Ebelskiver's and Butter Syrup

I inherited an Ebelskiver pan form my grandma. This is a pan I've wanted for years but could never bring myself to purchase as it is good for only one thing. (If you know other uses, please let me know.) Today we had guests and made Ebelskivers for the first time. I think my Grandma came to hang out with us this morning. Love and good will abounded....along with a steady subconscious stream of "No, do it this way". *smile* You had to know my grandma. I sure miss her.

Ebelskivers

4 eggs separated

1 Tablespoon sugar

2 Cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 Cup melted butter

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

2 Cups milk

Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. In separate bowl beat egg yolks, vanilla, melted butter, and sugar together. In third bowl mix dry ingredients. Alternate stirring egg yolk mixture and milk into dry ingredients. Fold in egg whites.

(How I figured it out.) Grease ebelskiver pan using a bowl of oil and a silicone brush. Set aside and repeat this process for every batch. Heat pan over medium low heat (the other directions I found all said heat pan to smoking point but that was way to hot for what we were trying to accomplish). Fill each depression with batter. When bubbles appear on top of batter use a table spoon to turn the ebelskivers over (other recipes said to use a fork or wooden skewer. I found it much easier to use a spoon and a wooden skewer.) Let cook a few more minutes before scooping out of pan with a clean spoon. Ebelskivers can be served with syrups, jams or powdered sugar and melted butter. We really like the following butter syrup recipe.

Scarehaircare's Family Favorite Butter Syrup

1 Cup butter

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon or orange juice

Zest from that lemon

1 Cup milk

2 Cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 Tablespoon vanilla

Bring butter, milk, lemon juice, and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat and add baking soda, vanilla and lemon zest. Let it foam for a minute before serving.

A letter to concert-goers

Dear 5 drunk women,

You sat behind my son and me at a concert last weekend.

You talked very loudly about the affairs you've had at work (and who was fired in the process). In detail. In front of a 12 year old boy. I tried to distract him. He was embarrassed. I was embarrassed. You should have been embarrassed. But you were drunk.

You screamed very loud before songs.....after songs.....during songs. There were many around us who yelled at you to shut up (and swearing just as much as you.) I was the woman who turned around and asked you politely if you wouldn't mind toning it down in the middle of the songs. I thanked you in advance. I tried very hard not to offend you. You returned the favor by leaning over to scream in my ear every chance you got.

You compared how many times each of you were drunk in the past week. I'm not sure you ever figured out who earned those bragging rights.

You talked about everything being so retarded. I wanted to turn around and tell you that retarded does not mean stupid. But you were drunk. You wouldn't have remembered the conversation anyway. I doubted that seeing a picture of my daughter would have made any difference.

I didn't know that I could have asked security to escort you out. Instead, my son and I left the concert early. You cheered when we stood up to move. Others kept yelling at you to shut up. I don't think you noticed them.

Later that night, over milkshakes at our favorite burger place, my son started talking about the five of you. My 12 year old son wondered why anyone would willing get so drunk before a concert and make fools of themselves. He wondered if you were so miserable in your everyday life that being drunk and so incredibly foolish would make you feel better.

Maybe.

You certainly made an impression on a 12 year old boy.

We hope you had a designated driver and got home safely.

We hope to never sit by you at a concert again.

Sincerely,

Scarehaircare and Secondborn

Sunday Gratitudes (on a Monday)

Yesterday I woke up sick. Sick enough to not want to eat anything. Sick enough to not go to church.

Sick enough to cancel choir.

Yesterday afternoon, guess was came to my door?

Brought by three sweet young women from the youth choir.

I feel so loved!

I got a little teary. I think I hid it well.

My Sunday gratitude goes out today to three young women who absolutely made my day (and then some. They hold a special place in my heart.

State testing time....

The Love Magnet took the official testing that shows her ranking (at grade level, slightly below, very below) in reading. Let me just say right now that The Love Magnet doesn't do well with testing unless you know how to create the best environment for her.

