Life with boys

This Weeks Embarrassing Moment

2011-04-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

Went to lunch on Friday at a place call Arellas. Sat in a booth that was raised up a step. Went to get out when we were done, missed the step and fell flat on my butt. My friend ran to help me up along with several waitresses. This caused everyone in the place to lean around and see me floundering like a beached porpoise.

"Someone help that poor fat woman to get up!" That's what I was thinking they were thinking...

My friend helped me up and we sidled out of the place. Why do I always have to reveal that I'm only PRETENDING to be a professional business woman?

Hilariously Embarrassing Moment #5463..

2011-04-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

I frequently visit the main Post Office in Bountiful which is a hub of activity in Davis County especially around 5:00 p.m. The office I work in is a block away and so the Post Office is conveniently located when I need to mail things for my boss.

April 1st, the big prank day was Friday and I had taken hubby's fart machine to work for the receptionist at the front desk to hide and have fun with during the day. She hid it under a plant in the foyer and used the remote control when each Real Estate agent came in the office. She wanted to take it home over the weekend to play with her grand kids so when I came into work today, she returned it with much thanks and stories of laughing with her grand kids while she tended them.

I stuck it in my purse and didn't think of it again. Until that is, I went to the post office at the 5:00 rush to mail 20 letters and a package for my boss. Because the machine is getting old, it tends to occasionally..., ahem, fire off all by itself. Yes, I was in the middle of putting in the weight and package info into the do it yourself postage machine when the mechanism began to rip!! Repeatedly. It went through it's entire repetoire. I pulled it out of my purse in a panic to get it to stop and it exploded even louder. I jammed it back inside and punched keys as fast as I could. The postal machine rejected my card. I had to try again. I dropped my purse and shoved it against the wall like it didn't belong to me and focused on getting the stamps out as fast as possible. My purse continued playing a medley of toots. It was loud.

I started to laugh. There were people behind me, to the side of me. I stayed focused. I bored a hole in the letters with my eyeballs. The letters wouldn't fit through the slot.. I had to shift my weight to open the trap door thing to put lots of letters through. It set my purse off on another flatulate tirade...

I stepped carefully, giggling like mad, but quickly towards the exit doors. Please don't go off, please don't go off... Put the garbage in the recycle bin. beeerb! Get, beeper! Out! Bongerp! of! geeburrrrp! Here!!!!!!

I will now have to go to the Air port Post Office or Ogden Post Office if I need to mail a letter.

Has it really been over a year?

2011-03-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

I guess I've been hiberating for a while. And like a bear after a nice winter's nap, (and a nice backside scratch on the nearest tree), it's time for something good to eat.

The Youngest cub in the house wanted to make a treat. So we made carmel. It turned out so good it could be a sin. We made a 13x9 panful. For breakfast yesterday I had a banana and some carmel. I had some as an appetizer before lunch. And again before dinner. Woohoo!

Here's the recipe:

1 Cup butter
2 Cups packed brown sugar
1 C light corn syrup
1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp vanilla

This is actually my recipe for carmel apples so you should add 8-10 wooden sticks and 8-10 medium tart apples.

In a heavy sauce pan combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and milk and bring to boil over medium heat.
Cook and stir til candy thermometer reads 248 degrees (firm ball stage) about 30-40 mins. (too long in my opinion) For softer carmel cook to fewer degrees. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Dip apple, turn to coat set on buttered plate. Or pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Lick spoon and bowl and then cut some carmel and savor it. Ummmmm.

Piece de boeuf Braisee

2010-01-17T17:01:00.000-08:00

Haloo everyone! After watching Julie and Julia or was it Julia and Julie?? I can't remember,. I went off on a wild hair and ordered the book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". I guess I was wondering if the recipes tasted as good as it appeared on the movie.

Today I tried my first recipe Boeuf A La Mode because I wanted to try something new with the pot roast in the freezer. I had to thaw it out first and then added diced carrots, onions, and celery with some garlic, thyme, bay leaves, parsley, allspice, and, a little olive oil, salt and pepper and 5 cups of my favorite wine. Just kidding. I substituted my homemade grape juice without the sugar added. I marinaded it over night, browned it this morning after fishing it out of the marinade. Put it back in the pot with all the marinade added and put it in the oven for 4 hours.

Then I looked up the braised carrots in butter recipe and made those off to the side (without the braised onions, I didn't have any of those little onions)

The tip on carrots? I cooked them with 1 TBS sugar (to develop the flavor according to Julia) 1 1/2 cups water, 1 1/2 TBS
butter, 1/2 tsp salt and a pinch of pepper. Boil slowly for 30 minutes or so until the liquid evaporates. Voila!

Then I pulled the roast out of the cooked juice marinade, put the vegetable remainder through a strainer, because I don't own a sieve, and made gravy out of it. The gravy went over the carrots and then the carrots were pulled out with a slotted spoon into a serving bowl and the remaining gravy went over the meat and potatoes. Magnifique! I think my husband is still picking at the roast. And the carrots. The gravy is gone. I should have made more.

If you're interested in the exact measurements of everything, let me know. I will send it to you. Mis bon amis!

This week at our house. Cookie Monster had his wisdom teeth out and looks like a chipmunk storing up for winter. Since he sprained his ankle last week badly and has been on crutches, it was difficult to get him into the house after the surgery and down the stairs when he was only semi conscious with one good foot. We almost went down the stairs on our noggins.

Soccer boy is working at a daycare. Yes, that's right. He's babysitting. All 6'2'' of him, including the beard. Giggle. He asked a girl to prom and she answered him on Friday night. I had 15 minutes to turn his room into something presentable when the girl and all her friends showed up with balloons to go inside his room. I was thinking some non holiday words when I was grabbing piles of clothing, books, etc offf his floor.

The youngest went on his very first overnighter with the scouts. The went up to a scout camp in the mountains to sleep in tents, make rockets, shoot guns, eats lots of food, go snow shoeing, shoot their rockets off and come home again. Since he's still in the younger troop, his father got to go with him. :) I imagine he was thinking some non holiday words at the thought of setting up a tent and sleeping in the snow in 10 degrees. Snicker.

Matt is living in logan and trying to make some mula. He got a gig as a DJ for the New Years dance at the Uof U and made a little money. Hopefully he can use that to fix the blown speakers. :)

Chris is back at school in Rexburg and travels to Logan to visit a young lady. I imagine he is visiting some in Rexburg too. For all I know there could be one in Pocatello, Brigham City, Ogden, and Salt Lake. :) What do I know? I'm just his mother.

Me? I threw my back out trying to move the heavy coffee table back into the Living room the night the scouters were away. That's what I get for snickering at my hubby. Its not too bad. I was able to coach for the girls bb game, make food for the chipmunk in the basement, prepare a lesson, and pretend to be Julia Childs! I must go now. I need to ice and heat for a minute before I go to the Bishop's fireside. ciao

One week

2009-12-28T12:59:00.000-08:00

In the time period of a week the following things occurred.
4 Christmas parties, getting the card table back from the neighbors (when they weren't home),
preparing soup for a crowd,
salad for a crowd,
pulled pork sandwiches for a crowd,
and purchasing pizza for a smaller group (This does not include Christmas eve or Christmas day which was a turkey and ham etc etc with bread bowls for traditional cheese soup), The other meal days don't count. Don't forget the multiple trips to the grocery store.

I also didn't get school off. Had two days of classes including a chapter test which I didn't do as well on as I thought even though I passed. I drive to Kaysville to school.

