Unbroken

I just picked up this book from the library to read for this month's book group. I wanted to get started early because it's nearly 400 pages long. Once I started, I could not put it down. Amazing. Unbelievably riveting, suspenseful, horrific (plane crash into shark-infested ocean during WWII and being picked up by the enemy), beautiful, and true.

This is how I would quantify those adjectives in relation to each other:

I say that in case the horrific part scares you and you're having second thoughts about reading this book.

I can't stop thinking about it, about how little I know about so many, many things, about huge, sometimes pointless sacrifices made by so many to keep us free, about how big our world is, but how connected we are, about how insignificant and simultaneously how important we are.

Also, and this annoys me, I can't stop thinking about Unbroken compared to another book I read several years ago where the main character spent most of the book stranded in the ocean. The other book was also a best seller, a very celebrated and widely read novel. I slogged my way through it all, disliked it most of the time I was reading it, could not connect to the characters, and had a hard time willingly suspending my disbelief. It turned out to be one of a very few books that I've had a strong negative reaction to, and to even think it has anything in common with the  true story of Louis Zamperini and his band of brothers makes me recoil a little. Maybe it's because this was the story, and ultimately the message, that I was hoping to find, but couldn't, in that other book. I'm very glad I've found it now.

Dear Bentley and Eva

Dear Bentley,
Jack Jack recently visited Jupiter in a rocket during school. He wrote a postcard to send you, but since it will take 40 years to get to you from the largest gas giant, we decided to try the magic of the internet instead.
Love,
Aunt Lorraine

Dear Eva,
Ellen took a trip to Saturn and made a postcard for you, too. Saturn has rings that look beautiful but are really made of rocks. She also lost her first tooth, either on Saturn or at breakfast this morning. We hope the tooth fairy knows the secret to space travel.
Love,
Aunt Lorraine

Celebrity

My cousin is a celebrity. At least in my mind she is. She grew up in Idaho, and I grew up in Texas, so we only saw each other during the few summer family vacation trips we made to visit grandparents and relatives. One year she was my younger sister's roommate at college, and she came and spent several weeks with us one summer. That was when I realized that she was really more like our long lost sister. We girls had lost the family gender race 5-6, but she evened everything out. We seriously would have kept her.

A few things about my cool cousin:
-She introduced me to Harry Potter.
-She taught English in Russia.
-She is one of my few girl cousins who, like me, served an LDS mission. Austria, German speaking.
-She introduced me to blogging (xanga, anyone?).
-Her husband was deployed to Afghanistan shortly after they were married when the National Guard was called up to active duty
-She and her family lived in San Leandro, CA, where my husband served for part of his mission.
-She has her own food blog and is a regular contributor to the Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen Food Blog. (This, in my mind, sealed her celebrity status. I've been writing this post in my head for several years.)

Natalie's Perry's Plate is my go-to food blog. I have used so many of her recipes and ideas that I don't know where to start. It has been fun watching her go from posting recipes between pictures of kids on her personal blog to creating her stand-alone food blog. Her food philosophy has changed along the way, and this is what I love most. I used to consider my eating habits pretty healthy, but she has far surpassed me as she has had children and had her husband go through chiropractic school and begin practicing.

Most recently, she's working on a series of articles about clean and healthy eating, and she has the resources and recipes to match. A while ago, one of my sisters accused me of complimented me on being the closest thing to vegetarian in our family. I never would have considered that myself, but I do love my vegetables. So Nat's progression to kid friendly and vegetable heavy recipes is right up my alley.

Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that she has her own cookbook coming out and her own cooking show in production. Until then, click over and enjoy her blog yourself. Happy cooking and healthy eating!

