School Lunch

This week I have sent my kids to school and had them eat school lunch. They have come home complaining that they don't like it and that it is gross, as they raid the pantry with famished looks in their eyes. Can't blame them too much. I wouldn't like school cheeseburgers (mystery meat on a bun), ravioli from a can (sick), or greasy burritos filled with beans (ppppfffffttt). The list goes on and on. Then I checked on the school menu and figured out that I will be paying $1.70 for each "meal" that my kids are not eating. Crazy--I remember going to grade school with a quarter and dime taped together in my pocket so I would not lose either one. That is 35 cents people. Our lunches were also almost homemade too. I remember the smell of fresh rolls and cookies almost every day. Things have definatly changed in the last 10, ok maybe 20+ years!!!

Anyway, I am thinking about sending my kids with packed lunches almost daily to save a little dough and their appetites. We'll see if I can be creative but yet thrifty and nutritious.


Joke for the day from our good friend Madison Kmetz, age 10.

What is the difference between school lunch and horse poo?

School lunch is cold! :)

Twin Falls Temple

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed an amazing weekend with the dedication of the Twin Falls Temple. Growing up and loving Twin Falls, I never imagined that a temple would be built there. I feel so blessed to have the House of the Lord miles from where I grew up. Saturday night we were able to attend a Cultural Celebration. They transformed the arena at the fairgrounds into a stage and area where around 4000 youth were able to perform. They did and amazing job! I think the prep for such an occasion took almost a year! We were totally entertained and it was fun to learn of the early saints in the Magic Valley area. I am thankful for them.

Sunday morning Whitney and I were able to be at the Cornerstone Ceremony with President Monson. We were a few feet from him and Whitney sat at his feet for a few minutes. I love him as our Prophet! He is such an amazing man, but yet down to earth. He was so cute with the cornerstone and every one he invited to place mortor. He had to comment on what a great (or not) job they were doing. I picture him being such a fun grandpa! But, being in his presence and feeling of his spirit--I know that he loves and cares for us, as does our Heavenly Father. We are so blessed to have a living prophet on this earth today.

Jeff, Walker & I attended the dedication broadcast at the Stake Center with Jill Steve and my Dad. Walker was able to go sit up front with his Grandpa, I know it meant a lot to him (and Me!) I have never been a part of a temple dedication, and was elated to be part of the Twin Falls Temple. I will remember it always, as I hope my chidren do too. What a special opportunity we have had. I know we as a family will continue to be blessed as we attend and remember the covenants we have made there. I am thankful for my Heavenly Father and his Temples.

Olympic Withdrawl!

Can I just say that tonight I am missing the Olympics. Beijing was as good if not way better than any Summer Olympics than I can remember. It will be missed! America's Got Talent is just not cutting it tonight. It seems I should be getting better sleep.

HMMMMMMM......

I wonder why my children are hungry 10 minutes after eating breakfast? (and need snacks the rest of the morning)

Happy Birthday!

Here is a shout out to Jeff's Dad, Lyle. It is his birthday today! Wish we could be with you, but know that you are fondly thought of. For the occasion we took this picture before Jeff left for work and ate cheesecake after dinner! Happy Birthday!

 

 

Can you believe that these were the best 2 photos out of about 8? Pretty poor odds. Sorry Lyle. We really are happy about your birthday, we just cannot take a decent family snap shot!

Encore

Thought I'd post our latest family favorite when it comes to dinner! Feeding my children something they all like and will eat is all but easy and all but my favorite! This recipe is both and they keep requesting it. Plus, I always have the ingredients to whip it up. Huge Bonus! Oh, and sorry about not posting a picture of this delight-it is always gobbled up faster than I can think--get a picture!

Cheese, Ham, Veggie, or Whateveryouhavearound Pizza

1c. water
1t. sugar
2 1/4t. yeast
3T olive oil
2-3c. flour
1t. salt

Combine water, sugar, yeast. Let set until gluten forms. Add other ingredients and knead. Let rise about 30 minutes. Roll out for pizza. Bake crust at 425 for 8 minutes. Remove crust and add sauce and toppings. Bake for another 5-8 minutes or until browned to your likeness. (We like ours lightly browned and still soft and chewy) Enjoy!

Sauce:
3T. ranch dressing
1/2 t oregano, basil, garlic salt and pepper

This recipe is adapted from sisterscafe.blogspot.com---great site with fun recipes!

