The Weekend in Review

Sometimes, I don't bring my camera to places on purpose. I want to enjoy the moment and not worry about lugging it around (our camera is rather large). Inevitably though, I regret not having pictures of my life. That's how I feel about this weekend. My mom picked me up to go down for a visit, and to be the recipient of some household purging she is doing, so the kids and I were visiting family for a few days. Darin picked us up on Saturday to attended one of the nicest weddings I have ever been too (oh how I wish I had my camera for that one).

The Weekend in Review:

Sarah and I took all the kids swimming. The kids were all sufficiently slathered in sun screen because we are good moms. In attempts to "get a little color" Sarah and I are fried.

The kids made these really cute treasure boxes. Sarah works with 4H during the summer so she is a gold mine of resources for kid entertainment (especially chemical reaction sort of things since they are her personal favorite). She had the kids glue ceramic tiles all over these wooden boxes, the tiny tiles are so cool!

I came home with new (old) books and a hand turn wheat grinder from the house purge. I was reading one of my 'book about me' books that my Aunt Leigh had made for me when I was little (the kind where your name and info is inserted in place of the main character's), to Miriam and this flood of memories came back to me. I remember loving the one about a mouse. I remember having it read to me by both my mom and dad, I remembered all the illustrations and everything! It was like a memory lost that suddenly came back to me. Miriam seems to love the book too, and after reading it a second time said "that book is about you, so did all of that really happened to you?" I hesitated wanting to say yes but instead told her it was just a fun story with my name in it.

Darin took his parents canoe down to my parent's cabin and did some solo canoeing. Can you believe that He-Man got the canoe on and off the car by himself?? His muscles are sore but he is pleased and I am impressed.

We've had some visitors lately

Sometimes Bub is quiet enough to watch them for awhile...before he starts barking.
As parents, we don't want to have pets ever, but if we did, I think we'd like a bird.

Girls Night Out

Cupcakes for dinner.

Crafts galore.

Wee bit of trauma over a smudged painted rock, but overall a good time.

Miriam Bub and I are getting picked up by Grandma tomorrow, and M is crazed with excitement. Before going to bed tonight she insisted that we make a list of things to do tomorrow...here it is.

1. Fold clothes
2. Play horses at a park
3. Arts and Crafts camp
4. Eat gummie bears
5. Wait for Grandma
6. Find out what fossils are
"actually Mom, YOU need to find out what they are because I already know they are fishes swimming in the bottom of a lake in the mud and then they turn into rocks, then fossils"
7. Play princess with Madison

The Calm Before the Storm

July will be fun chaos around here. Cousins, cabins, parades, BBQ's and the triumphant return of Uncle Mark. This is like the calm before the storm. I have that anxious feeling of needing to set things in order before we play for a solid month, but there is always that inevitable disappointment when my energy runs out leaving so much undone.

This little social butterfly gave a marvelous talk in church last Sunday. She is currently into visiting the neighbors gardens, finding insects, and riding her bike.

This guy is getting more and more vocal. Screaming, squealing, grunting he knows how to get what he wants these days. He throws EVERYTHING, and has quite a good little arm. He still barks at all animals.

My Moqueca de Peixe turned out well, so far I am a fan of Brazilian food.

2 lb. skinless white fish fillets
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1 fresh hot pepper, or 1 tsp cayenne pepper (we needed to half this...our gringo paletes can't take that kind of heat)
4 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
juice of 1 large lemon
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
1 med. onion, chopped
2 tsp dende or olive oil
1/2 c. coconut milk

1. Rinse fish under cool running water and pat dry. Cut into roughly 1 inch square pieces and place in a large mixing bowl or baking dish.

2. In a food processor or blender combine garlic, hot pepper, cilantro, salt, black pepper, lemon juice, and half of the tomatoes and onion. Process until smooth.

3. Pour the tomato mixture over the fish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

4. Heat dende or olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add fish, processed tomato mixture, remaining tomato and onion, and half the coconut milk.

5. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add remaining coconut milk. Cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes, or until fish is cooked through. Serve hot with rice.

It's Officially Summer

Neighborhood sprinkler party

Hey Bub!

Whoa back off

EEK!

Farm Party

For Ris: until my costco account is ready to share albums, here are some teasers from L's Birthday Farm Party!

This was a classic birthday on the farm. Pin the tail on the donkey, tractor ride, fed ducks, decorated sun visors (okay maybe that isn't classic), and of course

a pinata (this was the impalement incident).

Off to see the animals....

Turns out Bub is not much of a party animal.

Fathers Day 2008

The most recent Daddy picture, why didn't I take pictures today?!

I loved the scene in the movie Lars and the Real Girl when Lars asks his big brother when he had become a man, and the brother said something to the affect of: When you do the right thing...not just the right thing for you but whats right for everyone, you become a man. That made me think of Darin. This is what I wrote in my journal way long ago after seeing him fly off to the Philippines for two years (please excuse the giddy silliness of my 19 year old writing):

"Seeing Darin was fun, weird but fun. He is the same guy, funny & cute! He gave me like 15 packets of postum from the MTC. In his letters he'd always slip one in because he knows how I love it. It was so sweet of him to think of me while all this stuff was happening to him. He is so so cute. I hope we are always friends. I love it because we've done everything right with our relationship so we have parted on great terms leaving the future open. He is really supportive of me serving a mission. I'll keep writing him & do what I can to make him happy out there. Anyways...he is a great part of my life."

If I had had only known huh?? I didn't realize until much much later, after dating many pushy, selfish guys just how amazing Darin was/is. I remember thinking the guys at college seemed so much older and more mature than the guys from high school (Darin included) but when it came down to doing what was good and right Darin soared above the rest. My kids have an amazing Dad.

