Wedding

For those who missed it, couldn't be there for all of it, or just wanted to see it again...   here it is.  All of these gorgeous photographs are thanks to our wonderful photographer Sara. 

Caitlin and Neil met this past spring.  

And before we knew it, we were planning a fall wedding.  11/11/11 to be exact.  

It was a beautiful autumn day. 

Bride and Groom with some of both families on the temple steps.

I LOVE this!  I'm not sure what these men were laughing about, but I love the happiness, and how Caitlin stands out like a princess among them.

Neil and Caitlin with Neil's parents, Richard and Francisca.  We're so happy to be family now!

We had to have our turn too!

There's a story behind that scowl.  Chloe was convinced for some time that she was also marrying Neil.  So..when she saw them come out of the temple in wedding clothes, she knew she'd been left out.  There were a lot of tears.  In this picture, she still wasn't having any of the attempts to make amends.  

We're proud of the choices they made that brought them to this place on  this day.  We're so happy to see them begin their life together and pray that God will give them all blessings they can hold.

And then it was time to party!

The tables were absolutely stunning thanks to the beautiful chair covers, as well as the lovely centerpieces that Alicia made.    Mauricia and her sisters made all the Mexican food..  and it was GOOD! So many people loaned us things, advice, and help to put this reception on. We appreciate them all!

Caitlin chose some beautiful bridesmaids.

Is it really a party without chocolate?  I think not.  

I may be a little biased, but I think they make a beautiful couple.

This is Neil's "Padre" from Arizona,  who's loved him like a son for so many years.  He was so happy to have him here!

Cake cutting time!

Caitlin wanted dancing.  It was a good choice.  Everyone had so much fun!

Neil danced with his mom.

Caitlin danced with her dad.

Everyone ate, and laughed, and danced.  As Caitlin said once, "Wedding receptions are such happy places!"  This one certainly was.  

Before we know it, it'll be her turn.  Which makes me want to cry like a baby just typing it.  Because Caitlin was this big just five years ago...   well, ok, maybe more than five... but that's what it feels like.  

Happy New Year!!

To me, the start of a new year is September, not January.  They should move New Years to 
September.  I think anyone with kids kind of sees it this way too.  January's the halfway point, right?  Well, I'm starting this "new year" with some excitement, some anxiety, some fear, and lots of questions!  


As a home school family, each year has looked different.  Different needs, courses of study, interests to follow, groups to belong to, activities to be involved in.  Each year I think we've made bigger changes than ever, only to discover the next year, I feel the same again.  But still I say, this year may have the biggest changes ever!  I'm NOT the adventurous type.  Not unless that adventure is well planned, far in advance, will all variables and bases covered.  (I'd be a blast on a road trip, wouldn't I?) But I'm trying to see this all as a big adventure and hang on for the ride.  


My oldest is engaged.  She's getting married this November.  She is blissfully happy, and therefore, so are we, because mothers love to see their children happy, don't we?  But what a big change this will be for us!  We will be losing a housemate, but gaining a son (and a great one at that).  And frantically pulling together a wedding that is 10 weeks ago.  The adventure is beginning!


My second oldest is on a waiting list for his own apartment, and when his name comes up, he'll be moving out.  All this "moving out" business has it pros and cons.  Pro:  more room for everyone left here  Con: less children, laughter, and conversation around the table.  I know it's time.  It'll be good for him to stand on his own, and see what being an adult is all about.  But I feel like a little piece of me leaves with both of them.  


Another went off today, for his first day of sophomore year in public school. Chamber choir, advanced drama, millionaire club, and debate club are just a few of the things that will keep him away from home 12 hours a day many times.  I miss him already.  But I'm happy to see him thriving and adjusted and involved and stretching himself to do great things.  


The rest will be home with me (well, kind of, because I won't necessarily be here), at least for half the year.  Home school will look different yet again.  They will have to work more independently, which means all new curriculum and strategies.   I'm in the process of being hired as a substitute para-educator for North Franklin school district where I'll be working at Basin City elementary and maybe Mesa elementary, three to four days a week.  We'll have to frequently evaluate how it's all working. It might be public school for everyone next year (but I can't think about that yet). I know there are many women who have juggled work and family, and I think they're amazing.  I just didn't want to be one of them. My goals haven't been very lofty.  I wanted a family...  lots of children, and the joy of being with them every day.  That's it.  No career to run back to when they started school.  No big ambitions.  If I had to sacrifice some material things and be financially creative, well that was ok.  


