Is it really Wednesday?

Bethany & Chris drove out from MPLS for the long weekend! Yeah!! What fun! We had been planning a visit with them over Christmas, but the holiday weather was NOT cooperating for long road trips... So the January holiday of MLKJ became the "new" Morrison-Moeller-Fletcher gathering date!

Saturday we planned a family outing to Deer Mountain and the Tubing Hill! We weren't really sure what to expect, and after raiding our extra supplies of cold weather gear, we were all "dressed" and read for some SNOW FUN! (except Liv who was graciously invited for a play-date at the Welch home) After a quick lunch in the "chalet" (can you call it that in SD, when it's really just a snack bar and picnic tables?) we braved the lines at the tubing hill.

40 degree weather and bright sunshine made for some interesting conditions... It certainly wasn't cold enough to be a bother... Dirk & Chris ended up shedding a few layers. One "path" of the 6 available was out of commission because the snow melted down to the grass and gravel beneath. One path had melted and frozen a few times too many and was slick (read: HARD) ice over much of the way.... but also made for the most adventuresome of the 5 remaining trails!!

Anika, the youngest and least adventuresome of the group loved EVERY trail, but preferred the icy-er quicker trails. She really didn't want to get up and have to pull her tube very far -- back to the rope-tow line! She would give us the "princess commentary" about every 5 minutes of the 3 hours we were there:
- This is the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!
- This is SO MUCH FUN!!
- I LOVE THIS!
- Daddy I want to go down the spiny-around-in-circles one!
- I want to go with Bethany this time.
- I LOVE TUBING!

Needless to say, Thor was having a great day too -- just with less adjectives. :)

I think I broke a couple of "distance" records for the afternoon -- there was a 5 or 6 ft high embankment covered in snow at the bottom of the icy run, meant to stop riders if they got up a bit too much speed. However, most people saw this as a challenge to hurdle the embankment -- which happened many times with riders young and old. One of my first runs I sped over the embankment, across the road behind it and into the snow pile on the other side! One of my last runs of the day, I went over again.. at a different angle, and ended up running into the light pole on the other side road at well. I didn't run into it with much speed, and the tube was the only part that actually hit the pole... so either way I was just fine... but it did remind me that perhaps putting ones feet down to slow yourself might not be a bad idea! :)

We ALL had a great day. The last 3 or 4 runs we tried to make a group run, by holding onto each other, or the handles of the tube next to us (instead of just our own tubes handles). Other groups had been going down with as many as 15 tubes together... giving great speed and momentum... not to mention camaraderie! It took a few runs for us to realize what we needed to do. One attempt ended up in a tube sliding down the mtn. without a rider, as we were trying to position ourselves for the group run... and Chris lost hold of his tube. No worries, he just shared a tube with Bethany!

The last run we finally made it down, all together, with Thor & Anika riding on the same tubes with Bethany & Chris respectively, (on purpose). It was a great way to finish the day!

Sunday we went to church at Dove together; then brought home Golden Phoenix Chinese food for lunch (so Dirk could watch the Cowboys lose to the Vikings...:( ) The afternoon was not meant for resting (as usual Sundays are around here)... but found us going in two directions. Bethany, Chris, Mom, Dad and Bethany went to Hot Springs for Theo's 2nd birthday party. Dirk, Thor, Liv and myself went to Thor's hockey game against the Black Hawks.

We couldn't just leave well enough alone for the day... and stayed up until 1:30 a.m. playing Settler's of Catan... and Catan Germany. (why do we always stay up WAY too late when company comes? because we just don't want to waste a second of the time together!!)

Monday Bethany & Chris had massage appointments scheduled (good idea for a vacation weekend!!) with Tanya... so I did some errands with the kids while they relaxed (or were they being tortured? Just not sure yet...? ha ha ha :) We went out for sushi (their first time) and then shopped at the kitchen store for a few basics they needed for their newly-wed home. (is it still a newly-wed home when it's more than 1 yr?... well, anyway) With new pots, pans and a good knife, I think they are one step better prepared for "good cookin!"

Tuesday morning they left for home, and I sent the big kids back to school. I wasn't sure how I was going to start my day: laundry, picking up and reorganizing, dishes, sorting through left-overs in the fridge.... and then I remembered... Today is MOPS! I had 30 minutes to get myself and Liv out the door... we made it just in time! A vacation moment for ME!! How fun! We made beaded bookmarks with ribbon and pretty beads hanging from silver clasps... But the girl-chat time was even MORE fun!

