Eavesdropping

Yesterday while making dinner I was secretly watching/listening to these little friends.
Braxton, "You're cute, wanna get married?"
Adelle, "huh, get mair-wied???"
Followed by hysterical laughing by both

crepes anyone??

Crepes are yummy
in your tummy
I can make them
I'm no dummy

Hubby's favorite
Sisters dream
Brother likes them with whip cream

Here's my famous recipe
It's no secret,
just ask me
If your feeling healthy use 1/2 whole wheat
(thanks Rachel I actually had never done that before but I did this morning and they were still amazing).

Here ya go:

2 eggs (whip them up good)
add 1 1/2 cups milk
add 1 cup flour
1 Tbs. oil
dash of salt.
Whip together or blend in a blender

Pour a tad bit into a well sprayed skillet and coat the pan.
Cook over med-high for a few seconds.
There you have it.

These are so easy and a huge hit in my house, and in the house that I came from. I actually make these and give them to my brothers and sister for their birthdays sometimes if they're lucky.
We eat them with butter and syrup but lemon curd is the best and my kids like blueberries rolled in them.
Enjoy!

My Dear Girls

I have some really special people in my life whom I am blessed to call my girls. They hold a special place in my heart and they also consume a bit of my schedule. That's how it is when you love people, you work for them, and then your love grows for them. And grows, and grows, and grows.

When Braxton was about a year old Jeff and I decided we were ready for baby #2. However, Baby #2 was not ready for us, and for reasons unknown to me at the time we were not able to conceive when we planned.
At that same time I was called, (in our church we are extended "callings" which are areas where we are asked to serve to help the church run properly) as a counselor to work with the Young Women. This meant that I would work with the girls ages 12-18 on Wednesday night doing some sort of activity to help them come unto Christ, and then I would also teach/lead them on Sunday. I was so ecstatic about this opportunity.
And so I did. I devoted every single Wednesday night to being with them and every Sunday for part of church. It was wonderful and I grew to love all the girls with whom I worked. We were able to learn together and they were able to really help me as I focused on them and the purpose for me working with them. I got to know them on such a personal level and felt their love reciprocate back to me as well.

In the meantime I had two more children. My schedule got a little more hectic but I continued to serve the Young Women. They were a great support to me and on more than one occasion I longed for Wednesday night to get out of the house and be with my dear girls. They are young and fun and so full of life and they are wise. They are living in hard times and I drew on their strength and courage.

Shortly after I had Emmett the Bishop in our church released me (which means they tell you thank you for your service and allow someone else the opportunity) from counselor and called me to be President of the same girls. I accepted with something to the extent of, "of course I will, those are my girls."
Since that time my life has gotten a little more chaotic. There are meetings on Sunday mornings before church, and sometimes after. There are meetings during the week and phone calls, calendaring, planning, emailing...

My family has sacrificed. My kids know Wednesday nights mom is gone and they know Sunday mornings dad will get them ready for church. My husband knows that I have lots of thoughts/feelings/promptings going through my head and is so supportive and loyal to me and my need to sometimes just "sit in silence."

Some might think this is a lot. I'm not going to argue that. But...the blessings that I have received from working with my dear girls is ten fold to the sacrifices I have made.

A couple weeks back we did an activity on Wednesday night that left us all in tears. We sat in a circle and everyone took a turn complementing everyone else. We told each other what we loved and admired about each other. We told each other of the strengths we recognized in them and the influence they had had on our lives. We looked each other in the eye and said, "thank you," and "I love you," and "that one time when you....." It was an amazing experience and I felt so connected to each of them in such a real way.

It's easy to get overwhelmed or sometimes to think, "will this even help them," "do they even care," "Am I doing the right thing?"

YES! YES! YES!

And so to my dear girls. You were mine before I was blessed with my own daughter(s?). I have loved you, prayed for you, labored for you and you are all wonderful and I would have each of you as my own. We get each other for this season and I am so grateful. You will always hold a very special place in my heart.

a little secret

I have a little secret.
My kids, they are not deprived, only get one piece of Halloween candy a day.
Yep, ONE!
Why? Because sugar dramatically lowers the immune systems ability to function properly and since my kids are not able to make that conscious decision yet, I am making it for them.
They do not mourn. They are absolutely thrilled when they get their one piece.
And they are really healthy kids which makes them really happy kids.
It's all about perspective people!
Here they are only one day after Halloween with their cousins.
On my kitchen floor sharing and devouring pomegranate seeds.
They had completely forgotten about their candy and were arguing over who got the last little antioxidant filled deliciousness!
This makes me feel so accomplished in my efforts.
They love these seeds and they are so good for their little growing bodies.
and a side note, I used to be really scared of pomegranates because I didn't know how to really eat them but all you do is wash the skin then cut it in half down the middle and soak each half in warm water. Then the seeds pick out really easy!
Give it a try, I bet your kids will love them!

Bullies

Dear Bully,

I wish you could have seen and heard both of my children today when I had to tell them that you had taken Adelle's pumpkin off of our porch and smashed it on the street right in front of our house. It brought me to tears, watching them agonize over someone being so unkind and selfish. I know you didn't realize that the pumpkin you destroyed belonged to a 2 year old. I know you didn't rationalize how that child would feel when they walked out their door and noticed that their pumpkin was gone. These feelings I'm sure would have prompted you to participate in some other form of "fun."
This was a learning experience for our family. When my son said, "I want to put my pumpkin in the backyard now, mom," I was able to talk to him about not being afraid and about what happens when we make bad choices that affect other people.
Both of my kids are standing in the window looking out on the scene of the crime. They have both been crying. They are both hurt, confused, disappointed. There is one day left until Halloween. Please spare the other children who's pumpkins are nicely carved on their porches.
You're a huge jerk.
But I forgive you.
Andrea

From Ninja back to Pirate

Because I'm the mom
I know how to get my kids to do things they thought they didn't want to do.

and I know how to make them enjoy it

to the point where they've changed their mind completely about what they like/don't like.
note to self: This is a dangerous power that may come in very handy one day!

Theater

I didn't ever do theater.
I wish I would have.
I hope some of my children do.
They are naturals!
This is the first of about 15 movies we've made in the last 2 days.