Will He Forgive Me?

My little goo man is giving me the serious cold shoulder, upon my return. He is rubbing in the apparent abandonment he felt for five days with Mom gone. Daddy is getting lots of snuggles...but for his mother...nothing! It is heart-wrenching!

Back from the East coast, revitalized. We had a fabulous time. I will do a couple posts about it in the next day or two. Right now I am cooking like crazy. Tomorrow I am presenting a cooking class to the women in my church. I am doing a bread demonstration and talking about cooking with grains and home storage items. My prep work however, is lending itself to some great coming blog posts...marshmallows, graham crackers, grape nuts, wheat thins...fun stuff!

Check back for lots of recipes in the next couple weeks.

My Not-So-Big House

Lasting Impressions

Some people make lasting impressions even with casual friendships. Such is the case with our neighbors when Brent and I were newlyweds. We lived in a tiny 600 sqft basement apartment with a wonderful family from Mexico.

We were cozy, and blissfully happy, surrounded by adorable children upstairs and next door. For almost 4 years they were our surrogate children. They scoured the neighborhood for insects for my Entomology collection, bringing me dozens of crickets and cockroaches.

(I never mentioned to their parents, when with eyes shining with pride a 5 year old brought me a "cool big bug" she found in her drawer....those pesky cockroaches plagued our street...it took me about a year after moving away to not panic about the nasty things running around when I got up to go the bathroom at night...)

Back to where I started...our next door neighbors were youthful, stylish, fit, spiritual, loving parents with five gorgeous children (now eight). They treated us as equals, despite being 15 years ahead. We fell in love with their family. It was this mom, who introduced me to the "The-Not-So-Big House." For two years she drew up plans for her dream house, based on these principles. I fell in love with the concept and it has been a part of me since.

The Not-So-Big-House

The books are by Sarah Susanka. I recommend them to anyone. The essence of the idea is to value quality over quantity. Create a home to fit your family and not to impress anyone else. Find multiple, efficient uses for your space. People like to be close. Think of snuggling with your loved ones. The most comfortable homes are those which snuggle the family. My words clearly, not hers :)

We bought our home knowing it was small. At about 2500 sq feet, completely finished, it can feel like a tight squeeze, if we don't use our space effectively. Everything I do in my home, is built around the idea of bringing my family closer to me, and using the little space I have wisely.

Lately, my kitchen was feeling small. With my children's friends over, suddenly there wasn't a place for everyone to sit. Additionally, I spend a good amount of time in the kitchen and my children always want to be near...as they should be...

My solution...build a raised bar. Here is how we started....

Here is the almost completed project. It is still missing drawers. I am having 4 large desk drawers put underneath the counter top. Two on each side of the corbel. This will help with the crayon and workbook mess I constantly battle! I am so please with how everything has turned out. The finish work is beautiful.

In a stroke of fate, I found enough of my completely random, and quite unique purple tile left over in the basement from the previous owers, to finish off the new wall. Additional perks include 2 sorely needed outlets!

An exhaustive hunt for barstools turned up with these. I love the end look. It gives a whole different feel to my kitchen. Comfortable and inviting. And I love to change color schemes often, so now I am going with green...who knows how I will feel in a year!

The other thing I loved about this set of chairs, was the matching bench. Unbelievably, I found 3 darling little cushions to fit perfectly on the bench for my 3 little munchkins. How ideallyic. Seating increased from 5 to 11! Not bad. I only had to move my kitchen table over about 6 inches. I also replaced my french doors to swing out instead of in.

Wait until you see my new library I am dreaming up...hopefully it will be in the real workings soon! I thought contractors were desparate for work right now...ours is so busy. He sure does good work though.

Under Age Recruiting Scandal Exposed!

Now Coach, I know I promised I wouldn't blog about you already recruiting Emmett for the basketball team but...I couldn't resist....and none of the pics show your face...so you remain in anonymity...
It should be clear to anyone close to our family the innate basketball talent of Emmett. Standing tall in the 2nd percentile, still at nearly 14 months unable to walk on his chubby feet, and fingers so fat they barely can grasp a crayon to sign on that proverbial dotted line...he is destined for the NBA...clearly coach knows what he is doing!

Emmett listens attentively...he has to be discriminating...you know a lot of scouts have been checking him out.

Verdict is...you hooked him coach. In 17 years, he is all yours...in all of his anticipatory 5'8" glory!!!

Multi-Grain Blender Pancakes

I love this recipe because on any brain dead morning, or lets be honest, usually evening, you can whip it out with zero forethought. Now I know you can do that all the time if you use a pancake mix, but if you are trying to cook with whole grains with no storebought nasty fillers...this is your number (you don't even have to have your wheat ground ahead!!). If you have a blender you can make it happen!

