Another Tifferism

Overheard while the kids were playing "Primary" and Christopher was pretending to give a talk:

"The sacrament is important because we get food and drink, and then we have to wait a long time to go home."

I guess that's what it seems like to a five-year-old boy. . .

Things I've Done
To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done. Happy discoveries!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (as long as you can count jr. high band!)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (Justin actually had one on his back--I'll have to post pictures)
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (I don't think this counts because my dad planted them, but I did take care of them)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (I think. . .one of the counselors in our bishopric at Snow College had a sheep farm, and we got to go out after the lambing. But I can't remember if I actually picked one up or just petted it. This darn dementia!)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (no, but I may as well have--I've been pregnant and in labor :)!)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (if you forget all the dumb things we really don't need, then yes, I am truly satisfied)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (I was 7)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (and his dog, too)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud (oh, yeah; especially that time at Eliza Moody's when we were four and both family's kids ended up completely covered in tons of mud--awesome!
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (only once, with our ward's young adult group--the movie was Mission Impossible)
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen (with Justin's young adult ward--and we went to the wrong one! But it was still awesome!)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (I haven't been to a real one, but I did go to the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles that has an amazing interactive museum that has a replica of one--don't miss it if you're there!)
67. Bounced a check (what can I say, I'm not the world's best financial mind. Luckily, I married someone who is good at that stuff!)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (to my husband's great chagrin--you should see the boxes in our house, and my parents still have our old toys, too!)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (my toe--not very exciting)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (NEVER!)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (when I was a nerdy kid who won all the Reflections contests and one of the spelling contests; and, very embarrassingly, as a mom when the Clipper asked me a question about Utah's marriage amendment--I do not give good "sound bite" answers!)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (I watched the killing, then helped prepare it--Pioneer Trek)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club (if you can count online)
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone (yes, even though I hate all bad cell-phone ettiquette and I think they're a frivolous expense. . .I have a pre-paid for my safety, and now I'm probably like all the people I used to grouse at.)
99. Been stung by a bee (I think so--it was under my skirt at Target and my leg hurt for a good day-and-a-half, but I could never find the little bugger--pun totally intended!)

Wow, I've done more than I thought. But my parents and sisters would probably have almost the whole thing bolded! Anyway, hope you enjoy thinking back on your life like I did!

Featured Recipes

From now on, I will post the newest Featured Recipes in the main body of the blog, and then I will move them to the sidebar--that way, I can keep track of what I've already posted!

November is here, and, even though it's unseasonably warm here in Utah (not for long, though!), we are thinking about yummy pumpkin treats (okay, we were already thinking about those) and more yummy soups. Here are a couple of recipes you're sure to enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie In A Glass
Justin took a basic pumpkin smoothie recipe from Trinka at www.allrecipes.com and made it into a delicious drink that tastes like creamy pumpkin pie!

4 cups milk (Justin used whole milk, but you can use lower fat milk, too)
1/2-2/3 of a large can of pumpkin
10 Tb. brown sugar (1/2 cup + 2 Tb.)
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or use 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ground ginger, 1/4 tsp. ground allspice, and 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg)
1 1/2 capfuls vanilla

Blend until smooth. Enjoy right away, warm it up, or serve chilled. MMMM!

Tortellini Soup--from Mom Keeler
This soup is quick and delicious.

1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced (or put through a good garlic press)
1 Tb. olive oil (canola or similar works fine, too)
3 14 oz. cans beef broth, or boullion equivalent
1 14-16 oz. can stewed tomatoes, cut if necessary
1/2-3/4 c. picante sauce or salsa
1 tsp. crushed dried basil leaves
1 12 (or so) oz. package fresh, frozen, or dried tortellini (the dried isn't quite as good, but will work; Maria's Italian Feast frozen tortellini is very inexpensive and quite good)
1 bell pepper, diced
fresh grated (or ready-grated) parmesan cheese (not the kind in the green can, please!)

Cook onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add ingredients up to tortellini; bring to a boil. Add tortellini and simmer until almost done (check package for cooking time). Stir in bell pepper; cook 2-3 minutes more. Serve with parmesan cheese. Goes well with baguettes, regular French bread, or warm muffins, and crisp cut-up veggies and fruits.

Two Amazing Weekends

Part 3

So much amazing counsel. So much wonderful food for the spirit. General Conference was such a boost to my soul! Here are some highlights:

Come what may and love it.

Have a strong, unshakeable testimony.

Testimonies usually don't come from an earth-shaking spiritual manifestation. They grow over time, little by little.

Live prudently.

Live within your means.

Simplify. Man only needs four things: food, clothing, shelter, and fuel (both physical and spiritual).

God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. Angels are all around us--most often the people we know and love.

The Saints can accomplish any purpose of the Lord when fully united in righteousness.

God loves and helps all of His children.

Return to virtue.

This is God’s work, and God’s work will not be frustrated. But there is still much to be done.

Our trials are a test of our faith.

Our trials are suited to our own personal development.

Marriage between a man and a woman is sacred--it is ordained of God.
Any other kind of relationship is "shoplifting."

And, as the prophet of the Lord reminded us, "If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."

"Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us."

"Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family."


Amen.

My challenge: go to http://www.lds.org to the Conference Archives section to see who these quotes or paraphrases came from!

Tag. . .

Jaymie tagged me, and the rules are that I have to answer the following questions in one word only. I may cheat if I can't do it (or if an answer needs explanation)! Here goes. . .

1. Where is your cell phone? Counter
2. Where is your significant other? Work
3. Your hair color? Brown
4. Your mother? Penny
5. Your father? Doug
6. Your favorite thing? Life
7. Your dream last night? Recession
8. Your dream/goal? No empty chairs
9. The room you're in? "Office" (a little offshoot of the family room)
10. Your hobby? How the heck do I answer this in one word?! Reading, writing, baking, music, spending time with my kids/hubby
11. Your fear?
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. What you're not? Supermom
15. One of your wish-list items? Kid anti-growth potion
16. Where you grew up? Bountiful, Utah
17. The last thing you ate? Cookies (how embarrassing!)
18. What are you wearing? T-shirt and jeans
19. Your TV? On (not for long!)
20. Your pet? Kids!
21. Your computer? . . .On. . .
22. Your mood? Happy
23. Your car? Van
24. Something you're not wearing? Socks
25. Favorite store? Target (or Deseret Book!)
26. Your summer? Busy/fun
27. Love someone? Justin!
28. Your favorite color? All
29. When is the last time you laughed? Now
30. Last time you cried? Saturday (when my grandma moved to Springville)

Okay, there it is. Now I tag Kristin, Melissa, Holly, and Becca!

