Daily Tweets

• 09:49 Could really use a child-friendly fountain machine with milk on tap. Oh, and a vending machine with fish crackers and cheesesticks. #

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Daily Tweets

• 09:09 Jammin with the Hawley bunch this morning. #

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• 16:12 Came home from youth conference to a clean house, blistering heat, happy and spoiled children (thanks Auntie!), and pink roses. #
• 16:12 Now, back to business. #

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Daily Tweets

• 21:57 Spent the evening romping with the whole fam in a large blow up pool. Good thing the water comes out warm from the hose. Ahhhh, summer. #

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Daily Tweets

• 08:04 Crazy Monday no-showered morning with 3 kids, and Michael Buble takes me right back to my wedding day. #

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Daily Tweets

• 23:34 Went to the Mother's Circle group tonight and I feel SO inspired. Tomorrow I am going to just play and have fun with my children. #

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Wholesome and Recreational

I always feel super awkward reading reports of people's vacations. "And then we did this [insert picture] and little Tommy loved this [insert picture]." So, instead, to make everyone squirm (except for my siblings, who are used to these kind of shenanigans) I am posting my favorite picture of the entire trip. Pretty much sums it all up.

We had loads of fun on the vacation.

We're just wondering, now, what to do with the rest of the summer...

Daily Tweets

• 18:39 Love these warm summer nights when the boys play outside after dinner. It makes me feel nostalgic for "kick the can." #

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Daily Tweets

• 10:36 Making bright pink divinity today!!! #

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Daily Tweets

• 20:18 Home!!! #
• 20:18 Don't want to eat again. Ever. #

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Daily Tweets

• 15:14 My children are running through the house screaming "Uncle Ben is coming RIGHT NOW!" Sorry Auntie Mer...chopped spam. #
• 15:14 Just put down the peanut butter M&M's and walk away... #

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Daily Tweets

• 09:27 Last day of school and the excitement in palpable. Summer here we come! #

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Daily Tweets

• 19:38 Standing outside smiling as a neighbor walks her dog by and then, from behind me, E turns the hose on them. #
• 19:39 After her string of profanities, and my apologies, we hurried into the house. #
• 19:42 E is determined, apparently, to spend his 3rd year of life in "time-out." #

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Daily Tweets

• 10:23 Popcorn chicken and sugar cookies for breakfast boys! Mom has lost her mind. #
• 13:07 Wasn't prepared for the flood of emotions at H's pre-school graduation. (And, classically, I am the only Mom without a camera...) #

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Daily Tweets

• 09:03 Yuck. Threw up this morning. Hope it's just a 24-hour thing. #
• 18:17 Not prego. Stop the rumors. I wish, though. #
• 18:18 A great friend brought over lunch and then dinner for my family. Yum. I wish that I wanted to eat. #

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Before I Die

I'd like to:

• Be published in a food journal or magazine
• Publish a book
• Spend a summer chasing tornadoes with the boys
• Open a restaurant/bakery/catering business
• Give birth to a baby girl*
• Take the children out of school for a year and take a cruise around the world
• Teach in a classroom of some sort
• Perform as the lead in some community musical theater
• Live in a foreign land
• Publish poetry
• Have 12 kids and a reason to buy #10 cans of peaches from Costco
• Have a really interesting house with either colorful eclectic furnishings or clean and crisp white hues
• Serve a mission
• Study at the Cordon Bleu
• Have fresh flowers constantly on my tables
• Be the proud owner of a walk-in-freezer and a Hobart mixer (and maybe a proofer, but that's just getting greedy)
• Have tight abs
• Play my viola in a symphony orchestra
• Sleep in

---

(to be continued)

*Let's be honest, this may just be a passing fantasy and I'm more likely to get that walk-in-freezer than a baby girl. But everyone has got to have an impossible dream, right?