Long weekends are HUGE fun... I just need an extra day before and after to get everything done. You'd think I'd have figured out how to do that being in my (cough) thirty_(something-th)_ year... Seems like every time I'm confident we have the life organization stuff down I end up in a ball of craziness -- must be to keep me humble?? Or maybe I'm just not as good as I think I am (ha ha ha ... ) Or at least not as PREPARED as I think I am!!

Wow how the time flies!

I think adding a blackberry was just one electronic device too many for this stay-at-home mommie.

Just watched an episode of Oprah, "A Family Striped Down." Whatever else you think about the big "o" (I don't agree with her stance on faith or politics) the woman does know how to produce a thought provoking relevant TV show.

The premise was a family that spent so much time using the best of technology (to make thier lives easier... better(?)... and more fulfilled) and the result was a family that was disconnected from each other...

They didn't know how to BE where ever they were....

Wow... was I convicted.

When I'm driving home with a car full of kids and I spend the whole drive on the cell phone just so I don't have to listen to the constant chatter... what am I missing? (A LOT!! 4th graders have plenty of gossip to catch up on!)

When we get home the TV and the computer are the first two places occupied by someone... instead of talking to each other... and finding out how our day went.

I'm more aware, so now I have the tools I need to make a change. I really didn't NEED a phone where I could check Facebook anywhere... anytime...

On the fip side, if I can get my "social web networking" done while washing the dishes (with said blackberry propped up on the kitchen window sill)... perhaps I'll be able to dedicate ALL my attention to my family from 4 to 8 p.m. in the evening.

I recently had a "mentoring" conversation (I'm the mentor... what is wrong with this picture) with a single parent in our church who is coping with the new situation of solo-parenting 4 young kids. The comment came up that there is NO TIME for anything other than the bare basics of life... especially when you have to take care of "issues" every 30 seconds. There was no time left for "quality time."

My suggestion was to plan ahead of time for every moment with the kids... to make a "schedule" (not necessarily drivien by the clock, but perhaps 1st:do this, 2nd: do that; and so forth)... I think perhaps I was supposed to get that message myself.

Those 4 precious hours each day after school with my family... have a plan set in place for what to do... Set "time" for the basics: chores, homework, eating, picking up, getting ready for bed.... MAKE "time" for the quality stuff: reading, praying, talking about life, loving each other, having a little fun together...

We all have the same amount of time -- the question is, what do we do with it?

New fav quote: The grass isn't greener on the other side; the grass is greener where you WATER it! :)

December IS the beginning of WINTER!!

Thanksgiving week was SOOO much fun. I have pictures (coming) from other sources from the holiday, because I'm really bad about taking pictures... but here is a quick run down of my FAVORITE holiday:
Wednesday:
- Dirk arrived home from WY on Tuesday evening.
- The kids had a 1/2 day of school, officially "Grandparents Day" so Grandpa Alan
and Grandma Cleo got the honor of carpooling and attending class!
- Dirk, Liv and I bought our Christmas tree!! Thanks for planning ahead babe!
- Wed evening Lance, Gretchen, Tori and Logan arrived from Fargo, ND
- Logan (3) announced they were here to see his dad's brother... guess the rest
of us didn't count for much!?! (until later... he and Thor are great buds now!)
- Played "Settlers of Caanan" with Lance & Gretchen

Thanksgiving Day!
- We loaded up food, kids and more to Ted's home outside of Hot Springs
- Dinner was GREAT, as usual... Mom's stuffing recipe is the BEST
- Kids got to play a Thanksgiving Day Scavenger hunt... GREAT idea Gramma Jan!
- Ride-giving abounded: 4-wheelers, tractor, horseback...
- With such nice weather it was hard to stay inside long enough to play games
- Turkey Foot Dominoes was accomplished! 2 games at least...
- Someone was watching the football games, but it wasn't me...
- Played "Settlers of Caanan" with Lance & Gretchen

Friday:
- Made Gingerbread house cookie dough, and baked...
- The "boys" went to town for gun-store shopping & etc!
- Played "Settlers of Caanan" with Lance & Gretchen (we are HOOKED!)


Saturday:
- Made frosting for Gingerbread houses... started assembling the 6 houses
- The "boys" went to the RUSH hockey game!! Whoo hoo!! Rush won, of course!!
- Decorated the Gingerbread houses... and ate LOTS of candy...
- who needs supper after all that candy?