Made 24 loaves of banana bread, where 8 didn't turn out when they didn't come out of the pans. They also spilled into my oven for the first time ever and fragranced the house with essence of banana smoke.
Made 3 batches of toffee.
Did 24 situps each night thinking it would balance out after I ate the toffee.
Negotiated getting in and out of the driveway between 3 to 4 power company trucks trying to find the reason, my next door neighbors power was out. The break was under our driveway by the wall. :)
Blue stake came in and sprayed the snow with orange and yellow festive lines.
They brought in a digger and put a 5 ft hole in the driveway.

They had an emergency in Provo and left the cement blocks out, put up some orange and white striped cones, and strung the cones with yellow caution tape. I debated about draping the area with tinsel and lights, but ran out of time. The main hope was that the Mail Nazi would still deliver. Apparently it was all too much for him, because we had a different mail man for the a few days. I know this because we actually had our mail brought up to the house. I almost passed out from shock. What a great Christmas present!
(One of my sons said the Mail Nazi had actually shaved his beard and was sporting a Hitler mustache. I have not yet been able to confirm this.)
I put together 24 bag gifts for the Young women and delivered the laurels. My counselors delivered theirs(Game of Uno with a poem off the internet about UNO (You know) you are a daughter of God etc etc. I threw in some lip gloss for the Laurels)
Put together the loaves of banana bread with bottled jam. Made tags.
Ryan delivered them dressed in a santa costume I made for Matt when he was in 4th grade Halloween parade. (I used red maternity capris with a red adult sweatshirt so it be could stuffed. It is edged in fake white fur and it used to have bells for buttons. We still had the beard and hat.

He was on his way to deliver a gift to one of the young men leaders. I think its a toy pig on a swing... And a pez candy dispenser...

I spent a lot of time going to Walmart, Kohls, Shopko, Costco, Michaels, Ross dress for less, Barnes and Noble, Smiths market place, Target. Best Buy, and a variety of other places over and over again.

Received my mom's birthday and my sister's christmas presents. Stil haven't mailed them :)

Picked up the little brother and sister of one of my young women at daycare and brought them home. Made sure they got fed.

Received the news that a friend we know well passed away on Christmas eve from an accident with a 4 wheeler. He was a counselor to Dan when Dan was the Elder's Quorum President years ago. He was the Bishop in the ward he moved to. There are 3 general authorities in his ward. Elder Hales, President Ukdorf and one other, I can't remember which one. Elder Nelson I think. He was also an excellent Ear Nose and Throat Doc. I was going to be seeing him for my throat. It's a great loss to their family and the whole community.

I worked on a talk for Sacrament Meeting for yesterdays meeting. I worked on a lesson for the Laurels on Goal setting.

I discovered mice in the dog snack cupboard. Killed two with one trap. Set more and have been cleaning everything last thing in the cupboard. Still not done. They ate all of his small snacks. YUCK!

All the boys went sledding up at the Golf Course here on Christmas day. Ryan took a bad spill and broke his right collar bone. This was about half an hour after Grandma, Grandpa, and Austin left to go back to Provo.Chris recorded the whole thing on video for posterity. Dan took him to the ER at the closest hospital. I was working on my talk, but the only thing I could do was wring my hands and pace. Should have gone to the hospital. Ryan has been in terrible pain even with the morphine shot. He's doing a little better. Today we will see the Orthopedic doc.

Put some color stuff on my hair while I took a bath and worked on my talk on Saturday. Forgot how long it was in. My hair is now black.

Pulled a large glass pan of yummy potatoes out of the frig to warm up. The pan had cracked in half some how. I cut my finger trying to remove it carefully. Burned my arm on the oven. Broke the glass lid to my crock pot when I was pulling pork. The frig in the basement has a leak and the water is under the pergo flooring in Chris's bathroom. It sloshed when you walk on it. Dan was twisting under the sink next to the frig to turn off the water and twisted his stomach into a knot and had some killer cramping pains. It knocked the energy out of him and he felt so rotten he had to lay down for a while.

Attended 5 meetings on Sunday. Gave my talk. Gave my lesson. Dan's brother invited us all up to his cabin an hour's drive away for dinner and some kind of talent show. I opted out and stayed home. They had to leave one hour after I got home from meetings. Yes, I am a party pooper.

Some dogs belongs to some members (huskys) got loose again today and attacked Benny. I was trying to beat one of them off with a shovel. They had him by his neck. He shook for 30 minutes afterwards.

Oh and we've almost hit the neighbors dogs about 4 times this week alone.

Someone did a 12 days of christmas for me and made my year :)

That's about it. The rest is normal boring stuff like laundry. You know, the boring stuff.

So how did your week go?

Mission experience

2009-11-13T17:57:00.000-08:00

Matt performed a musical number with two other missionaries in Long Island NY when he was there. I wanted to try and get the video to transfer, but I don't know how. You can go to my facebook to see it I hope. The link is below. It's a beautiful version of If you could Hie to Kolob and they made it up and practiced it once before they performed it...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/home.php?ref=home

Halloween

2009-11-04T13:36:00.000-08:00

Youngest getting ready to head out and scare everyone. If you can't figure out what he is... he's the Joker from Batman.

Our neighbor made a Harry Potter dementor and after it was nice and dark he rang our door bell and flew it in front of the door to scare the daylights out of us.

We had lots of goblins come to our door. Neighbors and people who drive here from different parts of the valley to trick or treat. Lots of hispanics...para el dia de los muertos.

It's snowing

2009-10-27T15:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I haven't written in a while. Let me review the last few months. Naw, there's too much. Let me sum up: I lost 8 lbs on a no sugar diet. Went off diet, gained pounds back eating candy. I'm in the middle of the second final for my spreadsheets class. I cut my hair off. If you haven't seen my facebook, here is a photo with Mr. Magoo glasses.

We are currently going through the H1N1 illness or some kind of flu close to it. 3 boys have been sick or are currently sick. That's pretty much it except that it's snowing and I'm making grape juice. Bye for now

2009-08-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

Haven't written for a while. Don't feel like it.

School starts Monday.

I've been listening to 10,000 miles. It's one of my favorites even though I don't listen to it much because it makes me weep. Went to a funeral today. It seems appropriate.

Got my har cut

2009-06-04T15:44:00.000-07:00

It was two or three inches below my shoulders this morning. ..this afternoon its above.

Another photo

2009-05-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday in Sacrament meeting, a member passed this photo that came in their newspaper yesterday. It was a different Salt Lake paper, one we don't take. We were very surprised and appreciative. I remember when this happened during the game. This makes 3 newspapers. We're amazed.

Here's some pics

2009-05-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

This was in the paper this morning

This is extra

We lost

2009-05-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

WX took 2nd place in the State Soccer Championship Finals. Soccer boy got his picture in the Salt Lake Paper, but I can't get the image to print from the scan. He played his heart out. They were tied 0-0 going into the second half. I'm very proud of him.

State Championship Soccer Finals today

2009-05-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

Today, Soccer boy will be playing in the State Championship finals for his High School at the Real Salt Lake Soccer stadium. I thinks he's nervous. I'm nervous. Win or lose, they have had an amazing season. GO WILD CATS!

What happened to april?

2009-05-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

I guess I should update my blaaag. The weather is considerably better since I last posted. The grass is green. The flowers are blooming. Lots of changes since the last time.

Except my weight. That's about the same. Ok, maybe a little higher.

