Gotta Get to Church on Time!

Last year our family was inspired by Elder Oaks' conference talk on the importance of the Sacrament meeting. You can read it here. This year our family is trying to improve on getting to church on time. In fact, we’d like to be early. Some weeks we make it. Many weeks we’re still late. But I’ve found a few simple things that help us.

1. I’ve made it a point to always keep frozen waffles stocked in our freezer. No one is allowed to eat them unless it is Sunday morning. That way I know they’ll be there. This ensures that we can eat a decent Sunday breakfast as a family, but we don’t have to spend a lot of time preparing and eating. That used to be one of our downfalls. We’ve got the frozen waffles thing down by now. Our next pitfall is...

2. We can never find what we need: a missing shoe, a clean outfit for Zach, my props for singing time, a well-stocked diaper bag, etc. So now we are working on finding and preparing all those things the night before. It takes a little planning, but it makes things run so much smoother.

I am proud to announce that last Sunday we actually arrived to church 15 minutes early. It was a miracle…and so much more enjoyable might I add. After we master the preparation step, we will work on our next pitfall, which is...

3. Going to bed early on Saturday night. This is going to be the hardest one to give up. I don’t think I’m ready to quit staying up late on Saturday nights. For me it will be like admitting that I am getting old. Stay tuned to find out if I actually come to terms with this reality. (FYI, this might not happen until after this July when Adam turns thirty. Eek!)

Do you have any “tricks” that help you get to church on time or more prepared? Do tell! I welcome any helpful suggestions. Even if you are a stranger or you don’t want me to know you have read my blog. Because seriously, I don‘t mind. (Unless, of course, you are creepy. Then I do mind.)

Here’s one piece of advice I absolutely LOVE. A very wise bishop’s-wife once told me “Dana, you must take your vitamins in the morning before you come to church. Otherwise you won’t have enough energy.” This was just before I took over her calling as Primary Chorister. Another wise woman once told me that Primary Chorister is the funnest calling in the church. And I think she’s right. Tomorrow I get to use sugar and Legos in my lesson! Thanks Sugardoodle.com! Oops...I mean SugarDoodle.net. Apparently Sugardoodle dot-COM is fully dedicated to kittens. Hmmm...that's cute.

Glam Girls

Kate went to a glam girl birthday party recently. She was definitely the youngest one there. All the other girls were about 7+, but Katelyn didn't seem to notice. She did everything they did. I guess the hardest part for me to watch was the dancing. Hannah Montana and the Jo Bros. She was shaking her booty right along with the other girls. She's such a little mimic. I'm a little tempted to home school this one. Afterwards Adam and I told her that all the other girls were much older than her. She didn't believe us. "Yes. Those girls are seven," we said. "No. They're three," she insisted. Yikes! Before the party ended they all dressed up and each had a turn walking the runway. Kate stands out. She is the one with only one lens in her sunglasses. She strutted to the end of the catwalk and held the pose for all her photographers. She really knew how to work it. Yeah, I think I'll look into home school. You should have heard the group of 8th grade girls I heard at the park today. I couldn't believe the things they were talking about. I don't want Katelyn to hear that everyday. Am I just paranoid? I don't think I am.

The Mother Is In: Free Advice

For the record...I don't offer this advice because I feel smart or anything. Quite the opposite. I offer this advice because we struggle in the child-eating-dinner arena, and I'm excited to find something that worked. If Katelyn got her way she'd eat a bowl of oatmeal for dinner every night. Even though she probably already had it for breakfast, and I probably gave in and let her eat it for lunch, too. And she might have even had an oatmeal snack somewhere in between. Honestly, if Katelyn were stranded on a deserted island, she would want to be stranded with oatmeal...and apples. She could eat those two foods all day. Sometimes she actually does.

Anyway, here's a trick that worked for me tonight. You can take it or leave it. Sorry all you mommys with boys. Although this MIGHT work for some of the little guys, I only recommend trying it on the girls.

This is the deal I cut with Katelyn at the dinner table tonight: “For every BIG bite you take of your dinner I will paint one of your fingernails.” I figured this would buy me at least 10 large bites of dinner. Maybe even 20 if we included the toes. Well...it worked like a charm. I even got lucky: after a few bites she decided that she actually liked dinner. She ate three servings and I only had to paint five nails. It was a miracle!

What is this miracle food that little Katelyn actually ate THIRDS of? Broccoli Cheese Casserole. Even Adam labeled it a "Keeper".

This year I am resolved to eat more vegetables. At least one a day. That may not seem very lofty to most of you, but it is for me. Right now I'm in the stage where I don't care what form it comes in; as long as it is a veggie I feel like I'm doing good. That is why I didn't mind that today's vegetable--broccoli--came disguised with mayonnaise, cheese and bacon. If you can handle that, you'll love this recipe.

20 oz frozen broccoli
1 can cream of mushroom
¾ cup mayonnaise
4 oz shredded sharp cheddar
2 eggs
1 onion, chopped
5 slices bacon, crumbled
Crumbled Ritz crackers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook the broccoli and bacon. Drain the broccoli.
In a bowl mix the soup, mayo, cheese, egg, onion, and bacon. Fold in the broccoli.
Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.
Sprinkle Ritz crackers on top.
Bake for 30 minutes.

A yummy way to get your veggies.

***Eventually I want to take my veggie habit in a more Mediterranean direction, so if you have a yummy/healthy recipe for veggies or with veggies please let me know. I need help becoming veggie inspired!***

What Were They Thinking??

