Am I just seeing things, or are our cloning exercises approaching success?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Twins born in different years?
I've always thought that Levi and Caeden look a lot alike. Some people humor me and say they do, and others disagree. I think I've got a little evidence that supports my side. I've got a few pictures of my boys taken at the same age (13 1/2 months old). What do you think?
Am I just seeing things, or are our cloning exercises approaching success?
Am I just seeing things, or are our cloning exercises approaching success?
Monday, July 14, 2008
We were there!
On Friday, July 11th, we noticed that the steeple had been put up on the temple just west of our home. We decided to go up and check it out, and when we got there, they were preparing to put the Moroni statue up on the steeple. We immediately parked the van and jumped out to watch them put him up. I was so glad to have had my boys all with me so that they could watch it too. It was so very cool! What awesome timing we had that day! It is so fun having a temple being built so close to our home.
Here's the view of the temple from our backyard. Neat, huh!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
What our economic stimulus check went for:
A few days after we got back from camping, I went into the laundry room and stepped in a puddle of water. Seeing as how there were already 2 other problems with our washer and we had already repaired it 6 times previously, we decided to buy a new washer and dryer. I am excited about my new washer and dryer, but I sure wish we could have used the money for something else...
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Here's the recipe I promised:
I've been telling people for a while that I'd put this "Cream Biscuit" recipe on my blog, so now I'm actually going to do it! It's a yummy biscuit recipe, and it's really quick. My boys love it when we buy a rotisserie chicken for dinner. Whip up the biscuits, warm some green beans, and voila! dinner is served! It's nice because you don't have to cut the lard or butter or whatever into the dough, just mix the dry stuff together, add the cream, and there's the dough. Hope you try them, they're fast, yummy, and we love them!
Cream Biscuits
Mix together:
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 TB sugar
Stir in:
1 1/2 cups cream
Knead for about a minute, roll thick, and cut into circles (we use a mason jar lid!)
Bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes. (I use my stoneware pan, and just preheat it with the oven. Then I put my biscuits on the hot stoneware. It makes the bottoms more crispy. You may need to cook them a little longer if you don't use stoneware - I haven't done it any other way, so I'm not sure about the time using just a regular baking sheet!) Good luck, and I hope you enjoy!
Cream Biscuits
Mix together:
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 TB sugar
Stir in:
1 1/2 cups cream
Knead for about a minute, roll thick, and cut into circles (we use a mason jar lid!)
Bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes. (I use my stoneware pan, and just preheat it with the oven. Then I put my biscuits on the hot stoneware. It makes the bottoms more crispy. You may need to cook them a little longer if you don't use stoneware - I haven't done it any other way, so I'm not sure about the time using just a regular baking sheet!) Good luck, and I hope you enjoy!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Our Goblin Valley Trip
The day after Levi's birthday, we headed out to Goblin Valley with our friends, the Wilkins family. Goblin Valley is a state park in Southern Utah where the erosion process created tons of goblin shaped rocks. It is like a giant playground for
kids, and our boys love to climb and play and discover. We even found a cave! It is a fun place to run through, and we love spending time together as a family with nothing else to distract us. Not only did we play at Goblin Valley, we also went exploring through some slot canyons at the nearby Wild Horse Canyon. That's where the picture on our header was taken. Camping isn't so hard with the boys. They're finally getting old enough to help put up and take down the campsite, and we had a
separate tent for the boys, so there was plenty of room. Our only downside is that Aaron's and my air mattress sprung a leak, so on the second night, Aaron went in to sleep with the boys on a mattress that didn't leak. I stayed on the leaky mattress, which really wasn't too bad with just one person on it. (We laughed pretty hard when we were both on it, rolling uncontrollably into each other.) All in all, it was a fun trip, and it only took a week for my sunburn on the back of my legs to go away...
Levi loves his backpack ride!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
New Picture
Well, I'm trying to put a new picture on my blog header, but I just can't get the size right. I'd stay and work on it for a while, but I just heard a bowl crash in the kitchen. Computer time is over for the day... Does anyone know where I can learn about how to customize my blog? I'm really clueless!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Life is funny...
I just thought it ironic that my last post was about how I "taught" a RS lesson about not becoming overwhelmed, then I go and do just that. Every time I start feeling overwhelmed, things like this blog just go untouched for a while (and sometimes, the kitchen, and more often than not, the ironing!). Things are still great, just sometimes less important things get neglected for a while so more important things can have priority. Lots of good things are happening in our family. We have had some fun times! I'm not going to post it all at once (I don't want to get overwhelmed -- hee, hee), but I'll try to keep everyone up to date!
