We had a delightfully unplanned day of bliss yesterday...except for the car rides. Anyone who knows me knows I have completely tried to avoid driving anywhere with my children. At the end of the summer I actually stayed home all day with them instead of going to the fun gym with the totally cool swimming pool, the library, IKEA, and even to my friends houses for a little girl time. I was miserable with a capital M. I assume the Lord had some hand in this Misery because our new routine involves Kyra carpooling to school with her dad and the bus picking Tasha up for preschool. Why the Lord? Because now I have exactly enough time to get to the temple, do a session, and race home to meet the bus that is returning my youngest child from 3 hours of mother-free bliss. But, back to my point...
We drove the clunker all day yesterday because the battery in the van died that morning. (If you don't understand "clunker" please search the word on my blog page or ask Monique who was privledged enough to drive it lately.) The problem with the car is that the children are now much closer to us and in a more confined space. They do have a bit more space inbetween them, but not enough. When Jaylee asked for an example of what they fought over I could only think of the latest argument.
Kyra: No.
Tasha: Yes.
Kyra: No.
Tasha: Yes.
Kyra: NO! I don't want to smell your feet.
Tasha: Kyra-a-a-a-a-a!
(at which point I look back to see Tasha in a very contorted position trying to stick her foot in Kyra's face)
Me: Tasha, cut it out.
Seriously, what do you do about this kind of argument? Kyra, just smell her stinky foot. Tasha, what in the heck? Then the smart man at the table pipes in, "you could have them play finger or toe." OK, you've got me know. What is finger or toe? "It was on Scrubs. You close your eyes and try to guess if it's a finger or toe." Hmm. I don't even want to touch that one.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
A whole day...with my husband?!
Seriously, who scheduled this day and why hasn't it happened before? It felt like we were dating again and all googly sappy in love. Aah. Here's how the day went down:
Slept in, computer time, showered, took one kid to the church to set up. (This would be the time before you meet your boyfriend to go out. One kid doesn't count as "the kids" since one kid doesn't cause nearly the fiasco that multiple kids do.)
Brunch. (kid table means adult conversation at our table)
Drive to my brother's house to dump the kids.
Drive to the temple. (No kids= no arguing+ no questions+ no interruptions+ no whining = happy lady with time to talk)
Temple sealing. (Need I say more?)
Drive to pick up the kids. (more time to talk, discuss politics, complain about stupid people saying completely inappropriate things)
Pick up a battery for the dead van. (aah, he's taking care of my vehicle for me! OK, in datingland I don't drive a van, but I also don't know that replacing a battery is about as far as this handsome guys mechanical skills go.)
Reception luncheon. (Again, kids are off and old enough to take care of themselves. More adults to talk to, WOW! I lost Bill for a few moments while he held a baby... who doesn't love it when their boyfriend acts all fatherly?!)
Drive kids to our friends house to dump them off again. (no talking allowed, they're tired and cranky)
Dinner with Bill's learning team from school. (This time it was adult conversation with a few drunken stories which were stupid. But it was like when you go out with a group that you don't know very well and you whisper a few remarks in your boyfriend's ear like, "we're busy that day" because you never, never, never, want to see these people again and you can't wait until you get in the car to drive home and gossip about all those weirdos. OK, I'm being harsh...I liked one couple but I'm pretty sure the other 2 didn't even know I was there.)
Pick-up the kids and home by... 11:00?! (What respectable parent keeps their kids out that late before 9am church?! Not us, we're dating. These must be someone else's kids.)
So then you get home from your long old date and realize all of the things that you were supposed to be doing on Saturday but didn't because you were all giggly silly and your face hurts from smiling. We actually had a couple moments where my stomach hurt from laughing so hard. (I'm trying to figure out how to blog one of them but I just don't think it will play out right) He drops me off at home and I realize I didn't get the sheets washed so I stay up late to finish that. I also need to prepare a lesson for Sunday School but decide that we can just finish up the scripture search lesson that we started last week. (Sorry to burst your very-prepared-and-totally-trustworthy-teacher impression) The only disappointing part of the day was sitting at dinner enjoying a deliciously scruptious bite of overpriced steak and thinking, "this would be totally worth it if only my real friends were here."
