Dancing in the Rain

Life isn't about waiting

for the storm to pass...

It's about learning to

dance in the rain.

Hairy Haircuts

When Eric and I were engaged, he surprised me with some very bad news...that he wanted me to cut his hair like his mom had been doing his entire life....GULP...Will this man still marry me if I can't cut his hair right??  His mom showed me how and luckily he married me (his mom cut his hair for our wedding so that he at least looked presentable for that).  I should also say that I still married him despite this dreaded task...cutting hair is a stressful experience for me and I really don't like to do it.  But I grit my teeth, take a deep breath, oil the clippers, and hack away.  The frugal side of me wins the convenient side on this one.  I now cut Eric's, Aaron's, and Nathan's hair about every 2-3 months.  At about $10 a haircut, this is saving us about $150 per year...soon to be $200 when Travis gets thrown into the mix.

Here is what my poor boys look like before their haircuts...yes I wait until the very last possible moment to cut hair - when it is so long that people start calling Nathan a girl, and Eric and Aaron start complaining.  Notice the sad faces...are they sad because they hate their hair this way, or because they know what is coming...a frustrated wife/mom who makes them sit still as hair flies into their mouths and eyes and my non-professional clippers scrape across their heads??

Yeah, we made it through another haircut without cutting an ear or buzzing too high.  Happy day, we are free from those clippers for another 2 months (3 if I can push it that long).  I have happy boys again because they survived...my face on the other side of the camera is 10 times more happy because the haircuts are over with...at least for now.

If you are interested in cutting your boy's hair from home there are lots of tutorials on the internet...here is one that I found on how to give a boy a haircut using clippers.  I know that I made it sound so incredibly fun (can you sense the sarcasm?) but like I said...I think that the good outweighs the bad.  Saving money vs. the convenience...you decide.

Tip:  here is one thing that I learned from experience....DO NOT give your little boy a sucker to eat as an attempt to help him hold still during his haircut.  The cut hair will stick all over the sucker and create a VERY frustrated little boy.

Kaylee's Boy

After carrying Travis for 9 months; 4 of which I was throwing up, and 3 of which I was super uncomfortable; he has chosen a favorite person.  No, not the person who suffered the most before and after he was born (Eric, I am not talking about you...although you did have to suffer quite a bit with all of my complaining and lack of motivation), not the person who gave him life, and attends to his every need.

His favorite person is Kaylee.  She can light up his little face and get him to giggle with just a little "coo".  I, on the other hand, have to make a complete fool of myself by making funny faces, sounds, and tickling him for a few minutes before he graces me with a smile and sometimes even a courtesy laugh...probably just to get me to stop.

So Travis is not a Mommy's Boy..unless he is hungry or poopy, he is not a Daddy's Boy...unless he wants to snuggle with Dad in the recliner; Travis is a Kaylee's Boy.  But how can I be bitter when I see this:

Travis, can you at least share the love??

Impart of Your Substance

Mosiah 4:21 and 26-- "And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another."

"...I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants."

Kaylee is such a good example of imparting of her substance to those in need.  She is very sensitive to people who are hungry, sick, poor, or sad.  When the earthquake in Haiti hit, Kaylee's school was collecting money for a relief fund.  Kaylee approached us wanted to use a good portion of her birthday money to give to the people of Haiti.  She gave about $15 to the relief fund proudly...never missing that money because she knew that she was helping someone who needed it more than she did.

A couple of nights ago as we were walking back to our car after a baseball game, we passed a person in need holding a sign asking for money.  Kaylee was very concerned about this lady.  She went to bed that night crying for the lady because she was so worried about her.

I am so grateful for children who remind me how to be more Christ-like every day!  Thank you Kaylee for reminding me that we should impart of our substance...because it isn't our substance after all...it is a blessing from God that we should share with others.

Reading Parties

To keep my kids reading during the Summer, we have had reading parties.  I let the kids stay up an hour past their bed times (this is probably why they like it so much).  We get our pj's on and everyone gathers on my bed with a book and we just read silently...awwww, silence...my favorite part about this whole arrangement.

It sounds too simple to be exciting but the kids really enjoy it.  I love it too because it gives me a chance to read my book.  In fact, the other night we were going to watch a movie and Aaron requested a reading party instead. Yeah!  I love anything that will encourage my kid's love of reading...even if it means letting them stay up an hour later.

Chicken Tetrazzini

Back in my college days- my room-mate, Tara, made this and it became a quick favorite...and 10 years later it is still one of my go-to recipes.  So try it out - it is really good!

Chicken Tetrazzini:

• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 6 oz. uncooked spaghetti noodles
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups water
• 2 chicken bouillon cubes 
• 1 can sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Paprika

In a large skillet, melt the butter.  Add onion and celery and cook until soft.  Arrange shredded chicken on top then layer the spaghetti noodles on top of the chicken (lay all in one direction to make it easier to serve).  

In sauce pan mix soup, water, and bouillon.  Heat and stir until warm and smooth.  Pour over noodles covering all.  Lay mushrooms on top (I leave these out because we are not mushroom lovers..or even likers). Sprinkle Parmesan on top and finish it off with a sprinkle of paprika.  

Cover and let simmer until sauce is cooked down and noodles are soft.  Watch carefully not to burn the bottom.  You want it to be moist, not runny...usually about 15-20 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Don't Eat Pete!

"Don't Eat Pete" is one of my kids favorite games.  Probably because it involves eating candy...just a guess though.
Here is what you need to make your own game:

• A paper with 16 different pictures on it - each picture in a separate box (you could even give your kids a paper divided into 16 squares and have them make their own).  I laminated mine to protect it from my kid's sticky, slobbery fingers.
• Some little candies like M&M's or Skittles.
• Some kids who like candy...hard to find, I know.  

The object of the game is to eat as many M&M's (or little candies) as you can, but Don't Eat Pete!

Directions:  Place one M&M (or small candy) on each of the sixteen squares.  Select a person to be the M&M Monster and send him/her out of the room.  The remaining players then select one square to be “Pete”.  (Do not tell the Monster which square is “Pete”—it’s a secret!)  When the Monster returns, he eats the M&M’s one at a time but the minute he touches “Pete” the group yells “Don’t Eat Pete”!  His turn is then over and another person is selected to be the M&M Monster.  Play continues until all have had a turn.

Here is a printable copy of our "Don't Eat Pete" if you want to use this one...just print it double sided so that the directions are on the back.  This makes a fun gift and party favors as well...have fun!