Putting a timer in front of her is like placing a toy within her reach. Lets just say that she was more interested with the timer than the words and sounds in front of her.

Her teacher asked that she be allowed to try again. So, after a movie, when the kids were all hyped up again, The Love Magnet redid her testing without having any distractions on the table.

She read at grade level.


Let me repeat that from the rooftops. SHE READ AT GRADE LEVEL!!


Not only did she read at grade level, she was one of the top readers for her class.

Vice-Principal, bless his heart, is now debating with the district, trying to get the second set of scores submitted for her scoring (they have a policy to test only once.)

A few days later TLM, went to the Principal's office to read to her. Our principal, who was not keen about the idea of holding my daughter back in 1st grade for another year, now has declared that it was a good thing. The results were that amazing.

On the way back to class, my daughter insisted on reading to the librarian and any other adult she caught out in the hallway. She came home that day, talking nonstop about the people who heard her read.

I will say again and again, God bless her teacher, her aides, and everyone who had a part in teaching my daughter to read. I shall try to put together video in the next month or so and demonstrate the fabulous program and combines phonics and basic sign. It works.

Psst - just in case you didn't know: MY DAUGHTER CAN READ!

(I've been grinning about this all week.)

Two Potato Gratin aka That Cheesy Potato Pie Thing

Adapted from Moosewood Simple Suppers
Serves 6

My notes: This is a great vegetarian dish that got a thumbs up from my kids. I think that you could subbed other veggies nicely in this dish if you wanted to mix it up. I cut the oil and butter in half and slightly lessened the cheese. I also subbed Yukon Gold potatoes instead of regular potatoes and regular onion instead of green onion (that is what I had in my fridge). I doubled the recipe below in a 14" cast iron pan and it cooked beautifully. I'm looking forward to leftovers this week.

This original recipe serves 4 but I have found that their servings are huge so I changed it to 6. Moosewood recommended subbing cheddar cheese and fresh dill if your grocer doesn't stock dilled havarti cheese.

1 1/2 cups shredded sweet potato
1 1/2 cups shredded yukon gold potato
1/2 Cup chopped onion
2 eggs, beaten
2 Tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon each salt and fresh ground pepper
1 Cup shredded havarti cheese
1/2 Tablespoon butter
1/2 Tablespoon olive oil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Heat a 10-12" cast iron pan over med-high heat with the butter and oil. Mix together the potatoes, onion, eggs, flour, spices, and half of the havarti cheese. (I found that using my hands for this worked much better than anything else).

Spoon potato mixture into the cast iron pan, patting it down. Let cook for 10 minutes. DO NOT STIR! Gratin will get nice and crispy on the bottom.

Put pan in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until the potatoes are golden brown on top. Sprinkle on the remaining cheese and let bake for another 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Serve hot.

As for the "That Cheesy Potato Pie Thing" - that is what my kids will call it because they won't remember the name. They will ask for this again.

Conversations with The Love Magnet

The other day while walking home from school, The Love Magnet waved to a boy.

"Hi, J!", she yelled enthusiastically. J waved back.

"Who was that?", I asked

"Oh, that J. He my husband."

I wasn't sure if I heard that one right. The Love Magnet is know for garbling speech now and then. I tried to play it cool. "He is what?"

"He my husband." TLM was trying hard to be patient with me.

"Sweetie, you are not married. You are 7 years old." Where on earth did she learn the context of the word husband?!! Surely she doesn't understand the definition.

"Moooom! I am married. He. My. HUSBAND!" TLM's patience was gone. I was now getting a lecture in her very best Let's-imitate-Mom-when-she's-exasperated voice. (This is one of the reasons Heavenly Father sent TLM to me. To show me exactly how I sound to my kids. It's usually humbling. Not today....)

"Sweetheart, you have to be old to be married. Old like me." Normally I wouldn't call myself old, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

"Mom, I grow up now. I tall." My daughter apparently believed that settled matters.