Daily Tweets

• 11:12 E has taken to ending every phrase today with "babe" as in "here you go, babe" "what is for breakfast, babe?" #

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Daily Tweets

• 09:56 I think that my parenting skills are getting steadily worse. #
• 19:43 Found my cell phone amongst the bubbles in the boys' bath. (Sigh.) #

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Daily Tweets

• 15:59 My one-year-old just walked by, tapped me a couple of times on the derrière and said, smiling, "Spanky, spanky!" #
• 16:00 ...Oh and H just told me he held a girls hand out to recess today. "Because she likes me..." he said. #
• 16:22 Dear E, repeatedly pinching me and hitting me does not make me want to hold you. It makes me mad. #

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Daily Tweets

• 15:50 Enjoyed our Waterfield weekend. Enjoyed the Shrek twinkies a bit too much. #
• 15:51 Playing go fish with the mormon game cards. "Do you have a curelom." "No, but I have three Liahonas" #
• 19:56 Boys in bed. Party time. #

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Daily Tweets

• 18:27 Bought my swimming ensemble for San Diego today! Can't wait! #
• 21:44 We need a camera. Which one should we buy? #

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Dearest Family - THIS is What I Was Doing

Last Wednesday I catered an event--a little dessert buffet at a Stake YW night. It was a first, really, and it wasn't much to anyone else, I am sure, but for me it was enormously satisfying.  I couldn't believe that Jamie would actually let me do the whole thing without any sort of credentials beyond a passionate (and often delusional) desire to play chef. 

But, nevertheless, I found my thoughts churning obsessively, and almost instantly, over various textures and colors and flavors that might make a charming presentation. [Side: I know when I have really found a project to love when I wake up in the middle of the night to possible recipe formulations, interesting garnishes, or the timing logistics of carrying it all off. One time, when I was orchestrating a major freezer dinner enrichment activity, I woke in the night to nurse the baby and fumbling to remember which "side" the baby needed to nurse on, I found myself thinking "no he had the stuffed chicken already, he needs to have the beef!"]   

There is something so thrilling about participating in the process of culinary imagination to creation--and doing it en masse. Plus having a real reason to shop at Costco is, well, glorious!  Who doesn't get a little rise out of purchasing 11 pounds of butter and 7 quarts of heavy cream? I ask you!

In the end, I learned so much--about vanilla beans, about the importance of creaming in cake making, about time management, and (most importantly) about letting people help me in the process. My friend, Ashley, spent a lot of her Monday afternoon and most of her Tuesday morning cheerfully glazing chocolate cupcakes and pressing out tartlet dough. (I believe I pressed two tartlets to her 137.)  And Aaron, one night, bless that man's heart, single-handedly whipped up a gorgeous vat of Coconut Italian meringue and helped me lop it onto beautiful tiny cupcakes.  Finally, when it came time to actually plate the food, Ashley and Mindee spent more time in the kitchen than I did. Who knew that giving up some of the control and letting people participate with you could be so rewarding! 

(Maybe that is a sign of maturing, Mom.  You think so?) 

Though it wasn't perfect, (next time I will not glaze with a modified ganache, but, instead make a sturdier chocolate "shell"), I was proud of how it turned out. 

The final menu was:

Lemon tartlets with citrus sugar

Chocolate bombes (little chocolate cakes filled with ganache and glazed)

Mint and almond truffles [because I had a lot of extra ganache]

Strawberry shortcakes 

Vanilla creme mini cupcakes with coconut meringue

Lime shortbread with almonds and white chocolate

and

Almond sparkly sugar cookies

---

Me and Ashley (the fearless tart-presser-outer and grand friend)

Daily Tweets

• 21:38 I am hanging up the toque for the month and getting back on the diet. Ouch! It's been a pricey few weeks for the scale... #
• 21:46 Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, Mom-in-law, Sissies, Sis's-in-law, and Friends! #

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Daily Tweets

• 21:21 I. Am. So. Tired. #

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Daily Tweets

• 09:23 Swimming in ganache yesterday, today we are working the egg magic: lemon custard and Italian meringue. Wish us luck. #
• 16:55 While I was neglecting the children, H took the training wheels off the neighbor's bike for him. Oh and he threw the bolts in the trash. #
• 16:57 ~Awkward neighbor moment~ #

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Daily Tweets

• 08:08 Feeling a little "under the gun" today. And EZ is feverish. Movies, anyone? #

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Daily Tweets

• 20:00 Beautiful and relaxing day today. Now hunkering down for a very intense week to come. #

