Free Year Old Giveaway

I am pleased to announce my first blog giveaway...Nathan is now officially three...or as he would say "free". From previous experience of two other three year olds, I know that the "terrible twos" are easy compared to the opinionated, stubborn, tantrum throwing, wanting to be independent, everything has to be done my way, talking back, horrible threes.

So I have a free year old if anyone would like him. He is free of charge until he turns four or outgrows the horrible threes. Just bring him back completely potty trained, calm, polite, and still in the habit of taking long naps. He is pretty cute, but don't let that throw you...he dishes out a pretty mean tantrum!

To enter this giveaway, you must be an excellent mom that will give him lots of loves. Leave me a comment about how you handle three year olds. The winner will be selected after an extensive background check.

Of course, I am only joking...don't turn me in. I love my free year old Nathan and I would never give him away.....but Grandma's and Aunts, feel free to take him for the weekends because I have the feeling that I will need the break! 

Be Not Weary in Well-Doing

I have been pretty "weary" this week in doing the small things that seem insignificant and mundane...especially cleaning and preparing meals. Here is a great quote from Elder Bednar that really picks me up and helps me realize that it is the seemingly small things that add up to produce something wonderful!

"Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results."


“Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33).

Fablehaven

The kids and I just finished Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. It is a fantasy book about two children, Kendra and Seth, who go to stay with their grandpa on what they think is a nature preserve. They soon find out that their grandpa is the caretaker of a secret refuge for mystical creatures called Fablehaven. Kendra and Seth have some amazing adventures as they explore this refuge full of mythical and fairy tale characters. It is a wonderful story that ignites your imagination and teaches the importance of courage, and especially obedience (I hope my kids picked up on that one!).

I loved reading it out loud to my kids. As soon as they walked in the door from school I was begging them to come and read with me because I didn't want to wait any longer to continue this story. I highly recommend it and I am excited to start the next book in the series...Rise of the Evening Star.

Peach Pie

I LOVE peach season. They are scrumptious. Here is a great recipe for peach pie, it is SO GOOD! Unfortunately it is not helping my "big bum" situation...oh well, this pie is too good to pass up:

Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 4 to 5 Tbsp ice water

Sift flour and salt. Cut in shortening with a fork for pastry cutter until pieces of flour are the size of peas. Sprinkle  ice water 1 Tbsp at a time over mixture, tossing dough after each addition. Form into a ball. Flatten on lightly floured surface. Roll 1/8 inch thick from the center to the outside edge of dough. Put in pie tin, trim off excess dough - about 1/2 inch from the edge of the pie tin, and pinch the dough around the edges. Bake at 350 for about 7-10 minutes or until lightly golden.

Peach Pie:

• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 Tbsp milk
• 2-3 peaches pealed and sliced

Boil water, sugar, and butter in a pan. Mix cornstarch and 3 Tbsp water in a separate bowl. Temper the cornstarch mixture my adding a spoonful of the boiled mixture to it about 3 times, stirring quickly each time. Then add the cornstarch mixture to the water/sugar/butter mixture slowly, stirring constantly. Add lemon juice and mix.

Mix the egg yolks with the milk. Temper this mixture in the same way: add a little of the hot mixture to the egg yolk mixture and stir quickly. Do this 3 times, then add all the yolk mixture slowly back into the cooked mixture, stirring constantly.

Let cool. Put peeled and sliced peaches on the bottle of the cooled pie crust and pour this mixture over top. Refrigerate for a couple of hours. Top with whipped cream and enjoy!!

Pizza Parlor

My kids LOVE to "help" in the kitchen...and sometimes I just don't want their help all that much. They fight about who gets to stand closest to the mixer, who gets to pour in the next ingredient, and who gets to lick the beaters and spoon. Then there is the unavoidable licking of fingers, unexpected sneezes, and endless spills. But despite all of that, I still try to give my kids an opportunity to cook with me so that they can learn and one day really be able to help. It is thrilling when they learn to crack an egg without getting any shells in the batter, or to make something on their own.

The other night I gave the kids total freedom of making their own dinner. We made personal pizzas for dinner. I set out the ingredients (English muffins for the crust) and let the kids go to town. I didn't worry about germy fingers (the germs were a topping for their own pizzas) or fighting or complaining about what I had made. It was a fun night...even for me!

Poem for Grandpa S.

This is a poem that my Mom wrote for my Grandpa S.'s funeral (a few of the lines are in German because that is where he was born). It really makes me realize that I need to treasure the moments that I have left with my other grandparents!

Vater, Wir Sind Dankbar
(Father, We Are Grateful)

As we look back on our lives
We find ourselves wondering...
Did we remember to thank you
For all that you have done for us?

For all of the times you were by our side
to help us celebrate our successes
And accept our defeats?

Or for teaching us the value of hard work,
Good judgment, courage, and honesty?

We wonder if we've ever thanked you for the simple things...
The laughter, smiles, and quiet times we've shared?

If we've forgotten to express our gratitude
For any of these things,
We are thanking you now.
And we hope that you've known all along,
How very much you are loved and appreciated.

You were there when we took our first steps,
And went unsteadily across the floor.
You pushed and prodded: encouraged and guided,
Until our steps took us our the door...

You worried then "Will the be OK?
Is there more I could have done?"
As we walked the paths of our unknown
You wondered, "Where have my children gone?"

Where we are is where you have led us,
With your special love you showed us a way
To believe in ourselves and the decisions we make
Taking on the challenges of life day to day.

And where we go now you can be sure,
No matter how far away we roam,
For where you've been is what matters most to us,
Because to us that will always be home.

If we could give you diamonds
For each tear you cried for us.
If we could give you sapphires
For each truth you've helped us see.

If we could give you rubies
For the heartache that you've known
If we could give you pearls
For the kindness that you've shown.

Then you'll have a treasure, Daddy,
That would mount up to the skies
That vast fortune would almost match
The sparkle in your kind and loving eyes.

But we have no pearls or diamonds,
As we're sure you're well aware
So to honor you, we give you gifts most precious...
Our devotion, love, and care.
Wir lieben dich!
(We love you!)

Priceless Pedicure

One bottle of nail polish...$2.00

Nail stickers...$1.00

Nail polish remover...$1.50

Having a daughter who will give me a much needed pedicure...priceless!

Thanks Kaylee!