This day just keeps getting better and better.....

I finished my last paper for the semester.


Ahhhhhh.


I got good news that people like me after all.


Yesssssss!


I finished registering for fall semester. Thanks to the university's generosity in accepting my many credits as electives, I don't have to take 16 credits - only 10.


Woooo-hooo!


Now if I could just get confirmation today that the ink is dry on the sale of my Utah house, that would be the proverbial whip cream on top.


Hoping...Hoping...Hoping...

My Little Houdini

We discovered this past weekend that The Love Magnet has learned how to open the garage door, run outside, and close it using the security key pad. She thinks she has discovered the freedom to run and play whenever she wants.

Made a trip to the local hardware store. Bought flap locks for all doors leading outside or too the garage. Installing them high in case The Love Magnet decides to take a chair to the door and see if she can learn how to unlock flap locks.

My daughter thinks it highly unfair that her brothers can play with friends without having Mom along as a chaperon. She also thinks that she should be allowed to do everything they do, no matter how age-inappropriate it may be for her.

My 6 year old has suddenly turned 16. What on earth am I going to do when she really turns 16 and wants to drive?

Sunday Gratitudes (on a Monday)

I am grateful (ohh, so VERY GRATEFUL) that there are two weeks left before finals. I love school and I have loved this semester, but it has taken over my life. I'm looking forward to only one class this summer and much more time to be with my family. Cook in my kitchen. Blog. (I miss blogging on a regular basis.)

I'm thankful for flap locks. The Love Magnet notices that her brothers get to do things that she can't....like play with their friends without a chaperone. She has also learned how to open and close the garage door. The flap locks are going on the doors today. Very high on the doors. (I wouldn't put it past her to pull a chair over to the door to try to undo the locks).

I'm grateful that The Love Magnet was invited to a birthday party last weekend. She had a wonderful time. Lots of pasta salad, lots of kids (birthday twins) and a pony ride to boot. I kept going over the rules of birthday parties with her on our way there so she wouldn't try to help blow out candles or unwrap presents. The Love Magnet behaved marvelously and hugged everyone when we said goodbye.

Secondborn announced this past weekend that he had the 2nd highest score in his 6th grade for the language IRI test. We are thrilled for him! I am grateful that he has done so well in school this year. Math testing starts this week. We're praying for him, cheering him on, and making sure he eats a good breakfast.

Thirdborn had his book project due last week. This month he chose to do a reader's theater. I helped him put together a script and he worked hard on some really great animal masks for the characters. Mr. Wonderful and I went to help out. The project turned out very well. I'm grateful that Thirdborn has not lost his enthusiasm for school.

Mr. Wonderful had to speak in church yesterday (he is the YM President and the theme was the Aaronic Priesthood.) Other than announcing that we had three kids instead of four - he meant to say that we had three boys and one girl - his talk was flawless. He had great stories about his experiences and the Young Men were listening. I'm thankful that we were there to support him. I am sure he is grateful that it is over.

This past weekend, Firstborn participated in a dance event for our church. His group learned country line dancing and country swing. They did a great job. I'm thankful that he had a positive experience (he didn't want to do it at first...but I made him). Pictures will be posted soon.

Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze

Cold, drizzly day. Trying to think warm. No, think tropical. Feel urge to cook (since when do I not feel the urge to cook, I'm a foodie for Heaven's sake!) See overripe bananas on counter. Think how good they will be combined with coconut.....

Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze

from Cooking Light

CL's notes: The tangy lime glaze cuts the sweetness of the bread. Substitute apple juice for the rum if you prefer.

My notes: I used coconut and rum flavorings instead of rum. Added lime zest to the lime glaze. Ohhhhhh, yum. The same article also did a Chocolate Marbled Banana Bread that is my other favorite banana bread recipe since 2003. But you'll have to wait for me to post that recipe. I'm trying to think warm right now. Hawaii would be nice.....

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)

1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt

3 tablespoons dark rum

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut

Cooking spray

1 tablespoon flaked sweetened coconut

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly spoon the flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk to combine.

Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 1 minute). Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana, yogurt, rum, and vanilla; beat until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist. Stir in 1/2 cup coconut.

Spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon coconut. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Combine powdered sugar and juice, stirring with a whisk; drizzle over warm bread. Cool bread completely on wire rack.

Yield: 1 loaf, 16 servings (serving size: 1 slice)CALORIES 193 (21% from fat); FAT 4.6g (sat 2.8g,mono 1.1g,poly 0.3g); IRON 1mg; CHOLESTEROL 35mg; CALCIUM 15mg; CARBOHYDRATE 35g; SODIUM 179mg; PROTEIN 2.9g; FIBER 1.1g Cooking Light, SEPTEMBER 2003

Proud Mom Moment

Last weekend, Firstborn told me about a lesson in his English class. His teacher asked the class "What is chivalry?"