Two Amazing Weekends
Part Two

When President Uchtdorf stepped to the microphone, you could practically hear the entire Relief Society worldwide sigh. Okay, not really. But my awesome neighbor, Lisa Buckmiller, did exclaim, "Hot dog!" (She told us this as part of her testimony in Sacrament Meeting the next day! This is the same funny neighbor who, after the last conference, told us, in Sacrament Meeting, that President Uchtdorf was the Second Counselor of Looking Good! You'd think the bishop would learn. . .)

That aside, the Spirit was already so strong in that meeting, and President Uchtdorf's talk took it to a higher level. I could feel Heavenly Father's love for me, the love of my Savior, and the love and trust of the Brethren for me and for the sisters of the Church (and all sisters, no matter what religion they are) just pouring over me and into me. I began to feel a little bit of what Christ meant when he called Emma Smith "an elect lady." And Pres. Uchtdorf told us such a cute little story about the difference between the meals his wife prepares (artistic and tasty masterpieces) and what he makes (basic and sometimes burned). He said that no matter how perfect his wife's food is, she always finds something wrong with it and apologizes. He asked the sisters if that sounds like someone they know, someone they know very well. We all chuckled, knowing full well that he was talking about us! Pres. Uchtdorf said, ". . .our splendid sisters sometimes undervalue their abilities—they focus on what is lacking or imperfect rather than what has been accomplished and who they really are." He said that the good side of this is that sisters have an innate desire to please the Lord to the best of our ability. But this trait can lead to frustration and unhappiness if we're not careful.

Pres. Uchtdorf then spoke about two ways we can taste of the happiness of our Heavenly Father in our lives. Heavenly Father's joy comes from two focuses: creation and compassion. Remember, his work and glory is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Creation and compassion both work together to bring about this great and eternal purpose. How can we employ these two principles in our lives to bring greater, eternal joy into our lives?

Create: Pres. Uchtdorf said that the urge to create is one of the deepest desires of the human soul. Creation brings great satisfaction and fulfillment. He said that everyone can create, even those who think they have no talent for creation as most people view it (like music, crafts, art, cooking, etc.)
"If that is how you feel, think again, and remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative Being in the universe. Isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it—your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination.
"But to what end were we created? We were created with the express purpose and potential of experiencing a fulness of joy. Our birthright—and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth—is to seek and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways we find this is by creating things.
"If you are a mother, you participate with God in His work of creation—not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also by teaching and nurturing them. If you are not a mother now, the creative talents you develop will prepare you for that day, in this life or the next.
"You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.
"What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.
"If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it." (http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,285-1-54-31,00.html)
Pres. Uchtdorf also reminded us that the more we rely on the Spirit, the more our ability to create and bless this world will be increased. "That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come."

Compassion: "Being compassionate is another great work of our Heavenly Father and a fundamental characteristic of who we are as a people." Christ was the ultimate example, and true disciples of Christ follow his example of great compassion. As we serve others, sacrifice for others, and show kindness to others, the windows of heaven are opened to us and choice blessings can descend upon us. Pres. Uchtdorf quoted President Spencer W. Kimball: "The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls.” He also reminded us that President Hinckley taught that service has great healing power. If we are experiencing grief, heartache, or are lonely, serving others will heal our souls. Pres. Uchtdorf said, "As we lose ourselves in the service of others, we discover our own lives and our own happiness." The world around us constantly sends messages that are contrary to these inspired words. We live in a world full of self-help manuals, spend-now-pay-later, and people telling us the only way to heal and become a better person is to focus on yourself. But, as Christ said, "Whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it." I know this is true.

Pres. Uchtdorf concluded by commending the sisters for their great ability to nourish, teach, and serve with compassion that has blessed countless lives the world over. He stated that every sister is important to our Heavenly Father and an important part of building the kingdom of God. He reminded us of Pres. Monson's words to the conference a year ago: ". . .you are . . . surrounded by opportunities for service. . . . Often small acts of service are all that is required to lift and bless another." Then Pres. Uctdorf said,
"Look around you. There at sacrament meeting is a young mother with several children—offer to sit with her and help. There in your neighborhood is a young man who seems discouraged—tell him you enjoy being in his presence, that you feel his goodness. True words of encouragement require only a loving and caring heart but may have an eternal impact on the life of those around you.
"You wonderful sisters render compassionate service to others for reasons that supersede desires for personal benefits. In this you emulate the Savior, who, though a king, did not seek position, nor was He concerned about whether others noticed Him. He did not bother to compete with others. His thoughts were always tuned to help others. He taught, healed, conversed, and listened to others. He knew that greatness had little to do with outward signs of prosperity or position. He taught and lived by this doctrine: 'He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.'
"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers."

I felt so encouraged, so uplifted, so cheered on, I floated home with renewed desire to be as the Savior would have me be. I hope you have been uplifted and encouraged as I have. No matter who you are, you are a precious spirit child of our Heavenly Father with unique talents, gifts, and blessings, and He loves you and wants you to know of that love. I know this is true!

Two Amazing Weekends

The past two weekends were incredible! I really needed the boost that the General Relief Society Conference and General Conference gave me.

Part One
I was so excited to go over to the stake center for the R.S. broadcast (you can see the building from my front door--I know, I'm spoiled). They had a dinner before the broadcast, but I missed that trying to get dinner on for my family. (I know, I know, the idea was to make the hubby cook for the fam, but a well-fed husband is a happy husband!) So, anyway, I headed over to the church without any children in tow (a small miracle), and as soon as I stopped worrying about them, I was able to ascend to a new realm. I felt like I had been transported to the Celestial Kingdom, the Spirit was so strong. The R.S. Presidency messages were so powerful, so inspired. If anyone wants to know where true feminine strength and power combined lies, it is in the Relief Society and in the motherhood that is inherent in each woman. Nowhere else on earth can be found a group of women so willing and able to change the world.