Anyway, since my boyfriend dropped me off late but he's actually still here we're gonna go make out now. And Bill, you can't comment because I don't know how serious we are yet and I don't think I would have let you know I have blog.
Slept in, computer time, showered, took one kid to the church to set up. (This would be the time before you meet your boyfriend to go out. One kid doesn't count as "the kids" since one kid doesn't cause nearly the fiasco that multiple kids do.)
Brunch. (kid table means adult conversation at our table)
Drive to my brother's house to dump the kids.
Drive to the temple. (No kids= no arguing+ no questions+ no interruptions+ no whining = happy lady with time to talk)
Temple sealing. (Need I say more?)
Drive to pick up the kids. (more time to talk, discuss politics, complain about stupid people saying completely inappropriate things)
Pick up a battery for the dead van. (aah, he's taking care of my vehicle for me! OK, in datingland I don't drive a van, but I also don't know that replacing a battery is about as far as this handsome guys mechanical skills go.)
Reception luncheon. (Again, kids are off and old enough to take care of themselves. More adults to talk to, WOW! I lost Bill for a few moments while he held a baby... who doesn't love it when their boyfriend acts all fatherly?!)
Drive kids to our friends house to dump them off again. (no talking allowed, they're tired and cranky)
Dinner with Bill's learning team from school. (This time it was adult conversation with a few drunken stories which were stupid. But it was like when you go out with a group that you don't know very well and you whisper a few remarks in your boyfriend's ear like, "we're busy that day" because you never, never, never, want to see these people again and you can't wait until you get in the car to drive home and gossip about all those weirdos. OK, I'm being harsh...I liked one couple but I'm pretty sure the other 2 didn't even know I was there.)
Pick-up the kids and home by... 11:00?! (What respectable parent keeps their kids out that late before 9am church?! Not us, we're dating. These must be someone else's kids.)
So then you get home from your long old date and realize all of the things that you were supposed to be doing on Saturday but didn't because you were all giggly silly and your face hurts from smiling. We actually had a couple moments where my stomach hurt from laughing so hard. (I'm trying to figure out how to blog one of them but I just don't think it will play out right) He drops me off at home and I realize I didn't get the sheets washed so I stay up late to finish that. I also need to prepare a lesson for Sunday School but decide that we can just finish up the scripture search lesson that we started last week. (Sorry to burst your very-prepared-and-totally-trustworthy-teacher impression) The only disappointing part of the day was sitting at dinner enjoying a deliciously scruptious bite of overpriced steak and thinking, "this would be totally worth it if only my real friends were here."
Anyway, since my boyfriend dropped me off late but he's actually still here we're gonna go make out now. And Bill, you can't comment because I don't know how serious we are yet and I don't think I would have let you know I have blog.
Friday, September 5, 2008
"Trifecta flour"
Yes, I watch way too much Law and Order. When the cops on that show don't have any evidence on a suspect, but they have 3 things that lead them to believe that someone did it, they will arrest them on a trifecta clause. I assume it is a made-up way the NYCity detectives (on TV!) justify an arrest with no real proof. Typically it involved motive, opportunity, and some sort of ID that they were at the scene. Thus, the trifecta of guilt surrounds them and they are brought in for questioning. Good thing we can't be convicted in this way, and good thing that this is only TV.
Tuesday night Chef Brad talked about his substitute for white flour. White, bleached, stripped of all nutritional content, might as well be sugar 'cuz it's such a terribly simple carb, flour. I posted it before, but the refresher is equal parts of spelt, barley, and brown rice. Even as I sat listening to him, the word trifecta popped into my head. Here's parts of the definition from wikipedia and why it works in this scenario:
The word comes from the related betting term, "perfecta"...
The trifecta system is seen by many as a loophole in democracy, because it allows an executive to essentially override a choice by the voters...
