-- Sent from my Palm Pre
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Busy Day :)
I was so lazy today. Or I guess I could look at it like, I was really busy today catching up on sleep. I did that for a large portion of my day, but I won't admit how large of a portion.
On my way out the door I went to the outside fridge to grab a diet coke. Imagine my surprise when I found 20 pounds of strawberries sitting there. Oh, I asked for them, I just forgot about them. So I'm thinking that strawberry jam I promised Derek I would make is going to have to get done in the next 24 hours. Guess it's a good thing I was SO busy today!
I'll post my recipe for strawberry jam. I don't have a special recipe or anything, but it will be in my little "blog book" for future reference.
On another note, Michael did his parent/child conference with me to go over his writing grade. I think he made that parent child conference idea up to get my attention. ( Insert smiley here :) )
That kid is so talented! He would be embarrased if he knew I was writing this, but he wrote a short story that made me laugh. Michael's story was about a penguin who had a nightmare that he was attacked my a monster pickle with no eyes or arms but long, sharp teeth. Who comes up with that stuff?
I need to publish the whole thing on this blog. (Along with an awesome poem Tyler wrote about Bella.) Michael thought his story was sub-par, but I loved it.
And I just love my kids.
On my way out the door I went to the outside fridge to grab a diet coke. Imagine my surprise when I found 20 pounds of strawberries sitting there. Oh, I asked for them, I just forgot about them. So I'm thinking that strawberry jam I promised Derek I would make is going to have to get done in the next 24 hours. Guess it's a good thing I was SO busy today!
I'll post my recipe for strawberry jam. I don't have a special recipe or anything, but it will be in my little "blog book" for future reference.
On another note, Michael did his parent/child conference with me to go over his writing grade. I think he made that parent child conference idea up to get my attention. ( Insert smiley here :) )
That kid is so talented! He would be embarrased if he knew I was writing this, but he wrote a short story that made me laugh. Michael's story was about a penguin who had a nightmare that he was attacked my a monster pickle with no eyes or arms but long, sharp teeth. Who comes up with that stuff?
I need to publish the whole thing on this blog. (Along with an awesome poem Tyler wrote about Bella.) Michael thought his story was sub-par, but I loved it.
And I just love my kids.
Monday, April 12, 2010
"Mean" Baby
Last week, I went to a mid-week Relief Society activity held at a gal's home in my ward. I was looking forward to getting out of the house. I don't really get out too much. (Baby, bum leg, etc.)
So it didn't take me too long to realize that I have the "mean" baby of the ward. You know, there is one in every crowd of children. That one child that is undiciplined and out of control. (You're never going to have one, you know, one of those kids.)
I came to reality as I was watching Bella go up to the (mostly) newborn babies in carseats and smashing them. (I am sure Bells thinks she is loving, but it's actually smashing.) Then she would go up to any child her size and just grab the around the neck as hard as she could. (Loving them, I'm sure.) Then she would go to any child larger than her, and take their stuff away and yell at them when they wouldn't give her what she wanted.
The ladies at the activity were so patient. They all said, as they were trying to protect their children, "well, she has to be tough, she is the youngest of six." (What nice women I have in my ward!) Needless to say, I was the first one to leave. Bella, no. Bella no, Bella stop for about an hour. That was my limit.
So I was pondering this as I watched her play with Matthew today. She was grabbing two handfuls of his hair and pulling it as hard as she could. Matthew was laughing and would give her hugs. Then, Derek and Tyler took her outside and played basketball with her. She got thumped in the chest with a full size basketball twice. That didn't stop her. She has a bruise on her face from running in the bathroom and sliding into the tub. Bruises on her leg from climbing in her toy box and falling out. She is a force to be reckoned with.
I guess it's no wonder she is the "mean" baby. Love in her world is a rough and tumble business. I bet she grows up to be a something else and FUN!
So it didn't take me too long to realize that I have the "mean" baby of the ward. You know, there is one in every crowd of children. That one child that is undiciplined and out of control. (You're never going to have one, you know, one of those kids.)
I came to reality as I was watching Bella go up to the (mostly) newborn babies in carseats and smashing them. (I am sure Bells thinks she is loving, but it's actually smashing.) Then she would go up to any child her size and just grab the around the neck as hard as she could. (Loving them, I'm sure.) Then she would go to any child larger than her, and take their stuff away and yell at them when they wouldn't give her what she wanted.
The ladies at the activity were so patient. They all said, as they were trying to protect their children, "well, she has to be tough, she is the youngest of six." (What nice women I have in my ward!) Needless to say, I was the first one to leave. Bella, no. Bella no, Bella stop for about an hour. That was my limit.
So I was pondering this as I watched her play with Matthew today. She was grabbing two handfuls of his hair and pulling it as hard as she could. Matthew was laughing and would give her hugs. Then, Derek and Tyler took her outside and played basketball with her. She got thumped in the chest with a full size basketball twice. That didn't stop her. She has a bruise on her face from running in the bathroom and sliding into the tub. Bruises on her leg from climbing in her toy box and falling out. She is a force to be reckoned with.
I guess it's no wonder she is the "mean" baby. Love in her world is a rough and tumble business. I bet she grows up to be a something else and FUN!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Oh, Little Girl
So, since I'm using this as a blog journal, I need to write this quick story about Julianna.
Jules, I promise I won't show this to you for a long time. Like, years.
So anyhow, Julianna was invited to go bowling with one of her little friends today.
