The Way We Do It

I was talking with a friend the other day and she commented she was surprised how busy the summer has been. I don't know if the summer is any less busy, it's just a different kind of busy.

Our day begins, 2-3 three days a week, with the three oldest girls and mom going running at 6:30 am. Each morning at 7 we have scripture study before Dad leaves for work. The rest of the morning is spent getting ready for the day and doing "chores" These include:

• Piano practice (and flute for Karebear)

 (We start um real early)

• Each day the girls pick two jobs from our jar. We have included a good helping of fun jobs as well- such as play dance mat or ride something around the block a few times (got to sneak in the exercise when ever we can). This year Tator was deemed old enough to pick from the jar rather than just help mom. I haven't seen a kid this excited to do chores in a long time. Plus she loves any excuse to practice riding her bike

• Reading for the summer reading program.

• School work. Our school sends home math and writing packets for each child at the end of the year. They can then turn in these packets the beginning of the next school year for a prize. Karebear has been working on her summer homework for honors English. I love the dollar store for the preschool workbooks we found for Tator.

After lunch it's nap time time for Bud Boy. The girls then have free time which they often fill up with barbies, magnetic dolls, puppet shows and occasionally a movie or computer time. I often take this time to run some errands. Love my babysitters!

In the afternoon it's piano lessons three days a week and Karate for Jolly J two days a week.

(She enjoyed being in a parade )

Each evening one girl gets to be in charge of dinner. They also each get to have a Monday where they plan our dessert for family home evening. We all love to eat outside and have put some good use to the grill-Dad's father's day gift.

We try to have at least one fun activity a week.

So far we have enjoyed the Zoo

(there's a lion in there somewhere)

The Aquarium

Picnics at the park and of course lots and lots of playing in the water.

Fix it Daddy

I remember being told once, You often marry someone who is like your father. In many ways that is true for me. I grew up with a great dad! He was ever willing to talk- more specifically listen. He was (and still is) always willing to give us help when we need it. He is also a hard worker and a handy man of sorts.

When I was twelve my parents decided to add on to our home. You could say that they added a second home the addition was that big. I remember my dad often working on this, a little here and a little there amongst the many other responsibilities he had. What I remember the most is that I never felt like the addition took precedence to us kids. And of course we have some great memories of "helping" him.

They are still, to this day, working to complete this. Talk about the patience my mom must have. We have been working on our home for two months and I am So ready to be done. I am very grateful though for a husband who is also a handy man of sorts. He has truly put any spare minute into our home so it can be completed quickly.

(How we know Grandpa D best-ever willing to take us camping and hiking)

Like my dad, my husband is a great father who can often be found helping our kids with homework and projects. He spends many a nights up talking with the kids or should I say listening as they give a monologue of their day. Around here he is known to be able to fix about anything. There is forever a pile of broken toys on his dresser for him to glue.

I remember when my youngest was just a few weeks old. My then two year old was helping as I changed our newborn's diaper. I saw that his cord had fallen off. I excitedly pointed this out to my daughter. Her response was, "Daddy fix it."

 (The thing we love the most is that he makes us laugh)

When I was dating my husband, my father counseled, if you want an idea of what he will be like look at his father. I guess you could say it was a good thing my husband had a great father and now I have a great father-in-law.

How many of you have a father-in-law that cooks Sunday dinner for all the local extended family (and whatever neighbors grandma has the grand kids deliver food to)? He also loves to talk to about anyone and tell stories of his past. This is a quality my husband has inherited. He too can talk and relate to about anyone. I know it helps him in his current calling.

(Grandpa is known for telling many school children about the Native Americans)

On this Father's Day I am so grateful for all the men in my life that help to make things run a little more smoothly. Whether it's handy man skills, house work, or just being a listening ear and giving that needed comfort and support. I truly couldn't live without them.

Traveling in Style

We have had the privelege of extended family in town the last few weeks. We have enjoyed doing activities with them. Some of which has involved some travel time to get to our various locations.

On one of our trips my four year old remarked,

"That is a cool trailer! It just needs to be pushed by a car." 




This is what she saw drive by

(or at least something similar to this. We got this photo from here)

Moving

Growing up I shared a room with two sisters. My younger sister and I had bunk beds and I slept on the top bunk. I remember many nights lying in bed thinking about who I would marry and where I would live. In my mind, marriage meant I would live someplace different and probably far from home. After all that was what my parents did. The met each other at BYU and set up home not close to either of their parents.

Little did I know I would marry someone, not originally from here but whose parents had moved here after his mission. He already had a job here and so we stayed. I have lived in the same town my whole life.

We built our house thirteen years ago. I remember soon after we moved in commenting I wasn't sure if I wanted my kids to go to school on this side of town. I had grown up on "the other side of town"(what a bunch of baloney). My husband's response was you'll have at least five years before we have to worry about that. We'll probably be moved by then.

Naught!

We're still here and the schools aren't the bestest, greatest, thing, but they have been right for my kids. In fact, in some ways I'm glad they aren't going to the same schools I did.

We have often discussed the possibility of moving. There are things I would love differently in my home. Of course the priority of some things changes according to the ages of my kids. 