I am exercising,...it's just the brownies in between times... My brain thinks that if I only have just a little smidgen, it won't hurt. It's amazing how an entire pan of treats can disappear one centimeter at a time. When the boys ask, "Who ate all the brownies?" the words, "I don't know" seem to tumble out of my mouth. I've even mastered a look of incredulous amazement and have hinted at possible perpetrators including the dog. Poor Benny, he gets blamed for everything. (he he) Holy Moly, I'm goin to h-e- double toothpicks.

In other news, my hubby is home reinventing himself. There are some advantages to this. Gasoline savings for example. Access to the refrigerator. Extra office chairs as well. Several un-named sons have been seen rolling down the street in them. And of course, another culprit to blame the missing brownies on :)

I looked out the window and what did I see?

2009-03-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

White stuff falling on the apricot tree....

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a... lion?

btw, soccer boy didn't win after all that. he's very sad. Won their soccer game though...

Pay off

2009-03-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

Zoolander made it past the preliminary round of voting! It's down to 8 people now. I guess there were a bunch of people running. He may not make it, but hey, he made it to the final 8, right?

I have the Mother of all headaches. Too many late nights. Last night I was painting stars and moons on a cub scout space derby. I need to finish with the suns and he can put the fins on. The derby is tonight. I've been working on getting "My Life's Journey" book put together enough to show at the Stake YW leadership meeting tonight. We're giving our ideas on what we're doing to each ward. We've got our New Beginnings Theme "Constant as the North Star" with the star book for lesson handouts, a star necklace, etc, Our 'This and That' book for our life skills how to's , and our Personal History book that I already mentioned. No time for anymore than that.

This is our little star book. It holds 4x6 cards (or pictures, it's actually a mini photo album, holds about 36) I cut the stars on my cricket out of silver vinyl. Peel and stick. Very easy. We make our handouts to that size. They will have a fun little record of cool quotes, pics, and lesson reminders for the year. We hope they will use the little book and not throw handouts away. We presented all this at New Beginnings.

This is the necklace we gave each girl for the year. When you buy in bulk, it's amazing how inexpensive it can be.

This is the Personal History book or "My Life Story". There are 3 sections. First, Year by Year, two page spreads on each year of life. Left side has a typed Year in the News column. Right side has a column for special events for that year in the girls life. The rest of the space is for a few pictures. (We didn't want to overwhelm them)

Second section is Ancestors: Where I Came From with geneology charts, places for pictures of family members etc and stories of their lives.

Third section is the Spiritual things: Certificates like blessings, baptism, partriarchal blessings, YW recognition etc. We in our second year of working on this book. I also think they should put a copy of their birth certificate and future marriage in this section. If you want more details, let me know.

I will probably include either another section or add to the last section for other achievements like camp certificates, school certificates etc. Individual personal progress recognition.

I don't have a pic of our "This and That" book, only individual pages so far. Still putting that together...

Gotta run. Have a missionary assignment to take care of, primary lessons to distribute for sunday, and phone calls to make. Love to all

What some mothers will do.. round 2

2009-03-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hello again. Just an update on yesterday. The poster fell off the wall. Yep, should have used duck tape. ( I thought we weren't supposed to use duck tape. sticky residue and all that)

Last night after 4 hours of preparing for a dinner for the Senior Citizens in our ward for the YW/YM, and running cub boy to scouts, zipping over to Soccer boy's game for a little bit, I got home at 9:15pm to make another Senior Class campaign poster. He wanted Zoolander.

What that means? Taking enough photos in 9 different shirts-- with the same expression in all of them and reviewing...

Soccer boy snickering, "That one is stupid"

Me, "It looks fine"

Soccer boy, "Let's take another."

"click"

Soccer boy, "That one I look like a dork"

Me, "I thought that was the idea."

Soccer boy, "let's take another."

"click"

Soccer boy laughing, "That one is funny"

Me, "You look like you've been zinged by a cattle prod."

Soccer boy, "I like it."

Me. "Ok then, next shirt!"

Here is the final product...

Don't know how he got them to stick to the wall since he left before I found the duck tape....
Good luck Zoolander man.

What some mothers will do for their children

2009-03-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

6:45 am this morning. High School lobby area. Where to put the posters for Senior Class officer campaign? Hey! How about above the vending machine! Everyone goes there. Everyone will see it! "Check it afor Checketts!"

Problem. How to reach the brick above the vending machines. A passing teacher offers a chair. Still can't quite reach. Soccer boy won't climb up on vending machine. Doesn't want to get dress pants dirty.(game day: nice shirt and tie etc). Friend says dust on top is narly, and won't do it either.

Mom says, "I'll do it!" (wimps!) Mom uses arms to lift upper body up and realizes as she's suspended on edge of machine, that she's not as young as she used to be, or as thin. Hanging by pectoral muscles feels like positioning for a mammogram. She makes a desperate swing with one leg, remembering that the pair of levi's she's wearing are a bit on the too tight side, but manages to get a knee up (with grunts and much effort) and plants her bum in the a plume of dust on top. Unfortunately for her son and his friend it is not without exposing her religion, a midsection tire, and heaven forbid, a possible plumbers crack.

The boys may need a therapist after what they witnessed, but hey, Mission Accomplished !

It's snowing again

2009-03-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

My missionary was in a car accident this morning. He is fine.

I'm a little rattled, however.

I tired

2009-03-08T19:43:00.000-07:00

2 talks and a lesson. Done. Great times. Glad it's over.

I spoke at one of my YW's baptism on Saturday afternoon. Very happy day. A long time coming. Can't express feelings.

I spoke in Sacrament meeting the next day. Missionary Mom talk. Easy. Glad it's over.
Taught YW lesson in class. How to appreciate your parents :)

Looking forward to relaxation class on YW activity night. Hope I don't fall asleep and snore on my yoga mat.

Daylight savings in force now. Set the clock wrong and was 10 minutes late to Correlation meeting this morning at 7:30am. Hope I was tucked in and sort of put together. Reminds me of a few weeks ago when we had a ward temple night. My neighbor and I were hurrying to get changed into our regular clothing after a wonderful evening. We walked side by side out towards the prayer rolls where I stopped for a minute to add some names. The next thing I knew she was calling my name. I turned to look and she turned her back to me. There, exposed to all the cute little temple workers was her backside with her dress and slip caught up completely in the waistband of her nylons. I choked back my laugh, we both started laughing so hard I had to plug my nose to stifle my giggling. I was leaning over the prayer roll desk, trying to gain my composure, but I was laughing so hard I was crying. I guess some cute little matron stopped her before she went out into the foyer. "Sister, oh Sister! Don't leave yet!" The more we talked about how she could have possibly gotten her entire skirt caught including her slip without feeling the bulk in her waistband, the harder we laughed. This is my neighbor who repaints her house so often, we joke about her rooms getting smaller with all the layers. This is the neighbor who accidently sprayed her pizza pan with pledge instead of pam. And who walked around town with the fly of her pants open. She also managed to get herself locked behind the gate in one of the canyons when she came back from a hike too late and had to spend the night in her jeep (they high centered it on a boulder trying to go around the gate and had to back it down and stay overnight. Her husband was with her) She provides the neighborhood with endless stories and big laughs. Oh that everyone could have a neighbor like that...unless that neighbor ...is you.

How's the saying go?

2009-03-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

If you teach a fish to eat.... no that's not it.

If you teach a girl to knit, she'll knit her own scarf, no that's not it..

If you help a frustrated girl with her scarf...

(finished scarf given back, this was yarn)

Another girl will follow....

And another...

And another....

And another...

(this one is no dummy, she has ordered two scarves)

Additional life skill: If you push the right emotional buttons, the YW Pres will give you a pretty scarf to wear to school. This skill can be applied to parents, friends, and future spouses...

