Valentine's Weekend

Don't worry. No mushy stuff here. In fact, Jonathan didn't do ANYTHING for Valentine's Day. I mean, he planned the family hike, but that wasn't exactly romantic. Luckily Isabelle made up for it by making me a cute card. She's so sweet. And it isn't as if we didn't celebrate Valentine's. We just did it in an unusual fashion.

My friend, Telma, and I hosted an "Indian Night" at her house on friday. We set up a table just off the floor and she made pillowcases with some beautiful colors to sit on as we ate a candlelit dinner of Curry Chicken, Samosas w/ tamarind chutney, Naan Bread, Cauliflower Curry, Mango Lassi, and a variety of nuts, raisins, dates, etc. She even had a variety of Indian clothing given to her by a friend so the girls all dressed up. After dinner we watched the Bollywood movie "Bride and Prejudice." I love chatting with friends.

On Saturday we went to Wadsworth Falls.

Emily enjoyed being in the backpack.

It make look like innocent snow the girls are standing on, but it isn't. It's ice. Solid ice. Very slippery ice. You may notice that the trail is on a slope. The girls "skated" down the slope. We walked to the side of the ice laden trail, unless there wasnʼt room. Then we all held hands in a row so that when one kid slipped and fell Jonathan and I were on either side to hold them up. They all still managed to fall multiple times.

Sometimes, it was easier just to crawl.

When we got to the upper falls, the trail went down a hill to the bottom of the falls to give a better view. We started going down the trail on our rear-ends, ended up sliding a couple yards into a tree, with David and the girls crying because they were scared. Thatʼs when we decided to give up on the trail and just stay with the tree. The view wasnʼt good, but I wasnʼt sure how we would get back up the hill. So we just sat there and ate our snacks while the kids redeveloped their confidence that Mommy and Daddy would keep them safe. Then we managed to find a bit of snow that hadnʼt iced over and very carefully handed the kids back up the bit of hill we had slid down. It was quite the adventure. And don't believe the pictures too much. They are deceptively brown. What you can't see is that much of the brown actually has clear ice on top as well.

The Fox Test Kitchen

I've been on a cooking kick lately. Not for the cooking itself, but for the experiments. For those who don't know me, I'm a chemist at heart. I love running experiments and changing variables to see the results. As you can guess, I also love America's Test Kitchen. And lately I've decided to imitate them.



First up - Muffins. I tried out only one new recipe, but I made half blueberry and half strawberry to see which we would like better. The strawberries were fresh, but the blueberries were frozen so I was also able to test the difference in cooking time (significant difference).

Here are pictures of my crazy, hyper kids.

Next up - Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. Sorry, no pics. The kids helped me make two different recipes. I found it interesting that the supposedly "healthy" cookies that had oatmeal also had twice the sugar, twice the butter, and half the pumpkin. We all agreed they weren't as tasty either. Luckily, Jonathan's Seminary class isn't as picky.

Last night - Tortillas. For Christmas I got a tortilla press so last night I tried out 5 different recipes for flour tortillas. The kids loved eating the tortillas hot off the griddle. Our findings? Definately don't skimp on the salt. (1 tsp per 2 cups flour is a necessity). Also, tortillas made with shortening tended to flatten out easier (and were tastier) than those made with oil. Baking powder didn't seem to make much difference, although there was a slight preference for no baking powder. Finally, the kids and I agreed (but not Jonathan) that the tortillas made with warm milk tasted better than those with water. And of course, the wetter the dough, the easier to flatten on the press without the tortilla "blowing up."

What kids say when they're mad...

I think it's so funny what kids say when they don't get their way. For example, today Miriam was upset with me because she wanted cheesy tortillas instead of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. So she started having a temper tantrum and threw a toy. I told her she had to go to the corner for throwing and the temper tantrum amplified. She started yelling. “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t do anything.” I said, “you threw a toy so you need a timeout.” “No! No! I didn’t do anything.” “You’re being a mean Mommy! Very very mean! You’re not obeying Jesus. Mommy, I said you’re not obeying Jesus and now he’s mad at you because you’re not obeying him.” “You’re a mean Mommy. Meaner than bad guys. Meaner than, than, lots of things.” In general she also repeats herself when she wants something I won't give her. She thinks if she says it enough times I'll change my mind (doesn't work). She also says, "I want to tell you something." But when you say, ok, then you can see her scrambling to come up with something to say.

