Sooooo......yeah...

Owen's quilt

2012-02-12T14:06:00.000-08:00

I finally finished Owen's quilt! Thanks to a good friend letting me borrow her new and super cool machine. It gave me the final push to be able to want to finish it.
I made this quilt out of scraps. The majority are from Owen's diaper cover left over pieces. Additional pieces were taken from Ember and Jaxen's quilt scraps. The only things I bought for this quilt were the backing, the bunting, and the thread (I ran out of black thread toward the end).

He absolutely loves his quilt. He took it with him when we went to pick up his brother and sister from school. He likes to hide in it and chase his little brother around. He also likes to stop and investigate each of the squares with his brother. Looking for a certain ninja turtle, or Nemo. Best of all he can use it for a little bit longer before it gets too hot. He is a blanket kind of kid, and this one beats out the spider-man blanket that was his favorite.

Piano Recital

2012-02-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

The older two had their piano recital tonight. They did really well, we were really proud of them! Their teacher is stupendous! I will probably upload them in small batches. I can't get any of the rest to load. :( Maybe they are too big?

Christmas Letter 2011

2011-12-14T17:59:00.000-08:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Where did the year go?! I can’t believe that a new year is already upon us. With four kids there is never a dull moment! I will cut to the chase and give you the yearly update.

Jaxen (9) played soccer again this year. He keeps getting better. This year he also joined a LEGO Robotics club. He had group meetings two times a week for the fall semester and then participated in a local competition. He had lots of fun engineering and designing a robot to complete certain tasks. He has also been taking piano lessons and is doing really well. He is in the gifted program at school, works hard and gets very good grades. He is also in boy scouts (bear).

Ember (7) is also playing soccer this year. Being one of the oldest on the team, she is one of the stars! She was able to focus more this year and really work on her skills. Her team did really well. She is also taking piano lessons and doing well. She is doing great in school. She is a monkey bar queen and has some fancy handwork on display when she shows off. She likes anything and everything dog, and is convinced her life would be complete if she had one.

Owen (4) has been going to preschool two days a week for two hours. He has really made great strides this year. We have been working at home on our alphabet and letter sounds. Although slow going at first, he now knows lots of letters and sounds. He can write his name and likes to do “homework” (sometimes).

Kaysen (2) is shooting up like a weed. His hair is down to his bottom! He loves “roars” (dinosaurs), “heep” (sheep) and “hoos” (horses). He likes to play puppy with his brothers and sister. He loves to be outdoors and get dirty. He likes to work on letters with his brother and most letters are called “E”. He is also my first artistic child to write on walls. (I thought I had it made!) He also seems to be the only “righty” in the bunch of kids.

Shaunton passed his PE exam! We basked in the light of his achievement for quite a while. He still works at SRP-MIC and enjoys it. This year he trained hard and ran an ultra marathon (31 miles) in September. It took him 6 hours and 15 minutes, which is pretty awesome for a first time ultra marathon runner. He likes to work out daily and play football, soccer, and basketball in his spare time. He was the assistant coach for Jaxen’s soccer team, so that kept him pretty busy.

In my “spare” time this year I volunteered in Ember’s classroom, worked on quilts, and fell behind in my scrapbooking. I have a standing appointment with the boys to watch the recycle truck dump our trash on Mondays and the regular trash truck on Thursdays. I “enjoy” taxiing my children to piano lessons, school, soccer, and play dates. I also facilitated an internet course at ASU. This was a new and exciting experience. I work with the kids ages 3-11 at church, so lesson prep, stress, and organization have all been my friends (and enemies) this year. I was running for a good while there until the weather got cold, and look forward to running again when it isn’t freezing (and pitch scary black) at 5:30 in the morning!

Overall, we have kept busy this year. We went to California over the fall break and the kids enjoyed Disneyland, California Adventures, Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, the beach, and the Natural History Museum in San Diego. Lucky for us, October was apparently the month for kids getting free admission into most of these attractions. (Good accidental planning on our part.) This is a once in three year experience for the kids, so it was nice to get out of the heat and enjoy some cooler weather.

We hope that 2011 was a good year with much growth and learning opportunities. We look forward to a new year and wish you a safe and prosperous one.

Sincerely,

Monique, Shaunton, Jaxen, Ember, Owen and Kaysen

Fall Break Day 6: Museum of Natural History

2011-12-08T14:18:00.000-08:00

We forgot to take the camera inside, but we managed to remember to take a picture on the way out!

We got to see some pretty good exhibits.
From their website:

Ends of the Earth: From Polar Bears to Penguins
Discover the unique nature of the Earth’s polar regions, the science undertaken there, and how these regions are indicators of climate change on Earth. Visitors will relive polar expeditions though the eyes of great explorers, learn about the formation and size of icebergs, and conduct experiments. Discover polar bears and penguins and the impact that global warming is having on their icy homes in the Ice Cave Theater.
The kids really like the interactive, play against each other games, that quizzed you on the things you learned about in the exhibit.

All That Glitters
The Splendor and Science of Gems and Minerals
Gems seduce us with their sparkle. But did you know that every glittering ruby, sapphire, diamond, and opal has a history as old as the Earth itself? A gem isn’t just a pretty bauble—it’s a rare and wonderful by-product of the tremendous forces that have shaped our planet. Discover how the same Earth processes that build landscapes produce dazzling gemstones and precious metals—even right here in San Diego County, one of the most famous gem-producing regions in the world. The exhibition features a stunning selection of spectacular natural mineral crystals, exquisite jewelry, and works of art.
This exhibit was amazing. I couldn't believe some of the gems and jewelery they had. Gorgeous!

Fossil Mysteries
From dinosaurs to mastodons, discover the rich fossil history of our region. In this major exhibition, created by the Museum, ponder a mystery, examine the strong fossil evidence from the Museum's collection, and use scientific tools to discover answers. Traveling through a 75-million-year timeline, from the age of dinosaurs to the Ice Ages, experience an unfolding of the prehistory of southern California and Baja California, Mexico.
There was lots of hands on activities in this section. Fossils you could touch, things you could move to make the bones animated. There were lots of simulations of what has happened to the earth since the dinosaur ages.

Water: A California Story
Through photos, maps, video, and hands-on activities, learn about current, local issues on land and in the ocean. Examine the infrastructure of the regional water system, and discover how we import the majority of our water and the costs associated with this practice. Water: A California Story also looks at effects of a changing climate on our region’s water supply and reveals how southern Californians can help protect water for future generations. Natural history specimens and live animals will serve as reminders that the natural environment and its inhabitants are also legitimate users of water resources.
A whole exhibit on the importance of conservation. California and Arizona are a lot alike in this respect. It was an interesting exhibit.

We also got to watch some interesting movies. There was a 3D dinosaur one that was neat. Owen wasn't too keen on keeping on the glasses....I think he might have been a little scared. There was an Ocean movie that was neat and another movie that I can't remember. Maybe I will revamp the post when I get the details.

Afterward we headed home. The kids entertained themselves with movies. They are their own traveling exhibit!

Fall Break Day 5: California Adventures

2011-12-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

I am convinced that my children have more fun at California Adventures than they do in Disneyland. That might be a bit of an exagerration, but there are some really cool attractions in CA Adventures.

We managed to convince the Jaxen and Ember to go on the Tower of Terror. I had never been, seeing as how the last two times we went I was pregnant. It was nice to be able to enjoy the rides. I really like the switch pass feature, which means I can stand in line, go on the ride with a few kids, and then Shaunton can go on with the some kids afterward without waiting. Who ever thought that up is genius (and probably a parent of multiple children!). Anyway, the ride freaked the kids out. I thought it was fun!

We then hit up A Bug's Life. This section is really geared toward kids of all ages. Kaysen could go on all but one ride in this area, if I remember right. He wasn't too happy about it, but Dad took him on another ride while we went on the bumper cars.

Do I have to? (I think Shaun accidentally poked him in the eye!)

A little nervous to try solo at first, so they went together. Then we had to stand in line again so they could get their own bugs.

Owen had to be accompanied by an adult. So, I was the lucky one! YES!

Our happy family enjoying a Bug's Life ride.

We managed to get a passerby to take our pic in front of a festive setting. Apparently she had taken pics before and had all these tips for good pics! Thanks lady!

The piece de resistance was the Woody 3D ride. We stood in line for that bad boy 3 times. It really is a fun ride, although not long enough. Kaysen enjoyed the ride too...and wasn't ready to leave. Another one of those crying fits!

I don't wanna leave the Woody ride!

Publish Post

My little helper. She wanted to push....even if it was up hill...with two brother in it.

My daughter talked me into going on the swings. I was terrified the whole time. I didn't even want to let my kids go on them. Eek. I don't do heights. There are two rides there that I just can't stomach riding on watching my family ride. It is the swings and the ones that look like rockets. They don't have enough "hold you in" gear for my liking.

I lost my glasses somewhere toward the end of the night. With no sign of them since. (I did get a new pair of prescription sunglasses though! They look nice!)

We ended the night with a lights on the water celebration type thing. It was neat. It had water, lots of color(!) and music. Even some hologram type pictures they could put "on the water".

Monkey

2011-11-04T18:02:00.000-07:00

Ember has lice.

Does anyone have a monkey I can borrow?

Fall Break Day 4: San Diego Zoo

2011-11-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

Last time we were in California, we went to the zoo. It seemed so much MORE last time we came. It wasn't too thrilling this time. The kids enjoyed it though, and it was a good work out on the legs with all the steep terrain.

I think I did more child watching then I did animal watching. Their fascination fascinated me.

Is it me, or does this camel look a little frothy? Slightly concerned.

The cool thing about this zoo is that it really is much more up close and personal then our zoo. I could reach in and get my hand bit off if I really wanted to. Can't do that at our zoo.

Alas, I still try to figure out why I bring the stroller. No one wants to ride in it....until on the way out...when everyone wants to ride in it.

Elephant stampede victim.

Awe, isn't he an awesome dad. My heart gets big when I look at pics like these.

Are you not smiling? You need this as a screen saver!

Once again, caught in the act of curiosity. I love to try and get pics when they are acting natural and exploring the world around them.

Overall, it was a nice day and we had fun traversing the zoo. It was easier than last time and we managed to see most of it. I think everyone's favorite exhibit was the snake house. Lots and lots o poisonous snakes! I think we spent as much time looking through there as we did walking around the rest of the zoo. Jaxen liked to read the endangered meter for each animal. They would race up to each one and declare the status of the animal. It was educational, and I can't complain because the kids were free! :)

Fall Break Vacation Day 3: Sea World

2011-11-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

Today we decided to take in Sea World. We got show times ahead so that we could plan our day around the shows.

One of our first stops was to see the sharks. This one actually came up out of the water each time it circled!

It was nice to see the kids helping each other out and being loving toward one another. I have pics to prove that they were nice to each other at some point in their lives.

We watched a seal show, were Jaxen chose to sit by himself in the splash zone....even though he didn't get wet. BUMMER. We then hoofed t across the whole park to go see Shamu. Jaxen convinved us to sit in the splash zone and we were drenched 3 times!

Jaxen and Ember loved it! Owen not so much. Kaysen was my shield, as he was sitting on my lap. I was still drenched, so that can tell you the watery state he was in. It made for a cooler afternoon walking around. Some exhibits were even a little chilly (think penguins).

(Kaysen checkin' the map for our next destination.)