No one could answer.

No one except Firstborn.

When his teacher asked him how he knew these things, he told her about being taught at home. Opening doors for all women. Letting a woman walk first into a room. Standing up when a woman walks into a room. Offering your chair. Holding a chair for a woman. Helping her with her coat. When walking on the street with a woman, be sure that you are walking between her and traffic. Offering your arm to a woman, especially if the way is slick, so she doesn't fall. In other words, doing everything you can to show respect to women. (In case you are wondering, Firstborn gave me this definition.)

He told her that he watched his dad act that way towards his mom. He also said that his mom took all her sons on dates and made sure they learned how to do the same.

Amazement from English Teacher.

Meanwhile at home, I am thankful that the lessons at home are truly sinking in. I am grateful that he has now seen the validity of such lessons. Not only did it earn him an A that day, he has seen that girls like being treated in this manner.

I am a Proud Mom.

Happy Easter from my house to yours

Be sure to pause the music (scroll down my blog page and look on the right) before you listen to Elder Holland's conference talk. The talk is amazing.

Peace and goodwill (if only for a moment)

Tonight was one of those nights where I wish I could just bottle it up and save it.

I picked up my younger kids after school and took them home to find the two older boys. We had some celebrating to do:

Thirdborn earned 100%on his spelling test.

Secondborn got straight A's on his report card.

Firstborn earned 100% on his health exam today.

All of these are big accomplishments at our house. I took the kids out to dinner at our favorite burger-and-shake place. This is the moment I want to save, the moment we sat down:

Thirdborn was hugging everyone when they expressed admiration over his spelling score. He worked so hard for that this week. First born was high-fiveing everyone over his sports health exam score. Secondborn was proudly telling everyone about his report card and his latest exam on Ancient China. The Love Magnet excitedly told everyone "Good job!" as she scarfed french fries and fry sauce.

Everyone was listening to everyone else.

There was no fighting, teasing, or taunting -

For the entire meal.

My kids are good kids, but they aren't perfect. When these rare moments come along, I want to sit back and watch every second, hoping that I don't lose a single detail to faulty memory. I can't explain why these moments happen. But for one meal, it did happen.

Harmony.

Apparently Heaven is a burger joint with fabulous onion rings and lemon custard shakes, where love abounds between all brothers and sisters. Who knew?

Cub Scouts, Cute Babies, and Heroes (all in one fun filled Pack Meeting)

Yesterday, we had our first pack meeting in our newly formed ward. Thirdborn (finally!) received his Bobcat patch. When asked if he would like to say something, Thirdborn replied "I really love Scouting!"

The Love Magnet was ever so supportive....until she got sidetracked by a Cute Baby Alert.

The Love Magnet loves babies. Especially patient ones who will let her hug and kiss them. This particular baby was incredibly forbearing. Can you blame my daughter? Look at the cheeks on that baby. And the red hair and blue eyes. It's almost an overdose of sweetness.



After the awards were done, there was an Easter Egg hung on the back lawn of the church. Unfortunately, The Love Magnet wasn't fast enough. She didn't get one egg.



When they discovered that The Love Magnet didn't have any Easter Eggs in her sack, Thirdborn and two other Cub Scout Heroes shared their eggs with her. The Love Magnet ended up with more eggs than anyone. I am constantly amazed at the kindness and generosity of 8-10 year old kids. None of them were forced to do this. They even hugged back when The Love Magnet expressed her thanks.

Add one more hero. Nothing is better than the view from the top of a big brother's shoulders.

Food Storage Made Easy is selling these cute food storage organizer binders. The whole purpose of FSME is to show you that EVERYONE can do this. They'll hold your hand and walk you through their list of babysteps. Check it out here. They are also giving away a few of these binders in a promotional contest to advertise the new and shiny gizmo. Pass the word on.

I really ROCK at this food storage thing....

Over the weekend I bought 80 boxes of Post cereals for $51.20. That breaks down to $0.67/box. (Cereal that would normally cost $4.98 a box for a total of $398.40.) I saved $347.20.


Now, I know you are thinking: What on earth is she going to do with EIGHTY boxes of Post cereals?!


I'll have you know that I have four children, two of them teenagers. They eat through one box every morning. (no, I am not kidding). If I let them eat cold cereal every single morning, those boxes wouldn't last three months.

Good thing I don't let them eat cold cereal every single morning. There are also pancakes, muffins, oatmeal (not much success in getting them to like oatmeal but they still have to eat it every now and then), bacon and eggs, and smoothies.