"Trifecta" as a slang term is used to describe any successful or favorable phenomenon or characteristic that comes in threes..
So, there you have it. You can bet the trifecta flour is a perfect substitute for all your non-yeast baking needs. Using trifecta flour is a loophole to avoiding all those fabulous desserts because all the good brown rice, spelt, and barley override any harmful affects from the sugar in your favorite cookies. Trifecta flour is most definitely a favorable phenomenon.
My experience in the 2 batches of cookies that I made is that you need to use more of the trifecta flour than is called for in a recipe. For instance, the Snickerdoodles called for 2 3/4 cups of white flour and it took at least 3 1/2 of the trifecta flour to make a dough that was not too sticky to roll in the cinnamon sugar. I will probably experiment more with ratios in batters that I know well before I try it in something like a cake that will turn to mush if the amount of flour isn't right. Leave me your tips if and when you try it. I have about 10 more cups of the flour if you want to come try some. (If you hurry, there still may be some cookies!)
* this silly computer doesn't think trifecta is a word! Dumb blogger spellcheck! Andrew would understand my word. He even has tri-sandals with 3 little stripes on the top.
Tuesday night Chef Brad talked about his substitute for white flour. White, bleached, stripped of all nutritional content, might as well be sugar 'cuz it's such a terribly simple carb, flour. I posted it before, but the refresher is equal parts of spelt, barley, and brown rice. Even as I sat listening to him, the word trifecta popped into my head. Here's parts of the definition from wikipedia and why it works in this scenario:
The word comes from the related betting term, "perfecta"...
The trifecta system is seen by many as a loophole in democracy, because it allows an executive to essentially override a choice by the voters...
"Trifecta" as a slang term is used to describe any successful or favorable phenomenon or characteristic that comes in threes..
So, there you have it. You can bet the trifecta flour is a perfect substitute for all your non-yeast baking needs. Using trifecta flour is a loophole to avoiding all those fabulous desserts because all the good brown rice, spelt, and barley override any harmful affects from the sugar in your favorite cookies. Trifecta flour is most definitely a favorable phenomenon.
My experience in the 2 batches of cookies that I made is that you need to use more of the trifecta flour than is called for in a recipe. For instance, the Snickerdoodles called for 2 3/4 cups of white flour and it took at least 3 1/2 of the trifecta flour to make a dough that was not too sticky to roll in the cinnamon sugar. I will probably experiment more with ratios in batters that I know well before I try it in something like a cake that will turn to mush if the amount of flour isn't right. Leave me your tips if and when you try it. I have about 10 more cups of the flour if you want to come try some. (If you hurry, there still may be some cookies!)
* this silly computer doesn't think trifecta is a word! Dumb blogger spellcheck! Andrew would understand my word. He even has tri-sandals with 3 little stripes on the top.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
"Heavenly Father Wants a Healthy People"
The above quote was from Chef Brad at this evening's Enrichment meeting. I hope he doesn't mind my quoting his quote of 2 separate priesthood blessings, but it really does sum up the night for me. I realize that the point of tonight's lesson was to focus on our divine role in the kitchen, but I found much more help in the areas of what to do, as opposed to how to do it with a smile on my face. I went home and sarcastically answered Bill's inquiry of the evening something like this, "oh, it was great: I was told how spending all day in the kitchen doing stupid, mundane tasks for the service of my family was very Christlike...if done with the right attitude." Seriously, I get his point, took it to heart, and will try to be less of a grouch when my child refuses to eat what I have slaved over. He really was inspirational and I appreciated everything he had to say.
Specifics from the meeting on what to do to become a healthier people: (this is for mostly for my train of thought and to organize my thoughts and actions, but also for those dear readers who either missed his presentation or did not have pen in hand)
Teach nutrition to your children. Be specific about simple vs. complex carbs and they will get it!
You need 50-70 grams of fiber a day. Be sneaky in adding it to your diet. Cook your good grains at the beginning of the week and add them to the foods you already cook. Do you have a good enchilada recipe? Sneak in some grains. Add beans to your spaghetti sauce. (I still don't get this one) Start subtly, and keep adding until your family notices and quits eating the good stuff.