Today, as I was giving my sink a thorough cleaning, this is what I was thinking about: I'll admit I'm as big a Beatles fan as there ever was, but seriously, what were they thinking when they chose their Sgt. Pepper costumes? I know they were on drugs and stuff, but really? Neon silk uniforms? Mustaches? It IS a little over the top. But other than that the album is great...and that's why I'm listening to it right now. As I type. And soak my laundry. In my clean sink.

The Fountains of Bellagio

Are there Bellagio fountains in heaven? I sure hope so.
Here is proof that I was there, too. Patiently awaiting the next show.
Thank you stranger lady for taking our picture while we waited!

The Bellagio Gardens

Eight Is Great!

These are LittleMan's eight month pics. Here he is looking sophisticated in a turtleneck sweater.Right after this picture Zach took a nose-dive right onto the floor! Next month someone remind me to glue him to the piano.

Air and Simple Gifts

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This performance has been on my mind all day. It is a joy to watch! John Williams wrote this beautiful arrangement of an already beautiful song: Simple Gifts. Did you notice how everyone in the audience at the Obama inauguration was bundled up and FREEZING? Imagine how these musicians felt trying to get their frozen fingers to work. Did you check out the pianist? She is performing in MITTENS! That is nuts!! I've tried before...It's impossible. SO...I officialy have a new favorite pianist. And her name is Gabriela Montero. And she plays the piano in mittens. She is also wearing a cool dress. Plus, check out Yo-Yo Ma's face. He looks so HAPPY. Itzhak Perlman--you may be aging, but I still love you!

NEW YORK NEW YORK

(CASINO)

VEGAS, BABY! *Kate took this AWESOME picture of the disco-ball horse in the Bellagio lobby. It's called: "Mommy, why is the horse trying to bite its knee?"

Dear Public Library,

I am a bad citizen and a hypocrite. I am a bad person because my daughter pooped in your rose garden and I didn't pick it up. I am a hypocrite because I get so annoyed when a dog poops in public and the owner doesn't clean it up. I'm so sorry! If it's still there next week I will totally clean it up!

Sincerely,
Dana

WHOO-PAH!!

This morning as we were getting ready for church a knock came on our door...and then a ring. Unusual. So, we answer the door and guess who it was? The cops. Very unusual.

Cop: "We got a report of someone screaming in this area today. Have you guys been screaming?"

Adam: "No--maybe my daughter...Did Katelyn scream this morning?"

Me: "No."(She has been known to scream on occasion, but not this morning.)

Cop: "Did you hear any screaming this morning?"

Us: "No. We didn't hear anything unusual." (Besides all the po-leece.)

Cop: "Do you mind if I come in and look around. Just to make sure there's no one lying on your floor or anything?"

Me: Huh? Lying on my floor! What are you talking at!!

Adam: "Sure. Have you checked at our neighbors." (Hint, hint, wink, wink. They're on drugs.)

Cop: "Yeah. I was just there. I know what you mean." (Wink, wink)

Me: Maybe I should brush up on my self-defense. WHOOPAH!!

*This is me on our New Years hike demonstrating what would happen to any person or animal that might try to attack us on our hike. I am brandishing a WEAPON. Of course, if it were an animal my arm would be swinging much lower. This is more like "Here, let me stab you in the throat, SUCKAA!!"

Peaches n' Cream

This is what we ate for breakfast on New Year's Day

Peach Cobbler The recipe is from the Salt Lick restaurant in Austin, Texas.
It's really yummy, but next time I make it I will definitely
add more peaches, and probably use less sugar.

Here's it is:

12 Servings (but we ate the whole thing in a day!)

Batter:
1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup room temperature milk
1 room temperature egg

Filling:
1 (28 ounce) can sliced peaches, drained
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter in a 9 x 13 inch pan.
2. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder & salt. Stir in milk & egg. Pour evenly over melted butter.
3. Combine peaches, sugar & spices and spread over batter-DO NOT STIR! Bake 35-45 minutes until batter comes to the top and is golden brown.
4. Serve warm with ice cream.

One Foot in Front of the Other

We went for a day hike on New Year's Day. We felt good on the way out and kept going and going (at a toddler's pace). By the time we had rested and were ready to come back, Katelyn decided that she was too tired to walk anymore. That means Adam and I were carrying more than we bargained for on the way back.

For two miles he carried Katelyn and I carried Zach.

It was back breaking!

Good thing we know a few good chiropractors!
Grandpa hiked the same trails that day.
Katelyn was excited when we crossed paths.

Photo Shoot

*Disclaimer*

The only people who will want to see this post are Katelyn, myself, and possibly my mom, who sometimes laughs at wierd things. If anyone else dares to read on...don't say I didn't warn you.

It's not that cool.

Aunt Maggie was Katelyn's inspiration for this photo shoot. Katelyn is the photographer. I am the model. We're not ready for America's Next Top Model yet, but we're working on it. Basically, here's how it went:

"Mommy, act like a fish."

"Now be like a shark."

"Now use a wipe." (Do you ever get really excited about wiping something? I do.)

"Now play the piano."

"Now be like Barack Obama's dog."

"Now be Katelyn."

"Now be silly."

"Now be Barack Obama's telephone."

"Now be a pirate." AAaargh!

This is me signing off...Or am I about to wipe Zachary's bottom??