Truly, food storage is a really good thing. It saves money since you stock up on sale items. It saves trips to the grocery store. Click on these links for ideas:

Simply Living Smart
Food Storage Made Easy
Provident Living

Sunday Gratitudes

Sunday Gratitudes on a Sunday! That has become a bit rare around here. My life has been so full of school and kids that I hardly get to do much more. I was holding off a post until I could get the pictures downloaded....but my camera isn't cooperating. You'll just have to imagine the beaming faces:

I'm grateful that Thirdborn was awarded the Star Award for Determination. He was beaming in front of the whole school. I can't think of anyone who deserves that Determination Title more than him. He has worked so hard. I'm currently reading Dr. Levine's A Mind At A Time which has been great at explaining how Thirdborn thinks. I'm eager to get the summer academic program started that will focus exactly on his learning disability.

I'm grateful for "Grandma P" who visits The Love Magnet's class once a week to work on writing workshops. This sweet woman helped my daughter to write, illustrate, and "publish" a story called The Rootbeer Float (apparently TLM got the idea after having floats for FHE treat). My daughter so so excited to read the book to me at the Authors Party her class hosted. She was even more excited to read the book to her best friend E. (Unfortunately, the great pic I had of this moment is floating somewhere around my camera. This is where you imagine beaming faces). Let me also share how thankful I am for E. E is so patient with The Love Magnet. They play together and work together. I am so grateful that my daughter has good friends in her class.

I'm grateful for General Conference weekend. The talks will be available to read soon. If you can't wait, you can see the video archives here. I will post the links to my favorites: Elder Holland and Sister Thompson. (I would love to have lunch with Sister Barbara Thompson someday. I think she might be a kindred spirit.) I loved the messages of living within your means, trusting in our Heavenly Father, having faith, understanding the Atonement of Jesus Christ and exactly what his sacrifice means for us. My spirit has rejoiced today. My batteries are recharged.

I'm thankful that I was able to get the research done and my papers finished this past week. More exams and papers coming up every single week until the end of the semester. This semester has been hard, mainly due to the class times, but I'm making it and the semester is almost done.

I'm grateful that we were able to see my family and Mr. Wonderful's family over Spring Break. It had been awhile. I really got to spend some time with my mom and my twin sis. It was divine to be together.

Where in the world is Scarehaircare?

I had a flu shot in October. Apparently it doesn't count for getting the flu in March.

Drat.

So please excuse the omission of Sunday Gratitudes last Sunday. I was in bed. I made the kids miss the first two days of Spring Break. It wasn't much fun for them. I didn't even make the Chocolate Birthday Cake with sprinkles for World Down Syndrome Day. That will have to happen next Sunday. Pics will be forthcoming.

Now we are in Utah visiting family. The kids are enjoying a Spring Break full of snow. I am spending time with my mom and twin sis at my grandma's house. We're going through things and taking home mementos (I will post pics later). Mom saved me one of Grandma's many pickle crocks so I can make my own crystal pickles. I have a few books (one of my absolute favorites when I was growing up was Brigham Young and Me, Clarissa. I was thrilled to get it.) I also have a beautiful watercolor print of antique dolls that my cousin painted. It will go in The Love Magnet's room. Lastly, I have my grandma's Ableskiver pan. If you don't know what abelskivers are, I will show you in a later post. It requires photos of the finished product.

I hadn't been in Grandma's house in over a year. Longer than that - since she left to go into assisted living. It was bitter-sweet to be there - it's hard to believe that Grandma has been gone for 6 months. I looked into a closet and saw her sweaters. Tears came into my eyes - I wanted to wrap myself in a sweater hug. There was one sweater she wore the most, a white thing. I almost took it with me. I wish I did. I really miss my Grandma. I miss her reading Shel Silverstein to me. I miss making raspberry jam in her kitchen. I miss her showing me how to make holly hock dolls every year. I miss her taking me on a tour through her incredible flower and vegetable gardens (My sis-in-love was right - Grandma ran on solar power.) I know I've stated that I miss Grandma's Sunday suppers with the pickle dishes and "yucky" rolls. I miss being able to call Grandma when I needed to hear an adult voice. I miss hearing the family history stories.

Afterwards, we went to the local ice cream parlor for sundaes (raspberry chocolate brownie for twin sis and me and Almond Joy sundae for mom) and cheese fries. (I KNOW!! My inner health-nut was cringing!) There was a reason for this choice of menu: My twin sis brought Grandma S to the same place about a year ago. Grandma fell in love with cheese fries and sundaes. she had never eaten cheese fries before. Grandma wasn't eating much of anything at the time so when anyone found something she liked, they would encourage her to eat all she could. (There is a photo of that trip here.) So this afternoon we toasted Grandma with ice cream and cheese fries.

