Gentle Reminders.....

It has been busy....nothing new there.  

The pictures will prove it.  They are almost hard to look at for the full content.

This is what happens if I get behind and wait several days to blog....also I start to forget what happens from one day to the next.

I guess I am mostly writing this post for me then....

so I don't forget.

The Feast!

I had a very fun time with McCauley at the big parent lunch/book fair day last week.

I will say, I was surprised to see many cooks and staff bustling around behind the counter on this day.

Does this not look MAGNIFICENT??

I was loving life with this early Thanksgiving meal.

My tray was clean when the lunch bell rang.

McCauley is a huge fan of her schools cup cakes....so I had to get one to try.....not to shabby.

She is on a restricted plan now though...one cupcake per week.

(there is always a desert included w/ purchased lunches....

the c cakes are .50 additional so it is not an everyday event.)

I was sooooo glad I went....only three children did not have a parent show up....they were wisked away back to the room w/ the teacher.

Scouting For Food

Every year this is a really fun event for the boys.  One Saturday they go and place the bags, the next they go and gather any bags of food that have been left out.

A great Service, and Big Time fun.

Brother Wilson always brings doughnuts and water bottles.

I am usually one of the drivers, me and M hang out in the car.  

Sometimes she heads out to take part in the action.

After the placement of bags, the gang comes to our place for the
Founders Day Parade

(the sound works for once!  pause the music, and listen.  I LOVE band music don't you?)
....it goes right by our house.
The candy they get is unbelievable!

Cub Scout Pack Meeting

We have a great group of boys,
and leaders!

Never Ending Science Projects

I want to say here and now that Kevin is the 

BEST HOMEWORK HELPER ON THE PLANET!!

This guy is All In!

Occasionally I may give Kevin a hard time on my blog...

....but I think he knows, as well as anyone who reads it, 

that it would sure be boring with out him being included....

Since the beginning of public school Kev has been hands on with the kids and their assignments.

Thank you my dear, as you know, Science is not my thang.

This is what I came home to last night.  It was after 9:00 pm.

Ethan's DNA project.

He seemed a little concerned...do you like it??  Does it look good??

Yes.  Yes I do.  Indeed it does look amazing.

(styrofoam balls are a HUGE rip off!)

Lawson's Buoyancy Experiment 

He has been diligent in weighing them every 8 - 10 hours....and keeping track of the data.

Don't forget the baseball..... three or four days per week for both R and E....go, go, go...

My little 6 year old lady.

My tiny little dream girl.

Our only daughter had a question for me a few Saturdays ago.....

We were at the church, bustling about, the boys were still on their hunting trip with Kevin.

We were heading back down the hall, we had just gotten the journal and baptism blanket for the young boy whose baptism we were there to attend.

She said, mom, What would happen if I marry someone who is not like us?

My heart skips a few beats...

I mean, someone who is not....ya know....a "saint".

I said, you mean someone that is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?

Yeah.

No....no, you would never want to do that because if you did you would not be able to be sealed together in the temple for time and all Eternity.

She raises her shoulders and says....So.

I was blind sided.

I was looking at a teenage young woman.

Is my time up that quickly?

Have I squandered it all away?  

This beloved daughter is very unclear on the blessings of the temple in her own life.  

It is obvious she does not see the blessings of the temple in the life of her family.  

And most importantly it is not apparent that she will be missing a single thing in her own marriage by not marring in the temple.

Time stands still.....no it goes speeding by far too quickly.

What have we been doing besides the mindless daily drivel that keeps us running 24/7?

ARE WE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE OF ALL?

it is clear we are not there yet.

I have been brought down.

 I have been made aware by a simple question.

One that I know was prompted by a loving Father.

 A Gentle Reminder.....a nudge in the right direction.

This is far more effective than a red hot poker.

An unsolicited wake up call.... 

It just so happens that the very next day I was to instruct the primary children on the blessings of the temple.  I have a feeling that he was not appreciating the casual attitude I had taken in my preparation.

My planning took a major turn and became very personal, very heartfelt, very quickly.

A few weeks back we had gotten our October issue of the Ensign.

It was a special Temple issue....I remember getting it, seeing that is was all about temples.  

I was like, hmmmm, that's nice..... literally raising my shoulders,   

and setting it aside, with no real intentions of delving into it much.

Been there done that....was my overall attitude.

Things have a way of coming back don't they?

I am getting the priceless message.

My recent gift.

I have read this beloved issue....almost...cover to cover....it will happen...first time ever.

Now to put the words into action.