I left the conversation alone, hoping that she would forget about it. She did not mention for the rest of the day.

Thank goodness.

How on earth am I going to handle it when she turns 16 and wants to date and drive?

Been deathly ill.....

Not me.

My computer.

One of my sons chose to turn of the firewall so they could play some online game. This child will remain nameless. He is deeply sorry for what happened next.

I got on the computer after him. While doing some browsing, clicking on only the sites that had the green light from my computer, the computer caught a virus. A really nasty one that downloaded a ton of porn, gambling sites, and something from Africa that I was afraid would be identity-stealing something-or-other. I couldn't turn the computer off. It did not occur to me to pull the plug. People, I was TRAUMATIZED!

What evil people design things like these computer viruses?

After realizing that Spybot and some other programs I had were not going to touch these, I turned the computer off. The very next morning I took it to my local computer doctor.

It was bad timing. I had an online test for my Speech Phonetics class that started that day. there was no way the computer doctor could heal this patient before the exam would close (not unless I paid exorbitant amounts of extra cash). I had to live for nearly a week without my beloved computer.

It was withdrawal. It was inconvenient. I could not do my online labs. I couldn't print off the Power Point lectures to take to class. No recipes. No online Cookie friends. No Facebook. No email, online newspapers, Craiglist, IMDB. No blogging or reading other blogs.

It was really, really hard.

Oh happy day when the computer doctor called to say it was ready. I brought it home and waited for Mr. Wonderful to set it up. This morning I grew impatient and discovered that I could set up the computer all by myself. I am feeling like I accomplished something.

And just what did I do very first thing on the internet? Online lab? Nope....

Slogged through hundreds of emails.

Followed by blogging to you, my dear reader. I am sorry you were second. I shall repent. Hopefully there will be no next time when my computer becomes deathly ill.

If your compassionate side feels the need to give me service in this time of travail (even though it is over), I accept cyber casseroles.

Or real-life laundry service.

Yeah. I didn't think I'd get any takers on that laundry service, either.

Sunday Gratitudes (on a Monday)

A week ago, Sunday, Mr. Wonderful gave each of us a blessing for school. I am grateful for the priesthood he holds. I love listening to the blessing given to children. One was blessed with determination, another was blessed with the desire and ability to include everyone and be a leader to his peers in kindness. A third son was blessed to have better organizational skills. The Love Magnet was blessed that she would understand the social cues of her peers.

In my blessing, I was advised to keep a journal of my experiences at school. I used to be a daily journal keeper for years. Not any more. So today I picked up another journal (The Love Magnet came with me and picked out a blue one). Tonight I start working on making journal writing a habit again. I am grateful for the nudge in the right direction. I used to really enjoy journal writing. My kids love to read entries about themselves.

Over the weekend I made two batches of plum-vanilla jam. There is something in the ritual of making jam. The prepping of the fruit. Using MCP pectin (the pectin that Grandma S insisted was the only brand to use). Ladling hot jam in to hot, sterilized jars. The hot water bath (for the jam - I don't get a hot bath until later!) Hearing that absolutely wonderful soft ping that tells me the jars are sealing as they are lifted out of the canning kettle. This routine was taught to me by my grandma and my mom. Yet again, I am so very grateful for cooking traditions handed down. One batch didn't gel properly (I forgot to add the pectin at the right time and added it after the sugar). It did thicken a little bit and will make great pancake/waffle syrup.

My kids had their first week back at school. I am thankful to be back in a routine.

We had some ward members over for the BYU game. I found another kindred spirit among them. As she put it, we just get each other. Today she brought over her copy of In Defense Of Food by Michael Pollen. I am thankful for her thoughtfulness. I am also thankful for new friends. The Love Magnet and Thirdborn had a great time play with their kids. I am really looking forward to the next game, even though I don't watch football. The guys can watch. We'll talk. (Jen, I'll let you watch the game if you really want to.) Next time I'll take pics of the food and people.

