The other day I decided that I would take the kids on a bike ride to the library. When I got out to the shed and saw that my bike was behind the lawnmower, a stroller, two other bikes and some other junk Jon had in there I thought, I can do this. After a 1/2 hour of wrestling everything in and out of the shed I had already had a good enough workout to not go on the bike ride, but the kids were excited, so I pushed the bike around and up the drive way only to discover that it would not get past the trailer we were borrowing. So I had to get my neighbor to help me lift the bike and bike trailer over the other trailer. And finally we were off!
It was really a fun ride. We got some good movies and books for the kids and some books on CD for mine and Jon's trip this weekend. Yes, I finally planned our Vegas trip to see Phantom and Mystere. We are really excited but I was not so excited about the drive. So, whenever we have a long rode ahead we get books on CD, it makes the ride more fun. I got DaVinci Code, The giver, and the 8th habit. This is how I will catch up on "reading" good books, because actual reading in the car makes me sick.
The bike ride home was the best part. Calvin sang his little heart out the whole way home. He was making up the funniest stuff, everything from I am a Child of God to High School musical. I thought I was going to fall off the bike laughing.
I think his song went something like this:
( sorry I can't give you a tune to follow along because he was just doing his own thing, but he was singing the whole time.)
Bob the builder, can we fix it, yes we can! LoooooK at that BIG green tree
Smmertime, it's our vacation, what time is it, library time, get books and read and movies and I am a child of God and Jesus wants me for a sunbeeeeeam! To shine for him each day. Mom, there's a big truck, look at that digger and 4 wheeler. Will you buy me a biiiiig digger? Dragontales, dragontales, it's almost time for dragon tales. Book of Mormon stories that my teacher tell to me!
This went on for about 20 minutes and I loved. Next time this happens I hope you are around, Buy your tickets now for the Calvin extravaganza concert!
Monday, August 25, 2008
My first canning experience
We have had so many tomatoes and peppers in our garden that I decided I was going to research and can salsa. I have never canned anything in my life, so this was all new to me. I read about how acid levels in the jar need to be just right or you can get botulism, some of the websites made you think you were going to die. After talking to several people, I figured I would just follow a recipe and try it out.
My neighbor let me borrow her water bath canner and I went at it. Blanching and peeling the tomatoes, seeding and chopping the peppers and onions, measuring everything, putting it in the blender ( I like smooth salsa) heating the jars and lids, heating the salsa, and water bathing each jar. I chopped about 20 peppers and my hands were on fire. I even wore gloves and I was in a lot of pain until about 1 a.m. After following the recipe I decided it called for way too much vinegar and lime juice and so we added some more tomatoes and when I open the jars I will even add a couple more tomatoes. But other than that it was fun and it turned out great. I made 12 jars of salsa.
However, it was quite labor some and I decided I am just going to can tomatoes from now on to help on time and the burning of hands. Then when I want salsa, I will open some tomatoes and add some peppers that day.
My neighbor let me borrow her water bath canner and I went at it. Blanching and peeling the tomatoes, seeding and chopping the peppers and onions, measuring everything, putting it in the blender ( I like smooth salsa) heating the jars and lids, heating the salsa, and water bathing each jar. I chopped about 20 peppers and my hands were on fire. I even wore gloves and I was in a lot of pain until about 1 a.m. After following the recipe I decided it called for way too much vinegar and lime juice and so we added some more tomatoes and when I open the jars I will even add a couple more tomatoes. But other than that it was fun and it turned out great. I made 12 jars of salsa.
However, it was quite labor some and I decided I am just going to can tomatoes from now on to help on time and the burning of hands. Then when I want salsa, I will open some tomatoes and add some peppers that day.
Wow, Lily!
Lily hates having her hair in any sort of restraint. She is always pulling her piggy tails out or her barretts or anything I try to pin it back with. So she always has funny hair. The day this picture was taken was particularly funny though.
And just for the record, the whole no binky thing didn't work so well at nap time. Lily won and got her binky back for naps. It is so nice to have her taking long naps again. I also felt bad because she has been teething for about 2 months and she loves to gnaw on that thing at night. She now has 4 teeth poking through on the top. And she is still taking about 6 steps at a time and then crawling. This has been going on for about a month. I wonder when she will decide walking is better. She said Nana yesterday when she saw a picture of BreAnna which was fun to hear. It will be fun to hear her say Calvy one day.
And just for the record, the whole no binky thing didn't work so well at nap time. Lily won and got her binky back for naps. It is so nice to have her taking long naps again. I also felt bad because she has been teething for about 2 months and she loves to gnaw on that thing at night. She now has 4 teeth poking through on the top. And she is still taking about 6 steps at a time and then crawling. This has been going on for about a month. I wonder when she will decide walking is better. She said Nana yesterday when she saw a picture of BreAnna which was fun to hear. It will be fun to hear her say Calvy one day.
Calvin's first day of Preschool
Calvin has been waiting and waiting to start preschool. His first day was last Tuesday. He was so excited to go to Miss Janae's class at the Nae-borhood Preschool. She does a great job with the kids, I stayed for about a 1/2 hour and decided he was in great hands. There are only three boys in his class which is kind of sad. But he told Miss Janae after I left that "At first I was scared of preschool, but now it's just fun!" I thought that was funny since he never showed one bit of nervousness. Last week when we went to the preschool open house he walked right up to Miss Janae and said, " C-A-L-V-I-N, that's how we spell Calvin." He has been on a spelling kick lately and he just wants to know how to spell everything. "Mom, what does monkey start with?" So I say mmm and he says "oh ya, M says mmm." I think he will have a blast in school, he is always wanting to learn.
He was so excited that he wouldn't hold still for a picture, so this is the best I could get.
He loves free time for the first 15 minutes, that is when he gets to play with the tool bench.
