Bless this Mess, and Seven on Sunday

Our blog background was chosen by Clayton, in case you were wondering about the departure from my usual traditional designs.  We are getting into that dark and chilly season when children are inside more than out and, just to make it more interesting, the kids also had two days off school this week.  I have to admit I was dreading it a little knowing the disaster that my house generally ends up in when we are all home, all day.  I was surprised to find it stayed relatively untouched, other than the eating areas.  Why is that, you may ask.  Well, it wasn't until last night that as I observed the glazed-over expressions of my kiddos stuck in front of a variety of screens that it hit me.  For the first time we have children old enough to spend their entire life involved in media.  So today we informed them that new media rules will be imposed starting... well, today.  They actually had to play together once again.  My kids have great imaginations, as all kids do, and I have actuallly been missing the games they come up with.  I even miss having to clean up the trains a thousand times a day to avoid stepping on them.  But now as I sit here surrounded by my usual Sunday chaos I am grateful for it.  It means they're doing something and not being spoon-fed by this crazy media world surrounding us 24/7!

Seven Good Things This Week:

1. After it looked like we might all be getting Dan's cold we have managed to sidestep it.
2. Madi and Clay loved their Friday night Swim-Snack-Show night at the rec center.  Whoever thought this one up is a genius.  They swim for and hour then watch a cartoon and eat popcorn. 3 1/2 hours away from home. Every child's dream and every parent's too. 
3. Madi got 16/20 on her last spelling test.  A significant improvement.
4. We found the item we have been looking for on craigslist so now Christmas is done.  It's great when all the kids decide on one bigger gift!
5. Started a new chore system.  So far so good....we'll see how next week goes once the novelty wears off!
6. Found a moment to actually read again this week.   It seems like it's been a long time!  Lots of typing for Dan the past few weeks.  We are only 3 weeks away from finishing what is definitely the toughest semester so far.  So much group work and big projects!  We're not out of the weeds yet, and Dan still had moments of anxiety, but we're gonna get there.  We have to.  There is no other option.  We WILL be done in April.
7. Found out Dan will be able to do his internship in the spring as long as he can find a placement.  We thought he would have to work through the summer and do it in the fall, but they've found instructors to look after them because there are a number of students who would like to complete their degree sooner rather than later.  If all goes well the degree will be finished August 2011.  So close!  Then the real work begins....

One Big Happy Family

There is a woman I see twice a week when I take Malcolm to preschool.  Every time she makes me think of my sister, Tiffany.  It is something in her demeanor - the way she smiles, her gentle soft-spokeness, the way she moves.  I can`t really pinpoint it, but it`s kind of fun to be reminded of family on Monday and Wednesday.  The funny thing is she is Asian.  My sister is not.  This always gets me thinking in a broader perspective.  We are all children of God, spiritual brothers and sisters, and maybe it is due to this fact that there are resemblances between us that always remind us of someone else we know.  Dan always thinks he sees people he knows from somewhere, and I always tease him that he probably did know them once - in the pre-existence.  But there is a grain of truth in that.  Seeing this woman helps me remember in this great big city where members of the church are so few and far between that the Lord knows and loves all of us.  Why are we so fortunate to know the gospel?  I don't have the answer, but I do know that He wants every one of His children to live with him again.  And that woman is also my sister, in the spiritual sense.  One big happy family interacting with each other in so many different ways!

Make-It Monday

Being a somewhat chilly and drizzly day, my thoughts have turned to meals that warm your tummy.  So this week, here are a few soups we love....

Swiss Cheese Broccoli Soup

4 c. broccoli
2 c. cubed ham
2 c. water

Put in large pot and steam til broccoli is tender.  Mix together:

6 Tblsp. flour
4 c. milk

Add milk and flour mixture to pot.  Cook til thickened.

Add 2 c. swiss cheese.  Stir til melted.

Thanks to a good friend who gave us this years ago.  My kids are broccoli nuts, so they love it.


Down Home Veggie Chowder

2 Tbslp. margarine
1/2 c. celery
1/4 c. green onion
1 can cream of potato soup
1 can milk
1 c. frozen corn
pepper to taste
crumbled bacon (Hormel real bacon bits work great)

I usually double this for us.  A classic from the Campbell's cookbook we found when we were in university!


Hamburger Soup

1 1/2 lbs. hamburger
1 c. onions
1 - 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
3 cans of consomme (I just use beef broth made with oxo or whatever you have.)
3 c. water
1 c. potatoes
1 c. carrots
1/2 c. celery
4 Tbslp. barly (optional)
1 bay leaf (if you have it)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp worcestershire
1/2 c. parmesan cheese

Brown hamburger.  Add veggies, water, and spices.  Bring to boil.  Simmer, covered, for 2 hours.  Sprinkle with cheese at the table.

My mom always made this when we were growing up.  At the time I really didn't like it, but as I get older I find I love it.  Maybe it's a comfort food.  Dan hates it.  Too bad for him...

Serve all the above with buns.  Yum yum!

