SPICE!

We are spicy people. SPICY.
My dad used to say I couldn't marry a boy that couldn't eat his food.

Here are some recipes we've tried recently--

"Skinny" Bang-Bang Shrimp Pasta

I jacked this recipe up on the spice factor....
and t was too spicy. Rats.

Nathan loved it (obvs, cause I married the boy), I liked it- but the spice almost trumped enjoyable. Brynn and AG ate it like champs, but I had to cool it down for the others and then two ditched it altogether for sandwiches.

It could have easily been done less spicy if you wanna try it.  Actually, make the shrimp alone for anything- a salad, tacos, all by their lonesome. They're delish and easy.

Another shrimp option for snack or appetizer or a meal, if you wish:
Shrimp Stuffed Avocados.
Literally takes five mins. This one doesn't have to be spicy but it's better that way! I did chili powder and a dash of cayenne. Not sure why the pic is all yellow-y.

Roasted Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burritos
For moderately spicy but bursting with flavor- and healthy!- we LOVE these.
We've made them several times but it's been a while. I almost forgot how good they are. They go on the family favorite list for sure, they've never not been gobbled by every member.

This time we made homemade corn tortilla chips {and will never do store-bought again} and my best batch of guac yet.

I also had some kale and iceberg lettuce I needed to use, so I chopped them up and threw on some roasted corn and tomatoes. We had some leftover chipotle/adobe in the fridge that I mixed with homemade ranch to finish the salad- so dang good.

BONUS: We doubled the recipe and had a few left for the lunch the next day, which we fought over. That good.


Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad.
YUM.
I was craving buffalo sauce, which I'd usually do on cauliflower to get my fix.
It turned out everyone else was craving it too so we did this instead.
I actually didn't have broccoli or cabbage on hand so I substituted kale for both- worked out just fine.

That's not as much bleu cheese as it looks like.

Yes it is.

Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Technically, this recipe isn't spicy- but I use extra hot pickles and spicy mustard and it's AMAZING.
We eat veggie chips, which are just as crunchy and salty without the greasy stuff. I did do a sandwich with some left over sourdough the first time I made it, but now I just skip the bread all together and make a big appropriately-sized pile on my plate.

And now I need to go make more...
Also, I don't have an actual food processor -yet!- and I got lazy with the mashing of the chickpeas. But it would be easier to eat if they were actually mashed, ha. Those little suckers just roll right out.

I made these Baked Chilaquiles with Black Beans and Kale recently. Again, doesn't have to be spicy, but I added a crap-ton of jalapenos. I only did 2 eggs on one side because I wasn't sure I would like that addition. Roman ate them because it turns out, I did not. I'm not a big fan of eggs, in general. Or enchilada sauce. So I'm not really sure why I chose to make it at all. Yes, I am. It's because I am a sucker for food styling and photography--- just too lazy to do it myself. Hence, shady phone pics. It was good, but I think I'd tweak it to match my own personal preferences next time.

Enjoy spice-lovers!

Six months a West.

Hard to believe Roman has been a West for a whole six months.
Also, hard to believe Roman has only been a West for six months.

Our social worker came last week for our six month post placement report and said it sounded more like a one year visit. He's so... us.

We laughed out loud when she asked how many words he has in English now... comical, because remember I wrote about the talking? I've never seen anything like it. Though he is bashful around new people, the rest of the time he's chatting.

We were riding down the road a couple of months back when he suddenly said, "WAIT. Am I speaking English?! Holy cow!"

He really is the sweetest and just a fun kid. Absolutely. We just have to distract him sometimes so we can complete other thoughts and sentences!

He is still stuck to me like glue.

He definitely has gotten more independent and getting closer to seven developmentally- I think being in school has helped that- but he is MAMA'S BOY through and through. He still sits with his hand inside my shirt to feel my heart as much as I will let him (Obviously, I don't NOT let him- but them dishes ain't gonna wash themselves.) If I'm not holding him, he wants to do what I'm doing. Making dinner, folding clothes, running errands, scrubbing bathrooms {or something way cooler}, it doesn't matter. If I'm doing it, he wants to do it with me. He definitely idolizes Nathan. He constantly says he's going to be like Daddy and soaks up some one-on-one from him, preferably spent building Legos.

He is doing really well in school. His work is still modified while he's catching up but he is catching up- quickly.

He only writes the beginning sounds, but I'm sure the rest of the word will follow shortly. He's obsessed with how to spell things now and has mastered everyone's name in the house. And he has started READING! They are short, beginner books with lots of repetition but doggone it, he can read them! So impressed by him.

He's a very busy little bee and nothing holds his attention for long.  He still doesn't quite know how to entertain himself. He will happily play anything with anybody, but it doesn't really occur to him to play things on his own.  He is *slightly* naughty about taking other people's ideas/things though- ha.

