Winter Wonderland!

I love our camera, and while I am not an able photographer, I do like to practice. Here are some winter shots from our home.

The snow is beautiful, and quiet, and peaceful!

See what happens when you wear your snow socks!

The girls had their ballet party Monday afternoon, where they got to show the parents what they've been working on since September. They are both really enjoying dancing, and I think they're so cute I just have to post some pictures!

White Christmas?

The kids were disappointed when they woke up this morning and the snow had not yet arrived. However, throughout the morning, it got colder and windier and now we have lots of windy flurries. The snow seems to be dry, and I don't know that it will stick, but they had to get all their gear on and go outside.

Seth was having such a good time, and got so far away, that one of our neighbors had to drive around and direct him back home. He's just too brave for a three-year-old!

We don't get a lot of snow here, so it's very exciting when we do! And, unlike most years, the temperatures are supposed to stay below freezing all week, so the snow (such as it is) should stay around a while.

Merry Christmas!

Conversation with Hannah

Me: "Let me do your hair."
Hannah: "Here's the brush and the pony."
Me: "Thanks for brushing the snarls out so I don't have to."
Hannah: "Hey, I did brush my hair!"
Me: "I know, that's why I said 'thank you.'"
Hannah: "Well, sometimes you say thank you for things I didn't do."

I guess it's time to curb the sarcasm around here!

I apologize to anyone who has gross-out issues with feet, but you have GOT to see the bruising!

Oh, My Aching Feet

If you know me well, or sadly, run with me, then you know I ALWAYS have feet issues. Blisters, arthritis, old running shoes, whatever. Maybe it's just excuses to stop and walk. I'm also a klutz. Really. Yesterday I stubbed my little piggy and about ripped it off my foot. After icing it and wearing socks all day, I looked at it last night. The whole thing is swollen and black and blue. Lovely! The moral of the story is don't walk around walls when you are in the middle of a power struggle with your youngest child--the focus required just isn't there.

"O Christmas Tree"

So we did our almost annual "go to the woods and cut down a tree" event. It was drizzly, muddy, and the pot holes almost ate our big truck! We had a good time with friends trying to find a tree that wasn't too "Charlie Brown"-like. We brought home a lovely, fairly full noble. It smells fabulous. It would be decorated, too, if Hannah hadn't knocked it over and spilled about nine gallons of water out of the stand. While we wait for the carpet to completely dry, my living room is a little out of place.

Seth kept getting caught in the blackberry brambles and we had to rescue him. He loved tromping around after his dad. They are great buddies!

The Christmas season has begun!

Review of "The Polar Express"

No, not the movie, which I would rate as fabulous! We rode the Mount Hood Railway Polar Express train the night before Thanksgiving with the kids. They loved it. Is it worth the money? I guess it depends on whether making memories with your kids is valuable to you.

I gave them their Christmas jammies early, which they were almost more excited about than the train! Aren't they cute?

We got on the train and listened to music from the Polar Express until they set off. The conductor came around and punched the tickets, like in the movie. It was cute. Then we were served hot chocolate and cookies to the tune of "Hot, Hot Chocolate" which the kids thought was great. But then, my kids always like food. The ride itself would probably be more interesting for adults if it were daylight and you could see the sights that make the train popular.

We took our copy of the book, and it was read on the train ride. When we arrived at the "North Pole," Santa got on the train and then talked to each of the kids and gave them a Christmas bell. We sang carols and rode back to the station.

My review would be that for adults, it's a little cheesy. But as I said, my kids thoroughly enjoyed every minute. If you talk it up and make it a real adventure, riding the Polar Express is a great family activity.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pictures from Hannah's Pilgrim play at school. I am grateful for Pilgrims who sought religious freedom and founded a nation upon it.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Cooking...

So, I've now tried three new recipes from the afore-mentioned cookbook. It's GOLD! I made Skillet Lasagna, which is a short version of real lasagna with all of the taste. My family gobbled up the whole thing! Tonight I made Skillet Chicken Pot Pie, which is basically a chicken stew with biscuits or pie crust on top. Following the recipe in the book, I made homemade biscuits to top it, but you could do refrigerated rolls or pie crust if you wanted. It was easy and my family enjoyed it. We also tried a family-size omelet, which I thought was great, but we overcooked it a little, so John didn't enjoy it as much. We just need to try it again, and I think he'll love that too.

