Memorial Day

I realize that it's been a while since Memorial Day but, hey, at least I'm getting to it! We had a good time seeing everyone. We saw nearly all our family (it was especially good to see Ryan again after so long), Sarah's new baby Owyn, Marcela, Mike and baby Emma, and believe it or not...Dustin. Yes, he is still alive. I just wish there was more time sometimes! We hauled the kittens with us for the trip and on our last day took them to the park for some fresh air and attention. And as you can see, the kids loved it!

Here Katie Belle is petting and kissing the dog. She loves dogs! She also saw Ryan for the first time since he left for Iraq and said, "I love that guy!" and ran and gave him a hug. Cute.

How's the weather?

So it's been rainy and COLD here. Gotta love Idaho for that. We get sunburns on the weekend and then have to turn the heat back on in the house a few days later. It's also dashed all hopes of getting my garden done. =( I also realized that since we're going to Pocatello, I won't be here for the Farmer's Market to buy my plants! Seriously, it's just not looking good for me. Maybe I'll have a garden that grows something this year. At least the baby carrots I planted in my planter are doing alright. On a happier note, I found a great bread recipe. I LOVE it! It's small enough to mix up in my Kitchen Aid and it's fast. I love fast. =) It also comes out with a yummy, soft crust. The crust has always been my nemesis of breadmaking...but no more! This crust I gladly eat! So I'm sharing the recipe with you all. Mostly because I don't want to lose it and now I'll be able to call any of you and get it, right?

Homemade Bread

5-7 c. bread flour or wheat flour
2 1/2 c. warm water
1/8 c. oil
1/3 c. honey
1/2 tbsp. dough enhancer
1/2 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. SAF yeast

In kitchen aid mixer, put water, oil, honey, enhancer, alst and half of the flour. Mix on low speed. Pun in yeast and the rest of the flour ( so that dough is cleaning the sides of the bowl, it will be sticky). Let in knead on low speed for 5 min. Cover and let rise for 15 min. Divide in half and shape into loaves on a cutting board or counter greased with oil. Put into two well greased bread pans. Cover and let rise about 30 min. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 min. Brush tops with butter while still hot.

This picture really helped me see what my dough should look like. Still sticking to the bottem but not to the sides of the bowl. Mine probably sticks a little more than the picture sometimes but it's all good! I've made this recipe with and without dough enhancer and with and without bread flour. It's always good! My next attempt will be with wheat flour. Maybe I'll add a picture then!

Oldie but a Goodie

This was from the end of January. Maia had a little bit of a cold but it's really cute and, besides, Casey says we needed more videos on our blog. I guess you could say this is his contribution to the blog. =)

I hate potty training!

Just in case any of you hadn't heard, I hate potty training. I hate the mess, I hate sitting in the bathroom forever thinking of conversation and things to do to keep a kid sitting, I hate worrying about leaving the house, I just hate it. Lucky for me this is the last one! But let me just say that Maia will be in pull-ups for a little while longer. I was potty training three at once there for awhile although two were felines and caught on in a day. Why can't humans get it? We'd rather do the dirty diaper run than just be clean (please reference video for the exact run I'm talking about).

I did have some luck for a little while but then Maia had a few accidients and Katie Belle thought since Maia could pee on the floor she could too and then I had Katie Belle's messes to clean up as well. That was all this mom could take! I lost the war this time but it's a loss I'm willing to take.

Heat Wave

Wow. It was hot today! I was out getting dirt for my garden around 6:30pm and it was 96 degrees! We had a fun-filled day all the same. Went to a parade this morning and, because of the heat, we all received our first sunburns of the summer. And that was with sunblock, in case any of you were inclined to think maybe it was the result of bad parenting! Let's just put that concern to rest! After being in Arizona we BELIEVE in sunscreen. Anyway, we went with friends of ours and the kids got loads of candy...and Indian headbands. Those were a big hit with Sadie and Katie Belle because then they were Pocahontas during the rest of the day. Then we went to the Farmer's Market and ended up buying a jar of homemade barbecue sauce and some mango salsa. YUM! They had live music and things to try so the kids really liked it. Next weekend I'll be going to buy plants for my garden which we also did today! I decided to put in a raised garden after the fierce battle I fought with morning glory last year. The sides are up and the dirt is in the garage so all that's left is to mix up my dirt and throw it in my garden! I AM SO EXCITED!!! I'll post pictures when it's done. Probably next weekend when my new plants will be in too!

Hapee Muthrz Dae!!

Happy Mother's Day!!! I just wanted to share a couple cards I received from Luke today. Very cute. I included the picture of the one, which explains the title to the post today (in case you didn't catch it). Inside it says, "Mi mama es cariñosa. Mi mama es amorosa. Bee cus shee tux me in bed. I Y U mom and dad." He can obviously spell much better in Spanish than English! I love how he can write now eventhough he can't spell worth a darn! The other one he made at church and it said, "I love you because...you let me help you do the lonjree." He even drew a picture of the washer and a shirt and pants that he's throwing in! I guess I should let him help me more. I love my kids and I love being a mom and happy mother's day again to all you moms!

