29 Nov 2009

Wish I could share some of the stories - but they lose something in the telling....some of those - you had to be there sort of things. Here are a couple of funnies, though. Taylor usually asks us if we can take the shortcut when we're going somewhere. We assure her that we are taking the shortcut. Always makes me chuckle. We got the tree put up on Friday. Make that Grandma and the girls got the tree put up. Taylor got up Saturday morning and was surprised to see the tree still there - I think she thought that Santa was coming and would trade the tree for presents?!? Silly girl. She always makes us laugh with what she comes up with.

We had a lovely day yesterday going to the temple with Chuck and Sue. Did some sealings :) Had a bite of lunch. Then we enjoyed picking up Lori at the airport. Felt so sorry for her - leaving the warm lands to come back to Siberia. Good thing it wasn't a freezing cold day. :)

So - we're going to celebrate Festivus for a couple of days before I change to Christmas. Just makes me smile to think of Festivus. Makes me think of holidays past.....not that I've had any resembling Festivus in any way (except the feats of strength). I guess I like the idea of airing ones' grievances. I think the way it's done in Festivus doesn't necessarily lead to reconciliation, though. Learned that through experience (and I know I'm not the only one here!) - and I'm sorry (you know who you are and I still owe you). Better to work through those grievances on ones' own than hurt others in the airing. If you have no idea what I'm talking about you can look here: Festivus info

So I think I've got a good template that I can edit and change up as I like. Hopefully I'll do it often enough that I won't forget what I'm doing.

Have a great Sabbath!

27 Nov 2009

Thanksgiving has been great! We are enjoying time together and especially enjoying making Grandma Sue laugh! Some really funny stuff has been going on around here :)

The girls go back to the Mayflower on DJ's side - so alas I am not included in that - directly that is :) I figure I get points for telling them about their connection.

Although I did not eat too much yesterday, I have today. I think I've eaten both lunch and dinner today (all at Lunch). So - this is a short post as I must go rest my stomach. Loves to all! I'm so grateful for each of you and your special places in my life.

FYI - the house sale fell through. :( So it's back to watch and wait for now. It could always be worse. :)

25 Nov 2009

Sharing stories of the Mayflower with the girls today - fun as they are descendants from John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. :) Also cooking, enjoying and having great times. Hope your day is well!

23 Nov 2009

Your comment got me thinking, Sarah. DJ does sit and rest - but with 5 women of different sizes in his life - we are all constantly bugging him to get up and do something with one or all of us. :) Good thing he's such a great guy! Plus - he has a 40 minute commute to and from work - so he gets plenty of quiet time then (I hope)!

Still riding the coaster....but doing well. I'm almost done cleaning up my google reader. Thanks to going back through it I was able to come up with a Christmas wish list. Before that I couldn't think of anything I particularly wanted or needed. Now I have a few wants :)

For those without the season showing - we have snow here. It's been on the ground for a whole day. The roads are icy. It's a real adventure! Just wanted to let you know what you're missing out on. :)

Hope your day is great! We have two early-release days here then no school the rest of the week. My girls are very excited about that and hoping for more snow. McKay has FHE and is planning a snowball fight I think. Crazy fun times! More tomorrow!

21 Nov 2009

Good morning! (barely!) We're still riding the rental roller-coaster. Pray for us!

We went to the temple last night and really enjoyed some much needed peace. What a blessing! DJ is off getting parts to fix my car door (driver's door). I would post a picture of how it looks - but you really don't want to know. We're down to metal and pull rods. I just hope he can get the parts put in. He has it fixed up for me better than it was before - so I haven't been actively complaining. My window doesn't go down, I have no opening lever (is that what it's called?) and I have a rod to push/pull to lock/unlock. I think with everything I've put on here - you get a picture of how life has been and how much we needed some peace. It's so crazy it's almost funny. Still - I'm so grateful to have a vehicle just for me to drive. I'm grateful for the house we're trying to rent/sell. It has provided years of comfort and safety for us - and we've learned a lot there! I'm grateful for Chuck and Sue and a warm house, good food, and much comfort. I am reminded of a line from a Laurie King book - The Game. Mary Russell is talking with Sherlock Holmes about traveling to India. He is cautioning her on losing her temper. He says something to the effect that India provides you not with what you expect - but what you actually need. I think of that often - we aren't having what we expect but much of what we need - and surprise blessings all along the way in the midst of frustration and disappointment. Very interesting indeed.