Multi-Grain Blender Pancakes
1/3 c powdered milk and c water*
1/3 c raw kamut**
1/3 c raw spelt**
1/3 c raw whole wheat**
2 T powdered eggs or 2 whole eggs
2 T virgin coconut oil
2 t baking powder
2 T pure maple syrup (or natural sweetener of your choice)
1/2 t real salt

Put milk, water and grains in blender. Blend on highest speed for 3-5 minutes, or until batter is smooth. Add remaining ingredients and blend on low. You may need to add 1/2-1 c of additional water to make batter to your preferred consistency.
Bake on a hot cast iron griddle. Double the oil for a great waffle batter.

*Can substitute 1 c regular milk or 2/3 c instant and 1 c water

**Can substitute any combination of grains

Off for my Second Honeymoon

Farewell to all! I am off to the Big Apple and Boston for my second Honeymoon! My first experience with both cities. I'll have lots of pictures and blogs next week when we get home. I scheduled a bunch of blogs to post for the next few days that I was behind on. So enjoy if you want!

The First but Not the Last!

The day has come when the tooth fairy must now visit our humble abode. She'll be stopping by quite frequently over the next 10 years, I anticipate. But the first is always special. (Ellery is really going to love this post when she's a teenager. Talk about flattering photography!)

Last night...wiggling, wiggling...spotting a bit of blood...saving a chocolate milk mustache for later...
This morning after a 30 minutes ordeal of wiggling, more wiggling and blood...I finally pulled that little incisor right out of her cute little mouth!

Calling to spread the joyful news. Of course she didn't want to wait until the blood stopped flowing.


The beginnings of a big girl smile. Sigh.....

The obligatory letter to the Tooth Fairy, of course...

Ready and waiting!

Easter Miracles

Small Miracle

Today I am finally emerging from my bed. About 3 am Pip started bawling about an earache and as I woke up, the feeling of mass pain in every joint was gone, my head wasn't throbbing and I wasn't hacking uncontrollably.

Brent gave me a healing priesthood blessing before I went to bed. I had really taken a turn for the worse yesterday. I testify the Lord works through his righteous servants and He felt it was my time to be rid of this nasty sickness, whatever it is.


Large Miracle

The last two years the Lord has given us a gift of time. Time free from chemicals and radiation, knives, and searing. Time to fashion memories full of love and laughter and children. More time than we thought we would ever have 5 years ago when Brent's father was diagnosed with cancer. But cancer has a way of rearing its ugly head just when you think it is gone. Last night, we found it has done just that.

I feel the panic set in as it seems like those sands of time, that fell in slow motion for 2 years are now flowing in a relentless torrent. Yet at the same time, at this Easter season, I am at peace. Grateful for the miracle of time. And for a wonderful Father-in-law and whose life has been lengthened just this long to bless mine, Brent's and our children's.

Only the Lord knows how much longer we have him. It is up to us to do with the time what we can.

Small Miracle

Callista: Mommy Papi is going to die. Is he dead today?
Me: No Callista he isn't dead today.
Callista: Mommy Papi's body will be in the ground but his spirit won't die. He will be resurrected and his body and spirit will come back together.

For six months Brent has taught the children nearly every day the simple truths of God's plan for us. I watched as he patiently taught them again again how..

...we are spirit children of God
...we lived with him before we came to earth
...we came to earth to receive a body and to us our agency to be obedient
....when we die our bodies go into the ground but our spirits go to Heaven
...at judgment we will be resurrected, just as the Savior was, and we will be able to live in glory with Him and our families forever

Large Miracle

The life and gift of our Savior. I know He yet lives. I remember sitting in the tomb at the traditional spot in Jerusalem, reading the words you see only from the inside..."He is not here. For He is Risen." Truly He is risen. There is no greater miracle than this.

sick

i can't seem to get better. bedded down since wednesday afternoon. aches everywhere. hacking up a lung practically.

The Garden of 2009 Begins

A week ago Saturday, I finally squeezed in some moments to plant my peas, spinach, lettuce and other cold-weather crops. As of yet, there are zero signs of life. I am at a loss. Sometimes when I plant, everything comes up, other times, nothing? The determinate factor has yet to be discovered.
I am also giving my raspberries extra TLC this year. In years past, they go crazy but hardly produce. They are now in their 4th year with yet to provide a bounteous harvest. I carefully pruned this year. By removing the dead canes, cutting the year-old-canes to under 5 feet, and providing a simple trellis I am hopeful for better results. Last year I mowed them down, in hopes for a large fall crop, it was meager at best. I will keep you posted.

PTA...Declined

After prayerful contemplation, and a bit of research I decided to decline the invitation to participate as the PTA president. My reasons are varied. First I felt my personal educational philosophy was not in direct accordance with PTA's.

I am a firm supporter of vouchers, private schools, charter schools and homeschooling. I am also opposed to unions. When schools and teachers are forced to compete in a free market environment children benefit. Some schools may lose funding if they do not step up to the plate. Salary and job security should be directly tied to student performance and teacher quality, not protected by a union.

