A few things that make an overwhelmed mom happy

There are a few things that make me happy as a mom. Here is a short list:

1. Chocolate - I think that chocolate is a necessity of motherhood. There is nothing better than taking a "time out" with a cup of hot cocoa - preferably mexican chocolate.

2. Dinner Group - I belong to a dinner group so rather than having to cook dinner for my family 7 nights a week - I cook only once a week and get my dinners delivered to me the days I don't cook - It is great!

3. Wireless Internet - now most of you probably take this for granted but we have lived quite literally in the "sticks" for most of our marriage and cable broadband or DSL is never available. We finally bit the bullet and got satellite internet - still not the greatest but way better than dial-up!

4. My new dinning room table! - We finally got a dinning room table that fits the whole family and even a guest or two.

5. Great kids who know how to work - We have worked hard at teaching our kids how to work and help out the family. These past weeks as we have struggled with colds and the flu I have been amazed at how the kids have just jumped in and been able to help us out - cook, clean the works - that really makes an overwhelmed mom happy!

Chocolate Mug Cake

Just so we are all clear - I got this recipe from another Mormon Mommy Blogger and did get her permission to share.

For the times in your life when you need a good shot of chocolate ... quickly.

This is best served with a side of vanilla ice cream...

55

CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

Just a pinch of salt and baking powder

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

a small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high).

The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

Thoughts about our Family Home Evening

Run Molly Run!

Jason - compulsive proposer

So maybe watching the Bachelor was not the best FHE we've had in a while... But it was fun yelling at the TV and making fun of all the idiot choices being made.

The whole show is admittedly ridiculous - I mean these relationships are doomed to failure. On one hand, the whole concept of the show has me digging my eyes out with a grapefruit spoon - I mean how do these beautiful women debase themselves by chasing after some stupid guy who can't make up his mind because he has too many choices?

In general it is NOT a good idea to agree to marry a guy with 25 other girlfriends - that is unless you call Colorado City your home...

- but for some reason I get hooked.

Some observations from the tribe:

G (12) - "Why can't he just make up his mind already? (guttural sound of disgust) They're just girls (roll of the eyes)."

J (19) - "OH MY GOSH!! OH MY GOSH!! OH MY GOSH!!" (followed by squeaking)

M (13) - "I can't believe she's just sitting there - I would walk away." (that's my girl!)

The Man - "I can't believe we're watching this..."

K (10) - "I give them 2 weeks."

E (9) - after watching the entire night... "Wait - who did he choose?"

When you have six kids music lessons don't come cheap - 

Four of our children play instruments - all 4 play the piano, 1 also plays the flute 

and 1 also plays the trombone and baritone - and I am hoping that they develop 

a life long love of music.

All that's missing is a crown...

We have our fingers crossed...

This is why I LOVE Eugene

So I was at 

Sweet Life 

again!

Almond Peach Muffins - this time

no chocolate...

But - I couldn't resist these... 

They are the tastiest shortbread cookies 

Little Miss H

likes them.

Devoured!

And - the best part...

they're

vegan...

Eggs for sale

K and E have long been the "chicken kids."  

Allowance does not come easy in a household of six plus kids so K and E started selling eggs a few years ago. Lately however the chickens have not been cooperative.  Over the last few months we have added on to their coop, introduced new "girls" to the flock, went through winter and had to break up a few chicken arguments.  I think that they all went through a rather long molt and period of stress.  They haven't been laying more than 2 - 3 eggs a day for over 6 months - not even enough for our family let alone for K and E to sell.  Last week I even ordered six laying hens hoping to boost our egg production.   

(Shhh don't tell the the man... he thinks we have too many hens as is! ) 

So imagine our surprise when the kids went out to the chicken coop yesterday and collected 81 eggs!   Eighty-holy-moly-one!  As Ricky Ricardo says, "Wha' hahpen?"

 

The weather has been great - in fact it has been beautiful and the girls have been getting along much better - so I don't know - maybe they were just making up for lost time.

K and E were beside themselves and sold 4 dozen eggs yesterday.  