Things have changed. I've put this off as long as I can. It's necessary.  And I'm trying to tell myself it's all good.  This week I'm putting my house in order.  Making menu and chore binders to help the kids stay on task while I'm gone, and play a bigger part in helping the family run smoothly. That'll be good I think.  I've not delegated and relied on them as much as I could have.  I think having to step up will be good for them.  


I have also come to see very clearly that at mid-life, I am uneducated, unskilled, untrained, and unprepared to do much of anything that's worthy of a paycheck.  At least not a paycheck that's worth having.  The way I see it, if I have to give up what I love most (being home each day with my kids), then the job better 1. Be a good measure of fascinating and engaging  2. pay really well.  I'm pretty sure that's NOT the job I've snagged for myself.  So....


Back to school.  I was trying to choose between work and school (because I'm an all or nothing type of girl thinking only of full time college), when my almost son-in-law mentioned taking part time classes (DUH!).  So, in January I'll be taking a couple of classes per quarter at the local college (online, so I can work it around everything else).  I'm currently still torn between courses of study.  I see two basic options.  Study something that will get me done the quickest and make the most money.  Or, study something I find fascinating, but that takes twice the time, AND that I have no idea how I'll use to make money.  I'm torn between what I should do and what I want to do.  Enter the guilt.  ACK!  I'm leaning towards what I want to do (because as a mother for the last 21 years, what I want has so rarely been the focus).  But then I feel guilty. So I wonder. 


Then, as a woman who has barely kept it all together as a stay at home mom, I wonder...   HOW AM I GOING TO MAKE THIS ALL WORK?  You know that saying that goes something like this; I had it all together, but I forgot where I put it?  That's me baby!  So I'm a little afraid (ok, a lot).  I go to bed with lots of questions on my mind (which doesn't make for the most restful night).  Can I really be one of those women, who juggles work, school, weddings, ballet performances, school performances, music lessons, meals, grocery shopping, quality time with kids, driver's ed, and on...  and on...?  I guess I'll see!  And you will too.  Because  I best sort out my life by writing through it.  This year in blogging will be a record and study of something..   and I hope it's good!

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning, about 7am.  Woke up with a smashing headache, and thought I'd blog a little while everyone sleeps, and before turkey prep begins.  I wanted to list a few more things that I'm thankful for, although I could never, EVER list them all.  


1.  Purple.....   how can you look at purple and not feel a little happier?


2.  Snow (not snowy roads), because it makes my kids SO happy


3.  The kindness of people...   we've had a rough year and been on the receiving end of help and support more than I'd like (because I love giving, not receiving).  But so awesome, and so thankful to have had it.


4.  Cheesecake.  In high school, my best friend brought an entire cheesecake and can of blueberry filling to school....   and 4 of us shared and ate THE WHOLE THING.  And yet, I still love cheesecake.  


5.  Making re-connections with friends and family on Facebook


6. All the things I've learned this year about myself;  my abilities, the power of having vision and thinking positively, and experiencing the truth that action conquers fear.


7.  Newly waxed hardwood floors.  Oooohhhh......  shiny!


8.  Christmas music.  I'd listen to it all year if I could, because it's message of hope, salvation, and joy is one I need all year long.


9.  Technology.  It can be a pain at times...  because I don't always know how to use it or how to fix it.  But having my mom and Chloe get to see each other from across the miles when Chloe blew out her birthday candles.....   priceless!


10.  Lipstick....   I love lipstick.  I usually forget to wear it.  But I love the perfect shade of lipstick and how it helps me feel a little more polished and together.  


Now, it took for forever to find this.  I've seen it ascribed to President Lincoln as his Thanksgiving Day address.  But it's not.  It was a few months later when he proclaimed a National day of fasting and prayer.  It's still a marvelous speech on gratitude and God ,  and worth reading and pondering this Thanksgiving.  Enjoy your day and your many blessings!

SNOW!!

You see this?  It's on my front porch, because it's autumn.  Now I've lived in places where autumn (or even late summer) means snow.  But not generally here.  We're in a desert.  We have pretty mild winters for the most part. We hardly get any precipitation at all.  Less than two weeks ago we were heading out the door without jackets.  