The Purple Hippo is gone

2009-03-01T21:51:00.000-08:00

We no longer have a purple hippo hanging on our house (courtesy of the neighbors)

We seized the opportunity, when other unsuspecting neighbors were gone, to share...

They came home just before we finished. Hubby and soccer boy hid behind the hippo, while youngest and I ran like the grade school pranksters that we are. :)

Those are green shamrocks we added for March and the hippo came off a 24th of July Float of Noah's ark last year. In case you were wondering...

Life Skills

2009-02-26T15:37:00.000-08:00

In YW we are learning life skills this year. Last week we made bread by hand and sent the girls home with their own bread pan with bread dough ready to bake. This week we learned how to knit scarves. They all went home with their own knitting needles and a scarf in progress. Next week we have individual class activities. I'm trying to figure out what we are going to do-- learn to make jam... or maybe homemade pies. Maybe we'll just watch American Idol.Hee!

No time to write

2009-02-05T10:22:00.000-08:00

Sorry so lazy. Trying to think of what to write. I could tell you about the missing valentine candle... or the episode when the missionaries came to teach one of soccer boys friends and sat on some gum that had been mysteriously left between the cushions on the living room couch... I was mortified by that one. But I believe as it turns out that the stories are connected and the theif who took the candle and chewed the gum are one and the same...

See if I ever trust him to behave himself again!

I was so excited

2009-01-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

It was like Christmas with a new toy and I could hardly wait to get home to play with it. I had driven out to Kaysville in between snow storms to pick up my precious treasure. A new cookbook. I had tasted two fabulous soup recipes, a bread recipe, homemade carmels and a cheese/artichoke dip recipe over the holidays all from the same book. I stopped by the store to pick up a few needed items and headed home to create a masterpiece. I was feeling giddy as I texted my husband to tell him what I was making: Roasted Chicken and wild rice soup.

I tossed and flipped chopped onions, celery, carrots, and mushrooms into the pot with the finesse of a hopeful gourmet artist. I added chicken stock, milk, spices and salivated as the aroma wafted through the kitchen. The table was set with matching bowls and plates. Dad wasn't home yet, but soccer boy was starving. So I put out the soup and spoodled it out. The boys were seated and prayer given. I cautioned them about how hot it was at first and to blow on each spoonful. I took my first spoonful and savored each drop as it melted like butter in my mouth. Ummmm.

I looked around. Nobody was eating. I said, "What's the matter?"
Soccer boy, "It's too hot."
Me, "Blow on each spoonful."
Soccer boy, "That takes too long."
Cookie Monster, "It looks weird."
Me, "It's just chicken a rice, nothing you haven't eaten before."
Youngest, "What are those little black things?"
Me, "It's just the rice, it takes wonderful, try it."

They poked at their bowls and ate rolls.

Cookie Monster, "What are those green things."
Me, "Spices. Try it, it's really good."
Cookie Monster, "It looks weird."

In the time they took to whine, I finished my bowl, and announed something to the effect that they could cook their own dinner from now on! I may have been thinking a few choice names like 'ungrateful little snits!' (Snit being used in some foreign countries as a cross between a snot and a little sh... well never mind. Not to be confused with me being in a snit...).

I usually have a pretty thick skin. You sort of have to as the mother of 5 boys. It growth thicker and thicker with each birth til it's like the walls of El Morro in San Juan Puerto Rico. I think they're around 10 feet thick or so. Somehow, this time, there must have been a crack in the wall and they got to me, right in the heart. Even the tears flowed.

When Dad got home and expressed his enthusiam for the soup, I heard his tone change after a bit and the boys got a lecture. I heard random words like 'ungrateful', 'spoiled', 'more appreciation', 'your mother worked hard'. I would have giggled if I hadn't been so blurry eyed. I was in the office playing spider solitaire on the computer at the time. He came and found me with my leaking eyes and gave me a big hug and kiss and told me how incredible the soup was. He patched my boo boo right up. :)

So, if any of you would like the recipe, here it is:

Roasted Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

1 (6oz) Box Uncle Ben's Long Grain
& Wild Rice Mix
1 T. Olive Oil
1 1/2 C Red Onion, chopped
1 C. Celery chopped
1 C carrot, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pkg. mushrooms, quartered (I didn't use a whole pkg, and I cut the pieces smaller to try and hide them)
1/4 C. Flour
1/2 t. Tarragon
1/4 t. Thyme
2 C water
2 T. Cooking Sherry
2 (15oz) cans chicken broth
1 (12 oz) can evaporated Milk
3 C chicken, cooked & shredded (I used a store bought roasted chicken (yum)

Prepare rice according to package directions; set aside. Saute onion, celery, carrot, garlic, and mushrooms in olive oil for 6 minutes. Add flour, tarragon, and thyme, cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add water, sherry broth, and milk. Return to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Stir in cooked rice and chicken. Cook until heated through.

You don't need the sherry for this to taste good. Grandma, it would be easy to replace the flour and use some regular wild rice without the wheat gluten in the uncle bens mix.

Let me know how it goes with your families...!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-26T20:04:00.000-08:00

Christmas night. Silent. 6 deer came through our yard around 1:00am looking for something to eat. They were led by a massive 6 point buck.

Hope you had a great Christmas.

JAZZ: Utah Jazz Ultimate Christmas Promotion - 2008-09

2008-11-28T18:50:00.000-08:00

The commercial we did for the Jazz

JAZZ: Utah Jazz Ultimate Christmas Promotion - 2008-09

What's on my nightstand

2008-11-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

I know I'm behind doing this but here is my nightstand

These are little squares we making into boxes with bells inside for the Humanitarian Center to send to children with no toys in other countries. We are using different colored yarn and sewing them together. I need to make three more to make a box.

Mountain Beyond Mountains is what I am currently reading. True story. Excellent so far. (I just finished the Toll Gate by Georgette Heyer) A regency romance. historcally correct. If you can get through the 19th century England slang, it's a funny read.

Planning to read next. I may have already read it, but I can't remember..

Planning to read with Youngest. It's the last of the Alex Rider series that has been published.

The other things in the photo are watch bands and earrings I have made, but need to fix for some reason or another.

I have 2 clocks, one with current time and the other with NY time.

Inside my nightstand are many many books I have either started or intend to read. Can't show you that. It's crammed full and is too embarrassing! To name a few: John Adams (half way), Exodus, A Thousand Slendid Suns, Saving Faith, Oxford English Dictionary, Spanish/English dictionary, Ella Minnow Pea (half way), Excuse Me your life is waiting (half way), I feel bad about my neck, (half way), the Civil War (half way). I even have swiped copies of my son's European History text books. :) At the side of my bed are other books --my scriptures, a yw activity idea book and a journal where I write story ideas.

In my basement are piles and piles of other books I'm planning to read. In my office are other books I want to read.... there's some in the living room too. Yikes, this is starting to sound like true confessions of a bookaholic!

I relate to the part in "These is my words" when Sara finds the wagon full of volume after volume of books and feels that she has found a treasure greater than gold.

I'm on the hunt

2008-11-21T14:44:00.000-08:00

In a house full of boys it is difficult to have one little thing to yourself. You know, like your favorite cookies for instance. If I buy a treat, I may or may not get any. I have stashed things in the fruit room for the future and have found them ransacked with only the empty packaging as evidence.

I discovered some years ago that my husband was buying his own cereal and hiding it in an unlikely cupboard. He still does that except the boys know where it is now. He also hides his own cookies.

I've been hiding things too. When one place gets discovered I find another one. Recently the cookie monster told me he had a hidden stash as well. It is somewhere in the living room....