He was so excited that he wouldn't hold still for a picture, so this is the best I could get.
He loves free time for the first 15 minutes, that is when he gets to play with the tool bench.
I survived my first Primary Activity
All the planning and organizing came down to the test last Tuesday. We had 100 kids show up to a water activitiy in the park. We had so much help from parents and teachers that it really wasn't that crazy. The kids had a blast and I felt like it went really well. Hooray, for that being done with! Next up, the Primary Sacrament Meeting Program. I am a little worried about the writing of and organizing of this project but I am sure it will turn out alright. Everyone loves the primary program.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Fire in Microwave
I feel like Betty Crocker or something! On the day BreAnna got married we were heating some bacon in our microwave and all of the sudden there are sparks and flames and the inside of our microwave is on fire. The bacon was untouched but the side of the microwave was ruined. So I sat on the phone forever making an appt. with the Whirlpool technician for the next week. Needless to say, they did not show up the day they were suppose to and they were extremely late the next day. Then when they got here they said they would have to order parts and they could come back in 10 more days. Aaaah! How did our mothers and grandmothers do it. I mean just heating up leftovers takes forever! I am washing pans like crazy because everything has to be heated up in a pan. Anyways, I jokingly asked the bishop if he had an extra microwave and this morning he called and said he found one in his basement. It has only been hours and I am loving it already. I can't wait to get ours fixed but this large, older version of a microwave will do great for now. Thank you Bishop. Go ahead, I dare you, do not use your microwave for 10 days and see if you are going crazy!
Funny Talk
I love some of the things Calvin has been saying lately.
He doesn't quite know when to use her/ she and him/he yet. So he says things like "I want she to stop" when Lily is bothering him.
He also learned the song "Book of Mormon Stories" in nursery last week and all I have heard for a week is:
Book of Mormon stories that my teacher tells to me
Long ago their fathers came from far across the seas
give this man righteously
He is only missing a couple of lines but I love hearing it nonetheless. I have taught him the actions and all of the words but he likes to revert back to his version unless I am singing with him.
On Saturday we were driving up to Fairview to spend the day with the cousins and Calvin Says "Mom, will my princess Ambree be there." I said "No, we won't see her today" and Calvin replied "Well, I guess I am just going to have to get a new princess then." and he proceeded to ask who would be a good candidate of princess for the day.
I love listening to all of the things he comes up with, I need to remember to write more of it down.
Lily still isn't saying much. She is saying Uh-oh, hi, mama, dada and all sorts of gibberish. She is taking about 5 or 6 steps now before she decides to get back down and crawl. I will have to post a video sometime, it is pretty cute. We also lost her binky at BreAnna's wedding so we decided to not buy another one and just be done with it, she has been quite the grouch at nap time, but other than that she has done great.
He doesn't quite know when to use her/ she and him/he yet. So he says things like "I want she to stop" when Lily is bothering him.
He also learned the song "Book of Mormon Stories" in nursery last week and all I have heard for a week is:
Book of Mormon stories that my teacher tells to me
Long ago their fathers came from far across the seas
give this man righteously
He is only missing a couple of lines but I love hearing it nonetheless. I have taught him the actions and all of the words but he likes to revert back to his version unless I am singing with him.
On Saturday we were driving up to Fairview to spend the day with the cousins and Calvin Says "Mom, will my princess Ambree be there." I said "No, we won't see her today" and Calvin replied "Well, I guess I am just going to have to get a new princess then." and he proceeded to ask who would be a good candidate of princess for the day.
I love listening to all of the things he comes up with, I need to remember to write more of it down.
Lily still isn't saying much. She is saying Uh-oh, hi, mama, dada and all sorts of gibberish. She is taking about 5 or 6 steps now before she decides to get back down and crawl. I will have to post a video sometime, it is pretty cute. We also lost her binky at BreAnna's wedding so we decided to not buy another one and just be done with it, she has been quite the grouch at nap time, but other than that she has done great.
Primary Teacher Improvement Lesson
I taught my first teacher improvement yesterday. We teach it during sharing time so I had to teach it twice. I spent a lot of time preparing and I was kind of nervous given the fact that all of the teachers are older and way more experienced then I am. Why would they want to listen to a twenty four year old tell them how to improve their classes.
I studied the book "Teaching, No Greater Call" and I learned a ton of stuff. I love that book. I found a great example that Elder Packer did at a mission zone conference in one of the chapters. I brought a cake in and I said who wants the first piece of cake before we get started. Of course I had some volunteers. It was a beautiful trip chocolate cake. I said " I hope you don't mind but I left my knife at home" and I proceeded to dig my fingers into the cake and plopped some on a paper plate. The teachers looked stunned. Then I said "Well, let me go see if there is a knife in the kitchen." I came back with a knife and cut a nice slice and set it softly on a prettier plate and said "would anyone like this piece?" Then I told them our theme for the day was "Serving" our classes. And we talked about "serving" our lessons in a way that the kids want to eat it up. It turned our really well. But I am glad it is done!
I studied the book "Teaching, No Greater Call" and I learned a ton of stuff. I love that book. I found a great example that Elder Packer did at a mission zone conference in one of the chapters. I brought a cake in and I said who wants the first piece of cake before we get started. Of course I had some volunteers. It was a beautiful trip chocolate cake. I said " I hope you don't mind but I left my knife at home" and I proceeded to dig my fingers into the cake and plopped some on a paper plate. The teachers looked stunned. Then I said "Well, let me go see if there is a knife in the kitchen." I came back with a knife and cut a nice slice and set it softly on a prettier plate and said "would anyone like this piece?" Then I told them our theme for the day was "Serving" our classes. And we talked about "serving" our lessons in a way that the kids want to eat it up. It turned our really well. But I am glad it is done!
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