I have learned, but am being reminded by this book, that fresh herbs rather than dried make a lot of difference to the flavor of a dish. I really like them!

Have You Tried This?

Winter is hard for me. I love to drink hot cocoa every day, and I'm sure it's not good for my hips. But the feeling of a warm cup in your hands, breathing in the chocolatey steam, whipped cream on the top...who can beat that? This dark chocolate variety is THE BEST! Get some and curl up near the fire. It'll help beat those rainy weather blues!

Seth's Big Reward

No More Diapers!

Seth is now potty-trained--even at night! YEAH! That will save us about $40/month. And, as John pointed out last week, our trash is suddenly a lot lighter, less full, and less stinky!

Thanks to Grandma, who promised a new fire truck if he could use the toilet with no accidents for a week, he filled out a chart and was very motivated.

Great job, Seth! We knew you could do it!

I love cooking, and I love cookbooks. I'm selective, though. My latest purchase comes from America's Test Kitchen, and it's called The Best 30-Minute Recipe Book. I've pored over the entire thing--it's quite the read--and it includes little quick tips, equipment reviews, and techniques for faster, better results. The list of recipes I want to try is fairly extensive, so I will probably tackle one or two a week. Then I can try them out on my friends!

In my experience, when I try a new cookbook, it usually takes a few recipes to figure out the basic techniques and style of the book. You can't just try one recipe with perhaps less than satisfactory results and then decide you don't like the book. And, if you like the recipe, usually the next time you cook it it will turn out even better and in less time. When I first tried Rachael Ray's recipes, they were complicated to do and took me WAY more than 30 minutes. (And about 5 pans, which resulted in a horrible clean-up, which soured the experience as well.) However, after a few different attempts (and watching her cook on TV) I have figured out her methods and can now tackle most of her stuff pretty easily. The nice thing about Rachael Ray is, she has introduced me to some new fresh herbs and taught me how to chop a lot faster.

I also love Ina Garten, who writes the Barefoot Contessa cookbooks. My favorite is called Family Style. I've tried a bunch of things out of it, and she is very clear about her tips and tricks for success. My favorite thing about this book, unlike some of her others, is that it is simple and the recipes aren't too strange. I'm not looking for something that requires only food storage items, but I don't want to have to shop for every ingredient in aisles I have never before visited.

As I try some new things that should only take 30 minutes, I will let you know what I find, and if I can actually recommend the cookbook!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday to one of my best friends. (You know Hil is the other one.) As a tribute to you, I decided NOT to post your picture, because I know you are never happy with them anyway.

Thank you for being there for me whenever I call. Usually. And listening to me complain like no one else will.

Thank you for being the logical voice of reason throughout my life. Even now, as an adult, I can call and ask for your opinion and I will receive a wise solution to my problem.

You are one of the smartest people I have ever met. (You should see her do crosswords, people!)

Thank you for being supportive.

Thank you for teaching me to be a homemaker. I can clean and cook and take care of my home because you made me work as a kid. And I love sharing recipes with you.

I love you!

I found this article in the Wall Street Journal. The reporter who wrote it was an attorney for the Kerry campaign in 2004.


The Treatment of Bush Has Been a Disgrace
What must our enemies be thinking?
By Jeffrey Scott Shapiro

"Earlier this year, 12,000 people in San Francisco signed a petition in support of a proposition on a local ballot to rename an Oceanside sewage plant after George W. Bush. The proposition is only one example of the classless disrespect many Americans have shown the president.

According to recent Gallup polls, the president's average approval rating is below 30% -- down from his 90% approval in the wake of 9/11. Mr. Bush has endured relentless attacks from the left while facing abandonment from the right.

This is the price Mr. Bush is paying for trying to work with both Democrats and Republicans. During his 2004 victory speech, the president reached out to voters who supported his opponent, John Kerry, and said, "Today, I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent. To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust."