When David doesn't get his way, he acts like he is destroyed. I must admit, I think his pouting is adorable. Secretly, sometimes I think about denying him something just so I can see his cuteness. Jonathan's family calls the lower lip sticking out a "landing pad for kisses." When David is upset at someone else, he comes to me for a "head rub." Yep, that's all it takes to make him happy. A 5-second head rub and off he runs back into the fray.

Isabelle is not so adorable when she's mad. Defiance is her trait with a set of narrowed eyes. And once she's mad at one person, she'll pick on whoever else happens to be nearby. Except Emily, whom she adores whole-heartedly. Can you guess my current tactic for getting Isabelle out of a bad mood? Yep, hand her Emily and ask her to keep her happy so I can get the dishes done.

So what funny things do your kids say or do when they're mad?

You know it's bad when...

You know it's bad when your daughter comes running over to you yelling, "Mommy, there's poop coming out of Emily's neck!"

And can you really blame her for screaming bloody murder after being stripped down and then having her entire body wiped with freezing cold wet wipes in the middle of winter?

You know it's bad when a few hours later you go to pick your daughter up and think, oh, she must have spit up on her outfit. Then you realize, no, that's poop that has gone through 2 layers of clothes... again. Only this time it went up the front instead of the back.

And she screams bloody murder once more.

The rare days...

When either my husband or I have a bad day, it's okay
because the other one is there to lift us back up
or to be understanding.
But when we both have a bad day, the same day...
we know we're in trouble.
Those are the rare days we have a disagreement.
No yelling, just talking, but the undertone is
filled with disgruntlement.
Those are the days we feel isolated and lonely.
Those are the days we fall asleep at night with our arms around
each other but a WALL of hurt between us.
Because even when you talk things out.
And even when apologies are given and accepted,
the hurt doesn't just dissipate in a moment.



(no "pick me up" comments necessary)

The month of January...

I keep meaning to post more often, but it doesn't happen. Good intentions do not equal good actions taken. So here is the month of January in review.

Jonathan set up a special New Year's Eve celebration for us. First we had to make lists including the top ten experiences/successes for the year, as well as the Worst ten experiences, failures. Then we had to make our 2009 goals and pick three that we could exemplify by some action just after the new year struck. So we prayed together as an example of "improving our family's spirituality," we called up friends of ours to invite over the next day as "increasing and deepening our friendships" and then we slow danced to special songs for "improving our ability to show each other our love."

As part of New Year's Eve, Jonathan set up a clock using his

projector for our own special "count down."

Jonathan learned how to make Indian Naan bread.

Ten deer decided to adopt our yard for sleeping.

Our kids got eaten by a great big shark.

Even Emily.

Miriam continued her quest for crazy outfits.

Jonathan studied for the Part 5 CAS Exam Seminar that he will be teaching in the spring.

Emily was adorable as usual.

We got lots of snow.

We were grateful for our snowblower.

The kids played with tinker toys.

We started date nights with our kids each week. Isabelle went shopping with Daddy, Miriam went with Daddy to McDonald's for the playscape & ice cream, David went with Daddy to Whole Foods for a gelatto, and then Isabelle and Mommy went to the library.

Mommy continued reading the Little House on the Prairie series to the kids.

Isabelle tried to reenact the building of the log house with Lincoln logs.

Jonathan studied and taught Seminary each day (New Testament).

David got a photoshoot (courtesy of Daddy, the photographer).

Miriam snuck up behind David during the photoshoot.

David helped Daddy make bread.

Mommy learns how to make home made tortillas.

The horse, cow, sheep, and pig go hang-gliding (courtesy of Miriam & David)

Emily gets a bath.

And pig-tails.

She's happy!

