Permission?

I had to sign permission slips for each of my school-age children to have the opportunity to listen to our president speak to them today.

Our president.

Since when is our president speaking to us a matter that requires a signed permission slip?


I didn't vote for Obama. If I had to vote again today I still wouldn't vote for him. I am a conservative voice.

I was also taught to respect my leaders and that includes the leader of the free world and the country in which I was born and reside.

What are we teaching our children by refusing to listen to the message prepared for them by their president? Don't we have enough trouble getting this generation of kids to respect their elders, their teachers, their parents? Is that the correct message; you don't agree with someone or their policies, so you boycott what they have to say?

What if Fox News or CNN decided not to air a presidential press conference or an evening speech from the oval office? I would not be okay with that.

I hope my children can learn to love all people - not all morals and not all ideals, but all people. I hope they will respect the person in charge. Always. I hope they can form educated opinions - not based on what their parents think but by what they feel is right, deep down in their gut. And I'm pretty sure the way to help them form opinions is not by sheltering or sheilding them from those with different views of their parents. That sounds like brainwashing to me.

I am looking forward to discussing the speech with them tonight.

I am sorry I had to sign that permission slip but I gladly do so.

Proud to be an American, that's what I say. No matter who is president.

Keepin' it real

I have had more than my share of mom bloopers. Seriously.

I have sent my kids to school without show 'n tell on show 'n tell day. I think I have even sent someone off in the morning with only a cookie for breakfast. These type of mishaps made me cry as a younger mom and make me cringe now but I get over it quickly.

Today takes the cake.

I am pretty sure there is one thing that will get your mom license revoked. Folks, today my 2nd grader is wearing the same outfit to school that he wore yesterday.

Yeah, see. I told you it was bad.

I went in to help Princess get dressed for the day about a half hour after the boys left. I noticed the stack of Jedi's clothes for the week. (See on Saturday I was a good mom and we picked out his outfit for every day). The Thursday outfit was still there in the pile. With my child not home.

Oh dear. My mind raced.

He kissed me goodbye. What was he wearing? Think. Think.

And then I remember our crazy night last night. I had a Stake meeting. It went long. Hubby at school, so I had them all with me. Kids were crazy all over the place. Got home late. Homework needed finished. Teeth needed brushed. No one even got jammies on. Now it all made sense.


So, our dear second grade teacher? Please don't judge me. I truly love my children. I do. I had his Thursday outfit ready, remember? Promise.

Finally!!

My baby boy is now in the lost tooth club. Poor thing! He waited so long.

And the tooth fairy even remembered to visit. She has a really hard time remembering sometimes...


Smile Jedi!

Back to school - again

Hubby, AKA "Teach", started back to school today. He is helping open a brand new school.


A week ago it still looked like this:

So I hope they got everything in place before the bell rang this morning. Best of luck, hon! I know it will be a great year.

My two girls holding hands. Cute, huh?

Life rolls on...

We are desperately trying to find our new groove AKA school schedule and routine. The boys went back last week and it has been interesting keeping Princess from boredom and still caring for Rosebud and her increasing need for movement and stimulation. She is learning every day right before my eyes.


Some highlights of the last week and first day of school:

Potter

Bugs

Jedi

Getting to the school

All lined up and praying mom doesn't embarrass him

We spent the first day playing "school"

Oh my heavens, she looks so old here

I wanted to work on a few projects.

Why are MY tools always missing when I get the tool set out?

Little stinker with her new love: graham crackers

The week capped off with a gorgeous sunset, snapped by Potter.

We will find our groove, I know we will! One of these days...

Low Fat Brownies

So I was intrigued by all I was hearing of ways to use use pureed beans in baked goods in place of fat (oil, butter). I needed to know if it was just as good as people said.

I cooked up a bag of dried white beans last week and froze them in one cup portions. I put the contents of one container in my little food chopper and added a bit of the water to get it to a thick gravy-ish, pastey consistency.

Here is the recipe I used, from an Amish cookbook.

Chocolate Brownies

2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp salt

Combine ingredients. Bake in greased 9x13 pan at 350 about 25 min.


Well, I decided to use 1/4 cup butter plus 1/2 cup bean puree in place of 3/4 cup butter.. It was fantastic! Seriously, we loved it.

OK, I confess that I frosted them but still. They were moist and fudgy and I think it might be too dangerous to make these, even if there is less fat. YUM.

It didn't take long to gobble them up.



Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting (BH & Gardens New Cookbook)

In a medium saucepan combine 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1/4 cup buttermilk. Bring to a boil; remove from heat. Stir in 2 1/2 - 3 cups powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla. Whisk till smooth. Pour over brownies.

Daddy week

Play, play, play.

That's pretty much what we did for 10 days.

Today Strider went back to the classroom to prepare for

another year of molding Jr High minds.

Tomorrow the boys make the long walk back to elementary.

Here is a recap of our summer's final breaths...

The downtown city library:

Cool kids cave with "hieroglyphics"

A reading nook for the little ones

Reading a horse book, of course.

Daddy reading to the boys

Temple Square

The beautiful Christus statue

Salt Lake Temple grounds

views from the Church Office Building

Davis County Fair

And dear ol' Daddy made time to take each child on a special date. Princess got a surprise ride on a carousel. She had never seen one before!

There were many times we'd just catch the kids getting along or being cute together. It was so awesome to be relaxed.

Until this.

Um, mom is not so relaxed.

Miss smarty pants Rosebud thinks she can stand.

Bugs took this shot, which is why she is missing a head.

Glad he grabbed the camera.

I was too busy screaming.

It's summer!

I know, I know. That's not news.

But it really is summer finally.


Strider finished school today. One more intense semester is done. Three courses left to take. He is getting SO close!

He has all this coming week at home before he starts teaching prep. So we finally have family time.


We have had "Daddy Week" on the calendar for a long time. Forgive me for taking the phone off the hook and locking the door. We are spending some very overdue time together.

Barely hanging on

If I don't get

or

or
or

very soon, I am going to die.

Secret Life of Bees

I have been meaning to read this book for years. I have even had my sister's copy for months, just staring at me from the bedside table. I was about to begin another book on Saturday, but then I put it back and picked this up.

I read it in two days, and I even made dinner and everything! (Just illustrating that it was an easy read) I really loved it.

I have not read something that well-written in a long time. So full. I felt like every word in this book was on purpose. It made me both cry and laugh. If you're wondering if you should read it I say do it.

My 3 favorite quotes:

"It's something everybody wants - for someone to see the hurt done to them
and set it down like it matters".

"It is the peculiar nature of the world to go on spinning no matter what
sort of heartbreak is happening".

"That's the only purpose grand enough for a human life. Not just to
love - but to persist in love".

Now I'm going to rent the movie.