Memory of a kindred spirit

When the Love Magnet was just a couple of months old, Mr. Wonderful and I were at a jewelry store getting his wedding band fixed. While we were waiting we perused the jewelry. An older couple was in the store. They looked like they would have been farmers. The husband was trying to convince his wife to pick a ring for their upcoming anniversary. She kept protesting, saying that she didn't need jewelry. She emphatically stated that there were plenty other things to do with the money such as spend it on the children. The husband was getting frustrated.

I could not resist. I stuck my nose in their business. I sat down near her, caught her eye, and said "If the man you love wants to buy you something nice you should let him. He wants to show you how much he loves you. He is trying to tell you that you deserve it."

"Yes! That is what I'm trying to do!", Mr. Farmer exclaimed. I think he was glad that someone else put it into words. Mr. Wonderful was trying to catch my attention, no doubt to get me out of their business. It was obvious that Mrs. Farmer did not welcome my opinion.

A few minutes later their teenage daughter came into the store, dressed in a pink plaid western shirt and jeans. She was silhouetted against the bright light of the windows and I couldn't see her face. I didn't give her much thought until she started signing.

Her dad looked up and said "Oh, are you hungry? What do you want for lunch?" The girl signed again. As she moved closer My eyes adjusted to see her face. She had Down syndrome.

My heart nearly stopped and I had tears in my eyes. I whispered to the wife that I, too, had a daughter with Down syndrome. Mrs. Farmer's look changed. Where she had been slightly annoyed with me before, now I suddenly was recognized as a member of the T21 club. Boundaries dissolved. I produced a picture of The Love Magnet. We started talking.

And talking.

I think we were there for 30 minutes longer than we planned. I don't remember the advice they gave us. This was the first family we had met who had a child with Ds and were willing to talk about it. Just being there with them was such a wonderful opportunity. Seeing their daughter, happy and healthy (and insistent that she needed a cheeseburger right now!) was incredible to me. Their daughter wasn't verbal, but she certainly could communicate. She was involved in horseback riding and rodeo activities. It was obvious that they loved her.

God bless that family. We needed them in our lives even if for just under an hour. I wish I had written down their name.

A few days later I was at a Halloween Buddy Walk with the kids in costume. We met Morgan and The Seal Bark family. My support system started. It was with Heather that we started a playgroup.

Good memories.

Five more days and counting (impatiently)...

"Mom, is it school today?"

I'm hearing that phrase multiple times a day from a little girl who is anxious to get back. Earlier this week she received a postcard from her teacher. She has carried it around ever since, telling everyone that her teacher loves her.

The Love Magnet talks about her two aides and how much she misses them ("and can they come to our house, Mom?") She talks about her speech therapist, her occupational therapist, the physical therapist, the school counselor (who, for some reason, The Love Magnet insist on calling Mrs. Sugarmama. The school counselor loves the title so much she has joked about changing the nameplate on her door).

Last year they taught her to get her own lunch tray, carry it to the condiment table to retrieve her utensils, and make it all the way to her table by herself (something many parents take for granted but parents of kids like mine will understand and cheer). She eats with her aide and her friends. Some kids make a point to come to her table. She has social interaction. The aide also takes her to recess and keeps an eye on her to prevent wandering.

Last year, her teacher introduced a mix of ASL and phonetics to teach reading. My daughter can read and write and spell, something I did not think she would achieve at age 6. She also learned class routine and manners. She loves being with her friends. Those kids are a great influence on her and her social skills.

These are the people who make it possible for my daughter to be mainstreamed. God bless every single one of them.

What is your school like? What would you change?