We watched a Pet show as well as a dolphin show. I think everyone really enjoyed playing with all the toys at the exits of all the exhibits. I think we spent more time trying to get them past all the stuffed animals and trinkets then we did on the actual exhibits!

The kids really liked the jungle gym area with rope and stuff. It wasn't so easy for Kaysen, but he had a dad that was willing to help him!

(This was a pic taken when I was off somewhere with the little ones. It makes me smile!)

Favorites:
Owen: Pirates 4D movie
Ember - Sea lion show, Dolphin show and Shamu show
Jaxen - Freshwater tank (with piranhas), Sea lion show, and Dolphin show
Kaysen - Pet's rule show

Great Pumkin Reveal- Do you know whose is whose?

2011-10-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

Don't scroll down until you guess...

Did you guess right?

Pumpkin Prep

2011-10-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

Last night we decided we should break down and carve these pumpkins. We only bought three and figured Owen and Kaysen could share the smallest one. There was a bit of an argument about who got the biggest pumpkin, but Jaxen was the bigger sibling and decided to take the medium one. Shame on me for not getting pumpkins that were the exact same size.

Ember and Owen decided to go with a stencil, while Jaxen chose to create a more personal jack-o-lantern.

Jaxen wanted to do all the cutting, but 1/8 around the top decided that maybe a little help was needed.

Owen and Kaysen were a bunch of wimps and wouldn't stick their hands into the pumpkin to get out the guts. This picture was staged, as Kaysen was just pretending to get his pic taken. I think he took out 2 seeds max, one at a time, before smearing any residual on his shirt.

Ember and Jaxen dug right in and got to work.

Kaysen really wants his picture taken and pokes his dirty face into the picture at the last minute!

Ok, he is bored. Off to read some books while he waits for "his pumpkin" to be done.

It was a fun night carving and being goofy. Pumpkin guts anyone?!
The kids were excited to see their creations in the dark.

Driver's Ed

2011-10-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

Driving to scouts last night from soccer practice:

E (exasperated): Mom, when are you going to teach me how to drive? How come you haven't taught me yet?
Me: You don't learn to drive until you are 16.
E: Will you be old?
Me: I will only be (insert age here).
E: Wow.
Me: That isn't that old!
E: How old is Grandma Honey?
Me: 51.
E: She doesn't look that old.
Me: I know, she takes good care of herself and eats right.
E: I need to start eating healthier. Don't you think Mom?
Me: That a great idea.

Owen today while wrestling:

O: Dad, let me feel your bone. (Feels around Shaun's calf muscle.)
O: Dad, you have no bones right here.
Me: Yes he does, you just feel muscle.
Shaun: My calf muscle.
O: Your cat muscle?
Quizzical look, and then back to fighting.

Fall Break Vacation Day 2: Disneyland

2011-10-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

We decided that we liked Disneyland so much, it had to stay in the vacation rotation. So, this was first on our list because we could get a cheap motel close. We didn't get the fancy digs until Monday night. So, we stayed at a little place called The Little Boy Blue Motel and walked to Disneyland.

Owen was the lucky potawan this year. He got picked to go up and get trained in the Jedi way. Jaxen was bummed, but I wasn't too upset as he had the experience the last time along with Ember.

So, needless to say, he has a little bit of a shaky start, but stood his own when it came time to go up against the big guy, Darth Vader.

Fighting evil Sith Lords is hard work, who wouldn't blame a Jedi for taking a much needed break?

Right before this battle we had eaten lunch, so afterward we were ready to head off for some more fun.

Why not picture of all the kids?

Missing one you say?

Oh, here he is... throwing a fit. Not the first or the last. We has just gotten off the teacups, and apparently 2 minutes of spinning was not enough. He cried after having to get off this ride, the carousel, and the Buzz ride. I don't remember any of the other kids getting so attached.

Oh look, he is happy again. Remember, this is short lived.

Here we are standing in a hour and a half line for a lame haunted house. Wish I new that before I waited.

Started off happy, one hour in, not so much.

It's Halloween, even Mickey's wearing a mask!

Day 2 is over and we are still smiles.

Jaxen's favorites: Star Tours, Indian Jones, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Ember's favorites: Teacups, Carousel, and Buzz ride (noticing a trend)

Owen's favorites: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (really, on the ride you seemed scared out of your mind!), Carousel, and Tarzan's Tree house

Kaysen's favorites: Teacups, Carousel, Buzz ride (cried after each) and Tarzan's Tree house

Souveniers:

Jaxen- Yoda shirt that reads "Judge me by my size, do you?" Shows Yoda trying to get on a ride and not being tall enough, even with his Mickey ears.

Owen - A Buzz Lightyear "nerf" gun.

Kaysen - His first Mickey ears

Sunglasses

2011-10-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

I lost my sunglasses while at California Adventures in California. Guest services assured me that if they find them, they will mail them to me for free. I said, "So that is why it is so expensive to go to Disneyland, shipping all the lost and found items for free." She didn't really smile. Oops.

Anywho, so I filled out a card and described my glasses. Metal, brown frame, Brown lenses, Big V on the side. Slightly bent but still wearable.

So, this is what I get in the mail today.

Needless to say, they aren't mine and they are super stretched out....what do I do with them now?

Random thoughts

2011-10-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

Kaysen:
Read and Counts: Doe...Dee...Doe...Dee....Doe Dee Doe! He is good pointing at each letter/number/word as he goes. It does this for counting and reading.
He has gone potty every morning for the last three mornings....but not the rest of the day.
He has slept all night in his bed since Sunday!!!! ( I feel the difference!)

Owen:
Can you guess who he is referring to?
"Mom, I need your help. I need you to get that guy, you know, the one that goes slowly...slowly...slowly."
Other random thoughts:
"Skeltons (how he says it) totally fleak me out."

Fall Break Vacation Day 1: The Beach

2011-10-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

So, we surveyed the children prior to this vacation to see what they wanted to do. We wanted to do a little bit of everything. One of Ember's top choices was to go to the beach. We headed to the beach right from home, so it was a fun time to look forward to. We had to pay to park. There was a kite flying competition going on. We took off our shoes and walked to the beach in our regular clothes, got wet, and then came back and changed into our swimsuits. Silly, I know.

The water was cold, but not as cold as it was the last time we went (in March a few years ago). The kids had fun running in and out with the tide.

Built sand castles with motes, and the resorted to digging holes to fill with water.

Owen enjoyed digging with an abandoned shovel.

Kaysen enjoyed sliding down the sand banks.

I found a men's wedding band, diamonds and everything, on the beach. I looked down and saw a circle like something in the sand. I bent down, thinking it was probably a bottle cap sticking up from the ground. Nope, a ring. Weird, since a guy was walking around earlier with a metal detector looking for treasure! Maybe it just washed up?

Ember's randomness

2011-10-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

She had torn that thingy connected from your gum to your bottom lip.

Ember: This thing in my mouth hurts, so I think I will have to be talkless for a while.

(Guess how long being talkless lasted?)

During this time I also found her trying to eat an apple with a fork....because it hurt bite the apple itself. Took some initiative there instead of asking for help.

Que es esto?

2011-10-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

If you were me, you would have said pizza cutter used to cut pizza. If you were my husband, you would of said a pizza cutter that can be used to cut brownies. (In his defense I use it to cut quesadillas too.)

Guess who started preschool?

2011-09-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

They grow up so fast!

Color Matching

2011-08-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

My two year old just completed a color matching game. He wanted to play a file folder game so I took out one with bears. Each bear is colored to match a bear attached to the folder. He would look at the bear. Look at the folder. Find it. Check the bear in his hand. Smile. Place the bear on top of the bear of the same color. I guess I didn't realize he could do it this early on! Wow!

Two!

2011-08-14T22:34:00.000-07:00

Nope, he ain't throwing down for North siiiiide!

Picture taken on his second birthday....he is showing you how old he is! He caught on to the whole two thing faster than I thought he would. Too bad that other two fingers won't cooperate and stay down. Looks like he is ready to take you out with his gun! Posted a month late, but I thought it was cute when I was printing them out!

The Help

2011-08-09T14:16:00.000-07:00

A few quotes I liked from The Help by Kathryn Stockett:

Cause that's the way prayer do. It's like electricity, it keeps things going.

I don't know what to say to her. All I know is, I ain't saying it. And I know she ain't saying what she want a say either. And it's a strange thing happening here cause nobody saying nothing and we still managing to have us a conversation.

One of the best books I have read in a long time.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-03T20:13:00.000-07:00

Is it possible....

2011-08-01T16:04:00.000-07:00

to love and hate the start of a new school year?

2011-07-22T08:04:00.000-07:00

Good...but stain-able and not to easy to clean.

Was better....when clean (which wasn't for this pic). Slowly falling apart.

Best. Only took me forever.

My Goodwill Bookshelf

2011-07-18T07:49:00.000-07:00

Like H, I have invested quite a bit on books the last two 50% off Saturdays. (Plus a few others via the internet.)

Softcover
Sarah's Quilt - Nancy Turner
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle
A Walk to Remember - Nicholas Sparks
Twlight - Meyers (found 3 of 4 one weekend!)
New Moon - Meyers

Hardcover
DaVInci Code - Dan Brown
Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
Breaking Dawn - Meyers
Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
Modoc - Ralph Helfer
Lost Hero - Riordan (craiglist $5- new release)
The Red Pyramid - Riordan (offline - new release)
Throne of Fire - Riordan (offline - new release)

I am kicking myself for not getting The Giver...but I couldn't remember if I already had it! I also almost bought Kite Runner. Doh! I always talk myself out of half of the books I start out with. Hopefully I get to these!

Scrapbooking

2011-07-06T16:35:00.000-07:00

Anyone want to come and take care of it for me? I have most of the pics and background glued on...it is getting around to the personals. You could make it up as you go. Might actually be better than what really happened.

How many

2011-07-04T15:42:00.001-07:00

pairs of shoes are too many to get at Goodwill on 50% off Saturday?

I practice

2011-07-04T15:41:00.001-07:00

Teetotalism.

Do you?

(A word I came across today.)

My bed

2011-06-30T06:29:00.000-07:00

In honor of H, who has a hard time sharing a bed.

First there was three...

(Note the strategically placed pillow! Thought he might like some coverage.)

Then there were two...

(It is like they have some sixth sense that tells them there is more space.)

Now there is one...

(This is actually conservative sleeping for him, he is already spread out on his stomach.)

Pillow cases

2011-06-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

Here are the 5 pillow cases I made. The kids picked the design. (Except Kaysen, we picked for him...now we need to get him a pillow!)

I would have you guess whose is whose, but that might be too easy with my kids.

Out of shape

2011-06-22T21:21:00.000-07:00

3.65 miles in 39.48.41 (pretty even split there and back). Blah, I need to get me some headphones and some good music to get the legs moving....especially when I run by myself.

Rez Life...for the visitor

2011-06-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

May 28-May 29
Shear lots'o sheep (live ones!) daily.Butcher ram after shearing him (he was the last).

May 30th
Plant corn field by the house
6:00PM Take a Walk with the kids around the corn field, to the sheep corral and back to the house. Stop along the way to play in the soft dirt. Drew random pictures, played with sandstone, and played Pictionary in the dirt.
6:30 Still light outside! Kids happily playing after a day of herding sheep

May 31st

Up early to plant second corn field. Which is huge compared to the corn field across from the house! Planted until 3:30 PM.

See that little blob toward the left? That's Jaxen....just to give you an idea on size.