Let's start with Levi's birthday! He hit the big O-N-E last month. He was born on Memorial Day last year, so all day on Memorial Day, I kept on thinking that it should have been his birthday. (But it was actually on Wednesday, May 28th.) Anyway, he got a musical crocodile
(he likes pounding on the piano, so I thought he'd like this) and he also got a little red wagon. He loves to be pulled around by his brothers, and also loves to push stuffed animals around in it. He is such a wonderful little man and I love having him as a part of our family!
Let's start with Levi's birthday! He hit the big O-N-E last month. He was born on Memorial Day last year, so all day on Memorial Day, I kept on thinking that it should have been his birthday. (But it was actually on Wednesday, May 28th.) Anyway, he got a musical crocodile
(he likes pounding on the piano, so I thought he'd like this) and he also got a little red wagon. He loves to be pulled around by his brothers, and also loves to push stuffed animals around in it. He is such a wonderful little man and I love having him as a part of our family!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
For all of us who have felt overwhelmed...
In an effort to make our Mother's Day lesson in Relief Society a little bit lighter than usual, we talked about how to enjoy motherhood. One thing that we talked about was how to not feel guilty about everything that needs to be done, and that we can't do everything all at once. To drive that point home, I used this poem. It made me laugh. I hope it makes you smile too!
Vickie Gunther of Redlands, California, wrote a hilarious poem, Dr.
Seuss style, about how much LDS women try to take on. David B. Marsh used it at
Women's Conference, and Vickie has given permission to share it.
The Girl in a Whirl by 'Dr. Sue' (a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)
Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do if you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray.
I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classrooms! I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!
I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.
I play the piano! I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle! My checkbooks all balance!
Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)
I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,
I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed! My toenails are polished!
Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too.
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!
I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.
I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day!
(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)
I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each 'lost lamb' on my Primary roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,
I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write 'thank you’s' to those I admire.
My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean!
I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car's tires! I fix the sink's leak!
I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure I rotate our two-years' supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;
You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!
It's easy!' she said,
And then she dropped dead.
Vickie Gunther of Redlands, California, wrote a hilarious poem, Dr.
Seuss style, about how much LDS women try to take on. David B. Marsh used it at
Women's Conference, and Vickie has given permission to share it.
The Girl in a Whirl by 'Dr. Sue' (a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)
Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do if you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray.
I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classrooms! I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!
I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.
I play the piano! I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle! My checkbooks all balance!
Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)
I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,
I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed! My toenails are polished!
Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too.
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!
I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.
I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day!
(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)
I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each 'lost lamb' on my Primary roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,
I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write 'thank you’s' to those I admire.
My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean!
I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car's tires! I fix the sink's leak!
I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure I rotate our two-years' supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;
You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!
It's easy!' she said,
And then she dropped dead.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
I've been tagged!
Natalie tagged me, so here are the rules:
List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Well, it's taken me a while to get around to this (it's that "busy" thing again...), so, here we go!
3 Joys: 1. My heart melts when my boys give me loves out of nowhere. Jacob is especially good at this. 2. I love watching Levi learn how to walk. (Watch for a video coming soon!) I've loved it with all my boys, and Levi is just starting. It is just so much fun when they get so excited that they fall over, then they realize that they're doing something great and they laugh, hop back up, and try again. 3. And I love it when someone expresses true appreciation - not just the "thanks for all that you do" generic stuff. Like, when they really mean it, they're not just trying to be polite. Not that polite people bug me. They're nice and all, but, let's face it, we can tell the difference between someone saying something to be nice and someone really noticing that we've made a difference, and they say so. It just makes me feel really good to know that my life has a little meaning or value to someone else once in a while.
3 Fears: 1. The thought of my children getting hurt without me being able to do anything about it haunts my nightmares. I actually have had panic attacks when I am out on a date with my husband and I think of my baby, falling head first in the toilet and struggling to get out, no one there to save him, feeling betrayed by his mom because I wasn't there to help him and make it all better, then drowning, and it's all I can do to tell myself I'm being irrational and to not go home and check to make sure all the bathroom doors are closed. It's not pretty, but it's true. 2. What the world is becoming scares me too. Although I am more worried about the morality of society than the economics. My husband worries about the economics enough for the both of us. There is only so much I can do, and I hope my home will always be a safehaven for the values that can bring us peace. 3. I'm afraid of drunk people. I have just seen too many people all happy and drunk then all of a sudden they turn into a mean, angry drunk. It scares me. Especially when they are behind the wheel. I don't want to be hit and killed by a drunk driver (another fear).I remember when I learned why alcoholic drinks are called "Spirits." Back in the "olden days," people believed that when you were drunk, you were posessed by spirits, so that's how alcohol got that nickname. Which reminds me, I'm afraid of ghosts, too. So if you die and want to come back and give me a message, leave me a note. I'll be afraid of you too.