And then this happened.  Not just the dusting we usually get.  (ok, you Utah and Idaho people can stop laughing at my "very much snow" picture...  but really, this is a lot for us... we were overwhelmed with snowiness).

Giada likes it.  It makes our dogs frisky.  They can't get enough of romping through it.  

The girls can't get enough of romping through it either!  

Chloe and I have been reading "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats.  The first thing she wanted to do was make an angel.  A snow angel made by an angel. 

The snow was a little dry for a good snowball fight, but they tried.

Silly girls...

Michael's traditional "I'll be crazy and pretend it's summer for the first snow" pose.  He's just flat crazy.  

The best way to end playtime in the snow...   a warm cookie in front of a warm heater.

More to be Thankful For

More of my continuing list of things to be especially thankful for....


1.  the absence of flies....  which hasn't actually happened yet, but I'm sure looking forward to it...  (my country sisters share my pain I'm sure).


2.  warm, fuzzy socks on a cold autumn night


3.  God's tender mercies that we receive every single day


4.  homemade spicy Asian peanut sauce.....  YUM!


5.  the sound of the wind through the trees on a warm spring day


6.  waterfalls...    I find them breathtaking no matter the size or scale and someday I'm going to have one in my house (I'm not kidding).  


7.  digital cameras, so when my younger children take 27 photos of each other's feet and nostrils, I can simply hit delete instead of having to pay to develop the whole role for the one precious picture on it...   like with my older children  (you all still owe me).


8.  breastfeeding my babies... I've spent a total of 15 years of my life lactating to date (no, that is not a typo) and for me it has been one of the greatest privileges and blessings of motherhood.


9  musicals...   because I like idea of people just bursting into song at random moments.  I think musicals should be taken off stage and into real life...  wouldn't that be something?


10.  homemade soap...  love love LOVE it... love making it, smelling it, using it.   The 130 bars I had in my basement are almost gone and I think I'm gonna have to make some more soon. (yeah!)

Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish

I love cranberries, but I'm not a big fan of the canned, jellied cranberry sauces.  They're ok.  They have their place (I guess).  And I know some of you really really like it.  But you have to try  fresh cranberry orange relish!  Only half my family will touch a cranberry sauce/relish of any kind...  and this is what they prefer.  It's super easy to make, good for you, and yummy!  Cranberries have anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties...   you can't say that for much of the food on our Thanksgiving tables, so eat up!

You'll need 1 lb of fresh or frozen whole cranberries, sugar, canned mandarin oranges (or fresh orange sections if you prefer), and a bit of cinnamon.

Use a blender or food processor to chop the cranberries.  You don't want a fine puree.  If a few berries make it through practically whole, no problem.

This is how they should look.  If you use a blender or small processor, you'll want to do this is 2 or 3 small batches.  

Add about 1 cup of sugar.  You may want it a little more or less tart...  so you can add slowly and adjust to taste.

Now you can put in 2 small cans of drained, Mandarin oranges, (or about 2 cups of fresh orange segments)

About 1/2 tsp of cinnamon..  again you can adjust to taste.  You really can't mess this up.

Give it a stir and let it chill for a couple of hours to mix the flavors and dissolve the sugar. You want the oranges to break into smaller pieces, so don't be too gentle.  I love how the cranberries keep their crunch this way, and how some larger bits of cranberry burst in your mouth.  Heavenly!  


(In the spirit of full disclosure, I'll tell you that this recipe can also be made as a cooked version, but that would be so sad.) 

PUMPKIN RECIPES

I don't love how early it gets dark in November.  I don't like the cold wind that can blow right through a person.  But I do love the warmth and comfort of fall foods!  We especially love pumpkin.  First of all, it's a vegetable, so how's that for healthy! 1 cup of pumpkin has 19% of your daily vitamin C, and 245% of your vitamin A!  It's loaded with important anti-oxidants.   And it's pretty versatile.  I thought I'd share several of our favorite pumpkin recipes....  some we use year round, because we like it that much.  


