She Did It!!! I watched her.

Last night after I got My baby back to sleep I went in to check on my 5yr old. She is notorious for kicking off her blanket and then calling for me half asleep to come put it back on. I went to check and I watched her, in her sleep, pull it up. You don't know how much sleep this will bring me. Now to get the baby to sleep through the night.

Kindergarten Teacher

My daughters kindergarten teacher is great. He has been teaching for years as you can tell with some of the notes that come home. They are copies of old notes that he has sent home every year, with just the date changed on them. My favorite one was sent home after the Christmas party saying that this years party was the best ever with this years date in the years place. As you can see he is somewhat set in his ways. Lately he has been teaching my daughter that Pluto is a planet. I guess some habits die hard. But He is a great teacher.

Great Kids

This weekend I was pleasantly surprised by all of my kids. Saturday morning I said it is time to clean and they ALL helped. They went from room to room and all helped. I usually have to keep reminding one or two that it is cleaning time but they all worked until the whole house was clean. It was great. and I only cleaned one toilet. I think that it works better for my kids to have everyone help with everything then they can do the job they like and yet it all gets done, instead of having each one clean a room where they have to do it all. They really worked great together to get it all done. Then we went swimming. But they didn't know we were going until I walked out in my suit and cover and asked who wanted to go with me. It was a great Saturday and my house is still OK today. Which is Great for me.

Where is the binky?

My older children like to unclip my babies binky. Why? I haven't figured it out yet. Then when he gets fussy they bring him to me without it? When giving it to him would solve the problem. We/they have spent a lot of time looking for the missing binky.

Last night my little guy woke up at 4:30 am. I went in to get him and his binky was missing. It was not clipped to him and not in his bed, I even shook his blanket, but no binky. All in the dark.

After nursing him and almost getting him to sleep I went back in turned on the bathroom light across the hall and found the binky under the crib. He must have tried to put it in himself, which I have seen him do in his sleep, and dropped it. I think I need to go get a spare just in case for times like last night. Maybe... I will get more sleep tonight.

Broken Dryer

As I moved laundry yesterday I took the clean dry clothes out of the dryer and put in the load from the washer. My dryer wouldn't start. You can just imagine the things that went through my head, hanging clothes until it is fixed, using a laundromat for a family of 8. I tried everything I even flipped the breaker, but nothing worked. I didn't even put a new load in the washer, why have two wet loads?

I finally just walked away and said then my sweetie gets home I have him look at it. Then my 3 yr old asked to watch Dora, we went to the living room and I tried to turn on the TV but it didn't come on either. I looked at the computer and the screen was black, wait no lights are on, my mind suddenly was calm, the dryer wasn't broken the power was out. I have never been more thankful for a power outage even on a hot day. Even if it was out for several hours at least I had a dryer when it turned back on.

No lightning is not the answer at FHE

No lightning is not the answer at FHE, But you might have thought so tonight. It was what one person kept saying when ever a question was asked. Eventually my oldest turned to her Dad and asked "what does Zeus throw?" and then we were able to move on with the lesson.

For those of you who don't know what FHE is it stand for Family Home Evening. A night once a week where we as a family have a spiritual lesson and spend time together, of course there is a treat at the end.

Keeping Quilt Traditions Alive

There are some traditions that I think are dieing out. One of these is Quilting, I grew up under Quilts. A quilt on the frames in a tent already made. We knew the rules, don't bump the quilt and no hanging "walls" off the edge. But many hours of my childhood were spent under quilts.

As I grew I started to help, first with tied quilts. My older brother and I had a system we could keep 2-3 needles going at the same time, I would push the needle down then he would lay under the quilt and push it back up while I was tying another one. We really were fast.

I remember at about 5 my grandmother giving me a needle and thread to help quilt a quilt. I am sure that she took my stitches out before giving the quilt to the recipient, but that is how I started quilting. As I grew my stitches started staying in the quilt and eventually I even learned to tie my own knots.

I moved on to the piecing of quilts. First I pressed for my mom. Then learned how to pin and sew them. My mother and I can piece a top in no time with one at the machine and the other pressing and pinning, throw in a sister and it is even faster. I loved going to a fabric store to help pick out the fabric for a new quilt.

Now I am the mother teaching my kids. Yesterday my 10 yr old pressed while I sewed. It brought back so many memories of quilts. I am excited to put this one up on the frames so that my girls, and boys if they want, can sit at the quilt, help, and talk.

I'm not sure If I should thank my mom for teaching me or her mother before her. I guess it is all the women in my family that have through the years come together like a quilt and made me who I am Thanks, I will keep the tradition of quilting alive.

Mango Salsa

I have been in the mood for this so I thought I would post it. Sorry the amounts aren't exact It is just to taste.

Mango pico de gallo

3 or 4 large mangoes or 3 large and 2 small (ripe)
3 large red tomatoes
1 red onion
cilantro
1-2 Serrano peppers
1-2cucumber
lemon
salt

Dice mangoes, Serrano, onions, tomatoes, cucumber and cilantro. Mix all ingredients in a a bowl, add lemon juice and salt to taste. Chill for an hour or overnight.