3 Goals: 1. To one day be on top of the housework. 2. To run. I'm starting small. Maybe next year's stake 5K fun run. In my dreams, I'd like to do a sprint triathelon. The goal is to get up early enough before my husband goes to work and run, maybe get up to a few miles by the end of the summer. We'll see... 3. I'd like to play my flute in an orchestra one day. Right now I'm just trying to not totally lose all of my talent, but I hope to be able to carve out a little more time for that when all of my boys are in school.
3 Current obsessions/collections: 1. I HAD to finish the Twilight series (by Stephenie Meyer, if you're interested) this week. Sadly, the house went to pot as I finished New Moon and Eclipse this week. And it leaves me thinking, there has to be more. After all, Jacob can't just run East forever, Bella and Edward have got some big things coming up, and will she ever become a vampire herself? And what about the Volturi? You've gotta know they'll be back! Good books for anyone who wants a good read. If you can get over the fact that Bella really is so very young for this kind of adventure... And is it really ok that Edward spends so much time in her bedroom, even if "nothing happens?" Yup, I'm sure that I dreamed about vampires last night. 2. I'm really trying to get my house in order. I don't know if it will ever really happen, but I'd love to finish a few projects and maybe even put a few pictures up. It's a daily, (and at the rate I'm going, a lifelong) obsession. 3. Can I count my boys as a collection? I collect baby boys. I can honestly say that if we happened to get pregnant again, I would love another boy. It's just who we are.
3 random, surprising facts about myself: 1. People think I have it all together. I'm surprised by that. I think it's this calling. They associate Relief Society Pres with someone who has it all together. So, let me surprise people by saying I'm not that kind of person. I just try really hard to get a few things done every now and then and hope that I'm doing some good. 2. I'm a certified BeerMaster. I worked for an Anheiser Busch distributor a while back and had to take the course. I'm probably the only BeerMaster who's never tasted the product. 3. I'm an organization freak. I don't feel like I've got it all together unless I'm organized. The projects don't have to be finished, just organized. I actually sleep better in a clean room. I honestly think it's an obsessive/compulsive gene we kids go from our dad. Strange, but true.
Ok, now that that's done, I can go back to balancing the checkbook. I'd tag 5 other people, but I don't know of that many people who read my blog that blog themselves. So, I'll just leave it up to you. If you want to do this, then "TAG - YOU'RE IT!"
Have a great day, y'all, and I hope to post again soon...
List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Well, it's taken me a while to get around to this (it's that "busy" thing again...), so, here we go!
3 Joys: 1. My heart melts when my boys give me loves out of nowhere. Jacob is especially good at this. 2. I love watching Levi learn how to walk. (Watch for a video coming soon!) I've loved it with all my boys, and Levi is just starting. It is just so much fun when they get so excited that they fall over, then they realize that they're doing something great and they laugh, hop back up, and try again. 3. And I love it when someone expresses true appreciation - not just the "thanks for all that you do" generic stuff. Like, when they really mean it, they're not just trying to be polite. Not that polite people bug me. They're nice and all, but, let's face it, we can tell the difference between someone saying something to be nice and someone really noticing that we've made a difference, and they say so. It just makes me feel really good to know that my life has a little meaning or value to someone else once in a while.
3 Fears: 1. The thought of my children getting hurt without me being able to do anything about it haunts my nightmares. I actually have had panic attacks when I am out on a date with my husband and I think of my baby, falling head first in the toilet and struggling to get out, no one there to save him, feeling betrayed by his mom because I wasn't there to help him and make it all better, then drowning, and it's all I can do to tell myself I'm being irrational and to not go home and check to make sure all the bathroom doors are closed. It's not pretty, but it's true. 2. What the world is becoming scares me too. Although I am more worried about the morality of society than the economics. My husband worries about the economics enough for the both of us. There is only so much I can do, and I hope my home will always be a safehaven for the values that can bring us peace. 3. I'm afraid of drunk people. I have just seen too many people all happy and drunk then all of a sudden they turn into a mean, angry drunk. It scares me. Especially when they are behind the wheel. I don't want to be hit and killed by a drunk driver (another fear).I remember when I learned why alcoholic drinks are called "Spirits." Back in the "olden days," people believed that when you were drunk, you were posessed by spirits, so that's how alcohol got that nickname. Which reminds me, I'm afraid of ghosts, too. So if you die and want to come back and give me a message, leave me a note. I'll be afraid of you too.