Those bipartisan efforts have been met with crushing resistance from both political parties.

The president's original Supreme Court choice of Harriet Miers alarmed Republicans, while his final nomination of Samuel Alito angered Democrats. His solutions to reform the immigration system alienated traditional conservatives, while his refusal to retreat in Iraq has enraged liberals who have unrealistic expectations about the challenges we face there.

It seems that no matter what Mr. Bush does, he is blamed for everything. He remains despised by the left while continuously disappointing the right.

Yet it should seem obvious that many of our country's current problems either existed long before Mr. Bush ever came to office, or are beyond his control. Perhaps if Americans stopped being so divisive, and congressional leaders came together to work with the president on some of these problems, he would actually have had a fighting chance of solving them.

Like the president said in his 2004 victory speech, "We have one country, one Constitution and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America."

To be sure, Mr. Bush is not completely alone. His low approval ratings put him in the good company of former Democratic President Harry S. Truman, whose own approval rating sank to 22% shortly before he left office. Despite Mr. Truman's low numbers, a 2005 Wall Street Journal poll found that he was ranked the seventh most popular president in history.

Just as Americans have gained perspective on how challenging Truman's presidency was in the wake of World War II, our country will recognize the hardship President Bush faced these past eight years -- and how extraordinary it was that he accomplished what he did in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

The treatment President Bush has received from this country is nothing less than a disgrace. The attacks launched against him have been cruel and slanderous, proving to the world what little character and resolve we have. The president is not to blame for all these problems. He never lost faith in America or her people, and has tried his hardest to continue leading our nation during a very difficult time.

Our failure to stand by the one person who continued to stand by us has not gone unnoticed by our enemies. It has shown to the world how disloyal we can be when our president needed loyalty -- a shameful display of arrogance and weakness that will haunt this nation long after Mr. Bush has left the White House."

Last night, John and I were selecting our health benefits for next year. As I read through the materials that had been sent by HP, I found the following paragraph:

"Change to domestic partner eligibility. Starting January 1, HP benefit programs will no longer offer coverage for opposite-sex domestic partners or their children....There is no change to benefits elegibility for same-sex domestic partners."

WHAT???!!!

So if you are simply not married, you can no longer receive benefits under HP's plan, but if you're gay, you still qualify. Hurry up and get married, people!!!

We have now officially crossed the line where the homosexual minority receives more rights than the rest of us. How's that for liberalism?

Election Day!

PLEASE VOTE!!!

Edit

I changed the picture of my dad in the previous post because I think all of us look better with a few accessories!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Dad, you have always been one of my greatest blessings. While I'm sure you know I love you, I bet you don't know why. Let me tell you:

You are a gentle, loving spirit. While you don't like people very much, you have always deeply loved your family. When you talk about us, you always cry.

You have always given me counsel without a lecture. You just kindly direct me and let me make the correct choice on my own. When I was preparing for a mission, and scared, you helped me find the strength I needed to go.

You love my mother.

You have a great sense of humor and you laugh easily. I love your puns! You remind me of the fun things we did when we were growing up.

You like books, which helped me to develop the same love of reading. I probably studied English largely because you and Mom did.

Because of your example, I was able to find a loving husband to marry. They say that daughters who have dads who love them are more likely to have healthy relationships of their own. Thank you for loving me.

You always make me feel like I'm a good person, even when I'm struggling.

Thank you for raising me in the gospel. That is a priceless gift, and your example and testimony have strengthened me throughout my life.

I love talking about politics with you. It's entertaining, and you remember things (historically) that I can't because you're older than me.

Even though I am married with a family of my own, I still need my dad!

Candy Heaven

Our kids have worn their costumes three times this week and collected so much candy that we had to send most of it back out to other trick-or-treaters tonight. I'm a mean mom and I don't let them keep it all. I can't stand the ongoing sugar high. I let the kids choose out a baggie full and eat it all gone, but the rest leaves the house. Hopefully, what they picked out will be gone by tomorrow night, so we can start the detox on Sunday!