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Daily Tweets

• 08:28 We bought 50 lbs of flour, 24 lbs of butter, and 20 lbs of powdered sugar yesterday. Now let's get to work! #
• 00:15 Up late hanging with the hubby and setting up Quicken on the new computer. Feeling tired (and saddle sore). #

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Daily Tweets

• 09:36 I'm going to the Costco business center today. Woot! Woot! #

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Daily Tweets

• 10:10 Enjoying a beautiful crazy windy day with the guys. Whoa. It just knocked over the barbeque. So cool. #
• 17:05 Watched the garbage can fly across the street. Today's weather is endlessly entertaining. #

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Daily Tweets

• 13:18 Working on projects with the boys. #
• 16:07 You know, you forget when you always shop at Costco, that there are some great tasting butters out there. And they don't come in bulk. #
• 19:31 I love these nights when we are all home together. #
• 23:26 Watching Blindside with Aaron. Pretty good. #

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Daily Tweets

• 15:16 Getting the creative juices flowing. #

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Daily Tweets

• 22:07 Celebrating Aaron's birthday by killing him at Scrabble. Sorry, honey. A game's a game. #

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Daily Tweets

• 07:40 Hemming and hawwing. Should I stay and enter the bakeoff, use the thawed beef in the fridge, and clean the house today... #
• 07:43 ...or should I go to the big city an hour and a half away and play with two of my sissies? Hm, 'tis a question, indeed. #
• 10:05 I am getting so boring. Yesterday I bought a jar sealer attachment for my food saver. And I am excited to get it. #
• 10:06 (Yes, apparently I am sixty years-old, and no, I cannot identify Taylor Swift in a line-up.) #
• 13:47 Decided to stay and enter the contest with a recipe I've never tried before. We'll see. #
• 13:50 It is simply amazing what you can do with a good food processor. #
• 20:49 Got 2nd runner up and a festive little apron. The best part of the night--H shouting hooray, jumping up and grabbing the prize. #

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Daily Tweets

• 09:37 Persevered and exercised in the cold rain this morning. I think that that kind of dedication cancels out the chocolate fest of last night. #
• 09:38 Don't you think? #
• 15:41 I think having obsessions is a family trait. It comes from Dad, I believe. I've been thinking of doughnut ideas and a YW bakesale all day. #
• 21:47 Well, obsessions often become inconvenient reality in my life. We (the YW, leaders, etc) made 10 pans of Cinnamon rolls tonight, and I fear there will be more to come. #
• 21:52 More to come = More solo late-night mass food production with the (sometimes reluctant) help of Aaron. Could life get any better? I ask you. #

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Daily Tweets

• 14:27 I think I broke the treadmill. (Sigh.) #
• 15:37 5 yr old is taking apart a bike. Me: "Are you keeping all of the screws so we can put it back together?" Him: "Mom. I know what I'm doing." #

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Daily Tweets

• 20:54 What a strange day. We all started with cookies for breakfast (and then lunch) and had way too much movie time. GP everywhere. #
• 20:54 GP = Grumpy Pants #

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Daily Tweets

• 21:55 Almost ten o'clock and still hanging with all the boys. Making soft and puffy gingersnaps. #

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Daily Tweets

• 13:30 High 80s today, 90 tomorrow. Phew. Time to start exercising in the morning instead. #
• 14:38 When did I start losing control of the situation today??? There are staples, markers and paper everywhere. #
• 14:39 ...at least they haven't found where I stashed the play-dough, yet. #

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Daily Tweets

• 11:03 (Do I even dare say this aloud?) I'm thinking about cutting back on sugar intake for a month or so. There might be some crankiness ahead. #
• 11:04 But now I said it and everyone will know if I am doing it or not...so here it goes. #

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Daily Tweets

• 07:16 Need some Van Halen to get going this morning. Lionel Richie is just not cutting it. #

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Daily Tweets

• 16:53 Officially potty trained. EZ, that is. #
• 16:53 (p.s. It is starting to get hot and I am seriously thinking of finding a summer job in Alaska.) #
• 21:03 Dinner tonight: Grilled pork brisket, sauteed zucchini, and soft polenta with asiago and garlic. Welcome summer. I missed you, sort of. #

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Daily Tweets

• 13:30 Re-writing copy for Aaron's work. "I need it by this afternoon...thanks, honey..." #
• 15:13 Making spinach and butternut squash lasagna for dinner tonight. #
• 21:41 The lasagna was freaking amazing... #