He and Brynn are the Bobbsey Twins of the house.  Almost always together. When her ADHD is controlled, she is the most kind-hearted human and dotes on him left and right. When it is not so controlled, and she is quite literally bouncing off the walls, he thinks she is hysterical.  Cale is throws himself into the mix about 50% of the time. Sometimes three's company and sometimes threes a crowd- just depends on the collective moods of these so-called triplets!  Roman adores Anna Gray and is very big brotherly with her. And Layla still mothers him sweetly, reading to him or snuggling on the couch.

Roman's other loves are Ninja Turtles, anything superhero, playing the Wii, riding his scooter, being read to, drawing, putting on makeup, playdoh, kitchen dance parties, and jumping on the trampoline. Unfortunately, he can't jump right now because he recently had a hernia repaired.

He also got his port!

We've only accessed it once, but it was an easy transition and doesn't seem to bother him a bit.
He looks healthier, but he actually hasn't grown or gained any weight since coming home! I'm still surprised by that.  For the Thalassemia itself, he will be going to transfusions every four weeks now (woot!). His iron is still way way high. He takes one chelation medicine daily now, but we will likely be adding a second very soon to get that down.

As far as food, he will still eat just about anything- or at least try, though new items are taking a little more encouragement these days. He's even turned down a thing or two. That's good- that means he knows it's safe to say he doesn't like or want to eat something because he will get more to eat later. His favorites are pancakes, fried or hardboiled eggs, oatmeal, soups, quesadillas, spinach or kale salad, "little spiky chicken" or any chicken really, quinoa, and sweet potatoes.

He's obsessed with birthdays- mostly his own- especially since Daddy, Brynn, Cale, Mama, & Anna Gray have all had one recently. Layla is next and he has three whole months to go. Torturous. For all of us.

Overall, he is sort of fantastic. He is precious and silly and sneaky and loud and bright and curious and fast and handsome and little and snuggly and I love him.

 Six months later... happy and healthy. Family looks good on you, kid.

 And he says to tell you, "I love my mommy's heart and my family and then I love Walker (dog) and then my friends in first grade in America and...."

And then I had to go fix dinner :)

Anna Gray, the four year old!

I don't see how this is possible, but I suppose it's true. I get very sentimental about it all! Maybe because she's our baby. Maybe because her first birthday held so much emotion that I can't help but re-live it every February 16th.

Such sweet memories of leaving the orphanage, getting to our apartment and stripping off layer upon required layer, and just pulling her in. Pulling my sweet, squishy, peach, toothless and grinning birthday baby into me- finally allowed to sit on the floor and breathe her deliciousness without watchful eyes or rules. Just making her mine. And grateful. After working so hard to be her Mama, I finally was.

Three years later and I did the same thing today.  This time because we woke up to an inch of ice on every surface, I peeled off her layers and drew in her birthday sweetness. Now her grin holds a mouthful of teeth and her soft arms can work themselves in and out of her coat by themselves. She isn't a baby anymore. She's FOUR!

A year ago, she wasn't quite walking and this morning she "skated" along the sidewalk (saying "sate.sate.sate." with each glide). She's had a growth spurt, both physical and developmental. She's gotten tall- relatively speaking. She finally outgrew her Ukrainian sweater and today wore it as a scarf.

The jeans she has on are an 18-24 month, but really she's more in the 2T-3T range. She's almost as big as she thinks she is...

Looking very "Four-and-adorable."

She's got some spunk, mostly learned/earned from being the youngest of five. She repeats everything- clearly. She uses her own name as a curse word when she's frustrated (Anna Grayyyuughh), because that's what she hears everyone else say when they're frustrated...with her :)

She has gotten very... independent (wink)... and cannot be easily pursuaded by others' desires-- like going downstairs for annual birthday pictures!

"No tank you."

Her speech is conversational at home and usually school, and she is working hard to make it more understandable to others. She uses 2-4 word sentences and can easily answer yes ma'am or no sir to any question asked (though sometimes she's forgets her manners.) She can go up and down stairs with use of a borrowed finger and/or rail, she can feed herself, and follow simple directions. She is great with matching, knows her colors, can count to 11, and is learning to recognize/spell her name. She is beginning to use the potty- inconsistently- but off to a great start.

Her blanket is her most treasured item (and not easily replaceable... so, fingers crossed).

She loves Elmo/Sesame St, jumping on her mini trampoline, and books books books. She loves cards- like, any cards- flashcards, UNO cards, Old Maid cards, greeting cards. No idea why. She just looks through them, packs them around, and looks through them again. She has started taking care of her babies and pushes them around the house in their stroller,

She loved her party with her family yesterday, even if her mama accidentally got trick candles. She especially loved her cards and exclaimed "So cute!" with each gifted outfit.

She truly is a treasure. I'm sure at some point, she will be absolutely rotten because everyone in this house treats her as such. She doesn't do much to negate the stereotype that people with Down Syndrome are always happy.

She's a person, she has her moments obviously, but she can forgive and forget in one heartbeat and squeeze your neck like no other. (Just don't squat down or she'll get you from behind and squeeze the life out of ya).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR DARLING GIRL. You have grown so much and you could not be more loved.

Hope you enjoyed your icy birthday with your favorite people :)
See icy people below.