It seems we're all busy trying to find each others hidden stash of snacks. Perhaps putting the tostitos in the pantry in plain view will keep them safe until game time tomorrow...

ramblings

2008-11-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

I've applied for a job. I don't know if I'll actually take the job, but I've been through a battery of tests and so far passed them all. Tonight I will know if it's something that will work for me. I know they want me to work for them. It's a great feeling to know that. Especially after lots of years of being treated like I'm not worth much because I'm a housewife.

I've had people ignore me when I'm talking directly to their face, I've been put on hold more times than I can count which is ok once in a while I understand, but my time is as valuable as theirs. Honestly, some times I wonder if they think I'm sitting around eating bon bons and picking my nose with all the time in the world because I am home. One time a woman at a business social came up to me, shook my hand, acted excited to have a great conversation with me, and when she found out I was a housewife, she dropped my hand and walked away. Just like that. I laughed. Her loss.

I connected with the heroine in "These Is My Words" when she walked into the bank to open an account and the clerk sniffed in her face and told her to let her husband handle her money because it was too confusing for her. Her response was, "Oh, how confusing is it? If it makes you confused, I surely don't want this bank holding my five hundred dollars.
Well, he perked right up and said, Five hundred dollars? Mrs. Elliot, I believe we can be of service to you after all.
I doubt it, I told him. I made this money with the sweat of my brow and the labor of my hands and I've got the rawhide to prove it. I don't intend to leave it with any man that thinks money is confusing."

I hope I never assume I'm busier, or better than anyone else--job or no job. I've met sophisticates with degrees up the yingyang who are dumber than a stump when it comes to common sense and wisdom. I've met some financially successful people who have no more depth than the clothes they wear.

I know housewives with little education who have the wisdom of a sage and the humility of a true saint. Women I can spend hours talking to and still not know the depth of their understanding. But I know plenty of working women who are saints and sages and housewives who are shallow and judgemental.

It comes back to that great speech by Martin Luther King when he said something like, "lets not judge each other by the color of our skin, but rather by the content of our heart".

The "color of our skin" could be a symbol of the choices that we make in life. It shows on the surface, but is not necessarily a true indicator of the content and depth of our heart and soul.

Gotta go, now. Somewhere near by there is a bon bon, I mean a brownie, calling my name.

News flash

2008-11-12T16:54:00.000-08:00

Soccer boy just made the high school Basketball team!

Life's little tests

2008-11-07T10:33:00.001-08:00

We got snow. It was snowing on Tuesday for the vote. We still have snow on the ground. The ski resorts are open already. They'll probably be getting more today.

I went to the doc yesterday. You know, the "EXAM"? Saddle up! Boots in the stirrups! Westward ho!

And you're thinkin' to yourself, "Relax?... That depends on what you're plannin' to do with that cattle prod thingy..." ..."FOR THE LOVE OF ...YEEOOWW!

I toyed with idea of bucking the doc right off that little stool with a square reflex kick to the chops!

Butt in the end, it was over. I survived. And the doc doesn't have bucked teeth.

It's November already?

2008-11-05T09:16:00.000-08:00

I finished my one day job as a Poll Manager for the General Election yesterday. It was a very interesting experience and a little nerve racking to feel so responsible for the proper handling of the voting machines as well as taking care of the voters. I had the opportunity to drive to the court house with 2 other poll workers and deliver the votes to be counted. There were security officers there. A press photog was there. Everything we brought was inspected and checked in. We got to watch (for about 10 minutes as our supplies were checked in), the vote count being processed and put up on a big screen. We thought we would have to wait for a hour to get checked in and be able to leave, but it ended up being about 15 minutes. The County is impressively efficient. There are over 1000 precincts delivering the votes last night. We were one of the earlier arrivals I guess. It was a long day, but a great experience.

In previous news, my family was asked to be in a TV ad for a Christmas promotional giveaway in October. It was set up at the front of my house. (We had to remove any Halloween evidence and replace it with Christmas decorations. The Jazz Bear and 4 jazz dancers came along with the camera crew.

It was set up like a sweepstakes with me being the winner. So here are a few pics from that day.

Ringing the doorbell...

2 of my sons are in this pic

My husband the "announcer"

The "Jazz Band" players

2008-09-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

I got invited to a party last Sat for the Red Hat group. I got all kinds of grief because I'm TOO YOUNG to be there, which was kind of fun. I told them I was 65 and I got more grief. It was great. Anyway our activity was to try our hand at painting vegetables with the help of a professional artist (my neighbor's sister-in-law) . She came down from Seattle to visit. Most ladies painted a pear. One lady tackled some radishes. I painted a red pepper. I don't think any of us finished, but here's my half finished attempt. It took about 1/2 hour.

It's acrylic on water color paper. And now it's in my cupboard with other painted forgetables. I love to paint, but who has time, ya know?

Time for dessert

2008-09-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

We had an RS dinner a few weeks ago and had apple cake with carmel sauce for dessert. I was the only one who exercised no self control and went back for seconds. You may already have a recipe like this, but if not, you gotta try it!!!

Here it is:

4 C apples, peel, dice
2 C sugar
1/2 C oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
2 C flour
2 tsp soda
2 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Mix by hand: all dry ingredients then add oil and eggs, then apples. Grease adn flour 9X13 pan. Pour mixture in pan and bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Sauce:
1/2 C butter
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C can milk
1 tsp vanilla

Cook in small saucepan until bubbly. Do not burn. Pour over cake. Can add whipped topping too.
Enjoy! I didn't add walnuts when I made it last night and it's still fabulishious.

Start your day with a bang?

2008-09-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

The youngest came in this morning when I got home from dropping off his brother at school and said, "I've got some good news and some bad news...

The good news is: I'm ready for school!," and then he posed. "The bad news is: There is something wrong with the car!!"

What he didn't know, was that I already knew there was something wrong with the car since I had spent the last 30 minutes talking to a nice police officer at the scene of the accident I caused.
The car was still steaming and hissing like a snake.

The motorcylist I hit is fine. The other car driver he hit is fine. I'll be paying the fine.

Glancing for a second at the sign on the local grocery store announcing a case lot sale was not worth starting the day off with a 'bang'.

Owwie

2008-09-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

I got a little owwie the other day. I was in a hurry-- on my way to get the cookie monster to a soccer game and needed to stop at the grocery store for a couple of 'Mini me' sandwiches they sell. I knew we would both be hungry and the game was a half hour drive away, so I stopped and we jumped out of the car and ran in and grabbed some mini me's and water and a few chips and hurried thru checkout as fast as anyone can hurry that is and got on our way.

The snow and ice remover was under the driver's seat. The flat scraper end was sticking out, so when I hurried to get out of the car to run into the store, I caught my leg on the edge of the scraper. Ouch! It hurt. It left a whitish line. No damage. Run! By the time we got to check out, that whitish line was bleeding. No time for bleeding boo boos! Run!

Back in the car, I found a kleenex while cookie monster found his first aid kit in his soccer bag and gave me a bandaid and some ointment. What a boy scout!

Bandaid covered owwie and so we were off to the game. No worries. The next day I went for my usual hike up the hill with the doggie, got home to shower and lo and behold my owwie had blossomed into an early Halloween decoration!!

Here it is. Ugh!

Mother Hubbard finally cleaned her cupboard

2008-09-04T10:07:00.000-07:00

You know how you go through those times when things in your house drive you crazy, because you haven't had time to get to them???? Ok, maybe you get to them, but I just somehow don't. Anyway I had one of those days, (they amazingly come cyclically) when everything was driving me nuts and so I started with the bathroom and cleaned it with a vengeance. Then I went after the laundry and then the kitchen. I scoured and magic erasered like a mad woman. I was the germ terminator with a double holster of bleach and lysol. Yippee-Ky-yea!