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Daily Tweets

• 13:57 Made hummus for the first time today. It was pretty good. Oh, and wheat pita bread is perfectly acceptable sprinkled with salt and baked. #
• 13:59 ...unlike the soggy pita halves of my childhood that were unceremoniously stuffed with dry leftover roast and Sunday's salad soggy remnants. #
• 14:00 p.s. I love you, Mom. #
• 20:10 Would love some chocolate just about now. #

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Daily Tweets

• 21:38 Stayed up late finishing a book about the ill-fated "Endurance" and its unlikely exploration of the South Pole in the early 1900s. #
• 21:39 Going to crack open "Team of Rivals" tonight. Can't wait. #

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Daily Tweets

• 14:20 Gained 4 pounds in Utah. Today I am pledging diet loyalty once again. Next goal: skinny(er) in San Diego... #
• 17:35 Made buttermilk syrup, then used it as a binder for granola bars. Eureka! #

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Daily Tweets

• 10:37 Love conference, love Easter. Love, love, love when they are together on the same day. #

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Daily Tweets

• 09:29 Suffering from post-midnight-BigMac-meal guilt. #

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And Off We Go!

Tonight H told me about her.

It came out of the blue. One minute I was urging him to finish his milk and the next he was dreamily, and yet soberly, apprising me of his upcoming nuptials to a "Lily" from school.

(H) I used to like Jazlyn, but I like Lily now...and Lily... [dramatic pause] I'm going to marry...


(Me) In the Temple?

(H, Matter-of-fact with a dreamy grin) Yeah. In the temple.

Well! Hopefully he won't be using his limited Spanish to woo her anytime soon.

Daily Tweets

• 12:17 Met some nice gals at the park. It is a beautiful day! #

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Daily Tweets

• 21:51 Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. And it's too late to take myself to a movie. Hmph! #

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Daily Tweets

• 07:15 Monday morning and waking up tired. Yikes. #

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Daily Tweets

• 13:22 H is having a "yard sale" today. He just asked me if there was "anything" that we don't need... #
• 13:23 Currently his only merchandise are three "puzzles" he made at school (and packaged in classy looking baggies). #
• 13:25 The puzzles are going for $31, $42 and $49, respectively. In regards to the $49 purple one, he said "that's the spensive one." Apparently. #

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Dieting Tip #2

Make it Gorgeous

Surprisingly, through this [unending] journey of weight loss and self discovery, I have come to enjoy food more, if that is even possible. One way that I have learned to enjoy eating smaller portion sizes, and to be satisfied by truly good food, is to make it gorgeous.

By "making it gorgeous" I mean having a variety of colors and textures, and making a beautiful photo op presentation on the plate.

Two weeks ago, I pulled some of my beautiful china from storage.  The pieces in the collection are small  and delicate with a creamy bright white color. The idea was brilliant! I decided that, while I served up breakfast and lunch on the plastic IKEA plates for the boys, I would feast off of $15 dessert bowls--it feels indulgent just using them to eat yogurt out of.

Now every time I sit down to breakfast, I feel like I am at a gourmet health spa.

Dieting Tip #1

The Gourmet Principle: Use Flavor to Keep it Interesting, Not Quantity

I have found, again and again, that I can be satisfied on far less food if it is interesting. I like to think of it as the "gourmet principle" because it is like going to a good restaurant, where the portions are very small, but the flavors are true--bright, fresh, balanced, and interesting.

Some basic already-have-around-the-kitchen flavor enhancers (that are used in small quantities) that have worked for me:

• Fresh ginger
• Horseradish
• Sesame oil
• Lemon (zest, oil, juice...)
• Lime
• Garlic
• Shallots
• Scallions 
• Fresh pesto
• Toasted nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, etc)
• Fresh herbs
• Soy sauce
• Buttermilk
• Parmesan cheese (the real stuff, please)
• Feta cheese
• Chiles
• Cinnamon
• Curry powder
• Cilantro
• Fennel seed

Daily Tweets

• 11:05 Don't come visit me today. I saw at least twenty senior citizens loading up on booze this morning at Smiths. Happy St. Patty's! #

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Daily Tweets

• 16:05 Babysitting. #

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Daily Tweets

• 17:35 We're having baked potatoes for dinner. And that's it. #

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Drum Roll Please, Ladies and Gentlemen...It's Your Highs and Lows List!

