Stare

Berlin has this really great way of making you feel like you are an insignificant piece of poo on her shoe. She doesn't do it on purpose (I don't think) and I have no idea what is going through her mind when she does this, but I managed to catch it, in it's weakest form. She can do it so much better than this when she is really wanting to get her point across.



See? Doesn't this look like disgust? I said, "Berlin, look at mommy!" and Berlin looked at me and with her eyes said, "Mom, this is SO annoying. Why are you always taking pictures of me? Leave me alone and let me play." She can hold this stare for a long time.

*Sigh*

I have heard that she gets this from me. I am so sorry if I have ever looked at you that way, I didn't mean it. Probably. Except for my brothers, I probably meant it to them. Oh, and probably especially to one particular brother-in-law. Okay, okay, I have probably meant it. Shoot. Berlin and I will work on it. Ahem.

Best Chili Ever

Last year, when I realized that I had never made chili in my lifetime, I decided one cold day that I wanted to make some. I didn't even have anyone to ask for their really great chili recipe, because when I was little I never liked it and so got into a habit of not eating it or caring if it was good. So, I went online and literally typed "healthy chili" into Google and found this recipe on my third or fourth click.

I made it last night and every time I make it I get worried. I think, "How can this random recipe that I pulled off the internet be any good? Maybe I was lucky and it was just good last time and it is totally going to suck this time." But, no, every single time I make this chili it is SO yummy! I have made it for friends and passed the recipe along and everyone seems to love it. I especially love it because it is healthy too! So, don't know what to make for dinner tonight? Try this. It's good and really easy and healthy! It is especially good if you use tortilla scoop chips to eat it instead of a spoon.

[Heidi's] Healthy Chili

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound chicken (cut to bite size and cook thoroughly, before adding other ingredients)
• Chili seasoning to taste (McCormick is a good one)
• 1 jar salsa (any kind, I use Pace medium salsa because it's so chunky)
• 1 16 oz can tomatoes diced
• 1 16 oz can black beans
• 2 cups water
• 10 oz bag frozen corn
• Salt to taste
• Cheddar cheese (garnish)
• Minced onions (garnish)
• Sour cream (garnish)

1. In a large pot, heat olive oil and brown the meat.
2. Add salsa and chili seasoning.
3. Over medium-high heat, stir for a minute or two cooking the salsa (it should bubble).
4. Add can tomatoes, kidney beans, water, frozen corn and salt. Add more chili powder if desired. Heat on high until it comes to a boil, then lower the heat to medium and simmer for about 20 minutes.
5. Serve with topped with cheddar cheese, minced onion, or sour cream if you want.

Hate

I did it. I broke one of my own rules today. First, I have to say that the word 'hate' is used sparsely in our home. It's a strong word. It is reserved for things that really deserve to be "passionately disliked". For example, I hate McDonald's. I hate what it does to people's health, I hate that is has no nutritional value, I hate that a lot of families don't eat together unless it is at McDonald's, I hate that it is so kid friendly, and I hate that it is so convenient. About six months ago, after looking up the nutritional values online for McDonald's food (and freaking out about how much saturated fat was in everything) I decided not to eat at McDonald's anymore. I have also watched the movie Supersize Me. Well, that's not totally true, I had to stop watching halfway through because I got sick to my stomach.

I ate at McDonald's today. Even worse, I went through the drive thru. It wasn't this, "I want to hang out with the girls and have lunch somewhere fun with them," type of lunch. It was a, "I really need to drop off this Redbox movie (after 5 or 6 days of having it in my possession) and I don't want Berlin to freak out anymore because she is so hungry," type of lunch. Shoot. Boo McDonald's for being so convenient!

Dear Mr. McDonald,
I don't like you. In fact, I hate you. I hate that you give people health issues, obesity problems, and are so unhealthy. Please stop being so kid friendly and convenient.

Sincerely,
Heidi Haines

While You Were Sleeping

It’s snowing, and, don’t hate me, I really don’t mind. I kind of mind missing out on fall, I love fall. But I also love the first snowfall of the year. It’s romantic and pretty and if winter could feel like today all season I really would not mind winter one bit. I mainly just really don’t like January through March when it is so cold that breathing hurts and even the snow stays away because the whole world of Minnesota is so miserable. That is the only time that Minnesota sucks. Otherwise, I am the person that gets mad if it doesn’t snow by Christmas, there just has to be snow for Christmas.

I am also a girl that loves traditions. I especially love that from November to even mid-January there are lots of traditions. I love baking the same cookies every Christmas season, I love carving pumpkins, I love making hot chocolate and warm cozy dinners, I love decorating Christmas trees, I love holiday music, I thoroughly enjoy the whole holiday season. I also have a tradition that is associated with the first snow. This is not a hard-core-has-to-be-done-exactly-right tradition, especially since the first snowfall is not always very real. Sometimes there are just flurries, sometimes it snows and none of it sticks, but sometime around the first snowfall of the year it is time to watch one of my all time favorite movies: While You Were Sleeping.

