Rebecca’s Blog

The week of December 6th (the week Michael turned 5 months old) we had a couple of firsts.

1.  Michael had his very first solid food.  As first time solid feedings go, it wasn’t too bad.  He couldn’t quite get the swallow motion down, as he tended to thrust it out with his tongue, but luckily Mommy knows a trick to help teach that.

Of course, what would a feeding be without watching Mommy open her mouth, shut it and chew air as she tries to feed the baby?

At some point I believe he started looking to Ryan for an escape.  A bottle would be so much easier than this, right?  OR, maybe he just wanted Ryan to put the camera away for a little privacy.  After all, nobody likes pictures taken of themselves while they’re eating.

As first time messes go, this one really wasn’t too bad.  Just a little at the corners of his mouth and on the chin.  Maybe we’ve actually - FINALLY - given birth to a non-messy eater.  Hey… one can dream, right?

2.  Later that week, Michael held his own bottle for the first time.  I’m not sure if this was a fluke or not.  He doesn’t do this very often or very well.  Like his brother before him, he much prefers to sit back and let Mommy do the work.

Don’t you just love his little face?  I’m not biased or anything.  I just think he’s got one of the most edible baby faces out there.  It must have something to do with the fact that he has plenty of cheeks.

(Music: In the Hall of the Mountain King… again.)

On November 30th, Elizabeth turned 10… and I had a plan:

On the night of her birthday we would have a dinner of her choosing in honor of her birthday like we do every year.  About a half hour before our guests were to arrive, we would sit down and have a little chat.  We would explain the following:

President Obama is making many changes in our country and, in trying to lower our nation’s divorce rate, he has passed a new law.  All children must be betrothed by the time they are ten years old to someone of their parents’ choosing.  Unfortunately, Elizabeth being 10, we have waited as long as we possibly could and had to make a decision.  We really feel that we have made the best possible choice in someone we believe she could be happy with.  He comes from a good family with a strong testimony of the gospel.

With that, there would be a knock at the door and in walks the bishop’s family, who are in on the secret.  At that point we would declare their first born son her suitor and discuss details - in ten years time, the two would be wed.

Now, I thought this was an ingenious, diabolical plan to be played out all in good fun on a daughter not easily shaken and too smart to fall for it anyway.  Ryan, on the other hand, thought it would bring tears and scar her for life, so I was forbidden to go any further than just a plan.  In truth, I probably wouldn’t have been able to pull it off without bursting in guffaws anyhow.

Instead we settled for:

A celebration at Grandma B.’s house with the cousins.

A celebration at home with Gaga and Papa.

AND

A late/sleepover with friends the Friday following her birthday.

This was her first of the “big kid” parties with no theme, just fun with friends.  It was complete with dinner, snacks, “Disney Dance Dance Revolution,” cake and ice cream, and pancakes the next morning.  I’d say she got off easy, don’t you?

(Music: “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Grieg and “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better”)

Title 1:  Holy Jim Trail Revisited - Perspective of a group of people who keep trying to do something and are never able to.

Remember this post?  Or what about just this picture?

Yeah, we didn’t think you would.  Why would you?  It was taken over a year and a half ago.  This is a picture of our first attempt to hike the Holy Jim Trail.  Unfortunately, due to heavy rain, the roads were impassable and we ended up hiking a good portion of the road leading to the trail instead.  Since then we have tried and tried to go, but it always seems to rain a day or two before our planned trip.

Finally, the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2009, we made it to our destination.  True, the roads weren’t all that much better, but at least they were dry and we had determination.  In all honesty, perhaps driving the van over roads that would normally require 4-wheel drive wasn’t the smartest decision, but when has that ever stopped us before?  We were a people on a mission!

Title 2:  Pride of the Pack - Perspective of An Older Generation Observing Their Kin (Pictures stolen from my father-in-law.  Commentary is my own interpretation and does not represent the actual thoughts of the Grandfather in question.)

I thought passing the roads was an ordeal - that is until I saw what goes on once 15 people actually reach their destination and have to prepare for whatever might await them on the trail, especially when 2/3 of them are kids.  The moms come prepared for every circumstance - hunger, thirst, cold, heat and diaper changes.  10 kids must be warm, pottied and ready to walk before one step can be taken towards the trail.