Highs:

• Reading a new book about exercise science and body function that is changing my views of exercise and its role in weight loss and overall health.
• Successfully singing a solo in two simultaneous church functions (and by successful, I mean there was not too much armpit sweating and shaking).
• Meeting with several other women in a "power of Moms" circle and feeling very much inspired and rejuvenated.
• Getting a cute haircut.
• Buying a new food processor.
• Getting a shout-out from H's teacher and an invitation for him to enter the "gifted and talented" program.
• Loving the beautiful 70 degree weather.
• Running as a family.
• Tweaking the Oatmeal-scotchies recipe with my new understanding of acidity vs. alkalinity and finding out that it works. Eureka!
• Buying a new spring dress.
• Taking the time to observe lizards, turtles, fish, ducks, geese, and rabbits in the neighborhood with my little ones.
• Enjoying the hilarious (and, sometimes disturbingly realistic) observations of a three-year-old male.
• Sending A off to nursery.
• Successfully navigating a week of stress and new horizons.
• Enjoying dinner time with Daddy an extra hour early because of Daylight savings time.
• Watching the boys discover the joys of cousins!
• Fleshing out my ideas for the "vegetables are sexy" website.
• Basking in some short bursts of time with extended family.
• Hitting my all-time lowest weight so far. One more down, 9 to goal.
• Reveling in the simplicity of my quiet little life in this quiet little town.
• Making memories exploring the shore of a local lake and discovering all sorts of treasures on our Friday Family Venture.
• Reconnecting by reminiscing with Aaron until 1:30 a.m.
• Sneaking in carrots and garlic to E's beloved rice dish, calling it "orange rice," and getting rave reviews from the crowd. E eating veggies in any form = Mommy, win! 
• Enjoying New Beginnings from the sidelines, mostly.
• Standing at the top of the overpass with the boys, waving to semi-truck drivers and watching the excitement on their faces when the drivers wave or honk back.
• Appreciating the sustaining power of good women and good friends.
• Discovering new make-up tricks from some of the best women around. (Hold and count to 15.)
• Getting a surprise offer for free babysitting from a woman in our ward.

Lows:

• Hearing A's screaming in nursery for most of Sunday School.
• Living on the edge of the grocery budget for every week after the first of the month.
• Eating an entire bag (900 Kcal) of "circus peanuts" on our Friday Family Venture.
• Also eating a lot of nutter butters and popcorn on said family venture.
• Ok, fine, and eating a lot of the Oatmeal-scotchie cookie dough and brownie dough and what-have-you.
• Passed my "goal weight" date without achieving "goal weight" for the third time this year.
• Spending $70 on a meal at the "best restaurant in town" and eating the equivalent of a grade B dinner--sticking to dinner at home from now on.
• Only losing one pound. One. Measly. Pound.
• Failing to observe when I gave offense to someone.
• Being called to task for said offense.
• Fumbling over an embarrassing haircut experience, causing me to tip the "beautician" a whopping 50% ("You should come back in a month and we will have hairpieces you can try..." Ummmm. Ok.)
• Meaning to, but not exercising.

Daily Tweets

• 18:25 Had an oatmeal-scotchie breakthrough. All butter (no shortening) and still a puffy, chewy cookie by controlling the acidity of the batter. #
• 20:07 Had a fun and relaxed day with the boys, today. We need more of these. #

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Daily Tweets

• 23:28 Done!!! #

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Daily Tweets

• 12:39 Hmmm. Maybe we are watching too much America's Test Kitchen. HY just "added wine" to his pretend risotto... #
• 12:43 Those sneaky school photographers! I didn't order them but they took pics anyway and sent them home to look over "just in case." #

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Daily Tweets

• 09:46 Hunkering down for a week of stress and trepidation. #
• 09:49 ...but I got a new dress and a new food processor on Saturday, so that helps, a little. #

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Good Morning World, How Are Ya Happiness!