Happy Birthday

Today my mom would have been 59 years old. Last month I was asked to present something about my mom for a Relief Society dinner, preferably something she had written. I chose an email I found in my collection of recipes that she had written while I was in college, and then I took a look at some of her journals. I found this:

              "1 January 1979 [I was two years old.] Larry spoke in church this past Sunday and gave a list – priority list that will truly be beneficial to me this coming year. Number one was a closer relationship to the Savior – personal – and way basic. I need just that.
              "I feel I’ve not progressed slowly for my 25+ years but time is not going to wait. I’ve known the deep abiding comfort of the Holy Ghost and the whispering in times of need. I’ve had help in raising my children, in my church callings and coping with a busy husband’s schedule. But I’m having problems with consistency. Prayer and scripture reading every morning and planning my weeks to use time wisely. I’ve had some good practice here and I’ve got a good system when I use it. It keeps my mind free of details so I can think of other things. Time marches on and my life gets more complicated with each day it seems.
                "I hope I can remember where real joy is – in giving of myself. I need to do more of that, but I’m finding myself very selfish of my time.
                "I hope to do better in the coming year.”

At 26 my mom could say that she knew, that she needed to do more, and that she wanted to be better. For the next 33 years she worked on knowing more deeply, doing more, and being better. I feel blessed to have been a witness of the multitude of lives she touched with her knowing and doing and being. Especially mine.

The other fairy my kids believe in

Part of my reasoning for not encouraging my kids to believe in Santa Claus was not wanting to lie to my kids, or set them up for disappointment when the inevitable truth came out. Reading the Little House on the Prairie series this past year really gave Ellen a different understanding of the whole issue when Laura and Mary's mother helped Laura reconcile the idea of Santa Claus with their Christian beliefs. It's really beautiful.

That said, I have found a little bit of make believe to be a great motivator for my kids.

In a fit of exasperation, I told my kids one night that any toys not picked up before bed would disappear because the toy fairy was visiting our house after they went to sleep. I didn't even have to try to convince them. They were frantically picking up within seconds.

"How is she going to get in?" "I'm going to LET her in."

"No, Mom, no! Lock the doors and don't answer when she comes. Maybe she'll just go away. Don't let her take our toys!"

"Pick them up, or I'll let her come get them and give them to other children who will take care of them." "Okay! Okay!"

The toy fairy didn't actually visit that night, but on occasion when someone can't find something, Ellen or Jack will suggest, "Maybe you didn't put it away and the toy fairy came and took it and gave it to another kid." "Yeah."

The toy fairy came up during the discussion about the tooth fairy.

"So the tooth fairy takes away your tooth like the toy fairy takes your toys?" "Yes, but the tooth fairy is nice and leaves you a present."

I was just checking to see if they still believed, because the play room might need some work . . .

Shark Teeth

Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny had no chance at our house.  During one of my first casual conversations with Ellen about who Santa Claus was, she told me he brings presents to kids on Christmas day. For some reason that really irritated me, and I quickly responded with something like, “That’s not true. Your parents get you presents for Christmas because we love you and because we want to celebrate the gift Heavenly Father gave us when he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to love us and teach us and die for us.”

I have had occasional twinges since then; I’ve wondered if I’ve stunted my children’s ability to believe, imagine, dream, and just be kids, but I’m not really sorry when I really think about it.

The Easter Bunny wasn’t a big deal at my house when I was growing up. The process of boiling and decorating eggs was much more fun, and my mom didn’t want us all hopped up on candy right before we went to church. One of the times we managed to make it to storytime at the library last spring, the Easter Bunny made a surprise visit, and it was truly terrifying. We’ve had many conversations before and since that experience about why we celebrate Easter. It’s so sweet to hear my children talk about being excited to be able to see their grandmother again.

So one day when Ellen complained that her teeth were hurting, I took a look and discovered a loose bottom tooth. I have to admit that I shrieked with excitement. This is a new milestone for me as a mom. One of the few things I remember from elementary school (both as a student and a teacher) involves the sheer excitement surrounding the loosening and losing of teeth. So much time seems to be spent talking about loose teeth, wiggling loose teeth, waiting for teeth to get loose, guessing who is going to lose the next tooth.

The next time I looked in Ellen’s mouth, not only did she have two loose teeth, but the two permanent teeth were already starting to come in. This worried me, but the two pediatric dentists we go to church with and my sister (who has gone through lots of loose teeth) all assured me that it’s very normal. It just looks a little wierd.


