It's a good thing Santa already came . . .

. . .because this is the mood that William was in by noon today! Not enough sleep!

Bad penmanship

Yesterday afternoon, Dylan and I were in the bedroom wrapping presents. I had already wrapped a few when Nathan came walking in. Thankfully we weren't wrapping any of the kids presents at that time. As I was working on a present, Nathan asked, "Who's Farto?" I said, "What?!?" He replied, "This present says to Dylan Sr. from Farto." I looked at the gift, and it was one that I had made from "Santa", not Farto. But, it did kinda look like it said Farto. I've never had great penmanship.

A New Goal

As I was going through my china cabinet looking for all of my favorite Christmas recipes, I realized that I had a lot of unused cookbooks. Most of them are just those small booklets that you see in line at the grocery store, and some are just blank books with collections of recipes on cards. So I've set a new goal for myself. I would like to pick a new recipe from one cookbook each week to try. I'll share them if they are good ones, like this Snickerdoodle recipe:
The Easiest Snickerdoodles Ever

2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Betty Crocker Yellow Cake Mix
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
½ cup sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375°. In a bowl combine vanilla, cake mix, oil and eggs. Stir until well blended. Combine sugar and cinnamon in shallow bowl. Form cookie dough into 1” balls. Roll balls in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place cookies on baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes until cookies are set and lightly browned. Remove to cooling rack.

This was from a long time ago, when I shopped at Albertsons. Every week they had a couple of new recipes in a card dispenser, and no matter what the recipe, I'd pick it up. Some of them look kind of questionable, but some looked really yummy. These cookies are good, and very quick to make if you don't have time for the real thing.

We caved!

Well, we finally did it. We caved and got the boys a puppy. He is a Bassett Hound, (if you couldn't tell by his ears). His name is Blooregard Q. Kazoo, for those who don't watch Cartoon Network that is the name of a character from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. We call him Bloo for short. We almost named him Mort, after the little lemur from Penguins of Madagascar. Why? Because he loves feet. I was in the garage this morning with one shoe on and one shoe off, and he kept nipping at my foot in the sock! It was making me insane! It is fun to watch him trip over his own ears as he romps after the boys. We have had several, "Why did we do this?" moments, but the boys seem to love him.

Happy Birthday, Dylan!

I just wanted to wish my hubby of almost 15 years a Happy 36th Birthday! I'm so blessed to have him as my husband. He is such a wonderful father, a great husband, and the best friend I could ever have (not to mention the most entertaining friend I've ever had). Happy Birthday! Yes, I put a Metallica song on my playlist, just for him. That shows how much I love him.

Why?

I've asked myself that question several times today. Like when I was drinking my diet Dr. Pepper, and William asked Dylan to get a straw so he could drink my drink. And he had his own. I also asked myself "why?" when he started eating my beef stick and crackers, when not two feet away was a plate with his own on it. There was also the time today when I thought I would have a brief moment to myself where every woman should have solitude (on the toilet) and who walks in? Michael, asking me to close a ziplock bag. He literally walked past Dylan, who was in the kitchen at the time, to come and open the door to the toilet room to find me. Why? Why is it that the boys have never once gone to Dylan's side of the bed in the middle of the night when they've had a bad dream? Well, I can probably answer that one. Dylan sleeps through anything, even a television falling on his wife's head didn't wake him up (that's another post for another day). Oh, and there is also the occurance when one of the boys comes to bed with Dylan and I, like William did twice this last week, they always end up crowding me to the edge. It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. It's kinda cute when William comes up and says, "I need a straw" or "can I have some?" I like that the boys know to come to me when they need help, just not when I'm in the bathroom. And I like having a cuddly little bundle snuggle up close to me in bed, even though I do not get a wink of sleep. I just wonder, why?

Michael is 6!

I can't believe that Michael is already 6 and in Kindergarten. He's been so excited about his birthday. He has also been very kind about sharing his new toys with his brothers. He'll do anything so they will play with him. He was definitely our chubbiest baby, and he still has little baby cheeks! He and Nathan, (I like to call them my peanut butter and jelly sandwiched in the middle of 4 boys) always stick together, whether happy or fighting. Someday, he'd like to own a huge farm so he can drive big tractors. Happy birthday, our little Michael Boo!

