Parker Projects and Jason Videos

Parker loves to do all of the art projects I used do do with my students when I taught elementary. It's fun to be reminded of them when I see friends doing them. Last week we made some salt dough creations. I helped him out a little with the animals and volcano, but his saw/tree is all his own.

Of course the next day we had to have a volcano eruption. If Parker has his wish, I'll buy more vinegar and baking soda so that he can have dozens of eruptions daily. (Thanks Chelsea and Kate!)

We made some fun Valentine's hearts!

Parker had fun making (and eating) his molecule! (Thanks for the reminder Shari!)

In case you want to do these projects, here is the info:

Salt Dough Recipe Mix 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt and 1 cup cold water. Add a few drops food coloring. Then sculpt to your hearts content. The dough will dry out thoroghly within a day or two.

Valentine's Weave Cut one sheet of construction paper into long strips about an inch wide (we used green). Then fold another sheet in half (so that the measurments are about 9x6) and almost cut our a heart. Just leave it attached a little at the top. Then weave the strips through the heart. When your done, put a little tape at the base of the heart to keep the strips from falling out. (Click on the picture for a closer look.)

Molecule Creation Use toothpicks and either marshmallows or gum drops to hold them together.

Jason is growing up so quickly! He turned one last month. He is still won't take more than a few steps walking, but he sure can climb! He is also laughing hysterically at least once a day; we have so much fun! Here are a few video clips from this month:

Quite Possibly the Best I've Tasted

Now I really enjoy cooking and am always on the lookout for a great recipe. Most recipes I try are pretty good, but a few stand out as ones our family has/will adopt as favorites. Here are a few I reccommend (click on the title if you want the source):

Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
For the tzatziki sauce:
8 oz. plain yogurt (not fat free unless it is Oikos or Fage or another Greek-type yogurt)
1/2 cucumber, peeled and seeded (either chopped or blended depending on preference)
2-3 cloves garlic, pressed through a garlic press (or finely minced)
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Extra virgin olive oil

For the chicken:
4 cloves garlic, smashed
Juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 heaping tablespoons plain yogurt (optional)
1 tablespoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Let the chicken marinate for a few hours and then cook it as desired (grill, skillet, broiler, etc.) We've also made this same recipe with steaks instead and they were even better. If you want to make your own recipes here is a reasonable recipe.

Homeade Tomato Basil Soup
1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 large medium diced yellow onion
2 cloves chopped garlic
2 lbs. of diced or whole tomatoes (Can also use Italian blend) (I used one of each.)
1/2 small can tomato paste

1 cups water or chicken stock
1 cup whipping cream
1 T dried basil
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper

• Sauté onion in olive oil on high heat until translucent (about five minutes).
• Add garlic and tomatoes with juice.
• Add tomato paste.
• Add water and bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer for 10 minutes.
• At this point it should be chunky and starting to thicken up.
• Remove from heat and puree in blender in half batches.
• You can also use a stick blender and puree the whole batch.
• Return to a low heat and add cream and fresh basil.
• Bring back to a boil for three minutes.
• Add seasoning to taste. Serve.

Crusted French Dip with Pear and Spinach Salad

This whole meal is really fast, really easy and really delicious! What a great combination!

For the French Dip you'll need (makes approx 4):
4 Sandwich rolls (use "artisan" breads you'll find in the bakery section)
1/2 lb. Roast beef sliced
1/2 lb. (2 slices per sandwich) Swiss or provolone cheese
1 package Knorr au jus mix
Start by gathering your sandwich fixings. Turn on the broiler in your oven. Move your cooking rack to the lowest rung (you can leave it higher, but you'll have to watch your bread constantly - it's a hassle). Slice your sandwich rolls lengthwise into halves. Spread the rolls onto a baking sheet, place them into the oven under the broiler. Check on them every 2-3 minutes as you prepare the rest of the meal. The rolls are done when they're lightly brown and crusty.
Prepare your Knorr au jus (pronounce "aah gew") as directed (nothing special - about 5 minutes). After the au jus is ready, add your roast beef slices and stir gently. You're just trying to get the au jus flavor and the roast beef to mesh.
When your rolls are brown, remove them from the oven. Onto one half of the roll, add 2-3 slices of roast beef. Use tongs to remove the roast beef from the au jus - it should be dripping, but not severely wet. Add 1-2 slices of cheese. Move the baking sheet with the sandwich halves back to the oven. You're going to broil your sandwich again until the cheese is slightly brown (about 1-2 minutes).
After your cheese is browned, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Close the empty halve of the roll over the other, plate and serve next to a small bowl of au jus and salad.

For the salad (4 servings) you'll need:
1 bag of spinch salad mix (or other mix)
1 small pear, apple or other fruit
3 tbs. sunflower kernels
1/4 c. feta cheese
1/2 c. Brianna's Poppy Seed Salad Dressing (or your favorite fancy dressing or vinaigrette)
Slice your fruit into small wedges or cubes (about 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch).

Combine salad mix, sunflower kernels, and fruit in a large bowl. Add 1/4 c. crumbled feta cheese, mix evenly. Drizzle on the salad dressing, and mix generously to coat.