Sunday Gratitudes

Our combined Priesthood/Relief Society lesson today was amazing. It was based on Elder David A. Bednar's talk titled Things As They Really Are given at a CES Fireside on May 3, 2009 at BYU-Idaho. You can see the transcript by clicking here. BEtter yet, you can watch it here. I love Elder Bednar's counsel - he is one of my favorite speakers during General Conference. We were asked to take copies of the article home and teach it to our families. There is enough instruction to fill many Family Home Evenings. It will be a challenge to fit the lesson to the attention of kids whose ages range from 16 to 7. But I am looking forward to it. I'm grateful for Family Night. Some lessons at our house last only 5 minutes. But there have been some where the kids keep involved, asking questions and offering comments, that make it last all evening.

My youth choir sang for the first time today in Sacrament Meeting. It was a bit intimidating for them but they did great. I am thankful that they had the courage to get up and sing. I'm even more grateful that they showed up today for practice, wanting to do it again. I hope they bring more teens into the choir.

I am grateful for books. I have loved reading non-textbooks for the past two weeks.

I am thankful that school starts tomorrow. I'm looking forward to each semester that brings me closer to a degree.

Tonight I packed my messenger bag for the new school year. I know this sounds cheesy, but I am very grateful for the person who invented erasers. It's nice to be able to erase a mistake. I love packing a new pink eraser.

While I am at it (how is this for a segue?) I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father for providing an eraser for the mistakes in my life. One of my mistakes was lovingly pointed out to me by Mr. Wonderful during one of my venting sessions this past weekend. I was holding anger bout something instead of letting it go - Mr. Wonderful pointed out the obvious that I was too blind to see. He was right. I'm working on changing my attitude on that front (it was VERY negative). I have repented and looking forward to having that burden off my back.

My most favorite place on this planet

Where it is beautiful when it rains. And beautiful when it doesn't.

Where I can watch the 'quakies' quake and just be.

Where the only noise comes from the wind and the bees.


Where a kid can be a kid.

Where the cousins bond over fun and games. No television. No cell phone service.

Where grandma has a one-year supply of important things - like bubbles.

Where there are acres and acres to pretend.

Where grandpa sings.

Where.....hmmm...well, I have no idea why Cousin E was doing this. I think Secondborn snuck off with my camera to have some fun.

We just got back from a mini-vacay to Utah where we spent time at my parent's cabin. We also had a great time at the UDSF Lagoon day. Unfortunately, I forgot to take my camera into the park. We got to see (and hug!) our friends Morgan and Mrs Seal Bark and also

Lily from Lily's Life Is Great. Check out their blog for fun pictures at Lagoon.

I start school next week. HOpefully I will be back to the regularly scheduled blog by then.

Happy Birthday to The Love Magnet

Shhhh! It's tradition to sneak into the birthday child's room and wake them up with singing. The whole family crowds in and starts to sing........

The Love Magnet does not wake up.

Are you kidding me? She has woken us up around 4:30 every single morning for the past week, asking if it is finally her birthday. Now she decides to sleep in?!

Wake up Love Magnet! With great herculean effort, she sits up...

Thankfully she wakes up in earnest when she realizes the day is here. No pictures as we were rushing for the bus. Later I took birthday treats to her summer school and met the peer tutors. These kids do not get paid. They are absolutely amazing. The Love Magnet surely thinks so.


Grandma and Grandpa arrived that evening. With Mr. Wonderful and Secondborn at scout camp and Firstborn working, we made for a small dinner party. Still, it was so much fun to be with grandpa...

and grandma.

The Love Magnet made sure that everyone knew it was her birthday. She was so excited to be sung to and to get a birthday sundae.

That night we sang Happy Birthday just as The Love Magnet instructed us "with cha-cha-chas, Mom!" She picked out her own cake as I didn't have time to bake. (It was finals week, for heavens sake!) The Love Magnet thinks all birthday cakes should be chocolate.

One of her fave gifts came from her brother. She wanted to wear them to school.

The next morning, as soon as my finals were done (what was I thinking?!) I rushed home to finish getting the Birthday Tea Party ready. Did I say how grateful I was for my mom? She saved me. She came up with this fabulous tea-party hat craft. Those hats were originally for the 4th of July. Take off the red/white/blue ribbon, add tulle and flowers, and it become instant glamour.