If I had it to do all over again . . .

Have you ever felt like you wished you could re-do your wedding reception all over again? I've felt that way for years. Each year new ideas come out and they are prettier than the year before. Well, my niece is getting married in a year, and I've volunteered to help. It is so hard to try to stay out of the way and not give too much input because it is so fun to think of ways you would decorate things! So, I'm trying to keep myself in check and do only what is asked of me. But I did have so much fun putting together this centerpiece for a test. Luckily, she liked it. Oh, and for those of you who are wondering, what I would have done differently is taken the money my parents offered us in lieu of a wedding reception and run! Just kidding. I did have fun at my reception, I just felt stressed.

One more recipe . . .

O.k., this isn't really a recipe, it's more like the combination of two delicious items. Have you ever ordered Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough from any fundraiser? Well, Dylan and I love to get their peanut butter cookie dough (preshaped and ready to go!) and when there is one minute left on the timer when baking, you place one Dove milk chocolate in the middle of each cookie. Let cool for however long you can stand to wait, and then enjoy the chocolatey, gooey happiness! Soooo good. And yes, I drool like Homer Simpson when thinking of them.

Memorable Recipes

Isn't it wonderful when certain recipes bring back memories from the past? I was making some hot sandwiches that my mom used to make this time of year the other night, and it brought back all of these memories. First, there were the Friday's when my mom and grandma would get together to make a bunch of these sandwiches to take to the Friday night Clovis High football game (when my brother used to play). Those were fun, even though I've never been a big football fan. Then I remembered the Halloween parties I used to have! They were so fun! My sister-in-law would help me plan the haunted house for two weeks before they were held. We'd turn the back patio into a haunted parlor by draping black plastic from the patio roof. My parents usually had a lot of corn in their large garden that we'd take the group through, and one year we even had a haunted forest in the Eucalyptus trees where we had the wolfman hanging out. We never had a problem finding help, family members would always volunteer to dress up as Freddy Kruger or Jason wielding a chainsaw to scare my friends. And to think, sandwiches brought back all of these fond memories. They used to be called something like "Hot Crusty sandwiches", but I've renamed them to "Tasty Little Devils." They are really easy to make. Here's the recipe, and yes, I know. Just from the first few ingredients they sound like a gastrointestinal explosion waiting to happen, but those who've tried them really like them;)

2 4.5 oz. cans deviled ham
5 boiled eggs
1lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 can chopped olives
1 can green chili's
Salt and Pepper
1-2 Tbsp mayonnaise to moisten
2 bags of 12 count Sweet French rolls (my favorite is Basque)

All you do is cube the eggs and cheese and combine the first 7 ingredients. Then you open the rolls and scoop out some of the bread to make a nice pocket. Fill each roll with about 2-3 Tbsp. of filling. Wrap each sandwich in foil, then cook at 350 for 20 min. Be careful, because the filling is very hot and rather messy.

Customer reviews

Have you ever seen an infomercial, and just really, secretly wanted to purchase the product? When Dylan Jr. was a little tyke, we sent away for a video on some vacuum system that he would watch over and over. We have always told him that he is so gullible when it comes to infomercials. In reality, he gets it from me! Have you ever seen the commercial for the "Point and Paint"? Well, I broke down and bought it thinking that I'd surprise Dylan by having the bathroom painted while he's out of town. I just hated the thought of having to spend hours taping and masking just to have him spray it. Well, it wasn't too bad. It took about 3 hours, but I still have to do corners with a small brush. To be honest, the "Point and Paint" isn't too different from a roller, just not as messy. So, I didn't have to lay down one drop cloth or use any painters tape. It has its pros and cons, like where do I buy replacement pads? I couldn't paint nearly as fast as they claimed I could on the commercial, but all in all, I was satisfied.
Have you ever caved in and ordered an infomercial product? Was it good/bad?