I read this morning that Elder Ballard taught

"...a mother's nurturing love arouses in children, from their earliest days on earth, an awakening of the memories of love and goodness they experienced in their premortal existence." 

Isn't that beautiful?

Daily Tweets

• 14:44 Making cinnamon rolls today. Doorbell ditching them later on. #

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Bone Weary

My brain is so full tonight and I have a slight headache. There is so much information that I feel like I have to process through every day--kids schedules, menus, diet, budget, food science book that is due back at the library, food storage, magazines, family blogs, YW stuff, scriptures, additional enlightenment, visiting teaching messages, calendaring, coordinating, etc. And all of this while my three sweet children seem to be especially needy for my [simultaneous] undivided attention, which translates as constant chatter and constant questions/requests.

I need some time for quiet meditation, real meditation. I need some time where I can stop and think about all of this information and internalize it. But every time I actually sit down when things are finally quiet, I immediately fall asleep.

Somebody please tell me this is not how it always is.

An Open Letter to My Mother

Dear Mom,

Today, while I was making dinner, ASH was lying on the floor at my feet, staring aimlessly at the ceiling whilst digging his little toenails into my lower calf muscle. My first thought was "Hello? Can't you see that that hurts my leg?" But then I started to laugh, because, in a flood of instant memories, I realized it: I am his mother--not a person, per se, but a constant, forgiving, institutional force in his little life.  And, just as suddenly, I felt compelled to send you an overdue apology.

Mom, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for all of the times I sat at your dinner table (after you slaved for an hour) and, with sneering emotion, deemed the menu "YUCKY!"

I'm sorry for the incessant talking, the incessant questions, and the incessant whining.

I'm sorry for all of the times I invaded your personal space, barged in on you in the bathroom,  and took your things.

I'm sorry that I never saw you as a learning, growing human being or realized that you had feelings, dreams, bad days, sick days, passions, and responsibilities beyond me.

I'm sorry for leaving the towels on the floor.

I'm sorry for taking your kitchen gadgets and dish soap* outside and not bringing them back in.

I'm sorry for fighting with the sibs.

I'm sorry for walking around with my nose up in the air, feeling positive that I knew more than you did.

---

When all is said and done, it is your example of patience that helps me to laugh and (yes!) enjoy the highly entertaining, constantly enlightening, sometimes daunting, and habitually thankless job of motherhood.

Love,
Deborah

*Incidently, the addition of dish soap to mud makes the most lovely, frothiest mud pies. I miss those days.

Daily Tweets

• 10:22 I hate lemon bars. (Not that it matters.) #
• 10:22 I think Raspberry almond bars are superior. #

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Daily Tweets

• 14:21 Pres mtg? Check. YW activity? Cancelled. Diet? Sticking to it (barely, phew!). Weekend here I come!!! #

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Daily Tweets

• 18:12 Making dinner. Thinking of cookies. #

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Daily Tweets

• 13:30 Happy Fat Tuesday! #

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Cohorts

I love butter. 

No, really, I do. I am passionate about butter. (We don't do margarine at our house. Ever.)

Sweet, cream, salty, mild, European syle, Irish, mixed with herbs and wrapped in chicken, tempered with garlic and sloshed over pizza (Thank you Papa John!), whipped with honey and slathered on corn bread, whatever...

As far as I'm concerned, the roll is just the vehicle.

And, apparently, I'm not the only one in the family with this [not so secret] passion.

Daily Tweets

• 16:01 67 degrees today. 69 tomorrow. Love February in this town! #
• 16:02 Lining up the boys for a lively hair-cutting session in the backyard. #

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Daily Tweets

• 15:38 Making sugar cookies. #

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Daily Tweets

• 15:07 Bought "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" at the store today. Excited to read it tonight. #

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I'm Rockin My Baby, and Babies Don't Keep

Today was one of the first days, in a while, where I had all three of my babies with me all day long. Oh how I have missed this time--the lazy time in the morning snuggling down in bed together reading, tickling and wiggling; the inevitable doggie pile if I ever chance to lie down on the ground; and the insatiable curiosity about anything dirty.

