Rockin' Valentines

Valentines that are boy approved. Get your digital file here.

I just got the two cards to fit on a 4x6 photo and sent it off to Costco for printing. For a total of $5.51 for the file purchase and printing of all 3 boys' valentines. Sweet deal.

Wanna go for a swim

These gray skies are driving me batty.
So are my kids, stir crazy I tell ya!
And what's up with no school on Monday?
Are you nodding your head in agreement?
I've got a solution.
Swim party. At the farm.
And no, I'm not crazy, it's indoors.
So bring your suits, floaties and towels.
And you have two choices:
Come between either
10-12 or 1-3.
We'll be around for both.
I plan on getting these bundles of energy nice and tired.
So come one come all and
email me if you need directions.

1 minute with Baden

Baden: Dad won't let me get on the erplane. (Coming out of Brian's office)

Me: Why do you need to get on the airlplane?
(at this point I start writing down because I know it's going to be good)

Baden: Cause I have to go to my chicken farm. I'm going to go outside.

Me: It's too cold to go outside.

Baden: I HAVE to go to work.

Me: No you don't.

Baden: I have to work so I can get money to pay for Georgia's (1 of 6 imaginary friends) house.

Me: Why do you have to pay for her house?

Baden: Because she losed her job on Christmas and she doesn't have any money, so I have to pay for her, and she has to go to high school.

Me: Ok, get your coat on then.

Baden: I have to take my gun cause there woofs (wolves) and bears. I need to call some phone calls.

Me: Why?

Baden: Cause I need some people to come and feed the chickens. Ok, so I gotta go now. (slams the door)

When I told Brian about this exchange, he said, "The recession is hitting imaginary people, how sad."

Answers

sometimes come in the form of a conference talk.
It's just what I needed to read. Maybe you'll find it speaks to you as well.
Read it here.
I think you'll be glad you did.

This was taken last Sunday. I just had to document that Kate had mini-pigtails in her hair (which she promptly removed). Today I quarantined them all and stayed home from church. Too many coughs, sniffs and other nastiness to pass on to other children at church.
And by the way, it is WAY easier to go to church than stay at home! We all felt the void today.

last hurrah

It's the last weekend of being in my twenties.
(30 sounds exciting, doesn't it?)

I am hunting for my cake.
Since this is the big one, it's got to be good and chocolate.

Last year my Grandma L. called and upon hearing I was cakeless said,

"It's better to make my own cake,
than cry because I didn't have one."

Words of wisdom, I'd say.

So I've turned to foodgawker.
Because a picture is worth a thousand words.

What will it be?

This?
This?

or This?
Decisions, decisions...

Lunch Bunch

I'm so lucky I get to eat lunch with them everyday. No matter that they each request something different.
They're with me, in my kitchen every day for lunch.
Within the next 5 years they're all going to trade me in for a noisy cafeteria and wish they had Wonderbread sandwiches like the rest of their friends.
I should know, I did the same thing.

Have you seen this?

Just finished season one. I'm hooked. Who knew?

you just never know

1st day of the 3rd grade

I can assure you that it never occurred to me that I'd be asked to speak at her funeral on that first day of school 22(!) years ago. That is until I recieved a phone call requesting that very thing this morning. I was happy to oblige.

What to say? Well, that's easy. There's so much to say. See?

What to wear? When you're 24+ weeks pregnant with #5? Well, that's the hard part.

I will be taking a Unisom tonight.

Princess Indeed

And from a princess herself, words to live by:

Princess Grace of Monaco
“I am like anyone else trying to keep a home together. I must fight, I mean fight, for the time to be with my children. My husband and I spend every spare moment we have with our children in an effort to share our lives with them. And where there are no spare moments, I struggle to make them.”

Stupid wind

My neighbor just came by to ask how I like the wind. I told him I hate it. "How's your trampoline?" he asked. I told him Brian just got home from a meeting and was changing to go and move it. "Too late, it's over the fence and wedged between our house and your fence." Sure enough, over the fence and nice and bent.

