we HEART Abba

our dear Abba, who is fit and young and awesome, is in the hospital. He has had a heart issue, heart attack? I am not sure. He is having surgery tomorrow and while I am confident that he will be fine I am still praying for the skill of the surgeon, a good recovery and the best of all possible outcomes.
We love you Abba!!

update: it was a heart attack, hopefully the balloon followed by the stint will fix it up. That is what we are crossing our fingers for. Beloved hopped in the car and is driving over to be with his dad. It's nice to live a short 9 hours away.

indoor soccer

Brother has been playing indoor soccer this winter. Today the score was 6 6. He scored 2 of those goals and played goalie for a half during which he only took one. It was a fun game to watch.

Model UN day two

H was very excited to go this morning, she had a great time yesterday!!

H is ready to go off to her model United Nations weekend, she is very excited to solve the world's problems:)

Cole is our neighbor. He came over to play and I thought it was cute that the two boys were dressed almost the same:)

It promises to be a busy weekend. We have a bowling birthday party, the UN weekend, a COSMIC concert, a soccer game, work work work, a date for J tonight, a day with her dad tomorrow and then our "day of rest" and all the normal Sabbath day activities that will come with that.

scavenger hunt

We had the most fun activity last night. We took the youth on a scavenger hunt, they all had a list of photos they needed to get like:

buying a bag of fries

stacking fruit into a pyramid

finding something turquoise

posing by a mannequin

helping someone with their bags

having a boy try on some heels

and others.

They sent them by phone to Bro Henderson who made up a slide show while we were out.

Everyone had so much fun and the show after was hilarious!

When I am home alone I rarely have the television or the radio on. I prefer the gentle noises of the washing machine getting our clothes clean, the dishwasher getting the dishes clean, the click click of the keyboard as I type, the sound of Millie crunching her food against her metal bowl and the sweet sounds of silence. It helps me think, to ponder and to plan.

I love the noises that come with family life. Listening to Beloved tell about his day, hearing the music that that teens love, the canned laughter of cartoons, the shouts of play, giggles of love and even the "mom can I's" but when I am alone I don't choose to fill the air with sound. I don't talk out loud to myself, I don't sing. I am quiet.

This month in the Ensign there was an article about how technology drowns out our ability to hear the Spirit and it's promptings and I know that is so true. There is something restful about quiet.

I have noticed that if they kids run around playing or watching TV with us, or whatever until 9pm and then go to bed they are unsettled and cranky in the morning. If I tuck them in bed at 7:30-8:00 and they quietly read until the same time and then go to sleep they wake up rested and refreshed. The quiet recharges them.

We are overrun by noise....

Hmmm,

on the same, but completely random note, I am so looking forward to sitting on the deck of the ship, staring at the ocean, feeling the sun beat down on my legs, reading a book and hearing the waves & gulls & other songs of the wild.

oh! the cuteness, it kills me!!!

seriously,how cute is this?!

I can't wait for them to come visit...in July...but still it's coming.

Randomness:
I love color! Can't wait to spread it all around the house. I have lots of painting plans :)

Bean soup for dinner last night. Most everyone liked it.

kids are growing, we need spring to come because they look like scarecrows and I won't buy new pants :)

one might wonder why I have pics of Tate on the blog so much. a) duh! b) I printed year one of my blog into a book, which is so cool, and I want to make the other years but it's kind of spendy, however I will...eventually...so of course I need many of her in it:)

that's all I've got.

how stinkin cute is this??

on being mom

sometimes it cracks me up. There are moments that are so sweet, and....

some that are not.

Last night we were watching the Olympics. Lucy was already tucked in bed and E and H were in bed with us. Out of the blue E said "tomorrow is Lu's 100th day of school, do you have her treat?" I had forgotten and was really glad he reminded me. It was so sweet of him to pay attention. First thing he said to me this morning was "don't forget the treat for Lu" (my boy knows me well :) )Sweet mommy moment.