My mom also provided nail polish and fingernail jewels to make little fingers ready for a party. The girls loved the girls fun instead of games. Afterwards, we had a photo session. Just a few:

The Love Magnet was surprisingly good at posing. Where on earth did she learn that?

They were ready to do kicks...

and dance poses...

All the girls were finally ready for a tea party.

The girls weren't sure what to think about trying cucumber sandwiches and cranberry-orange scones. I told them they must take one bite and then could politely refuse. We practiced manners for hostess and guests.

The Love Magnet knew the drill and ate everything.

The best for last: singing and candle blowing!

I had a lot of compliments on the cupcake recipe. I tinted the frosting barely pink and sprinkle pariels in pink and yellow. The cake itself was the best cupcake I have ever eaten. Give the credit to the inventors of this fab recipe. Here it is:

Magnolia's Vanilla Cupcakes

from Food Network

Ingredients
Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Icing: Vanilla Buttercream, recipe follows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line 2 (1/2 cup-12 capacity) muffin tins with cupcake papers.

In a small bowl, combine the flours. Set aside.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in 3 parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not over beat. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended. Carefully spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about 3/4 full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean.

Cool the cupcakes in tins for 15 minutes. Remove from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack before icing.

Vanilla Buttercream:
The vanilla buttercream we use at the bakery is technically not a buttercream but actually an old-fashioned confectioners' sugar and butter frosting. Be sure to beat the icing for the amount of time called for in the recipe to achieve the desired creamy texture.

(My notes: I added much more powdered sugar than called for as I wanted a stiff frosting suitable for piping.)

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
6 to 8 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. (Use and store the icing at room temperature because icing will set if chilled.) Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Yield: enough for 2 dozen cupcakes or 1 (9-inch) layer cake

Sunday Gratitudes

I am thankful that our Heavenly Father answers prayers. I've needed a lot of answers in the past two weeks.

I'm thankful that Heavenly Father uses ordinary people to be His angels on earth. He knew this time that my emotions were loud and that I needed straight talk to help me find the answers I needed. This time His angels were my parents. Their wise counsel was reinforcement to what I already knew. I just needed to hear it from cooler heads than mine.

I'm grateful for the family stories I learned this past week with my parents and in-loves visiting. While talking about my tea party recipes, my mom talked about hunting the ditches near her home for asparagus and watercress. She loved to pile sandwiches thick with watercress and then smash the bread and watercress down before eating. Just a small snippet of childhood memory, but I found it precious.

We also talked about her daddy being drafted in WWII and having to leave his wife and three children to head to boot camp. WWII ended while he was in boot camp. I can't imagine the sacrifices made by those who served and serve now in the military. We explored a WWI museum while my parents were here. I am so grateful for those soldiers whose stories I read. I'm grateful for all those willing to fight for freedom and their families who support them while they serve.

I'm grateful for the help my mom gave me for The Love Magnet's birthday party. Mom brought everything needed for decorating proper tea party hats. She also brought fingernail polish and manicure jewels to help the girls feel glamorous. I wouldn't have survived finals week and putting together a birthday party if it weren't for my mom.

Thirdborn has officially started his tutoring program and has been doing well. I am grateful for this new teacher in his life. I know she is good since Thirdborn talks about her and how much he likes going to tutoring sessions.

Slowly coming out of the Pit of Despair

I know - Pit of Despair sounds a bit over-the-top. Cliffs of Insanity, maybe? My inner drama-queen tends to resurface whenever I feel like I've been thrust back in time to my high school days.

Big hair - no.

Upturned collar and grandma's paste jewelry brooch - no.

C minus in math - check.

I earned an A in my English tech class and a C- in Mathematical Thought. I felt like I was in Mr. Anderson's geometry class all over again. I felt.......incapable.

