Me and My Irishmen

Typical St. Patty's Day fair. Green decor. Green garb. Green grub.

With or without a four leaf clover, I'm the luckiest lady alive with
these Irishmen at my side.

Pinch Proof

After spending the morning getting pinched by his little brothers,
Christian made himself pinch proof from head to toe.

I'm Scared

I'm scared of my baby.  

Yes, you read that right, I'm scared.  I'm scared of something that holds 1/8 of my heart, who is 1/10 my size and 1/35 my age.  Something with sparkly blue eyes and chubby cheeks.  The same something that just started crinkling his nose when he smiles and laughing when we go on walks.  I know, you're thinking, how can I be so scared of something so adorable.  

Let me tell you. 

My adorable little fellow is a biting, grabbing stalker.  Let me explain.  [No, there is too much. Let me sum up]  

Holland has a glorious set of six sharp chompers which he is constantly trying out on any flesh he can find.  Why?  I don't know. He is a biting grinding maniac.  He'll bite fingers, shoulders, cheeks, noses.  Need I go on?  If it is soft and tender he'll bite and bite hard.  There is no remorse, just a feverish appetite for more.  I'm still holding onto my theory that he has rabies. . . I'm just waiting for him to start foaming at the mouth.  :)

Holland also loves my hair.  Not all of my hair, just the really tender stuff by my neck.  Those little chubby fingers are quick and strong.  Now I can do hard things, and I'm not a stranger to pain.  But when it comes down to it, I'd rather birth a baby without drugs than get my hair permed.  Why?  Because getting those silly rods out about kill me.  The pain is crazy and there is no precious baby at the end of all that agony.  The last time I got my hair permed I literally had to ask my friend to count down the rods for me. . . so I could breath through the pain.  Silly, I know.  But that's how sensitive my head is.  Don't even get me started on the stories from my childhood and my mom going through my hair with a comb.  So when Holland has my hair in his death grip you can only imagine the thoughts going through my head.

Holland loves me.  And yes, for those wondering, I love him too.  But he really really really LOVES me.  And most of the time only me.  If he sees me he wants me.  If he hears me he wants me.  So what do I do?  I've been hiding from my baby.  Yes, hiding.  If he's in the front room playing, I sneak into the kitchen, do what I've got to do, and sneak out all in 100% stealth mode.  I've contemplated getting camouflage clothing so I can blend in with the walls.  Or maybe I get a mask made so I look like Eric.  Hmmm. . .   If Holland happens to catch one glimpse of me he army crawls at full speed to where I am and whimpers whimpers whimpers.  Adorable?  Yes, at times but more often discouraging because he was playing perfectly until he saw me.  At times I find myself pantomiming to the kids just so the baby doesn't hear me.  It all seems silly but so does lugging around a 20 lb bundle of cuteness who is simultaneously trying to bite me and pull my hair out.  

So right now I am scared.  And perhaps a little scared that I'm scared.  But until my baby boy keeps those fangs and phalanges off of me, I'm keeping my distance.  :)

SIL Inspiration

My sis-in-law Jess pinned this. 

 I loved it and quickly set to making up a 8x10 version.  

Holls

Holl's just chomping down on some delicious banana bread. He loves
his little highchair perched on the side of our island and happily
begs food of any and everyone around him.

A Moment Later

Mudgie wanted to join in a moment later. . .

Too Busy Living

Most days we're too busy living life to even find the camera . . . but
the other day I wanted to document my teenagers and all the growing up
they've been doing. Here is just a five minute moment in our kitchen.
I especially love the first picture. . . from their expressions, to
the way they are standing, it has teenager written all over it.

It sure is a priviledge to parent these two.

Furrondy 2013

Bacon Family at the snow sculptures and the Running with the Reindeer.
Eric wants to sign up for that next year. If he doesn, I'll be sure
to make him a Bacon Costume for the event.

It was a beautiful day and felt so wonderful to get out as a family.

DLS

Day Light Savings is a curse in Alaska.  This made me smile. . . 

1 more

Again, in Mexico, almost a year later my SIL pulled out this recipe.  And while unfortunately events prevented us from actually tasting them then, our mouth buds were already watering.  And again, I found myself begging someone for a recipe.  