Kev and I are making strides, making a point of talking more of the temple with our kids,
including our thanks for them in our prayers, FHE focus...etc.
it is good.

Having a temple recommend, and being worthy is great, but it won't do me or my family any good if we never speak of the temple or make attending a priority in our life.

The day after M's question, like I said, I was teaching sharing time.  

I got out our wedding album....sad as it is.  It had been stuffed way back in a dark corner of a closet.

During sacrament M scanned, and ooooed and awwwwed the beautiful pictures

of Kev and I's glorious day at the Salt Lake City Temple.

She loved this one....why is dad jumping?

Because I was so excited to be sealed to your mom for time and all eternity!!

McCauley kept saying she didn't know it was so beautiful at the temple.

Yes, nothing is more beautiful and special.

(two of these are at the Joseph Smith Memorial building)

One of the talks that struck me the most was 

Blessings of the Temple, by President Thomas S. Monson

How far is heaven?

It’s not very far.

In temples of God,

It’s right where we are.

The Lord said:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

The temple is for families, one of the greatest treasures we have in mortality.

The late Elder Matthew Cowley, who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, once recounted the Saturday afternoon experience of a grandfather as hand in hand he took his small granddaughter on a birthday visit—not to the zoo or to the movies but to the temple grounds. With permission of the groundskeeper, the two walked to the large doors of the temple. He suggested that she place her hand on the sturdy wall and then on the massive door. Tenderly he then said to her, “Remember that this day you touched the temple. One day you will go inside.” His gift to the little one was not candy or ice cream but an experience far more significant and everlasting—an appreciation of the house of the Lord. She had touched the temple, and the temple had touched her.

It is easy not to go to the temple. 

It will never be convenient.  

The perfect time won't "happen to come along"

It will have to be a conscious decision made by K and I.

No one will teach our kids and show by example but us.

On Veteren's Day K and I got away and were able to attend a session.

Thanks V - for keeping the kids.

My Patriarchal blessing says that I will be given a clear and sharp understanding of the purposes of the temple.

I am not there yet....can't picture ever being there.

My mind wanders, I sometimes start to doze off a bit, I judge slow dressers sometimes....and on and on.

BUT - I will continue to strive,

and make every effort to learn, grow, and teach our children. 

When we got home from church on that Sunday M wanted to know where the blocks were.

I said I thought they were in the office....

oh great....I want to make a temple out of blocks for my Polly Pockets.

Deep breath.

The Good (pre-run) Cookie

We are down to 7 days until the big Run!!

Last night the girls got together to decorate our "Sole Sisters" tees.  Pretty cute...I still need to iron my name on, so I will post a few pics later.  (Dumb not to get any photos last night.)

It seems like what to eat before a run comes up over and over again.

It is hard to know what to eat, and when.  

We have all experienced extreme fatigue from eating nothing...not the best plan.  

Most of us have accidentally chosen the wrong thing to eat before a long run and had to pay the piper, maybe even been forced to cut it short, due to angry bowel issues

(praying all the way home that we would indeed make it in time).

Soooooooo.....drum roll please...........

I found this new recipe recently at 

 * the little red house blog.

(Very fun place to visit - check out her Ragnar Run video.)

Today I finally gave it a try.

Here's the scoop.....taste report and tips at the bottom.

I have heard of similar recipes w/ peanut butter and oats...

but this one sounded sooooooo jam packed full of 

health bennies that it is the one that finally won me over to try.

(ok, maybe not the Nestles so much...but everything else)

As you will see you will be doing a lot of pureeing and mixing in your blender.

My vita mix was sweet grinding up the wheat, flax seed, and chick peas.

I have been curious about Agave Nectar for a really long time, 

I finally got some for this recipe.

Have you tried it for other things???

The Good (pre-run) Cookie 

(I took the liberty of changing the name by adding pre-run)
3/4c  peanut butter

1/4c agave nectar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 can chickpeas, pureed in food processor

1 1/4 c rolled oats

1/2 c whole wheat flour

1/4c ground flax seed

1/8c wheat germ

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2oz good quality dark chocolate, finely chopped

In a seperate bowl combine oats, flour, flax, wheat germ, baking powder and salt.

Combine pb, agave, and egg in mixer, and beat until well combined--about a minute.

Add vanilla.

Stir in chickpea puree until well mixed.

Slowly stir in dry mixture until well combined. Mixture will be thick.

Shape into a rectangle on a lined cookie sheet, about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle chocolate over the top.

Bake at 350° in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until cookie is set. 