Sister Julie B. Beck reminded the sisters of the beginnings of Relief Society and that, just as the Savior invited Mary and Martha to participate in His work, we have been commissioned to do the same. She said, "The purpose of Relief Society, as established by the Lord, is to organize, teach, and inspire His daughters to prepare them for the blessings of eternal life." To fulfill this purpose, we need to do three things:
1. Increase in faith and personal righteousness.
2. Strengthen families and homes.
3. Serve the Lord and His children.
The Relief Society is there to bless our lives and help us through all the challenges and new opportunities we face. We can lift and teach each other and give service to each other as the Spirit guides us. What a great comfort! And this is crucial: to do the work of the Lord, we must receive personal revelation. Sister Beck said, "Without personal revelation, we cannot succeed. If we heed personal revelation, we cannot fail." We need to remember that this comes when we are still enough to hear that Still Small Voice, and that we need to be striving to live in such a way to be worthy of it. As we hear and heed personal revelation, a power not yet fully exercised, as stated by President Spencer W. Kimball, will help us to ensure that "every meeting, every lesson, and every activity we undertake helps them increase in faith and personal righteousness, strengthen their families and their homes, and serve the Lord and His children." The real power lies within each woman. Working together, we can do the work of the Lord as never before!

A Costa Rican native, Sister Sylvia Allred spoke of the sacrifices made by the members of her ward in 1976 as they prepared to go to the temple in Mesa, Arizona, the closest temple at the time. The trip took five days each way, and crossed six borders. Most of the Saints who went sold almost everything they had in order to travel day and night in uncomfortable buses to visit the House of the Lord. Some people had no money left after paying for the trip and subsisted on crackers and margarine the whole way. Sister Allred then asked, "Why do members of the Church so willingly and happily make such great sacrifices to go to the temple?" She replied, "I have never forgotten the great outpouring of the Spirit we experienced during the three days we spent at the Mesa Temple. I was deeply touched as I watched family members embrace each other with tears streaming down their faces after being sealed for the eternities." Twenty-four years later, a temple in Costa Rica was dedicated, with many of those families present.

The Lord has always commanded his people to build temples, from the earliest days to now. We need temples so that we can make the sacred covenants that will enable us to return to the presence of the Father, and so that we can have the blessings that can be given to us now because of our sacred promises. Families can be sealed for time and for all eternity in the temple, and in no other place can this happen. We are also taught from on high every time we attend the temple. Our understanding of our sacred covenants increases every time we return. We also have the opportunity to serve those who did not have the opportunity to make sacred covenants before they died, covenants that are crucial for their exaltation.

We need to have "clean hands and a pure heart" to enter the temple, and should make sure that when we do go, our minds are free from thoughts that would detract from this sacred experience. Our clothing should reflect our reverence and respect for the temple. I thought of all the Saints who have sacrificed so much to even visit the temple once, when I can visit it anytime I make the time to drive 10 minutes away. We all need the great strength that comes from serving in the temple, and I really felt the power in Sister Allred's words as she encouraged us to be worthy and attend the temple as often as we can.

Sister Barbara Thompson reviewed the beginnings of Relief Society, attended by a group of women almost as diverse as Relief Society today: young and old, wealthy and poor, married/mothers/single, women who were formally educated and those who were not. But they were united in purpose--they loved each other and the Lord, and had a desire to serve. Sister Thompson said that by remembering Relief Society women have done in the past, we can better understand and be guided today.

In the early days of the Church, the Relief Society focused on helping the poor and needy, as well as going from house to house to fill needs or allow the women in the households to provide for someone else's needs. Sister Thompson likened this to our day: "Just as Emma described the boat stuck on the rapids and the people needing help, we can liken that to our day when we see such things as a neighbor who is ill, a child who needs instruction, a teen needing a friend, or a family who has lost their income and needs assistance to get back on their feet. We hear of calamities, storms, or personal tragedy in the lives of our sisters everywhere. We need not rush about trying to find things to do or causes to take up. Remember, most often the help needed is in our own homes, neighborhoods, and communities. A kind word of encouragement, a note of thanks, a phone call, a loving smile, a helpful deed, and a reminder that God loves us are often what is needed most. We can lift and bless others in so many ways. Relief Society is not just a class on Sunday. It isn’t just a place we go if we are not teaching in the Primary or Young Women organizations. It is the Lord’s organization for women. Participation in Relief Society is part of our glorious heritage and blessing as women in the Lord’s Church."

Just as Joseph Smith reminded that they were not just to help the poor, but to save souls, we are to do the same. As we study the gospel, the "good word of God," and listen to the Spirit, we will be given the ability to teach and contribute in a way that will edify and nourish all who are present.

Sister Thompson said, "Sisters, now more than ever, we need women to step up and be strong. We need women who declare the truth with strength, faith, and boldness. We need women to set an example of righteousness. We need women to be 'anxiously engaged in a good cause.' We need to live so that our lives bear witness that we love our Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ and that we will do what They have asked us to do. We need to rescue “all that is finest down deep inside of [us]' so that as daughters of God we can do our part to build the kingdom of God. We will have help to do this. As Joseph declared, 'If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates'. . .I know that, as Emma encouraged, we can do something extraordinary today. We can be a righteous army of women armed with love, compassion, kindness, service, and faith. We can be a mighty force for good in this world." We will be safe and protected, a place of refuge. What a privilege!

Milestones. . .

Jeremy is approaching his first birthday, and I thought he would never be interested in standing up at all. Even when we would stand him up, he would usually smile and then lift up his legs or sit himself down. I tried helping him "walk" a little bit, but he would take a few funny steps with his legs way out in front of him, and then he would lift up his legs so we would let him get down. He loves to crawl and move himself around, and he likes to go at his own pace. He tends to all of a sudden move to another milestone, and this time was no different. Suddenly, a couple of days ago, he pulled himself up to a stand while holding onto Justin's pants. It was so sudden, we almost didn't realize he'd done it. Now he loves to pull himself up as much as he can, and it has definitely expanded his exploring repertoire. I am also finding myself having to move things higher and out of his reach! He loves it when we cheer for his efforts, and he even gets brave enough sometimes to let go of the couch a little bit and move his arms up and down. It is fun to see him growing so much, but of course, each milestone we reach is a little bittersweet.

Jeremy also got his first tooth last week, and though he's been a fairly pleasant person while working on four teeth (I don't think I'd be so smiley myself), he hasn't slept very well. Now the tooth is growing almost to the point where it shows when he smiles, and I am savoring those gummy smiles, knowing they won't last much longer.

Supermom, Where Are You?