Dirk spend this past weekend in WY intending on working... but the temps dropped so fast and so low, he needed to spend a day getting the skirting on the camper. One day after work he came "home" to find the propane had run out... the camper was VERY cold... and the water had nearly froze ... he said the water came out in ice chucks at first, then flowed after a moment!! That was a CLOSE call!! PTL it was OK. But he needed to get the winterization process done! I think it looks pretty good for plain old plywood sheets!




Dirk says he is MUCH warmer now... and shouldn't have to worry about freezing anymore! Usually he's the one keeping ME warm at night!! Imagine how cold I am right now?! (just kidding... :)

Thanksgiving makes me thing of BAKING!!

Have to start with this: dirk is home!! yeah!!
Followed by this: new position in the company will keep him travelling for at least another year... so just get used to it people (I'm speaking to myself here)... He promises to be home more regularly (he keeps his promises very well), and will most likely be working out of WY and or UT for the coming year. We're just happy to have him home for the next week! Nothing too special planned, just family time.

Just put in my Pampered Chef order (way too much)... it will probably be my Christmas present to myself... but I NEED it before the holidays so I have all the right tools to do what I want/need to do!

Lefse: Planning a support group for my other lefse-phile friends... I love eating it, but it's a lot of work to make... so the new plan is to bribe a few friends into coming over to help. Benefits: we all get lefse to take home, and we have a lovely morning together chatting and catching up! We'll see if we can fit it into our schedules now!!

Thanksgiving & Holiday Cooking: My BFF in Seattle asked for holiday suggestions... which reminded me to get out my holiday planner (3 ring binder) I made last year. It was a "smart mommy" idea from Family Fun Magazine (online)... if anyone else wants to start one, the "forms" can be printed from their website.

Notes I made to myself for THIS year are:
- find a good Thanksgiving DVD, like Peanuts or??
Anyone have any suggestions?

- Make pumpkin pancakes & waffles all month! LOVE THEM!

- Lille Norge Fest the Saturday BEFORE Thanksgiving at Canyon Lk Sr. Center

- Take a family photo together sometime this month! Why is this so hard?

- Start collecting fun candies for the Gingerbread houses to be put together
the day after Thanksgiving

- Save some of the Halloween candy for the Gingerbread houses...
not like we need to eat it all now!!


Here are a couple of our new favorite recipes from last year:

Sweet & Sour Braised Cabbage
4 slices bacon
2 cups thinly sliced onion
3 cups chipped & peeled green/sour apples
10 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
1 cup apple cider
1/4 cup Apple cider vinegar
2 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 bay leaf
3 whole cloves (optional) (I don't)

Cook bacon in a deep skillet or dutch oven over medium high heat until crisp. Set aside to cool, drain; then chop small. Take out all but 1 Tbs. of bacon grease, add onions; saute 3 minutes. Add apples; saute 2 minutes. Add cabbage; saute 2 minutes. Add cider, vinegar, salt, sugar, bay leaf & cloves. Bring combo to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cabbage is tender, stirring occasionally. Discard cloves & bay leaf. Sprinkle w/ bacon and serve hot or warm.

Good leftover and warmed again. Calories: 139 per 1/8 of batch, about 3/4 cup. (from Cooking Light December 2008)

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
10 pounds white potatoes
1 cup sour cream
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
2 tsp. onion salt
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 cup butter

Cook potatoes & drain. Mash; add remaining ingredients (not butter) and mix well. Place potatoes in a pretty, oven-safe, freezer-safe dish. Dot with small pieces of butter. Keep refrigerated until 1 to 1 1/2 hours before the meal. (Can also be frozen, remove from freezer and set on your counter to thaw overnight). Bake at 350 degrees until heated through, might get slightly brown around the edges, which is kinda nice too. If you REALLY have to, you can warm up in microwave too... but you know what I think about microwaves... so don't do it... bake it in the oven... it's much better!

Carmel Apple Hot Cider
1 gallon Market Pantry(Target) Carmel Apple Apple Cider
2 cups orange juice
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
slices of lemon (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan, covered, over medium heat for 30 minutes, or until steaming. Serve. Makes 16-20 servings.

Optional: Heat all ingredients in a crock-pot, covered on high for 2 hrs until steaming, then turn to LOW to keep it warm all day.

If this isn't sweet enough for you, try this serving option:
Place 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream in a tall mug
fill mug w/ warm Carmel apple cider
drizzle w/ Carmel sauce before serving

YUM-O!!