As all the rigmarole took at least 15-20 minutes, I took some time to observe everyone’s goings on and take some pictures of my descendants.

Ah, Josh.  I watched and waited to take this picture.  I just had to have one with him sucking his fingers as only Josh does.  What a handsome lad.  Look at those eyes!

Speaking of handsome lads, Benjamin in the orange looks just like me.

Sweet Sariah.  I hate to admit it - and won’t to anyone but possibly myself, but this one’s got me wrapped around her little finger.

I love watching the cousins enjoy and love each other.  Jenna and Elizabeth do just that.  They are inseparable.

Looks like the newest addition to the pack is ready to go.

Could the timing have been more perfect here?

We actually did make it to the trail head (and a bit beyond), so I had to take a picture to prove it.

Aren’t they a magnificent brood?  All of my descendants but 5 stand there looking into my camera.  How the time flies.  It feels as if yesterday I was doing outings like this with my own small children and here they are grown and taking their children on adventures of their own.

Title 3:  Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better - Perspective of ME!

It’s amazing, and yet not surprising, that all it take is a few little words.  I hate when assumptions are made and people think I can’t do something.  Well, I’ve got news for you!  You think I can’t do it?  I CAN!!!  Just watch me.  I don’t care how hilly, rocky, wet or difficult my brother-in-law thinks this trail is.  I can push this double stroller on it just as well as he can AND I’ll do it with TWO kids in it.  He’s only pushing ONE!  Ryan, take the baby.

I’ve got a job to do.

(OK, so at the time this picture was taken there were no kids in the stroller, but I SWEAR there were two heavier kids in it at times and the trail required some tricky navigating.)

Title 4:  Freedom - Perspective of 10 children

FINALLY!!!  We never thought we’d get here!  It took FOREVER!!!  Hey all you slow poke adults, see if you can catch us as I start to run down the trail!!!  FREEDOM!!!!

Ooh! A wall!!  It’ll serve as a great balance beam!  Let’s go!

Everyone pay attention to us!  We’re the greatest!

The best thing about hikes is that we can pee wherever we want to!!

See?  I’m peeing on a tree and mommy isn’t getting mad at me!

Title 5:  Those Who Fall Behind Get Eaten - Perspective of Two Moms Watching Over Their Flock

There very well could have been no real danger, but that’s beside the point.  We were told a mountain lion was heard by hikers ahead of us, and with 10 children to watch over we weren’t taking any chances - it was time to turn back.  However, our casual stride must change.  Time to call a meeting and discuss how to get back to the car safely, as fleeing quickly is not an option.  Here are the new rules:

1.  All little kids back in the stroller.  Rebecca will take Michael and Ryan will now push the stroller with Joshua and Benjamin in it.

2.  Stay together in a group.  No more spreading out along the trail.  Stragglers are more likely to get eaten.

3.  Walk in this order:  First Grandpa B. will lead the way, followed by Christian, Jenna and Elizabeth - the oldest of the children.  Next will be Ryan with the stroller followed by Sariah and Ashley, the two littlest walkers.  Rebecca and Michael will follow with Becky behind her, watching Rebecca’s steps to make sure she doesn’t trip over what she can’t see due to the snugglie and Michael.  Finally, Andrew (the largest at 6′4″) will take up the rear with the second stroller filled with their two smallest.  Being as large as he is, he is unlikely to be attacked by a lion of any kind.

Title 6:  Final Remarks - Perspective of myself…  again.

Needless to say we made it back safely.  No one was eaten.  We didn’t even hear any strange noises, though our group was so loud that we probably wouldn’t have heard anything had there been any noise.  However, we did manage to scare Sariah badly enough that she now refuses to go on any more hikes.  All in all, I’d say it was a successful trip.  These adventures are always fun, and they’re even better when you can come back with a bit of a story!

There are some friends for which a description is hard to come by.  Those who know them know that the best description is their name because their name has meaning.  They are so special, so unique that words are unable to do the job properly.

Heidi is one of these people.   Some may try to describe her and come up with words such as funny or outgoing.  My personal preference, though, is sunshine, because that’s what she is - boisterous, hysterical, loving sunshine.  She is Heidi.