Kids. Jobs. The two just don't mingle well. Thanks to Ashley's friend's mom, we put together a great incentive system this summer, and my kids "earned" their way to Sea World. This is our little friend, the West Family Super Buck.

$ 1 West Super Bucks $1

$1 West Family Bank $1

My kids earned them for completing their responsibilities, like jobs, practicing, and so forth. If we were going somewhere like the zoo or a museum, they could go if they had the before-determined admission "price." They also had to earn the extension cord that makes the TV magically work, short stints on the computer, and so forth (I made library visits "cheaper" than the TV and computer--ha ha!). And if they made us late for ballet lessons, were mean, or other infractions, they had to pay. Granted, once we got home from San Diego, it was a little harder to motivate them, but it still worked pretty well. Then school started.

Ah, school. We love you and we hate you. You take our children for 3-6 hours a day so our homes aren't as messy and full of fighting, bored children. You provide educational, enriching experiences for our children that light up their faces and eyes. You also send home piles of papers and make us run around like chickens with our heads cut off as we try to cram in lessons, homework, dinner, practices, visits to the library, and shopping for something we have to have for school after school gets out. You make kindergarten so short that you can hardly get anything done before you have to go back to the school to pick up the kindergartner. You also disrupt our chore schedule! After school started, our routines went caput. (Yes, I should have seen it coming, but it is hard for me to put a schedule together until routines are set at school.) After getting Ashley's class volunteers coordinated and that schedule in place, I turned around and realized that my house had fallen apart and nobody was doing their chores. And I was getting grumpier by the day trying to keep up with the housework, little people, meals, and getting people here and there.

I decided to nip that problem in the bud. I took control. I marched down to the computer and Googled family calendars, schedules, and systems. I printed off chore lists so we could all decide together what system would work best now that we have additional things to accomplish. The next morning, I sat the kids down and had them tell me what they needed to do each day, and discussed with them how we'd distribute the work best. We put together a little schedule. It was awesome!

So how are we doing? Well, the chart containing this wonderful little schedule is still residing in my planner, yet to see the light of day on a beautiful poster. And the lists and research I printed off? I woke up this morning and said to myself, "Now, where did I put that stuff? I need to add it to my Home Organization (smirk) Binder!" Alas, I just found it--on the computer desk, buried under a pile of bills and mail. Well, at least I found it. Maybe by next week we'll have things together. I hope. Until then, we'll just keep moving in baby steps, like it seems we have to do around here all the time. Everything goes in baby steps. But that's OK. Because I know I'll miss all the reasons we have to move in baby steps when they grow up!!

Nutcracker Update

Ashley will be performing as a "Blue Soldier" with "A Cast," which means that she will be performing at the Val Browning Center at Weber State in Ogden Nov. 26-27, and then she will be at the Capitol Theatre the following week (thru Dec. 6). That cast is doing a private performance for American Express in Salt Lake (can you imagine how expensive?!! How lucky--I keep telling Justin he needs to convince his company to spring for Nutrcracker tickets instead of a Christmas party) and then they will do opening night and the first three performances after that. We are so excited for Ashley to have this opportunity--I have to keep pinching myself that Ashley is actually dancing in a Ballet West production (for those not from Utah, Ballet West is Utah's professional ballet company). She is having a great time, and she and Justin have a great time traveling back and forth to and from rehearsals. In the next few weeks, Ashley's costume will be fitted, and a photographer will take pictures of everyone (group and individual) so we can have a record of this event (we can't take pictures or video at ANY time). I wish we could at least see a rehearsal or two, but parents aren't even allowed on the floor where the dancers rehearse (I guess it would get too busy and too distracting up there with all the parents). So we're really looking forward to the performances!!

A Quick Announcement

We just wanted to let you know that Ashley tried out for Ballet West's production of The Nutcracker this morning and she is going to be a soldier! She is so excited, and so are we! They have several casts to give more dancers a chance to be in the ballet, so we will find out what cast she's in and the dates she's performing very soon (it will be some time in December, of course). We are proud of Ashley for having the courage to do such a big, scary thing, and thanks to Justin for taking her to the U. to audition and being willing to stand in the hall all morning with a bunch of anxious mommies! You're awesome, honey!

Tifferisms

Did you know. . .

• We can prepare to be baptized "by being normal."
• "We shouldn't eat people who are mean."

Thanks for the smiles, Tiffer! I think we'll keep you!

Promoting Family Togetherness and Creativity



1. Arrange for your water heater to fail (this was definitely not what we planned, but it happened anyway).

2. Spend Friday night wet-vaccing, ripping up carpet and pad, draining the heater, and so on, while your kids go nuts upstairs because nobody's putting them to bed. This is even better if you have a fabulous dad who's willing to stay until midnight, rip his hand open on a carpet tack, and provide lots of help! (Thanks again, Dad!)

3. Order the water heater and installation over the phone the next morning and feel good because, in just a few hours, you'll have hot water again. And you can use your gift card to boot!

4. A few hours later, call back to see why your water heater and plumber have not arrived. Re-order the heater and installation because it got sent to the wrong store.

5. Wait a couple more hours to find that, instead of being put on the plumber's truck, the heater
has been sent to Salt Lake. It is too late for anyone to install it without charging an emergency fee. Grumble and murmur about how this company did not benefit from its merger with a certain well-known discount chain.

6. Drive out to Salt Lake to purchase the heater and bring it home. Discover upon arrival that the wrong heater has been ordered for you. The bright spots from this trip are that you get to go ahead and use that gift card, and that, blessedly, they have the heater you really ordered in stock. The nice people at the store even offer to cancel the erroneous order and set up installation for Monday. Bring home the heater and stick it in the carport.

7. Round up your filthy, grumpy, hungry family and drive around trying to decide where to eat. Finally settle on Chuck-A-Rama (a place you swore you'd never go) because it has something everyone might like.

8. Sit down at a family-style table in blessed coolness and feel the grumpies melt away as you enjoy talking and laughing with your kids as they all get to eat their favorite foods. Watch your husband get a childlike gleam in his eye as he visits the dessert buffet, and enjoy listening to his memories of going out to buffets with the Young Men growing up. Share your own embarrassing ice-cream machine moment at Golden Corral and watch everyone smile.

9. Drive to Grandma and Grandpa's house to get everyone clean. In a flurry of bubbles, wet hair, and towels, you catch a glimpse of your parents combing through hair and reliving the days when they got their own children ready for Sunday. Life is good.