So I pouted. I cried. I moped. I didn't write my Sunday Gratitudes because I didn't feel grateful. I ran gamut through ever single insecurity that plagued me in the 80's. My face broke out. I had dreams of being in high school, acting in the school musical and forgetting my lines.....my songs....my locker combination.....every answer to my final exams....

Mr. Wonderful let me vent. He patiently listened to all of my frustrations. When I finally stopped to breathe, Mr. Wonderful asked me one thing:

"Did you give it your best effort?"

I had to think about that for a bit. Yes, I did. I gave it my best effort with four kids, a 5th temporary child whom we were taking care of until Family Services could find him a foster home, taking care of our home, a math professor who did not like my essay answers and who taught far beyond the parameters of the course, and all of the crazy things that have happened this summer.

When I went through all that I realized that I could then let it go. I have received all A's so far in the past year. A low grade in math was incredibly disappointing to me but it doesn't define who I am.

I now have three weeks to read Maeve Binchy, try new recipes, take my kids on fun trips, and decompress. I plan to take full advantage of no school. No textbooks. Double gratitudes on Sunday. A catchup blog post about The Love Magnet's 7th Birthday and Tea party.
NO TEXTBOOKS! WOO-HOO!!!



PS: Today I received my shipment of textbooks. It's taking all of my willpower not to open them and explore the world of Clinical Phonetics, Deaf Studies and Basic Sign, and Language Science and Development.

Many Somebodys Love Us -

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

This came in a package this past week from Lily @ Lily's Life Is Great. Click on the name to get to her blog. She has a bunch of fab raffle items to raise money for Praying for Parker. Thanks for the teacup, Lily! It came from her Mom's teacup collection which makes it all the more special. Lily's Mom and I used to work together advocating for people with Down syndrome.

From my Cookie friend Chris back east. She was in an antique store and thought of

The Love Magnet when she saw these. They came as a very big surprise in the mail. The Love Magnet's response when she saw them? "Your Cookie sure does love you, Mom."

Yep, I think she does. Thanks, Auntie Cookie Chris!

From my BFF college friend, Sooz. Sooz is a Kindred Spirit. Writer of fine stories, illustrator extraordinaire (although she would beg to differ), spouter of trivia you never knew you needed to know. She is also a great supplier of............

sundry items we never knew we needed for a birthday tea party. We are so glad that Sooz is here to educate us. Notice the fabulous Swedish cookies, the cranberry-orange English tea scones, and the chocolate topped mushroom pretzel thingies. Sooz introduced me to chocolate-topped mushroom pretzel thingies on my last trip to visit her in the grand very-Northwest. I've dreamt about those ever since.


Apparently, though, Sooz held out during my last trip. She also sent me this:



Oh, rapture divine. Oh, swoon! Oh!


Oh 65% bittersweet chocolate with candied hazelnut pieces! Where have you been in the past 40 years of my existence?! I had to nibble even before I took a picture. I could not resist! (BTW, this confection pairs perfectly with song 503 from Angels and Demons on my play list. Scroll down and skip to that song. Then come back and gaze at all the chocolate goodness.....)

The Love Magnet came and saw me with this piece of Heaven in my hands. She asked if she could have some. I was a good mom and sent her back to finish her dinner first. (I was a bad Mom, because I meant to hide it and hope she would forget it. After all, what almost 7 year old could possibly fully appreciate Charles Chocolates?)

Not to worry. The Love Magnet remembered the Chocolate-topped mushroom pretzel thingies from my last trip to visit Sooz.

She has laid claim to them. I am not allowed to touch them until the birthday tea party.

Just in time for her birthday next week.......

Uh, oh.

Apparently, cutting off your bangs 1 1/2 months ago is just not enough of a makeover when you are about to turn 7. After all, 7 is a big age. A new adjustment.

Turning 7 automatically creates a midlife crisis.

Must do something wild and crazy so you can feel young again!

Maybe she was going for the Mona Lisa eyebrow-less look.

