Summer Fun!

We have wonderful neighbors and good friends next door who have a pool. They invited us over for a swim and shaved ice. We really had a lot of fun. Emma and Jenna were all over the pool with their pool noodles. Jordan is also really getting the hang of using a snorkle and loving it! I am so grateful that they are getting the opportunity to feel comfortable and confident in the water without Mom having to don a suit in front of the whole town! Not only that, but it is so easy to just tell the older three kids when it's time to head next door for swimming lessons!

Crystals!

A few days ago, we decided to do some experimenting with growing crystals. Working outside on the deck, we tried 7 different methods, with a variety of ingredients. Some recipes called for epsom salts, others used bluing, and still others called for Borax. We have seen success with 5 of the 7 so far.

The green lumps are crystal growing on small pebbles and sea shells.

The white snowflake-like crystals are created by evaporation on a black piece of construction paper.

The rainbow crystals are growing on small sponges. The jar with yellow liquid has crystals growing on a pipe cleaner Christian shaped.

We also had fun painting on black construction paper with our solution and then when it dried it was sparkly.

We couldn't get one of the experiments to work, although we tried it twice. The other jar with green liquid will be rock candy but takes at least 7 days.

Christian, our resident scientist wannna-be gathered and prepared all of the supplies and was very scientific and careful about conducting the experiments. And.... bonus! We passed off a requirement for Cub Scouts in the process. It was a successful couple of hours of keeping the summer crazies away. Check out other fun ideas for kids on my side bar.

I am sharing this on Get your craft on Tuesday (even though some may argue it doesn't qualify as a craft) and Works for me Wednesday.

A couple of requested recipes- snickerdoodles and playdoh

A couple of weeks ago at a gathering, I was asked for the following two recipes. They are some of our favorites. So here they are:
Paul's Favorite Snickerdoodles
½ c butter
½ c shortening
1½ c sugar
2 eggs
2¼ c flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp soda
¼ tsp salt

2 Tbsp sugar
1½ Tbsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400º. Cream butter, shortening and sugar together. Add eggs. Blend in dry ingredients except 2 T sugar and 1T cinnamon. Roll dough into balls. Roll balls in mixture of 2 T sugar and cinnamon. Place 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake 8-10 min. They are done when they crack on top but are not browned. If overcooked they will not be soft. However, placing them in an air tight container with a slice of bread can sometimes restore moisture and softness.
Christian loves to make these! Kids love to roll them into balls and roll them in the cinnamon and sugar.

My favorite Soft playdoh
1 c flour
1 c water
1 Tbsp cream of tartar
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
½ c salt
food coloring

Mix all ingredients and cook over med-low heat. Cool. Knead. Store in a sealed container or bag. Kids love to help add and mix ingredients before cooking. This stuff lasts an amazingly long time in the refrigerator. I recommend making a batch for each child so they can choose their own color and have plenty to play with.

My kids love to help me make both of these recipes. In fact, I think we will be making playdoh tomorrow afternoon! We love to do bubbles in the summer too. Be sure to check out our recipe for those here.

I am grateful

I am so grateful for the wonderful neighborhood we have moved into. We were sad to leave our old neighborhood and it was hard to hope for a great experience like that to happen more than once.

One of the most amazing examples of neighborliness was the day we laid our sod. We started at about 2 or 3 pm on a Friday. The first person to come was our then unknown neighbor, Mike, from down at the end of the street. He had noticed the pallets of sod in the street and thought, "they're going to need some help". He stayed with us to the end, about 5½ hours later! His son came for a while and his wife came down later when she got off work. As the day progressed we had family come and go and we are sooo grateful for their support. As we continued it started to rain. Our wonderful next door neighbor sent out the boys (hers and ours) to knock on neighbors' doors and ask for help. I had no idea until people just started showing up. How busy were their lives that day? What excuses could they have used? Would I have dropped everything and come to lay sod? By 5:30, we had 20-25 neighbors laying sod in the rain. There were men, couples and even quite a few women whose husbands weren't home, so they came alone! These people know how to work! We could never have completed our yard without them. We laid 9,000 sq feet of sod that day and it looks great!

I find that experiences like this fill me with profound gratitude and wonder at being led to such a wonderful place. God's hand is in the details and his angels do exist. I also have to stop and ponder what type of neighbor and friend I am striving to become. I still have a long way to go. It's a good thing our loving Heavenly Father has given us a lifetime to get there.

Trying to win!

There is a great giveaway bonanza going on and I am trying to win a Silhouette machine from one of the following sites!

Tatertots and Jello

Southern Hospitality

Oh Hello Friend

Thrifty Decor Chick

Giver's Log

Today's Creative Blog

Southern Savers

Dollar Store Crafts

Tidy Mom

V and Co.