Well, DJ is making me wait to watch just about anything I've recorded over the last few days - he wants to watch too. We are catching up on House. Haven't watched it in order and only begun watching a couple of months ago. Very fun! Also love Renovation Realities. Makes me think of Jared and I adventuring (specifically ripping up the linoleum in the kitchen). Good stuff. We've got the new Star Trek to watch sometime too.....looking forward to it all!

Hope everything is well with you all. Have a great weekend!

20 Nov 2009

It's been busy here - as always. We finally have McKay back to school. What a relief! Just a couple days of school next week and we'll have a nice long Thanksgiving break. We're still negotiating with our potential renter. Anxious about that....but a good anxious. Just working out details I hope.

My mind is pretty blank this morning. I've been doing math in my head since I woke up. Yes, Kimball, math isn't something that you will put away once you are out of school. Hope today is great for everyone!

OK - so I had to come back and edit this because it needed more. Here's what I've been interested in lately: ity virtues and ity vices

Some blogs that I recently started subscribing to in reader:
Hot lunch dates
Love Actually
Maggies Dinner dates - check out her New Moon party ideas!

That looks a lot better!

18 Nov 2009

SO after reading my last post - I think some explanation is in order. My post could have been taken many different ways. In order for it to be taken the way I intended here it is: I had been asking DJ to call the branch president from our old ward for a couple of weeks. We decided that we would need to rent the house out because the market has deteriorated so much since we put the house up for sale. There are 2,000 some houses for sale and 1,000 some in forclosure in the same town as ours. What that means is that someone could buy a house a lot cheaper there than where we live now :( And our chances of selling have greatly diminished. SO - DJ called a couple of people to see if there was any interest in renting our house. Some interest...which was good! Long story short - DJ is driving to Nampa today for work and will be meeting Jared and a potential renter at the house this evening :) One of those - blessing for them, blessing for us situations. My fingers are crossed! Very much deja vu - like our trailer (we rented it for a year then sold it and helped out several people in the process).

Yesterday was a bad day here. Shuggie was still feeling poorly - and we had to take her in because it was so bad. She's on antibiotics for strep (although they didn't swab the throat) - and they ruled out flu. She was feeling so good yesterday afternoon - so she's going to school today - albeit a little late.

Today is Family History Center Day and Costco shopping day. Busy day....but good busy. I'm enjoying listening to the Four Hour Workweek. Some great ideas - but I can tell he doesn't know anything about being a stay at home mom!

Well - that's about it for now. Have a great day all!

16 Nov 2009

The first time I made the bread, I used a cookie sheet - and it did spread out. Since then, I've used bread pans. I SO wish I had a long loaf pan as that would be perfect for this - but I make do with the regular pans - it still tastes great! Sorry I forgot to mention that....:) Heads up everyone else who wants to try the recipe! Also - FYI - the last batch I made had 5 cups of wheat flour and 3 cups of white. It was still nice and fluffy! I think that's about as far as I want to take that ratio :)

McKay is enjoying her last day at home. I wanted to get her able to take chewable Tylenols (versus liquid hydrocodone). She also is getting her homework caught up. I'm trying to talk her into going for this afternoon - not sure if I'll succeed.

So yesterday after I posted, I went and slept - for several hours. Felt so great! Just really crashed hard. So many things seemed to be dragging me down - sick kids, worry over the house, etc. After I got up - I had something to eat, then went to my FH consultant meeting. It was really nice. I learned some great things.....like: did you know that you can find out who has reserved that ordinance you were wanting to do? Go to labs.familysearch.org and click on family tree. Then look up your person and it should be in the info there (somewhere). I don't remember the final details....but I saw it for myself on the demonstration. Also if they have an email address - you can email them.

So after my meeting, (which I was for sure the youngest person there) I was feeling pretty upbeat. DJ reported on some progress he had made on an assignment I had given him (that sounds worse than it is)....and then we had some great inspiration. We followed through and went to bed feeling like it was Christmas eve. Does it mean our problems are all solved? No - but it does mean we have hope and we're feeling like our will is getting more lined up with the Lord's will. Just had to share that with you :)

Unfortunately, because of my great nap - I didn't sleep so well. But I got through my book I've been listening to - The Age of the Unthinkable (which I highly recommend). The day is going well - and Hinckley just got home so I better go. Have a great day all! I hope you're feeling the hope too!

15 Nov 2009

Sunday - Stake Conference. So it's 12:31 and I'm home on the computer. Can't remember what I was going to do - wait.....I just remembered. A short pause while I go do it.....OK - it's going now. Thanks for the help!