My kids are also lucky to have great Grandpas

A PaPa who reads stories, lets you waste $ at the arcade, takes you on walk-a-bouts, paints old rusty bikes pink, is the most compassionate person I know.

A Grandpa who makes wooden toys, bakes big sweet rolls, shows you the stars, has the tools for just about any hobby you'd like to try, and has years of training if you every need to talk.

Happy Father's Day!!

On a completely different note:

Today was the first time we have been in our ward when the Primary children have been asked to sing. Miriam was a mix of nerves and anticipation. When the first speaker sat down, she stood up and walked right up to the pulpit, first row. She was a head taller than the two boy Sunbeams she stood between. She grinned at everyone, and gave us a special nose scrunch smile. You know how there is always at least one overly enthusiastic singing child who belts out the song with gusto? Well that was our Miriam. And when at the end the children sang "A great big kiss" and blew a kiss, Miriam's was the biggest and loudest smakaroo up there. Darin and I could not stop laughing and everyone was turning to look at us and then back at Miriam. Afterward tons of people stopped Miriam to tell her how wonderful her singing was. It was so sweet and so cute, but I am a tad worried that all the positive attention will have her trying to sing louder than everyone else in all performances. She is so sensitive, and gets easily embarrassed, I wouldn't for the world want to squash the enthusiasm. Is it best to let these phases run their course, or should I say something to her?

Ramblings of the exhausted...

This picture welcomes guests to our home these days. Miriam says it is a great way to show people that she lives here when she isn't home to answer the door. I love it seeing it when I drive up to our house, although I will need a plan at some point to get it off the door without hurting M's feelings.

Mark comes home from Brazil in about a month so I have been trying out some of these...

So far I have only made Feijoada, but have plans to make Moqueca de Peixe (a fish soup with coconut milk) sometime this week, and then Xinxim (chicken, fish, and peanut soup). Brazilian food is an interesting mix of flavors. Black beans, squash and root veggies, lots of fish and meat, plus spicy and tropical flavors from Africa. Of course my versions aren't completely authentic since I've had to subsitute some ingredients, but so far so good. The real test will be when Mark gives it a try.

We attended the funeral for Darin's Uncle this week. I had never met him so I felt a little bit like an intruder during the more intimate moments, but I enjoyed getting to know him through loved ones eyes. It was especially fun because my husband resembles that side of the family and I do love genetics. It was a wonderful service; funny and touching at the same time. There was a bit of teasing, and lots of honor and respect given. A good reminder that everyday people giving service, with a willing heart, make a huge difference in this world.

I am off to Youth Conference this week and have way too much to do before I leave so I am signing over and out for a while!

Paddle Festival

We were at Little Dell reservoir today, along with hundreds of other paddle sport enthusiasts. It was fun, even for novice paddlers like ourselves (well...Darin knows what he is doing but I definitely don't).

Darin took a few classes

Miriam had her face painted by Girl Scouts,

painted a fish,

painted another, and another and another

and had her face painted some more. She had to go get a touch up before we left from a crying incident that streaked her butterflies....and then painted another fish.

Darin took her out in a double kayak

Bub was wonderful throughout it all, with a little help from Cheetos, Doritos, and Grandma's Cookies.

Even I ventured out for a bit, but not for long. The races were going to start soon and I didn't want to be in the way (I am not great at steering yet).

We saw all the police cars and tv crews that were there for this, but no one we talked to had any idea what was going on at the time.

It's Where Fun Is!

Stake Lagoon Day!

This horse is called "Elixa" it was almost "Elisa" but Miriam changed her mind at the last moment.

Train ride! We waited at least 35 min. to get on the train but it was worth the wait. We snagged the caboose, the best seat in my opinion. Byron barked at all the animals, thats his new thing, he sounds like a Scottish terrier.

We also attended a Broadway variety show. Miriam has inherited the emotional gene from my side of the family (have you met my cousin Kristi?) she often gets emotional during dramatic performances. I do too, but it always amazes me that a 4 year old can feel so deeply. She teared up during Annie's "Tomorrow" and Wicked's "Defying Gravity".

Miriam wanted to try the Tilt-A-Whirl I swear it was her idea.

I don't know much about physics, I thought if we sat in the middle we would get a pretty smooth ride. Not so, if you really want to whirl, sit in the middle. I LOVED it, I am a thrill ride enjoyer, but I was concerned for M.

Darin: "Miriam did you like the ride?"
Miriam: "NO!"
Me: "do you want to go again next year"
Miriam: "maybe when I turn 8"

Happy Birth-extravaganza!

Lisa, happy day!
I waited for Darin to get home before I called....bad idea he came late (late late). We feel sad we didn't get to chat, although we probably would have gotten your machine anyway. Party animal.

Birthday in the Desert

This is a beautiful time of year in my hometown.
It was fun to go down for my Mom's birthday. She actually gave us the gift by picking up Miriam two days early for some cousin time. We drove down to party and pick her up.

We took a birthday walk up to the hills

for birthday bike riding

and birthday joy riding.

Miriam has the time of her life at Grandma's house, especially when Darin and I are not there. She gets sleep deprived (because she will NOT sleep in no matter how late they stay up...seriously if Miriam sleeps in she is sick), and then when we go to leave has a TOTAL breakdown. Ask anyone in my family, they will verify the severity of it. She melts into sobs and lamentations. The good must outweigh the bad because she is ready to go back tomorrow!

Our Author of the Month

Miriam Bub and I have fallen in love with Lois Ehlert's bright vibrant books.

She has written many more books than the ones I have pictured, these are just our current favorites. Thanks for the introduction Grandma C!

Waiting for Wings is especially fun, it inspired Miriam!