They are saving up for healeys - you know those shoes with wheels on the heals so kids can glide.  

Conversations with E

So I am walking through Wal-Mart yesterday  - I hate going to Wal-Mart with all 6 kids so I was a bit distracted while E was chattering away about Karate and frankly I was not paying much attention...UNTIL he said this: 

 "and then sensai taught us how to pop peoples eyeballs right out!"

What?!?  I mean really what does a mom say to that information?

"Just don't do it to your brother" - It was the best I could do.

I have a chocolate hangover

Pass the Tylenol...

I would have never guessed that it would be possible but apparently it is...

After 3 solid days of everyone gifting me with chocolate from my absolute favorite place in the world - yes, that is right, Sweet Life , I am all chocolated out - done - kaput - and would like broccoli on Valentine's Day.

I highly recommend

that you send your husband on a business trip on your 40th birthday.  

The man must be feeling especially guilty because I am being spoiled today. I am sure he must have given the kids a good lecture because they are going way out of their way today.

This morning I got breakfast in bed AND a back massage.  I had to request a foot massage instead because it was too hard to swallow my toast when my 9 year old son was pounding on my back.

The night the man left he brought me lots of chocolate treats (and a new iPod):

Last night my niece brought this over:       

Then today these came:

I'm telling you - this has been a great deal...

Over the Hill

Today is the last day of my 30's

(cue nostalgic music)

Tomorrow I will be 40.

40 

Oh My Good Golly Molly!!!!

That just sounds so OLD!

I'm dealing with it quite well actually.  My husband is in Las Vegas and will be seeing the Blue Man Group without me ( he's claiming it is work related - ppfftt!  whatever...) while I am left to spend my birthday AND Valentine's day with 6 kids and an old dog.

Not to worry - I have chocolate - 

lots of chocolate...

Monday's Confession

I love watching The Bachelor. 

I know - I know

Stupid - base - lowest common denominator - yada yada yada...

(Believe me, I hear this from my hubby regularly)

I am hooked

I mean, seriously hooked.

I worry about Jason. 

I mean, who is he going to choose?  Will she be a good mom to Ty?  That little kid is seriously cute.   

I was glad he got rid of Naomi - she was just too young to make a good mom.  I like Molly and Gillian but are they really ready to be a step-mom?  

And now, I am all worried about next week - DeAnna who broke Jason's heart last season is coming back to see if she has another chance... 

She broke up with Jesse  - apparently at the luggage carousel at the airport leaving poor Jesse is heartbroken on YouTube. 

My advice to Jason:  Don't do it man - stay away from DeAnna.

Adoption News!!

Well after only two years we finally signed the finalization papers for Hannah's adoption. The papers are now sitting on a judge's desk awaiting his signature and as soon as he signs them (he may be signing them right now...) it is all done - whew - we can celebrate, bless her and take her to the temple.  

We feel very blessed

    

The Demise of the New Year's Resolution

Please feel free to enjoy this scenario from my morning:

5:30 am - the baby is crying and I am trying to ignore the whole thing in hopes that my loving husband will be fooled into thinking that I am still asleep and will take care of him.  

5:40 - It works!  It must have been the light snore and the drool... Hubby is up and changing a diaper and giving kiddo a bottle which will put him back to sleep - I can now blissfully sink back into my covers and - sleep.

5:45 - Just falling asleep... wait hubby is now poking and prodding me awake - does he want some hanky panky?  Hmmm, I could be persuaded.... 

No - it is not hanky panky - he is encouraging me to go work out - damn new years resolutions...

Should I offer hanky panky and therefore be able to stay in bed?  

"You should really work out," he says, "you'll feel better."

Crap!

5:55 am - I stumble into the bonus room with good intentions - look at the treadmill and then the guest bed...  I turn on the treadmill - 5.5 and a level 4 incline - turn on the TV - and then...

You got it, I climbed right into that guest bed and slept 'til 7!

