Threesies

I bought these baby mozzerella balls with the intention of having them for lunch. But my awesome mom made us turkey and salami hardroll sandwiches that we ate in her garden. (aka backyard but really it is a beautiful garden)

So when the hunger bug came around this afternoon I threw my salad together.
baby mozzeralla
grape tomatoes
salami
brocolli
garlic
oregano
a pinch of salt
drizzle of olive oil (organic for an awesome price @ Sam's club)
a sprinkle of balsamic vineagar

Before they were in the salad, the kids wouldn't touch them, not enough salt I think. Once they were in the salad they wouldn't leave me alone.

Other possible cold salad combos:
Chicken sausage (asiago and spinach) + roasted tomatoes + mushrooms + basil + fresh spinach

Chick peas + curry powder + red bell pepper + tomatoes + olive oil + home made croutons

fried tofu + peanuts + red bell pepper + red pepper flakes + bean sprouts + sprinkle of vinegar + sprinkle of raw sugar

Shrimp + avocado + tomatoes + cilantro + fresh lime juice + a drizzle of honey (mmmmm that one is next!)

ummm

I should say, I don't really have anything against Utah LDS members. UT members are just different (in general) from me. I used to be very resentful towards them because of my perception of them, and now, I am pretty cool with them, unless of course someone is telling me how to be a mom ;) Love you Utahns!

Your mama's so phat...

For you LDS readers, I absolutely, 100%, with no doubt, hated this talk with all my heart when I heard it. I'm just that way...if a Utah mormon even begins to go on and on about what mothers should be doing or how a mother's life should be, I cringe and shut down all spirit receptors. But I'm trying, I'm trying really hard to love this talk. Because in it's simplest form, I know it to be true. So in my efforts to open the receptors back up:

Mothers who know bear children

Mothers Who Know Honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants

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Mothers Who Know Are Nurturers, Leaders, Teachers, and Do Less(things away from their family)

Here's my list:

Read my scriptures more often and with the kids 2. go to the temple more often 3. Teach C-bug to embroider 4. Make and play our pirate game a lot!!! 5. Ride our bikes alot!!! 6. grow things 7. make a tipi 8. Teach c-bug to sew 9. Read often 10. Take trips in my van no matter what the price of gas is 11. Host my tiki birthday party 12. Live greener by eating from our garden, buying organic, and eating even less meat 13. Value our home by cleaning it well and often 14. Go to the beach 15. take loads of picture 16. Get the kids into rock climbing and take it up again myself

Just have to remind myself that a done list does not necessarily make a happy family.

Mothers Who Know Stand Strong and Immovable

Working on this :)

Not Today

Yesterday was not my day, and today is yesterday's half sister. Yesterday was a miserable moody type of gal and today? well she's all over the dang place ;)

We were quickly hustled out of bed this morning by the runts. Apparently it was free day at the Natural History Museum. I love the word "free" but I was really worried about the word "crowded." Especially during the first week off from school. But it was nice. I even slipped out of today's scratchy fingers to just enjoy the moment.

And I know what I need to do today (long boring list like car registration and buy milk) and I know what I want to do today (long yummy list like take a dip and drink my mom's lavendar lemonade in the shade) and I know what I should be doing (dishes, laundry, all that junk) but what I am actually doing is hiding out in the office posting on my blog ;)

Snow White and the power of love

This is my little seven dwarves cottage in my garden. I was lucky to find the dwarf rosemary and trim it bonsai style to make the cutest twisting evergreen. Today I added the picket fence and a few feet away we placed a castle we found at the thrift store. Maybe I'll show that one later as it develops. Did you know that Disney's Snow White was their first animated film that contained people in it? The animators apparently struggled with life like cartoon characters and that may be one reason why the prince is not in the film much....little bit of random trivia. Funny how briefly he was in her life, and yet....;)

Last night we had a service auction for our ladies group. We do it every year and it's always loads of fun. But no money is involved. To be able to have something to use to bid, we fill out a paper that asks if you have done certain things, like reading your scriptures that day, and then you get points based on your answer. One of the things you could get points for was telling someone you love them. Women there were spreading those words throughout the gym, yes to get the ponts, but those words rang true for so many I am sure. It got me to thinking about how many times I have said those words this week, even whispering them as I fell asleep to dear friends far away.