After I made these Eric exclaimed, "I could eat these every week."  For a man who loves variety, that is the highest of compliments.

Summer Corn Cakes with Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa

Adapted from "Sara Foster's Southern Kitchen"

Makes about 12 large cakes; serves 6 to 8

• 3 EARS CORN, SHUCKED
• 1 CUP ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
• 1/2 CUP CORNMEAL (IF YOU CAN ONLY FIND CORNMEAL MIX, SKIP THE BAKING POWDER.)
• 1/4 CUP DICED RED ONION
• 1/4 CUP THINLY SLICED FRESH BASIL
• 1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER
• 1/2 TEASPOON BAKING SODA
• SEA SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER
• 2 LARGE EGGS, LIGHTLY BEATEN
• 2 TABLESPOONS WELL-SHAKEN BUTTERMILK
• 2 TABLESPOONS UNSALTED BUTTER, MELTED
• CANOLA OIL, FOR FRYING
• CHOPPED TOMATO AND AVOCADO SALSA (RECIPE FOLLOWS)

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a brown paper bag.
2. Cut the corn from the cobs into a large bowl, and scrape the stripped cobs with the back of the knife (or a spoon) to release the juices into the bowl.
3. Place 2 cups of the corn kernels into a food processor, and pulse several times, until the corn is slightly pureed but still chunky. Scrape into the bowl with the remaining corn kernels.
4. Add flour, cornmeal, onion, basil, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper to the corn. Stir to mix.
5. Add the eggs, buttermilk and butter, and stir just to combine. (Do not overmix.)
6. Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add just enough canola oil to barely cover the bottom, and heat until sizzling hot.
7. One heaping tablespoon at a time, scoop the batter into the skillet. Cooking in batches of 4 to 5 to avoid overcrowding, fry the cakes 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden brown.
8. Drain on the lined baking sheet, and place in the oven to keep warm while cooking the remaining corn cakes. Serve warm topped with a heap of Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa.

Chopped Tomato and Avocado Salsa

Makes about 2 cups

• 1 LARGE TOMATO, CORED AND CHOPPED
• 1 SCALLION, TRIMMED AND MINCED
• 1/2 JALAPENO PEPPER, CORED, SEEDED AND DICED
• 1 TABLESPOON CHOPPED FRESH BASIL
• 1 TABLESPOON CHOPPED FRESH CILANTRO
• 1 GARLIC CLOVE, MINCED
• JUICE OF 1/2 LIME
• 1 1/2 TEASPOONS EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
• 1 1/2 TEASPOONS WHITE WINE VINEGAR
• SEA SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER
• 1 AVOCADO, PEELED, PITTED AND DICED

1. Place all of the ingredients (except the avocado) in a bowl, and stir to mix. Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve, for up to 2 days.
2. Just before serving, add the avocado, and mix gently.

favorite recipe

Here are a few of our favorite family recipes.  I first ate this in Mexico and begged my friend Tiff for the recipe.  We eat it a couple of times a month.  

Black-Bean Tostadas with Corn Relish

Ingredients

• 2 limes
• 2 scallions
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 jalapeno chile
• 1 pint grape tomatoes
• 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, not sliced
• 12 tostada shells
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans
• 1 can (15 ounces) black REFRIED beans (NOT pinto refried beans)
• 1 avocado
• Reduced-fat sour cream, for serving (optional)

Directions

1. Squeeze limes into a medium bowl. Thinly slice scallions, and add to bowl along with corn. Add 1 tablespoon oil, and season with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate.

2. Halve jalapeno (remove ribs and seeds for less heat, if desired), and mince. Halve tomatoes. Combine in an airtight container; cover and refrigerate.

3. Coarsely grate cheese on a box grater; place into a resealable plastic bag, and refrigerate.

4. In a pan, mix black beans and black refried beans together.  Stir ocassionally until heated through.  Pit and peel avocado; dice. Toss with corn mixture to combine.

