My Moon My Man

Does anyone else love listening to music in the car alone as much as I do? The answer has to be no. I can't imagine anyone else loving listening to music alone in the car as much as I do. Those two sentences were quite repetitive. I went to a birthday dinner for future bff Shauna on Thursday night. As I was coming home, I plugged my iphone in and being on shuffle, I never know which songs on my playlist will come on. Tonight, driving in the pitch black,(there are no street lamps in La Canada) I first heard My Moon My Man by Feist. That bass at the beginning always gets me tapping on the steering wheel and doing the head bob. I turned it up and started singing, "Take it sloooow. Take it easy on me. Shed some liiiight. Shed some light on things... "

Then, as if that weren't lucky enough, Elton John's "Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word" came on. I don't know why, but I have always loved this song...probably more than any of his other songs. I'm not a HUGE Elton John fan, but something about this song calls to me. The version I have is a live version from a concert he did with a full orchestra in Australia and is sweet. Don't think for a second I wasn't belting this baby. "It's sad....so sad....it's a sad sad situation..."

Next came Ghost by Indigo Girls. This song is not a sing along song. It's a go into a trance song. I think it's the most well written of all of their songs. I arrived at the driveway before it was over. This is always a huge problem. So I did what anyone would obviously do and stopped on the street a house down until I had completely finished before I pulled up to the house. Seriously, what if Syd would have run out and tried to talk to me before it ended? That would not have been good, not at all.

JULIE & JULIA!

-At home in the kitchen with Erin and Si.

From our gourmet tables to yours-

Graduation Brownies

There is a new family in our ward here. I don't know much about them yet other than they just joined the church 4 months ago, but I am really impressed with them. I love their kids.

Tanja, the mom, will probably be another future bff. Wow, I am going to have a ton of bffs. The kids have this light about them. The cute son Tyler always will say hi to me and other adults unlike many teenage boys. The daughter, Kayla, is the sweetest thing.

She is 8 and her baptism was today. I told her mom that I would make brownies, so since it is Julie and Julia month, I made these. I totally messed them up. It's a long story why and I know it wasn't really my fault, but STILL. They were really flat. I couldn't try again or even make something else, because it was time to go. Oh well, not every recipe can be a success every time. The Roll Bake Off will have to start tomorrow.

This brownie discussion leads me to why I love modern art.

I don't know where the first one is, but the second one is in France. I am missing France.

THE GREAT ROLL BAKE OFF

I love homemade rolls. Once you've tasted of their goodness, well, you have then tasted of their goodness.

I will attempt ladies and gentlemen to make 3 different homemade roll recipes off of Si's blog and then report back to you. I will go to this trouble, because you as readers demand it of me. It's what I do.

I will also attempt to do this at this juncture, because Brett is out of town all weekend, and I have absolutely nothing else to do. I am going to take Syd to the Griffith Observatory, high in the Hollywood hills, but after that....it's all about ROLLS.

Conversations with Kate

MOM!

What?

MOOOMM!

What Kate?

blakjdfoweurlad;aslkgf aljfa.

Uh huh.

ADDIE!

What Kate?

ADDDIIIEE!

What?

bldlskjfoieuslkdjf.s,dj

Is that so?

DAD.

What?

DAAAADDD!

What?

blakldkfjeoisldkjf.skdjf

Really? Wow.

BUBBA.

Where is Bubba?

BUBBA!!!

Should we call Bubba?

BUBBAA!

Hi Spence, Kate wants to talk to you.

BUBBA!

Hi Kate!

BUBBA!

What?

slkdjvoiejs.,mvlkdjfoiuew

Let me leave you with the coolest remix that Heidi showed me on YouTube. Enjoy THIS. And if you think it's as clever as I do, try this one. Finally, THIS.

A Little Word about Nature

These make me happy.

I love learning about them, planting them, caring for them, gazing at them. I smile each time I pull up my driveway. Hydrangeas are ultra thirsty all of the time--craving water, needing water, begging for water. Some hydrangeas are blue. Not many flowers are cool blue like that. Hydrangeas only do well in acidic soil. Hydrangeas don't like the spotlight. They're much happier back in the shadows if you know what I mean. Shy, humble flowers, completely unaware of their beauty. I watched them flounder for one month in regular soil, coupled with sun-worshipping geraniums and they were in a spat the whole time. Geraniums are bold show offs and can overshadow the quiet potted partner I had them with. Before long, the hydrangeas looked like this..

and the geraniums like this...

