Recent thoughts

With 5 children occupying the whole of my time, they are always in my thoughts. I have tried recently to express how grateful I am for them, but somehow my thoughts don't translate to words adequate enough to describe it. So I'm giving it another go. I usually do better when I write, anyway. When I was first pregnant with Sophie, I was more than ecstatic, but also nervous to tell people. I thought that since she is the fifth, people would wonder if we had planned to have her, or think that I just kept having babies without thinking because we've been told to multiply and replenish. While we did get some comments in this line of thinking, I was grateful that for the most part people were happy and supportive. I still didn't feel that they could fully understand how happy I was. Over the past several months I have continued to burst with joy about my children, but never really able to express it without sounding cheesy (like I am now). Then recently I read a blog of a friend of mine that described her children as yummy. As you know from several other posts, I can relate well to food. She said her children were like a chocolate cake that you just couldn't eat enough of, and that you always went back for more. This described my thoughts perfectly, so I stole it.

I love spending time with my kids. I love when I sit down and I have five children climbing on me with books to read or tummies to tickle. I love listening to them play and the creative things they come up with. I love watching them learn and get excited about different things. I love planning meals that all of them get excited about (which is not often enough). I love hearing the things they say, like when Anna asked how to spell something and said, "I already wrote the 'what'" when she meant to say 'y.' I love hearing the ideas they come up with, like Tyler's ideas for making a dinosaur movie which are much more involved than we are able to do. I love watching them dance and sing and cuddle with their dad. I love quiet moments. I love moments when we are loud and crazy. I love the times when I know just what to say or do that will calm a fit. Basically, I love being a Mom. Of course, there are moments when I want to hide or just go away for a little while. But I will always want to come back because I will be greeted with hugs and kisses and shouts of "Mommy's home!" I know I sound cheesy and crazy, but I just had to express how happy I am for what I've got.

Last night as I was saying our family prayer and thanking our Heavenly Father for our blessings, I couldn't help but notice that Sophie was smiling at me. I thought that really sums it all up. These five children and my husband are my biggest blessings and those little smiles are what keep me going when times get tough.

So, now I'm done being a cheesy mom. Tomorrow I'll probably have lots of the moments that make me want to run and hide and have to take all this back. But for now, this is what you get, and this is what I hope I remember when I'm all grown up.

Ice Cream

The other day the question came up, "If you died and were able to come back to earth for just one day, what would you do?" Josh, of course, would go to a football game. Megan Z. would go shopping. SuAnn would go to a movie. I decided I would go out for ice cream. I love ice cream. Ice cream is probably the sole reason I have weight to lose. (Well, that and 5 kids.) I started thinking how many of my memories involve ice cream. I'm always teasing Josh because he can remember the date of any event, if there was also a sporting event that day. For example: he will always remember the day our niece, Brynlee, was born because it was the day of the BYU vs. Utah football game. Anyway, I realized I'm the same way. Here are a few of the more significant memories:

After I got baptized my mom and dad took me to Leatherby's for a treat.

When my friends and I got tired of studying for the AP History exam at home, we went to Leatherby's and got ice cream while we studied.

When I didn't pass my AP History exam, my brother, Jacob, knowing that nothing he could say would make me feel better, went to Arctic Circle and bought me a shake. The gesture was kind and ice cream always makes me feel better.

I always ordered a shake when I went on my break when I worked for Arctic Circle. An oreo, butterfinger shake.

When Josh took me on our second date to Leatherby's and then told me he knew how to make shakes just like my dad did, I knew he was the one for me. (There were of course other things, but this was one added bonus!)

We have had many other memories surrounding ice cream, mostly Leatherby's, Arctic Circle and Cold Stone, but also some others. So now, to be like Josh, in order for me to remember an event, make sure you bring me ice cream.

recipes

I had a couple of people ask me for different recipes, so here they are.

Kathryn's Sugar Cookies (the reason for our perfect Christmas memory of late)
1 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
3 cups flour
1/2 cup sour cream

Mix ingredients in order given. Chill 4-5 hours. Roll out 1/3 inch thick, or so, and cut. Cookie dough will be rather sticky and needs to be rolled in flour. Bake for 8 min. at 375*F. Frost with favorite icing.

Cream Cheese Frosting
3 oz. cream cheese
3 tbsp. margarine
3 cups powdered sugar

Beat ingredients until smooth, adding evaporated milk as needed.

Buttermilk Rolls
2 eggs
2 tbsp. yeast
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
5 cups flour

Separate eggs. Beat whites stiff, set aside. Dissolve yeast in lukewarm buttermilk. Add margarine. Beat egg yolks, add sugar. Stir into buttermilk mixture. Stir in dry ingredients. Fold in egg whites. Dough will be sticky and bumpy. Cover and let rise. Punch down and let rise again. Divide into 4 balls, roll each into a flat circle. Cut 8 triangles from each circle, roll into crescent. Place on lightly greased baking sheets. Let rise. Bake at 400*F for 20 min.

Potato Wheat Bread
2 1/4 cups water, warm
1/3 cup instant mashed potatoes
2 tbsp yeast
2 tbsp honey
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 to 3 cups flour

Dissolve instant potatoes and yeast in water. Add honey, salt, oil and whole wheat flour. Beat together for 5 min. Continue adding white flour till dough can be kneaded into a smooth ball. Cover and let rise double in bulk. Punch down and let rise again. Divide dough in half, shape into loaves in greased pans. Let rise 20-30 min. Bake at 375*F for 30 min.

I think I have only made this last bread recipe once, but it is one of my favorites that my mom makes. Good luck.

Cute kids

Sophie

Sophie had her 4 month check-up yesterday. She weighs 14 lbs. 5 oz. If my memory serves me right that makes her our smallest 4 month old. She was all smiles for the doctor, but that's not unusual for her. All we have to do is look at her and she'll smile. She is a happy, good-natured baby. She has found her hands and feet and is trying to roll over.

Hooray for schedules!

We have made the switch to 9:00 church. While it can be crazy trying to get 5 kids ready to go, it is nice to only feed them once before church, comb their hair once, etc. Also, it made it much easier to get up and get ready for school today. We have been on our Christmas vacation and I was worried that it would be difficult for us all to get back into the groove. Thanks to church, the kids were up and willing to get ready. Of course it doesn't hurt that their cousins are still in town and we can use them as incentive to get the school work done. If you know me at all, you know that I love schedules and having schedules followed. Hopefully this trend can continue through May.

Happy New Year!

Wow! 2009! Do you remember thinking that we would never make it to 2000? I woke up this morning with 2 extra kids in my house. My nephews slept over to celebrate the new year with us. It was great because everyone was asleep by 9:15. Of course they woke up before 7:00 this morning to celebrate. We just finished throwing confetti. Who says the celebration has to begin at midnight? Our digital camera is on the blink, so we don't have pictures until we develop the film. :(