10.Drive to the store to choose frozen meals for Sunday so that you don't have to boil endless pots of water to do all the dishes (thank you, honey)!

11. Enjoy a true day of rest.

12. Monday morning, have your husband work from home so that he is around when the plumber comes just in case he comes while you're taking children to ballet. (Make sure your plumber is as nice and funny as the one that showed up at our house. He let Christopher watch him and got Tiffer to eat all his breakfast--not a small feat, I can assure you--by telling Tiffer he'd leave the water heater box for him if he finished it!) Enjoy having Daddy home for a change, and have a ball watching thd kids race through their chores so they can play in the big box the plumber left behind. Smile as you watch them lose themselves in pure childhood. And don't forget to take pictures!

In case you can't tell, the kids decided to turn their box
into a house with a blanket for a door--there's "furniture"
inside, too!

Who's Got The Camera?
Welcome to our little game, "Who's Got The Camera?" I'll give you a few picture clues, and your task is to guess, well, who's got the camera? Ready? Okay!

Hmmm, it could be Mom. . . But wait, Mom wouldn't take a picture. . .umm, heh-heh, post a picture that shows off the pile of clean laundry tossed on the floor, as well as a demonstration of the general lack of disorganization in the master bedroom. So it can't be Mom. Who is it?

Clearly, Jeremy is surprised to see this person wielding a camera. Could it be Dad? Nope--Dad's not a stranger to the camera. It must be one of the kids! Hmmm. . . It's someone who has noticed Mom putting a blanket down for Jeremy to lay or sit on while she takes pictures of him sometimes, only the blanket has ended up on top of him instead. It must be someone observant, but not that observant. Ashley and Christina would notice something like that, but would they put the blanket on top of Jeremy? Hmmm. I think I'll need to see more pictures just to be sure.

Ah-hah! It's someone who's having a hard time holding the camera steady. See that telltale finger in front of the lens? I think my suspicions are beginning to be confirmed, but I'll wait for the last clue just to be sure. . .

Notice the complete look of surprise on Christina's face! We know the photographer is definitely not Christina now, but is it Ashley? I don't think so--you can tell that the person taking the picture is shorter than Christina. Okay, I'm certain now--it's Christopher!!

Congratulations, and thank you for playing today! We hope you enjoyed laughing as much as we did! (Christopher sneaked into our room while I was in the middle of something else, quietly shut the door, and surprised his napping brother by doing a photo session--including other photos not posted here--and was only stopped when Christina opened the door! The above photo was taken the second the door opened!! The other photos were actually taken in reverse order--the finger picture was first, and so on.)

Marriage Isn't That Bad!!

The kids got all dressed up in my old choir dresses, Senior Ball dress, a dress-up "wedding dress," and a pretend doctor's outfit someone gave us. They were pretending Emily was getting married! They went to the "wedding," and later Christina came downstairs to inform me that Emily was now pretending to be dead "all the time, right after she got married." I'm sure it's coincidental, but I had a good laugh!

Personally, I like marriage--I highly recommend it!

And coming soon. . .blog and pictures from our trip to San Diego/Phoenix! We were too busy/tired to actually post while on the trip, so check back soon for my little travelogue!

Life With Kids Is Funny. . .

My kids do and say the darndest things sometimes! We've had ample opportunity to laugh lately. For example. . .

Emily had to have her arm popped back into place for the third time within this past year. She keeps getting what's called "nursemaid's elbow," which is when a ligament in the arm slips over the head of one of the bones in the joint of the elbow. It hurts quite a bit, and the child cannot use the arm. The first time this happened, I was holding her hand when she dropped suddenly because she didn't want to go upstairs. The second time was two weeks later when Christopher tried to pull her up on the couch. And the third time was last week when Ashley tried to get Emily to come with her and Emily didn't want to. Emily immediately asked me to take her to the doctor because her arm was "broken!" I took Emily to the InstaCare where a nice pediatrician named Dr. Craskell saw her. Dr. Craskell said, "I'm here to see Emily. Are you Emily?" Emily slowly shook her head back and forth. Dr. Craskell then said, "Oh, you're not Emily today? Well, sometimes I don't feel like being a Sarah. Sometimes I think I might be a Betsy. Are you Betsy?" Emily nodded her head up and down. Dr. Craskell responded, "All right--Betsy it is!" Later, Dr. Craskell chuckled as she told me that she thought Emily may have responded that way because if she said she wasn't Emily, she wouldn't have to have the doctor fix her arm! (By the way, the nice doctor also showed me how to fix "nursemaid's elbow" myself so I didn't have to keep paying $25 to have it done!)

This past Friday morning, I went visiting teaching. As I was loading the 3 kids who weren't at school into the van, I noticed that Christopher had (again) put his shoes on without socks. We've spoken to him about this many times before, because that habit makes his feet and shoes smell quite unpleasant. Being in a hurry, I somewhat exasperatedly said, "Tiffer, you're supposed to wear socks with your shoes! That's yucky!" He enthusiatically replied, with a big smile on his face, "I like yucky!"

On Sunday evening, the kids got a kick out of watching the birds in our front yard. There is one bird in particular that seems to like our yard and our Rose of Sharon. Justin says that the
bird likes to use it for his "dinner table." Sometimes he'll show up with peanuts and crack them open, and other times he'll have other things to eat. One of our neighbors, Brother Baldree, says it's a Mountain Blue Jay. It's a pretty bird, and we enjoy watching him. Anyway, the kids watched him eat his "dinner" as a few other birds flew by. The kids were discussing if the bird was male or female, and Christina said the bird was a male because "the dad eats dinner before the mom." We all chuckled, and Justin reminded the kids that the bird was a male because of his bright colors!

Ashley asked if we were going to the grandparents’ homes on Sunday, and I replied that we were going on Monday. Ashley asked which home we were going to, and Christopher piped up, “Are we going to the West’s or the old?” (I guess he knows Grandma and Grandpa Keeler as just Grandma and Grandpa!)

Finally, picture this: It's late Sunday afternoon, and Justin and I have already told Christopher, our child who struggles with getting permission before he does or takes something, that he needs to stay inside the house. He has tried a couple of times to sneak outside. As I am opening some pineapple to go with our Hawaiian Haystacks, I turn around to see, through the kitchen window over the sink, Christopher sneaking, then running, around the side of our house in his Sunday socks. As I begin to grit my teeth and grumble under my breath, the strains of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir waft into the kitchen--". . .Love one another as Jesus loves you, try to show kindness in all that you do. . ."