Discussions of wiggling, how to get the teeth out, when to go to the dentist, and when and how the teeth will come out increased. Then I heard my kids discussing the tooth fairy. Just for the sake of gathering information, I questioned them.

How does the tooth fairy get in? Maybe down the chimney. Maybe you can leave the door unlocked.

What does the tooth fairy do? She comes in the night and takes your tooth and leaves you something.

What does the tooth fairy leave? Sometimes toys, sometimes money. The [insert family’s name]’s tooth fairy brings quarters. The [insert family’s name]’s tooth fairy brought [name] twenty dollars!

Doesn’t everyone have the same tooth fairy? I don’t think so, because my friends all got different things.

What does our tooth fairy bring? I don’t know, but I hope she brings money.

What if she brings a toy? That’s okay, too, but I really hope it’s money.

How do you know the tooth fairy is real? What about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny? Be quiet, Mom! The tooth fairy is different.

When I related the question and answer session to Jack, he brought it up again at dinner. “The tooth fairy isn’t real. It’s just like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.” Dad! You’re silly. The tooth fairy IS TOO REAL!

So I’m pretty sure I haven’t stunted my children’s ability to believe, imagine, dream, and just be kids. At some point in every book we read, the Ellen or Jack asks if it’s a real story. They know the stories in the Bible and the Book of Mormon really happened, that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about her real experiences in the Little House books, but that Jack and Annie aren’t real kids and that magic tree houses don’t really exist. We do look at the places they go on our world map when we can and talk about what parts of the story could be real.

And since the tooth fairy isn’t related to any holidays that hold significant meaning for me and my family, I think we’ll roll with it and see what happens.  What a fun way to celebrate growing up.

First Day!

The first day of swim lessons was so exciting! The kids smiled the whole way through kicking, making bubbles, floating, and making big arms. It was also the only day Rose voluntarily participated. Ellen and Jack are loving swimming lessons, and Rose got kicked out of class transferred to a Mommy and Me class and is enjoying it much more.

When you know it was all worth it.

While serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in northern Spain, a little family was baptized in the branch I was serving in. Their son was 9 at the time and baptized shortly after his parents. About a year ago I got a Facebook message from his mom telling me that little Imanol had just gotten his mission call to Ogden, Utah.

I was checking in on some friends' blogs and found this sweet story about Imanol and an elder I served with in Spain. His wife tells "the rest of the story." [Coming soon pending permission. :)] If you're like me, cry a little and feel humbled and amazed to have one of those moments my mom called "the real paydays", when you know all the hard work and days in the trenches were worth it. She was talking about being a mom. I can understand a little of what she was talking about now.

Two mixes

I have recently discovered the beauty of muffins for breakfast. The variations are endless, the kids love them, and they are quick. I have also recently discovered the beauty of getting up and taking a shower before my kids get up. Mornings go a little smoother, and I am more motivated to get to bed at a decent hour.

A friend gave me a homemade oatmeal muffin mix with a recipe recipe over a year ago, and I recently found the recipe again and tried it out on my kids. They love it, and I love that I can add things like raisins, blueberries, and banana. I want to try pumpkin, applesauce, cranberries, and nuts.

Oatmeal Muffins (makes 2 batches)
3 cups whole wheat flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups oats (I used quick cooking oats)
1 cup brown sugar

To make 1 dozen muffins:
Mix 3 heaping cups of mix, 1 egg, 1 cup milk, and 1/2 cup oil until moistened and spoon into muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees F. 15-20 minutes

**********

I recently needed a can of cream of mushroom soup for a recipe, and I don't usually use cream soups or keep them on hand, but I did have a recipe for making a mix from scratch, and I had all the ingredients. So now I have a mix in my pantry in the event that I make another casserole soon. Not likely, but now I know what's in my soup.

Condensed Cream of Soup Mix
2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup instant reduced sodium chicken or beef bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed basil
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper (I used black)

Combine all ingredients and mix well with wire whisk until blended. Store mix in an airtight container.