Fabric Girl

 

Whitney has a love of doing what ever I am doing---it is my favorite, she is my favorite (girl anyway!)
She is my 3rd and 4th hand with countless things around the house. I love having her around! For a few months I have been meaning to make her a new outfit for school. I finally whipped it up last night. She stayed up until after nine watching me and trying to learn as she asked me cute questions about my machine and sewing in general! She is getting to be a whiz at pinning things for me! She said to me, "Mom when I get bigger I am going to be a FABRIC GIRL just like you and make my kids cute things too!" Love it and the way her pants and sash turned out! Can I also just say that I am a huge lover of Amy Butler Fabrics- can't get enough!

 

1st Day (continued)

 
Our kids! Do you think Wyatt is pleased to have free(er) reign of the house? Toss up between that and Wyatt being Wyatt for the camera! Wes cracks me up too! He loves shoes and wants to wear any and all that he can get his toes into!

 




The 4th and 1st grader in front of the new school. I love the twirl/twist of the backpack straps. I think they are both a little nervous.
 








Jeff entertaining the boys at the pick up! Jeff thought we were being helicopter parents! I loved seeing their faces--Whitney pure joy and Walker a staged frown. We intended to drive them home (their early request), but they wanted to ride the bus instead!

1st Day of School

We passed the 1st Day of School with flying colors! Walker is in 4th grade and Whitney in 1st. We are in a new neigborhood so this is a new school for our kids. We are pleased as we hear nothing but great things about Edahow Elementary!
 
Whitney was so excited I think she had a hard time sleeping and wasn't hungry for anything but 1/2 of a banana for breakfast! Her favorite part of school was lunch! Girl after my own heart! She had a great day! Whitney is such a happy girl and wants to make friends with everyone. She is excited that there is a cute girl in her class that lives just a block away! Yea!
 


Walker was so nervous with the new school and new friends. The 2 boys from our ward who he enjoys were together in another class---Which he was disappointed about. Just a golden opportunity to spread out his wings and make more friends. His favorite part of school was when it was over! Funny kid! Jeff & I went to pick them up after school. He was laughing and talking with friends. As soon as he saw us he quickly walked over to us and turned his smile up side down and said that school was no fun at all. I think he is trying to pull a fast one on us!

Nasty Sewer

As I was starting the bedtime routine tonight, Wyatt was upset that bedtime was coming too quickly. Here is the dialog...

Wyatt: Mom are you turning my bed into a nasty sewer? --and are you going to put me the crazy monster into that nasty sewer (with whining, complaining and much drama in his little 4 year old voice) to DROWN?!!

Me: Yes, Wyatt I am in a few minutes.

Wyatt: You want me to drown?

Me: (Laughing my head off) No, not to drown, but to go to bed and sleep so you can be happy tomorrow.

Wyatt: ----Run out of the room crying!

Clean House

I cannot believe it has been a week since I posted. This summer has flown by! This week was hilarious(I'll post about it soon!), but Saturday--the special day--brings me to cleaning up from the week, getting ready for the Sabbath and the next week to come. I usually enlist help from the "helpful" troops to get the house clean. This morning however they cleaned the basement and picked up their rooms, but then I decided to take the low road and let them play and eat cookies outside at 10am--love the morning sun on our back patio. Why the low road you ask? Doesn't a good mom clean with her children in order to teach them an outstanding work ethic? Well yes good moms do; but good and sane moms sometimes sometimes take the LOW ROAD. Today I decided that I would be happier the rest of the day, if I give my children the morning off as I thoroughly clean the kitchen, the bathrooms, vacuum , dust and do 6 loads of laundry! Whew! I did that to avoid the contention and frustration that comes with cleaning with a 9, 6, crazy 4 and 1 year old (that undoes all that is finished). Go ahead judge me! Think lower of me and my children that were lazy today! I am enjoying my clean house!

....that will probably stay clean for 2 more hours at the most! Whaahhhhh!


Oh--and by the way--as I was vacuuming a nasty fly was buzing around my head. I thought I would show him--but really didn't. I tried to suck him up with the wand of my vacuum since I don't own a fly swatter since the move. No avail. However, the kids had a grand time watching me as I ran all over the place with wand in hand. Those babies are so fast. Today I gained a new and refreshed appreciation for Mr. Mioggi and his chop sticks. What a stud!