This morning was a not so sweet one. Everyone was tired. A weekend to rest is a rare thing around here, usually it's a weekend to be crazy busy. Most of the time I like it that way, as is evidenced by the stir crazy feeling we had when we were snowed in. This weekend we had the dance on Friday night, that lasted late and was so fun!. Saturday we had a soccer game, a play date, a baptism to attend and bring treats to, and a ward adult dance that we all went to, Beloved and I had a fun night dancing and talking and eating. The kids went to the nursery where they had a great time playing and watching movies and snacking and sneaking into the gym to dance now and then. It was great! J went to a party with some friends, then brought a bunch of girls home to spend the night with her. Sunday was church, BYD and then a late dinner. By the time I went to bed I was tired from all the fun:) Lu collapsed in a crying heap (I feel bad when that happens~ she really is a go to bed on time girl) and S and J were in J's room laughing their heads off at something, I don't know what but they were there a long time so I know it was another late night for them.

...so, this morning everyone was tired and no one wanted to get up. J skipped seminary and when I got up to get the littles going I noticed she was still in bed and went to wake her up to catch the bus.

Then I went into the girls room. Lu was sitting up in the bed so I said good-morning! She said "no it's not!" When I inquired what was wrong she told me, in an angry voice, that she wanted her "G" to be purple with yellow polka dots, and that I ruined it and painted it wrong. Her "G" was made a couple YEARS ago at a birthday party for H where I got initials for all the girls and let them decorate them. Lu painted her own. I attached them to the girls beds after they were done and there they have hung for 2+ years. For no reason this morning she was so upset about it. She continued to be upset.

I woke up J up again and now she didn't want to go to school and was mad that I made her and didn't want to ride the bus with her violin. I did ask Beloved to drive her on the way to work, which he said he would, but then she wasn't ready so he left. (I ended up driving her) And, for the record, that was fine. Someone has to work and it's best that it's him. I like living a life of leisure but it doesn't pay as well as keeping our country safe and planes in the air (go figure).

I got H up, who never wakes up cheerfully. After she was ready her big melt down was about valentines. Her party is today. (dumb, I know) We bought Valentines way back when, which she lost or used up or played with over the snow storm. I bought her more when she went back to school and discovered that they were rescheduling the party. Which she opened up and kept laying around the kitchen counter for days until someone threw them away thinking they were trash. Which they did look like. Then this morning she was upset because she couldn't' find them, and it was my fault because I didn't give her a sharpie to write on them with (because clearly the only writing tool possible to use was a sharpie and we hide our weapons of furniture destruction and she never asked me for one but that is irrelevant) So I said, sorry you are upset, we need to go to school now though and there is no time to fix the problem. She stormed to the car (with her treat from the party BTW) and continued to be mad. I told her if she had not lost the first or second box she would have valentines today. Or if she told me yesterday we could have made construction paper valentines. However the minuts we need to walk out the door was not a time we could solve such a problem. That made no sense to her.

E, however, did have a perfectly pleasant morning. As did S. J was fine once I took her to school. Beloved was mad that he was late, however that wasn't my fault, he left when he wanted, which I was fine with.

Sometimes it's thankless.

Sometimes it's great.

Always it's being a mom.

And today my sweet visiting teachers came by and brought me those lovely flowers. What angels:)

tofu, veggie stir fry

I made this yumm-O tofu, veggie stir fry for lunch. I thought it would be a yummy treat. I was wrong. No one liked it:(

Well, I did. And Brother did when he eventually ate it. He did chase it with a PB&J and S opened a can of ravioli for herself and Lu. H ate cereal.

I hate cooking and no one wanting to eat it, I also don't want to make PB&J every day.

sigh..what's a girl to do?

dance fun

They had a good time. There was a live jazz band, dance instruction, yummy food, fun friends..and i got to be a fly on the wall:)

serendipity???...

or another thing to enjoy about life on the tundra?

Joe, the toothless tank topper for our propane company, came knocking at the door this morning.

He couldn't find the tank.

So I put on a hat and followed him out to show him where it was.

It was buried by snow. Of course.

Did he have a shovel?

NO.

I went to get one, then slide down the ice sheet we call our backyard, on my posterior (ouch) to join him.

He watched me dig.

Decided I took too long and gave me his phone number so I could call him if I find it.

this is him "_ _ _- _ _ _- _ _ _ _, my name is Joe. That's J.O.E." Thanks Joe

I went back out and dug dug dug, whistling the 7 dwarfs song, not really, but I would have if I'd thought of it then.