Stupid wind.

The kids seriously jump on that thing every day, unless it's loaded with snow. Makes me so stinkin' mad.

Bread

(3 posts in one day? This has got to be some sort of a record.)

I made 2 batches today. One cracked wheat, one whole wheat. I've got Grandma Lybbert to thank for these recipes. I'm no Pioneer Woman so there's not step-by-step photos. BTW, these are Bosch-friendly recipes. Enjoy!

***UPDATE*** My mom thought I better mention that you need to use HARD red or white wheat, not soft.

100% Whole Wheat Bread

Measure 9 cups of whole wheat flour in mixer. (1/2 red wheat & 1/2 white wheat is my preference.

Add in:
2 tablespoons yeast (SAF, found locally at Winco is the only way to go)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons salt
1 cup powdered milk (however, if you are using non-instant mix it in with your water)

After mixed together add the following:
1 quart warm water
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons oil
1/3 cup molasses
2 eggs

Mix together and add more flour, as needed. I can't tell you exactly how much total flour, but I stop adding when it doesn't stick to the sides any more. Mix for about 10 minutes. Let rise till double. Measure into pans (spray pans) and let set 10 minutes. Today I used my smaller loaf pans for this and used 4 pans each weighing 1 lb 12 oz of dough (with the pan zeroed out). Shape into loaves and grease tops. Let dough rise in the pans until the dough rounds in the pans (about an inch or so above the pan). Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

.......And now for my absolute favorite.......

Cracked Wheat Bread

Pour 4 cups of boiling water over 2 cups cracked wheat in mixer. (Grandpa cracks wheat for me with an old coffee grinder, but you can buy it in the bulk bins I know for sure at Winco) Let stand until most of the water is soaked up, not dry. (add your non-instant powdered milk with the water before pouring over the wheat)

Add:
1/3 cup molasses
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons oil
2 eggs

Mix together and add to wet mixture:
7 cups of white flour (you will need more later)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons yeast
1 cup powdered milk
2 tablespoons salt

Mix, adding more flour as needed until dough releases from sides of bowl. Mix for 10 minutes in mixer. Let rise. Measure into loaves, and make sure to spray your pans. (Today I used my 3 large pans and each with the equivalent of 2 pounds of dough and then had a tiny left for two tiny loaves.) Let rest 10 minutes. Shape into loaves and let rise. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

There really isn't any thing better.
Any questions?

Where do I get my ideas? I hope I don't disappoint you...

Trust me, our Family Home Evenings are typically pulled together at the last minute, but I justify it by telling myself "at least we're doing it."

That being said, I think it's time I kick it up a notch and do a little planning and pondering for it before 6 pm Monday night. We have a Family Home Evening Rotation board that everyone else has (Marilyn, can I beg you to make another tag when baby girl arrives?) the boys can hardly wait to switch each week. When it's Brian's turn for the lesson he takes the reigns, but when the lesson falls on one of the children I help out usually.

I don't buy the books out there written for FHE because I think that we have a goldmine of ideas at our fingertips by exploring here, here and here ---all of which can be easily tailored to target different ages. For lessons with younger children don't forget about this at the back of the Friend.

We'll use this idea for the lesson next week. For the activity I think we'll trace their bodies on butcher paper and let them draw their own men of armor and hang them in their rooms. That's sure to be a hit.

I didn't share anything new did I? Where do you get your ideas?

It's Monday

and it's back to business. I was a little worried when I saw freezing rain in the forecast for Monday morning, but was relieved to wake up and see that the teacher who lives across the street was gone already. PHEW!

You know what I've resolved to do this year? Do better. I've got lots of room for improvement and it starts today. Three things on my list for Mondays from here on out are:

• make bread for the week (looks like my sister has the same idea).
  
• do all the laundry. A girl can dream right?
  
• plan out Family Home Evening lesson (ahead of time). This one looks like a good one to start out with.
  

I plan to hunker down on Mondays and get it done. I'll share my tried and true bread recipes later today (if I can catch a break).