Playin' a little hookie

I don't know how long it's been since we've been out of town as a whole family, but we were able to get away this last week. We went to Laguna Niguel and to the happiest place on earth, which happened to be all decked out for Halloween. We had a nice view of the ocean from our room . . .



We even got to watch a sunset wedding right outside our patio on the grass overlooking the cliff. It was a fun trip . . . a long trip. I'm so glad to be home, though. Now I'm inspired to decorate my house for Halloween!

William is 2!

I didn't get around to posting yesterday, on his real birthday, but I couldn't forget our little William. We are so blessed to have him in our lives. He always makes us smile, and always keeps me on my feet. Seriously, today I was chasing him through Target while he was pushing a Mega Blocks wagon around. Dylan just watched and laughed. Happy Birthday, my sweet William. Oh, and the new music is one of his favorite songs by the Imagination Movers.

Children's Book Review: Pizza Pat

There are several book clubs for adult books, and websites for adult book reviews, but I read children's books more than adults books. I've found some that have become family favorites, and I've run into a few that I wish I didn't spend my money on. So, I thought every once in awhile I'll review a children's book, and maybe those of you who read my blog can suggest some good ones as well.
Now on to "Pizza Pat", by Rita Golden Gelman. This has been a family favorite since our first son, Dylan, received it in the mail from one of those book of the month clubs. It is so fun for the adult to read out loud, and the children find the words like "gloppy" and "sloppy" fun too. It can get to be a bit of a tongue twister, especially if you are trying to speed up the pace, but that makes it more enjoyable!
Poor Pat, he works so hard on making this pizza, but the mice who steal it are so fat and happy at the end that you don't feel bad for him too long. I would definitely recommend this one for those who enjoy reading out loud to their kids.

Long gone are the days . . .

. . .when my calendar had days on it with no schedules!
. . .when I could spend an hour on the couch with the boys in the morning watching cartoons, cuddled up with them.
. . .when asked what I had planned for the day, I could reply, "nothing."
. . .when I could have a spontaneous outing or fun play activity.
. . .when I could take a long shower in the morning and take my time shaving my legs (now, some mornings, I do the "can it wait until tomorrow" feel along my legs).

Seriously, though, scheduled appointments go against everything I believe! My personality doesn't cope well with a full calendar, and I've tried hard for years to fight it. But with 4 boys, it is inevitable. Today was going to be my one day this week with nothing on my calendar but to pay one bill. Then, I had to schedule an unexpected doctor's visit for one son and as we were on our way out the door my other sons' teacher pulls up in front of the house. I completely forgot my youngest had his CITI kids appointment today! My brain is a "one-activity-a-day" type brain, and if there is too much going on, I just forget things like crazy. And I write things down! I have a calendar that I check every morning, but I still manage to forget things! How do people keep it together with such busy lives? Aren't stay-at-home mom's supposed to have more free time to get everything done?

I'm a basket case

We've had a lot of women in the ward who have either had babies, or are about to have babies, and when you've made a baby flower basket for one, you don't want anyone else to feel left out. So, I've been busy with baskets . . .

This one was a very difficult one. This was for a mom who doesn't know the gender of her baby yet. There's not a lot out there that is neutral.

This one has a very cute toddler dress for the center flower.

This was the first boy basket I've done. I was actually surprised at how it turned out. I loved the blue color of the little baby mittens put together with the mini daffodils.

Happy 4th of July!

I came upon this quote in a magazine that had included patriotic quotations in its' July issue. I just think it is a wonderful sentiment, and really makes me grateful for all who have made our freedoms possible

A craving . . .

Can you crave a smell? Some things that I enjoyed so much when I was little growing up on a hay farm were the smells of it during the summer. At night my dad would turn on the sprinklers in the hayfield next to our house, and the first scent that would hit your senses was of the freshly dampened earth. I've always loved that smell. Especially if it was created by the beginning of a summer thunder storm. Just the first few minutes of the storm is when it smells the best, as the drops of rain kick up the powdery layer of dirt from the ground. I seriously craved this smell whenever I was pregnant.
Back to the hayfield, though. After the damp earth smell, I can recall the sweet smell of alfalfa hay. And the sound of the impact sprinklers would lull me to sleep, as each sprinkler head rotated slowly almost full circle, then sped up as it reversed rotation to return to back to the start. I remember that you could feel the nighttime temperature cool as soon as those sprinklers started up. I guess I miss more than just the smell.

