So I realize my delay in blogging has been my unconscious attempt to wait until I had magical news for you all.  The breaking announcement that Jahred has found the job of his dreams, that we are finally moving into that house where we can regain our sense of "home"...that alas, struggle has paid off and a "higher education" really is worth the wait and sacrifice.

I'm giving up on my staring contest with "what I feel I am owed" and I'm admitting to you now (and to myself) that I do not, nor have I ever lived in the "Magic Kingdom".  I live in a world where the hard work is plentiful, the second guessing is never-ending, the wine is rarely poured (too expensive), and I wake up most days thinking just for a second that I live somewhere else.

Today we received a call that Jahred has missed yet another job opportunity.  This one was a hard blow.  We not only did all the right things, the resume was a knock-out, an interview "thank you letter" was sent, plus we had the "who you know" element on our side.  I have to believe there is a greater purpose to even this, and am preparing a pep talk on that subject for tomorrow morning.  The pressure stands because this is at least the 1000th appearance of "motivational speaker me", and I need to bring something a little different to the table.

There you have it.  I am breaking my "blogging" silence and knocking my ego off it's pedestal.  Because I realize now that we don't live in the "land of nod", that must mean that we live in the real world.  I choose to believe that only in the toughest of realities, "magic" may not exist but "miracles" most definitely do.

From my true life to yours.  Keep your eyes peeled, and don't count your chickens before they hatch.

You know you're a stay at home mom when your "to read" list can seem overwhelming.  You strategize a way to pack in your "words per day," to keep your mind fresh, to check books off your "life reading list" and to most importantly feel connected with the world.

I have really scored big lately on the book front (meaning everything I pick up feels like gold to the last page); reading both "trendy" and of course, my favorite, non-fiction.  Here are a few I recommend for 2011.

...nothing like the classics.  A haunting tale of life and death.  Follow this up with...

If you're not in the mood to get the creeps, but are slightly curious as to the inner workings of circus life, I recommend...

My personal favorite, non-fiction, read by me in 2010...(Jeannette's other best-seller "Glass Castle" is wonderful as well)...

...and because I have re-discovered my LOVE of 10th grade writing exercises, this book has given me something to write about...not that its going anywhere...literally, Ms. Goldberg pushes your envelope with mind exercises!

There you have it, my last couple months worth of reading.  I've squeezed in the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series, along with "Great Expectations" and a few others that weren't as remarkable.  Currently on my Nook is "A New Earth," by Eckhart Tolle.  I wasn't quite ready for it when Oprah jumped on the band-wagon a few years ago, but an older and wiser me is ready to slow down for a soul-searching (rather ego abolishing) read.

"I was sewing in Preschool Mom," he yelled (not even out of his classroom yet) while presenting me with the most beautiful piece of wonderfulness.

Seriously, I have waited my whole life for a jewelry box full of noodles, pipe-cleaners and pony beads...just before my son turns three, I take my maiden voyage down "wear it with love" lane.  Hopefully, this bracelet is only the first in a long line of Axels "Sewn" Accessories.  

On a side note...but not really unrelated...take a look at the coloring progress only 3 months in preschool can award.  You may have seen paintings and drawings posted previously on my blog...there have been significant changes.  Kids are incredible!  You can literally sit still and watch them learn (which is what I've been doing for the past 35 months)!

Am I the only "grad school" wife to think that upon graduation all the struggles will end?  Could I have been so deluded to assume that a job would magically slap itself in front of us as he walked across the stage?  Wow, I've clearly not learned the lessons of "shit economy"/life.

So, for the last few weeks I've been scouting and Jahred has been applying.  I'm sorry to say that Mr. Job Wonderful has yet to arrive but with so many irons in the fire, eventually it should spark...right?

A special "shout out" and a HUGE "thank you" to our many helpers who are pounding the doors of human resource departments...please keep knocking!

Aside from all of that business, last weekend we took an Axel "time out" and got to some fun things we've been meaning to do.  For x-mas, we were given a membership to "Under Water World" at the Mall of America.  I have been dying to go...so Friday we took Axel to visit the sharks.  He bit...big time...and would have stayed all day.  Lucky for him, we have a whole year of aquatic fun ahead of us!

Also this weekend we took him to a pool.  We miss the summer pool at Grandpa and Grandmas so it was nice to see him jump right in and remember the beauty of water.  Wanting to capture the moment I busted out the camera, only to be shot down by a junior lifeguard.  Apparently, cameras are no longer allowed at the public pool since a pervert was taking pictures of kids.  WHAT THE HELL?  Sometimes I wonder what America is coming to.  The land of the free, and the home of "don't you dare take a picture of your own kid".  I understand the rule, but wonder with all the discreet picture taking devices how this can possibly be enforced.

So...for a change, only a small disappointment this weekend and this time not in hospital administration, but at society as a whole.  I find broad spectrum blame to be most helpful in these stressful situations, but I'm glad to say that our "weekend retreat" was helpful.

Monday morning, time to hop on the job sites.  Have a wonderful week...please pray for spring.

According to Jessica Seinfeld, an easy way to get your kids to eat vegetables is to puree them and add them to their foods.  So what if you are blessed with a vegetable eating child...but aren't such a green indulger yourself?  

You puree veggies and put them in your OWN food!

For Christmas I was given Jessica's new cookbook, "Double Delicious" and it features some FABULOUS recipes using these hidden vegetables.  So far I have tried using Butternut Squash and Carrot purees, and for the first time in my LIFE I bought Cauliflower to puree for my next meal!

I was going to post a few of these recipes for you, but you can also find them on Oprah's website...CLICK HERE!

Another reason to puree...the portion sized frozen "cakes of wellness" are simply beautiful.  Only nature can provide such rich color.