*and how was YOUR morning?*

I have no talents

My kids have all of the cool talents. Sure I can change a set of poopy diapers in a flash. Whip up a homemade batch of cookies and even bang out a few tunes on the badly out of tune piano. But hula hoop???? No way - I can only dream...

Micah can even play the flute while hula hooping - I'll have to post that one...

This is my life

This winter season we have been rather healthy. Sure we had the runny noses and we did get some weird form of the flu that knocked us out for three weeks but other than that we have been fine.  So imagine my surprise when not one of the oh so many kids in my household -  but the DOG - gets Pink Eye.  I didn't even know that dogs could get pink eye and what's worse is that the vet told me that it is contagious to humans.  If you have ever had to put pink eye drops in an angry toddler's eyes imagine trying to drop them into the swollen and shut eyes of a stubborn, overweight and very privileged  dachshund.  It is nearly impossible - let me tell you.  So Oscar has been relegated to the mud room until said pink eye clears up to room with the sick CHICKEN.  - Don't ask...

So my mom has requested that I send her a recent photo of me and the babies

I swear this was the best I could do:

Christmas morning chaos

What's on my needles...

I am finally making some progress on the mittens that were supposed to be a Christmas gift - oh well - They will be ready for the NEXT snow storm...

I have been having a lot of fun with felted bags - this "elephant foot" bag came out beautiful - it is also a late Christmas gift.  It is a Noni pattern and I want to make the "Dr Seuss" bag next.  It would have red and white stripes with black feathers on top.  

My next project - SOCKS! - I really want to learn to make socks.  I cannot think of anything more luxurious and homey than a hand knit pair of socks made to fit your specific foot measurements.   I am a bit intimidated by the patterns but have been told that they are actually easy once you get the hang of them. 

I love my backyard

This is a photo taken from my kitchen window

Snow Day Today

We woke up to 3-4 inches on the ground. It was beautiful, cold and sunny. The perfect day to stay home and play. It was fantastic.

Hmmmm

Okay - so I was having one of those crappy mommy days - until I saw this:





I don't know what to say except that now this song (and Mr. T's shorts) are burned into my memory forever...

A wild last few weeks

Ever since the Thanksgiving from HELL in 2005 I have refused to make a Turkey. For those of you who may not know - that was the year we had internet strangers over for dinner and I got the stomach flu. Bad combination...
Anywho - Rich, not wanting to sacrifice the tradition of turkey - really, a spiral ham would do just fine - has since then been the one to cook the turkey. Each year his turkey has gotten better and better - and I think he likes the bragging rights.



Thanksgiving morning - Rich and the kids did a 5k with Gannon's time only 26.42 - wow



Micah didn't get to run because she has a broken foot - yet again... She is quick to point out however that her boot looks exactly like Bella's in the Twilight movie.


It irritates me that she never wears socks with her boot - see - you can see her orange toenails if you look closely.

Our Fiber Adventures Continue

So the knitting thing has been going great. Most of us have moved on from garter stitch... Gannon just finished the body of a fabulous Hogwarts scarf from the first Harry Potter movie- he just has to block it. Eli is working on a U of O scarf for his grandpa Jones - Krya on a ribbed one for Grandma Pike. Micah has made a hat and scarf set, a set of squares for a group afghan and recently got a beautiful skein of kid mohair haze with which she is making a very sophisticated wrap. Maybe she'll let me borrow it sometime... I made a beautiful cashmere vest for the baby which just just may fit him NEXT Christmas and have been having a lot of fun making felted bags - watch out one may be heading your way this Christmas season...

This all brings us to our next adventure... spinning!

A friend has graciously lent us her spinning wheel and we are learning the ancient art of spinning wool. I found a local artist who hand paints roving - the stuff is so absolutely beautiful that it feels almost sacrilegious for me to mangle it in my lame attempts to spin it into usable yarn.



But I'll keep on trying and see what happens - thank goodness for youtube and the library!

Pumpkin Carving

Micah's Piano Students

Micah held her first piano recital for her students. She only has two. That is all I let her take on as she is so busy. She is turning out to be such a good little teacher and her students are doing really well