Shelf Reliance Giveaway

Shelf Reliance is giving away a 2-person 72 hour kit. For description and details, click here.


Sorry I have not posted recently. Life is crazy again with two weeks left of school, a professor who doesn't believe in giving out A's, and a birthday party in the works for The Love Magnet. I will post soon.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Sunday Gratitudes

This week I'm grateful that there were no injuries on our hike. I was a bit worried when I was trying to help The Love Magnet down a steep incline that we found out later was meant for mountain bikes. We almost slid down head first.

I started a youth choir in our ward today. There were six enthusiastic girls and three boys (two who were my own sons). A small group considering the amount of youth we have in our congregation. But it was a good start and they gamely plowed through the song. It was wild, rambunctious and, honestly, a bit frustrating considering how much practice time was lost due to joking around. But I was grateful that those kids were willing to sing. I hope we can get more to participate.

While we are at it, I am so very grateful that my boys know how to sing. And they sound great. I know, it's a pride thing. I'm allowed - I am the mom, after all.

This week I met the tutor who will be working with Thirdborn starting next week. I like her very much. Mrs. S is sweet and funny, a grandmotherly character with whom I think Thirdborn will bond instantly. She will be using a combination of homework, computers, and games using his favorite subjects such as science, dinosaurs, and weather. I am so eager for this to work for our son. I am grateful that we are putting Thirdborn through this learning center program. I pray that it helps. (Please keep us in your prayers, too.)

I made it through my English Technical writing class. Still waiting to know my grade on the final report, but I did earn 100 on my last exam. I did learn a lot from this class that will be useful when I am a speech therapist (oh, happy day when that comes!). I was surprised when I discovered that it would be one of the toughest classes I've had to date. I didn't always love the challenge but I was grateful for the experience. I definitely was given the chance to grow.

Yesterday, Mr. Wonderful and I went to the temple with two other couples from our ward. It was a chance to get to know them better. The temple was so peaceful. I needed that opportunity to shut out the outside world and to serve and to worship. Afterwards we had dinner together, lingering long after the meal was over, talking and laughing. It was a wonderfully relaxing date night. I am grateful new good friends. I'm sure we will be going out with them again.

Hiking

I took my kids on a hike this week. The first hike I have ever initiated. Without Mr. Wonderful. What was I thinking? The things I do to try to keep my kids safe from boredom during summer vacation. We got lost before we even got there. I really should get a Garmin for my car. It would have been helpful.

With water bottles, sunscreen, and collapsible dog dish in a backpack, we took off on a two mile loop. Smith Nation would have been proud. Secondborn took point and insisted on carrying the backpack and hanging onto Doggie Girl's leash. He pointed out wildlife and kept an eye out for poison ivy (I really don't think poison ivy grows in that area). Thirdborn would yell whenever he saw anything and scared all the poor critters away before I got there. The Love Magnet did her best to keep up with the boys.

Hiking in the desert is fun. Hot. Dusty. Mosquito-y.

The kids and I were having a great time. The kids learned quickly that when I yelled "move to the side!" that they had better obey quickly or risk getting run over by mountain bikers. We found a part of the trail that was only open to hikers. Much safer. We stopped at a bridge for a photo. I love this pic, too bad it's blurry.

The flowers and butterflies were gorgeous.


Thirborn wanted to explore every single creek we came across.

The Love Magnet grew tired and started working her magic. She had Secondborn wrapped around her finger. He lifted her up to sit on a fence so she could drink her water. She then asked if he would carry her the rest of the way (along with the backpack and excited dog.) I told her that she was perfectly capable of walking on her own. That didn't stop her from trying to convince him.

A two mile hike took almost two hours. We survived. We did not get lost. There were no injuries or poison ivy rashes or snake bites (Thirdborn was determined to find a snake). It was so much fun that the kids have voted that we go on a hike once a week for the rest of summer. Looks like I had better research day hikes.