Spread out chocolate, allow to cool for about 10 minutes, and cut into bars. Let them cool completely before you eat them. Store in refrigerator to keep the chocolate nice and crisp.

* Important tips I need to share - 

the chick peas should be rinsed and drained!!!!

I didn't find this out until after when I went to get the link for the recipe.  I think that would be a major improvement to the taste....although it is pretty darn good as it is...

I just don't think all that bean juice is healthy...is it??

I would not recommend you tasting the batter!!  I repeat...don't lick the spatula...NOT GOOD.

This fact made me very leary about tasting the finished product.

No need to have worried.  It is great!

I will make a new batch for the run to share!

(without the chick pea juice!)

By the way, I did not line my cookie sheet...just sprayed w/ a little Pam.

Before you go make your pre-run cookies.....

....why not get inspired and pumped!!!???

I have a new favorite running song....

this will be my theme song for the run next weekend.

I wanted to add the actual video, and make it look way cooler....but I couldn't figure out how...

I decided seeing the lyrics on YouTube and just listening may be even better.

If Today Was Your Last Day

by : Nickleback

   be sure and go full screen   : )  

Gotta tell ya....

Hi Guys, there are certain things I have not posted about in a while...

I did not want you all to get sick of me 

blathering on about my 

mega savings too much....but this one I gotta share.  I believe it was the "perfect" shop.

It was Friday, the kids were at school and I had put in my time to get my coupons and shopping plans clearly laid out.

One of the details that made this the perfect shop was that it was on a day with perfect weather.

It was so beautiful outside, and inside because the windows were all open.  

It felt so refreshing.

It seemed like everyone in Publix had a little spring in their step and we 

were all in a great mood to have a change in the weather.

Here is what I was able to purchase for $15.45 - 

SAVED $136.48 

We were dangerously low on canned veggies.

Here is a tip for any local couponers....have you noticed the 

DOWNTOWN PRODUCE Market & More Single page flyers in your papers?  

They are kind of glossy, bright yellow.  There is a coupon on it that is for $5 off $30 purchase.

Publix takes these as a competitor....if you spend over $60 (before coupons) 

you can use two...like me today!

That saves you $10 just like that. 

Yeah....that's right!

Yes, these Renuzits are pretty tacky.....however, 

our home smells of Thanksgiving morn now.

I love it....and besides...they are strategically hidden.

Cold and cough season is upon us....had to stock up!

The best part of my trip was checking out today.  I always take a quick scan at the beginning of my trip to see which checkers are working.  Yep, I noted that Phil was indeed working, I will be sure to avoid his lane, but also, My FAVORITE checker, Cathy was working, plus + my preferred bagger Jared, was on duty.  

Doesn't get much more perfect than that.  We were chit-chatting it up, I had seen Cathy volunteering at the voting booths on Tuesday...her back had started hurting from sitting so long.  

Jared told me about a gal that worked there that is also a mormon, she supposedly gave Hector a Book of Mormon, which Hector (whom was bagging right behind us, he is probably in his seventies, so Jared was kind of whispering, so he had to repeat it a few times for me to hear) threw up onto the lockers in the break room.  Jared couldn't believe his eyes.

Now, believe this, Phil actually came over to say hello and see how I was doing on this fine day.  He started helping to bag also, friendly as all get out!

He actually volunteered to run and get me the rain check that I needed.

Cathy is always so happy with the savings....she practically shouts to the eye rolling... lady coming up next to check out...YOU ONLY SAVED 

ONE HUNDRED THIRTY EIGHT DOLLARS AND FORTY EIGHT CENTS!!

Wonderful job!

See you next time...  Kay....bye Cath.  
Jared and I head out discussing the glorious day we are all enjoying.

I think Publix has the wrong motto......It should be....

When you're here, You're FAMLY.

I know that catch phrase belongs to the Olive Garden....I'm just sayin.

The second thing I have tried not to bring up in a while is my knees....maybe you all thought that my crunched down running stance was still doing the trick for me.

Well, it has not been...I really think I got that little gift that day as a little ray of hope so I would not give up and quit.  The real answer has been out there all along, it was delivered to me in person by Aubrey the night before.  She has recently dealt w/ a knee injury and is still on the road to recovery, she was able to give me some new insight into what may be the cause of my knee pain, as well as tips on how to go about  getting rid of it w/ some specific stretching that she does to help with it.

Hmmmmm, I am ALL EARS.

Say on.

She said, did you know that it is your overly tight gluteous and hamstring muscles that are actually pulling on your knee, that is causing the pain?

No I did not.