Here's all my kids...even the new adopted ones! =)

Princess in Boots

Luke and Maia were messing around outside yesterday. Maia was so cute in her princess dress and rainboots smelling all the flowers! (If you think they look like weeds in the picture, it's because they are.) Luke was killing weeds with his pocket knife that he's so proud of. He loves showing us all how sharp it is...don't tell him that our butter knives are probably just as sharp! Of course, he probably wouldn't believe you anyway.

The Beginning of the End

Maia went potty for the first time today! We're on our way to being diaper-free!!!! WOOHOO!! Just letting you know there's a party at our house!

Orchard Assignment

We spent yesterday evening at the church orchard. Our ward has been assigned a row of apricot trees so we went to thin them out. I knew nothing about thinning apricots so it was fun to learn. Sadly, frost hit the trees this year so alot of the apricots fell off. The kids ran around playing in the dirt and mud, fighting with sticks and throwing the green apricots at each other and us while we thinned and dropped (maybe threw) the green apricots at them! You should have seen my filthy kids! We get orchard assignments instead of cannery assignments and honestly I think they're more fun. =)

Movin' out

We woke up yesterday and decided to check on the kittens. Well, when we checked only two kittens were left! I guess the mom didn't like that we found them and started to move out. So we are now taking care of two kittens. It's funny because when we were going to see the kittens Luke and Sadie were talking about which one they wanted. Luke said he wanted the black one and Sadie wanted the one with all the colors. So can you guess which two were left? Yup. Those kids must be saying their prayers! For now, Luke's is called Dash (a boy) and Sadie's is called Gato (a girl). They're being bottle fed and seem to be doing alright.

It's a good thing they're so cute because all babies are alot of work!

"Meanwhile Casey was boiling water..."

Yes, if you can believe it, we have more babies around here!!!! We were turning on the grill for dinner and Casey heard a noise. He looked inside a smashed up cardboard box outside and found a litter of kittens! That black cat that wanders around here outside must be a mommy. We gave them a new box and a towel and put them back outside hoping mom comes back. We'll find out tomorrow what the shelter wants us to do with them. What's crazy is that Sadie told me this morning that she wanted to see baby kitties today! Isn't that quite the coincidence? I guess she got her wish! All the kids loved seeing the kittens. Katie Belle and Maia were the most upset about them going back outside but I'm sure we'll be seeing them again tomorrow.

Kittens are cute little things!

Maia Catching Butterflies

Maia noticed the dust in the air today and thought it was butterflies. She was jumping around and using the sword to get them! I apologize for the naked baby...she was in between being sleeping beauty and getting her pajamas on. =)

Poor Sadie

Sadie has had the worst luck lately. Let's just say that she hates going to the doctor. Today she went in and had an ingrown toenail removed. OUCH! Casey had to pin her down while the doctor worked on her. I'll spare you the details but just know that Sadie is alright albeit in a little pain. She'll have her big pink toe for a couple days and isn't supposed to be walking much. She'll gladly accept sympathy phone calls, cards, polly pockets and chocolate for consolation. (Just Kidding...about the polly pockets and chocolate!)

Day at the Park

There was a BBQ at the park today for Luke's school. He spent the most of his time hanging around with his buddies. This is the group of them. Only one friend (Parker) was missing.

Here we have Archie, Tanan, Luke and Slater all in their matching school shirts.

And a dual language school just wouldn't be right without having some Cinco de Mayo entertainment! The boys were bored until the machete dancing banditos came up! They then ran around with sticks pretending to be them. Tanan thought it would be better if they had lightsabers instead. =) Maia just kept saying that the girls were princesses and Katie Belle wanted to join in on the dancing. We all had fun.

Vain as a Peacock

Are there even words to describe this? Sadie is one vain little girl. She wore this feather around ALL day and truly believed she was the most beautiful thing on the planet. Her world would fall apart every time Maia took it just to hold it and look at it. My goodness. I have my work cut out for me don't I!

And then there's Katie Belle. I can't even get her to let me do her hair! She rips out braids and ponytails like a wild woman. Mom had suggested making something with Dora on it so while I was looking at Target I saw them selling a piece of ribbon with a little piece of elastic sewed on so you could wear it as a head band. Now I had seen Dora ribbon at Walmart and instantly put two and two together! Can I just say that someone is making a killing making and selling those?! (Take note Mom, you should make these to match the dresses you make!) I had one made up in a few minutes and now Katie Belle won't go without it! We can see her beautiful eyes again!!!