Found the tank.

Called him back.

He filled it.

$633.37

should I be grateful it's under a thousand or aghast that it's that high??

things I love, and things I don't

In no particular order....

hello...why is everything so expensive? Two of my neighbors got propane bills that were over a thousand dollars! I am dieing a thousand deaths waiting for ours. What is up with that??? We all wear jackets in the house, literally. Kids swap stories about chipping the ice off the top of their blankets before crawling out of bed in the morning and still $1000? Really??

and food...and EVERY THING. I'm just saying.

love it! Love the games, medals, GO TEAM USA!! I love the dedication to doing something really well that you see in these young athletes.

Tonight I am taking this one, and a few of the Laurels to the Laurel Priest dinner/dance. Should be super fun:) Love my girl, love my calling, love teens!

This morning I found Miss Lu quietly reading to herself before the rest of the house had even begun to stir (except Jen who was already at seminary). She is right of the verge of being able to read. It's such an exciting fun time! She is working so hard and is so proud and determined. Go Lu!!

Walking into my boy's room and finding a battle in progress. :) Who knew that boys trained to be warriors from the time they take their first step? It's so cute. This one often gets an extra prayer, Please Lord, hold him in the hollow of your hand as he grows from boy to man (love that song) and keep him safe and teach him to be a strong and righteous man.

that I live so far away from these three little pumpkins :( SO NOT FAIR!! and now Ang is having a boy! Yeah!! (and I won't see him either:( )

Tal, Joneaux and Tate at their cousin playdate:)

could you show any greater lack of wisdom?? He makes me sigh a million sorrowful, worried sighs. Can we survive 3 more years of his "leadership"??

three more days of this in the forecast next week ;(

couldn't take the cold one more second and booked a trip to here!! Yeah! In two months Beloved and I will be sharing a combined "valentines, birthday, anniversary, mother's day, father's day, groundhog day" cruise to the Bahamas! Whoo HOOO!!!!!

Love them. This week I read a couple of goods ones. My fav was "Saving CeCe Honeycutt", set in the south, which I love, I adore the southern voice, the image of a sultry, sweaty, hot place with the scent of magnolia blooms in the air, the gentle manners and drawling accent. It's the story of a young girl, a mentally ill mother & absent father, and the great Aunt and other sweet ladies who step in and love and nurture her.

Also read "Lucky Man" by Michael J Fox, that was for book club. It was okay. Lots of riotous living and drinking and self absorbed behavior in the beginning, followed by a period of enlightenment and a realization of what's really important. I always liked Alex P Keaton and Marty McFly so I didn't mind reading it but it's not that great.

Last night I finished "Jane Bites Back" which I am embarrassed to say I liked:) It's about Jane Austen, who in in fact a vampire, still alive today. It's witty, the vampires are much niced up, there is some romance, and it was a fun, light read.

What else?

Last night was our monthly night of ministry...where I managed to offend the sister we were visiting. Darn it.

Then I had to stop for a Frosty on the way home...because I felt so bad about offending her and chocolate always helps..so, top of the do not like list is dieting, which shows my general lack of character because offending someone should be higher on the list than giving up chocolate but it's not.

this morning...

H put on her cool new sneakers,

I packed some school lunches....

(chips and salsa, yogurt, clementine, PB&J and a drink for H)

(PB&J, clementine, yogurt and cheese crackers and a drink for Brother)

and the children got on the bus and went to school!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!

V-day

Happy Valentines day! It was a good one here.

Last night Beloved took me to Clark's Landing, a nice on the water seafood restaurant. We ate yummy bacon wrapped scallops and stuffed shrimp and crab soup. It was delish! Then we went to the movies. It was a very nice evening.

Today we went to church, there was a special spirit there. I think everyone was so happy to be back to church after many weeks of being snowed out. We greeted each other with warm hugs and happy smiles. The meeting was especially good. The Bishop had invited several people to share their conversation stories and they were all very touching and the spirit was strong. I loved it!

After church we had a linger longer. It made me take a pause and remember back to our first week here in MD, they had a linger longer after sacrament that day too and we stayed and met people. Everyone was nice, but it was strange to be with a new ward and unfamiliar faces. Now 7 months later we were among friends. The kids sat at different tables with their friends; we all visited and ate and talked business and chatted and were right at home. Time and the shared love of the gospel really forges new bonds and friendships that are sweet. I am grateful for that.