Better than Cafe Rio Tomatillo Dressing It's super fattening, of course, but amazingly great! She has a great tutorial and it's not too tricky, so just click to link over to her directions.

Hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we have!

Party at Our House!

My cousins Ann Marie, Melodie and Juli came over to play games a few weeks ago! We had so much fun catching up!

The kids had a grand time playing together too!

It was especially fun to have Mel and here kids here since we see them so rarely. (Hopefully that will change.) Here is Breena posing for the camera.

Parker and Cody having a great time with the train and track table.

Said train and track table made a perfect table for the kids. We all enjoyed Brad's fantastic spaghetti!

Kaitlyn, Madelyn and Jocelyn unsuccessfully hiding from the camera. Most of the time all nine kids were running around playing hide and seek and other games but mostly it sounded like they were screaming like banshees. Well, I take that back, only eight kids got in on the action. Little Dillon here was pretty content just to watch. We had a fantastic time! As a special bonus, 20 minutes after everyone left our house was miraculously clean again! We appreciate everyone's help with that! We definitely need to do it again soon! A few days later we decided to reorganize Parker's closet. The only change is that I put his shelves in the closet. We used to keep his closet was locked and only rotate out a few toys. Now that he's older I've been leaving his closet open. For the most part he has been very good about only getting out one set of toys at a time. Let's hope he can keep the habit.My sister Angie came up on Saturday to show us her new Mazda 3. Lucky for us, my brother Ben tagged along too. We had a great time visiting and Parker showed them no mercy in wrestling. I took the picture above as he declared, "I am the champion!" Thanks again for coming! We love visitors and are looking forward to a few more this week!

Simply Taught

I have been serving in the Primary (children's classes) of my church for the last few years. I was the Primary chorister, then I taught the 5-6 year olds and now I teach the Sunbeams (3-4 year olds). One of the things I love best about Primary is the wonderful music. So many of the songs teach the docterine of the church so clearly and so simply. I feel the spirit every time I sing them. I grew up singing many of these songs, but every year at least one new one is included for the annual primary program. Some of these I just LOVE! This year's I Know That My Savior Loves Me is wonderful. I especially like the middle of the first verse:

"The love that He felt for His little ones
I know He feels for me.
I did not touch Him or sit on His knee,
Yet, Jesus is real to me."

The last few year's songs have included The Family is of God and If the Savior Stood Beside Me which are among my all-time favorite Primary songs. I love that Parker is learning all of these wonderful songs. He can already sing his little heart out for a few of them. I love these songs so much, in fact, that sometimes when I am doing dishes or folding laundry, I will just turn on the CD, even if the kids are napping. It is very calming and helps keep me cheerful even while doing these menial tasks.

If you are unfamiliar with these songs or just want to listen, I have created a playlist of some of my favorite Primary songs below.

What are your favorite inspirational songs?

Aspire to Greatness in Parenting

Lately I have been pondering on my favorite job, my duty as a mother. I LOVE IT! Well, mostly I do. There are times when my kids wake up AGAIN in the night, when I smell a fowl stench reeking from my child's diaper or when my kids are unkind and screaming... for all of these I am less than pleased at the idea of going to their aid. For the most part, however, I love that I can spend time with my children. For the first few years of Parker's life I had to work and was not able to be there with him full-time. I am so grateful that now I can.

Sometimes I wonder if I am proactive and consciencious enough as a mother. Do I let bonding opportunities pass me by because I am too busy? Surely I do. I am trying and determined to be even better. One of my friends (Thanks Kristen) had a wonderful quote on her blog from Marjorie P. Hinckley:

"Think about your particular assignment at this time in your life. It may be to get an education, it may be to rear children, it may be to be a grandparent, it may be to care for and relieve the suffering of someone you love, it may be to do a job in the most excellent way possible, it may be to support someone who has a difficult assignment of their own. Our assignments are varied and they change from time to time. Don't take them lightly. Give them your full heart and energy. Do them with enthusiasm. Do whatever you have to do this week with your whole heart and soul. To do less than this will leave you with an empty feeling."

I love the idea of parenting with my whole heart and soul. One of my New Year's Resolutions has been to play more with my boys. I've been giving them my full attention for a few extra minutes each day and I must say that I have whole-heartily enjoyed it. I hadn't known it was possible, but I think it has made me love them even more.

I also recently read (thanks Jackie) an amazing talk on parenthood by Jeffrey R. Holland entitled "Within the Clasp of Your Arms". I highly recommend it. It has strengthened my resolve to be the best mother that I can be.

Do you have anything that inspires you to be a better parent?

Do You Plan on Having More Children?

Well, we definitely do. You may remember a while ago I posted about AFLAC. We signed up for it before getting pregnant with Jason. We paid $102.09/month for it, but after we had our baby we got a check for $3100. We had the policy for about a year, so we were basically given $2000 free money. If you have a C-section or other complications, you actually get back even more money.

Anyway, apparently AFLAC doesn't want to give away free money to people anymore, so as of FEB. 15th, they will no longer allow you to sign up for a maternity policy. If you already have one or sign up before then, you can keep it as long as you like (and get your $3100+ with every child).