I won't be eating supper tonight. Someone will have to roll me to bed. This was worth all the calories I'll have to run off next week.

HAPPY WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY!

The Love Magnet and her family hope you celebrate this day appropriately by:

1. Completely eliminating the words retard, retarded, or 'tard from your vocabulary.

2. Ask everyone you know to eliminate those words.

3. Hug a person who has Down syndrome.

Since this is a day for celebrating, The Love Magnet insists that you also make her favorite dessert: Chocolate Birthday Cake. Be sure to include candles and sprinkles. The Love Magnet believes all cakes should have candles and sprinkles.

Mr. President, I'd like you to meet Sarah...

Obama's joke at the expense of Special Olympics. Oh, yes he did say that. Without blinking an eye. I wonder if he thought anything wrong right after that remark or did his PR group have to point it out?

Mr. President (and world) I'd like you to meet Sarah. Sarah has left me comments on this blog for a few months now. She has incredible wisdom as you will see. Her response to the whole situation is respectful and to the point......absolutely perfect. See it here.

(Mr. President, I really think you should invite Sarah to the White House. She is one smart cookie. I shall count myself very blessed if I ever get to meet her in person.)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

picture by Michael Brandy of The Deseret News

These recipes come from a fab Irish pub in Utah (I know, unexpected). I'm making this for supper tonight.

IRISH SODA BREAD
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup raisins
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
Sift flour, soda, cream of tartar, salt and sugar in a bowl. Add raisins, mix eggs and buttermilk into flour mixture. Knead lightly for a few minutes. Spread on floured cookie sheet or pizza pan. Bake in 350-degree oven for 45 minutes.

SMOKED SALMON CHOWDER
3 pounds red potatoes, cut in quarters
3 carrots, roughly chopped
Olive oil
1 head celery, roughly chopped
2 yellow onions, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
1-2 quarts chicken stock (or vegetable stock or water)
2 quarts heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons roux (butter and flour in equal parts, cooked together)
2 pounds gravlax or smoked salmon (MacCool's cures and cold-smokes its salmon. At the supermarket, look for gravlax or smoked salmon)
2 ounces (about 3 tablespoons) chopped dill

Quarter the potatoes, then boil or steam until slightly tender. Drain and refrigerate.
In a heavy-bottomed sauce pot or braiser, saute carrots in olive oil, then add celery and onion and cook until they become soft. Don't let them turn brown, or it will discolor the chowder.
Add garlic and saute another 2 minutes. Add the stock to cover the veggies completely, and bring to a boil. Add heavy cream and bring the mixture to a boil again. After the chowder has reduced somewhat, mix in the roux to thicken it slightly, to the consistency of a stew.
Pour the chowder into a plastic container or bucket and place in an ice bath.

While the chowder is cooling, add the salmon, reserving some for the garnish. (The salmon is already cured and/or smoked, so it's cooked.)

Add the potatoes and dill, and stir gently but thoroughly. The chowder is best if made a day or two before serving. It seems to get a more intense, sweeter flavor after sitting in the refrigerator.

To serve, thoroughly reheat, garnish with some cold thinly sliced gravlax on top, and add a nice hunk of Irish soda bread on the side.

and just in case you want to try MacCool's yourself:

MacCool's Public House locations:
1400 S. Foothill Drive in Salt Lake City
855 W. Heritage Park Blvd. in Layton
11610 S. District Main Drive in South Jordan.

Pink Eye

Ugh. And more ugh.

What I thought yesterday was just goopy eyes from blocked tear ducts (it happens sometimes to my darling little girl) was most definitely a full blown case of pink eye this morning. I kept TLM home from school and called the family doctor first thing this morning.

Midmorning I get a call from the elementary school: Thirdborn has pinkeye and will I come and get him? (Why on earth didn't I see it when I looked at him this morning? He looked fine this morning.)

I called Mr. Wonderful to tell him the news and......his eyes are itchy. Oh, lovely. So are mine, come to think of it. The Love Magnet and her brothers spent yesterday afternoon all together in my bed, watching movies.........infecting my pillows........

So it's a round of eye drops for everyone at this house. And my profuse apologies to anyone else who might have picked it up from my kids this weekend. I shall repent from my not-so-nice thoughts of whomever infected my kids.

One smile: the nurse offered my kids a pair of their very own blue medical gloves so they could handle things without infecting everything. The Love Magnet immediately put hers on, turned to me and said "Mom, give me your arm". She proceeded to do a perfect imitation of taking my blood. She wanted to take everyone's blood - and hug them afterwards for being brave patients.