We gave each of the kids a little heart with chocolates that they enjoyed this morning, tonight we will have dessert in our fun new valentine ramekins:)

Keeping busy

Yesterday we went to Waldorf and bought paint and went to Costco. The kids filled up on samples and we didn't even have to have dinner, just random snacks in the evening. Some had clementines, others popcorn, someone ate a muffin. Love those dinners:)

J spent the day out with friends and S at work.

Today S is at school and J is sleeping. She had a "sleep over" on Th night and then spent the day playing so she was behind on sleep. We took the little kids to see Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Lightening Thief. I liked it. The kids were all disappointed and spent the whole drive home talking about how is was different than the book and lamer. Which is true. However, seasoned movie goer that I am, I now expect it to be different and not as good. If you go into it with those expectations you can still enjoy the movie, even if it's as silly as Twilight, or as untrue to the story as Ella Enchanted.

Now they are all out sledding with Beloved. Yeah! I am inside watching the Olympics! yeah yeah! We watched the opening ceremonies last night, they were lovely.

We have snow in the forecast for Mon and Tues. Does this mean more school delays? We have gone to school 3 half days in the month of Feb, so far.

I have a headache...it is getting better, but how unpleasant.

snow ice cream

1 gallon snow
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups milk

mix together and enjoy a frosty treat! Thanks Caroline, for the recipe:)

it was kind of a long day

we did workbooks and crafts

played foosball in our jammies

had a tea party with Fancy Nancy and Dora and Strawberry Shortcake (she is very small and sitting at her own small table on top of the big table)

we watched TV

looked outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sun:)

ventured out into the blizzard

sewed a new skirt

read together,

sat around and talked, ate pie, cleaned up,...

and we'll do it all again tomorrow. No school until Tuesday for us:(

conversation through a bathroom door

so, I went to the bathroom.
Lu followed, she misses me if I am out of her sight.
I closed the door.
She sat down outside and said, "I know how about you name the people in our family and I will count them."
"Okay"
"Daddy"
"One"
"Mommy"
"not the pets!"
was she thinking I said Millie?
"Mommy"
""Tommy??"
"Mommy"
"Who??"
"Mom"
"Two"

and so it went.

dreaming

international dinner 2

Hannah and Chelsea love to cook together. They love to plan and prep and cook and serve. They are cute girls:)

Yesterday they spent several hours in the kitchen getting everything ready and just right and then they served a very delicious dinner.

For their appetizer they took us to England for some fish and chips. Greasy yumminess.

The entree was from Italy, we had fettachini and enselata! Again two thumbs up:)

We ended the meal with a trip south of the border to Mexico for some Mexican bread pudding and Mexican hot chocolate, both of which were simply divine.

The adult table :) They set the tables and put out place cards so everyone would know where to sit. They put Sierra and Jenna in the kitchen with the kids:) and themselves at the fancy table. Which I thought was so cute.

After we had a nice family home evening with a lesson and game that they had prepared.

Good job girls!

Mexican Hot Chocolate

(very thick and almost pudding like)

6 cans of evaporated milk

4 T cinnamon

1 T vanilla

1 t nutmeg

1 pinch cayenne pepper

2 bags of chocolate chips.

Put all the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 2-3 hours, stirring every 15 minutes.

sprinkle with cocoa powder before serving

Delicious!!!

Mexican Bread Pudding

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup water

1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 cup tasted pine nuts, almonds and walnuts, mixed

1 cup raisins

1/2 pound Monterrey jack cheese cut in cubes

1 apple, peeled, thinly sliced

1 loaf french bread

whipped cream

in a medium size saucepan, boil water, brown sugar and cinnamon for 2-3 minutes. Set aside.

slice bread in thick slices and toast lightly; then break into large pieces. Place half the bread in a baking dish. Combine nuts, rains and cheese. Layer half the nut mixture on top of the bread. Top with apples slices and half of the brown sugar. Repeat layers, cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.

Serve with cool whip.

just the right size

16 more inches coming

Sierra and Hannah at dusk