80/20 plan: If 80% of the ingredients in your dish, or 80% of the stuff on your plate is good, then the other 20% can be bad. This goes hand in hand with the don't compromise clause: the one where you should not compromise taste, texture, or comfort food for the sake of good nutrition. If you don't want to eat it, it is not going to make you healthier. This is also a good plan for wheat bread in the ratio of wheat flour to white flour. (The recipe I have is more of a 60/40 dough, I'll make it and share)
Replacement for white flour: equal parts of spelt, brown rice, and barley. Mix it all up and put it in your wheat grinder on the finest setting. It is good to use in any recipe except yeast bread. He used it in his Texas Sheet Cake recipe.
Advice from Chef Brad: Let food bind you together as a family!
What did I forget? Or what was your highlight and takehome advice?!
Specifics from the meeting on what to do to become a healthier people: (this is for mostly for my train of thought and to organize my thoughts and actions, but also for those dear readers who either missed his presentation or did not have pen in hand)
Teach nutrition to your children. Be specific about simple vs. complex carbs and they will get it!
You need 50-70 grams of fiber a day. Be sneaky in adding it to your diet. Cook your good grains at the beginning of the week and add them to the foods you already cook. Do you have a good enchilada recipe? Sneak in some grains. Add beans to your spaghetti sauce. (I still don't get this one) Start subtly, and keep adding until your family notices and quits eating the good stuff.
80/20 plan: If 80% of the ingredients in your dish, or 80% of the stuff on your plate is good, then the other 20% can be bad. This goes hand in hand with the don't compromise clause: the one where you should not compromise taste, texture, or comfort food for the sake of good nutrition. If you don't want to eat it, it is not going to make you healthier. This is also a good plan for wheat bread in the ratio of wheat flour to white flour. (The recipe I have is more of a 60/40 dough, I'll make it and share)
Replacement for white flour: equal parts of spelt, brown rice, and barley. Mix it all up and put it in your wheat grinder on the finest setting. It is good to use in any recipe except yeast bread. He used it in his Texas Sheet Cake recipe.
Advice from Chef Brad: Let food bind you together as a family!
What did I forget? Or what was your highlight and takehome advice?!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Enthusiasm is Contagious
I have a plaque on my wall that says, "Enthusiasm is nothing more or less than faith in action." I don't know what else to say about that, but I love it! I also love that other people's enthusiasm can rub off on me and give me the kick in the pants that I need sometimes.
I realized that the reason I love canning peaches is because the first time I did it was with a friend that loved it. She was giddy with delight as she taught me all the ins and outs of the task. She would be gathering lids and rings and then spontaneously stop and look into the sink full of sliced peaches and say, "aren't they beautiful?" Then she would whisk her hands through them just to feel their fruitiness and sometimes pull out a piece to eat. I didn't get it then, but I caught the bug and get it now. Next year I'm going to suck some of my friends in with me.
Today I was working outside with Bill and decided to give my garden a go. There is a small 4 by 4 area that has not been entirely overtaken by grass so I decided to dig it up and run my fingers through the dirty goodness of the soil. I pulled out the bulk of the weeds and even saw a skinny little wormie (that I named Hermie) digging his way through the earth. What a delight! I was hot, sweaty, probably stinky, and I even ended up with dirt in my eye. Why would this be any fun? Hmm, who do we know that is enthusiastic about gardening? Crystal you are killing me, but thanks for the incentive to get a small area going. I'm following your lead so bring me home baby. Tell me when, where, and what to plant!
OOOH! I can't believe I forgot the enthusiasm that saved me from homeschooling Kyra! Thanks April for being such a hip-hoppity nut with the delightful, peaceful, enthusiast leaps of joy that surged from your tiny little body over to Desert Marigold school. (Did that even make sense?!) I would have thought myself a nut for even considering that school (based on her teacher recommendations), but with you on board it was such an easy transition! We're all just a bunch of nuts in this fruit bowl of life.
