I'm sure this never happens at your house.

Last night I tried out a new recipe. Tuna Casserole . I was feeling pretty proud of myself for my day had gone as planned and I had actually gotten dinner ready before teaching piano lessons. (Yes, I attempt to instill my love of the piano on some very understanding kids). Not always am I this prepared for dinner.  It's more of a last minute scramble and we have something easy like, pancakes or chicken nuggets and fries. I'm sure my kids wish every night was that way. Anyway, back to feeling pleased that I had something prepared that I could just slip into the oven during my last lesson. Start the broccoli to steam and Voila! a healthy nutritious meal ready when everyone was starving.

Much to my dismay, when my family came in from their scheduled activities I was greeted with, from almost every kid one after another, "What's for dinner?"

"Tuna casserole" I replied.

This was the slew of responses I got:

"I hate that." (whine)  To which I responded with, "You have never had it, I tried a new recipe."

"We just had that last week." (whine) Again I responded ,"No, this is a new recipe. I have never made it before."

"I know it is the same, it has potato chips on it, that's the only thing I like anyway."

"Ewwww! why can't we have something else?"

You get the picture. In our house we have a rule that everyone has to at least try it. Try it means three bites. So as we proceeded to eat I reminded everyone of our rule. In meal making I also try to have something on the table that each person likes, even if it is bread. That way after they "try everything" they can have something to eat that they like.

As the meal proceeded, I then explained to the kids that I don't mind being told they don't like something. I do, however, tire of the complaining about food before you have even eaten it. I try very hard to provided food that you like but not all of you like the same things so some nights there will be food you may not like that others do. I then asked that if they want to remind/tell me they don't like something to do it after they have tried it and in a kind way.

At the end of the meal. Which by the way most of them liked. Even my youngest actually ate his portion and asked for seconds. Right now he is pretty picky and wont eat much unless it fruit, noodles, bread or yogurt. My oldest must have listened for she said, "This actually isn't that bad. It's not my favorite, but it isn't that bad."

I don't know if it will stick but I figured it's at least worth of try.

WOW!

I am always amazed at the amount of information that is available at our finger tips. Over the past week I have been in the mode of getting ideas. Ideas for activity days so my partner and I can sit down and plan out a calendar together. I thought I would try out the internet again so I did a search. It truly is amazing what is out there and I'm grateful for those we have taken the time to put together web sites and compile ideas. Probably this is mostly for my benefit but I thought I would post some of the sites I have perused over the last few days.

Go and Do!

LDS Activity Day Ideas
The Idea Door 

LDS Splash.com
Sugardoodle.net

The last three are also great resources for other church callings and family home evening.

Eleven Years Ago

I have often been told that children are born in a way that is similar to their personalities. I never really gave much credit to that statement.  As my children have gotten older I have come to understand what people meant. This day has been a day of reflection for 11 years ago my second daughter entered this world in an unexpected way. A whirlwind, I'm going to do it when I want, how I want, right now kind of way....

On the night of Jolly J's birth I went visiting teaching. While visiting our last sister I started to have some regular contractions. I walked home and told my husband what was happening. After a 21 hour labor with my first, the Dr. advised us that this labor would be about half that so we figured we had a little time. I went to lay down and my husband got our first ready for bed. When he came to check on me it was obvious that things were progressing quite quickly so we made preparations to head to the hospital. But, first I had to go to the bathroom. (I was pregnant after all). Unexpectedly my water broke and I could feel my baby's head.

Things are pretty much a blur after this but I know my husband called 9-1-1. We didn't have a cordless phone at the time so he couldn't stay on the line and help me in the back bedroom. At the time we had a neighbor cop. He was on his way home and heard the dispatch call. He came over to see if we needed any help.(Talk about getting to know your neighbors. Thankfully he has moved away). Anyway, he was a great blessing that night for he was able to get 9-1-1 on his radio and they were able to help my husband through the delivery of our child. The paramedics arrived just in time to cut the cord. One paramedic took it upon himself to hold our daughter. He wouldn't let my husband hold Jolly J. Something we always thought weird for he had just delivered her. The other paramedic accessed my situation and arranged for transport to the hospital. The intended place for this delivery. All in all from start to finish it was an hour. It took me longer to write this post then to deliver our daughter.