This is looking to the left...if you could really know the depth.

Drove into town to the post office.
Prepared dinner.
Kids herded sheep- E rode the horse.
Put apron on Ram. Which wasn't easy because we had to catch him first. This is what sheep "family planning" looks like. A pair of old Levi's tied around the midsection of a ram to prevent....you know...baby making.
7:00 Kids played frisbee with lid until dark
Wash Jaxen and Ember's hair - No running water. Heat water on stove and then use big metal bowls to wash and rinse.

June 1st
Shear 1 1/2 sheep skins - Definitely easier to shear live sheep. It took all day (working alone)!

June 2nd
Drive like a mad woman to Tuba City to miss the appointment I drove crazy to get there for. Grandma able to get later appointment for the same day, so not a total loss.
Go to spring to fill water buckets
Shear the rest of the sheep skin (1 1/2) until 1 AM. Finished shearing in the house...which I have never done before.

June 3rd
Leave for home. Leaving the older two to help Grandma and tend the sheep until the next weekend.

Smore's

2011-06-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

It was a first for two of my kids. It was definitely fun to take pics.

Kaysen didn't know what to do when it wouldn't come all the way off his plate.

Owen just put the whole thing to his mouth...with the plate attached.

The older kids wasted no time in teaching them how it is done.

When you're bored...

2011-06-06T20:25:00.000-07:00

Take one bucket lid and add two children who have just spent all day herding sheep and you get a creative version of a tried and true classic.

Sure beats just hanging around.

Oh, wait....I guess that's fun too!

What's wrong with this picture?

2011-06-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

It is customary to butcher a sheep each Memorial Day weekend. It happens every year. What doesn't happen every year is butchering in the house. It was extremely windy outside. More so than I have ever seen it. So, rather than have sand peppered mutton, it was decided that we would take it indoors. If only you could see the wheelbarrow underneath it all. Rather a fancy get up really. Usually butchering is done with the sheep hanging upside down by the legs, but apparently you can do the same thing in the small confines of a wheelbarrow. Definitely harder, but goes to show with determination, all things are possible. (Even cleaning out intestines for consumption....not by me.)

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-06-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend is designated each year to the shearing of the sheep. This year, we had 49 sheep to shear. This is a time where the whole extended family gets together to help. It is a family affair in which even the youngest can participate in some capacity.

First, you need someone to take care of the logistics. Someone has to keep a tally of how many sheep have been sheared and who got first, second, and third.......forty-ninth place. It is a contest, at least when you are under the age of 8 and not participating in the actual shearing of the sheep.

Second, if you are unsure of what to do....look around, there are plenty of people who could use a hand....especially since theirs are dirty. On second thought....

See, what did I tell you? Fun for all ages. Cords, cords for sale....binds up nice and tight! Ne'er a finer cord to be found!

In the world of shearing, there are few things more feared then the start of the sheep. You start on the stomach area. This is least desired for most, as it is the area with the, um, delicates. I don't want to be the one to accidentally snip off something important. So, Grandma and few others are the daring ones that start 'em off and then there are "closers" like the rest of us.

Look, practically a pro...and he is daring enough to tackle the under side. He is also willing to do the neck, which is really wrinkly and one of my least favorite areas to cut. I can shear all the rest. Even the outside tail region...which, honestly, is disgusting. But, after 14 years, you kind of get used to smelling like sheep and looking like....well, not so good, afterward. Scrub down I tell you.

Now, I know you don't see a picture of me shearing, don't let that fool you. I was there shearing away, but apparently, I am the only one that takes pictures to show the hard work my spouse is doing. Documenting his hard work, the sweat, and sore hands. For our posterity.

Alas, contrary to the thought that it is all fun and games, there are dangers involved. This is where the kids come in handy. Wow...that sounds wrong. If you got a good look at my legs today at church, you would have seen all the bruises. I was battered. By sheep. They don't always look at the perks of being sheared and the good word doesn't pass as fast as I thought. So, you have to tie 'em down good and tight and have a little help from your (small) friends.

See? The rope is attached to the free leg. Well, I guess it isn't "free" if it's tied up. The front two are tied up by the head, leaving the hind legs "free".One reason I don't do stomachs...you can't have them completely tied up that way. Ember is strong, she helps keep that leg from moving. Not the most exciting job, but important.

Finally, one must inspect the workmanship of the shearers and make sure they did a good job. No one wants to rehire a person who nicks and cuts the sheep. Poor things. Too bad no one was hired....and there were plenty of nicks and cuts to go around. Kaysen was the ambassador of good will and made sure each sheep had a ~~pleasant~~ ~~decent~~ experience at the salon.

Acceptable reasons

2011-04-19T18:34:00.000-07:00

In a book I read:

"You want acceptable reasons why Daniel's not coming to school? Well, stick these in your fascist helmet:"
(At this point there is a list of ten reasons, counting down, but I will only give you the best ones!)
"Number nine: Daniel described your school as a holding pen for the 'criminally underinspired' ...
Number six: Daniel wrote an essay for his social studies class yesterday that was so good his teacher fainted, and we don't want to put any other educators in harm's way....
Number five: We've looked over the terms of the No Child Left Behind Act and determined that if your school is doing the driving, we're okay with Daniel being left behind....
Number two: Daniel's doctor fears that if Daniel has to hear one more nonsensical,, bureaucracy-inspired edict come out of your office, he may decide to flee the country."

My personal favorite is Number 5!

Daniel X
Watch the Skies
by James Patterson & Ned Rust

What makes you think of Grandma's House?

2011-04-08T23:28:00.000-07:00

On the way to pick up Jaxen and Ember from school I was talking to Owen about going to Grandma's for Easter. He asked me which grandma. I told him Grandma Horsey. He thing proceeds to spew a list of words out loud:

milk
pa-corn
chairs
t-vev (tv)
snow
horses
sheeps (right, mom?)
one goat

Just like that, no sentences, just words. I then realize that these are the words he associates with Grandma Horsey.

milk - the last time we were up there we had hot chocolate made with milk (much better than with water!).
pa-corn - it is a treat to eat popcorn and watch a movie at Grandma's because she never watches tv!
chairs - we all pull out the folding chairs and sit around watching the tv, Grandma has no couches.
t-vev (tv) - see above.
snow - it was snowing the last time we went!

horses- Grandma Horsey is named that because she has horses.
sheeps (right, mom?) - she has sheep too!
one goat - yep, only one.

It is fascinating to see them work things out in their minds. Sometimes I wonder what and how they come to the conclusions they do on many things, but when I step back I can almost always see how they got to that assumption or answer. They really do think outside the box if we encourage them too!

They think of everything.

2011-03-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

I guess you just can't play army men unless you can get a realistic war scene. Seriously people, they came like this. (I just posed them.) A little too realistic for my taste. Only army men could have defects that could be seen in a grotesquely positive way (at least for imaginative boy play).

Why does yogurt have to be his favorite?

2011-03-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

32 things I love about my husband

2011-03-23T15:31:00.000-07:00

Shaunton just celebrated his 32nd birthday and in honor of this once in a lifetime occasion I made a list of 32 things I love about him. Shaunton truly is an amazing man and I know that I am blessed to have him in my life. Enjoy!

1. His gorgeous brown eyes.
2. His beautiful 40 watt perfect teeth smile.
3. His sense of humor...even if I am the funny one.
4. How he father's our children.
5. They way he tickles my back at night.
6. His willingness to stop by the store on his way home from work because I forgot a key ingredient for dinner.
7. His patience with me...all the time. I don't think I am as easy to get along with as I believe. Weird, huh?
8. He is a good brother to his sisters and goes out of his way for them.
9. The priesthood. He has blessed all our children and a few of the nieces and nephews. He is willing to use it for the benefit of our family.
10. His athleticism.He loves to play sports...and looks sexy...but not when he is sweaty. Eew.
11. The way he cooks french toast for breakfast sometimes.
12. The way he plays games with the kids, like he is just one of them.
13. He works out...and looks real good...all the time.
14. He makes scars and scabs look good.
15. He can handle my sarcasm...most of the time.
16. The way I catch him looking at my sometimes. It makes my heart flutter.
17. The way he organizes his sock drawer. It is the most organized drawer in the house.
18. The way he looks in a white shirt and vest.
19. The way he massages my feet practically every day for the last few months of my pregnancy.
20. The way he gets up in the middle of the night to get the baby for me.
21. The way he hands me my vitamins each night with a glass of water.
22. He downloads songs for me that he things I would like.
23.He eats my cooking, all the time, with no complaint.
24. He buys me the things I won't buy myself because I am thrifty. (Like a pie server. Thanks Babe!)
25. The way he can find a great bargain at Goodwill.
26. The way he smiles at me from across the alter at me in the temple.
27. The talks we have late at night when we are both really tired but just can't stop talking.
28. The way he comes up behind me and kisses my neck.
29. The way he always kisses me on his way out the door and first thing when he gets home.
30. He loves me regardless of all my imperfections. He has seen me in my darkest times and hasn't run.
31. He is the strongest person I know, the one who has held me up when I couldn't hold up myself.
32. Because I am married to a younger man...even if it is only by two weeks.

Don't turn your back!

2011-03-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you fold lots of laundry late at night and don't put it away before you go to bed.

Looks like they are real upset about it. Kaysen is blowing raspberries on Owen's stomach!

Happenings

2011-03-22T21:32:00.000-07:00

Owen's thoughts:
Sitting at the table waiting for breakfast. "Jaxen, come and get it. Ding, ding, ding!" (I say this sometimes at dinner.)
Comes into the bathroom with a sword down his shirt. "Look Mom, I am a Nephi. I have a sword."
His new favorite word is "cool"...in a drawn out way.
He has started sleeping in his own bed, instead of Jaxen's....of his own free will and choice.

Kaysen ~~thoughts~~ actions:
Can sign please, more, eat, and thank you. All the important words. If he is really up to it, he will pat his diaper to show he needs to be changed.
Likes to throw food.
Doesn't like bathing, which does not go well with statement above.
Likes to take my hand and guide me to the bed so he can nurse.
Doesn't like when I don't always nurse him, even if he is super cute about it.
Eats more than my 3 year old.
Likes to shoot webs and pretend guns at you.
Can play dead. (Like you pretend shoot him and he keels over.)
Plays very rough.
Likes to pull on facial hair...no one in our house grows any. Sorry Grandpa! He still loves you!
Has a select few that he will grin and run to and cries when they (or we) leave them.

Ember thoughts:
Excited to move up to the blue reading group. This is a step above the group she was in. She was in the middle group before.
Thinks I should take my rings off before I get in the shower so they don't fall off.
Likes to wash the walls in the shower when she is done.
Likes to play outside with her brother and make up new games.
Falls asleep very quick at night. First one out and last one up.
Only likes cereal for breakfast. Nothing more, nothing less. Try her.

Jaxen thoughts:
Lately, likes to throw tantrums when he doesn't get his way...and seems surprised when he doesn't get his way after the tantrum.
Can sit on the bowl for one and a half hours reading...and maybe using the restroom every thirty minutes or so.
Likes to play board games.
Signed up to play flag football at school because he figured he already knows how to play chess and could probably get better at football. Dad was proud.
Likes to pulverize boxes with sticks. Better than pulverizing his brothers or sister.
Would eat breath and live computer or video games if we let him. But we don't. He keeps asking and we keep saying no. It doesn't sink in. Then we are back at statement number one.