3 Goals: 1. To one day be on top of the housework. 2. To run. I'm starting small. Maybe next year's stake 5K fun run. In my dreams, I'd like to do a sprint triathelon. The goal is to get up early enough before my husband goes to work and run, maybe get up to a few miles by the end of the summer. We'll see... 3. I'd like to play my flute in an orchestra one day. Right now I'm just trying to not totally lose all of my talent, but I hope to be able to carve out a little more time for that when all of my boys are in school.
3 Current obsessions/collections: 1. I HAD to finish the Twilight series (by Stephenie Meyer, if you're interested) this week. Sadly, the house went to pot as I finished New Moon and Eclipse this week. And it leaves me thinking, there has to be more. After all, Jacob can't just run East forever, Bella and Edward have got some big things coming up, and will she ever become a vampire herself? And what about the Volturi? You've gotta know they'll be back! Good books for anyone who wants a good read. If you can get over the fact that Bella really is so very young for this kind of adventure... And is it really ok that Edward spends so much time in her bedroom, even if "nothing happens?" Yup, I'm sure that I dreamed about vampires last night. 2. I'm really trying to get my house in order. I don't know if it will ever really happen, but I'd love to finish a few projects and maybe even put a few pictures up. It's a daily, (and at the rate I'm going, a lifelong) obsession. 3. Can I count my boys as a collection? I collect baby boys. I can honestly say that if we happened to get pregnant again, I would love another boy. It's just who we are.
3 random, surprising facts about myself: 1. People think I have it all together. I'm surprised by that. I think it's this calling. They associate Relief Society Pres with someone who has it all together. So, let me surprise people by saying I'm not that kind of person. I just try really hard to get a few things done every now and then and hope that I'm doing some good. 2. I'm a certified BeerMaster. I worked for an Anheiser Busch distributor a while back and had to take the course. I'm probably the only BeerMaster who's never tasted the product. 3. I'm an organization freak. I don't feel like I've got it all together unless I'm organized. The projects don't have to be finished, just organized. I actually sleep better in a clean room. I honestly think it's an obsessive/compulsive gene we kids go from our dad. Strange, but true.
Ok, now that that's done, I can go back to balancing the checkbook. I'd tag 5 other people, but I don't know of that many people who read my blog that blog themselves. So, I'll just leave it up to you. If you want to do this, then "TAG - YOU'RE IT!"
Have a great day, y'all, and I hope to post again soon...
Monday, May 5, 2008
Yup, we're still alive...
Ok, I know that I should be better at keeping our blog updated, but sometimes life pulls at you from 100 different directions and something's gotta give. And since kids can't go to school naked, it couldn't be the laundry... (although I tried to let it go - and now, after 3 days of washing, I only have 10 batches to go..) Anyway, life is good. Quick update: we were all sick, then some of us got well, some of us got pneumonia, some of us got grumpy, and some of us are just starting to feel like we can make it through a whole day without a nap. Some of us got into fights at school (in his defense, he was provoked by a bully and his dad is secretly proud of him because he was defending a friend), some of us experienced our first debate tournament, and some of us are reading our first books. Some of us are taking our first steps, and some of us are potty trained.
Some of the fun things that happened are that we bought a tv and couch for the basement and even painted down there!
And because the TV doesn't take an antenna (which has been our sole form of tv reception for the past 10 years), we got a satellite dish. (Wow, there is a lot of crap out there.)
We are very excited that it hasn't snowed this week - for the first time in months! (If you click on the picture, you can see that Caeden and Jacob are standing IN THE SNOW - IN APRIL!)
Jordan turned 11 and is now in the 11 year old scout program with his dad.
We took Jordan and a few friends bowling for his birthday party, then we came back home for pizza and cake - the cake is a blue bowling ball, in case you were wondering what Jordan is blowing at... We had the pinewood derby just before Jordan's birthday, and his car never came in less than 2nd place, so he got a trophy this year - yay Jordan!
So that's a quick update. Life is good. Busy, but good. And I will try to be better at keeping y'all updated on what goes on in our crazy home!
Some of the fun things that happened are that we bought a tv and couch for the basement and even painted down there!
And because the TV doesn't take an antenna (which has been our sole form of tv reception for the past 10 years), we got a satellite dish. (Wow, there is a lot of crap out there.)
We are very excited that it hasn't snowed this week - for the first time in months! (If you click on the picture, you can see that Caeden and Jacob are standing IN THE SNOW - IN APRIL!) Jordan turned 11 and is now in the 11 year old scout program with his dad.
We took Jordan and a few friends bowling for his birthday party, then we came back home for pizza and cake - the cake is a blue bowling ball, in case you were wondering what Jordan is blowing at... We had the pinewood derby just before Jordan's birthday, and his car never came in less than 2nd place, so he got a trophy this year - yay Jordan!
So that's a quick update. Life is good. Busy, but good. And I will try to be better at keeping y'all updated on what goes on in our crazy home!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