A little getaway

Friday Dylan and I took off for a quick getaway down to Pasadena for our Anniversary. For years I've wanted to see the Gamble House, so we decided why not now? This is a picture of the front of the house, with its beautiful art glass door.
This is the backside of the house, where you see Doc Brown from "Back to the Future" run down to his garage.

A beautiful clinker-brick wall surrounding a pond. Who is that handsome man?


This is one of the many Jacaronda trees that you see this time of year in Southern California. Aren't they beautiful? I wish that we were allowed to take pictures of the inside of the house. The wood work is gorgeous and the details that the architects, Charles and Henry Greene, put into the house is amazing. They not only designed the house, but the furniture, the light fixtures, the landscaping, the rugs, etc. When I worked for a group of architects, I would always hear about Frank Lloyd Wright and how wonderful his work was, but I say he has nothing on Greene and Greene. I know that's architecture blasphemy! It was a very fun getaway.

We've got a Romeo on our hands . . .

Yesterday we were in the Verizon parking lot waiting while Dylan was talking to customer service. While I was out in the car with the boys, a girl walked out of the store. She looked like she was about 12 years old, and Nathan said, "Wow, she's HOT! She's by herself, so, can I walk her home?" I then replied, "She's way older than you!" He said, "No, she's about my age." This made me laugh, but it also surprised me at the same time because Nathan used to be such a quiet and shy boy! I don't know what to do. It made me think of that line that Short Round (is that his name?) said in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - "Maybe he like the older women?"

14 Years!!!

I can't believe that Dylan and I celebrate our 14th anniversary today. Plus, I've know Dylan for over half my life! He is my best friend, and the only one I can be the real "me" with. So much has happened in these last 14 years, and I wouldn't change a thing. I'm also glad that he didn't even get mad at me when I left all 4 windows down in his work car over-night! (What is with my brain!) By the way, that is the Oakland Temple pictured above, where we were sealed.

Dylan is 12!

I can't believe my little Dylan is 12 today! I'm still having problems with my scanner, so no cute baby pictures or pictures of him doing his Batman face, but here's a few pictures of this handsome devil. I very clearly remember the night he was born. In the middle of the night I remember waking up and looking over at the basinett and seeing two huge, dark blue eyes staring out from all of his blankets. That was a sign of what was to come . . . he still hates to sleep. He wasn't ever really fussy, just awake. Awake from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., mind you. As he got older, he developed a great interest in things like vacuums, fans and cars. Every Sunday, when Dylan was 2, we would walk through the parking lot at church and he could name the name of each car just by looking at the symbol. He would love to go to Sears for an outing to look at vacuums, and impressed the salesmen by his knowledge of the name and make of each vacuum. Whenever he'd meet someone new, his first question was, "what kind of vacuum do you have?" And this was all at two years old! Dylan is such a sweet boy, always concerned for others, especially his family. We are very blessed to have him in our family.

I hit a wall . . .

Well, after exercising for over 4 straight weeks now, I've hit a wall. I've been really good about it, 5 days a week, sometimes 3 times a day, and I've cut back on calorie intake too. So I decided to weigh myself yesterday. Big mistake! Not much of a difference. I was very disappointed. My husband tried to cheer me up by telling me I'm building muscle mass and toning up. That helped a little. I think the worst thing, though, was trying on shorts and capri's that I've been trying to fit back into, and they still don't fit. And to make it a double whammy, I think the little bit of weight I did lose came from my bustline! Not good for a person who is bustline challenged! My sister told me that's the first thing to go. So what am I going to do with that wall? Hopefully I'll decide to climb right over it and keep going.