Sugardoodle

Idea Room

Infarrantly Creative

A Soft Place to Land

Mom Advice

Oooh I hope I win one! I have so many projects in mind! I think I would start with some vinyl wall art. I've got a couple of quotes I would like to put up. Then I might do some t-shirt transfers to go with the skirts I have been making for the girls. It would be my new favorite toy!

I am trying again as I discover some other GREAT sites:

Grosgrain

Kara's Party Ideas

Shabby Nest

Under the Table Dreaming

Crap I've Made

Making it Lovely
Prudent Baby
The Shopping Mama
Amy's Finer Things
Shanty2Chic
Moms Review 4 You
Love Stitched
The TomKat Studio
Be Different...Act Normal
House of Hepworths
Crazy Coupon Mommy
Colie's Kitchen

Taking time to capture "a moment"

This was one of those moments that I am grateful to have captured together as a family. We all dropped everything we were doing to go out and marvel at this incredible rainbow, discussing where it ended, leprechauns, what rainbows are made of, and whether we could make it to the end. You can't see it in the picture, but it was a double rainbow, so we talked about the reverse order of the colors. When it had faded, we all went back to what we were doing but felt that much happier from sharing the moment together. This worked for us.

Our Summer Bucket List

I saw this idea on a blog and decided it would a good way to keep us motivated to do fun things together this summer. It also gives tangible evidence contrary to the "we never get to do anything fun" comments. We began with the disclaimer that this is an idea only list and by no means a guarantee! We have already checked off a few items. Although it is somewhat childish, this also helps me feel a little better about being the "mean mom" who makes their kids do chores during the summer.

We have been talking about "team Bruderer" and how we need to work and play together as a team. Last night for Family Home evening, we had a short intro and then went out to work in the yard. While Dad mowed, the kids and I weeded and replanted peppers that were destroyed in the worst wind storm last week. Because it was light for so long, we were able to work until 9:30 or 10. After we cleaned up, we took a couple of blankets out on the lawn and did some not so serious stargazing. We also did plenty of squirming and giggling. (Gardening, check. Stargazing, check. Summer fun, check.) We talked about constellations, and the possibility of other solar systems with planets with people on them. It was interesting to talk to my 7 and 10 year olds about the nature of their Heavenly Father, that we are His children and that any other children He may have on other planets would probably look like us rather than little green men. Christian then went so far to suppose that Heavenly Father would want them to know of the plan of salvation too and therefore they would probably have scripture too. Scripture written by different prophets. It's amazing where a conversation can lead. Paul and I have decided that this will be a fun, productive summer solstice tradition.
We will be making this list work for us and having a lot of fun doing it!

Spring Break in pictures

We went to Snow Canyon in Southern Utah for spring break. It was absolutely wonderful. I didn't want to come home! We did run over to Zion for one day because it was so close.

Here is a picture of Paul and the boys on Angel's Landing. It was one of the most nerve wracking 3½ hours of my life!

Mother's Day

For me Mother's day is a love/hate relationship. I love that my sweet hubby works hard to make me breakfast in bed, my kids make cards and pick dandelions and other wildflowers and smother me in "I love you"s and kisses and hugs. Paul is also a master at picking just the right card to make me cry and manages to find the perfect gift for me. Some years it's jewelry, some times it's a carpet cleaner or miter saw (hint, hint), but whatever he gets it's always just perfect. I know without a doubt I am loved. Who wouldn't want to celebrate that?

I guess the hate part comes in when I reflect on my idea of the kind of mother I wanted to become. The Norman Rockwell picture of warm chocolate chip cookies in a tidy house. The listening, sympathetic ear and hugging arms readily available at all times. Fun educational crafts and projects always waiting in the wings, ready at a moments notice. Infinite patience and good advice for every heart break. Knowing just what to do in any given situation. Enabling them to participate and experience every sport, every instrument, educational opportunity while still managing to find balance to play and have a carefree childhood. To have an unending source of energy, and never be "too tired". Somewhere deep inside, past all logic, my guilt says I am less of a mother than I could be, not the mother I should be, not the mother my kids need to help them reach their full potential. As Paul and I discussed this, he told me to think of it this way... I am the perfect grandma in training. I think being a grandparent would be great! Have them when you want them and when your patience or energy runs out, or they have a dirty diaper, send them home.

I think the most amazing thing about motherhood is when you realize why the Savior asked us to be like little children. By design, they are forgiving and offer unconditional love. A child looks for reasons to smile and laugh. They choose to be happy. When I ask my girls if they are happy they always say yes. When asked why the answers are always, in my mind, small and simple things like "It's sunshiney outside" or "I'm drawing a picture" or "Cause I'm with my mom". It is only as we reach adulthood that we put on the blinders of drudgery, focusing on the "have to"s and losing sight of the "get to"s. Inately, children don't feel guilt but as a mother, sometimes I let it consume my life.