To prepare as a substitute for one can of condensed cream soup in recipes, stir together 1/3 cup dry mix and 1 1/4 cup water in a saucepan. cook and stir until thickened.

Mix makes a total of nine cans condensed soup substitute. Use instead of condensed canned cream soups in recipes. Just add the ingredient that forms the basis of the soup. Chop mushrooms, saute in a bit of olive oil and add for cream of mushroom soup. Add chicken for cream of chicken soup. You get the idea!

Peanut Butter Playdough, Again

1 cup wheat germ

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup honey

Mix well and add seven children, cookie cutters, rolling pins, and imagination.

Gathering Blue

We recently took Elijah to a check up with his cardiologist. Since it involves a trip to Dallas, Jack took the day off and we made a little day trip of it with the kids.

We took a little detour through bluebonnet country.

Miles and miles of blue.

We're at the end of bluebonnet season, so it was our last chance to get a picture with the kids and bluebonnets. It's a Texas tradition.

Bluebonnets are members of the lupine family of flowers, so there are similar varieties in Idaho and other areas, but the bluebonnet is a Texas native. I guess you could take seeds and plant them anywhere, but I love seeing them growing wild all along the roadside and in fields in the spring. Tomie dePaola wrote lovely children's books called The Legend of the Bluebonnet and The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush. The latter is about a striking reddish orange wildflower also in bloom. I recently read both with my children.

Seeing all the blue also reminds me of Lois Lowry's books, The Giver, Gathering Blue, and Messenger. My kids are a little young for those, but someday we'll read them, too.

Elijah appointment went so much better than I expected. Our last visit was torture, so this time I came prepared with snacks, treats, and other distractions. He cried when I set him on the scale (just under 20 pounds), but when the nurse started sticking stickers all over his chest for the EEG, I pulled out a package of smarties and gave him one whenever he started to get upset.

The tech that did the echocardiogram let me sit on the bed and hold him while she worked, and as long as he had a steady supply of goldfish, raisins, and smarties, he tolerated the procedure and watched Baby Einstein. Dr. Laird said they got great pictures of his heart, and that he looks as good as he possibly can for a baby in his condition (post-Norwood and Glenn, pre-Fontan). We'll see her about every four months until he's big enough or sick enough for the Fontan, whichever comes first. Hopefully that will be the summer before his 4th birthday.

Big boy gets to officially start nursery this week. He's checked it out before, and I think it's safe to say that he's excited to be where the action is. Sunday School and RS/Priesthood are way too boring.

Happy Spring!

Haircut

I made Jack take this picture with me at his company Christmas party in December. It was one of the three or so times I actually fixed my hair in 2011.


I was tired of daily ponytails, so I got my hair cut a few months later. No one really noticed until Jack got me a flat iron and I actually started fixing it more often. Then it was like I was a new person all of a sudden.

The first hair appliance I've purchased in over ten years was definitely a good investment.

Flying kites

We took some time one Saturday afternoon at the beginning of March to fly kites. Jack and I flew kites in this field by the elementary school as young single adults, so we took the kids there. It was close to my dad's house, so we called him and he came walking over to fly kites with us.

Rose was very excited to fly a kite by herself.

I love seeing these two sitting together. They are so close in age, and I hope they'll continue to be good friends as they get older.

I got a great sunburn. And we learned that the cheap plastic kites won't fly when it's really windy. Thank goodness for the indestructible nylon kite Jack also bought.

Photogenic

Someone is not happy about taking pictures in the bluebonnets.

Still not happy

What? Are we really doing this again? No smile.

I guess he had his own idea of what a bluebonnet picture should look like.

Fast Food Toys or Dear Bentley

Sometimes the toys that come with fast food kids meals are awesome. Sonic is currently giving out bug catching toys with their kids meals. So naturally we had to catch some bugs.

We have recently heard of a bug expert named Bentley Jackson.
We are seeking his help in identifying our capture.

Rose reads.

Ellen is doing great with her reading. Jack Jack is also starting to read. Rose wanted to show her skills here.