I was fortunate to have this sunshine as my best friend my senior year of high school and my freshman year of college.  She was my Maid of Honor at my wedding over 11 years ago.  Unfortunately, the years have separated us and we mainly keep in touch via facebook, but I still hold her dear to my heart.  She drew me out of my shell, gave me confidence and was the best friend for which one could ever ask.

The day after Thanksgiving I finally got to see my friend again.  It was the best of circumstances.  The weather was beautiful, the setting perfect and my friend was more radiant than she has ever been.   As I sat in the San Diego Temple watching Heidi be sealed to her eternal sweetheart, I couldn’t help but bask in the light that shone abundantly from a very special friend.

To add to the splendor of the day was just the pure joy of being able to visit the temple in which my husband and I were sealed and witness the sealing of this new eternal family in the same sealing room in which we knelt.

Heidi was beautiful, as always.  And, as always, she was just pure Heidi.

I don’t know when or if I’ll be able to see my friend again in this life.  She lives many miles away, but I will always hold her in my heart.  Though my kids will always remember her as the girl who taught them to burp, I will always remember the sunshine she brought with us on our childhood adventures.  I wish her eternal happiness and may her sunshine grow even brighter as she embarks on her new adventure.

Between the downturn in the economy and Ryan’s new business venture, Ryan and I have had the opportunity to learn plenty of new skills, ranging from how to fold a flier in an engaging and inventive way to how to manage money more effectively.  Some lessons have been challenging.  Some lessons have been more on the fun side.  All have brought growth.

Looking back, there was one lesson I wanted to avoid more than any of the others - the lesson of how to cook with food storage.  Honestly, the thought scared me a little, but more than that, I didn’t want to do it.  After all, nothing really good can be made with food storage, right?

Luckily, I was wrong.  My family (some of which are really picky eaters) and I have never felt like we were eating food storage meals.  Yes, sometimes the meals are a bit more time consuming, but I have enjoyed the challenge of learning new skills in the kitchen.  Anyway, I’ve been so proud of myself that I’ve taken pictures of a few of my food storage dishes to share.

Here’s one thing I never would have thought to make at home - homemade flour tortillas.  I never knew a tortilla could be so good.  They’re not great for storing like the store bought variety, but there’s nothing better on a burrito than a fresh, hot tortilla.

This one isn’t new, but I use food storage for them, so I’m counting it on my blog.  Pancakes are great food storage food and super easy even without a mix.  Plus, what kid can honestly say they don’t like them?

My breads are probably the thing that I’m most proud of.  (Is that sinful to say I’m proud of my bread?  It’s the good kind of proud, right???)  Pictured above is my 100% home-ground wheat bread.  With the right recipe, this is a great bread.  My kids prefer my light wheat bread (not pictured), however, as it’s a little less hearty.

And, of course, here’s the white bread I grew up having at my grandma’s house.  I love that I can whip a couple loaves out now in no time flat and have that fresh bread smell take over my home several times a week.

OK, so now we come to our main dishes.  Pictured above is my Mexican pizza.  Before I go on, I need to explain that I allow myself to buy fresh items such as fruits, certain veggies, eggs and cheese.  The rest of the items used in my recipes are either food storage items or things I had stocked up on before my food storage lesson began.  This being said, the above pictured pizza has cheese and tomatoes from the store, but the olives are things I usually keep plenty of on hand, the tortilla is homemade and the refried beans inside are homemade.

AHHH.  Here’s Elizabeth’s favorite - chicken noodle soup.  In my food storage soup, my carrots and onions are dried, my noodles are homemade (unless someone has given me some good store bought ones like in the above soup) and my chicken is freeze dried.  It’s not quite as good as soup made with fresh ingredients, but it’s definitely just as good as the canned stuff, if not better.

So, these are the leftovers of the black bean tacos.  The refried beans are homemade, as well as the corn tortillas.  I just happened to have some Mexican corn flour (kind of funny if you think about the fact that I don’t care for Mexican food), so I thought I would try to make corn tortillas.  They were good, but a giant pain in the rear.  I don’t know that I’ll ever make them again.

If you’re making refried beans and flour tortillas, what’s more natural than bean and cheese burritos???

This is one of my 100% food storage recipes.  It’s called Pasta E Faglioli.  Unfortunately, though Ry and I thought it was good, it wasn’t a big hit with the boys.  Other one pot dishes I have made include bean chili and baked beans, which have been more popular.