I had always thought that she would be a teacher's aide when she grew up. Now I am wondering of the possibilities of working in a doctors office. Not doing anything technical.....just offering love to teary patients.

Sunday Gratitudes (on a Monday)

I'm grateful for datenight. I put together a group to continue on the tradition of game night here. These people are great fun. The food is fabulous (there has been a small competition going on for bragging rights to the best meal - I think its a three-way tie so far). Last night I made a Blackberry Almond Tort based on a recipe I found here. Since there wasn't flour in the sponge cake ingredients list (I thought it might be an error) I used the sponge cake recipe from America's Test Kitchen Best New Recipes cookbook. The cake turned out divine. I had enough pastry cream left over to make a trifle for Family Home Evening treat tonight.

I started running last week. It will still be uber hard for another week or two but persistence will pay off. I'm so grateful that K got me started on running. I never would have dared try on my own if it weren't for her. My sweet sis-in-love has registered for the Richmond Marathon in November. She told me that they also have a half marathon and suggested I come with her. Hmmm. Seriously considering.....

The weather has been warming up. My tulips are starting to poke out of the ground, including the tulips I planted a year after I bought the bulbs. So here is gratitude that the bulbs are forgiving. I absolutely love spring flowers.

This week past week was harder than most. My boys and Mr. Wonderful were so good at helping out. Or should I say that Mr. Wonderful was great in rallying the troops to help out? In any case the kitchen was clean and the carpets vacuumed. I'm grateful for my family's love and support. Now I am making it up to them by getting the laundry done today.

Running update

After not running in ages, and getting on the scale only to make myself miserable, I dusted off my running shoes and strapped on my Garmin. It was cold outside. But the skies were a combination of blue and white and the sun was shining. It didn't help that I was given a nasty cough from Mr. Wonderful and the kids. Add that to trying to run against a stiff wind......

Yeah, I know I am complaining. I'm a complainer. The only disability is a bad attitude. Chalk it up to being angry with myself for stopping my running habit and gaining weight as a result. I am not happy with myself at the moment. At least I got out. I'm proud that I did run (1 mile non stop at 11:30/mi. and the second mile off and on because I was coughing so much. I didn't get the third mile in at all).

Last night I got online to check out blog and saw that my sweet Sis-in-love had a similar idea and dusted off her running shoes, too. I feel a kinship with that woman. She is one of my heroes.

Sunday Gratitudes

One huge gratitudes for meds. We've had a sick Mr. Wonderful, followed by The Love Magnet, Thirdborn Son and now me. The only things that seem to help are Vicks vapor products and Mucinex. While I am at it, I am grateful for the stores in easy distance and plenty of products stocked.

Gratitude for a wonderfully supportive church family. These people would walk through fire to help. This week our dear Relief Society President has been just incredible in helping me work through a few minor trials and teaching me humor through it all.

I'm incredibly grateful for a doctor who could give us a name for Thirdborn's learning disability. Thirdborn does have a form of dyslexia. We were even referred to a center that will help Thirdborn retrain his brain how to work with this disability. This doctor did all of this in a fun way that made Thirdborn comfortable. My son came home laughing and telling me about the silly things he had to do. He was more excited to show me the prize he picked for doing so well. I'm also grateful that Thirdborn has already started resource services to help him at school. He has had such a great attitude through it all and that is a big result of his wonderful teacher. I wish I could keep her for every grade.

I'm grateful for Mr. Wonderful. He was all set to take me out to dinner and a dance last Friday when he was sick. I told him that we could cancel and he replied that it wouldn't be fair to me that I needed a datenight. Well, yes I did. I convinced him to put on pjs. Then I ran to the store and splurged on three imported cheeses, a few antipasto items, crackers and non-alcoholic sparkling pear juice. I put everything together on a tray along with a high quality chocolate and toffee bar. We watched Cold Comfort Farm at which I laughed uproariously and Mr. Wonderful was baffled. When I told him we did not have to watch it he told me that he was just happy being with me. Isn't Mr. Wonderful wonderful?

Oh, the Simple Joys

Wearing your softest pajamas to school.

Green eggs and ham.

Watching the movie Horton Hears A Who.

Cuddling with your favorite princess fleece blanket.

Reading The Cat In The Hat.

Blue frosting - your favorite color.

Best. School day. Ever.

I wish I could wear my pajamas to school, eat green eggs, watch movies and read fun books all day, and really truly enjoy blue frosting'd cupcakes with wild abandon. Unfortunately, 40 year old moms in college just don't get to do fun things like that.