While Halloween is my least favorite holiday, my kids love trick-or-treating, wearing their costumes, parties and carving pumpkins. Halloween really is a kid holiday, and seeing it through their eyes almost makes me want to wear a costume next year. We'll see.

Halloween and the Election

It's not my fault they are so close together!

Chain Letters

When you were a kid did you ever get those chain letters you had to copy and then mail out to all your friends? The turn-of-the-century version would be those dumb emails ("don't break the chain") that come to your inbox, which are the equivalent of spam, but sent by your friends. Now, the 2008 version would be tagging people on your blog. No, I won't give in! I don't need my quirks published in the blogosphere for all to read. If you know me, you already know the weird things about me. And sorry for that!

Pumpkin Patch

Saturday we took the kids around the corner to a little pumpkin patch we learned about from a friend. The lady was super nice, and the kids had a great time roaming around the field finding their "perfect" pumpkin. Seth wanted a small one, and it may actually be a gourd, which means you can't carve it. (Gourds are too hard.)

"This is the one I want!"

"I got it!"

"Big pumpkin!" 135 pounds, actually.

Usually every year we take the kids to Bauman Farms in Canby, but this year, they were perfectly content with the trip around the corner.

Homemade Oreos

I do love to cook and try new things. This weekend I was in the mood for "homemade" Oreos, so I looked on the web and found this recipe:

Chocolate Sandwich Cookies With Vanilla-Cream Filling

Cookies:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 large egg

1. Set 2 racks in the middle and upper third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, or in a food processor, thoroughly mix together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar. While mixing on low speed or pulsing, add the butter, then the egg. Beat or process until the dough is thoroughly blended and massed together.

3. Drop rounded teaspoons of batter onto parchment-lined cookie sheets at 2-inch intervals. With moistened fingers, round out the cookies and flatten them a little. Bake for 9 minutes, turning the pans once for even baking, until the cookies are set. Sit the cookie sheets on a rack to cool.

Vanilla-Cream Filling:

1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened

1/4 cup vegetable shortening

2 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Put the butter and shortening in a mixing bowl and, at low speed, gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla, until blended. Turn the mixer speed to high and beat for 2-3 minutes more, until fluffy.

2. To assemble, place teaspoon size blobs of filling onto the tops of half of the cookies. Keeping the smooth bottoms of the cookies facing up, flip the remaining cookies on top of the filling and lightly press to form sandwiches. (You can also pipe filling onto cookies using a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch tip.)

Makes 36 cookie sandwiches

I thought the above filling was less than spectacular, but the cookies were fabulous. So I tried them again with the following cream cheese frosting. I halved the recipe and it was plenty.

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 stick butter, softened

2-4 cups confectioners' sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Just blend it all together in the mixer until fluffy and the right consistency.

These were WAY better!

Happy baking!

The Last Days of Summer

I like winters in the Northwest: the rain, the early dark evenings, the moderate (above freezing) temperatures. I even like running in the rain on occasion. However, I am also a big fan of summers in the Northwest, and I am enjoying the last few warm days. Today we took our lunch and our school to a quiet park and had a great time together. Seth and Ellie colored while Hannah worked on her reading, we did some nature study, and they had recess in between. We actually accomplished quite a bit, because we were the only ones there and we didn't have any distractions. I wish I had realized sooner that our homeschool doesn't always have to stay home!

Freedom

John and I watched an old Disney flick last night called "Night Crossing." It's about two families in East Germany who yearn for freedom so badly that they risk everything to build a hot air balloon and fly out of the country. Their journey was epic, but what really touched me was how much freedom they didn't have. The couples worked and had comfortable homes, but they couldn't trust their neighbors or coworkers. If they spoke out in any way against the government, people could come in the night and take them away. We enjoy so much freedom in this country, and we don't have to live in fear. I am truly grateful for that.

Ballerinas

Ballet started this week, and both girls really enjoyed their classes. I hope it continues through the long winter!

Butterflies

While in Seattle, we took the kids to the Woodland Park Zoo. The Butterfly House was very much like the exhibit at the Oregon Zoo, but I've never been able to get as close to the butterflies. My attempts at artsy photography: