Divisional Track Meet

Madison was able to represent her school at the divisional track meet last Friday in the High Jump.  I was a little surprised when she told me, but very excited for her too.  Dan made her a mat from couch cushions and mattresses, and then we held a pool noodle for her to practice jumping over in the living room.  They don't get a lot of practice time at the school, so she was a bit nervous.  On the big day she managed to clear the first two heights no problem, then had trouble with the third.  All in all a good showing for her first time jumping and considering how tall some of the other grade three girls were.  They practically stepped over the bar!  The boys and I went and cheered her on, and she was proud of herself for doing her best.  I think getting a team jersey might have been the highlight for her!

Waiting for her turn

Clayton tried to capture the jump on film

Pleased as punch!

Making a Point

Today when we picked up Clay from school, I turned around to find Malcolm and Spencer had stripped - and I mean completely.  I ordered them to put on their underwear for the ride home, then I made them sit in their room after giving them the lecture on why we wear all of our clothes, especially in public.  When I returned to see what they were up to I found this:

They had proceeded to put on every item of clothing from their drawers.  What cheeky little things!

This then progressed to everyone (even the neighbor kid) getting involved and a royal rumble ensued in the bedroom.  What rainy day fun!

Holiday Monday

We had a weekend full of hiking.  Sunday afternoon we walked the trails of Bert Flinn Park, and Victoria Day afternoon we decided to go out to Golden Ears Provincial Park and hike the Lower Falls trail.  All in all, it turned out to be 5 hours of walking in total, making for tired kids and completion of requirements for a cub badge.  Yay!

Obedience in All Things

Sometime lessons in obedience come in simple ways, even when you still can't see the reason.  On Sunday, my hubby was handed the key to the church building and informed it was our week to clean.  Not a big deal, it's a good opportunity for our kids to learn the value of service and the importance of respecting the church facilities.  But this time we had an extra duty.  Could we please clean the ovens?  They're getting pretty dirty.  Oh, and one more thing - DO NOT  use the self clean feature.

Why not?  I asked Dan.  Is there something wrong with them?  Do they not work?  Oh no, there are a few R.S. sisters who are concerned that with the amount of debris in the oven the smoke will be so great that the alarms may be set off.  After all, on self-clean these ovens reach incredible heat levels.  So, Dan agreed that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES would he use the self-clean.

Wow, I thought to myself, these ovens must really be in bad shape.  Did someone spill something and then burn it on?  I couldn't even imagine the state they must be in to cause such concern, especially considering that we are only allowed to heat things up, not actually bake anything.\

On Monday morning we went bright and early to the church, armed to the the teeth with cleaner and scrubbers and other supplies we might need.  Since the spray must sit for a while, we thought we would play ball and run around the gym.  A good energy waster on holiday Monday.

I entered the kitchen and opened the ovens with trepidation.  After all, cleaning ovens ranks right up there with toilets for me.  I dread both.  What I saw caused me to reel back in disbelief.

On each oven there was a small patch of residue on the bottom surface area about an inch in diameter. 

This can't be! I thought to myself.  Maybe someone had come before us?  After all, if my oven at home looked like that it would be a time of rejoicing, a miracle of wonder.  Could these ladies have grossly exaggerated the problem to such an extent?

Dan stood beside me with what I imagine to be the same look of amazement on my own face, then he voiced my thoughts.  Couldn't we just use the self-clean and be done with it?  After all, we've used ours numerous times on much worse and guess what - no smoke.  We debated and pondered and sighed.

But we couldn't.  He had promised that he WOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES use the self clean feature.  Cleaning this in the old way was crazy, ludicrous - but expected. 

So we did.  Even though there are no hood fans and I could not figure out how on earth to get the fan in the ceiling turned on.  Even though waiting for the spray to work was three times as long as actually cleaning the oven.  Even though I could think of a lot better ways to spend my holiday Monday.

Obedience in all things.  There must be a blessing in this somewhere.