On a side note. This was back in the days when ER was a popular show. This happened about the same time as the beginning of this show. Our neighbors commented that they weren't quite sure if the sirens they heard that night were on the TV or not. Sorry we made some miss that episode for as they put it the "paramedics took forever" to come out so they could find out what was going on. We often get comments that this must have been a cheap way to go. It actually was more for we had an ambulance bill. For two people in fact- mom and baby.  How many people though, have their dad's signature as the "delivering doctor".

True to her delivery, Jolly J is very much this personality. She is one of my sweetest, tender hearted children. Of all my kids she will be the one to say thanks and give compliments. Along with her sweet side though is a determined, explosive side that wants things done HER way. We have had many times where we have butted heads but through it all, the ups and the downs I  have learned a lot and would do it all over again.

So on this day birthday wishes go out to a daughter who loves a good thrill, willing to try anything, has a knack for doing hair and always strives for perfection.

Activity Days

For the past three years I have had the privilege to serve as an activity days leader. I work with 8 and 9 year old girls. We meet twice a month and attempt to learn about the gospel, but mostly we just have a lot of fun. The current program for children ages 8-12 is the Faith in God. We are to try and complete six goals per year out of this program. If you do the math that's 2 activities per month so:
                             24 Total activities
                             -6  Faith in God activities. 
          That leaves  18  activities that we come up with ideas of our own.

That is probably the hardest part of this calling. After doing this for three years I have checked out many resources, web sites and reused ideas. I am in desperate need of some ideas. I thought I would share some of our favorite activities. Feel free to refer these to anyone who could benefit from them. Or use them yourself, they often make for a great Family Home Evening.

If I could though, I would LOVE any ideas you may have. Something you remember doing when you were younger, a great Family Home Evening idea, something you have seen your own girls or the girls in you area do.

One of the first things I have done is give the girls a binder when they turn eight. We have scrap booked a cover for these and the girls can then store anything we give them in these. During the year I will take pictures and we will periodically have Scrap Booking Days.

We love to take advantages of Local Attractions:

• Museums. 
• We have toured the library. The girls enjoyed seeing the backroom where all the books are sorted.
  
• We went to the temple grounds, took pictures and discussed how performing temple work blesses families. I typed up their answers and included this with pictures that we scrap booked at our next activity. 
• Hiking. (For those in the area) We did a family hike day to the Y. Grotto Falls is an excellent hike for this age group. Especially in the Fall-LOVE the COLORS!
• Go to the park. We discussed and memorized the 12th Article of Faith. We discussed what it meant to be a good citizen and then picked up trash for a service project.
  
• Each year we also attend Day Camp.

 I got this idea from the Family Fun magazine.

Instructions: Write a short phrase in pencil on a piece of card stock. Using embroidery floss and a dull sewing needle, sew over each letter to cover the pencil lines. For curved letters requiring several sticiches, sew in one direction then reverse and sew through the same holes to fill in the empty spaces. It's best to sew each letter individually. Tape the ends of the threads to the back of the card stock. Once the message is sewn, erase any visible pencil marks, then glue the note to a larger, folded piece of card stock.

One of the Faith in God goals is to write a note telling someone what they appreciate and respect about them. We used these cards for that.

The girls always love to do Holiday Crafts. I often use Oriental Trading Company . A Favorite activity has been to read scriptures about the Holy Ghost (see pg. 6 in Faith in God book) and then make a tissue paper ghost decoration.

Make Freezer Jam

(No sugar added Strawberry Freezer Jam)

Ingredients:

3 cups  strawberries (about 3 pounds)

1-3/4 cups unsweetened cran-raspberry or apple juice

1 1.75 oz box Ball No sugar Needed Fruit Pectin

Directions:

1. Crush strawberries.
2. In a large saucepan, gradually add pectin to fruit juice until dissolved. Over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
3. Immediately add prepared fruit into hot pectin mixture. Stir vigorously for 1 minute.
4. Ladle freezer jam into clean freezer jars or containers leaving 1/2inch head space. Apply caps and let jam stand in refrigerator until set, but no longer than 24 hours. Serve immediately, refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 1 year.

Make 4 to 5 (8 oz) half pints.

Summer Swimming Party. We have a variety of water activities including water balloons, giant slip and slide, relay races etc. We also make:

Homemade Ice Cream.

What you'll need:

• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 cup milk or half and half
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 6 Tablespoons rock salt
• 1 pint size plastic food storage bag
• 1 gallon size plastic food storage bag
• Ice cubes

How to make it:

1. Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag.
   
2. Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it.
3. Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it again carefully.
4. Shake until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes
5. Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Enjoy!