Then I open the cupboard. Hummmmm, hot chocolate raspberry, hot chocolate mint truffle, hot chocolate cocoa.... what's that?, a jar of homemade wassail powder(gift of neighbor), another jar homemade wassail powder (gift of the same neighbor), another and another and another, and another and another. 7 jars of homemade wassail with the Merry Christmas note still attached! Gees I'm pathetic!

I haven't gotten around to making Wassail for 7 years! Wow. You can only do that in December, right? Unfortunately, because of my rabid need for order and space, it's on it's way out along with an assortment of canned clams, crab and other ancient non edible items.

The seagulls that hang out at the landfill will smell Christmas in the air a little earlier this year.

School has begun

2008-08-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

The fog is starting to clear, coherent thought and sentences are coming back, order is returning, blissful silence prevails. AHHHHHHHH, school has begun.

What to do first?... Church stuff? c.... budget data entry?...c dishes?...c school supply shopping?...cmeal planning?... c

Running through the house doing cartwheels... naked?... ac

2008-08-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

It's August 9th. Almost my 20-something wedding anniversary. Tomorrow sunday is the day. Let's see... if my oldest is 22 then it must be 24 years. We haven't really ever gotten to do anything special to celebrate because we've always had our anniversary during the Checketts family reunion... very romantic. Nothing like the sound of snorning boys at night and other family toddlers wondering in the bunk room during the day to go through your bags looking for something to play with. At least none of them wandered out wearing my bra on their head or anything... that only happened at home when the boys were much younger. Nothing like a double hump hat to make you want to head outdoors and play in the yard!

2008-07-31T12:02:00.000-07:00

I'm trying something new. Since I seem to be getting chronic sinus infections, I decided instead of visiting the doctor every few month for more antibiotics, I would venture out and see what else there is.

So I got the Neti pot.

It's not some new fangled toilet or some special hybrid marajuana or anything. Just a little tea pot kind of thing that you put salt water in and pour up your nose.

Now I don't know about you, but the last time I put anything up my nose was a possible chubby finger at the age of 2. Maybe a number of straws which also included my ears... but water?

Pouring water up your nose on purpose? How insane is that? ...ok, I did it.
It kind of looks like something more for burning candles, incense or even housing a genie with 3 wishes... not a sinus assault device. I'll let you know if it works if or when the headache clears..

Guess what we're having for dinner

2008-07-29T13:03:00.001-07:00

The boys caught some salmon and trout at Flaming Gorge this last weekend. Little fisherman had to get some help to haul his in. I stayed home with soccer boy and college boy. College boy hiked Timpanogas and soccer boy had to go to work.
At a Real soccer game right on the 4th of July. I'm sitting next to one of my yw and soccer boy is on the other side trying to get her attention.
Secret Admirer of Soccer boy sent a 'love note' and a 'love sandwich' (peanutbutter and jelly) and ...
a 'love rock' Note said stuff like 'You are the LOVE of my Life! All I wish 4 is 4 you to love me too!...

It's got to be a joke. We've enjoyed it.

It's Pioneer Day!

2008-07-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

We went to a friendly soccer game last night with RSL playing a team from Costa Rica. Since it's not a league game then it's not counted and is considered friendly. After a dozen or so friendly fights, you should a seen the friendly smack the CR Keeper gave one of our friendly players! There was a fair amount of friendly booing every time their keeper got the ball, and luckily there was no friendly ice or cups throwing from the friendly fans. There was however a friendly player from each team tossed out of the game by the friendly ref. Costa Rica did save face in the international world by beating us 2-1. It wasn't as exciting as normal, but again it was just a friendly match...

After the game, the stadium treated us to some Pioneer day fireworks. I stood in the aisle and was compelled to dance to "You're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love" . Those handcart songs really inspire me!

I was also plotting inbetween bombs bursting in air with a good friend of mine to line my son up on a blind date. Get this, the young lady has actually seen his picture with a Dwight Schrute hairdo and still wants to go out with him! Go figure

I woke up this morning with a sore throat, head ache etc, actually more accurately I never went to sleep because of a sore throat, head ache etc., but I got up at 6:30am and helped with the flag routes. Dang, I think I deserve a pat on the back for that, or maybe even a gold star on my forehead! Gotta go, the dog is whining...

Long time no blog

2008-07-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Since the last time I wrote, we performed in our Stake Cultural Activity as Africans, 2 of the boys were drummers, we had the ward bbq with a dunking booth--my son and I were dunked, I attended girls camp with 24 girls as the Cardiac Crew-- theme "HEARTS" Hear. The. Savior. It was also a Stake thing, we got home just before the 4th of Jul, my Sis came to visit briefly a couple of times, and we had the Checketts fam reunion, and I taught the lesson in YW's this last Sunday. This week is the Bountfiful handcart parade and carnival, we are volunteering for 2 days to run the games and pony rides and we will be putting flags up on the 24th with whoever isn't on vacation. That would be me.

So that's why I haven't written in a while. I'll try and be better. :)

wads up? na mush

2008-06-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

I jush got back fom da dentish an haff my fash is steo numfff!

It's 49 degrees and they cancelled the neighborhood bbq. Good thing! I got volunteered for the dunking booth...

I painted my bedroom and read 3 books inbetween yw activities and practices for the big Cultural activity on Saturday. I also got volunteered to be one of the african dancers... so I'll be letting my hair frizzle a la naturale...

jumajijambala, thats african for 'may your basket always be full of peanuts.'

A few pictures from this week

2008-06-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

Soccer boy mowing...

Cookie monster flexing...

Before the birthday attack...

After...

Summer has arrived!!!

"If" Words to live by

2008-05-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

This last week I was reminded of the first line from Rudyard Kipling's famous poem "If". "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, and blaming it on you,"...

So maybe not all about me were losing theirs, just one. Words are powerful things, whether spoken or written. I needed to choose mine carefully, and it made all the difference. I love words. I wish I had more time to write. or maybe energy? Don't know.
I helped put up the Memorial Day flags this morning at 6:30am in a pouring rain. It'a beautiful patriotic sight.

This is just out the front door.

We've asked our sons to memorize the poem "If". The two missionaries have taken it with them, because we have said to them, "If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run, yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, and-which is more-you'll be a Man, my son!"

Here today, gone tomorrow

2008-05-07T11:13:00.001-07:00

Soccer boy came home from school yesterday with a surprise. He had won the much coveted, rarely earned most valuable player award for the game on Tuesday and with it came the well worn, handed down through many generations of soccer players, trophy of the day!

The FAMOUS Bobble Soccerhead Award!

He's already taken it back. Fleeting moments of glory are soon forgotten. Here today, gone tomorrow.

White noise

2008-05-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning, climbed out of bed, walked groggily to the bathroom, heard the hair dryer, expected to see my husband drying his hair getting ready for the day... but I didn't see him...

I glanced in the closet and there he was lying in the closet with his pillow and the hair dryer...

I said, "Hi, what are ya doing?" Like I didn't know.

"Waiting for the water to get warm.."

"Oh, ok. "

That's a good one. I wasn't expecting that. It's true that the boys take long showers in the morning and leave little warmth for whoever goes afterwards, but I thought he was just trying to catch a few extra z's since the youngest has been snoring in a sleeping bag in our room for a few days, and he wakes Dan up with his nose whistling, and then he can't go back to sleep. Thus the need for the white noise that comes from a hair dryer. Although I must say, the filter is so full of carpet lint that I'm sure it will sputter, cough and wheeze into nothingness soon when the last bit of air flow has been cut off...