Oh, and a lesson - check the ovens before agreeing to anything suggested by elderly ladies with perfectly clean homes who worry about these things but don't have the desire or energy to do it themselves.  Hee hee.

A Mother's Lament

A Mother's Lament
(to the tune of Home on the range)

Oh, give me a home
Where we might find a comb,
Where brothers and sisters all play!
Where seldom is heard
A negative word
And the floor stays clean through the day.

Home, home's where we live
But, sometimes, what we wouldn't give
To change it a bit
(At least clear space to sit)
And teach them all how to forgive.

Oh, give me a place
Where everyone has some space
That doesn't infringe on the others.
Where "thank you" and "please"
Are heard more than a tease,
And the children listen to their mothers.

Home, home should be cool.
Never stubborn and late for school!
Where laughter rings out,
Smiles beaming throughout,
And finishing chores is the rule.

But what would it be
If things went perfectly?
Wouldn't that be somewhat of a bore?
Our children might smile,
But all of the while
We'd miss lessons that come when we endure.

Home, home's just a test
To see if we'll all reach our best!
We learn patience and love,
Kindness, and a lot of
How to act when, deep down, we're depressed.

So, give me a home
Where my children don't roam,
Where they feel they can be who they are.
Where always, right near,
Is a listening ear,
And everyone's treated like a star.

Home, home is okay.
It's a "work in progress" each day.
But we all play a part,
And we give it our heart,
And we wouldn't want it any other way.


(Can you tell we had one of those mornings?  This song came into my head on the drive home from the school.  Sports day - what kid doesn't want to go to sports day?  An hour late, lots of tears and use of the words "stupid" and "dumb" and "baby games".  Completely blindsided.  We lived for track and field day as kids - no desks, no work, outside in the sun, hot dogs for lunch and ice cream treats at the end.  The best day of the year, but not for my eldest son.  Phew, what an enigma that kid is!)

Daughters of God

Last night we had a member of our Relief Society speak to us about one of her favorite subjects - women of God throughout the ages.  She is working on her PhD in World Religions or something along those lines and know reams of stuff about history and languages etc. - a very learned woman.  She presented 6 women from various point in time and we listed characteristics they all possess - bravery, humility, intelligence, stoicism, charity, hardworking, diligent, etc.  2 of them were Jewish and the rest were Christians and each had a very strong spiritual foundation.  She then summed up by explaining that each one of us has the same spiritual heritage and the same Father in Heaven and we, as women, are endowed with these same characteristics and the ability to be strong, courageous, intelligents, spiritual, beautiful women.  It was a powerful lesson and, to a history buff like me, fascinating.

The women highlighted:

1. Queen Esther (Old Testament)
2. Anna the Prophetess (New Testament)
3. Paula, a wealthy Roman widow
4. Leoda, the Holy Oblate
5. Lady Anne Carway
6. Sister Marjorie Hinckley

3 I had heard of, 3 I hadn't and they were fascinating.  I recently read an idea to go through the scriptures and pay attention to the women mentioned in an effort to understand our place as daughters of God.  This gave me a new spin for that - taking note of the qualities they each possessed.  What an interesting challenge that would be!  Number 4, Leoda, was described as a woman who observed admirable qualities in others then tried her best to emulate them, especially charity, the noblest of all virtues.  As a result, she became one of the most respected church women of her time (700 A.D.).  It made me wonder how I could change if I observed the qualities of women in the scriptures and women around me, then tried my best to improve the qualities I am lacking in.  And there are many!

The sister presenting the information finished with Sis. Hinckley who she claims as one of her greatest examples.  She shared this quotes and I love it:

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.


I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.

I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.

I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.

I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.

I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

 
Very interesting night.  I love it when I come away from RS feeling inspired!  I only wish I could share the information on each of these women that she shared with us.  They were truly fascinating and amazing individuals guided by the Spirit.

Make-It Monday

Really Very Nice and Good Banana Bread.  This is what this should have been named, according to kids.  It is really the best banana bread I've tasted in a long time, and it makes 4 loaves!  Plenty for everyone.  I think adding nuts would make it even better, but it's good without too.