Tips:
A 1/2 cup milk will make about 1 scoop of ice cream so double the recipe if you want more. Don't increase the proportions more than that-a large amount might be too big for kids to pick up because the ice itself is heavy.

Scripture Cookies

 
 


This is an all time favorite activity. I first did it in a primary class when I was younger.

I will remember this when she is older.

My daughter came in and announced: "Mom I am a damsel in distress."

Me (not really listening): "you are huh"

"Mom, what is a damsel in distress?"

"It is a princess that needs someone to help her."

"Nut, uh" as she shakes her head.

I stop what I'm doing and try again. "It is a princess that needs some help and waiting for someone to come and rescue her."

"No mom, I don't need help. I have parents."

My Mother Said There Would Be Days Like This

I read this recently and loved it:

It was meant to be that life would be a challenge. To suffer some anxiety, some depression, some disappointment, even some failure is normal.  Teach our members that if they have a good, miserable day once in a while, or several in a row, to stand steady and face them. Things will straighten out.There is great purpose in our struggle in life.
Boyd K. Packer. January 2010 Ensign

Reunited

I really should be folding laundry and numerous other housekeeping tasks. I finally managed to get my Christmas decorations down and am feeling no desire to tackle something else. My four year old is under the weather and just wants to lie around and watch a movie. I can't blame her. I figured I too would take advantage and do something I want to do.

Most of the pictures from when my husband and I were little are slides. Some of my fondest memories are of getting together as a family and my dad would show slides. He would remove items from the wall so that we had a blank wall. My mom would spread out sheets on the carpet and we would eat all sorts of munchies while seeing pictures of us kids and our parents in days gone by.

This Christmas we were given the priceless treasure of slides that were converted to digital from my husband's younger days. It has been so much fun to view these with our kids. My grandfather a few years back also converted my dad's slides. This motivated me to accquire my own copy of these slides. We are now starting the long process of organize the slides from both sides of the family.

Being the oldest of six, most of the toys I remember playing with were passed on to my siblings to play with when I out grew them. Which is how it should be. I really don't remember having a fondness for many toys in particular.   Many of the toys we all loved and cherished, my children now enjoy playing with when they go visit Grandma. It is always fun to have memories sparked and to share these as we now play with those toys together. Over the years though, I have always remembered the first doll I was ever given.

When looking through some of the slides my grandfather had converted I  found a picture of me with this doll.

I made a comment about remembering that doll to my mom and guess what?

My mom still had it! 

She needed a little cleaning and we were able to find one of the dresses my mom made for it (out of some left over material from a shirt she made for me no less).

(Not to bad for all these years).

It is so fun to have a tangible reminder of my childhood. Do you have a particular toy you would love to be reunited with?

Glad I Did It

It seems to be a common entry in the blog world to write some sort of a year end review/cap/highlights. I have seen many cute ways of doing this, which maybe I'll save as ideas for another year. I alas am not going to do that this year.

One thing I am glad that we did this year was to start a blog.  I haven't had the time to figure out how to add cute backgrounds and graphic. I still can't figure out how to add an image that isn't my own to a post. I have no idea how to get rid of the posted by at such and such time. (Who really cares what time?) And someday I would love to make a play list.

I have learned a lot though in the time I have made for blogging. It has also even got me writing again in my journal. (There a few things I would much rather keep to myself). Any way as I posted my last entry and saw the blog archive roll over to a new year. 2009 showed that I have 22 posts. That's 22 events that wouldn't have got recorded and remembered. So worth it to me!

Transition

During the last week we have enjoyed a lot of time to play, relax and do activities with extended family. Needless to say we all dreaded the return to school, work and regular activities. Here's yesterday's recipe to help make this transition.

• A little shopping. Even if it was groceries I still LOVE finding things we need on sale.

• Lots of good music while trying to take down Christmas decorations.

• Sundaes and game night for Family Home Evening

• Plenty of good humor. After the kids left for school I asked my four year old what she wanted to do today. She responded with, "we should paint my nails. I just like (what it's called)........oh yeah! paul nailish on them".

(I think she picked a fitting color for this post holidays blue time of year)

Later that evening, Karebear was commenting on her sister's new bling.

"Oh, Tater I like your paint nolish".

I don't know what you call it. All these years we never clued in that this was how Karebear referred to nail polish until Tater happened to try to mimic her, but couldn't quite remember what to say. Goes to show we sometimes hear what we want to and not what is actually said.