EZ seemed to be at his comedic best, this afternoon, impersonating a dinosaur and then, later, manipulating me into making him biscuits using the commitment pattern.  "Mom, will you pleeeeeeease make me bibbits TONIGHT, mother dear, pleeeease. I don't like soup, just bibbits." I told him that I would if he did an interpretive dance and/or sang an original song about biscuits. And, surprisingly, he did--both the booty shake and some random song about biscuits falling down. I was entranced. He is a crack up.   

At one point we were driving somewhere and I could see them all in my rear-view mirror--three wide-eyed boys, so cute and so content, pointing out garbage trucks and other varieties of machinery.

And my heart just about burst.

Daily Tweets

• 15:57 ASH barfed on me in the hall on the way to Sunday School. #
• 15:57 Feeling melancholy. Sundays are so sad. I wish someone would just stop by and stay for dinner. #

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Somos Novios

How was I to know that night ten years ago, as I pledged my undying love back to that (unbelievably) cute eighteen-year-old boy, that I really had met my match--my dearest and truest friend?


Now we sit together at night, when all is finally quiet, and laugh at our own little kingdom and the wonder of it all.  I feel such deep contentment.

We dream the same dreams.

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Somos novios

Daily Tweets

• 22:04 Nothing sweeter than my baby asking if I'll pray with him. Ahhh. Good day. #

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May I Just Vent For a Minute?

Highs

• ASH is becoming more independent
• EZ is becoming more independent
• I have discovered new food science material that is changing everything about how I approach bread-making (and beyond, really)
• Using these techniques, I made some rockin' blueberry scones the other day
• The weather is getting warmer
• We got our family pictures!
• My taxes are filed
• I haven't gained more than 2 pounds since October
• We are sticking to the grocery budget, come rain or come shine (aka I am resisting the persistent urge to monthly spend $500 on exotic ingredients, etc)
• This summer's family trip is going to be stellar and we couldn't be more excited
• I'm planning to be at my "ideal" body weight by said family trip
• I am participating in a new mother's learning circle group
• The children are getting older and it is fun to see them as little individuals
• I love my sweet and cute little ones
• I feel more lucky, every day, that I married who I married
• YW is finally starting to go

Lows

• ASH thinks he is a super big dude and has completely lost his mind--nothing is safe anymore
• EZ is the king of kissing and pinching--truly the dichotomy incarnate
• Three little boys + excessive energy + warmer weather + boring town = driving mom bananas
• My new found food knowledge is distracting me from my calorie counting (Does anyone out there want to be a taste-tester? I am serious here, folks.)
• The scones alone were 407 calories each. Eeek.
• In a fit of practicality, Aaron and I decided to dedicate most of the impending tax refund to a decidedly un-sexy endeavor
• The family pictures, unfortunately, look exactly like us--one (slightly chunky) mom, one hot dad, one photogenic kid, one ham, and one sad toddler--ordinary individuals with a black background
• I haven't lost more than 4 pounds since October
• It is basically February and I can't stay under 1500 Kcal for more than 4 days in a row (sigh)
• In the name of staying on budget for January, I am out of the following: vanilla, cornmeal, shortening, butter, eggs, milk, fresh and/or frozen vegetables, cheese, yogurt, bread, garlic, onions, TP, deodorant, razors, etc)
• The "mother's circle" material, so far, makes me feel enormously guilty
• I have officially become a real mother--yesterday I was told that I was "mean" by my five-year-old
• I feel more pulls and stresses than I have in a long long time
• It is not getting any better
• I see Aaron less and less
• Because of this stress, I have found myself daily combing the house for chocolate
• It could also be hormones
• YW is a full time (unpaid) job
• I am tired

Daily Tweets

• 21:50 Taxes are filed. Time to party! #

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Daily Tweets

• 14:03 Just returned from the (surprise) overnight trip to Vegas. Thanks, Sis. I needed that. #

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Daily Tweets

• 21:29 Just witnessed the saddest/most hilarious circus I have ever seen--featuring an 11 yr old clown and a trans-gender "Indonesian" dancer. #
• 21:32 Kids in bed. Now, settling down to watch "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" with the man of the house. #

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Daily Tweets

• 23:02 Fun with the screwdriver again. The five-year-old has an insatiable curiosity for mechanical items. Bonus: He fixed the fan!