Earworms

Sounds like some kind of sick parasite, right? No, it's what Stephen King refers to as those songs that just get stuck in your head and you can't get them out. I read an article that he wrote about this in Entertainment Weekly, which I found to be pretty funny. Actually, the more articles of his that I read, the more I think that he and I are alike (scary, huh?). His earworm happened to be that Free Credit Report.com commercial where the guy is dressed as a pirate. I don't think that is too bad because I think those commercials are funny. My earworm is a little more irritating because I don't really understand the song! I don't listen to the radio that often, but when I do, this song always seems to be on! It is "Human" by The Killers. I hear it as I go to sleep. I hear it when I wake up in the morning. I hear it when I'm in the car with the stereo off! At first I liked it. But it's one of those songs that as you hum along and start thinking about the lyrics, you think, "What the heck does that mean?" "Are we human, or are we dancer?" It makes me crazy! I think what gets me the most is that the word dancer doesn't have an "s" at the end. Oh well, maybe it could be considered a step up from "Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy" by the Wiggles that would go through my head for months a few years ago. Oh great, I think I just triggered something by typing the name of that song . . . .
Anyways, to the few of you who read this, what have been some of those earworms that irritate you? Maybe if I try singing the lyrics to them I'll be able to get rid of mine.

I've been tagged!

O.K., this is the first time this has happened, but, thanks to mom, I have to list 6 unimportant things that make me happy, then tag 6 other people. Sorry to those of you who I tag. One question, though. If they are things that make you happy, then aren't they really important?

Hmmm. . . think about it.

My 6 things are:

1.The new verses of the diarrhea song that my boys come up with at the dinner table. (Please don't be offended, but my boys do bring me to tears with their whit and ability to rhyme).

2.When my husband takes the boys to school.

3.When my husband is home to bath the boys.

4.Pulling the boys out of school early tomorrow to go see X-Men Origins:Wolverine (More for the activity than the movie, although I am secretly anxious to see it!)

5.My secret stash of Dove chocolates (I'm trying to stick to dark chocolate because they're fewer calories;)

6.Having couch-potato fest on Thursday nights with my husband to watch My Name is Earl, The Office and Supernatural.



I tag:

1.Stephanie
2.Sunny
3.Sharlene
4.Heather
5.Brianne
6.Karyn

Sorry, guys. At least this isn't one of those things that tells you that you will not be happy for 6 years if you do not follow through.

Baby flower baskets

Some family members have convinced me to add these to my blog. They are baby gift baskets. The one on the left has a dress as the center flower, a baby bonnet, socks, a shirt, and washcloths all made into flowers. The theme is pink and green. I've only made two so far, but they've been fun to make.

This one shows the bonnet better.

This one was done in lavenders and browns. It had a sundress style top as the main flower, with little pantaloons as smaller flowers in front/bottom. It also had onesies folded into roses.

This picture shows a onesie and a sock a little bit better.

Weaknesses

Some of you may know that I teach in Relief Society, the Teachings for Our Times lessons to be exact. Funny that I get the one calling that I fear the most, right? Thankfully it has been a learning experience. I've never been a great teacher . . . I get too nervous and I feel like my lessons never really have a flow to them. I usually rely on my notes so much that I'm looking down most of the time, and not at the audience, which, by the way, is what gave me my first "C" in my life in Speach class in college. But I've really taken Ether 12:27 to heart where it says, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I'm beginning to understand this in a different light now. I decided to put this promise to the test, and have asked the Lord to help me with my lessons and help me to be a more competent teacher. I feel that He helped me in my lesson today. Instead of being so tied to my notes (namely relying on my own thoughts) I was able to let go of that crutch and rely on the Spirit a little bit more. I know this may seem small to some, but it was a big leap of faith for me. Bit by bit, the Lord is teaching me and helping me to be better at what I lack strength in. Maybe the next weakness I pray about will be staying away from that stash of Dove chocolates that I have hidden in the cabinet next to the Pantry:)

My little farm boys

All of my boys have loved to drive tractors at some point in their lives, but none have kept that interest as long as Michael. He was looking forward to driving the swather with Papa for months, it seemed. He is already asking when he can go out to the farm again. You can see he is very serious about farming! I think this was the first time that William ever stepped foot on a tractor. My parents tell me that my dad used to put me to sleep on the tractor when I was a baby, so maybe it's in the genes.