I have been thinking a lot about my kids lately and about being a parent. Sometimes you stand back and take an inventory of your life and realize that it moves so quickly and it seems like you don't have time to take it all in. Not enough time to talk and ask and live and grow. It seems you can think of all the good things to say or ask after the kids have gone to bed. You make a mental note to bring it up the next day and the night washes it away. You wake up thinking about getting ready to do it all again. You fall in bed thinking, most days, that you did a crappy job or that you could have done a heck of a lot better. I will do better tomorrow drags on doesn't it? Oh, how I love to look in on my sleeping little ones and see how their faces have changed. Bigger. Older. Learning. So eager to soak up the world around them. Not having the filters to know what not to soak up. Thinking you have so much to teach them. Watching them fly a kite. Watching them laugh. Watching them enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Makes the whole Plan seems so simple. Live life. Enjoy it. Share it. Grow. Like they say, enjoy the journey!

Out of the mouth of my babe

2011-02-28T13:42:00.000-08:00

Owen was in my room with me while I changed Kaysen. In addition to ~~pinning~~ holding Kaysen's arms down for me (without being asked, he is just extra helpful that way, sometimes), he had a chance to look around the room. He noticed the picture of Shaunton and I on our wedding day. It has been hanging in the same spot for the last 8 years, or however long we have owned our home. In the picture we are...kissing. Anywho, here is the low down:

O: Look at that picture.
M: What picture?
O: Right there. You are kissing Daddy.
M: We are kissing because we love each other.
O: You have a pretty dress.
M: That's my wedding dress.
O: You look like a princess.
M: Aww, thank you Owen.
O: Daddy looks handsome in that picture.
M: Yes, your daddy does look handsome.

Owen is growing up so fast. He talks ALOT more and is very observant to the things around him. He has a good memory and can recall situations and things from movies he has seen and real life. He is always saying, "Mom, you remember...." At this point, my full attention is needed to decipher his excited and sometimes rambling recollection. He is really good at it though.

One thing I love is that he still goes up to Kaysen randomly and says, "I love you Kaysen". Often he looks at me very seriously and says, "I love my baby brother. I love Kaysen." He still likes to give him kisses and hold his hands. He is also very helpful and I have heard several stories of him comforting his crying little brother when his mom wasn't there to do it. Too cute. Yesterday he told me he wanted another baby....where do some of these ideas come from?

Where?

2011-02-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

Where did my laser shooting, galaxy saving, cowboy befriending, space suit wearing little boy go?!

Overnight, or so it seems, my laser shooting, galaxy saving, cowboy befriending, space suit wearing little boy has turned into a web throwing, wall crawling, 24/7 pajama wearing, spider-man watching, obsessed child. He is constantly dressed up as spider-man, carrying around a spider-man toy, having an action figure fight to the death, and/or shooting webs at everyone. He has one pair of spider-man pajamas that he NEVER wants to take off, even when they are dirty. Sometimes I have to be Doc Oc in the morning and wrestle him out of them so I can wash them. At night, the kids each get to choose how they are "delivered" to bed. We have dogs holds, monkey holds, ceiling walks....you know, all the usual stuff. We now have wall crawling. Once you get to the edge, you are required to shoot a web to your bed and sort of fly/get thrown into your bed. Nice.

I remember going through this with Jaxen. Having a favorite for so long (dinosaurs) and then suddenly moving on to something else(spider-man, and now Star Wars). It is neat to see, but also a time of watching them grow, seemingly too fast.

Crazy Hair Day

2011-01-28T08:04:00.000-08:00

She looks like a "Who", doesn't she? It is amazing what your little brother's toys can do for your hair. And the finishing touch of sparkles (and tons of hair spray), and ,ta-dah, you have crazy hair!

Hmm, she was happy about the hair...guess that "smile" on the first pic doesn't really show all the excitement, huh? Had to write this down so she would know 20 years from now that she did like it, and it wasn't torture.

Dress Up

2011-01-06T13:34:00.000-08:00

My boys LOVE dressing up. For Christmas Owen got a Buzz and Woody dress up trunk. He has hardly taken the suit off since. He has worn it to the movies, flown all around the mall (he pushes the big red button on his chest and dashes off with his arms out in front of him...repeating the pattern every 5 yards or so), grocery shopping, around the house, and even to bed. He loves to "rescue my baby brother". He will help him because he is the superhero. I finally had to wrangle the pants off of him because they are looking more brown than white. Being a super hero is a dirty job, but someone has to do it. The gloves are ginormous, and the outfit fits fine...until you put the hood up, then it pulls up snug. He can't do anything with the gloves on. He is too busy balling his hands into fists to keep them on. The other day he used his arm (where the control plate would be) and say something like, "Star Command, 20 20, we are blasting off!"

Kaysen loves to dress up too. He will grab the outfit and come "uh" at me to put it on. He always has to be Woody because Owen always has to be Buzz. The other day Owen wanted to be Woody...and was all dressed up, until Kaysen wanted to be Buzz. Once that spacesuit was on Kaysen....ya well, he didn't want to be Woody anymore. Stripped that cowboy outfit off in a heartbeat and begged for the Buzz.

I guess this gives me a break from being chased around with a lightsaber...for now.

Howdy Partner!

To infinity and beyond!

He Passed!!!!

2010-12-29T15:42:00.001-08:00

Shaunton just found out that he passed the PE test! We are so excited and proud of him!!!!! Yeah!!!!

Easily Entertained

2010-12-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

This is what you do when you get a lot less snow then you would like on your trip up north. It was cold...just wasn't the right conditions for sticky snow. Notice the "mini snowmen"?

Big Brother

2010-12-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

Some things are just so fun to catch the kids doing. Enjoy!

Here it comes!

Yum!

Gingerbread houses

2010-12-21T12:49:00.000-08:00

The kids usually do this with Grandma every year, but she moved too far away. She did get them some kits early and we still do it in her honor. Here are some pics Grandma!

They definitely don't look the same now that we have had many days of "picking".

Ember, the Sixth Chicken

2010-12-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

My daughter is obsessed with her chickens. Their names are: Golden Puff aka Goldie, Mint, Speedy, Ella, and Brownie. She comes home every day after school to check on them and look to see if they have laid any eggs. She has even been present at the "birth" of several eggs and enthusiastically shares with me what it looked like and who laid the egg. This does have it's advantages, with five chickens in the pen, it is good to know which two are the ones laying eggs.

Ember also loves to play with the chickens. She takes them out of the pen and carries them around. They have been around her so much that they let her pick them up and carry them around like feathery little chihuahuas. She gives them rides on the wagon and even take them down the slide. She also likes to share her snacks with them. She has even tried to put her doggy leash (the one you put on kids so they don't get lost) on the chickens, and has been very frustrated that she can't get them to be still enough to get it on. I try to explain that they don't like their wings pent up. Which didn't make sense to her because, as she puts it, their wings are cut so they can't use them anyway.

These chickens don't realize how good they got it.

I know if I can't find Ember she is out with the chickens. She has even been known to skinny herself into their coop which is 3 feet off the ground with a 1 foot wooden door flap to finagle herself into. No wonder we have had to do repairs on the coop more than once in the last couple of months.

Christmas Letter 2010

2010-12-13T13:08:00.000-08:00

Dearest Family and Friends,

Has the year flown by for you as fast as it did for us? I still can’t believe that the Christmas season is upon us already! A lot can happen in a year, even if it does race past us at lightening speed.

Jaxen started off the end of last year with a bang. He ended up in the hospital with a ruptured appendix. We celebrated New Year’s in the hospital in the visitors lounge. Jaxen is in third grade this year, and doing fantastic. He is in PACE, which is a gifted program at the school. He does really well in all subjects. He loves to read. He reads in the van, in bed, on the bowl, you name it. . He finished up the Percy Jackson series this year and is on book four of Harry Potter. He likes to pop in smaller chapter books (like Magic Tree House) in between. He is playing soccer this year again, and although his team is not undefeated by any means, he is doing really well and it is really fun to watch him do something he loves and excels at. He plays soccer at school as well during recess, but has recently picked up the game of 4-square and football, which are his new recess passions.

Ember is in first grade and loving the fact that she can finally read! She is really into Junie B. Jones right now and anything relating to dogs, cats, or animals. She is also doing well in school. She is still my artsy one and you can find her any given day after school sitting at the table drawing or writing notes. Ember is also playing soccer this year, and boy has she come out of her shell. She is a very assertive player and not afraid to get hit or get in front of the ball. She has had a few times this season where she was hit pretty hard, shook it off, and kept playing. She is one of the stronger girls on the team, and I am hoping that she will want to play soccer next year. At school, she enjoys the monkey bars and is working on perfecting them going backward.

Owen is three years old this year. He loves to build puzzles, play board games, and be chased around by a monster (his mom). He enjoys dress up (Darth Vader and Spiderman) and likes to dress up to play monster with his mom. He loves Woody and Buzz and his birthday was Toy Story themed. He likes to sleep anywhere that isn’t his bed, and his mom wonders why he even has one sometimes. Not having one would save space. He is really good and playing by himself and has a wonderful (and sometimes silly) imagination. He is my smiley face. He likes to do things for himself and is much more talkative (although sometimes squeally) about what he wants! Potty training was accomplished this year! YES!

Kaysen is still our little monster. He turned one this year in July. We have decided that he is one of our dirtiest and grossest kids. He likes to get into stuff. He loves to play outside and shoots for the door when ever it is left open or doesn’t get shut all the way. He likes to help clean, even toilets, even without being asked, even when his mom has told him no 20 times before. If the bathroom door is left open, he knows it, and he is in there with the toilet brush cleaning like crazy. I know what his chore will be when he is 8. We all know by then he won’t be so interested. He likes to say “uh-uh (no)” and “ow”, and can sign “more” and “please”. He loves to feed himself, and would rather starve than eat off your fork or be fed. He likes to unload the dishwasher and has already broken one plate “helping” and given his mom a scare with a knife. So, unloading the dishwasher now occurs after the kids are asleep, or during nap time.

Shaunton is still working at Salt River. He took the PE this year, and we will hear back sometime before Christmas, keep your fingers crossed. He is the assistant coach for Jaxen and Ember’s teams, which keeps him too busy for his own sports during the Fall season. He still works out/runs daily. He ran a five miler this year up at Second Mesa.

This year I volunteered in the kids’ classes. I made quilts for Jaxen and Ember for their birthdays. I made Owen and Kaysen blankets for them for their birthdays. I am currently working on a quilt for Ember’s class to auction off for a school fundraiser coming up in April. I finished about a years worth of scrapbooking that I had put off while completing said blankets and quilts.

This year we have been working on some upgrades for the house. We figured with the economy the way it was, we weren’t moving any time soon, so we might as well fix up our home because we like where we live now. We put in some triple pain windows a few months back, and now we are getting our backyard landscaping done. It will be done by the end of next week; we are excited about having grass and being able to enjoy a beautiful backyard.

Well, there you have it, the Davis’s year in 2000 words or less (just don’t count). We have been doing well. We have been blessed this year. We are thankful for our family and friends and for all of the love and support. We truly are thankful for this time of year when we can think about our Savior and his birth and what it means for us. We hope that each of you take time to think of the meaning of Christmas and what it means to you and your family.

Take care and may God bless you.

Love,

Shaunton, Monique, Jaxen, Ember, Owen, and Kaysen

Playing Monster

2010-11-18T13:47:00.000-08:00

Dress up is practically required to play monster with mom. Usually, I am fighting Darth Vader and his light saber, but today I was lucky and got to dual Spiderman. Kaysen likes to get in on the action too!

I usually chase them around. They run into a room and shut the door. I hide. They come out and find me. I roar. We repeat until boredom sets in.

Mood

2010-11-05T12:50:00.001-07:00

Isn't it amazing how hanging out with a good happy friend for a few hours put you in a better mood? I need to do that more often!

Boutique in the Barn

2010-10-20T07:36:00.001-07:00

Go to the BARN!! There is lots of cute stuff. Think Christmas! (It is just right around the corner!)
I went to the last one and it was awesome!

My Children Love to Read

2010-10-19T14:49:00.000-07:00

What?! I haven't found the book I really want. You could help me!

Nevermind, I can do it all by myself!

Which do you like?

2010-10-09T19:25:00.000-07:00

BEFORE

AFTER

Cute vs. Cringe

2010-10-06T20:47:00.000-07:00

CUTE: Your baby taking the scrambled egg caked spatula out of the dishwasher while your loading and bolt down the hall giggling like he just pulled the biggest prank. Silly baby.

CRINGE: Your baby taking a pancake cutting steak knife out of the dishwasher while your loading and bolting down the hall giggling like he just pulled the biggest prank...and then falling.Yeap, got that gut feeling?....I still have it when I think about it. *shudder* (He was fine, but started crying after I gave him a few words to think about!)

CUTE: Your baby observing and wanting to help you clean.

CRINGE: Your baby observing (earlier) and "helping" you clean the toilet...with the toilet bowl brush...while you are in the other room (that's why it is quiet)... when someone forgot to flush. How would you like to clean up THAT puddle. Good news....he seemed to have the idea down...

So... I guess this disqualifies me from winning Parent of the Year?

He kissed me!!!!!

2010-09-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

For once I didn't have to ask in that sugary coated voice. I didn't have to tilt his face to mine and "take" one from him, either. He just came up and planted one on me...then another...then another. With the smack sound to go with it. Making it even more cute, I was laying with my eyes closed...and he leaned into my face and said, "Mom...mom..." KISS!

Doesn't it get any sweeter than that?! I am feeling the love. I will forgive you tonight when you wake up at three to nurse and hog up my side of the bed. But after tonight, you better come up with something new.

Almost as sweet...

2010-09-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

as I remember it....and that was a L.O.N.G. time ago.

I can't wait to see her face when she comes home!

Sorry Owen, you had your weeks' worth of TV in one sitting while your mom tried to figure out how to build this thing off memory alone...guess the instructions didn't make it.

Eternal Family

2010-09-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

During scripture study.

Shaunton: So, who in here is part of an eternal family?

(Unison) Ember: Me
Jaxen: All of us.

Shaunton: How do you know?

Jaxen: Because mom and dad.

Shaunton: What about mom and dad?

(Interlocking his fingers) Jaxen: Because you guys were...squished...in the temple.

Shaunton: You mean sealed in the temple.

Jaxen: Yeah, sealed.

My budding artist

2010-08-31T19:26:00.000-07:00

To become an artist, one must know his medium.

To do this, you must become one with the medium.

That is what makes one artist stand out over the others.

In action

2010-08-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

Just another post so you can get a better idea of the sizes.

Note the lovely orange flowers...those are the ones I got from GW. (I painted them orange.)

Ember's room part III

2010-08-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

Here is the artwork display/notes/cool looking board I made for Ember's wall. I saw this on a picture a friend posted on her blog back in May, she liked the bed, I really liked the frame. I was waiting to make one until Ember's room was painted.Tones of scratches later, the masterpiece is complete.

I got the frame (33'x29') at Goodwill for $8. I already had the chicken wire. I picked up 50 wooden clothes pins (about $1) and plan to modge podge them up real nice. Will post pics of that when they get done. Ember wants to help on that project! :)

I also go two flower wall accents and a flower coat holder for under $4 at Goodwill. I love me a bargain.

Ember's room part II

2010-08-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

Here are three of the wall hangings I did for Ember's room.

I got the frames from Goodwill and painted them. The wire cost about $1. Each was about $3 to make.

Ember wanted flowers on her walls. I didn't want to paint them, or pay the over priced cost for decals.I thought this was a good in between. She gets flowers on her wall. I get something cute that she can grow into and use in other ways as she gets older. To top it all off, they are super cute!

My biggest wall art is yet to be completed. Will post when I do.

Ember's room

2010-08-22T20:39:00.000-07:00

Before (with some patch work)

After (being enjoyed)

I have two different ideas in mind for wall hangings for her room. I just have to find the time to get the materials and create them. I also have a possible dresser switch if I can bring myself to re-stain....only if, and when, I can get it to my house. H, this is where a truck would come in handy. Jaylee, give me encouragement on the furniture staining....you're a pro!

Dear Mom,

2010-08-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

I am not sure, but I get the feeling your are dreading my new found freedom. It seems that ever since I started walking, you have this wild (or is it scared?) look in your eyes. I heard Jaxen and Ember say you had eyes in back of your head, but I didn't believe them, at first.

I wanted to give you a heads up that I am really starting to like climbing. I am still working at it, so when I get stuck on the stool in the bathroom for the fifth time today, just bare with me, figuring out how to get down comes later. I have mastered getting off the bed and climbing on and off the couches. Give me time.

I don't know why you have such a hard time with me exploring. You need some chaos in your way too orderly life. I mean, who organizes everything?! I, for one, think you should restructure the Tupperware cabinet. I keep trying to help you, but you always shoo me out. Even more confusing is when you try to sit me in front of that same cabinet "to play" when you really need to make dinner. Either you want my help of you don't. I also would like to alphabetize the CD's in the rack, but it seems that once I get them all out, I forget what comes first. Can we work on that?

I may not be able to talk, but I try my best to communicate with you. I mean, how many times do I have to open the cabinet and take out every cup, just to grab one, and take it over to the fridge. I'm not tall enough. Nope, I didn't grow any since yesterday. Still. Can't. Reach. A little help would be nice. I don't want the sippy cups you bought just for me. I want a cup like my big brothers and sisters. They like drinking out of my sippy, especially when you aren't looking, so you can give them the sippy cups. I don't mind.

I notice you have let loose a little bit and let me walk around with the the shields, grease guards, whatever you want to call them. They are pretty cool. You also let me dig around in the recycle bin, never when there is anything real fun in there, but paper and broken hangers make great toys. I do what I can to get into the regular trash to see what I can find, but you always seemed to be grossed out. Hands and mouths are meant to be used while exploring your environment. If I don't like it...I promise I will spit it out...where ever I am standing. Plus, I figure if you didn't want me to get into something, it wouldn't be in my reach. Hmm...I guess that is why that trash can always sits on top of the deep freezer...

Remember how you are always saying that you still don't get the phone and how to do certain things, like check messages from another phone? I keep trying to look into it, but you don't like it when you find me sitting on the table ~~playing~~ examining the phone. I can't figure out all the features either, and if you would just let me go at it, I might.

Also, sign me up for piano lessons. I like the piano.

Just so you know...opening stuff is fun. I like it a lot. I like to open things and take everything I can reach out. I am not so good at putting it back, and figure you would rather I leave that to you. I also like to help with laundry, but only if you have just folded them. And only because I don't think you folded them the right way.

I love you mom. I don't know why you always look so tired. I think you should take naps more often. It works for me. Although, visiting with you at night is still fun.

Love,

Kaysen Trouble Davis
(Being cute goes a long way!)

Now I have seen it all

2010-08-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

You know, the world is so old and people have been around for a long time, that most everything has either been done, thought, or said before. I think I had a rare glimpse today at something primal. Something that I have never seen, but was probably more common back in the cave days.

We had chicken parmigiana last night. Not too exciting, but very delicious. I had different stages of the dish on the table for the kids. One with no sauce or chicken, just noodles and cheese. Another with everything, some cut up, some not. I had decided after observing both of the younger boys eat that I would just go straight into the shower with both of them. Once you get past two kids, you do things assembly line style, to cut down on the time it takes. Anyway. After trailing noodles across my hall and bedroom, we make it to the shower. Owen isn't too bad. Kaysen, I undress in the shower.

Owen points very observantly that Kaysen has a noodle in his hair. He then proclaimed that he wanted to get it out. I absentmindly tell him that Kaysen has noodles everywhere and proceed to get the shower ready. I then see Owen with the wayward noodle. And then...he gently lowers the dangling morsel it into his mouth and starts chewing with this look of triumph on his face. Like a monkey who just found the juiciest bug while grooming the monkey next to him. I can't get him to eat the noodles off his plate, but he will eat the noodles out of his brother's hair. Go figure!

Owen Edison

2010-08-03T21:02:00.000-07:00

Tiny Guy

Three years ago today we brought into the world the smallest of the tribe. Weighing in at 2 pounds .3 oz he was a small fry. I remember being so scared when I went in for the emergency c-section. They had someone come in and talk to me about "the baby" and what to expect. I had already spent 5 weeks in the hospital and had my fair share of blood transfusions, daily blood draws (ironic, right?), steroid shots to develop baby's lungs, and lots more shots of all sorts of things to stop the contractions and keep him in. Now, he wasn't willing to stay in any more. He was 27 weeks when he was born. Too early, but long enough to have a fighting chance on the outside.We did what we could to keep him in as long as we could. Hoping it would be enough.

Holding my small fry

Shaunton barely made it in time to witness the birth of our third child. The sensation of a c-section is really weird. I remember them saying he was out. Shaunton said they pulled him out by his feet. Which I guess means by his legs, since his feet weren't even big enough to hold onto. I remember that he didn't cry. I remember that he has a head full of hair. I remember that he opened his eyes and looked right at me. Calm. They were surprised that he opened his eyes. They were surprised that he was breathing on his own. (Which didn't last very long, he soon needed help.) He was covered with a blanket, so I didn't really see how tiny he really was. But he still looked tiny wrapped. They took me to recovery. The took me to a room. They didn't take me to my baby. I didn't see him again until the next day. When I did, I cried.

I took pictures but didn't look at them. I knew I would want them later. They were too scary for me to look at. To think about . I just focused on pumping for him and watching the other two. I visited every night and held him when he was big enough. I couldn't stay at the hospital all the time. I felt guilty. Up and down the emotions and weight went until the day of his release. I was overjoyed when he came home 12 weeks later.

Fast forward three years. I have a rough and tough three year old boy. A boy who has already broken bones, lost nails, skinned knees, and rolled with the punches. He is fairly indestructible. He loves to argue with his older sister, imitate his older brother and smother his younger one with kisses. He is a daddy's boy. He loves Cars, Toy Story, and playing outside in the dirt. He likes to turn sticks into light sabers or guns, depending on his mood. He likes to do it himself. He is my kid with the big eyes and the all too recent first hair cut. You won't know that he started out his life is such dramatic fashion. He resembles any other just turned three year old boy...except he is my little boy.

I know that Heavenly Father has purpose for him. I know that this experience happened to me (and our family) for a reason. We have gained something from it. We don't fully understand it, but will be privy to that information when the time is right. Until then, we can know that Heavenly Father loves us, hears our prayers, answers our late night and fervent prayers, and blesses us more than we can ever truly comprehend or appreciate.I am eternally grateful for a Heavenly Father who was willing to give me a trial and let me draw closer to him. I am thankful for a happy, healthy, independent, free spirited, book reading, dinosaur growling, block stacking, train loving, brother kissing, sister annoying, brother imitating, little boy that will be with me for infinity and beyond!