I realized that the reason I love canning peaches is because the first time I did it was with a friend that loved it. She was giddy with delight as she taught me all the ins and outs of the task. She would be gathering lids and rings and then spontaneously stop and look into the sink full of sliced peaches and say, "aren't they beautiful?" Then she would whisk her hands through them just to feel their fruitiness and sometimes pull out a piece to eat. I didn't get it then, but I caught the bug and get it now. Next year I'm going to suck some of my friends in with me.
Today I was working outside with Bill and decided to give my garden a go. There is a small 4 by 4 area that has not been entirely overtaken by grass so I decided to dig it up and run my fingers through the dirty goodness of the soil. I pulled out the bulk of the weeds and even saw a skinny little wormie (that I named Hermie) digging his way through the earth. What a delight! I was hot, sweaty, probably stinky, and I even ended up with dirt in my eye. Why would this be any fun? Hmm, who do we know that is enthusiastic about gardening? Crystal you are killing me, but thanks for the incentive to get a small area going. I'm following your lead so bring me home baby. Tell me when, where, and what to plant!
OOOH! I can't believe I forgot the enthusiasm that saved me from homeschooling Kyra! Thanks April for being such a hip-hoppity nut with the delightful, peaceful, enthusiast leaps of joy that surged from your tiny little body over to Desert Marigold school. (Did that even make sense?!) I would have thought myself a nut for even considering that school (based on her teacher recommendations), but with you on board it was such an easy transition! We're all just a bunch of nuts in this fruit bowl of life.
FHE: 3 down, 49 to go
The kids are asleep and in bed, best part of the evening and the only point in which they didn't whine. Even Tasha's bowl of ice cream wasn't right. On the upside, Kyra really does know the first 6 Articles of Faith, and the 8th.
At least I know what I can fast and pray about next Sunday :)
At least I know what I can fast and pray about next Sunday :)
A few Clarifications
In the comment section of my "Alles wohl" post some of us got into the discussion of nice looking leaders of the church. Let me please clarify a few things...
This is NOT "hot Brigham". Although I am sure he was a great leader and inspirational, this picture scares the ba-gee-bees out of me. Imagine that stern face preaching and prophesying to you. I'm sure I would have followed, a bit out of fear, but certainly he was a prophet of God. I have great respect for the second Prophet of the Church.
Again from the movie The Work and the Glory, Joseph Smith was portrayed by Jonathan Scarfe. He played a very convincing role as our first Prophet which made him quite resistible. I did, however, catch a glimpse of him in an upcoming role on Raising the Bar. His jocularities, coupled with a long haired Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and some intense courtroom drama makes this a show I will definately be tuning into Monday night.
And finally, here is President Uchtdorf. I believe that Monique is right, we should probably refer to him as a "refined, good-looking man." I am grateful for the testimony, strength, wisdom, and experiences of this fine General Authority. I know our lives will be blessed as we follow the teachings of the First Presidency and those of our brother and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This is NOT "hot Brigham". Although I am sure he was a great leader and inspirational, this picture scares the ba-gee-bees out of me. Imagine that stern face preaching and prophesying to you. I'm sure I would have followed, a bit out of fear, but certainly he was a prophet of God. I have great respect for the second Prophet of the Church.
This IS "hot Brigham". The actor, Andrew Bowen, played the role of a very young Brigham Young in the movie The Work and the Glory.
Again from the movie The Work and the Glory, Joseph Smith was portrayed by Jonathan Scarfe. He played a very convincing role as our first Prophet which made him quite resistible. I did, however, catch a glimpse of him in an upcoming role on Raising the Bar. His jocularities, coupled with a long haired Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and some intense courtroom drama makes this a show I will definately be tuning into Monday night.
And finally, here is President Uchtdorf. I believe that Monique is right, we should probably refer to him as a "refined, good-looking man." I am grateful for the testimony, strength, wisdom, and experiences of this fine General Authority. I know our lives will be blessed as we follow the teachings of the First Presidency and those of our brother and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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