The whole family joins in for a game of Book of Mormon "Go Fish."

Jonathan and Isabelle enjoy reading together.

25 Random Things

For those who aren't on Facebook, I thought I would do double duty and copy my 25 Random things onto my blog.

1. Right now, I have no voice. Everytime I get a head cold I lose my voice for 3-6 days. Sometimes my kids conveniently "can't hear" me.

2. You know how some people like rear ends, or breasts, or legs. Well, I like brains. I love my husband for his brain. I just want to pick it all the time because he always has some amazing insight that I never thought of. Sometimes I think he wishes I wanted him for his body, but I think I'll always be more into brains.

3. Some of my favorite gifts I've received have been power tools.

4. I have 4 kids. I want more. I *love* kids. However, I *hate* being pregnant. I have awful pregnancies that involve lots of throwing up, pneumonia, and difficulty walking. Adoption? Unfortunately, I'm also fertile as a bunny. It takes two forms of birth control for me. Do you think I actually planned to have my kids so close together? Um, no. I guess it's a good thing I want so many kids.

5. My husband and I met in a ballroom dance class in college (BYU). It was a hobby for both of us. We love dancing and competed together in college. We even taught free classes at our local community center for a couple of years. By the way, foxtrot is my favorite.

6. I'm addicted to Excel. I think spreadsheets are the answer to all of life's questions.

7. I have long hair not by choice, but by default. a) I never get around to getting my hair cut, b) I have no idea how to do short hair, and c) I'm afraid -- the one time I got my hair cut short, the stylist totally messed it up.

8. Favorite sweets - Ice cream, mint hot cocoa, dark chocolate, milk chocolate w/ almonds from Trader Joe's.

9. The only TV show I have watched in the past two years is So You Think You Can Dance. But I do like to watch movies.

10. I read a lot of books. My favorite section in the library is the Teen Room, although I'm also known to visit the middle school age books (for me, not for my kids).

11. I cannot spend money if I know I can buy the same thing cheaper elsewhere. Ex. my husband received a gift card to a local mall from his boss 2 yrs ago. Twice we have gone on a "date" to spend the money frivolously. Once we looked at the prices, we couldn't bring ourselves to do it.

12. I love eating dinner outside in summer.

13. I'm known as the "cold one" in my family because I'm too analytical and don't show enough emotion.

14. My husband makes me homemade pizza every weekend because I'm addicted to it.

15. I really want one of my kids to have eyes like mine (blue or green or gray or something other than brown). Unfortunately, my husband does not seem to have a recessive gene so I comfort myself knowing that chances are I'll have at least one grandchild with non-brown eyes.

16. My kids ask me, "Mom, why are you always on the computer?" see #6.

17. My husband says I roll my eyes at him a lot (I say that's because he's always making salacious comments).

18. In college I broke my back. Shattered off 1/4 of the L1 vertebrae on Halloween... playing "Crack the Egg" on a trampoline. Then I walked around for three days with bone spurs stuck in my spinal cord because I thought I had just pulled a muscle or something. Oops. Glad I'm not paralyzed.

19. I get the winter blues and use a "light box" to help me feel better. I also don't like being cold. My husband has accepted that utility bills will be high in winter.

20. I still play Age of Empires II: Conquerer's Edition, a computer game I got years ago. I also do Kakuro and Logic puzzles for fun. My husband thinks I'm crazy.

21. I like Newegg and Amazon.22. We celebrate Pie Day every year because we love math. You know... 3.14 March 14th. You mean you didn't know? Let me guess, you don't know what an Actuary is either.

23. I have a love/hate relationship with my metabolism. It's fast. Very fast. Love being thin. Hate forcing myself to eat when I'm not hungry so that I can be pregnant/nurse my baby without feeling faint and weak all of the time.

24. I went natural for my last baby delivery and did a water birth. It was an amazing experience.

25. Whenever a good song starts playing, I can't sit still. I must get up and start dancing, usually in the kitchen. I sing too. My family doesn't even notice any more it's such a common occurrence. Occasionally, my kids will join me and we dance together in the family room.