Toddler-Adult Translation

"Feek, Mama!" Speaks, Mama! as in Martha Speaks.

"you fink." you think and tell me the answer.

"I need foon." I need a spoon.

"Fwirrel!" squirrel!

"I'm so cold!" Pick me up and snuggle me. I don't care if it's 90F out.

"I need tension." Come sit next to me while I poop on the toilet.

"Here you go! I got the momter!" Here's the baby monitor, I brought it up from downstairs, even though you don't need it up here.

"Next time I listen." Please stop lecturing me. I already had my time out and want to go play.

"I only wub you foh much." I always love you so much.

Sloppy Garden Joes

Another husband-approved dish! This one comes originally from www.babyfit.com. I have made a few small alterations to it, with great success. It has officially been placed on the "make again" list with a recommendation to try it out with various types of BBQ sauces.

Sloppy Garden Joe's Chili

• 1 onion, chopped
  
• 1/2 green pepper, chopped
  
• 1 lb. ground turkey
  
• 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
  
• 1 15 oz. can stewed tomatoes, not drained
  
• 1 8oz. can mushrooms, drained
  
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 15 oz. can of black beans, rinsed
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp liquid smoke
  
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Sauté onions, green pepper and ground turkey in a pan over medium-high heat until turkey is cooked through. I added a little canola oil to the pan to keep the turkey from sticking since I was not using a non-stick pan.

2. Add tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, garlic, oregano, liquid smoke, barbecue sauce and seasonings and bring to a boil.

3. Reduce heat and simmer until the children are down for the night, stirring occasionally.

4. Serve with cheese, if desired.

Serves 8.

Nightly Prayer by A

"Dear God,
thank you for Papa, Nonna, Micky, Minnie. Once upon time I hurt elbow in the morning. Once upon time, once time. Daddy, Mama, Maggie.
Amen."