Soccer season

2008-05-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

Picture in the local newspaper after big soccer rivalry match this week. In the dark is soccer boy. He scored the only goal for our team. We lost anyway 2-1, but he was really excited to get past their defense for one goal.

Happy May 1st!

2008-05-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

I looked out the window this morning and this is what I saw. Snow covered spring flowers...

I wasn't going to go for my usual walk, but then it cleared up briefly and so Benny and I went. It's currently snowing again...

I have decided to commit myself to staying away from: CANDY, CHOCOLATE, BROWNIES, CAKE, COOKIES, and any other pleasure inducing FAT producing YUM YUMS. It's been 3 weeks or so. I've actually lost 4 lbs. Well... ok, I gained 2 before I lost 4 and it's possible is just water, but Hey, I'll take it!

But I've discovered another problem... My mind has a brain of it's own! Huh? Scratch that. My brain has a mind of it's own!? Whatever. Anyway having giving up one happy, pleasure producing outlet, I've found another: SHOPPING. They say confession is good for the soul so here goes:

Underneath my bed I have made surprising discoveries: DEEP BREATH...

This cute little pair of white sandals...

and... Ooh! a comfy black pair with white polka dots...

and what is spring with a little HOT PINK!

and a purse to match! Hee hee, Ha ha, whopee!

Did I mention Ann Taylor is my new best friend?

and I almost forgot this red number!

What the bling bling was I thinking?

It was in the display window of Hallmark

calling my name....

So there it is. I finally blogged again. If my husband happens to check this...I just want to say, Hi honey! It wasn't me, it was my evil twin!... Love ya.

Sweet Dreams

2008-03-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

The other night I was awakened about 1 am by the mutt crying because he needed to "go". He usually gets let out around 10 pm and he was goofing off instead of doing his business. So he was up at 1 begging for mercy. I was half awake, threw on a robe and went to let him out of his kennel. He immediately went to the door which I opened into the sunroom and then to the slider to go out. I opened it and out he went. Without his tether attached, without an enclosed fence. I stood there in my a semi fog, watching him trot away into the night.

I called him to come repeatedly. He didn't come. I went after him in my robe and bare feet, carefully picking my way in the dark through the land mines that hadn't been scooped up yet. He was in the neighbors yard.

I crept into the neighbors yard and called to him again. He didn't come, but he did start howling because he either couldn't figure out how to get to me from on top of the terraced hill or he was chasing around with another animal. He made such a racket that I was sure the entire neighborhood had woken up. I couldn't tell for sure what he was running around after. I didn't have my glasses on. My feet were freezing. I had to go back to the house to throw some clothes on and shoes on so I could climb up to get him.

When I came back in the house, Dan was up and dressed and stressed. He'd been woken out of a dead sleep. Oh Great.

After my lame explanation, he went out after the dog and I threw some clothes on and sat down. He came back in wanted to know if I was going to help. I was debating. Do I really want to find the dog? Dan was saying things like, 'he won't come back', 'he'll get on the scent of something and be gone. ' I was thinking that might not be a bad thing....

I finally got in the car and drove up the street to the upper road. I found him by the mailbox of the neighbors. I got out with a piece of ham in my hand and said, "treat?". When he realized it was me, he cowered and tucked his tail. He knew he was in trouble. I just picked him up and drove back home. I didn't give him the ham... It was 2:00 am.

To sleep? perchance to dream?.. ay, there's the rub.

Not much, what's happenin' wit chew?

2008-03-04T12:40:00.000-08:00

Long Time, no Blog. Here's some of the damage Benny has done in the last few weeks:

Chewed on the pinewood derby car in the process of creation.

Chewed up the drum tom toms for the cookie monster. That'll be $25

And chewed up miscellaneous pens...

Make yourself at home

2008-03-04T12:31:00.000-08:00

The cookie monster decided to set up a comfortable place to watch tv... in the master bedroom.

The Fruit Room Clean-up

2008-02-11T12:29:00.000-08:00

Here's what I've been doing for the last few weeks. It's still not done, but looking a lot better than the disaster before. I also put in a gift wrap place on the wall for things I use all the time.

I also put in a couple of rotating can holders for canned foods I use a lot.

I still have more work to do, but it's gettting there! So what do you think?

Happy Monday

2008-02-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

Sometime, sombody needs to explain to me how to move pictures around on this blog thing. When I go to Edit Html when there are pictures, it looks greek to me.

I bought a book called, "Eat this, Not That". You wanna know the 8 things you're supposed to eat every day?

1. Spinach: rich sourse of plant-based omega-3s and folate. Helps reduce risk of heat disease, stroke, and osteoporosis. Packed with Lutein a compound that fights macular degeneration. Aim for 1 cup fresh or 1/2 c cooked per day (add to salads, eggs, pizza, lasagna or mix with marinara sauce and nuke for dip.
2. Yogurt: helps reinforce beneficial bacteria in your body. helps boost immune system and protection against cancer. Must be probiotic (labels should say "live active cultures." Aim for 1 cup a day
3. Tomatoes: Red are best because they're packed with lycopene. Also processed tomatoes are just as potent as fresh ones because it's easier for the body to absorb the lycopene. Studies show that a diet rich in lycopene can decrease your risk of bladder, lung, prostate, skin, and stomach cancers, as well as reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Aim for abot 8 red cherry tomatoes a day or a glass of tomato juice. Substitutes: red watermelon, pink grapefruit, papaya, guava. Pile on the ketchup and ragu!
4. Carrots: Most red, yellow, or orange vegetables and fruits are spiked with carotenoids --fat soluble compounds that are associated with a reduction in a wide range of cancers, as well as reduced risk and seveity of inflammatory conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, but non are as easy ato prepare or have a slow a caloric density as carrots. Aim for 1/2 c a day.
5. Blueberries: Host to more antioxidants than any other North American fruit, blueberries help prevent cancer, diabetes, and age-related memory changes. Studies show blueberries are rich in fiber and vitamins A and C also boost cardiovascular health. Aim for 1 c fresh blueberries a day, or 1/2 c frozen or dried. Subs: purple grapes, prunes, raisins, strawberries. (blueberries maintain most of the power in dried, frozen, or jam form.
6. Black beans: All beans are good for your heart, but none can boost yur brain power like black beans. That's becuase they're full of anthocyanins, antioxidant compounds that have been shown to improve brain function. A daily 1/2 c serving provides 8 grams of protein and 7.5 grams of fiber, and is low in calories and free of saturated fat. Toss some into your breakfast burrito! Recipe Salsa: Dice 4 tomatoes, 1 onion, 3 cloves garlic, 2 jalapenos, 1 yellow bell pepper, and 1 mango. Mix in a can of black beans and garnish with 1/2 cup chopped cilantro and juice of 2 limes. Yum yum.
7. Walnuts: Richer in omega-3s than salmon, loaded with more anti-inflammatory polyphenols than red wine, and packing half as much muscle-building protein as chicken--a serving of walnuts about 7 nuts is good anytime, but especially as a postworkout recovery snack.
8. Oats: Packed with soluble fiber, which lowers the risk of heart disease. Oats have 10 grams of protein per 1/2 cup serving. They deliver steady muscle-friendly energy and have the FDA's first seal of approval.