This seemingly chronic problem stems from my tight Arss?
Ha!  That is cool. 

It really has nothing to do w/ my knees at all?  This is shocking news.  

(Aubrey...please correct me if I am saying this wrong, you should definitely add more detail).

She showed me some very deep glute stretches to do each day, as well as before and after each run. 

 I am telling you that it works!

She and I ran on Friday morning....it was sooooooo cold!  Sooooooo windy.  We did not run more than 5 miles....but it was enough to know.

Today's run was colder and windier than Friday's....I ran alone, planed to run 5, but tacked on two extra...not a single word from either knee.

I can run like a normal person again!!!!

Thank you, THANK YOU, Thank you so much!!! 

My Favorite homemade Bread recipe -

Tina asked for my bread recipe so I thought I would post it.....
This bread is delicious...

3 T. yeast softened in 1/2 c. hot water
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. honey OR sugar (I have never tried sugar)
2 T. salt
1 c. powdered milk
4 c. water
6 c. wheat flour
6 c. white flour

Soften yeast, then combine it with the oil, honey, and salt.  Mix well, add flour and water alternately.  Knead 20 minutes (have your mix master knead anyway).  Rise 40 min.  punch down.  Rise 20 min.  Shape into greased bread pans (about 5 of them)  Rise 30 min.  Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.

(I generally use more wheat flour and less white).

Holler if you have any questions.

Enjoy!

Bits and Pieces....

BLOG RETRACTION:  

To start, I need to take care of some blog business.  It was brought to my attention that back in October, in a post titled Accomplishment, I had referred to our garage as having "sides", my side and Kevin's side.

I would like to take that back....the garage has no sides to it.
All that stuff belongs to our whole family...I want to make that clear.

I shouldn't have said that....and it is not funny to joke about serious stuff.
Sorry about that.

..........................................

For this post, I really just have a bunch of random odds and ends.....no deep theme or anything.

I have not yet posted anything about the boys week long trip to South Dakota...here are a few photos that I feel
sum up the trip nicely.

where was K in all the photos?

What is the deal with that dead elk?... moose?  the boys claim it was not dead but sleeping..

I really thought that those animals slept standing up like cows.

The FIRST Day of pheasant hunting!!!

The "package" arrived yesterday...yippie! 

The one with the nine freshly frozen prepped pheasants.

oh joy.

This will be the third delivery of this kind over the past three years.  Not once have we partaken of an actual pheasant our selves.  

One time the freezer got left unplugged in the garage and every scrap of food was spoiled in it, including all the pheasants.

Just now I was out in the garage to change over the wash and noted the lid on the
styrofoam cooler was ajar 

(the one the pheasants came in yesterday)

....I assumed it was therefore empty...but decided it wouldn't hurt to take a quick look see inside.

It was jam packed full of thawed pheasants!

I beelined inside to give K a quick call and see what the deal was.....oh, no biggie, those are just last years birds (the ones that have been taking up the entire lower half of the freezer for the past year)

oooohhhhhhh ok, got it.

So this has got to be the year we don't waste.....I think we will be giving these away pretty quick before we have a chance to continue our pattern.

Here is Herbie, I noticed her outside the kitchen window going berserk a few days ago....I was hanging out trying to see what the problem was.....maybe someone in Charlie's yard that she was jealous of or something....nooooooo, hmmmmm, looks like she sees a squirrel in the vines.

I got myself some grapes and settled in for the show.  

This squirrel was taunting Herbie so bad, it really seemed intentional, I could not believe the nerve of this squirrel...I liked her style.

At one point I was curious as to why the squirrel was staying put for so long, and what she was actually doing over there by the fence.

I headed out, come to find out she was wrapped up in the vines pretty good.... she herself seemed to be trapped in her own web of games.  When I came along it really spooked her good though, she worked up enough adrenaline to beat it out of there. 

So that was pretty cool.

Lastly, while the boys were away M got a new bigger girl bike.

The other day as she was peddling up our driveway coming home from school, she said, mom can I please get a new bike?  One without Barbies on it?  What?  Why?  This one embarrasses me.

but you love Barbies. 

One of the boys was laughing at me because he said my bike was so small.

Well, yes, you have out grown it....but you still love Barbies....geesh! 

We went to Dick's at the mall and found just what she was looking for.

It says Twister on it instead of Barbie.

On Saturday she road her new bike around Gleason while I tried to keep up by running.  

....not possible.

 BEAUTIFUL.

We had fun after, checking out all the turtles, and birds that were hanging around.

It was a lovely morning.

Just a quickie.....