Life with kids is definitely funny (and a great learning experience, too)!

The West Family Theatre presents. . .

The West Family Theatre is excited to announce the performance of an exciting new play--written, directed, and produced by our resident playwright, Ashley West--Johnny Applerot! Featuring the talents of two fabulous new actors, Christina and Christopher West, Johnny Applerot chronicles the adventures of a boy who has dedicated his life to planting apple seeds. But what will happen when he meets a rotten apple who desperately wants to be useful? Enjoy the show!!

Some Bread Recipes We Love

One of our many readers (ha, ha) requested that we post the aforementioned white bread recipe we loved so much. I am embarrassed to say that I thought I would remember which cookbook I got the recipe from, but, of course, I forgot. After a search, I believe I have determined which recipe I used. I hope it turns out well! We decided we would also post other bread recipes we like just for fun (or the links to them). Enjoy!

Bread--White or Half Whole Wheat--from Valonne Freeman, the mother of one of our neighbors when we were first married

2 cups warm water
1 pkg (or 1 Tb) yeast
1/3 cup sugar or honey
2 Tb butter
1/4 cup powdered milk
2 tsp. salt
6 cups flour

Mix first 4 ingredients and let stand 5 min. Add milk, salt, and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in rest of flour. Knead. Let raise double. Shape into 2 loaves. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.
West's note: We used instant yeast, so we didn't let the first four ingredients sit for 5 minutes. We used honey. We also used powdered buttermilk in the place of the powdered plain milk because that's what we had on hand (odd, we know). The bread tasted so good!

Basic White Bread For the Breadmaker--from Jaymie Brierley Reynolds

1 1/3 C. water
2 T. butter
2 t. salt
1 T. plus 2 t. sugar
4 C. bread flour
2 T. nonfat dry milk
1 1/2 t. active dry yeast

Place all ingredients in bread pan. Add the powdered milk either before the flour or in the middle so that it isn't floating around. :) Add the yeast last. Use the basic, light cycle. Makes a 2 lb. loaf.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread- Bread Machine--from Jaymie

1 1/8 C. Warm water
1/4 C. honey
1 t. salt
2 T. vegetable oil
2 C. Wheat flour
1 C. Bread flour
1 1/2 t. dry active yeast

Add ingredients according to manufacturer's directions. Use wheat bread cycle and light color setting. Add flour second to last and yeast on top of that.

Grandma West's Amazing Sourdough Biscuits--Justin's Grandma West lives in Diamond Springs, California, just west of Placerville. She uses sourdough starter in lots of things, and is an amazing cook! She loves to enter her original recipes in the local fair, and she always wins a prize!

2 cups sourdough starter (see recipe below)
1 cup flour
1 Tb. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Mix well. Turn out onto a well-floured board and knead to a soft dough, adding more flour if necessary. Let rest for 20-30 minutes. Roll out to 1/2" thickness and cut with cookie/biscuit cutter. Dip each biscuit in oil and place on greased cookie sheet. Let rise until double--about 15 minutes. Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
Sourdough Starter: Put 1 cup milk in glass container and leave at room temperature until clabbered. It may take a week. Add 1 cup flour. Stir well. Let sit on the kitchen counter--uncovered--for at least 24 hours until bubbly and double in bulk. Grandma says: "I keep my starter in a 3-lb. peanut butter jar. I use 2 1/2 c. milk and 2 1/2 c. flour. After (the starter) is bubbly you can use it in recipes. Replenish with equal amounts of milk and flour. Each time let it sit out for 24 hours, then cover and store in the fridge." Grandma makes wonderful bread, french bread, pancakes, the biscuits above, and even puts the starter in cakes and quick breads. Yum!

And last, but not least, the recipe for whole wheat bread we love and use. . .
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/recipe.jsp?recipe_id=R428

The recipe is long, and this post is getting huge, so I included the link here. Some personal notes: we have used both powdered buttermilk and regular dry milk when baking the bread. The buttermilk adds a nice buttery taste to the bread. Both ways are good. I also use my Bosch mixer when making the bread. I add the first half of the flour with the other ingredients and mix well. Then, with the mixer going, I add the rest of the flour, making sure to add the last couple of cups gradually. I stop when the dough starts to clean the sides of the bowl. Sometimes I don't end up using all the flour the recipe calls for. But it's important to pay attention, otherwise it'll be too dry--yuck! Once the dough is the right consistency, I cover it and let the mixer do the work for 5-6 minutes. Then I remove the hook and let it rise in the bowl, covered. I also double and triple the recipe regularly.

Slackin' On The Blog: Some Updates

Sorry about no posts for a while! This blog is one of things that has to go by the wayside when life gets so hectic we cut back to the basics. I was afraid this would happen, but we just have to get back on the horse and try again! I hope to work things out so that I can post regularly once or twice a week, but we'll see how it goes. Life sometimes throws you curve balls.

Christina did a great job in her play in March, and we will be posting the pictures we took as soon as we upload the pictures. We can't post any videos of the play, but you'll get an idea of how fun the play was, and what a cutie she was.

Jeremy continues to grow and be cute! He has melted my heart by learning how to say "Ma ma mahmmm. . .", and he also says "Ba ba ba ba." Daddy can't wait until he learns to say "Da da," of course! He's right on average for weight and height, and he loves to roll around on the floor and play. He's working on sitting, and he tries so hard to balance! He likes to test things out by cramming them in his mouth and by banging on them (hard) with his legs or arms! He had his very first sucker on Tuesday (April 22) when we had an unexpected visit. Christopher tried to pull Jeremy up to sit and gave him a nursemaid's elbow. It was so sad--his little arm hung useless, and I had to be so careful with his arm or he just sobbed. I, unfortunately, figured it out after I'd already laid him on it while he nursed. He nursed and cried at the same time, scaring me a bit! I finally determined the problem (Emily's had it twice, one time courtesy of dear Christopher). After the doctor fixed the problem, he brought in a sucker to see if Jeremy would use his arm. Jeremy grabbed the thing (with the opposite hand) and stuck it right in his mouth, sucking furiously. His eyes got big, and he looked at it like, "Whoa; what is this?!" After a few minutes, he started to use his other hand to handle the sucker, so we were satisfied. I was sitting there thinking, "Gee whiz--his first solid food was supposed to be rice cereal, and he's eating a sucker!" He dropped it in his car seat after a few minutes and didn't really protest, so I just let it go. But he sure enjoyed it while it lasted! I'm such a dork--I have to have a video of the kids eating their first solids, but Justin's never home when I am ready to do it. Maybe I'll have to see if I can video and feed at the same time.