Rough day as we have been attending church at 1 for years. Really - years! Next year I think we'll have it at 9. After the circus today, I think I prefer 1.

We're getting ready to watch Emma's Story (I think that's what it's called). Should be a nice Sunday Movie.

I'm tired after church....Let me know how the bread turned out for you, Becky!

Loves!

13 Nov 2009

Friday. To clarify: McKay knew that she was getting her tonsils out. She didn't know she had to have some bloodwork done and and IV in as part of that procedure.

Today I took Hinckley in to the doctor and she has strep again. WILL THE FUN NEVER END?!?!?

I've been cleaning up my google reader. - Taking the starred items and either saving the picture in a special file or printing the item as a PDF and saving it in the file. Such fun stuff!

Other than that I'm just working on surviving. And that's enough for today. Have a great Friday!

12 Nov 2009

So we're holding our own today. It was a rough morning - with no pain meds through the night. Finally she took some (after much convincing and many tears). The pic yesterday was actually anger not sadness. She was really unhappy about the needle parts. We didn't warn her in advance (can you blame us?!?). So - she was pretty mad at us for awhile.

That's about all happening with us. Chuck has the flu - so we're staying away from him. He's on Tamiflu :) I really don't want to get the flu. Fingers crossed!

Have a great day!

11 Nov 2009

Surgery went well and she's resting comfortably. I am surprised at how tired I am! Don't know how you did it, A!
Here's some cell phone pics:

She did great. Now we get the easy part - watching TV and taking it easy. I'll keep you posted as I can. Have a great evening!

10 Nov 2009

She said it was the best day ever :) I got the call - and we're to be at the hospital at 6:30 in the morning! She will go through admissions then on to the lab. Then to outpatient surgery. No exact time on the surgery. I'm optimistic :)

We stocked up on ice cream and popsicles today. Taylor was such a help. Also picked up some Redbox's - including UP which we haven't seen. Looking forward to that.

Sorry I don't have more - just getting everything ready for tomorrow. Have a great day all!

Oh - one more thing. The whole-wheat (only) was really heavy still. I think a mix is good - I'll keep trying different combinations to get the maximum wheat in it. :)

9 Nov 2009

It was so sweet! McKay prayed last night that today would be the best day ever. This is the day for her first Activity Day! She is so excited about it!

Not much going on here today otherwise....I'm doing some laundry. Got a couple of books to read :) I have to say that I do enjoy the slow paced life! Oh! I was asked to make bread again today - same recipe as the other day. I might do 2 batches and try a whole-wheat one. We'll see!

Hope your day is great!

7 Nov 2009

Thanks for the compliments! And I'll give the readers a few more days to comment if they would like the aforementioned games and file folders.

Having a nice Saturday here. I'm trying to free up enough space to copy disks, etc on my computer. With my "boot" hard drive partion being 9.88 gigs - it's almost totally full. Hopefully I'll get things fixed sometime soon. If not - would you be interested in making copies of the Family Memory disk, anyone? I can't even make a CD! I will probably have to make do until Christmas when we visit my computer guy (ed bud).

After I took my pics, I realized I had left out the s'matches. And my printer is being difficult - so I tucked them in with the candles. Really a quick, easy gift! I'm hoping to make a few other gift templates like that up - so when I need a gift I can pull it together quickly. I have a file on my external drive called Gift Templates. Helpful! I do need to take Becky's advice and back up my external.

Well, not much else to say today. Hope things are well with you all! Later...

6 Nov 2009

Happy Friday! I have a recipe for you today. It's a fabulous bread recipe! I don't know the original source - but I got it from What's for Supper? compiled by Marcia Chambers. Additional books can be obtained by emailing chambers@bridgernet.com

French Bread

2 1/4 cups very warm water
 1 1/2 Tbsp. shortening (I use oil)
1 1/2 Tbsp. yeast dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water

1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar

2 1/2 tsp. salt

6 to 8 cups flour

Mix water, shortening and yeast. Add sugar and salt. Add 6 cups flour, then start kneading, adding more flour to make stiff dough. Raise 10 minutes, and then mix down. Repeat six times. Divide dough into thirds and roll like a jelly roll, forming three loaves. Make diagonal slashes across top with sharp knife. Top with melted butter. Raise for 1 1/2 hours. Bake 10 munitues at 400 degrees, and then reduce heat to 350 degrees. Bake 20 minutes longer.

