How You Might Know I Have 4 Kids...

There are so many good things that come with having a gaggle of kids. Logan said just the other day, "I can't wait till Carson and Meeka and a bit older and we can play 3 on 3 football and soccer in the backyard!" I mean, really, how fun is that? All together, our family is a basketball team... with a sub!

Once you get past a certain number, for some thats 2, for others 3…its really just another mouth to feed…at least that's what I tell people…don't really want to scare them, right? In all honestly, it doesn't get harder with each one, in fact, at times I think its easier. You have more kids to entertain each other and more kids to do chores. If they get bored, or mad at one, there are 2 more choices…it really works out quiet well most of the time.

Here are some things that a larger families may encounter that makes them "unique"…

* You do as much laundry in a day as you used to do in a week. And seriously, I mean I do laundry EVERY day!

* You sometimes have a hard time remembering who you called by the time they pick up the phone on the 3rd ring, because while the phone rang 3 times there, was a 3 ring circus going on here.

* You buy a watermelon and its gone in less than 24 hours.

* You have more recycling than anyone in a 4 block radius

* You get awful good at making dinner, reviewing spelling words, changing batteries in a toy truck, playing memory and coloring…ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

* Your lucky if you get 1 match while playing memory (and concentrating) because your brain just doesn't function in that capacity anymore!

* The house feels very quiet when only 3 kids are home

* Your standards go from do the kids look cute today to are they least wearing underwear and shoes.

* You can have a great game of hide-n-seek in your house and if your good it double as 5 minutes of peace and quiet before the kids find you.

* You may be the family everyone stares at when you set up your whole cheering section on the sidelines of the soccer field, but your kids is never without that cheering section!

* A trip to the dollar store and target by yourself seems like a day at the spa

* You have bins of clothes and toys in your house in every size, for every season and for every gender…because you don't have the time to sort through it all and get rid of it!

* You are never lonely…someone always want to be with you like it or not!

And the number 1…. (and I know most of you know this phrase makes my skin crawl) EVERY TIME you go out with all the kids someone says, "You sure have your hands full!"

Crock Pot Tortellini

I really want my crock pot and I to be great friends…easy healthy dinners cooking away during the day and just ready and waiting for me when its dinnertime….problem is those dinners that await are not always the best…seriously, ever time I cook chicken in the crock pot you'd have thought I'd wrung it out- its so dry! But I keep trying!! Persistence is key to success-  right? 

Well, I did have a success this week with the crockpot! My family enjoyed this recipe a lot, and I enjoyed that it took me 5 minutes to make!

Crock Pot Tortellini

Ingredients: 

         1 bag of frozen tortellini

         1  bag of fresh spinach

         2 cans of Italian style diced tomatoes

         1 box or 4 cups of chicken broth

         1 block of cream cheese (I used 1/3 less fat)

          pinches of salt, pepper, garlic powder, minced onions and Italian Seasoning (no exact     science…I just threw some in)

         1 lb. of italian sausage (I used 1/2 turkey, 1/2 pork to cut the fat)

Directions:

        1. Remove sausages from casing and brown slightly.

        2. Cut cream cheese into small chances

        3. Put all ingredients into crock pot

        4. Cook on low about 3-4 hours

ENJOY!

Writing Award

Melina was given a Star Student Award from the principle for her writing this past school year, along with a gift certificate to Milano's. She has been looking forward to using this certificate since she got it, and here we are in July finally using it….Better late than never. 

Softball Wrap-Up

We finished up the softball season the last 2 nights. It really was a great way to spend our summer evenings. It was a very relaxed and fun co-ed league and the kids had tots of friends in the leagues, which made it social hour for mommy too…in fact we were once referred to as the "Real Housewives of Beavercreek," as we sat chatting…

And its sure make all the running and time and effort worth it when Logan said to me the other night (completely out of the blue), "Your money was really worth it for me to play softball. I am having such a great time. I love it!" See….my kids do have a heart every once in a while! 

Here are some highlight pictures from this season.

Melina Jo

Getting a hit

There were lots of HOT and SWEATY games
We always came home ready for shower!

Getting her Trophy

Team Spirit!

Logan

1st hit of the season

And his last…what a difference!

1st base was his favorite position to play,
followed by catcher

After season dinner and awards

Us being silly!

Smoked Mozzarella Turkey Meatballs

The smell coming from the oven was amazing and they tasted just as good as they looked, so I had to share. These meatballs are healthier since they are made with turkey, but certainly not shy on flavor. I served them over pasta, but they would make a great meatball sub or even a party app. Logan ate the leftovers for lunch by themselves and said they were just as delicious. ENJOY!

Ingredients:

•    1 small onion, finely chopped

•    1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

•    15 basil leaves, chopped

•    2/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

•    1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs

•    1 large egg

•    ¾ cup favorite marinara sauce

•    3 garlic cloves, minced

•    1 pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

•    Salt and pepper to taste

•    2 lb ground turkey

•    3 oz cubed pieces of smoked mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

Position the oven rack in the lower 1/3 of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the onion, parsley, basil, parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, egg, ¼ C marinara, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Once mixed, add in the turkey and smoked mozzarella cubes, mixing with your hands. Shape the meat mixture into meatballs.

Spoon 1/2 cup extra marinara in the bottom of a baking dish. Place the meatballs inside and drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil. Bake for 15 -20 minutes until cooked through.

adapted from Kelly Craves