Justin's been working insane hours (though my bro-in-law, JT, would probably say "normal hours") lately because he still doesn't have anyone to replace him in his old position, plus they're still working out the bugs in the new rebate database. For a while, he was leaving at 6:30 A.M. and coming home at 11:00-11:30 P.M. But he was a trooper! It's been hard for him to have so many responsibilities and not enough time. We're hoping for a new employee soon, and for this database to finally be ready!

My bread woes are over! As you probably know, wheat prices shot up, and the availability of it plummeted. I sent Justin down to the Dry Pack Cannery to get me a bag of wheat one week after I called for prices, and he came back telling me that we'd been put on a waiting list because it was all gone. Everyone around here heard about the prices going up, I guess, and turned it into the Apocalypse. Suddenly everywhere you went, the flour shelves were as barren as a dusty desert, and nobody had the kind of wheat I wanted to use (hard red spring). I found out later that one of my neighbors had bought 12 25-lb. bags and was on order for 12 more (and her mom did the same thing)! Holy cow! I had been looking forward to buying a Nutrimill and grinding my own wheat into flour, but I had to put that off. I made some white bread (with a way yummy recipe, by the way) so we actually had some bread, then went to the grocery store to see what my options were. The shelves looked like a hurricane was on the way, but tucked up on a higher shelf were some small bags of King Arthur Whole Wheat Flour. I decided that was my only choice, and I bought it. I thought I'd try the recipe on the back because it called for the kind of yeast I had, called for simple ingredients, and could be made by hand or in a mixer (my three main requirements). Plus the recipe spelled out every step, very helpful when you're still learning what things are supposed to look like and how long things should take. It is amazing! I don't have to use gluten or dough conditioner, and it is moist, chewy, and delicious!! (That is as long as I watch the dough consistency very carefully as I add the flour--a big duh. Don't try to make bread when your 1st grader is counting for her math homework, and the other kids are all trying to talk and move around at once!) I really like the flour, too--it's ground fine and has no unground pieces left in it like the off-brand. And it tastes fairly fresh, too. Plus, it costs the same as the off-brand now! I still want to grind my own wheat, but, for now, this will do!

Random Thoughts. . .

And for those of you who were waiting for something profound or funny. . .too bad! You won't find it here! However, I will ramble on about various and sundry things that may or may not interest you. (You get what you pay for, you know, and this a free blog!)

I may try my breadmaker again, just for fun. I might try using a different cycle this time. Last time, I used the "wheat" cycle, but it's a pretty long one, so I may try using "white" or "rapid" just to see what happens. I guess I just have to prove that I am smarter than a bread machine or bread dough (please reserve your comments for when you have left this blog). I still think I'm going to keep using the Bosch, though, for the most part--I really love getting my hands in the dough, and I can make more than one loaf at a time.

Christina is getting closer to her performance in "Seussical Jr." at the elementary school. We are so lucky to have a very talented lady directing this production, with the assistance of other talented moms. She teaches acting classes at Rogers Memorial Theatre here in Centerville, and occasionally (now that she's married and has children) performs herself. She is running the whole thing in a very organized and professional manner, and Christina has been having a blast! She comes home full of energy and is so excited to be in this show!

Christina is a "Who Townsperson" and a "Snake Charmer--Circus Performer." They had picture day today, so we had to run to the school to do her hair in a "funky Who fashion." She looked so cute in her costume!! I thought they were having a pro come to do the pictures, so I left my camera home. Nope--it was a bunch of moms furiously snapping pictures and telling each other (nicely) to move out of the way. And I left mine home. Sheesh. Hopefully we'll get a photo or two of her before the production ends (they have to leave their costumes at the school, and they share them if they're double-cast).

Because of the size of the cafeteria/multi-purpose room, the tickets are very limited (the director gave each family a limit of 10 tickets total). The director put out sign-up sheets today, and they were supposed to be up until Thursday. The show "sold out" by 11:00 A.M.!! I had to sign up on the "waiting list" with other mothers that waited until the afternoon, imploring in bold letters, "WE DON'T HAVE ANY TICKETS YET!!" It was a little more than frustrating, especially when I saw that some family had signed up for 20 TICKETS!! (Ummm, that's more than 10, people. I too would love to invite everyone we know, but our multi-purpose room is too small and there are other people's kids in this play, too!) Ooops, I griped. Sorry! I'm hoping it will work out so at least Justin and I and the grandparents can go. I would also love to take Christopher and Emily, because I know how much they would love it, but we probably won't be able to. Ashley will see the play at school, so we don't need a ticket for her.

Jeremy is growing more every day, and he just turned five months old on March 8!! It's so hard to believe! He's going to be sitting up before long, and he absolutely loves his feet. He really likes to suck on his toes and play with his toys. He rolls back and forth and it kind of gets him moving in one direction or another sometimes, but usually around in a circle. He looks all around and even cranes his neck back sometimes, just to make sure he's not missing something. I'm just afraid I'm going to miss this precious time in his life altogether--it's going so fast!!

(P.S. Congratulations to Jeni on the birth of her daughter, Destiny Marie!! She was born March 10 at 12:13 A.M., and she is a darling little girl with tons of dark hair!)

Trial and Error: Making Homemade Whole-Wheat Bread

Great Harvest. Honey Whole Wheat Bread. MMMM. Need I say more? Okay, I will! It's made with only five ingredients and no preservatives, and the flour is always fresh ground. It is SOOO tasty and good for you. . .and, alas, SOOO expensive. Because we've been trying to eat more healthily, we thought it was a necessary investment, but with the entire family (except the baby) eating the bread, it was becoming very budget un-friendly!

