Someone mentioned to me yesterday that "When it rains, it pours." We're in a bit of a drizzle right now. Just when we'd decided to purchase a white noise generator to try to help Rory sleep and maybe help Ceana concentrate when doing homework, my PDA died. And my cell phone has been acting strangely. OK, so Santa is going to deliver some electronics to the Baxter parents a bit early. Then on my way home from work late last night, I got a flat. I'm talking a blown-out sidewall jobbie that Mr. Schwab isn't going to be able to fix. Too bad it happened way after dark, on a rural highway with no lights or shoulder, in the rain, and I found I didn't have an adequate flashlight in the truck. Thankfully I was close enough to home that Rory drove out with the van to shine some light on the situation. I was trying to clench one of those keychain LED lights in my teeth while placing the tire jack under the truck frame, while at the same time dodging cars since I was laying in the traffic lane.
So I find myself still at home this morning, waiting for the local tire shop to open. Not looking forward to the sticker shock when the tires (which were nearing the end of their useful life anyway) get replaced. I'm guessing Santa will be about tapped out this year, and it's not even Thanksgiving yet.
At least it didn't rain ON the Veterans' Day parade yesterday. And actually, it didn't start raining on the early-morning memorial ceremony until just when the 21-gun salute started (quite appropriate). And when I went to bed at 11pm last night after helping Ceana with math, then got up at 4:45 to head to the gym, Ceana was STILL UP DOING HOMEWORK - she REALLY wanted to get caught up so she could regain her GMAIL / Facebook / friend party / high school football game priviledges. Yes, she made it.
Are we having fun yet?
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Thanksgiving Salad I
One of Colton's Social Studies assignments for school was to make a Thanksgiving salad. He has lots of fun assignments this month with the holiday coming. We are trying to get him finished in time to receive the 2nd set of his Kindergarten cirriculum early, so we are having fun and flying through all of his holiday assignments.
Here Colton has all of his ingredients ready to go. He was very excited to get to "cook" all by himself.
Colton loves using the nut chopper to "crunch things" - he did his best, though his arm strength isnt quite there yet. He tried hard and did a good job!
He added lots of nuts to the salad. Normally he doesnt like nuts at all, but he sure liked them in this salad.
One of Colton's favorite snacks is mandarin oranges - esp when I let him eat them right out of the can. This salad called for them, and boy was he excited! He had fun "sprinkling" in all of the chopped ingredients.
Here Colton has all of his ingredients ready to go. He was very excited to get to "cook" all by himself.
Colton loves using the nut chopper to "crunch things" - he did his best, though his arm strength isnt quite there yet. He tried hard and did a good job!
He added lots of nuts to the salad. Normally he doesnt like nuts at all, but he sure liked them in this salad.
One of Colton's favorite snacks is mandarin oranges - esp when I let him eat them right out of the can. This salad called for them, and boy was he excited! He had fun "sprinkling" in all of the chopped ingredients.
Thanksgiving Salad II
I have to admit, this is becoming a new favorite snack at our house. We had never even heard of craisins before a friend brought a yummy dinner with a salad that had craisins and nuts - now we are eating them lots! Thanx Allison for bringing such a yummy dinner and a yummy new snack to our house!
The tradition continues....I am notorious for snacking while cooking, so do my kiddos....who am I to fuss though, when the snack and meal are healthy! Colton really loves apples, so this was a fun salad for him to make with some of his favorite things!
Adding the last ingredient - yummy Cool Whip
Colton was SO excited that he made this salad pretty much all by himself. This pict doesnt show it very well, but it really is a pretty salad with all the colors
The tradition continues....I am notorious for snacking while cooking, so do my kiddos....who am I to fuss though, when the snack and meal are healthy! Colton really loves apples, so this was a fun salad for him to make with some of his favorite things!
Adding the last ingredient - yummy Cool Whip
Colton was SO excited that he made this salad pretty much all by himself. This pict doesnt show it very well, but it really is a pretty salad with all the colors
Thanksgiving Salad III
Colton couldnt wait to get his first taste of his homemade salad.
Colton never eats anything with a regular spoon - he always chooses a serving spoon - as you can see that bite is WAY more than he can fit in his mouth -
That never seems to hinder him at all though....