I remember my first year teaching, I was only 21 years old. During district orientation we were herded into a small classroom, and I felt, bombarded by the Union. They almost demanded we sign up instantly. Extremely uncomfortable with the situation, I would not sign. Instead, my policy as a teacher was to participate in actions and policy change I believed in. On one occasion I participated in a one day strike and distributed fliers. Only because I supported the cause. Not because I was a union member.

The national PTA also has some agenda's which are not in accordance with my personal values, including sex education and the teaching of alternative lifestyles to children. The Utah PTA is certainly not involved in pushing these agenda's, to my knowledge, however.

Where does this leave me....

School Community Council

Last night I attended a community meeting including the Superintendent and the School Board. It was very insightful. After a 30 minute presentation, they took questions for 1 1/2 hours. What I learned is I want to be involved in the school community council. This council composed of teachers, parents, students, and administrators decides how to allocate $15K-$25K worth of funds each year. By participating in this council I feel I can be influential in the school.

Science Fair

When speaking with our principal last week he mentioned how he wants to bring the Science Fair to our school. Now, that is something I can be passionate about! I have a love/hate relationship with Science Fair. When teaching, it was by far the most challenging and the most rewarding thing we did. I tried to focus on inquiry learning in my classroom, and Science Fair is the ultimate inquiry investigation. My thoughts are to offer my services to help train teachers and organize a school Science Fair. In this way I feel I would be enhancing the educational experience of all students at the school.

Home Schooling

Home Schooling is still in the mix for me. I realize I didn't make it clear in my previous entry, I am only considering a 1/2 day of homeschool. The beauty of living across the street from the school will allow Ellery to attend recess at school and eat lunch, attend assemblies, and class parties that are appropriate etc. While she is very excited about being with me for half the day, she would be devastated to leave completely. I think we can find a balance.

I am reading an excellent book called A Thomas Jefferson Education. It is very inspiring. After speaking with a teacher at the elementary school, I think I will try homeschooling in the afternoon, as opposed to the mornings, as I thought previously. If I choose to send her in the morning she will have literacy and math at school, as well as home. I can provide all sorts of enriching activities at home to replace her afternoon school activities.

This is the current plan....everything is always subject to change though :)

Refined Sugar Free Raspberry Oat Bars

These are the "Nutrigrain" bars mother nature intended. Feed them to your family with guilt-less pleasure. They are free of high fructose corn syrup...which creepy enough contains mercury! I don't know why the mainstream media doesn't broadcast things like this...oh wait maybe they just want us all to become brain dead by consuming high fructose corn syrup in large doses. It is frightening.

This recipe is adapted from a great cookbook Country Beans by Rita Bingham. I like many of the recipes in her book. Her big idea is to always combine beans with a grain to create a complete protein. Inspired by Rita, I keep bean flours on hand in my freezer to add in whenever I think of it. This is by far one of our favorites from her cookbook.

Raspberry Oat Bars

for crust and topping...
1 3/4 c rolled oats
1 1/4 c whole grain flour mix
1/4 c white bean flour (or just substitute whole grain flour)
1/2 c chopped nuts
3/4 c melted butter or applesauce (go for the butter)
3/4-1 c unrefined sweetener
(I like brown rice syrup, use 1 cup. Her recipe uses honey..I think it is too strong)
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t real salt

for fruit filling...
2 c fresh or frozen berries (I use a frozen mix, from Costco)
1/2 c sweetener (I like agave, xylitol is good too.)
3 T water (omit if using ultra gel)
2 T cornstarch 0r 4-6 T ultra gel
Juice from one Lemon

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oats, flours, nuts, baking soda, and salt. Add butter and sweetener, mixing until crumbly.

Reserve 3/4 c mixutre; press remaining onto bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.
Bake 8 min.

Combin berries and sweetener. Bring to a boil; simmer 2 minutes. Mix cornstarch, water and lemon juice. Gradually stir into berry mixture; cook and stir about 30 sec or until thickened.

Spread over partially baked crust. Sprinkly with remaining oat mixture. Bake 15-18 minutes or until topping is golden brown.

Just say no to high fructose corn syrup. It is worth whatever hassel you might incur. This is your family! Do a google search on "high fructose corn syrup mercury" you will find alarming information. Articles from the Washington Post, USA Today...and Nutrigrain bars were one of the foods tested.

Easter Dress Update

Here are some pictures of how the dresses are coming.

Ellery's still needs a zipper, and all the roses on the bottom. It is so time consuming making the roses, I am putting it off until I finish Callista's. My fingers were raw after making all those flowers and hand sewing them onto the collar. Multiply the collar 15x...it is going to be a project!


Pip's is coming along. The bodice is finished, all I have left is the skirt. It will probably just take a couple more hours.

I told Brent, if only I could make a practice dress, the next would be perfect. Because I don't follow a pattern for many parts of the dress there is a lot of trial and error involved. On these dresses I changed the neck line,added collars, adding roses on bottom and switching to an invisible zipper, altered ties, and changed the way they did the lining. The basic pattern I am using is Simplicity 2767. I begged Callista to let me do the bubble skirt on her dress, like the peach one below, but she wanted nothing to do with it.