Sour Cream Banana Bread

3/4 c. butter
3 c. sugar
3 eggs
6 ripe bananas, mashed or pureed in food proccesor/blender
1-16 oz. (500 ml) container sour cream
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking soda
4 1/2 c. flour
1 c. nuts (optional)

Heat oven to 300 degrees.  Grease 4 loaf pans.

Cream butter and sugar.  Mix in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon.  Add salt, baking soda and flour.  Stir in nuts.  Divide into pans.

Bake 1 hour, or til toothpick in center comes out clean.

Enjoy!

The Importance of Failing

I love these videos that emphasize the need to fail before you can succeed.  As the quote goes, "I have not failed.  I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." (Thomas Edison, when asked how it felt to have 'failed' numerous times in his inventions).  So go out there, grab the bull by the horns, and if you don't make it the first time?  So what?  Try again.  That is my challenge to myself, and you.

Free-Range Kids: A Book Review

If you are a parent and you can find this at your local library, I would highly recommend picking it up.  I grabbed it simply because the title caught my eye (free-range, that's like chickens, right?  Not kids!).  I was pleasantly surprised to find myself laughing out loud while reading it and joyously sharing her insights with Dan, who also got a chuckle but probably just wanted me to stop interrupting his solitaire game.

The author is basically presenting a commentary on the paranoid society we live in that has resulted in super paranoid, over the top helicopter parents who can hardly let their children walk to the mailbox alone anymore, let alone to school, to their friends', or down to the local convenience store, library, sporting event, etc.  She discusses how this paranoia is producing kids who are basically useless when they leave home - which is why they stay or keep coming back. 

I'm sure my bias makes this book a great read for me.  Although in such a large city I also fall victim to some of the paranoid thinking outlined in the book, I am always shaking my head at how intent parents are on making sure their child is ALWAYS SAFE.  Not that you want any harm to come to your child, heaven forbid, but learning the hard way now and then only makes you tougher.  And we CAN'T protect them from the world.  It's out there, waiting.  Most children of paranoid parents only greet it a lot later in life, and usually have a break down trying to cope with it.

If nothing else, this book will make you giggle.  Skenazy has a way of saying things that brings the lighter side out on everything and points out the absurdly ridiculous (labelling classic episodes of Sesame Street as "adult only" due to it's representation of activities now considered unsafe in our paranoid society, for instance), yet she manages to show that a foundation of understanding must be created within our children.  Knowledge is power, and knowing what's out there and how to handle it is truly empowering.  She also backs up a lot of what she says with research supporting the fact that crime rates have not changed over the years, rather our 24/7 CNN coverage of every little traumatic event in the lives of people hundreds of miles away from us has changed what we believe are every day occurances that we have to protect ourselves and our children from.

Give it a read.  It'll make you smile in this wet, dreary spring!

From the Wall Street Journal review:

"Skenazy will find plenty of supporters for her contention that, in a world where the rights of chickens to roam freely are championed, it's time to liberate the kids."

Make-It Monday, on Tuesday

Here I am a little late again.  In our R.S. newsletter a recipe was included for Honey Lemon Whole Wheat Bread.  We tried it and really liked it, plus it's very easy to make.  It would also work well as a bread to let sit in the fridge over night, then pop it in the oven in the morning, or any other time you need to make the dough ahead and bake later.  Enjoy!

Honey Lemon Whole Wheat Bread

Prep time: 25-30 mins. (A lot is resting time for dough)
Rising time: 2- 24 hours, depending on your time frame
Bake time: 30-40 mins

3c. all purpose flour
2 pkgs. yeast
2 tsp. salt
2 1/4 c. hot water
1/4 c. honey
3 Tblsp margarine at room temp.
1 Tblsp. grated lemon peel (I used lemon juice)
2-3 c. whole wheat flour
vegetable oil

Combine white flour, yeast and salt.  Pour in the hot water.
Add honey, margarine, and lemon peel.
Stir briskly or mix approx. 2 mins.  Scrape bowl occasionally.