And he is always VERY proud of himself when he shoves it all in. Plus he was very proud and excited that he had made a salad all by himself!
Colton never eats anything with a regular spoon - he always chooses a serving spoon - as you can see that bite is WAY more than he can fit in his mouth -
That never seems to hinder him at all though....
And he is always VERY proud of himself when he shoves it all in. Plus he was very proud and excited that he had made a salad all by himself!
We discovered that we liked the salad so much that it didnt last long at all. In fact, we are making another one today....it is fun that we have found something yummy and easy and mostly healthy. Here is the way easy recipe if you want to try some yourself -
Craisins (1/2 cup-ish), 2 cans mandarin oranges (drained), 2 chopped apples (we did 1 red and 1 green), chopped nuts (we used pecans, but anything would work), small container of Cool Whip. Combine all ingredients, serve immediately for best results. We did have some last overnight, but it got a little runny with the oranges diluting the cream - still way yummy, just didnt look as pretty. Enjoy! I know we will!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
RECEIVING LIFE
A few posts ago I titled one called "Giving Life" - well today I was on the receiving end of the miracles that can come from the gifts of receiving life, freedom and peace.
This morning I woke up completely calm, got up and showered, dressed, prodded kiddos to do the same and we were all mostly ready when preston came home to get us. Just like that. My cruddy night's sleep didnt change, the chaotic sunday morning routine didnt change, the battles over getting little people to get dressed didnt change - but somehow I was changed.
When Preston arrived home to see me dressed and dressing Kels he surprisingly asked "are you going today?" to which I replied "I was planning to" - just like that - no fear, no horrendous shaking, no anything, except a complete quiet and calm.
The whole block went like that. I just breezed into the chapel, no stress, no nothing. Totally ok when I was greeted and hugged by others we are close to welcoming me back. I sat through all 3 hours as if I had not been gone for almost a year. Everyone around me acting as if I had never been gone.
The only word to describe today is miraculous. I laughed, I visited, I asked after others' well being, I took the sacrament free of guilt or pain, I participated in discussions (which I hardly ever did before) I didnt worry about Kels making lots of noise or wandering around in a room full of adults only. I was the last one to the car at the end of meetings.
I have to admit on the way home from church today I was feeling completely exhausted - as if I had been working very hard....It was a very strange feeling and one I still cannot put my finger on.
All I know is that I was given great gifts and blessings of strength, peace, energy and fulfillment that were not my own. Today I have felt a small inkling of what "whole" feels like again. Today what I was able to do was enough, and the rest was done for me.
Today doesnt guarantee that every sunday will be like this, or that I wont have to still work towards goals, or work through set backs. It does guarantee I am going in the right direction, with ALOT of help, support and love by many others, including a Heavenly Father and a Savior who know and love me for me, and that they are mindful of me and our family.
A wonderful sister today quoted several lines from "I Believe In Christ" - with her main focus being on "come what may" she KNOWS that the above things are true. For me, I have never been able to believe they were or ever could be true, that come what may, I would be left on my own, alone. Today, that too has changed. I can see and hear and understand her complete perspective that no matter what happens in life that Heavenly Father and the Savior ARE in charge, they know what I need, and I know that our needs will be met. If I do all that I can, it will be enough, and they will take care of the rest. My job is to believe, trust, ask, listen and heed - if I can do these things, then I can truly believe and understand the line from another great hymn "ALL IS WELL" (Come, Come Ye Saints)
This morning I woke up completely calm, got up and showered, dressed, prodded kiddos to do the same and we were all mostly ready when preston came home to get us. Just like that. My cruddy night's sleep didnt change, the chaotic sunday morning routine didnt change, the battles over getting little people to get dressed didnt change - but somehow I was changed.
When Preston arrived home to see me dressed and dressing Kels he surprisingly asked "are you going today?" to which I replied "I was planning to" - just like that - no fear, no horrendous shaking, no anything, except a complete quiet and calm.
The whole block went like that. I just breezed into the chapel, no stress, no nothing. Totally ok when I was greeted and hugged by others we are close to welcoming me back. I sat through all 3 hours as if I had not been gone for almost a year. Everyone around me acting as if I had never been gone.
The only word to describe today is miraculous. I laughed, I visited, I asked after others' well being, I took the sacrament free of guilt or pain, I participated in discussions (which I hardly ever did before) I didnt worry about Kels making lots of noise or wandering around in a room full of adults only. I was the last one to the car at the end of meetings.
I have to admit on the way home from church today I was feeling completely exhausted - as if I had been working very hard....It was a very strange feeling and one I still cannot put my finger on.
All I know is that I was given great gifts and blessings of strength, peace, energy and fulfillment that were not my own. Today I have felt a small inkling of what "whole" feels like again. Today what I was able to do was enough, and the rest was done for me.
Today doesnt guarantee that every sunday will be like this, or that I wont have to still work towards goals, or work through set backs. It does guarantee I am going in the right direction, with ALOT of help, support and love by many others, including a Heavenly Father and a Savior who know and love me for me, and that they are mindful of me and our family.
A wonderful sister today quoted several lines from "I Believe In Christ" - with her main focus being on "come what may" she KNOWS that the above things are true. For me, I have never been able to believe they were or ever could be true, that come what may, I would be left on my own, alone. Today, that too has changed. I can see and hear and understand her complete perspective that no matter what happens in life that Heavenly Father and the Savior ARE in charge, they know what I need, and I know that our needs will be met. If I do all that I can, it will be enough, and they will take care of the rest. My job is to believe, trust, ask, listen and heed - if I can do these things, then I can truly believe and understand the line from another great hymn "ALL IS WELL" (Come, Come Ye Saints)
HOORAY FOR HALLOWEEN
Ceana cranked out homework like crazy to earn the privilege to go to what is becoming the annual Halloween "girls' night" with a few of her closest friends. She decided to try the pirate thing again, and with both Preston and I to help her, she was all decked out. Preston made her an eye patch, and loaded her down with all of my gaudy jewelry and I brushed her face with earth-tone eye shadow and mascara. She was happy with the results and went along very happy to be with her friends for the night.
On the way to the annual ward Trunk or Treat activity I happened to look back at the kids. Kels was just "hangin' loose" in her carseat. She has picked up this pose from Ky and more often than not I find her in this position more than him anymore. It was a total crack up that I had to try for a pict in the car.
Love her little toe hanging out - when we got to the building we discovered that neither she or Ky had their shoes - thankfully she had snuggly PJ's on with footsies and we layered Ky with all the extra socks we had still in the car (another story for another time....) It worked well. Kels's PJ's were pretty much thrashed by the end of the night, which was fine since we also discovered a monster hole in between her legs too, they have been through multiple kiddos - prob amazing they lasted this long :)
On the way to the annual ward Trunk or Treat activity I happened to look back at the kids. Kels was just "hangin' loose" in her carseat. She has picked up this pose from Ky and more often than not I find her in this position more than him anymore. It was a total crack up that I had to try for a pict in the car.
Love her little toe hanging out - when we got to the building we discovered that neither she or Ky had their shoes - thankfully she had snuggly PJ's on with footsies and we layered Ky with all the extra socks we had still in the car (another story for another time....) It worked well. Kels's PJ's were pretty much thrashed by the end of the night, which was fine since we also discovered a monster hole in between her legs too, they have been through multiple kiddos - prob amazing they lasted this long :)
TRUNK OR TREAT CARNIVAL
We had multiple themes going on this year. Caiden decided that he REALLY wanted to be Gilligan this year, so Kaeli and Preston also chose characters - Kaeli was Ginger and Preston was The Skipper. The little people all got their outfits chosen for them about 1/2 hour before we were supposed to leave - they were all in PJ's still. Thankfully it was easy to throw these together since I had remembered the cute aprons we had gotten from the Pioneer Day carnival we attended in July. Along with a few accessories and we were good to go. Bob The Builder and crew. Kels' toolbox was sufficiently supplied with all the "tools" a girl needs - curling iron, hairspray, clips, brush, etc. It was perfect for her.
The boys were chomping at the bit to get to the carnival. Kels was NOT impressed. She pretty much freaked out with all the noise and people and just clung to her big sissy as if she was holding on for dear life. Kaeli just stood very still and stroked Kels' hair, trying to keep her calm. I dont know what I would do without Kaeli, those 2 girls really have bonded and Kels will often times even choose Kaeli instead of me. I am blessed that they have each other, esp for times like this when I need to be everywhere at once.
The boys were chomping at the bit to get to the carnival. Kels was NOT impressed. She pretty much freaked out with all the noise and people and just clung to her big sissy as if she was holding on for dear life. Kaeli just stood very still and stroked Kels' hair, trying to keep her calm. I dont know what I would do without Kaeli, those 2 girls really have bonded and Kels will often times even choose Kaeli instead of me. I am blessed that they have each other, esp for times like this when I need to be everywhere at once.
TRUNK OR TREAT CARNIVAL II
We finally coaxed Kels to let Kaeli loose by offering her a cookie. She still didnt stray too far from any of us though, and I ended up holding her while we were inside
Of course my boys found the treats right away. They had a cookie decorating booth AND a cupcake walk booth - what more could the boys ask for?
Caiden esp enjoyed the game booths. This one was his favorite. He had to suck up a candy corn with a straw, keep it on the end of the straw and then drop it into the little cup. I am not sure if it was timed or not, but it was challenging and fun.
Of course my boys found the treats right away. They had a cookie decorating booth AND a cupcake walk booth - what more could the boys ask for?
Caiden esp enjoyed the game booths. This one was his favorite. He had to suck up a candy corn with a straw, keep it on the end of the straw and then drop it into the little cup. I am not sure if it was timed or not, but it was challenging and fun.
TRUNK OR TREAT
For those of you who may not know what Trunk or Treat is - it is a safe, annual event where local church families come and let kiddos trick or treat out of the trunks of their cars. It is a riot and a great way to celebrate and know that the kids are safe.
Kels didnt let loose of Kaeli the whole night. She was more than happy that she had been let go to just run around amid all the other kiddos. Every time I found the girls, Kels was literally pulling Kaeli along behind her at full tilt. Kaeli had chosen to wear high heels with her costume, and had a hard time keeping up with Kels, it was pretty funny. Kels is too little this year to "get it" - she could care less about the candy, she was just happy to run around, so kaeli didnt get very many treats this year....maybe next year.
Preston manned the handing out of candy this year, Kaeli took Kels, and with Ceana not there, I went ahead and let the boys go off on their own this year with the strict understanding that they stay together at all times. Caiden apparently found a solution to them staying together. Everytime I found the boys to get their picts, the little boys had a fist full of Caiden's shirt. He was very patient with the little boys and they did a good job on their own.
Kels didnt let loose of Kaeli the whole night. She was more than happy that she had been let go to just run around amid all the other kiddos. Every time I found the girls, Kels was literally pulling Kaeli along behind her at full tilt. Kaeli had chosen to wear high heels with her costume, and had a hard time keeping up with Kels, it was pretty funny. Kels is too little this year to "get it" - she could care less about the candy, she was just happy to run around, so kaeli didnt get very many treats this year....maybe next year.
Preston manned the handing out of candy this year, Kaeli took Kels, and with Ceana not there, I went ahead and let the boys go off on their own this year with the strict understanding that they stay together at all times. Caiden apparently found a solution to them staying together. Everytime I found the boys to get their picts, the little boys had a fist full of Caiden's shirt. He was very patient with the little boys and they did a good job on their own.
SPOOKY LIGHTS
When we got home from Trunk or Treat, Kaeli was trying to play with her light stick. She wanted me to take picts, but she couldnt shake it hard or fast enough to show up on the camera. I remembered I still had a thick light glow stick from my photography workshop! I ran in and got it, dropped my shutter speed down as low as it would go and I took picts while the kids played. It worked lots better outside since the flash had too much to bounce off of inside, I had to partially cover it with my hand. It was just experiment time to see what worked or didnt and the kids had tons of fun.
KAELI
LOVE the boys' faces. They were really getting into things, and exerting that energy really showed on their faces!
KAELI
LOVE the boys' faces. They were really getting into things, and exerting that energy really showed on their faces! KY
CAIDEN
COLTON
CAIDEN
COLTON
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