Someday my Cheerios won't be soggy . . .

Every morning it's the same thing . . . wake the boys up, figure out what they'll eat, make their breakfast, make their lunch, yell at them a few times so they won't be late, take them to school, get home and get the younger two fed, then get myself fed. Lately, I've been eating cereal for breakfast, mostly Honey Nut Cheerios (trying to be health-conscious). As soon as I sit down to the table with my bowl of cereal and my glass of chocolate milk, William starts to run over saying "eat, eat." I look into my bowl and think to myself, "How fast can you eat this before it gets soggy?" It's on. I race to shovel my spoonfuls of Cheerios into my mouth as William scales the chair, the table, and plops himself right on the table by my chocolate milk. Do I try to drink the milk first before he gets to it, or do I try to eat my cereal before it gets soggy? I go for the cereal. Wrong choice. William has his hand in my milk before I can set my spoon down. Now I've got to get up and get a paper towel to get him clean. While I'm getting the paper towel I realize, "I forgot the bowl of cereal!" Yep, his hands are in it too. I'm too tired to deal with it, so I sit back down, remove William from the table, and try to find the cereal that has not touched the milk yet because it's not soggy. Then I feel something being shoved into my side as William says, "read, read." He has one of his favorite books, and it happens to be a long one. I can't ignore him because he repeatedly shoves that book into my side saying, "bad day, bad day." So I pull him up into my lap and start reading Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. By the time we're done, my Cheerios are a lost cause. Someday my Cheerios won't be soggy. That will be a very sad day.

A small glimpse

A few weeks ago my son, Dylan taught me something, or perhaps I should say he made something that I've known for a long time now really sink in. You see, Dylan is off of Nintendo for awhile for reasons that I will not disclose, but suffice it to say that it has been and will be awhile before he'll play again. Well, the other week I took Nathan off of Nintendo as well. Dylan noticed how sad Nathan was, and he started to plead Nathan's case. He begged not for himself, but for me to forgive Nathan. I thought to myself, how many big brothers would do that very selfless act? Then it dawned on me that there is One who does this for us all of the time. The Savior is an intermediary for us, his brothers and sisters. How many times have I heard that, and yet it took this instance for it to really sink in.

What a fun week!

This week has been a great one so far! Nathan was baptized on Tuesday, and we've been able to play with cousins, and cousins, and more cousins! Last night, after one such visit, the boys immediately said, "We miss them." They are already looking forward to Dave, Annette & girls in June. Plus, later this month we'll be able to see Suzanna & family! I have really enjoyed having the boys home from school.

Where is the one cord that I need?

Since I've started blogging, I've been taking more pictures. Well, I've spent about 30 minutes looking for the cord to our camera so I can download them. I've found 6 different cords that I have no idea what they do! Why do we need so many cords? And what is the use of purchasing extra cords for something, like a TV, that already comes with its own cords? Yes, Dylan, I'm talking about you. Do any of your husbands get excited about different cables and/or cords? So, today I have a boring blog.

Happy 8th Birthday, Nathan!

All About Nathan

It's hard to believe that Nathan has been with us for 8 years. He was our little miracle baby. After a few miscarriages, we found out I was pregnant. During an ultrasound, the doctor, who was supposed to be a specialist and was not my regular doctor, said that this would be another miscarriage. Thankfully, another doctor came into the room and said that it looked like a perfect pregnancy! We're so thankful that Nathan is a part of our family. He is such a good big brother,(when he's not getting into mischief with Michael, or should I say leading Michael to do the mischievious acts) especially to William. He looks up to his big brother, Dylan. He's quick to obey and is very patient (where did he get that from in our family?). I still need to scan his baby photos onto our computer so that you could see how he looked like a little baby gorilla! He's just a fun loving boy, who is often found saying, "Awesome!". He loves to build his Lego's, and he loves his chocolate-chip cookies. We are very blessed to have Nathan. Yes, and his birthday is the 31st, but I knew tomorrow would be to busy for me to do this.

Still trying to figure this out!

Let's see if this works now.