Saturday Wish

Ok, tonight I have stayed up way too late blogging. It is so addicting!
SO HERE IS MY WISH FOR TOMORROW:

(No, not my children vegetating all day long)
but maybe.....

a little sleeping in PAST the butt crack of dawn,

a little Saturday Cartoons in the morning, (after the usual getting dresses, making beds, picking up their rooms),

a little bit of quiet time in the afternoon,

and a little bit (OK maybe a lot) of happily playing together while I get things accomplished around the house.

Not too much to ask?

Yummy Doughnut with Cow Poop on Top!

This afternoon Jeff and I escaped and went on a little date; out to a late lunch and to see a movie, Mama Mia to be exact! We had a great time. When I was a little girl, my parents had an album of theses songs by ABBA on a record that we would always listen and sing to. We always included our with fake instruments and microphone thumbs that would make us think we were really a band. I remember on our favorite songs dancing and jumping around and making the record skipping. The good ole' days! The songs brought back great memories but the movie introduced different things into my mind, that are not super uplifting or wholesome. Don't get me wrong Meryl Streep did a great job but when it really comes down to it she was a little bit of a harlot! Getting pregnant as a young girl and being able to narrow the Dad down to 3 is screaming floozy to me! I feel a little guilty for enjoying the movie as much as I did, there was not a single trace of a moral in the entire plot. I remember a lesson in Seminary along time ago that discussed good vs bad. For example, if you found a doughnut that looked so fresh and smelled so good, but someone smeared cow poop on top for icing would you eat it? Under and around that vile icing is something that would taste good and be delightful. All you would have to do is scrape off and ignore the cow dung and you would have a tasty treat! Something really good with a little bit of bad--is it still good? Isn't Mama Mia kind of the same? There were some great parts in the movie that were very enjoyable, I just scraped off all the imorality--it's just that simple. Ok, when it really comes down to it, I must admit I ate my cow poop doughnut tonight and it was shamefully delicious!

(Jeff mentioned that this post sounded a little preachy, so I apologize--Maybe his is just feeling guilty that he completely was entertained by this movie, but yet doesn't feel a little skanky after watching it, like his wife! :)

Rain in Pocatello

There is nothing like dancing in the rain on a warm summer evening with your 4 blonde children as you listen to Ruthie Pig Face Draper (our favorite song of The Dan in Real Life soundtrack)! It has been cloudy and a little humid most of the day but the rain just decided to come and bring a smile to our faces, and refreshment to our dry lawn! The sun is just starting to set and it is beautiful outside. A lovely ending to a fun summer day!

LAGOON

On Monday Jeff had the day off and we decided to take the kids to the ultimate summertime hotspot(especially if you live in Idaho)--you guessed it good ole' Lagoon! The last time we were there Wyatt was only about 5 months old and we were accompanied by Jon and one of his old flames. It has been quite awhile. Our kids had a blast and it was so great to be there with them and enjoy each others company. Whitney probably thanked Jeff & I 20 times for taking her to such a fun place. She is such an appreciative little girl. I am so glad that she is part of our family. Here are some pictures of the 1st half of the day.



I love the excitement on Wes' face. This was the first ride of the day!



Whitney, Wyatt and Wes watching Jeff & Walker on the Wild Mouse (Whitney was thanking her lucky stars, she did not ride that crazy one!)


The all time favorite ride of the day! The GREAT BIG SWINGING BOAT! (We forgot the real name and thats what the kids called it all day) Jeff took the kids on this probably 6 times. Walker then rode on it all alone in the very back, for the most excitement! So brave!

Whitney was totally cracking us up in this picture! Jeff & I did not give her a choice whether to ride rattlesnake rapids or not-- We knew she would love it even though she was so freaking out and "scared"! (I think we even gave her an idol threat--imagine that!) We wanted to ride the ride all together, but Wes was a few inches too little. I stayed out in order to capture this masterpiece classic. She was half way through the ride and screaming Mom---Help! One minute later, she got off the ride with a huge smile on her face and said "that was fun" and wanted to go for round 2! Hilarious!






Late in the afternoon, we locked the the camera in the car and enjoyed Lagoon-a-beach! After the water park Jeff took the oldest 3 on a few more rides, while I took Wes to the car and tried vomit my motion sickness away. I was so careful to not ride any rides that would make me sick, but I am old and all the excitement got the best of me! Thank goodness for Dramamine and my Pharmacist Husband!