Happy Birthday Owen! We love you! Surely you are my favorite-est little boy in the whole wide world!

(Holding up three fingers is going to take some practice!)

Synergy

2010-08-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

Last night we were learning about synergy and how it related to the scriptures. Shaunton talked to the kids about how toothpicks can demonstrate this. He asked Jaxen if he thought he could brake one toothpick in half. Jaxen agreed that he could. How about 5 toothpicks together? Jaxen thought he probably wouldn't be able to do that as easily.

We talked about how individually we are weak, but together we are made stronger. This is true as a family and a church.

Ember, who is absent-mindedly coloring (or so I thought), looks up thoughtfully and shares her version of synergy.

E: So, we are like the toothpicks and Satan is trying to break us. (See, they do listen and take it in...even if it doesn't seem like it at the time!)

That is so true. If we stick together as family and church we have more power against him then we do standing against him alone.

Blankets and Quilts

2010-07-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

This year, I made all the kids a blanket/quilt for their birthday. Not that any of them can use them right now...but when the winter comes they will be excited to use them.

Jaxen's quilt has a soccer theme. I also asked him what his favorite colors were and that is where the other colors come in. It is twin size and the backing is an orange fleece. If I could do it over again, I might add another fabric with print instead of all solid colors.

Ember's was the easiest to plan. She loves dogs and cats, so I knew that would be her theme. The fabric was easy to find, but one decided to shrink more than others in the wash, so I had to downsize the quilt a bit because I wasn't willing to buy more. It is a little smaller than a twin size. The backing is a cream fleece.

I hate to waste anything, so I wanted to find a way to use the left over fleece from the other quilts. Kaysen's blanket used the remnants from Jaxen's quilt. It ended up being about 48"x50-something. A pretty good size. We went with the monster print because that is his nickname to some members of our family. It is just a fleece on fleece blanket. The backing is the remnants sewn together with the top panel. No fringe, just sewn right sides together, flipped out, and another border edging.

Owen's blanket is made with Ember's remnant fleece. It is bigger than Kaysen's because Ember's blanket was smaller than Jaxen's. Real life word problem, right? Anyway, he LOVES Toy Story, so I sent Shaun to pick out some fleece to make this blanket. It ended up being 48"x60", give or take an inch. Same deal as Kaysen's on the put together.

I am so glad to be done with them though. I belted out one a month for the past four months. Some easier than others, but all the same, I am a little burnt out. I plan to take a break and work on my scrap-booking...which has not stopped piling up.

Kaysen James

2010-07-13T21:01:00.000-07:00

Kaysen James came into this world on July 13, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. He was my biggest baby at 9 lbs 14 oz. I think he would have weighed more if he was weighed before he "let it all out". I knew he didn't have much space in there, but I wouldn't have guessed he weighed close to 10 lbs!

He was my calmest baby. It isn't until recently that he found his set of lungs. For those of you "lucky" enough to experience the ear-splitting shrieks of delight...and the ear-splitting shrieks of anger...thank you for smiling and not saying anything.

He had the most hair at birth than any of my other children, and also the darkest and thickest. It is still thick and luxurious to this day. This kid never had a bald spot. He does wake up with a wicked teased look in the back every morning. I held out hope that I would get by blue eyed baby, but brown eyes are beautiful too.

Kaysen started crawling on March 10th and it didn't take long before he had the urge to walk (May 26th). He waves, he claps, he has a shy head tilt, he blows raspberries, he covers and uncovers his mouth while making noise. He can climb off the bed. He learns something new everyday, and his brothers and sister are there to help him learn. He is in the bruised up stage of his life. Not tall enough to do much of anything, but tall enough to run into every corner and trip of every toy and sibling. He has a beautiful smile.

I love you Kaysen James. I may not know what to get you for your birthday... (What do you get the boy who has everything?!) ...but I love you more than any present can convey. Surely you are my favorite-st baby in the whole wide world!

Happy Birthday Kaysen James!!!!

Nothing hits the spot like cake and ice cream!

Owen....

2010-07-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

BEFORE

AFTER

Owen begged for a hair cut. Shaun was in desperate need of a cut and I was getting things ready to do his hair. Owen said he wanted a hair cut. I tried to talk him out of it with talks of sweets and movies, but he wasn't buying it. He wanted a haircut. He wanted one like Daddy. He sat there as perfectly still as any two year old can, and let me chop it off. It wasn't until there was lots of little hairs all over his body that he started squirming. We did save a lock for his baby book.

I can't believe it. I couldn't picture what he would look like with short hair! Surprisingly, he hair is pretty thick. He didn't like all the attention he got from the relatives at the party tonight, though. We didn't tell anyone, just let them see him for themselves. Three out of four adults shrieked and one nephew wanted to know who he was. Twas great!

To Grandmother's House we go...

2010-07-08T17:05:00.000-07:00

My parents moved not to long ago down to Sierra Vista. We have never been there and decided to take some time this summer to visit Grandma and Grandpa. (Grandma was missin' us real bad!)

So we loaded up on a Thursday morning and headed out.

Our first day there we just sort of hung out. We went over to visit my Uncle JR (my Dad's brother). We also drove around to look for deer. The names of where we went are escaping me at the moment, but we went through two beautiful scenic routes down there. We saw five does. It was really neat to see them in people's front yards just grazing. Afterward we went out to eat at the Golden Corral.

The next morning we got up early and headed out to Tombstone. We have never been there either. It was neat to see the older buildings and the horse drawn carriages. The shops had tons of interesting things. A necklace with a scorpion embedded in it, black jack chewing gum, lots of rocks, jewelery, and other odds and ends. The kids of course wanted something from every store we went into. I did end up with a beautiful necklace from the trip. We had lunch at a little saloon over there and decided to make our way over to Bisbee to check it out. On our way out of the restaurant it starts to rain hard for the next 30 minutes or more. We ended up taking shelter in a shop. After the rain slowed we braved the trip to the van.

Hanging outside a shop

This was the street musician. The kids played music with him right before it started to pour.

Coincidence? I think not!

Next we headed over to Bisbee to check it out. The city is beautiful. Postcard beautiful. It is like a fake city from a movie. The house are literally built into the mountains. We got out and walked around the little shops. It was quaint. It was different. We wanted to check out the mine, but it was closed for the day. We drove back and had an awesome BBQ and went swimming. (Apparently the rain only liked Tombstone and Bisbee.)

We are planning to go up again for the Fall break and spend a little bit more time there.

On my mind

2010-06-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

I was reading my scriptures this afternoon and came across this section of a verse. I have been thinking about it ever since I read it.

"...I trust there remaineth an effectual struggle to be made." Mosiah 7:18

This is where King Limhi is addressing his people, telling them about their struggles they have had before and what lies ahead with the help of the newly found brotheren (who incidentally found them---Ammon and his men).

I liked the phrase "effectual struggle". I thought about it. Read it again. Thought about it. Looked up effectual. Pondered some more. Then it hit me.

"...I trust there remaineth an effectual struggle to be made." = LIFE

Life is an effectual struggle. Simple, right? Now you can read it, ponder it, and have your own a-ha moment.

I am so thankful to have moments like these where what I need to hear from the Lord resonates in my mind until I stop what I am doing and focus on it. Sometimes the meaning (for me) comes quickly. Sometimes it takes more time. But it is always worth it and always what I need.

Coming across passages like these give me a greater ability to put my best foot forward in my effectual struggle that is life because I know the Lord loves me and has provided me with all I need to get back home. I just have to put in the work to understand it and learn all I can.

"That's Junk"

2010-06-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Shaun had the day off work. We decided to go the zoo. Ember decided that she wanted to buy everyone their own bag of cotton candy with her own money. Not because she is super generous, but because she didn't want to share.All morning, before going to the zoo, and the whole time we were there, she kept asking for it. After seeing that it cost $6 we talked her into waiting and going to the mall for cotton candy there.

We had a lot of errands to run, so we asked the kids if they wanted to go home for a quick PB&J or if they wanted to go to Burger King and get something off the $1 Menu.

Ember instantly replies, "Burger King? (disgusted voice) That food is junk!"

Nothing like a lecture of healthy food from a little one who wants to eat cotton candy before breakfast...and can hardly wait to get her hands on a bag!

Turning SIX

2010-06-12T22:51:00.000-07:00

Today is the big day. My one and only beautiful, head strong, opinionated, sassy, and spirited girl turns six. She never thought this day would come. I never thought this day would come this fast. It seems like just yesterday she needed my help with everything. Now, she can and wants to do it all on her own. It makes me proud. It makes me sad. Mostly proud.

Yes, my girl is loud. Yes, my girl is can be bossy. Yes, she pushes hard for what she wants. Yes, she can turn your words around and use them against you, and make sense doing it. All things that I might consider annoying, infuriating, and frustrating now. But as I sit back and ponder on what this really says about her, what her attributes really are underneath, I come away with: Determined, Opinionated, Thinks outside of the box, good user of words, a person not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. These are all qualities I think any employer would want from an employee, and any husband would desire in a wife. (At least any husband worth keeping.) If I could only get her past wanting to be a dog when she grows up!

Sometimes she is all the girl I need. Sometimes, she makes me want another girl.

She can be loving. She can be a bully. She can be soft. She can be hard. She can be shy. She can be loud. She is everything. She means everything to me.

I like to watch her live. To see her choices play out. To see how she thinks. It takes patience. I don't always understand her choice until she explains it to me. Then, it makes sense. I like to see her excited. I like to see her concentrating. I like to see her showing her brothers how to do something. I like to see her clean up their scraped knees. I like to watch her sleep. To think about how big she has gotten. How big she will get.

I need to stop. I need to listen more. Take time to just be with her. Save the dishes, the email, the hold-on-a-minutes and take time to live with her right now. To remember her just as she is now. To soak it all in. To relish her likes and dislikes, her good times and bad times.

I really look at her. She isn't as big as I thought she was. I really look at her. She isn't as small as I thought she was. She is somewhere in between.

Her chocolate eyes tell me so much. Her smile makes me smile. She has her catch phrases, the words I love to hear roll off her tongue. I still remember the catch phrases from old and replay them in my mind. Trying to remember her small again. To remember her face when she said them so seriously. "Mom....I'm seriously."

She is serious. Serious about life. Serious about living it. Serious about trying to make choices for herself. Seriously not a fan of criticism. Seriously beautiful. Seriously wonderful.

She is my one and only. I wouldn't change her for the world. (Just don't ask me this when she is having one of those days...)

Happy Birthday Princess Gril...I love you!!!

We're getting a...

2010-06-10T21:20:00.000-07:00

PIANO!

Now, where are we going to put it?!

The weekend and other tidbits

2010-06-01T14:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went and sheared sheep. It is an annual tradition for Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday, 4 of us sheared 23 sheep. On Sunday, many more of us sheared 26 sheep. It took a lot less longer the second day to shear. My hand was killing me the first night, but for some strange reason, my hand was fine the second night. Maybe it got used to the hard manual labor. The drive up was nice and cool. The drive back was congested, brush fire filled, slow and H.O.T. Welcome home!