We are already signed up again. Our friend is an agent. They just had a baby a few months ago, but are already signed up again, because, hey, it's FREE MONEY. Anyway, if you want to sign up, call Court Morris at 801-884-9125. Tell him we recommended him and enjoy your free money!

I just thought I'd pass on the offer before it's too late!

I'll be a SUNBEAM for Him!

Parker started attending Sunbeams in class this year. He really enjoys being in Primary and proudly tells anyone who will listen all about it. I guess this is his "watch out, Sunbeams, here I come!" pose!

We tried to take one with his teacher (yup, that's me) but Parker wasn't being cooperative. Sister Jensen is his other teacher. Jason looks cute in these pictures though. Lately Parker's favorite movie is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He LOVES it and would watch it all day if I let him. He especially likes "all of the girl parts, like when they steal the girls". He loves the whole movie, but especially the boys "goin' courtin'" at the barn raisin' and from the "Sabine women" song to the end. I don't know why he loves it so much, but he does. Parker is starting to grow out of his biggest mess-making stage (I hope, anyway) but Jason is just getting into it. I'll have to start a Jason's shenanigans label. I have since packed the dvds a lot tighter, but Jas made this mess in a few minutes.

Beginning New Year's Resolutions

I've been contemplating New Year's resolutions. I haven't finalized them all, but I definitely want to do something with compliment follow-through. So often I listen to a wonderful lesson, see someone looking fabulous or experience something else that impresses me. I think of how wonderful it is, but I don't always write the note or even open my mouth to tell them. Well, I'm determined to change. I know that I LOVE feeling recognized, appreciated and sincerely complimented. I will be better about sharing those kind thoughts with others.

Usually for my goals, I like to have something measurable. I may come up with some type of weekly quota or something, but for now I'm just motivated to share the compliments that are so often milling around in my head anyway.

Portraits of the Boys

I was in desperate need of some new photos, since the ones hanging our living room were over a year old! Jason was three weeks old and Parker was only two. They have definitely changed a bit. Yes, they are cute photos taken by my sister Julie, but I'm lame for not updating them more frequently. Lucky for me, my wonderful sister-in-law Jackie shot some portraits of the boys on New Year's morning. Thanks to Jax and Photshop, they turned out pretty great! Here are a few of the ones I liked best:

We tried to take a few of the boys together, but we didn't have much to work with. Jason was so ready for a nap by then and Parker was losing his will to smile too. If you click on the pictures you can see them larger. You can also appreciate that they both have forehead injuries.

Thanks to Photoshop, we can do fun things with the colors, ...or do really practical things like remove bruises and scrapes, deepen the colors and switch heads. Yes, I said, switch heads. I took the original from the photo above and found Parks with a better smile in another photo. It's a pretty good merge, I think. Thank you Photoshop! And a huge thanks to Jackie! Here are the two that were hanging in our living room by the end of the day on New Year's: What handsome boys I have! I love their new portraits!

New Year's Parties

Brad was able to take New Year's Eve off of work, so we headed down to Salt Lake for some fun! All of my siblings went to see Avatar in 3-D at the IMAX. Unfortunately Ben felt a little under the weather, but my cousin Archer was thrilled to come instead.

That afternoon we went to Brad's Aunt Kim's for a fabulous party. We had delicious turkey sandwiches, tasty pistacios and more. Here we are enjoying a fun game of Bang!

Most of the guys were in watching basketball games.

The kids were running around like Banshees.

Afterwards we went back to my parent's for some more great food and games. Thanks Jules for making all of the fabulous dips! I especially loved the spinach artichoke and seven-layer minus a few layers. We played Angie's new game Quelf. If you enjoy acting ridiculous, or at least seeing your friends and family look ridiculous, then this game is for you. I'll spare the players by not showing photos, but during the game there was all kinds of absurdity. Pete had a paper sack Halloween mask over his head, Scott had to talk like a gangster and act like Santa. Ben even sat on his lap. Angie had to wear a helmet, I had to belly dance and sit under the table and that's only the beginning. Quelf is really pure craziness!

At midnight we enjoyed some sparkling cider and wore silly paper hats. My dad even lasted 'til twelve.

Then my parents pulled out a time capsul they made ten years ago in 2000. I was on my mission in the Peru MTC at the time, so I hadn't known that it was made. There was a copy of one of my letters to them inside. Everyone else wrote what they had been doing a predictions for the next five years. Most of my siblings were pretty young, so they had funny goals.

It was so much fun that I've decided that for family night on Monday we'll make a time capsul too. We slept over at my parent's house that night and on New Year's Day my mom treated Angie, I, and the bigger kids to The Princess and the Frog. Parker loved the music. During all the songs he danced in the aisle.

It was a pretty cute movie. I really liked the messages of the value of good relationships and that hard work will help you achieve your goals. After the movie all the kids did more dancing.

While we were at the movie Jason and Dylan were hanging out too. I bet these two will be good buds when they get a little older.

We're really looking forward to 2010 and will do what we can to make it our best year yet!