Tonight was pretty normal. We came home from work, made dinner (grilled steak and potato salad. I don't normally post recipes because I don't enjoy giving away tips because I need all the help I can get in being a better cook than, well, anyone. But I've made an exception because this is super easy and super, duper good. ), ate dinner outside for the first time this summer, watched the kids play, read stories, put the kids to bed and are settling down with our beverages of choice. Sounds pretty good, right?
Insert: nails on chalkboard whining, back-talking, hands-on-everything-they've-been-told-not-to-put-their-hands-on-a-million-times, arguing, poking the dog's eyes out, refusing to eat their dinners and last, but most certainly not least, "ears? what ears? oh... those things used for LISTENING?" And now, as I write this, Chris is upstairs putting the kids to bed for the THIRD time.
Isn't there a reality show for this? Nanny 911? Dr. Nanny? Boot Camp for 2 and 3-year-olds?
A Moment: Chris and I are using an old type writer as the guest book at our wedding reception. Chris brought the typewriter home tonight. As the kids were wreaking havoc in the next room we were pounding out letters to God, crying out for mercy on an old Royal from the 1940's.
"Dear God,
Please have mercy on us. We know you're sitting up there laughing. Parenting is your form of entertainment isn't it? Well, it's not funny. Now we know why you were so willing to sacrifice your only Son.
Please send help quickly.
Chris and Carey"
It was an outlet of frustration if nothing else. And we're probably going to H-E-Double Hockey Sticks for it.
You can only put a kid in time-out so many times before it becomes completely ineffective. At one point Chris started singing his communications with the kids like show-tunes. It at least made them be still for longer than 3 seconds, but pretty soon Jackson said, "Why Daddy Chris singing? He's silly." He did look a little insane.
You know you've demanded your child's attention in the wrong way when she says "No, you need to listen to me." as her response.
I know that every parent has these days and that it's normal to feel frustrated and it doesn't mean we have bad kids... because on any other day we don't, but I just have one question: Whose sins am I paying for here? Because I don't remember acting like this as a child. EVER. I'm sure my mother would attest to this.
Here's that rockin' recipe that you'll slave over and your preschoolers will look at you in disgust and refuse to eat:
Grilled Steak & Potato Salad:
2 Garlic Cloves, pressed
2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1 1/4 pounds boneless beef top sirloin steak
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 pounds unpeeled potatoes, cut into slices (we also used a one sweet potato)
1 medium sweet yellow onion, cut into slices
2 medium tomatoes, wedged
6 cups torn romaine lettuce
1. Start up the grill!
2. Combine garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Mix well to form a paste.
3. Spread all but 1 teaspoon of the garlic mixture over both sides of the steak.
4. Add vinegar, half the oil and mustard to the remaining garlic mixture. Whisk until blended.
5. Brush potatoes and onions with the other half of the oil.
6. Grill up the steak, potatoes and onions to your liking or until done.
7. Cut steak into strips and potatoes and onions in half.
8. Mix lettuce, steak, potatoes, onions, tomatoes and dressing together in a large bowl.
We (including the kids because they are both carboholics) ate this with toasted Cheesy Pleasy bread from Sawyer's. It's best if it's toasted on the grill!
I don't have a picture of the salad because I was too preoccupied to remember to take one.