We left Jaxen up there for 9 days. I haven't cried yet, but then again, it is his second year going and I am not 8 months pregnant. I think he will be fine and we might actually have him go back out after Independence Day until the end of the month when I will go back up for a week with the kids and stay there, then just load up all the monkeys and bring them home, just it time to start school. Don't hold me to it though...it is only officially day one!

Kaysen, who is 10 months old, can now wave (he curls his fingers into a fist and releases), give kisses, head butt (thanks Dad!), give raspberries on other people, beg for a drink or bite (eh, eh, eh), and has officially taken 5 independent (although "falling") steps. He is also proficient in splashing in any lidless and unguarded toilet, digging in the trash for a quick treat, speed crawling to any cracked or open door and booking it, throwing just about anything he can pick up, tasting anything (yes, anything!) and everything he comes across while crawling, and falling off the bed. Must say he is a very active, curious and happy baby. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. Maybe it's time to think about..... ;) LOL

Chicken Milano

2010-05-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

So, I have decided that my food doesn't look as yummy as it tastes because I take the chicken and shred it and mix it with the sauce. With a big family, you do what you can to make everything stretch. Plus, I don't feel like cutting up chicken for four kids.

On that note, this dish is d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s seriously. It could be served in a restaurant (if it looked prettier). So, try it. You can go for "the look" and leave the chicken whole, or you can stretch it like me and shred it. At least you know you are guaranteed chicken in every bite!

Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter 2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
8 ounces dry fettuccini pasta

1. Cook pasta as directed while preparing the rest of the meal. The noodles are thicker and take a bit longer to be done. Cook the chicken by itself in a little bit of olive oil. Then remove chicken and put it aside. Melt butter in the same pan. Add the garlic. Stir a few times and then add the sun-dried tomatoes and the chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the tomatoes are tender. Add the cream and bring it back to a boil. Simmer on medium until the sauce thickens. Add basil and salt and pepper to taste.

2. At this point you can serve the sauce and chicken over the noodles.

Mo Tips: I shred the chicken and add it right into the sauce. I then cover the noodles with the sauce. My directions on this are not verbatim...because the recipe was too long and I could type the exact same thing shorter.

He can't wait until he's 8!

2010-05-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

And he doesn't have to wait anymore! My first born, my baby, turns 8 today at 12:23PM. Seriously, where does the time go? I can't believe I have a bike riding, scar wearing, Lego playing, Star Wars loving, video game playing, little brother (and sister) annoying eight year old!

I bet you didn't know that Jaxen was my second smallest (Owen is a shoe in) baby but he was the biggest. Kaysen started out big, Jaxen didn't. However, as I look at his baby records, he is only one pound off of where Kaysen has been. Hard to believe when you look at how thin he is now. He started walking at nine months. After the initial freak out, I thought it was pretty cool. He started thinning out then (or rather stopped plumping up) and burned his energy on moving and groovin. He hasn't stopped since.

Jaxen at 4 weeks. This is when Shaunton and I were gullible enough to pay over $200 for portraits. Ahh, those were the good old days. Live and learn. Learn we did. We learned that Jaxen required rocking in the middle of the night. Dad would put him in his car seat and just swing it until he fell asleep. He slept in that car seat for the first few months. I didn't know what his problem was, but 3 kids later I have a better idea.

One of the advantages of having an early walker is watching him have fun egg hunting and walking around the mall. We did that a lot (the mall that is). He would hold onto mom's hand and dad's hand and we would walk with him in between. We really didn't have much use for a stroller with this kid. After him though, we didn't have the patience to let the others kids walk. They were so S.L.O.W and the novelty of watching them walk wore off on the first. The stroller got used much more often.

Jaxen is one of our only children that looks the same way now as he did when he was three. (He is five in this pic, but trust me, he looks the same at three.) It also seems like he "grows the slowest". He seems to stay the same height and weight until you throw him up against the growth chart and see that in fact he is an inch taller than he was 6 months ago. He is my slow and steady kid. Everything in moderation, right?

Jaxen loves soccer and even though he may be the smallest kid on the team...by a landslide, don't let that fool you. He is quick and has no fear. He will get up into the mix and go after the ball, even if you are two heads taller than he is. He may not be the fastest, but he can outlast them all. He has endurance and stamina. He is my little energizer bunny.

That doesn't mean that he doesn't need to take a break every now and then. I mean, how are you supposed to be at your best if you don't take breaks in between levels?

I am still in disbelief that my little boy turns eight. He is going to be baptized on Friday. I am excited. I am sad (only because he is growing up too fast). I am proud (he knows his stuff!)

I love you sonny boy. Surely you are my favorite-st biggest boy in the whole wide world.

Happy Birthday Jaxen!

Chicken and Cheese Pasta

2010-05-04T12:50:00.000-07:00

I liked this recipe because it was pretty simple and was something new with ingredients that I had on hand, and the kids like. (Just don't tell them it has onions in it.) It is a keeper.

Chicken and Cheese Pasta
1 basic roast chicken                         1 small red onion, finely chopped
400g tortiglioni or rigatoni pasta         500g jar tomato pasta sauce
1 T olive oil                                       2 C grated mozzarella cheese
2 garlic cloves, crushed                     100g baby spinach leaves

Remove skin and meat from the chicken. Discard skin and bones. Roughly chop flesh.
Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salt water, following packet instructions, until just tender. Drain. Return to saucepan.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and onion. Cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes or until tender. Add onion mixture, pasta sauce, chicken, 3/4 cups cheese and spinach to hot pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Toss gently until well combined. Spoon pasta mixture into a baking dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden and heated through. Serve.

Mo tips: I used egg noodles instead of the rigatoni (didn't have). I used boneless skinless chicken breasts for the chicken and not pre-cooked one from the store (I am too cheap). I used 2 chicken breasts. I also shredded the chicken and pulverized the onion (so the kids would eat it). I also mixed about 1 1/2 cups of cheese into the mixture and a full bag or regular (not baby) spinach. Good luck with the grams. ;)

Feeling guilty?

2010-04-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

While reading a book, I came upon this quote by Sister Wendy Beckett:

"I don't think being truly human has any place for guilt...contrition, yes, but guilt no. Contrition means you tell God you are sorry and you're not going to do it again and you start off afresh. Guilt means you go on and on belaboring and having emotions and beating your breast and being ego-fixated. Guilt is a trap. People love guilt because they feel if they suffer enough guilt they'll make up for what they've done, whereas, in fact, they're just sitting in a puddle and slashing. Contrition, you move forward. It's over. You are willing to forgo the pleasure of guilt."

A lot of times I find myself thinking of something I have said or done in the past. Something I have repented for. It is usually at a time when I am feeling down or tired. I understand it is there to be a reminder, but I think it is true that sometimes we throw stuff back up into our own faces (splashing so to speak) as a way to feel sorry for ourselves, or find another reason to stay angry with ourselves. I don't want to get back into the puddle once I have already jumped over it.

What say you?

Sausage Vermicelli

2010-04-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

This is something you could throw together pretty quick. The longest thing to do is cook the rice. Ember loved it. Jaxen ate it. Owen didn't eat much (but he never does). Shaunton and I both liked it. It is a keeper.

Sausage Vermicelli
1 lb pork sausage                     4 1/2 C water
1 onion, chopped                     1 C uncooked long grain rice
1 C celery                                2 pkg chicken noodle soup mix

Cook the sausage, onion and celery over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain.
Remove meat and vegetables with a slotted spoon and set aside.
In the same skillet, combine the water, rice and soup mixes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in sausage mix, heat through.

Mo tips: Cook the sausage and stuff on medium high...or even high. I hate waiting for the meat to cook. As long as you are standing there and stirring, you'll be fine.

Boutique in the Barn

2010-04-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

I just saw a bunch of cute stuff that will be there!!!

Saturday May 1, 2010 ~ 8am-5pm13010 South 71st Street Tempe, AZ 85284

This is what "helping" looks like...

2010-04-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

This is what helpful looks like. At least your almost eight year old's version of it. Even after you specifically say not to change a poo diaper. Even when you tell him that you appreciate the thought, but your baby won't even sit still for you to change his diaper. This is being helpful anyway.

Let's not mention the poop that is now all over your baby. When I say all over...I mean all over. I won't get too graphic. I will have nightmares about it for days to come.

It was mentioned later that, maybe, I shouldn't have tried to change a poo diaper... Maybe.

I can just change pee ones, right?

Something's missing...

2010-04-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

My little girl is growing up so fast!

Basil Cream Chicken

2010-04-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Oh My...was this delicious...even with the mushrooms! Definitely putting this on the dinner rotation. (It tastes better than it looks!)

Basil Cream Chicken

hot, cooked and drained fettuccine 3 T flour
1 lb chicken cubed/shredded                        2 C chicken broth
1 C minced onion                                          1 T chicken bouillon
3/4 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced                       1 C heavy cream
2 T oil                                                           2 T minced fresh basil
3 T butter                                                      1/4 t pepper (or more!)

Saute chicken, onions, and mushrooms in oil for 4 minutes.
In large saucepan melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Add chicken broth, bouillon and cream. Stir in basil and pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Combine with chicken mixture. Serve over fettuccine.

Mo Tips: I just cooked the chicken first and then shredded it. Then I cooked it with the onions and mushrooms. I brought it to a boil, and then turned it off and let it sit so it could thicken a bit. I don't do mushrooms. At least not as a main part of a dish.I will do them in things (like a lasagna I had once) but don't go out of my way to have mushrooms added to anything I eat. This was sooo good. You couldn't "taste" the mushrooms, but I am sure it added to the flavor!

Enjoy!

Good excuse

2010-04-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

I think the sewer roach staring back at me from inside my washing machine is a good enough excuse not to do laundry today.

Hummingbirds

2010-04-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

Makes for an interesting title. Makes for an interesting dessert. Who said all the new recipes I tried had to be main dishes, right? So, here I am on a Thursday planning on making cake from scratch. I go to Fry's in the morning after dropping of two kids and a bike at school. Today was Ember's show and tell. I don't want to stunt her growth or throw off her mojo by not letting her take her bike. Her teacher said it was OK (she was the one the was supposed to nix the idea, I thought she had my back!). I even called to be sure...just in case Ember was "remembering" a conversation that never happened. I could just see her as a young adult saying, "You remember that one time I wanted to bring my two wheeler bike to school for show and tell...and you didn't let me? I have yet to get over it!" (I don't want her casting her life problems on me.) So, one van seat and car seat removal later, we have a bike in the back and a not so safe 7 year old riding shot gun. I didn't hear him complain. (Until I picked him up and he was disappointing that there was no bike where his seat should be, granting him shot gun status.)

Right, where was I...Fry's. So, I made a list this morning and head to Fry's after I dropped off the kids. Purchased all my goods, dropped them off at home, and went walking. With all this good food I have to do something to maintain my girlish figure. OK, I really don't. But I like to stay active...it feels good.

Get home and get ready to make a cake. What?! No flour? A futile attempt at borrowing from the neighbors. I know someone was home, but no one answered. (I saw them leaving a few minutes later...) Hmmm?

Feel bad about waking up Kaysen to Fry's again. Get 10 lb bag of flour...just in case.

Come home make cake. Take picture. Take to quilting group. Hear Shaun joke that I don't ever try out the new desserts on him. He is content to know that I will bring some home.

Dessert is a hit. It is called Hummingbird Cake. Hence, the title of my post.

Because I know you like stories, I have to tell you what happened as I was putting the cake out to eat. I dropped it.

No, I didn't.