Add 1c. whole wheat flour.
Beat at high or by hand for 1 min.  Stop beating.

Stir in 1-2 c. whole wheat flour depending on moistness.  Dough should be elastic, soft and not too sticky.
Knead for approx. 10 mins. (I do it by hand, so I did not make it this long.  They still worked)

Cover dough with towel and allow to rest 20 mins.

Knead dough 30 seconds and divide into 2 pieces.  Shape into balls and let rest for 3 mins.

Form into loaves in pans.
Brush with vegetable oil.
Cover loosely with parchment/wax paper and saran wrap.

Place pans in fridge for 2-24 hours.

Remove from fridge and let stand while oven heat up to 400 degrees, about 20 minutes.

Uncover loaves, bake at lower rack for 30-40 mins.
Place on metal rack to cool.

Things I Learned from my Father...

Things I learned from my dad:

1. Love learning. Learning, not necessarily education, although he stressed that to all of us as well.  My dad does not have heaps of education under his belt.  But he was always learning.  He reads anything and everything in order to learn more about various subjects.  It was not unusual to find him perusing our text books from school.  He always has some random fact or knowledge he read somewhere.  (Gee, where did I get that from?)

2. There are no grey areas.  You either make the right choice or you don't.  You have both feet in or you might as well be out.  Name the cliche, but that was how I grew up.  You attend your meetings, you go to church, you go to all the activities, and you follow the prophet.  No questions asked.  Really, it makes life a lot easier in the end.  I can attest to that after seeing for myself what the grey really is.  It's just that - blah.

3. Talk to everyone, you might gain some interesting knowledge and friends along the way.  Okay, I didn't inherit this one very well.  I do great when I'm at work, but otherwise I pretty much ignore the rest of the world.  In fact, this is one thing that used to drive me crazy about my dad.  (Telling the gas attendant I had just turned 16 and maybe he'd like to ask me out might have sealed that for me!)  But I married someone EXACTLY THE SAME.  So they talk to enough people for all of us.  But now I appreciate it.  I'll keep trying.

Happy Late Birthday Dad!  I love you.  I miss you.  Hope it was a good one!

Let there be light!

This is what we are supposed to be doing in May....



This is what we are doing in May...



As a result this is increasing....



And we all feel like this...



Just like plants, kids need a little sunshine to grow...



Right now we are living proof that KIDS+RAIN = INSANITY.

Sunshine, where are you?

Pioneer Trail Progress

By the way, I have made it from Nauvoo past Sugar Creek and am well on my way to Richardson's Point in my progress along the pioneer trail.  Go here if you don't know where these places are....

http://lds.org/gospellibrary/pioneer/02_Nauvoo.html

Fun at Home

The little boys and I spend a lot of time at home just making fun.  Especially since we get about one sunny day a week to get outside and burn energy.  Here are a few pics.  It's great when a couple of apple boxes turned into a train can be fun for hours.  I love this age!

On the Easter weekend we whipped up an egg hunt for all the kids in the complex.  A couple of the older girls had been trying to put together an Easter Party, but without support from their parents it just fell through.  It makes me sad to watch these kids not get any interaction and get into trouble for lack of anything better to do, so Dan and I filled some plastic eggs with jelly beans and ju-jubes, hid them over at the school park, and made cupcakes for them.  We decorated paper bags to collect the spoils and we organized a few group games.  The kids ran all over and had so much fun.  It was great to see them being constructive together and having a good time.

And here is Toothless Joe.  He keeps losing teeth, about one or two every month.  He's held onto the baby teeth for a long time, which is good for him since he is strongly averse to actually brushing.  I always have to check his brush to see if it's wet, although he's started just dipping it under the faucet.  You think having 3 teeth pulled and spacers on each side would make him change his stripes, but no luck.  Maybe only being able to eat pureed food will do it....