Julianna comes home from bowling and she is grouchy. When she is diciplined later, all of a sudden she explodes into tears and frustration. Now, we understand that she is hitting (at nine????? but she is) some hormone changes so we are getting used to drama. However, this was a little over the top.
Come to find out that she was embarrased that she has "giant" feet. She says "I am only nine, but I'm wearing a size seven shoe." Poor baby, she is growing fast.
Turns out, when her friend's mom went to the counter to get Jules bowling shoes, she told her yes when asked if the size four shoes were comfortable. (After trying one or two smaller sizes.) So the poor child bowled for two hours in shoes that were three sizes too small so her friend wouldn't find out her real shoe size.
It stinks sometimes to grow up.
P.S. Really cute, Tyler and Uncle Quinn went to see a movie today. Tyler calle it "Quiler" time. Funny boy, I love him.
Jules, I promise I won't show this to you for a long time. Like, years.
So anyhow, Julianna was invited to go bowling with one of her little friends today.
Julianna comes home from bowling and she is grouchy. When she is diciplined later, all of a sudden she explodes into tears and frustration. Now, we understand that she is hitting (at nine????? but she is) some hormone changes so we are getting used to drama. However, this was a little over the top.
Come to find out that she was embarrased that she has "giant" feet. She says "I am only nine, but I'm wearing a size seven shoe." Poor baby, she is growing fast.
Turns out, when her friend's mom went to the counter to get Jules bowling shoes, she told her yes when asked if the size four shoes were comfortable. (After trying one or two smaller sizes.) So the poor child bowled for two hours in shoes that were three sizes too small so her friend wouldn't find out her real shoe size.
It stinks sometimes to grow up.
P.S. Really cute, Tyler and Uncle Quinn went to see a movie today. Tyler calle it "Quiler" time. Funny boy, I love him.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
In Loving Memory...
One of our good friends lost his mother this week. The funeral was today, and I feel that I came away with some important lessons.
The daughter that gave the Life Sketch was explaining that the family was having a hard time coming up with some kind of poem or thought to put in the program for their straight shooting, plain spoken mom. One of the kids remembered a paper that had been on the fridge for as long as they could remember. She said that it was probably a handout from some long ago Relief Society lesson, but they felt it described their loving mom perfectly. I want to share it with my family because I am going to live by it.
"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my findernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's stickly kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."
* Marjorie Pay Hinckley *
Me too.
The daughter that gave the Life Sketch was explaining that the family was having a hard time coming up with some kind of poem or thought to put in the program for their straight shooting, plain spoken mom. One of the kids remembered a paper that had been on the fridge for as long as they could remember. She said that it was probably a handout from some long ago Relief Society lesson, but they felt it described their loving mom perfectly. I want to share it with my family because I am going to live by it.
"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my findernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's stickly kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."
* Marjorie Pay Hinckley *
Me too.
Finally, Like I Promised... Taco Meat (Better than Taco Bell)
This meat is so delicious, you won't be able to eat any other with tacos.
Taco Meat:
2 lbs. ground beef in 2 quart sauce pan
NOTE: Ground chuck is delicious but fattening. The meat is never drained. I use 93% lean. It cooks for a loooong time, so even the lean meat becomes tender.
1 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. cumin
2 tbsp. paprika
Onion, chopped
Enough water to cover meat.
ANOTHER NOTE: You may need to add salt. That depends on the type of chili powder you use. When the meat is fully browned in the water, give it a taste and adjust seasonings to your taste. I'm a salt girl.
Bring meat, onion and spices to a boil, then bring back down to a simmer. Simmer meat for about one and a half hours, (yes one and a half hours), occasionally breaking down the meat with a potato masher. Add water as needed. The meat shouldn't dry out. You will know the meat is done when the texture is literally soft like Taco Bell meat. It is delicious!
Other ways to use this meat:
Taco Burger. Taco meat on a bun with lettuce, tomato cheese, anything you like on a taco. I know it sounds wierd but it is delicious, don't be afraid to try it!
Taco omelette. Once again, may sound crazy but this meat is seriously delicious in eggs. Again, top it with avacado, tomato, green onion, cheese. Whatever sounds good to you.
Enjoy! :) Love you Dara
Taco Meat:
2 lbs. ground beef in 2 quart sauce pan
NOTE: Ground chuck is delicious but fattening. The meat is never drained. I use 93% lean. It cooks for a loooong time, so even the lean meat becomes tender.
1 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. cumin
2 tbsp. paprika
Onion, chopped
Enough water to cover meat.
ANOTHER NOTE: You may need to add salt. That depends on the type of chili powder you use. When the meat is fully browned in the water, give it a taste and adjust seasonings to your taste. I'm a salt girl.
Bring meat, onion and spices to a boil, then bring back down to a simmer. Simmer meat for about one and a half hours, (yes one and a half hours), occasionally breaking down the meat with a potato masher. Add water as needed. The meat shouldn't dry out. You will know the meat is done when the texture is literally soft like Taco Bell meat. It is delicious!
Other ways to use this meat:
Taco Burger. Taco meat on a bun with lettuce, tomato cheese, anything you like on a taco. I know it sounds wierd but it is delicious, don't be afraid to try it!
Taco omelette. Once again, may sound crazy but this meat is seriously delicious in eggs. Again, top it with avacado, tomato, green onion, cheese. Whatever sounds good to you.
Enjoy! :) Love you Dara
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