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Daily Tweets

• 14:28 HY has been coming up with new letters in addition to the regular 26. One of them is pronounced "durn" and the symbol is a hyperactive "M."
• 14:29 Today he showed me another one, called a "turp" that is represented by a sort of sideways 8 with a wiggily tail. Strange.
• 14:30 The funny thing is that he is using these "new" letters in forming "new" words, like "pro[durn]lop[turp]i." Should I be alarmed or amused?
• 14:32 Did you know that you can give money directly to the church for emergency aid www.give.lds.org/emergencyresponse How cool is that?
• 21:05 All kids in bed. So nice.
  

Daily Tweets

• 14:42 Stake Conference was great. Off to nap.

Daily Tweets

• 11:18 This morning's family jump rope competition was temporarily halted by jumping-induced-incontinence and too-loose shorts.
• 11:20 It's hard to jump with your shorts around your ankles. But it DOES produce massive fits of giggling in little boys, let me tell you...
• 11:21 By the way, I beat Aaron by four jumps. Booyah!

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Daily Tweets

• 22:50 I want a pizza. And chocolate.

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Daily Tweets

• 14:29 Remember that bowl of pasta that he called "yucky" and threw across the room? Yeah. Now he's crying because I threw it away. Sheesh.
  
• 14:31 Me and the boys...we need a vacation!
• 16:55 HY just asked me what happens to the gluten in dough when it is heated. ...I'm speechless (and in love!) My children are brilliant!
• 17:00 Is there anything a common gal like I can do for Haiti? What do you think?
• 17:18 Got tired of standing outside. So I moved all the furniture and let them ride bikes inside. What a great idea!

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Daily Tweets

• 22:20 YW went well tonight. Score one point. Went over calories by teaching fettuccine alfredo . Take two away. #

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Daily Tweets

• 08:58 More evidence that FHE is really making a difference: (EZ, with conviction) "Jesus loves...pizza and breadsticks!" #
• 11:43 Oatmeal from the garbage smeared on face and floor, a whole cup of milk on the carpet, pen on the wall. ASH has gone to the dark side. Sigh. #
• 11:44 Now what is that smell? And where is EZ? #
• 18:32 Made dinner that kids won't really go for and Aaron just called saying he won't be home. What to do with all this food and no will-power? #

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Daily Tweets

• 12:31 Entering negotiations today with EZ regarding potty training. #
• 14:47 Potty negotiations going well. Had a slight hiccup when EZ demanded the potty be perched atop my cedar chest. #
• 20:18 Nothing says "family togetherness" like boogie-ing to 94.5 The Vibe. Post-FHE freakin, doing "the eagle" and general white-man dancing. Fun. #

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Fresh New Up-do

Aaron asked me, the other day, if I was going to change the title of my blog.

"But it has been that title for years...I don't think that it really affects me..." I replied.

But, hey, looking back on the previous year, things have changed. I can't say that I like eating any less, but it is just not the elephant in the room anymore.

So, out with the old and on with the, well, better!

Oh, and Aaron, thanks! You are everything.

Give Me Gingerbread, Or Give Me Death

Really I should be working on the Christmas feast right now, or working on the ghastly toilets (for the guest's sake!). But instead, we are taking pictures and blogging. I don't think that the excitement level in our home can get much higher today. How fun is Christmas with little children in the house? All I know is that I could burn in Hell for all the lies I've been spinning lately about flying reindeer, elves, and the like. Either way, whoa! I am excited.

Merry Christmas!

Very Merry Happy-Snappy Holly Jolly Bright

• 09:57 Already calendaring June and July. It is already mostly booked. What is happening to my life??? #

• 08:34 Excited today to hear news on the impending birth of my new niece today. Happy Birthday Little One!!! #
• 14:58 Yum. Gingerbread. #
• 18:04 Green eggs (no ham) for dinner. The idea was genius. #

• 09:41 Watching Aaron patiently allow the boys to "help" him in bleeding the brakes. Seriously impressed. I would have booted them all by now. #
• 09:42 There's nothing I love more than a refrigerator stocked with a beautiful array of fresh fruits and vegetables. Really, it is gorgeous!!! #

• 15:09 Feel absolutely paralyzed by so much to do. Just really want to eat chocolate instead. #

They Get So Big, So Fast

Baby boy, you are simply delicious right now. Please don't turn two anytime soon...