I brought it in a fancy cake holder...do those things have a name? Just, cake holder? Anywho...it has an anti-theft mechanism. I couldn't get the stupid thing open. I mean, how challenged am I? They put the instructions on how to open the thing write on the top. I had flashes of panic as I wondered if we would get any cake at all. Or maybe one of us would have to hold up the one side of the lid I managed to get open while another person cuts the cake. Was I even going to get to try this dessert? I was glad there weren't too many people privy to my ineptness. I have to give myself a break...I didn't want to try too hard...I might drop/bump/misplace the icing. No one wants to eat a cake that doesn't look good.

So, on that note...here is a recipe for you...from me...from someone on a parenting forum that I used to frequent. Notice that we went with something a little more daring...everything looks better dressed in red! (Eek, mental picture, almost everything!)

Hummingbird Cake
(I guess I kind of felt like a light hummingbird while partaking.)

Cake:
3 C flour                                 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda                    1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 tsp salt                                 1 C chopped pecans
2 C sugar                                2 C chopped bananas
1 tsp cinnamon                       1/2 C chopped pecans
3 large eggs, beaten
1 C vegetable oil

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened 1 (16 0z) pkg powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 C butter or margarine, softened         1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine first five cake ingredients in a large bowl. Add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not beat) Stir in vanilla, pineapple (w/ juice), 1 cup pecans, and bananas.
Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9" round cake pans.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
Spread cream cheese frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped pecans on top.
Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.
The longer this cake sits in the fridge before serving, the better it is.

Mo tips: I use canola oil with all my cooking, unless it is a deep fryer. I also bought the pecans that were pretty much pulverized. I guess it depends on how you like your nuts. I put the directions as is, but I am sure you could have figured out how to frost a cake without the explicit detail. However, I wanted you to get the recipe in it's true, unedited form.

P.S. I don't sift either.

Ponderings

2010-04-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

As I was sitting in the mother's lounge, nursing my fussy baby, I could hear, through the speakers, someone giving his testimony. He works with the youth. He talked about a versus he came across in the scripture that was cause for reflection. It had to do with God being a jealous God. (I tried to look it up, but I am still working on becoming a Scriptorian.) He went on to describe how they looked up the definition of jealous. There it was: watchful in guarding. Hmm, that definitely sounds like Heavenly Father, watchful in guarding us. Goes to show that there can be more than one definition for any given word, some of which are usually not thought of because of the popularity of one definition over another in the use of the word. Not that you don't know what jealous means, it was used in a different context, in a different time period. We use it now to mean something much more different. That definition is not a good adjective of what we would think our Heavenly Father would be.

On the dictionary note:

The last two nights I have been working on Personal Progress. I read the scriptures, thought about them, and then re-read them taking notes the next night. I broke out the dictionary people...and boy, does it shed light.

Ponder these on the Holy Ghost:

Galatians 5: 22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Fruit - the result or product of
So, the result/product of the Holy Ghost is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance
Against such there is no law - without these products, we would be without law. Nothing to help govern us.

D&C 11: 13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;
I know what enlighten means, not the dictionary version. Mine would be something like, "I learned something I didn't know". I was enlightened.
Enlighten - free from ignorance, prejudice - informed
The Holy Ghost can literally free us from the bonds of ignorance, or our preconceived notions (prejudice). We can be informed, in all righteous things, and be filled with joy. What is there not to like about that?

Dust off that dictionary...sometimes those verses take on new meaning (or even gain meaning!) once you read the different definitions and apply them correctly.

A while back I purchased a seminary workbook for the Book of Mormon that I have been using for my own scripture study each day. I feel this book has been a great asset in increasing my understanding of the Book of Mormon, broadening my thoughts on each chapter and the events written about, and allowing me to dig deeper than a surface level intellect on the subject.

I know that I have felt the Spirit as I have focused on the scriptures and used the tools at my disposal to enrich my study. I am grateful for the knowledge I do have of the gospel, and for the capacity I have to broaden my understanding even more. I am thankful to know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost as a companion and guide in this life. I am thankful to know that I can pray and by given direction from Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Question for the day

2010-04-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

So, if you bought curlers (hypothetically) and you used them in your hair (hypothetically) and you looked like a frizzy monster (~~literally~~ hypothetically) would you, could you, take back the curlers? or would you cut your losses and keep them under your bathroom sink (literally)?

Zuppa Toscana Soup

2010-04-08T21:01:00.000-07:00

Sounds all fancy, doesn't it? It is. I just wish I had fancy dishes to showcase these fancy meals. I really like the all white look, but they aren't very photogenic.

What's that you say? You have some Kale just taking up space in your crisper? Here is the recipe for you!

Let me first start off with a lesson. This is Kale.

This is not Kale.

You'll like this.

As I am grocery shopping and checking all my price matching, I come to the produce aisle. I am pretty confident I know what Kale looks like. (It's green and leafy, it has to be what isn't lettuce...and I know what different lettuces look like.) Not that I have ever bought kale. Or even eaten it. Or...well, you get the point. So, I take my swagger over to the produce aisle. Feel around in the "kale" to find a good one. (Not that I have even the slightest clue on what to look for.) I even have the "kale" bagged and in my cart with a huge goofy grin on my face feeling all proud of myself. Wow, am I the only one that eats kale? Who are these uncouth people? Haven't they the desire to try something refined?

Hmm, what's that over there? Just off to my right at eye level. Granted, it is green and leafy. Better take a look. No one else is buying that either. It's kale. But if this is kale, what is that thing I bagged and put in my cart?

Casually pull unknown green leafy vegetable (I think it's a vegetable) out of my cart and put it back nicely. Drawing no attention to myself. Grab the closest kale and stuff it in the bag. It's not like I know what I am looking for anyway. Make my way outta there. I guess I wouldn't get very far on Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?.

So, do you know what vegetable I put in my cart? (I know, I looked it up...but wanted to see if you are smarter than a fifth grader.)

Alright, stop laughing and write down this recipe. You will definitely want it. It was delicious. I had two bowls. My husband loved it. My children loved it. Except for Owen, but he doesn't count. He doesn't like anything that isn't a PB&J sandwich, bean burrito, or cereal. He would mess up the vote.

This soup is hearty and creamy. Not sure on healthy...but it has a green leafy vegetable in there, so that has got to be worth something. You can read more about the health benefits of kale here.

Zuppa Toscana Soup

3/4 cup onion, diced            2 med. potatoes, cut into cubes
1 slice bacon, diced             2 cups cavallo greens, chopped (or kale)
1 1/4 tsp minced garlic         1 1/2 C spicy precooked sausage
1 ounce chicken bouillon      3/4 C. heavy cream
1 qt water

Place onions and bacon into a large saucepan and cook onions over medium heat until they are almost clear. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. And chicken bouillon, water and potatoes, bring to a simmer for 15 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 5 more minutes, then serve.

Mo Tips: For the record, you can use bacon bits if you are too lazy to thaw out a pack of bacon for one or two slices. I used a 1 pound roll of sausage, regular flavor. I used more potatoes and kale and eyeballed it. Keep the skin on the potatoes. Its healthy too...see? Yummo.

Enjoy...you can thank me later!

Chicken Bombay

2010-04-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

I am not usually a sweet meat person, but this was delicious. I was disappointed in not making the full batch of sauce. I only had about a pound of chicken, so I halved the recipe for the sauce. I didn't think about adding over the rice. It wowed the husband, and the kids gobbled it down...which says a lot. This dish was not spicy, even given the ingredients, so for those that don't do hot, don't be afraid to try this. It has a unique flavor and I will definitely cook again. Enjoy!

Chicken Bombay
Ingredients:
1/4 C Butter                1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 C Mustard            1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 C Honey               1/4 tsp curry powder
1 tsp seasoning salt      1/4 tsp pepper
3 lbs chicken

Combine all in ingredients, except for chicken, in a sauce pan. Heat over medium heat until smooth and slightly warmed.
For OAMC (Once a Month Cooking): Let cool and add to a Ziploc bag with uncooked chicken. Freeze. When ready, thaw overnight and bake at 375 until cooked through.
To Cook now: Roll chicken is sauce. Place in casserole dish and bake at 375 for 30 minutes.
TIP: I coated pieces, put in pan, then added the remainder of the sauce over it. I used the sauce over the chicken and rice to add flavor to the rice.

What's on Your Plate?

2010-04-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

So, for the last two weeks I have been incorporating new dishes into the rotation. Dinners that I have gotten from cookbooks, friends, or online recipe places. I am hoping to document each new meal on my blog.My goal is to try at least 5 new meals a month, if not more. We had 5 new meals in the last two weeks. I didn't think to document them until now. Right now we stand at 3 YUMS and 2 NO THANK YOUS. I might go back and tweek the two that we didn't like to see if I can make them Yummy. The ingredients and things would make for a perfect meal, just a little more of something here...and in one case a little less of something, would probably make the dish a keeper.

Are you tired of eating the same thing? Do you trust me? Why am I asking, of course you do! Come back again and get the scoop on what I had for dinner, whether we liked it or not, see if it looks good to you and if you want to try making it for dinner at your house! You can thank me later.

This should be fun.

P.S. You should be proud of me, I even bought mushrooms for one of the meals...instead of just leaving them out.

Easter

2010-04-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

I was bummed that Easter fell on Conference weekend. Not because I don't like General Conference. I was bummed because we ALWAYS go up north on Easter weekend. We usually do the big egg hunt on Saturday and go to church on Sunday.

Up north, where Shaunton's grandma lives, there is no running water. She has a t.v. but it doesn't get any channels. It is only good for movies...and movies are for special occasions. So, the t.v. hardly sees any play time and hides behind an old sheet for "protection". Internet? Um, no. So, we can't watch General Conference. The stake center is at least 30 minutes away at a minimum.

Surprisingly, my kids were bummed too. They like to listen for words we choose and get snacks associated with the words. I guess it is a start. Guess we will have to watch it on the internet or just read it when the Ensign comes in.

Here are some Easter pics for your enjoyment.

Easter Bunny

Jackpot!

Hunting...(look at all those eggs in his basket!)

Hunting...and making it look good!

One of Grandma's hogans we passed looked for the cattle.

Weight lifting...

2010-04-06T18:52:00.000-07:00

is not for the faint of heart.

Owen decided to lift weights. Eight pound weights. Okay, maybe just one. Key word is try. As you can tell, it didn't go to well.

Grainy cell phone shot

Five hours in the ER and lots of friends later (where else can you pass the time by talking to complete strangers. If you don't you would go insane!), we come to find out the tip is broken. The nail is a goner...as we soon found out after a bath. He will still grow a nail, at some point. It may not be as nice as the nail he had. I hope it doesn't hold him back in life. Some girls are really into feet.

After the bath

Moral of the story: Don't work out...it is dangerous to your child's health.

V.I.P.

2010-04-05T16:09:00.000-07:00

Ember has no doubts on who is a very important person. I am not even upset that it isn't me.

So...was it her dad? Her grandma or grandpa? Santa or the Easter Bunny perhaps? (You know it wasn't one of her brothers!)

Drumroll.....

Translation for those who can't read Kindergarten: "Jesus is important because he made the world."

Definitely a keeper!

Wandering...

2010-04-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

around Target for an hour while you wait for the portrait studio to open, because you didn't look up the hours, can cost you. Not just time, but money.

NTS: Portrait studio opens at 10. If you get there early, just sit and wait. Do not, under any circumstances, browse while you wait!