5. To serve, top tostadas with black bean mixture, corn relish, tomatoes and, if desired, sour cream.

   
   

My Man in Black

Sam still loves drumming. This weekend he got to play at a festival
with some friends from his drumming group. They did this fun routine
where they played their own drums and then would bang on each other
drums and throw their sticks into the air.

(they played in this great little church which echoed and amplified
everything, thus the earplugs)

Grandma Day

My mom has always been so good about having Grandma Days with her
grandchildren. A trip up the tram at Sundance, or a fun day bowling,
or little sewing projects. We were THRILLED when she brought, or
mailed rather, Grandma Day to us. She sent Sam and Hyrum the
supplies for these darling Valentine's pennants.

Sam did such a great job sewing. At one point I had to come upstairs
and help the littles. A few minutes later Sam joined me. I asked him
if he was done. And then I noticed he was a little pale. He looked
horrified. He went on to tell me that the sewing machine was trying
to kill him and he was just sure his finger was going to get caught
and the machine would drag his whole body in for "death by sew
machine." It was hilarious, and more than a smidge sincere.

I joined him for the last few triangles and the biased tape. By the
end of our "sewing machine therapy" he was back on good terms with the
machine and was confident that he could control the foot pedal.

Sam, Hy, and Warner really love to sew. The other day we made
sleeping bags for their stuffed animals. The pennant however is a
project that the whole family will enjoy.

Fwd:

I love this little boy and his love for all things holiday. we had so much fun creating these valentines together today.  there was just a spirit of happiness oozing out of our kitchen.  he was cutting, i was stapling. . . it was just one of those moments that you always imagine having with your children.  

hyrum is all about imagination.  he loves to think and create and wonder.  he loves holidays, stuffed animals, make believe, and drawing.  he's into super heroes, leprachans, and aspires to be a hedgehog owner.  of course, all this imagination has a downside.  because of a recent incident where he became irrationally scared silly, we are back to robber therapy.  he was convinced someone was in the house.  the next morning he told me, "mom, i know what a robber would steal. . . . our projector."  and while that $150 projector may be one of the most expensive things in our house it definitely isn't robber quality.  

hy remembers.  hy understands.  hy thinks things through.  he's smart and loud and silly and then suddenly shy.  he'll romp around our house screeching like a valociraptor and then clam up on neon day stubbornly leaving his cool green wig in his backpack.  and did i mention his ailments?  hy is fine until we ask him to do something.  then his "leg hurts" or his "finger hurts" or his "ears hurt" and by hurt he means unable to do the afore mentioned chore. . . ever.   hy's also a picky eater who would happily eat a diet of worthless carbohydrates for every meal for the rest of his life [couldn't we all though. . . he may something with that agenda].

that said, despite his whining, ailments and quirks he'll forever be MY hy-guy.  my little glasses wearing, big smiling, table setting, great reading little guy.  And believe me, if that little one ever asked ME to be his valentine, with or without the mustache, I would definitely say yes.  

we [HEART] grandma

love you grandma. and love all the trinkets in our package. we wore
the heart masks to music class today and everyone LOVED them. and
here we are with our collages.

Anchorage Institute

These are the smiling faces at the Anchorage Institute these days.  Eric works with a wonderful Senior Missionary Couple and Secretary.  Brother and Sister Hawkins are here for 18 months from Rexburg, ID.  They've really made the institute a home for the students with waffle nights, warm homemade bread, and other delicious comfort foods and juggle that along with their teaching and YSA ward assignments.  Eric says that Sis. Soule it the epitome of efficiency.  I've often heard him comment that she is good, and fast, and thorough.  I wonder if he ever gets the two of us (me and Sis. Soule) confused for one another??  :)  

I'm grateful that Eric spends his time away from home surrounded by such honest, good, kind people.

Tres Amigos

These three are the best of friends.  When Harry decided to go to a different Middle School that enrolled 6th graders, I truly thought that it was the beginning of the end.  However Harry and his parents have bent over backwards to fuel this friendship.  

While many things haven't changed like their love for pizza and Harry's tied dyed shirts, many things like their basketball skills, their love for musical instruments, and their appetites have.  

We've had a blast these past five years and are keeping our fingers crossed for five more.

Neon Bowling

My Boys at their Best Friends Birthday Party.