Happy NOVEMBER 1st!!  

.....but I need to go back, I am behind a bit this week.  

The boys made it home with Kevin Saturday night, so we have been catching up....

no excess time for blogging.

But before we get too far away from Halloween I thought I would post a handful of pictures.

Here are M&I trying our hand at being....just about the hottest witches on Earth.

(Halloween is really just an excuse to wear extra makeup and be a blonde (or whatever) for the day).

5 little witches went out to play.

We had fun w/ V and her cute girls.  Our plans were foiled a few times...

didn't really matter, we love spending time with these ladies.

 Since we knew the boys would miss trunk - or - treating, and trick or treating on Sunday, McCauley wanted to make their home coming extra special.

 This was Saturday night waiting in the cel phone lot at the airport....these birds were amazing.

M and I were having a great time with them.

Sunday night, after trying and failing at carving our pumpkins, which were 

so thick skinned and tough.

Our "special" - pumpkin - carving tools could not even do the job...we gave up.

The missionaries stopped in for a few minutes.

Hope you had a great October.

I loved taking down all the spooky stuff today.....
makes the house feel so clutter free.

Day 4 Update.....

Well, I am almost at the end of day 4.....here is what I have thought so far.

Day 1 - Not the worst day ever.  It was supposed to be hydrating only with water, and one apple or other fruit at night.  I ended up running, so I made a large glass of vita mix and drank that w/ my water.  

We had a Ragnar meeting that night at a Mexican restaurant.  The chips and salsa were out in full force....as well as some pretty sweet looking quesdillas!

Stayed strong.

I felt fine throughout the day, but by 9ish I had headache and was getting nauseas.  

I had been looking forward to watching biggest Looser...but I just went to bed.

Day 2 - Maybe a little better.  You add in a few more raw food fruits and veggies.

I was not hungry until late morning....I had a pretty limited supply 

of this type of food in the house so I made a run to Sams Club.

Tonight it was Calvin's Eagle Ceremony at church....

I avoided the pizza and magnificent looking cake by depleting the Veggie Pickers tray.

I was loving me some pea pods....I wanted a ton more but V's mother in law seemed to be standing guard over the food table.

McCauley and I snuck out w/ a napkin holding a few extra carrots, and celery.

Party Time!

Day 3 -  was the toughest, the so called hump day.  In the program description, they say you will have boundless energy, and will feel so amazing!  LIARS.  I was starting to get annoyed w/ the whole thing.

Wishing I never laid eyes on this stinkin 7 day cleanse!!  I was clean enough as it was.

I was really craving something warm....like a casserole, or hot cocoa.

What saved me was the Edema-me (soy beans).  I ate these warmed up....quite a lot of them.  They really hit the spot.  They even have a little bit of a salty taste which was perfect.  The other thing that helped me was the hot lemon water.

This night was our Primary Auxiliary training at the stake center.  The refreshments were to 

CHEAT FOR!!  So, so sinfully good.

I took my plate as you see below and put each item into the freezer when I got home.

Oh yeah I am eating them!!

.....in like 4 more days!

(btw...that is a mint chocolate brownie)

However, I don't plan on scarfing them all down in one day or one sitting....

albeit, I can foresee times that this would be highly 

appropriate.....

* pulling an all nighter with Canasta

*going to a DDB - (Dana Desert Bar)

*a special night at a GNO

*the list can go on.........

.....but I am discovering the power in delayed gratification and patience.

Day 4 - BREAK THROUGH - woke up feeling pretty good again....seemed like this was going to be A.O.K. after-all.  I made a hearty vita mix and allowed for an extra add in.  

I used all of the seeds from both halves of the cantaloupe, 3 prunes, lots of spinach, carrot, banana, cut up plum (no pit) lots of ice and water...... 

 .....and PEANUT BUTTER.....a rather large scoop!

I needed a bit more energy,

this and a 1/4 cup....trail mix throughout the day did the trick.

Tonight V and I took the little girls out on a little Halloween Adventure......and 

we did split a Chick Filet frozen yogurt cup.....

I cannot say how delicious it was!!

For the remaining 3 days I will gradually add another healthy item in, and voila....I will be done.

(this is not according to the "plan" they do not allow for nuts of any kind....I am adding that, (raw almonds and such) and will be adding yogurt tomorrow maybe....starting the wind down.

The thing I am loving the most is how everything TASTES so wonderful.  Or maybe I am just really tasting my food for a change...  Like earlier, when I accidentally licked the spoon w/ the 

peanut butter.....WOW!  

It makes food exciting and fresh again.....