*This recipe may seem intense as you have to keep punching the dough down. The last time I made this I just let it rise in the mixer bowl and would turn on the mixer for just a few seconds each time the 10 minutes were up. It works well to be doing this while you're doing something else in the kitchen as you get a "break" every 10 minutes :) It comes the closest to french bread from the store (I think). I substituted 3 cups of wheat flour this last time - and it still rose and had that wonderful open cell structure of the french bread. Just wanted to put this on if anyone loves store-bought french bread as much as I do :)

So we're getting ready for the weekend. Not much planned. Just the way I like it! Kimball is going caving tomorrow with the YM/YW. She's going to have such fun! DJ and I have a wedding reception in the evening. I went to the DI today and picked up a few things for a gift. Here's the inspiration: S'mores

Here's what mine turned out like:

Here's another little tip: Buy games at the DI (or Thrift store). Seriously! You can get great games - old and new for a fraction of the price! Recent finds for me include - Mormonopoly (ok - so I have to make new blessing cards - but I spotted the family faces cards for Family Bingo and I think family is definitivamente (sad that I can spell Spanish better than English - but you know the word I was going for - right?) blessings!) and Inklings. Both are great Sunday games! In the past I found - Family Fun by Cranium (complete - just with dried out play-dough). As I go through a few more of my homemade games - I'll have some to send to some lucky person. Anyone want some file folders (alphabet, numbers, etc) as well as a couple of Finch Family Games (Honesty Pays, Ordinance Opportunity, Parables Pocket, Trials and Trimph)? Let me know :)

Have a great weekend!

5 Nov 2009

The update: McKay's surgery will be next Wednesday. We don't know the time yet...not until sometime on Tuesday. I just took the earlies available slot. DJ unfortunately wasn't able to get time off to help me with getting everything covered that day. The Lord provided in an unexpected way: Next Wednesday is Veterans Day and Chuck has the day off! So grateful that I won't have to wrangle the little ones and try to manage meeting the kindergarten bus while not knowing what time the surgery will be.

How about some pics of our fitness evening on MOnday?

As you can tell - everyone had fun!

I'm busily trying to read the last book in the Foo series. Kimball is waiting on me so I have to hurry! Have a great day!

4 Nov 2009

Today's the day. I kept dreaming I'd forget the appointment. What nightmares! We should be setting a time that we will get tubes put in her ears and her tonsils out. More later....

We had a funny thing come up on Monday evening. We were talking about fitness - taking care of our bodies - and Mom mentioned the Go Chicken Fat, Go! song. I had never heard of it before. Long story short - she found it on youtube - so I wanted to share it with you: Chicken Fat - this is the complete song - there are other shorter clips with better illustrations - so depending on whether you want to just listen or watch.....

We are in need of get up songs. Guess what I'm adding after finding that my girls love Chicken Fat? Yep - that song! As I'm writing this I'm searching youtube for additional wake up songs! Ok - here's a cute one for little ones....Splish Splash. And I liked the Lion Sleeps tonight too - but wasn't excited about the video - and I know you've heard that one. You've probably heard this one too - Good Morning such fun!
I can't find the good morning song I sing to them. Maybe I should add it?

Anyway - I had better get going. FH center first! Have a great day all!

3 Nov 2009

Today started a bit rougher.....we're working on that :) DJ is driving the next three days - so we won't see him until sometime tomorrow - then he'll be off again on Thursday. Tomorrow we take McKay to the ENT for an appointment. I'm so glad that we'll be able to get her fixed up!

I spent way too much time online yesterday - so my goal is to spend less time today. Always something to do! Make it a great day!

2 Nov 2009

A good start to the morning - up early and going. I've cleaned out my girls room - thinned the toys and tidied up in general. It really needed my help. They are good at regular cleaning-  but not in depth cleaning. So - it looks really good and they should be happy with it. I hope....

Had a nice day working on family history yesterday. Found several errors in various places on various lines - and got a start on fixing them. Basically, you need to contact the submitter and have them claim the submission (if they haven't already) then they need to fix it. It's a complicated process at times - at other times it's a lot easier than you might think. Salt Lake must know my name by now - with how often I've emailed them for fixes and updates.

Today is one of our laundry days - and it's looking like a big one today. When I miss my Thursday laundry - it's gigantic on Monday. I'm grateful for washer's and driers. I can't imagine having to do all this by hand.

Well - I'm off on another errand. Have a great day!