling Samuel replied, "Well... I don't like it as much as I like school." That, ladies and gentlemen, says it all!
8. In June, the entire Traverso clan (plus a Winch, an Andrus and a trio of Clarks) invaded Myrtle Beach, SC. While natives were in hiding for the infamous week, the Traverso's managed to enjoy the water park, the beach and the amusement park without leaving too much damage behind. And John would like to remind all of you that he and James won the go-kart race, in case you forgot.
7. James, 4, became aquainted with the wonderful world of preschool this year. He releases Mommy from his custody for three mornings a week so that he can learn his letters and make crafts with the best of them. Upon discovering how much he loves school, James accused Mom, "Hey, how come you didn't send me to school last year?!"
6. Samuel took the world, or at least Nether Providence Elementary School, by storm this year as he entered first grade. He is bright, well behaved and adored by his teachers who actually requested that we send more sweet boys their way. I don't think they will be expecting James (our little mischief maker with the angelic smile)!
5. John finally had a restful Sunday. Just one though. Right after he was released as a high counselor the Stake Presidency called him as stake clerk. We are still shaking our heads over that one! I think they just wanted an excuse to have him nearby so they can keep their eye on him! =)
4. Erin proved that she can do more than one thing at a time when she answered the call to be the new stake music chair mid-Messiah rehearsals. She showed that she can hold a baby, run a rehearsal and sing in tune (or close enough) all at the same time! Who knew?
3. Samuel almost became the newest inmate at the zoo. In the first grade play, "Animotion," Samuel was a seal. He bobbed his head and clapped his flippers with the best of them! His seal impersonation was so lifelike that zoo keepers were actually called. Luckily we were able to persuade them that he is a pet. =)
2. James has become the foremost expert on Christmas music. Between practicing the songs for his preschool Christmas program and singing along with Mommy and the radio, James can sing and do the action for almost any Christmas song. You should see this kid in action!
And the number one craziest thing we, the Traverso family, did this year was...
drumroll please...
ADDED TO OUR RANKS!
Matthew Ryan was born on August 7th. He looks almost identical to his brother James' baby pictures except for one thing: Matthew is growing at record breaking speed. At four months he was 16lbs and 2oz. He is already in training to be the next big linebacker for the Eagles as they so deperately need one! We have already struck a deal as we know the coach! =)
Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a fabulous New Year!
Much Love,
John, Erin, Samuel, James and Matthew
David Letterman's Top 10 Crazy Things the Traverso Family Has Been Up To This Year:
10. Jack-of-all-trades-John learned that while pruning trees is not as difficult as it seems, getting rid of the resulting loose branches takes far more ingenuity. If it hadn't been for Erin's dad's help and the threat of actually- gasp- paying to have the branches removed, our back yard would still be an obstacle course. You will be happy to hear it is safe to send your children over to play now.
9.Following in his father's footsteps, Samuel, 6, took on the wonderful world of wrestling. He won a whopping 1 match but smiled his way through each and every pin. When questioned on his feelings about wrestling Samuel replied, "Well... I don't like it as much as I like school." That, ladies and gentlemen, says it all!
8. In June, the entire Traverso clan (plus a Winch, an Andrus and a trio of Clarks) invaded Myrtle Beach, SC. While natives were in hiding for the infamous week, the Traverso's managed to enjoy the water park, the beach and the amusement park without leaving too much damage behind. And John would like to remind all of you that he and James won the go-kart race, in case you forgot.
7. James, 4, became aquainted with the wonderful world of preschool this year. He releases Mommy from his custody for three mornings a week so that he can learn his letters and make crafts with the best of them. Upon discovering how much he loves school, James accused Mom, "Hey, how come you didn't send me to school last year?!"
6. Samuel took the world, or at least Nether Providence Elementary School, by storm this year as he entered first grade. He is bright, well behaved and adored by his teachers who actually requested that we send more sweet boys their way. I don't think they will be expecting James (our little mischief maker with the angelic smile)!
5. John finally had a restful Sunday. Just one though. Right after he was released as a high counselor the Stake Presidency called him as stake clerk. We are still shaking our heads over that one! I think they just wanted an excuse to have him nearby so they can keep their eye on him! =)
4. Erin proved that she can do more than one thing at a time when she answered the call to be the new stake music chair mid-Messiah rehearsals. She showed that she can hold a baby, run a rehearsal and sing in tune (or close enough) all at the same time! Who knew?
3. Samuel almost became the newest inmate at the zoo. In the first grade play, "Animotion," Samuel was a seal. He bobbed his head and clapped his flippers with the best of them! His seal impersonation was so lifelike that zoo keepers were actually called. Luckily we were able to persuade them that he is a pet. =)
2. James has become the foremost expert on Christmas music. Between practicing the songs for his preschool Christmas program and singing along with Mommy and the radio, James can sing and do the action for almost any Christmas song. You should see this kid in action!
And the number one craziest thing we, the Traverso family, did this year was...
drumroll please...
ADDED TO OUR RANKS!
Matthew Ryan was born on August 7th. He looks almost identical to his brother James' baby pictures except for one thing: Matthew is growing at record breaking speed. At four months he was 16lbs and 2oz. He is already in training to be the next big linebacker for the Eagles as they so deperately need one! We have already struck a deal as we know the coach! =)
Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a fabulous New Year!
Much Love,
John, Erin, Samuel, James and Matthew
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