A glass of low sodium V8 juice will knock out 3 of the eight: spinach, carrots and tomatoes.
A bowl of oatmeal with raisins or fresh blueberries takes out 2.
A mid morning or afternoon snack of low fat blueberry yogurt will also take care of 2.
A salad of romaine lettuce, fresh baby spinach, carrots, walnuts, and raisins or blueberries takes out 4.
For the black beans I have a recipe called Fiesta Rice Tacos if you don't already have it, here it is:

1/4 C red wine vinegar
1/4 C olive oil
1 tsp chili powder (I use less)
1/4 tsp cumin (I use more)
Mix together in frying pan and sautee: 1tsp fresh garlic, 1 c chopped green onions (I never have use that much), and some carrots finely chopped.You can add peppers too, but I never do-- never have them on hand. (I'm guessing on amounts because I don't usually measure)
Add to the above:
3 C cooked rice
11 oz can corn (drain)
15 oz can kidney beans (drain)
15 oz can black beans (drain)
1 can sliced olives (drain)
Serve in bowls with cheese quesadillas or fill tortillas with mixture and add grated cheese, salsa etc. Don't forget to add salsa! It's one of my favorite home storage meals. I don't usually add the kidney beans, just black beans. My kids don't like beans that much, but they will eat this. If I don't have green onions on hand, I'll use 1/2 yellow onion, or even dried minced onions. I like to use the bottled fresh garlic you can find in the produce section and keep in frig, rather than messing with my garlic press. (Besides my kids have used the garlic press for creative play doh designs)

Happy eating!

2008-02-04T19:00:00.000-08:00

Dad and #4 giving Benny loves before Benny got into #4's dinner.

2008-02-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

Benny licking #4's plate with a little help from #3.

Another pic

2008-02-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a better picture

The dog ate my homework?

2008-02-04T18:43:00.000-08:00

Several weeks ago, it was my husband's turn to be the greeter at Church. He was given a 'Greeter' name tag that he wore and was supposed to return the following week. He forgot to bring it back, went out of town on business, and well Benny got the tag off the counter and chewed it into what you see in the picture...

It's hangover Thursday

2008-01-24T14:10:00.000-08:00

It's hangover Thursday today. You know how you feel like you've been run over by a mack truck? Well, I'm TIRE-D!

I LOVE THE YOUNG WOMEN! I just need more energy, more stamina, more exercise, More sleep, MORE CHOCOLATE!

It was New Beginnings last night. We made glass bead bracelets for the new girls coming in this year in the colors of the values. You can see it in the picture. I told a brief overview of the "Daffodil Principle" about the woman who planted a mountain valley of daffodils (50,000 of them) one bulb at a time. I compared the girls personal progress values to seeds that they were planting in their lives. I asked 7 older girls to read a few lines about each 'seed value' as they held a flower in each color. When they were done, they put their flower in a glass vase. I asked a guest speaker to take the rest of the time. It turned out nice. So today, I'm tire-d.

It's still snowing here too

2008-01-22T18:07:00.001-08:00

This was taken from the front porch yesterday. If you look to the left center you can kind of see the mailbox. We have about 1 1/2 feet of snow now. Dan took the boys sledding after we dug out.

2008-01-18T12:08:00.000-08:00

I was looking at my sisters blog and her photo of her closet and I thought to myself, Gee I wonder if I should do something about my fruit room...? NAW!

This is a pic of Daniel Boone.

Cookie Monster

2008-01-16T11:42:00.000-08:00

I've made a few New Year's resolutions. I've tryed to keep it to 2 goals, because I'm hoping to make it past January. They are: Exercise regularly, and stop eating high fat sugar items that are actually keeping me warm from the extra insulation, but that needs to come off so I can squeeze into my levis. I started my exercise 2 days ago, yes I know, a little late, but going for a walk outside can be hazardous to your health or your tail bone around here depending on where you land when you slip...

But the dog has been climbing the walls and chewing up my new spatulas (which, by the way, are kept in a drawer with kiddie locks. He knows how to open them), so before I pull out the old scout trebuchet and launch him into the next neighborhood, I thought it would be good for both of us to get some fresh air. It was a lovely day, one of the first days of sunshine in a long time and Benny was prancing along with his ears flapping. He was so happy, you'd think he won the dog bone lottery. It's about a 3 mile trek up the hill and back where we live and by the time we got back, I needed a nap and Benny was still prancing.

I haven't exactly started the other resolution yet. Every time I get my will power up and my resolve set, the cookie monster shows and makes cookies. Yummy, gooey chocolate chip coooookies. Bless his heart. In my desire to be a supportive and helpful mother, I provide him with everything he needs and offer to taste test each batch, you know, to make sure they are suitable for the rest of the family. I have even pointed at interesting things through the window with one hand while I grab a handful of cookies with the other. He knows something is going on, because the pile of cookies diminishes, but he usually blames his brother, boy #5. I guess he hasn't noticed the cookie tire I'm sporting around my middle. The neighbors have though. The wheels are turning in their heads, "so how far along do you think she is??... could she really be pregnant at her age?!" Yes, yes, it's true. I'm going to have a 10 pound chocolate chip!

Two Snowmen

2008-01-13T12:50:00.000-08:00

Hi there,
This is a pic of our house about a month ago with two snowmen in the front yard. It still looks the same except there are long icicles hanging from the roof now.

As you can see, the space available from the driveway to the large pile of snow left by the snow plows leaves the mail nazi very little room to manuever, and since he will not get out of his truck for any reason, it's "no mail for you, no mail for you!"

A few years back, boy #3 launched a barrage of snowballs at the mailman from behind the house. The mailman thought it was boy #2 and company, because he was outside in the neighbors yard behind the camera view. The nazi gave boy #2 and company a rip snortin' lecture and drove off. Boy #3 was laughing himself silly since he managed to double his delight by having pelted the mailman repeatedly, and then watched his brother get blamed for it.

Speaking of boy #2, we FINALLY got 2 letters from him yesterday. It looks like one of them was lost for a while because it was postmarked Jan 2. It's a good thing, because I was mapping out my trip to Brooklyn to smack him up side the head. "Don't you neglect yo mamma, Elder!"

Dan made the pronouncement yesterday, "The dog needs a bath!" So he grabbed a towel, doggie shampoo and rounded up the mutt. He stuck him in the kitchen sink, and breathed out threats if Benny even thought about trying to escape, or shake off in the process. I retreated into another room. There were only a few outbursts of "No!" "Don't even think about it!" before it was over and the dog was sparkling clean and shivering all over. -That reminds me. The last time Dan decided to bathe the dog, he spaced out a meeting at the church that he planned and he was in charge of and reminded all the leaders to not forget... I was the one who picked up the phone when his secretary called to ask where he was. There was a moment of silence after I told him what he was doing and then uproarious laughter. I still don't think he's lived that down yet.

Today, Benny was outside digging a tunnel through the snow until he hit "paydirt" and then continuing digging until he could place his entire head inside the hole. When boy #4 called to him, he lifted up his head and was covered in dirt...

Whatever you do, don't tell Dan!

Missionary boy

2008-01-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

This is missionary #2. We haven't heard from him for 2 weeks. This picture was taken just before he left in July.

I'll try, but I may make a bloggin' mess of it.

2008-01-09T15:52:00.000-08:00

Ok, so here's my blog. Ta da. Now I just need to figure out how to add pictures...and come up with something mind blogging incredible to say, and impress the blog out of all my friends and family.

Why did I pick boysRme? Because it's short, easy, and grammatically incorrect.

Next time I write, I'll tell ya what's happening in my neck of the woods, unless of course, I get voted off the island.

ourfeetarethesame dawlink