We started out by weaning our kids (and Justin) off of white bread, and we started buying a certain kind of bread that's available here called "Fiber Bread" to get them more used to a wheat taste. (Justin and Ashley prefer the sprouted wheat variety, but I think it's too dry.) Justin was not a big fan, but it wasn't too bad. We had been trying to make some healthy changes in our diets, and we thought this would be a great place to start. I also started using the whole wheat flour I'd bought with good intentions, but never used. Justin, in his quest for healthier food, discovered IHOP's Harvest Grain 'N' Nut pancakes, and I had to find a copycat recipe so we could start making them at home. My kids complained a bit, but now they gobble them up! I started trying other true whole wheat breads so we could make the bread transition, and, boy, there are some horrible ones out there! I absolutely LOVE Great Harvest Bread, but Justin wasn't sold. Then he finally tried the Great Harvest stuff. It wasn't instant love, but he thought it tasted better than other breads we'd tried. However, the more he ate it, the more he liked it, especially toasted. He even ordered some orange blossom honey on the internet (because, obviously, we don't have it in Utah where there are no orange trees--Justin says it's because we live in an "Artic wasteland") to eat with his toast! It was a comforting ritual. And my kids fell in love with the GH Bread too! We even branched out to the Pumpkin Bread (dude, that stuff is good!!) and other varieties just for fun.

Justin was willing to keep paying for the GH Bread, but I just felt worse and worse about paying over $3.50 a loaf. I started thinking about preparedness and self-reliance and all those wonderful lessons we've had in Enrichment and Relief Society, and I knew the time had come to stop buying Great Harvest bread on a regular basis.

A few years ago, when we lived in Bountiful, a lady named Karen Gilmore, AKA "The Wheat Lady," came to give a presentation on food storage and what we can do to actually use it. Her lessons have been running around in my head, gradually seeping into our lives and mixing with other lessons we've had since, slowly helping us to change and acquire new habits. From these things, I knew I needed to start grinding wheat. I researched wheat grinders and wheat prices, and I got all the ingredients, like honey, dough conditioner/wheat gluten, that I'd need to make our own bread. We still had about 10 lbs of whole wheat flour left, so I put off buying the grinder until we'd used it all up.

I decided to try using our long-neglected breadmaker just for fun, using a recipe I mentioned in an earlier post. I even set the delay timer so we'd have warm bread at a certain time the next day. I learned something: don't use instant yeast in a breadmaker on a delay cycle! Or in a breadmaker at all, for that matter! (I realized it was instant yeast as I was adding the ingredients, and I was hoping somehow it would turn out anyway.) The bread overrose and was the size of a 1 lb loaf, not a 2 lb. Thankfully, it didn't taste terrible, and it was moist and had a good texture, even though it was really dense. So, because I had a pound of instant yeast, I decided to bite the bullet and make the bread WITHOUT A BREADMAKER. This was a pivotal step in our lives. I have never done anything that domestic before. Whoa.

The next Monday, I got out all my ingredients and my Bosch mixer (the subject of a future post). I followed The Wheat Lady's book religiously, and it was a snap, especially using the instant yeast. It only took 10-15 minutes for each rise, and then all I had to do was divide the huge amount of dough into five loaves, put them in the pans, and bake them. It smelled SOOO good in our kitchen, and I felt like such the homemaker as the heavenly smell wafted through the house. I imagined five perfect loaves of bread coming out of the oven. Then reality set in.

My oven, like most electric ovens, is too hot, so I had to guess what temperature to set it at so I didn't burn the outside and leave the inside uncooked. Well, they didn't burn, but at the end of the time, most of the loaves still seemed doughy near the bottom. I put them back in for a little longer. Some of the loaves were bigger than others (I guess I need to learn how to divide more evenly). And they didn't taste quite as good as they smelled. They were also a little on the dense side--not yucky or anything, but not quite how they were supposed to turn out. Sigh. I know it's going to take lots of practice and experience to get this thing down, but I just want my bread to be perfect from the start, and I want my kids to not complain about it. Oh well. If that's all we have, I guess they'll have to learn to like it, right? I just want my bread to look, smell, and taste like. . .Great Harvest. But it's not going to. (I'm still waiting for someone to put a "copycat" recipe out on the web!) One thing's for sure--I need to throw away the flour. I know it's "wasting food," but it's too old, and it doesn't taste very good! So I'm going to head down to the Dry Pack Cannery to buy my wheat, head over to Bountiful to buy my grinder, and then we'll try again. And, as Justin kindly pointed out, maybe while I'm still learning, why don't I try making a little less bread at a time? Sigh.

The Official Beginning of This Blog

After many, many false starts, and a long pause, I am officially starting this blog!!

I wasn't quite sure what to do with it. After all, most of the blogs I'd read, until recently, featured the author ranting and raving about this political issue or that, or incessantly whining in each post (boy, I'll have to be careful what I say from now on, huh?). I honestly wasn't sure if I wanted to post my journal for all the world to see, or if I wanted my blog to take on more of a "you're not alone" tack. Maybe other moms could find comfort in knowing that someone else struggles with the same things they do. Hmmm. Neither of those things were very appealing, because the first one just wasn't an option, and the second would take WAY too much time--plus, I need more help than probably any mother that would happen to trip onto my blog!

Then, after finding some really good blogs that mainly showcased the blogger's family and interests, I decided that my blog could be a way for our families and friends to stay up with what was happening in our lives. I didn't really know what to write, so I just wrote about what was happening, and a little about each kid, and left it at that. After two posts, the blog stalled. Jeremy was born, I couldn't go downstairs after my c-section, and I just wasn't sure what to write.

Just a few weeks ago, my sister sent out an e-mail inviting everyone to visit their new blog: http://mormonfury.blogspot.com/. I had a great time reading the latest cute things her little John and Erin are doing, as well as watching a couple of videos of them, and enjoying some pictures. Aaaaah, I thought. So this is what I could do with my blog! It's a really cool way to keep in touch with the family--complete with the pics and vids the grandparents dig (as well as siblings and friends)! It doesn't have to be complicated or stretch out like a presidential address (like this one is starting to)--it can just be simple and fun, and be whatever you think will interest the people you care about. (I hope Kristin's friends/in-laws don't mind, but I also visited some of their blogs for further reference. I was truly inspired!)

So here it is--the Centerville West Family Blog! It's not just about Mommy West, it's about the whole family. It's not flashy, it's not earth-shattering, and it's definitely not fancy (considering my very limited technical skills), but it's here. Hope you enjoy it.

P.S. I also tripped onto another really great blog while looking for different recipes for homemade whole wheat bread. It's called http://beanland.wordpress.com/. I feel like I invaded someone's privacy, but I really appreciate the bread recipe! The concoction is currently sitting in my breadmaker on a delay timer, all ready to start baking at 7:00 A.M. I'll let you know how it turns out! (Thanks to Scott and Anne Bean for the recipe and the smiles!)