Fall Fun!!

We are enjoying a GREAT Fall!! Except it feel more like winter?? Do I have the only family that jumps for joy and gets totally excited everytime it snows? The kids get so excited they can hardly eat their breakfast... they just want to get on the winter gear and go play!!! As you can see they made the most of our recent snow ... makeing a snowman with Grandpa Alan (kind of a tradition now...). Good thing they got right on it too... the snow was GONE by 3p.m that afternoon (Thursday, Oct. 8th).

We had a lovely long weekend -- Tante Carrie drove out for a visit. We made the MOST of the short time she was here... Bully's Blends for breakfast, a full day of shopping (with very cooperative kids! How did that happen?!). We went ice skating, watched Project Runway (fav show!!), made homemade pizza... Just had a great time!

Dirk update: I shouldn't even write updates, becuase everytime I write again, it makes me look like a liar.... So now he won't be back until the 2nd week of November. I guess I just need to start writing when he WON't be home... so far that part has been right EVERY time! He is coming home for a weekend visit this weekend...which we are all VERY happy about! :)

Potty Training? ? Again...

Well, I should preface this discussion by saying this is Liv's first attempted at being potty trained... The rest of the family, who were effectively potty trained somwhere between 11 months and 3 years of age are all STILL potty trained. (thank you Jesus!)

So this is not a commentary on the woes of backsliding... this is a mommy who was very happy to have two children well past the age of potty training, and not really super excited about potty training the 3rd. It's been a very relaxed approach. We've tried staying in just panties (her, not me) for the time we are home each day (mornings through early afternoon).

It nearly always resulted in an accident.... thus a deep cleaning of whatever surface was desecrated. I'm no "kate" (from Jon and Kate Plus Eight)... it's doesn't cause me to throw her and the affected items in the trash -- just the washing machine. (Well, Kate didn't throw her kids in the trash either.)

Three days of potty training under our belts, and there have only been 3 real "accidents." I actually consider that good progress. She does have a diaper on for naps and overnights (of course... this isn't my first 'rodeo!').

Even if I have to reminder her, and take her to the bathroom about every 90 minutes, the effort is worth only using 1-2 diapers a day!! YEAH!!

Liv-isms:
After she ate a large supper recently she let out a noise from the bottom of her belly... and asked me "aat was at mommy?"... then followed quickly by "oh, I durped!"

Sitting on the counter, "helping" me make supper, she said
"Please" (holding up a bag of chips)
"No, we're going to eat supper soon"

"Please" (holding up a granola bar)
"No, we're going to eat supper soon"

"Please" (holding up an apple)
"No, we're going to eat supper soon"

"Please" (holding up a banana)
"No, we're going to eat supper soon"

I wondered how long this would go on before she would start to whine...

"Please" (holding up the box of toothpicks)
"ummmm... NO... but supper IS ready... Let's eat!)

Fall Birthdays

September is one of the 'full' months when it comes to family birthdays! Dirk's Grandma Lillian had her special day on September 9th. It was her 90th Birthday -- turning 90 on 09.09.09!! Why didn't someone call the Today Show?!! We didn't make the big party this time, but heard it was a lovely family get together.

Friday afternoon Holli (my niece) was in town for her girls to attend gymnasics class at Just Gymnastics... so we decided to plan a girls-night-out! Alex and Jess (from MOPS) came over to babysit (they live about 5 minutes away in Piedmont! How great is that?!)... and we headed out to Ruby Tuesdays for supper. Salad bar was stupendous as always!! We were all done by 8p.m. and had the sitters booked until 10... so we headed to Borders to chat, look at books, etc. We found the Inspirational section - which actually has a very nice selection -- and was much bigger than I would have imagined, 3 rows long (3 sides, or 1 1/2 isles). With the Body Builder going out of business, it's nice to know there is a place we can find books IRL, rather than having to order everything online.


We found a book we just couldn't turn down... "Living With the Lutherans," by G Kieller (not sure if I'm spelling his last name right?? the Lake Wobeogone guy) We laughed until we cried. Holli decided her mom needed it for comic relief!

The next day we all packed up and headed for Hot Springs. There are 3 birthdays on my side of the family, nephew-in-law Jason (20th); sis-in-law Jan (21st) and brother Ted (27th). We spent a lovely afternoon and evening together on Saturday at Ted's place. Baked chicken, stuffing and the works for supper...along with spice cake and brownies for dessert.