Oh, to be more childlike. To want to dance even when there isn't any music. To laugh because I can't hold it in any longer. To blow dandelion seeds without the guilt of unfinished chores. To find shapes in the clouds. To not only forgive but forget so completely. To love without judgement or expectations. And to play, to really play.

Family favorite recipes!

I thought I would post a couple of our family's favorite dinner recipes. The first recipe, I adapted from one I found on a blog that I have since lost track of. If anyone knows which it came from I would love to find it again. It is quick, it's simple, it's healthy, and (drum roll.....) we ALL like it! It is rare that dinner gets a cheer from every member of the family. Usually there is at least one family member rolling their eyes, moaning, gagging or some combination thereof.


Veggie Sausage Skillet

1lb pasta (we like penne)
1 package sausage (we used Hillshire Farms smoked, the oval one)
1 pint grape tomatoes (cut in half)
minced garlic
olive oil
grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
any add ins, we enjoy broccoli, cauliflower, squash, zucchini, mushrooms etc.

pasta and veggies

1. Start by cooking pasta according to the directions. I am lazy so I add my veggies about half way through so I only use one pot.

sausage, garlic, tomatoes

2. Meanwhile, slice sausage into discs and brown in a large skillet
3. Slice grape tomatoes in half and add them to the skillet with minced garlic.

4. When pasta is finished cooking, drain and then add to skillet. Pour in some extra virgin olive oil and stir well.

5. Serve with grated cheese on top.  This recipe is different everytime I make it depending on the ingredients I have on hand.  The only thing that has to be constant is the sausage and some kind of pasta for it to be a hit.Paul likes to season his with Tony's seasoning to add a little kick.

The second recipe comes from my good friend Alaina. She is an amazing cook that just makes things up as she goes along. As a result she doesn't deal with many exact measurements, so my stuff never turns out quite as good as hers. I think, just maybe, she likes it that way. ;) I want to be like her when I grow up! (Even though I happen to be older than she is).

Chicken Penne Pasta

Penne pasta

Rotelli's Alfredo sauce

1-2 c Italian cheese blend

enough chicken to feed your family

I add veggies as well. Some of our favorites are chopped asparagus, mushrooms, and spinach.

1. Marinate chicken over night or all day (don't cut short, the marinating time really makes it tender and flavorful) in:

virgin olive oil, teriyaki sauce, Italian dressing, black pepper, Cajun seasoning (we use Tony's) and a little meat tenderizer.

2. Cook pasta according to the directions. I add veggies to the pasta for the last half of cooking time.

3. Grill chicken and cube.

4. Drain pasta and veggies. Add chicken and stir in Alfredo sauce and cheese. Warm and serve. You can also add a little chopped cilantro too.

This recipe is also met with "Yummm, we're having that chicken pasta stuff again." As I mentioned before, I much prefer this response to "Ewwww, how much do I HAVE to eat?"

Here's hoping your dinner menu receives rave reviews from your family. I know mine are my most difficult critics.

Tender moment...

A couple of weeks ago, Paul and Jenna were snuggled up on our bed talking. Paul had named each member of the family by name, asking if "they love Jenna" to which she answered yes. Then she wanted to ask him questions so she went through each member of the family by name asking if he loved them. Then with all the seriousness a two year old can muster, she stroked his face with her little hand, looked deeply into his eyes and asked, "Daddy, do you love your armpits?"

Jail Break!

We had our first Jail Sale today (say that five times fast). We have been gathering toys or other items not put away as they should be, generally after multiple warnings, and putting them in "jail". Jail is not fancy, just a box in the furnace room. They can buy their things using the money in their allowance and job account at any time. We keep track on a big white board which is much easier than trying to find exact change to pay them. At the end of each month we will have a jail sale which is their last chance to buy their things before they are donated or sold at our discretion. Things were priced from .10 to 1.50. We figure that if it's not worth paying for, it's not worth the storage space.
This idea came from a memory Paul has of a friend that came to school one day wearing two different shoes. When his friends teased him he explained that one shoe from each pair was in "jail". We have taken this idea and adapted it for our family.
Ultimately, we are hoping to teach our children to care for, and appreciate their things. We also want them to realize the value of what they have. Not to mention being able to clear out some of the toys they really don't care about.
We also award "Get out of Jail Free" cards for good behavior such as cleaning up without being asked, being kind or thoughtful, being first to the dinner table or other desirable behavior. Each card is good for one free item. If the same item gets put in jail 3 times, it is no longer available to buy back. They are getting better at remembering to put away the Wii controllers. They have already lost them once!
They bought everything today and had fun doing it. I tried my best to remind them that they are having to spend their money for their own things and that if they had taken care of them they wouldn't be there in the first place. We'll see how this month goes. They have been warned that we will be more consistent in putting things in jail and that prices will likely go up. It's always fun to have a new system to change things up a bit.