Dirt and Rocks and Water--Oh My!

In preparation for the Father's and Son's campout this weekend, we drove to Palmer where our pop-up trailer had been slumbering all winter long. It was a beautiful drive, but the boys would all agree that playing near the Little Susitna River was their favorite part. At the base of Hatcher's Pass, and with the winds blowing straight off the glaciers, it wasn't more than 35 degrees out there. Our little boys were in boy heaven jumping from rock to rock. I love little moments like this where they are all so content doing something so simple.

Bills, junk, and "boring old people stuff" usually make up the contents of our mailbox. But once every couple of months we get these. . . the Lego Club magazine. It is a coming of age to not only receive the magazine but to be able to read the entire thing.

Sam and Hyrum

By the months end these magazines are ratty. Earmarked. Torn apart. Crumpled. Loved.
I remember when Christian and Tanner were little they loved Playmobil. We would go to the fancy toy store in Flagstaff and pick up the years catalog and they would pour over every page. At the years end we would usually get them a set for Christmas which ironically almost seemed a let down after all the looking and dreaming and imagining for an entire year. If I had it to do over, rather than giving the toy at Christmas I'd probably just give them the next years catalog and let the earmarking, crumpling and loving begin all over.

Sick

Throat Sore.

Ears Heavy and Stuffy.

Nose Running.

Sinus' Popping.

My Sickness Coping Skills:

• Days 1-3 Complete Denial.  I ignore everything, hoping that my symptoms will simply go away.  I ALWAYS start in throat which moves quickly to the ears and then the sinus'.
• Days 3-6 Embrace the sickness.  I start taking naps.  I take stock in all medications:  Tylenol, Motrin, Sudafed, Nyquil, etc.  I let out periodic sighs.  
• Day 7-9  Frustrated and Angry.  I can no longer taste food.  My teeth, in the morning,  have paste on top of the paste.  I could swear something in the back of my throat died.
• Day 10  Chug the Nyquil.  Pop the Ibuprofin.  Inhale the Sudafed.  Despite the drug induced stupor, finally some relief.  Why do I wait so long to medicate?

Awesome

We've always known our Dad is awesome. . . it is nice that so many others think so too.  Last night Dad received The Wolverine Achievement Award for Lifetime Achievement (38 years).  He was the only award recipient that received a standing ovation.  Here's to you Dad-de-O!!

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Posted By Steph and Eric to Dingleberry's at 4/08/2011 09:48:00 AM

April Fools Day

The Coons hosted a wonderful April Fool's Day celebration complete with "Cake" for dinner, Toasted Cheese sandwiches for dessert. . . 

Lots of Cousin time:

Oh, yea, and Saran Wrapping Grampa's Car. . . 

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Posted By Steph and Eric to Dingleberry's at 4/01/2011 10:43:00 PM

Male Bonding

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Posted By Steph and Eric to Dingleberry's at 4/01/2011 10:32:00 PM

Warner & Warner

Yup Jess. . . you were right.  

We haven't captured the tickling on film, 

but here are W & Grampa W. playing a duet on the organ together.  

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Posted By Steph and Eric to Dingleberry's at 4/01/2011 02:55:00 PM

Overheard on Skype

Stephanie: Warner is quite fond of Grandpa Warner.  

Jess: What do they like to do together?  Tickle each other and play the organ?

Photo of the Month

My Little Lepracaun

One Man's Winter is Another Man's Spring

Spring in Utah

Spring in Alaska

Spring in Utah

Spring In Alaska

Spring in Utah

Spring in Alaska

Spring in Utah

Eric and I hiked to South Fork falls.  It was gorgeous.  We could see running water through ice windows in the falls.  

Tipping My Hat

I'm tipping my hat to these two for being troopers during our TWO week stay.  Thanks mom and dad for putting up with us. . . for eating outside when we thought it was summer and you were convinced it was still winter, for trying to smile when my kids threw up on the new carpet AGAIN, for watching the boys during the 4 hour pedicure, for hanging out at the park in the afore mentioned weather, for enduring the smell of dirty diapers, for turning a blind eye to all the toys strewn throughout the house, for listening to Warner's high pitched voice yapping and yapping and yapping, for letting Michelle and I scobb you at Rook, and for doing all of this over and over and over for TWO weeks.  While it wasn't the vacation I had envision (because of those diapers, vomiting, and sleepless nights), there is nothing quite so rejuvenating as spending time with family.  I love you both!

Crazy Hair Day

 I've always admired my brother Greg for being one of the goofiest, confident kids I know.  I think sometimes those people are born and some others need encouragement.  And while to many this may look like nothing, it has taken me YEARS to get my kids to this point of reckless abandon.  Years!  But last week when Ravenwood Elementary was hosting crazy hair day SAM and HYRUM let me give them crazy hair.  

  

Cute Cousins

Auburn, Cooper, and Talmage

Cooper's Smile is the cutest thing in the world.  I love how he closes his eyes.

Auburn is amazingly flexible.  Talmage is looking at his legs and thinking, "Wow, I could never do that!"

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Posted By Steph and Eric to Dingleberry's at 4/04/2011 08:56:00 PM

Conference Creations

Uncle Scott and Warner created all sorts of  head gear during the second session of conference.  

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Posted By Steph and Eric to Dingleberry's at 4/04/2011 08:59:00 PM

Dr. Mario Marathon

Scott blew everyone out of the water!  Way to go Brother.  But watch out, Michelle's been warm'in up and is ready to take you on.