I don't have pictures of all of these.  That would require me to actually stay home for a few days in a row and cook and bake (which I LOVE) but I haven't been finding the time for... but I'm going to have to!  These are too yummy to pass up.  Oh, and if you've never discovered the bliss of dark chocolate with pumpkin....   you've been missing out.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes

These are light and fluffy and yummy and good for you and a little indulgent too.  I quadruple this and freeze the extras for quick breakfasts because I'm just that lazy.  They defrost nicely in the microwave. 

2 cups flour (I use at least half whole wheat)

2 Tbs packed brown sugar

1 Tbs baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ginger

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup solid pack pumpkin

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 Tbs oil

1/2 cup or more semi-sweet chocolate chips

Go ahead and preheat a griddle.  I prefer cast iron, but whatever you're used to is fine.  Then combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix well.  Add this to the flour mixture and stir until just moistened.  The batter will be fairly thick.  Add the chips and stir lightly.  The batter is too thin if the chips sink to the bottom.  They should be held in suspension.  

Using a 1/4 cup measure, pour batter onto the hot seasoned griddle.  Cook until the edges appear slightly dry, then flip.  

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

We love cheesecake.  We love pumpkin pie.  So this is the perfect combination.  

3 8 oz packages of cream cheese (we use 1 fat free and 2 low fat)

1 cup sugar, divided

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

dash of cloves

2 cups crushed ginger snaps

1/2 cup chopped pecans

6 Tbs butter

Crush the gingersnaps, add the finely chopped pecans, and add the 6 Tbs of butter.  This is the crust.  Press this into the bottom of a springform pan and 2 inches up the sides.

Beat the softened cream cheese, 3/4 cup of sugar, and vanilla.  Add the eggs.  Reserve 1 1/2 cups of plain batter, then stir the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, pumpkin, and spices into the batter.  Spoon 1/2 the pumpkin batter over the crust.  Use 1/2 the plain batter and drop in dollops.  Repeat the layers and cut through gently with a knife to swirl.  

Bake at 325F for about 55 min, til almost set.  Chill for 4 hours.

Pumpkin Bars

1 cup wheat flour

1 cup of white (you could use all whole wheat)

1 Tbs pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup pumpkin

1 egg

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

Combine dry ingredients.  Beat butter and sugars in a large mixer til creamy.  Beat in pumpkin, egg, and vanilla.  Slowly beat in flour mixture.  Spread in a greased jelly roll pan. Sprinkle the chips on top and bake at 350F for 18-22 minutes.  We get RAVES on these wherever we take them, and they're gone in minutes at home.

Pumpkin Banana Smoothie

This is a super healthy, super tasty breakfast treat.  It'll make 2 adult servings and will stretch further if feeding little ones.  

• 1  cup  low-fat vanilla yogurt
• 3/4  cup  canned pumpkin, chilled
• 1/2  cup  ice cubes
• 1/3  cup  fresh orange juice
• 1  tablespoon  brown sugar
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/8  teaspoon  ground nutmeg
• Dash of ground cloves
• 1  ripe banana, sliced and frozen
• Dash of ground cinnamon (optional)

I hope this adds to your autumn enjoyment!  

Nothing says fall like.....

football and pumpkins.  Except chainsaws because I grew up in woodsy Virginia and people were cutting wood for winter all around us and the sound of one brings me back...... but I digress. 

 My dad loved football games, so the sound of one on TV instantly makes me feel autumnal.  I haven't followed football in many years, but now I have a Frosh football player and things have changed.  Two disclaimers; I am not a sports photographer, nor does my camera have the guts it needs.  Second, my 12 yo daughter Alyssa took most of the football pics and several on my blog yesterday.  She seems intent on proving herself a better photographer than me (she's a little competitive that way).

Number 82 belongs to me.  Taylor's a great kid!  Truth is when you have 39 players on a team, some are gonna stand on the sides.  He's loving every minute (and so are we).  Our team won, by the way,  14 to 13.

Ok, these are all mine.  I had to start October 1st with a pumpkin shoot.  What's says autumn like pumpkins? (except beautiful fall foliage which we aren't blessed with here)  We've got a crop of big, beautiful, orange globes this year.

Just a few more cool evenings, and these babies will lose all touches of green.  We can't wait!

 Bless it's heart, even though the vines are dying and pumpkins are ready to harvest, it's still trying to bloom and grow.  Maybe there's a lesson there.......


Happy first day of October!