I don’t even know why I like this movie so much, but I can pretty much quote it line by line. I have seen it at least 100 times – this is not an exaggeration. It’s sort of a holiday movie, but it is also not a holiday movie. In fact, there have been times when I have told people that my favorite holiday movie is While You Were Sleeping and they say, “Really? I’ve never thought of that as a holiday movie,” even though the entire story takes place over Christmas and New Year’s. Anyway, if you haven’t seen it you have to watch it. It’s an oldy and a goody. And here, today, on the first full cover the whole world in white snowfall, and my first free afternoon that I get because I am no longer working 40 hours a week sounds like the perfect time for my yearly tradition. Do you have any first snowfall traditions? I would love to know, maybe I will start another one next year!!

Finally!

Okay, things might finally be slowing down a little now...maybe. Next week will be my first of many regular 32 hour work weeks, I am very excited about that.

First things first, I am currently sitting on my couch and from what I can see from my view out the window looks very nice. It looks like a nice bright summery day with trees full of green leaves. That does not stop the fact that on the way home from the grocery store Tryn shouted at me, as she has many times in the past few days, "MOM!! LOOK!! SEE THAT LEAF RIGHT THERE? [Sure, Tryn, um, no. I see lots of leaves everywhere, I have no idea which one you are talking about.] THAT ONE? THAT LEAF JUST FELL FROM THAT TREE!!!" As much as I still want to pretend that it is a nice 80 degree summery day when I look out the window, I am also typing this with already painfully chapped hands that will remain this way for the next 6 months, oh the joys of eczema. If that isn't already the kicker, I also cannot ignore the fact that the girls and I played outside in the first snowfall this morning - of course having a first taste of snow as well.



I don't honestly know how Tryn even remembers snow, she was only two last winter. But she was ready to fully lay down in the snow to make a snow angel. I kindly asked her to wait until we could get her some new snowpants, as we don't actually snowpants, mittens, or scarves for the girls right now. I thought I would have at least a couple more weeks before I had to think about stuff like that.





And, of course, the first snowfall has to be followed by the first taste of hot chocolate for the year (which is really just warm chocolate milk).



Ah, Minnesota. I am not surprised or even bummed that it snowed this early, I would rather just not then look outside and see lots of green leaves still on the trees. It is rather confusing. The biggest bummer is that I told Tryn that before it could be Christmas that it would snow. Well, it snowed. So the majority of my conversations today have been about what Tryn and/or I want for Christmas, as she is continuously asking me. I have no idea, she has lots of ideas. She wants to get me a new princess.

FYI

I am going to post a new "real" post soon, I promise! But for now, I just wanted to let you know that I added a new sidebar! This makes it so that if you don't have a Google account but you have a Facebook account you can subscribe to follow my blog through Facebook instead! All you have is an FB account and the ability to click on the "follow" button below, easy peasy!! All it does is tell you when I write something new, which is helpful if you check back just to see and then are mad when I take days and days to write something new (so sorry!!). I promise I will soon.

October Update

It has been way too long since my last blog, don’t you think? Life has been nothing short of bizarre, chaotic, and crazy the past two weeks. Working two jobs at the same time during this transition is doing strange things to my mind. I also haven’t taken any pictures of my kids for way too long – the engagement session, wedding, and event photography that I have done the past week has been just purely professional photography. I haven’t even really had time to do those things much less take pictures of my kids. So no new kiddo pics this time, sorry!
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Yesterday on the way to Target the new Miley Cyrus song Party in the U.S.A. came on and Tryn excitedly announced, “Mom, mom!! This is one of my songs!” Shortly thereafter You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift came on and Tryn told me, “Mom! This one is Berli’s song! This is one of Berli’s songs!” I have no idea how these things get decided, but, sure enough, I looked back at Berlin and her head was bobbing back and forth and she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the tune. Also, apparently anything by Ingrid Michaelson is one of “mommy’s songs” and anything by Black Eyed Peas is one of “daddy’s songs” – except maybe Boom Boom Pow, I think that one might get assigned to me too.
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Because Old Navy is right next to Target in the Quarry we decided to walk through there yesterday morning as well. While we were walking in Tryn asked me, “Mom, what store is this?”

“This is Old Navy.”

“Old gravy?”

Haha.
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I painted my fingernails a different color over the weekend and I just find it curious that Berlin was the only one who noticed. Not that I was even expecting anyone to notice, but it is just interesting that the one person who did notice is only 20 months old and can barely talk. Although, speaking of Berlin talking, the rate at which she is learning new words and using them is amazing right now! I can’t even tell you how many words she knows now because she knows so many. She has just been observing and listening for so long and it is all pouring out. She is using so many words and using them in the right context, it’s crazy. Last night, for the first time, she said one of my all time favorite little toddler phrases. We were getting out of the car after coming home from church and she turned to me and said, “Hold you! Hold you!”

I said “Berlin, did you just say ‘Hold you’?”

Very earnest head nodding yes.

“Do you want mommy to pick you up?”

Again, very earnest head nodding yes.

Just about the cutest thing ever.