How I wish I could say those words more often and to those who need to hear it. I think it is so much easier to fall into the negativity in the world, we might not flinch to even think an ill thought towards someone, but cringe at the idea of conveying appreciation, thoughfulness, and adoration. A little humility people! A wee bit vulnerability with our emotions, really can not do much harm. Because love is not about what you get out of it, but about what you are giving. And for gentle hearts and even tough burly ones, love is a healer, a companion, nourishment, in it's simplest truest form.

So today, for you, don't flich, don't blink, maybe I know you, maybe I don't, maybe we are new friends, maybe old soulmates, hear my words. I love you.

Lonely Deer (lonely, dear?) WIP

It's punny that I am posting this tonight. As I am the queen of puns, analogies, symbolism and such here in my home (or is it only in my own mind?)

I've had this deer for quite awhile. I've had an idea, a vision, for the wonderfully crafty cutenss I want for this deer. The list to finish this has been (in some sort of order):
1. Buy jar of some sort for deer's containment
2. Buy cozy moss for which deer can stand upon
3. Make/find/buy objects to put in with deer to create the most awesome environment.

Well the first 2 are finally checked off the list. And I thought I was on the right track but now the dear deer stands alone, except when jostled by the children and the deer topples over sideways or on it's back legs and everyone gets a good laugh about how easily the deer can tip over and stand so funny. And it IS another craft project that isn't yet finished. so eventually my hubs will comment about it. I'm sure he'll question why there is a stupid plastic deer with fake moss in a fish bowl sitting on the entry table months and months later...Of course WE all know why there's a deer in the bowl, don't we? But sometimes those guys just don't get it.

The long answer to such taunting and questioning might be: Because it makes me smile, because it reminds me of an old fairy tale I once read, and there were lovely red mushrooms in the pictures with a spotted fawn in the background,and little wood nymphs poking about, and I wanted nothing more than to be that princess in the story, with a life filled with magic and mystery, and a big delicious happy ending.

So I might just say "It makes me smile."

Maybe one day, he won't notice it there, it will become common place, but it wil still be my little deer, and then maybe one day, he'll bump the table and the bowl will crash to the floor and he might say, "OH! I am soooo sorry! That was your little deer that you loved so much!" Or maybe he will just say "It's just a stupid deer!"

But it is your deer, and my dear, things that are precious to us, don't always measure the same in someone elses eyes, which doesn't mean it's not important or less important. It means it's different. Always different. From one day to the next. But most important is to love yourself despite who loves you. And to value yourself, even when you are a lonely dear.

mmm paper flowers

So firstly, I found these awesome mulberry paper flowers at Michaels and couldn't resist them (seriously they said "Moniiiiique. Buy uuuuuuuussss!" Who can resist talking flowers?!)They were, as you can imagine, super easy to put together with a little crafting glue to insure they stick together and I just slid a bobby pin through the button back. Now Raesha, don't go buying a box, I have enough for one for you ;) Because you know those flowers are saying through R's computer screen "Raaaaaaeshaaaaa. Go buy some floooooowers!"

And you see that wavy yummy ribbon in the pic? It's stretchy and will make the perfect headband for E's flower!

In an effort to blog with more purpose and spirit, I pulled a word card from a bag of vocab cards Raesha gave me a while back for some inspiration. I do this everyonce in awhile as a journaling prompt. The word is dissemble.

What a flippin' loaded word to pull out of the bag. I can't even journal about that w/o spilling all my secrets!

So instead I'll put a little plug in for gardening. Go read Kelly's post here because tomorrow I am going to get a little sunburned whilst putting some fresh mulch and compost in my garden.

Serendipity, the powers of the cosmos, and what Sunday means to me

At church today, the lesson was on one of the most wonderful conference talks I have ever heard on the topic of mothers. You can read it here Even if you aren't LDS, it's very universal and extremely relevant to solving the problems many families face today.

What I love most about this particular talk is that Elder Ballard isn't lecturing women, he's empathizing with them. He seems to commend us mamas for the hard work we so often put into motherhood and our efforts to keep a happy home.

And obviously for those of you that know me, finding my happy balance is not an easy thing. Living my creative life while raising 4 very boisterous and excited-about-life children is a wonderful thing, but often so many other things seem neglected and fall by the wayside. But it's the last thing Elder Ballard suggests women can do to reduce the pressure and enjoy your family more that impresses me most. He says.
"...pray, study, and teach the gospel. Pray deeply about your children and about your role as a mother. Parents can offer a unique and wonderful kind of prayer because they are praying to the Eternal Parent of us all. There is great power in a prayer that essentially says, “We are steward-parents over Thy children, Father; please help us to raise them as Thou wouldst want them raised.”

Special and kind words to consider when those moments of frustration arise.