Things I usually always have plenty of on hand is ground beef and frozen or canned veggies.  With those ingredients, what could be more perfect than shepherd’s pie with mashed potatoes made with potato pearls?  This is another family favorite.

Finally, is a garden salad.  Though this isn’t strictly food storage, it comes straight from the garden.  A garden salad is our late spring, summer and early autumn vegetable of choice.  It’s really surprised me how much tastier produce is when it comes straight off the plant.

Well, if you’ve made it this far, you’re probably bored out of your mind, but before I end this missive, I wanted to share what I have learned - in my opinion - needs to be stored in addition to the dry canned products you get in bulk from the LDS cannery:

oil

shortning

baking soda

baking powder

yeast

molasses ( I know…  I didn’t think this was necessary either, but I’ve learned it is.  1cup sugar + 2 Tbsp molasses = 1 cup brown sugar, which isn’t very storable.  Also, it’s a necessary ingredient in some bean dishes.)

canned tomato products of all kinds

dehydrated and canned meats  (You’ll get tired of eating beans every night.  Trust me.  I know.)

dehydrated veggies

vegetable, beef and chicken boullion

ham hock

gravy mix

salad dressing

Well, if I’ve helped anyone - great.  If I’ve bored you - you didn’t have to read it.  But, as for now, I’m signing off.  I hope this at least lets you know that food storage cooking isn’t as scary it looks.

On the Monday before Thanksgiving - for Family Home Evening - we decided it was time to put up the Christmas tree.  Ryan got some cute pictures, so I thought I’d share.

This is serious business for Elizabeth.

Sariah was racing to be able to put up more ornaments than anyone else.

Benjamin liked this particular area of the tree.

An aerial view.

How Ryan and Michael helped.

Why moms have to redecorate once the kids are done.

The finished product before being fixed by Mommy.

Move over Chris!

Triana’s got a new man in her life.

And I’m sorry, but…

he has got no competition.

None at all.

Afterall, who could resist such a face?

Glad you guys could come down!!  It was good to see you!!

(Music:  Little Wonders by Rob Thomas)

Michael is only 3 1/2 months in this picture and he already looks exasperated with his family.

(Music:  Dead Mans Party by Oingo Boingo.)

This year we decided to use our creativity and create Halloween from what we had at home.

This not only included costumes, but jack ‘o lanterns as well.  I was a little unsure about how this would go over.  Pumpkins are a HUGE Halloween tradition - at least for me.  My worries, however, were in vain.  The kids loved being creative.  In fact, Elizabeth loved it so much that she wants to make them instead of carve them every year.  I don’t know that we’ll go that far, but we did have fun and will probably do it again sometime.

OK, so Michael’s costume wasn’t homemade.  It was a hand-me-down from Joshua, but doesn’t he look cute???

Joshua’s was a hand-me-down too.  I know the picture isn’t great.  We took turns posing and when it was his turn, he laid down on the floor and started rolling around.  This was the best “pose” he made.  At least he tried.

Ben’s pose was only slightly better.  How do you explain to a five-year-old how to tilt his chin?  Oh, and in case you didn’t figure it out, he’s a train engineer.

This is our little fairy princess, Sariah.  I was so proud of myself.  Sariah and Ben’s costumes cost a total of $7.  Between the stuff we already had and DI, we did fairly well.  I still can’t get over the fact that we found a pair of fairy wings the exact same color of her dress.

Elizabeth the Black Widow was Elizabeth’s first sewing project courtesy of Gaga.  Elizabeth made the two stuffed legs.

Our trunk all decorated for the trunk or treat.

Here’s a close-up of our homemade jack ‘o lanterns, lighted by stringing Christmas lights through holes in the sides.

In case you’re wondering, Ry and I dressed up too, though I don’t have any pictures.  We stole the idea my sister-in-law had a year or two ago.  I was a Mounds and Ry was an Almond Joy.  The original idea was to tape the candy bars in the shape of the first letter of our candy bar on our shirts.  However, appendages being what they are, a big giant “M” made with candy bars that said “Mounds” didn’t really look appropriate for a ward trunk or treat.  I settled for one taped to my shoulder.

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!!!