For salsa mango you can vary by adding other fruits such as pineapples or peaches. Experiment and have fun with it. I love to add pineapple.

Educational Experience

I wanted to have my kids have an educational experience at the farmers market I attended last week. I took all of them and they had one just not only the one I wanted. I wanted them to see more fresh fruit and vegetables and maybe try a few and pick some to take home and try. This they did and I think they enjoyed it. My 10 yr old love the salad mix with edible flowers. We tried Blood oranges and they were well liked also. But what surprised me the most was the walk to the market from the car. I stopped at a ATM to get cash and they all crowded around me to see what I was doing. I explained I was getting cash and they were all amazed. Then I realized they had not seen me do this before. I always have cash in my purse but I get it as cash back when I shop. The lesson wasn't just on fresh fruit and veggies but on ATMs as well. Go figure.

Everything has a place and everything in its place

With lots of kids around they have LOTS of stuff. I know that if things have a place, it is easier to clean it up. I have several rooms that I have organized so that everything has a place. This weekend I worked on my mudroom. It seems there are a gazillion coats,sweatshirts,rain jackets, shoes, galoshes. So how to organize them.

I went and bought a 12inx10ftx1in board and had it cut into two pieces. I also got 8 hooks and a can of paint. I went home and painted the boards and put the hooks on and had them hung on the wall one lower for teh little kidsand one high for the bigger kids. I also had a good friend make vinyl letters that said "home is where you hang your stuff". and a little name for each of the hooks. I love it and now there are not coats all over the floor or on the one hook that was on the door that the little kids couldn't reach. Now I need to figure out how to store all the shoes. any suggestions?

Black Eye

I had my 10 and 5 yr olds wash the glass sliding doors to the playroom and they must have done a great job. 11 yr old came running around the couch and ran straight into the glass door, bounced off and hit the floor. Yes she hit it that hard. The door is still on one piece bit, she has a nice shiner. I'm sure she is liking long bangs today.

Strawberry Pie

As I went through my recipes this morning to figure out which one to post I realized I have everything to make this, and will today.

Strawberry Pie

1 pre-cooked pie crust cooled
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 T sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
5 c sliced strawberries
3/4 c sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 c water
3 heaping T corn starch
red food coloring

Mix cream cheese, T sugar and vanilla until smooth, spread in bottom of pie crust

mix sugar,salt,water,cornstarch,and red food coloring unlit smooth, heat until thick, mix with sliced strawberries, place in pie crust over cream cheese, chill in fridge for 2 hours to set.

Sandwich Cutter

I have become one of those moms. I fix sandwiches for my kids on a regular basis and if you don't like what I make for dinner you can make yourself a PP&J. For fun around valentines day I picked up a sandwich cutter that trims off the crust and cuts the rest into two hearts. So now days after I make a sandwich I don't ask "squares, rectangles or triangle?", I ask "Squares, rectangles, Triangles or hearts?" and if I see another cutter like my heart one I will get it. My kids love it and some will even eat the trimmings as long as they get hearts. It has been fun.

Farmers Market

I finally made it to the local farmers market today. After finding a place to park in a old down town with no parking. I walked a few blocks and really enjoyed myself. Most of the vendors are organic but the prices weren't that bad except the strawberry, they were expensive. So I stopped by the local save mart on the way home and picked up them for a much better price. I love having fresh fruit in the house for my kids to eat. If it is there they eat it.

I am excited to take my kids back and let them pick out foods they want to try.

Good Books

Today I was working with my older girls on their gospel in action award, we read D&C 88:118. It talks about reading good books and learning from them. We discussed what good books are and what they are currently reading. I have always had many books available to my children and we read often.
While we were at my parents recently my father took 10 grand children to a used book store and had them each pick out a book. My oldest found a set of books and asked if she could get the set. I don't think that my father thought twice about getting one of his favorite collections for a granddaughter. She was very excited to get The Lord of the Rings set and started reading right away. Poppie it was worth the money. She has finished The Hobbit and is now on the next one and little sister has started The Hobbit. Thanks for providing good books for my Children.

He's Sleeping what does that mean?

"He is sleeping what does that mean?" is one of my most commonly said sentence the last 7 months. You would think that after 7 months they would get it but no. I was reading blogs holding my sleeping little guy and one of his sisters came up and touched him. Which inspired the post and while typing with the little one still on my lap another sister came up and almost wore him up.

So I will continue to say"Hes sleeping what does that mean?" or "Don't touch he is sleeping".

church scavenger hunt

My husband did a church scavenger hunt for the youth last night and it was a great hit. Can you figure you the clues?

1. Alma 46:12-13

2. 3 Nephi 17:12

3. D&C 25:10-12 It might help to be color blind

4. 3 Nephi 25:1

5. Moroni 7:11

6. 1 Nephi 11:25

7. Alma 57:21

8. Moroni 8:25

9. D&C 101:18

10. D&C 115;3

11. Mal 3:8-9

12. Deut 28:5

13. Mal 4:5-6

14. Alma 5:19 Remember this scripture in all stages of you life.