Over the years we have seen many changes to our neighborhood and had many close friends move. Each time one of them moves I go through the same scenario of evaluating moving.

So why haven't we moved?

I'm glad you asked. With any major decision there are disadvantages and advantages. It takes a leap of faith and hope that the advantages will out weigh the disadvantages. In order to make that leap of faith it requires peace. Peace is the reason we haven't moved, for the peace in regards to moving has not come. Just the opposite.

So...... No, this isn't an announcement that we are moving. Although, I am packing and moving furniture as we finish painting and prepare for carpet installation. I think moving would have been easier.

"Will we ever move?" is a question my kids ask.

All I can say is, "I don't know".

All I know is that for now we are at peace and know that remodeling was the step we were to take. Changing some of the things we want differently in a home, or at least the things without much structural changes. I can't live through that much construction.

I know the longer we stay the harder it will be to leave this home and it's memories, but for now it is where we are supposed to be.

A legacy, birthday, and the winner is.........

My life is too chaotic to have coordinated this, but I thought how neat when I looked at my calendar. I realized that today is the birthday of my Grandmother. This is the Grandmother that I learned how to crochet from. She is also an excellent cook. We were always well fed whenever we went to visit. I also loved that her kitchen was our kitchen. We felt very comfortable and knew we could get food whenever hungry.

This woman is amazing! I think the thing that impresses me most was that she lived just shy of twelve years after the unexpected death of my grandfather. I can't even imagine living without my husband. I hate it when he is gone just for a weekend camping trip. I know it was a joyful reunion when she joined him in heaven a few years ago. (The picture was taken on our last trip to her home the summer before she died).

How fitting to be announcing the winner of a crochet kitchen towel on this day. Truly her legacy is living on.

Without further ado.


The lucky winner is..................

Rebecca

Congratulations! If you have any preferences, let me know. If not, may you enjoy a little something in the mail soon.

Thanks to everyone for your comments!  I'm looking forward to trying some new recipes.

One More Day

                                             picture from here

Just a reminder 

If you want to get in on this drawing 

time is running out.

One more day 

(until midnight June 6 to be exact).

The First Impression is Often Right

With my husband and I, I have noticed a trend in our decision making process.

Let me give you an example:

We decided we wanted granite counter tops. We contacted an installer and went and picked out the granite we liked. They were a company that installed remnant pieces, thus they were cheaper. It turned out the granite we wanted they didn't have a remnant piece big enough to do without a seam. My counter top space is pretty small so I knew it was possible to install without a seam. We found another company. We told them the granite we liked and he suggested we go pick it out ourselves at the warehouse. We then proceeded to spend a whole day looking at TONS of granite for we now had more options. After dragging our kids to two warehouses we ended up going with the granite we had originally liked. Our first choice was what we truly liked and we had just wasted a whole day trying to make sure.

We did the same thing with paint.

And now whole wheat bread.

My husband loves to bake. He has made a 1/2 white /1/2 wheat bread for years that we love. Recently a friend posted on facebook about some all wheat bread she had made. I was intrigued so I tried the recipe. Let's just say I made two loaves and between breakfast (we are big toast eaters), lunch and breakfast the next morning it was all gone. It truly was delicious, soft and I loved that it was all wheat.

I then read a post by my friend Hilary. She has been trying whole wheat bread recipes for awhile and she finally found one she loved. I was again intrigued, plus her recipe made more than two loaves. A big plus.

Upon closer look, I realized with my trusty Kitchen Aid that my husband gave me for Christmas many, many years ago, it can't handle more than 6 cups whole wheat. So I halved the recipe. I was surprised to see this ended up being basically the same recipe my sister sent-see comments of my last post. (Thanks again for sending this WrayLynn and your tips. I'm especially glad you specified a temperature for lukewarm ).

I really liked this recipe for it was easy and didn't take as much time. Alas, my kids didn't seem to like it as well. I couldn't quite decide.

Today I made the first recipe I had tried and did a taste test with the two breads.

There were both very soft, but there was a difference in taste.  The second recipe had a more bitter taste to me. For me, taste over ruled the ease of the recipe.

Here is my favorite all whole wheat bread recipe, which just happens to be what my kids like as well. And of course was the first one I tried.

EZ Wheat Bread

2 1/2 cup warm water
2 Tblsp active dry yeast
1/2 cup honey or 2/3 cup brown sugar(if freezing the bread use brown sugar for it freezes better)
5 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat gluten
2 tsp salt
1/4 cup nonfat non instant dry milk
2 Tblsp butter (or oil)
2 Tblsp vinegar
1/2 cup potato flakes


Mix ingredients in order listed in mixing bowl of mixer with dough hook attachment for 12-15 minutes. Cover the bowl with a towel. Let rise until double (about 1-1/2 hours. Punch down, and shape into two loaves. Let rise again until double and bake 375 for 20-30 minutes

For those of you who read comments this recipe originally came from the link I gave. I couldn't figure out how to actually make it a link in the comments area. Here's an actual link.  I found the video actually quite helpful and also learned some things about gluten from her website. I hadn't ever used it before. It is great stuff! I also listed the ingredients for a double batch like she talked about in the video. If your house is like mine it's not worth the effort to just make a single loaf.