Seven on Sunday

I didn`t do this last week, and I am happy to do it this week.  It was a very chaotic, stressful week and I guess I need to balance myself out with something positive.  So here are the seven good things about this week:

1. We had a few really nice, sunny days where we spent time outside after school.  It felt like summer again, and no one wanted to go in, especially not me!
2. I registered Madi and Clay for a fun program for the next few Fridays.  At first I could only get Madi in, but another spot opened up and Clay got in too.  They get to go swim, then have a snack and watch a movie.  Something for them to look forward to since sports and other extracurricular activities just haven`t been a feasible option since we`ve been here.
3. Managed to get the kids rooms moved around even though we thought we`d never find time.  Much needed re-arrangement to accomodate changing sleep schedules/needs.  The youngsters are already sleeping better after only two nights!
4. Read scriptures as a family this morning.  We've been doing good on school nights, but not on weekends.
5. I mailed all the mail I needed to.  I don't tend to get to or think about the post office much, but we have been having a good time using it again.  The kids love mail, and they love to send it too.  Unfortunately, any letter I have to send usually sits around for a long, long time....
6. Printed pictures for the first time in years.  I even hung one up in our living room, and we love it!  We haven't really printed since we got our digital because they're all on the computer, but Dan commented that our house was missing personal photos around.  He was right, it makes a difference!
7. Thank goodness for being struggling students, sales at Future Shop and the HST credit for low income families!  Our computer that we have had for years was becoming slower and slower everyday, so much so that Dan could hardly even get online to stay up with his classes.  We've been yelling at it for a long time, but just dealing with it due to finances.  It finally gave up the ghost, and the HST cheque came in the mail, then a flyer came with a desk top on sale for a good deal.  What a blessing! 

Have a nice week!

Kids Tidbits

Hey all-

Just wanted to post a few of the fun kids things we have discovered recently. 

First, for anyone, young or old, wanting a great collection of books that are simple yet hilarious you must check out Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie books.  Mo Willems wrote for Sesame Street for years and has won numerous awards, both for that and his Knuffle Bunny and Pigeon series.  The Elephant and Piggie books touch on all kinds of childhood themes, including sharing, playing with friends, being sympathetic, and trying your best - but they are all funny.  Simple drawings that show a range of complex emotions make these books delightful.  Piggy has a real tough-girl-takes-on-the-world outlook, and Elephant is the gentle giant, conservative to say the least.  Our kids check out at least three every week from the library. They are a short and easy read.  Some of our top picks are: "There's a Bird on your Head"; "Want to Play with my New Toy?"; "Ready to Play Outside"; "I am Invited to a Party"; and "I Will Surprise My Friend".  Always draws a laugh from the crowd, especially if you read using a low voice for elephant and a high, squeaky voice for piggy.  Try them.




Second, for anyone struggling to get their elementary school kids interested in practicing spelling, check out spellingcity.com.  You can input their words for the week and the site generates games using those words so their interest is kept.  I believe you can register on the site for free, I have not done so yet, but you can still use the system without doing so. Just enter the words right on the homepage and away they go.  I think you must need to register to save the lists and play with them after navigating away from the page.

Hope someone finds the above useful.  Have fun!

Halloween Etc.

This post has been a long time coming as my Halloween was, essentially, Halloween week.  It seemed to go on forever, and still is with the constant sugar high!  So here's a wrap up of a child's second favorite holiday....

Pre-Halloween:
Dan brought home Halloween tattoos that the kids loved.  Some of them hit the mark....

This is Madi and her friend, Jordanna - partners in crime!

We went to the park that night and ended up visiting a spook alley in someone's yard.  They dress it up every year a couple weeks before the big night.  The kids loved it.  It helped that they handed out candy too!

Malcolm's favorite part was the moving dots to music, mostly Thriller...He danced his night away!

A few days later we have some contributions from our budding photographer, Malcolm.  He looks for moments to take the camera and then goes to town.  Here are some good ones he got...

And here is Malcolm - Jelly Fish Hunter



Clayton received a SUCCESS certificate at school for being a star student.  I think he gets one the first assembly of every year.  I'm not sure if it's that he's so good, or he needs the motivation to make the year great....Anyway, we're proud!

Madi and Clay in costume for Halloween party #1 at school....



Halloween Pumpkins 2010

Our van on Trunk-or-Treat night...



The men taking part in Doughnut on a String after the Trunk or Treat...

And, FINALLY, Halloween night itself....



Happy Halloween to all!

Make-It Monday

Here is a great breakfast recipe.  The possibilities with it are as endless as your imagination, and it's a great way to get protein into the kids before school!  Our little ones love it, and when you do the scrambled/omelette style they can carry it with them, even into the car to eat while you drive.  Think of it as a two-bite omelette!  You may even have thought of this yourself already.  Enjoy!

Ham and Egg Cups



The basic idea is this: Put a ham slice (sandwich meat style) inside a muffin tin.  Add an egg inside and bake at 400.  The time will depend on what you are making.  I like to make them up early, then get ready while they bake.  If I'm up early enough I put them in while we read scriptures while they bake.  Here are some ideas:

Basic Egg: Crack an egg into the ham and bake until you get the style you like, shorter for runny, longer for hard cooked.

Omelette: Scramble the eggs first.  Add other ingredients if you want.  My kids like cheese, real bacon bits, mushrooms, red pepper, etc.  All the things you add to big omelettes.  Or, just do scrambled eggs plain.  These will take about 15 minutes to bake.  Check with a fork to make sure it's done. 

I also came across one idea when looking for a picture where someone had pressed bread in the tin, then ham, then eggs.  I guess that would be like a whole breakfast in one!  A little much for me, but you could experiment and try things out.  P.S.: you don't need a lot of seasonings, especially salt, because the ham base has so much.

While we're on the subject of egg breakfast, I thought I would include one more that was always a classic in our home growing up, especially for one of my sisters. 

German Pancakes, or Hootenanny



1/4 c. margarine
6 eggs
1 c. milk
1c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt

Heat oven to 400.  Put butter in 9x13 pan and melt in oven while mixing the other ingredients together.  When the butter is melted, pour the batter into the pan.  Bake for 20 minutes.  The kids will love how this grows up high and get all bubbly.  It will fall a bit after you take it out.  Cut into squares and serve with syrup.

Editor's Note: We tried the Peanut Butter Muffins from last week, and they were a huge hit.  Just different enough to be interesting.  The most popular was the jam added on top.  Yummy!