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Posted By Steph and Eric to Dingleberry's at 4/04/2011 09:03:00 PM

Fwd: Recipe of the Week

I allow myself one frivilous magazine subscription a year.  In the past I've tried O (i hate to even admit that, it wasn't my style),  Real Simple, and Everyday Food.  For the past three years I have loved receiving Cooking Light. . .and find it my monthly inspiration for trying new things like Black Bean Burgers and Roast Chicken with Balsamic Bell Peppers.

   This was our favorite recipe of the week!

Coconut Chicken Curry Soup

Chicken soup flavored with coconut and curry make this Thai a reader favorite. Snow peas, spinach, and chicken breast give the soup flavor, texture, and a wealth of nutrients.

Yield: 7 servings (serving size: 2 cups soup and 1 lime wedge)

Ingredients

• 4  cups  water
• 3  cups  fresh spinach leaves
• 1/2  pound  snow peas, trimmed and cut in half crosswise
• 1  (5 3/4-ounce) package pad thai noodles (wide rice stick noodles)
• 1  tablespoon  canola oil
• 1/4  cup  thinly sliced shallots
• 2  teaspoons  red curry paste
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  curry powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground turmeric
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground coriander
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 6  cups  fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1  (13.5-ounce) can light coconut milk
• 2 1/2  cups  shredded cooked chicken breast (about 1 pound)
• 1/2  cup  chopped green onions
• 2  tablespoons  sugar
• 2  tablespoons  fish sauce
• 1/2  cup  chopped fresh cilantro
• 4  small hot red chiles, seeded and chopped, or 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 7  lime wedges

Preparation

1. Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add spinach and peas to pan; cook for 30 seconds. Remove vegetables from pan with a slotted spoon; place in a large bowl. Add noodles to pan; cook 3 minutes. Drain; add noodles to spinach mixture in bowl.

2. Heat canola oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add shallots and the next 5 ingredients (through garlic) to pan; sauté 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add chicken broth to pan, and bring to a boil. Add coconut milk to pan; reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Add chicken, onions, sugar, and fish sauce to pan; cook for 2 minutes. Pour chicken mixture over noodle mixture in bowl. Stir in cilantro and chiles. Serve with lime wedges.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

315 (22% from fat)

Fat:

7.8g (sat 3.7g,mono 2.2g,poly 1.3g)

Protein:

29.3g

Carbohydrate:

30.9g

Fiber:

2.4g

Cholesterol:

62mg

Iron:

3.2mg

Sodium:

841mg

Calcium:

78mg

Tina Washburn, San Diego, California, Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2008

Sledding

I have GREAT childhood  memories of sledding.  My dad always had a stash of the rubber tire tubes that when inflated were all different sizes.  Solo rides were fun and exciting but nothing matched the thrill of piling four or more of us on one of the big tubes and clinging to each other for dear life.  I can still vividly recount the time when we hit a jump at the bottom of the run, and all of us went flying .. . i ended up face down on the bottom of the wreckage with one of my sisters on my head .. . that experience alone has redefined the term "white wash" for me.

Then there was the year that Kari and I had chicken pox.  I remember we were baned to the station wagon.  I can't remember what was more difficult to bear. . . the idea of being locked in the car with Kari (love you sister) or missing out on sledding.  

Sledding in Alaska is an entirely different adventure.  The snow is so dry that you need a monstrous hill to get any type of speed.  Last year we discovered the Loretta French Sledding Park.  We've gone there several times this winter and the boys trade off between snowboarding and sledding.   Mudge even made his first [and last] run down the steep hill in Eric's arms.  While the thrill lingers somewhere between fear of getting snow plastered on your face and the actual excitement from hurling yourself down a steep mountain side, we are definitely have a love for sledding in our blood.

UnAlaskan Alaskans

We don't fish.

We don't hunt.

We don't have a time share in Hawaii.

We don't own Snow Machines.

We don't chop or own wood or even shovel our own driveway (thanks neighbor Kay!!!).

We don't wear flannel.

We definitely don't own a gun, let alone a 2 year supply of ammo.

We can barely Cross Country Ski.

Most of our kids have never seen a bear in the wild.

Some would argue WE are BARELY Alaskans.  

sensory overload

Eric loves to tell this story  . . . When we first got married we lived in this teeny tiny studio apartment.  It was perfect for us.  We didn't own a single piece of furniture between the two of us (dare I say we even rented our bed from the University).  Our home decor was even more sparse.  When my parents came down in December they brought our Utah wedding gifts.  Amongst the presents was this little snowman garland which I hung in the kitchen where I also happened to stock the cupboards with pyrex and measuring cups and gadgets galore.  Weeks went by and I felt unsettled.  Something was definitely wrong.  And then it clicked.  It was those silly snowmen.  Their red and purple scarves clashed.  I opened the trash can, threw the garland in, and never looked back.  It was like I could breath again. 

You think time would melt that disorder.  I have kids that put together some ghastly clothing combinations.  I have yet to buy a set of towels that match.  Don't even get me started on my own apparent lack of fashion, seeing as though I'm wearing three different shades of gray and one very ratty and very much loved Ricks College sweatshirt.  There is plenty color clashing going around here, I just choose not to see it.

Last month though, my color obsession, came hurling back into my bones.  I had no idea that picking a paint color for our house would be so overwhelming.  13 samples later, we final settled on Sudan Sand and Water Chestnut.   If you thought I was color OCD before, I think I even surprised myself by rising to a new level of obsession.  

 Check out my walls.