They tried couples therapy, but it just didn't work out in the end. Irreconcilable differences. How was I supposed to know? I separated them, gave the geraniums the sun they craved and the hydrangeas the water, shade, and acid. Now look at them.

Saweet! I don't know what these are called, but I like them.

How cool is this flower? It trails off the side and spills down. Beautiful.

And who doesn't love a good mum in autumn? Don't even get me started about how happy pumpkins of varied sizes and colors make me.

Finally, look at these cool tile steps I get to place them on. Nice nice nice.

Fish are friends not food

It is Wednesday evening and my 6 friends have gone. They pulled out of the driveway a few hours ago. I was so grateful to have them come for the last 3 days. The days went by so fast. They have been such good friends to me. I was grateful to Brett for taking a day off of work so I could spend one full day with them with no kid obligations. That was really nice. He worked so hard to get ready for them...lighting the pool area with magical white lights, buying two good blow- up mattresses and having them ready when we got back from day 1 activities, and making his waffles while we were walking around the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. He's a good one. The kids got some good dad time the last few days too.

I have been thinking about friends. (Sisters and moms definitely fit in all of what I'm about to write but are kind of in their own special category.) Friends are so important to us as women. Friends shouldn't be a substitute for a good communicative relationship with your husband, but can give the advice, companionship, talking time that we women need and one husband can't handle alone. Ya'll know what I'm talking about. My husband is grateful for my friends, because I am happier. He likes it when I am happy. Women friends become more important as our kids grow I believe, and then as kids leave. Good friends are great for help with big events--weddings, mission farewells-- at time of sorrow and need--funerals, sickness-- and finally to create an emotional outlet so we aren't as stressed out over life! "____'s been through this too." " I know ____ knows what to do about this." "_____, can you come over and help me for a minute?"

A good friend has your back. You know you are safe with them. You don't have to pretend you are something you aren't and know they will be genuinely happy for you if things go well for you. They want the best for you and you for them.

Day 2:

Early Morning Walk: We did that 3.5 mile walk around the Rose Bowl which is really nice.

Santa Monica: Shopping and good lunch. I think every one of us ordered French Onion Soup with toasted baguettes. Ha. (This pic looks a little weird, but work with me.)

Fashion District (Santee Alley): Downtown L.A. Perfect thing to do with girlfriends or daughters, but I don't feel the need to go back soon if you know what I mean. Crazy, cheap, a little scary. Block after block of wholesale stores for buyers, which we couldn't buy from. Then a section for the masses like us. Flea marketish, which isn't usually my cup of tea, but fun with girlfriends.

Philippe's: I took them to the French Dip sandwich place. It was crowded. It always is. Lots of pre-game Dodgers Fans.

Olvera Street: Grabbed some taquitos in the oldest part of L.A. next to Union Station, strummed a Mexican guitar, and were off before you could say, "Let's have a taquito, strum a Mexican guitar, and get out of here."

Leap of Faith: This is a new show, in previews before trying to go to Broadway. The music was written by Alan Menken who wrote the music for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. It starred Brooke Shields, who was actually the weakest member of the cast. It was too long, and the story line was too predictable, but it was still a fun artsy outing and the GOSPEL CHOIR ROCKED THE HOUSE. I seriously dreamt*(both dreamt and dreamed are correct. I prefer dreamt) about the gospel choir all night. I woke up still thinking about how good the gospel choir was. Did I mention the gospel choir?

The verdict...

Day 3:

It rained today. We did so much yesterday that we all wanted to relax and talk. We sat around wrapped in blankets and talked about Melinda's psychology stuff: love languages, energy profiling, and men vs. women relationship help stuff. I like these talks a lot. No men bashing ever. I usually walk away wanting to be a better wife, and understanding myself a little better.

Lunch: Lunch at Panera and a little more shopping. Many nutcrackers were bought by nutcracker collectors. Should I be a nutcracker collector? Kate chillin with the ladies.

I cried when they left, but I am happy and grateful for the last 3 great days. I am grateful for my warm home here in California and for my family I share it with. I have both of my sisters and their families, Brett's sister's family and my mom coming this month! It will be a month full of house guests. It will be good. I am getting lots of good quality time with people instead of a lunch here, an event there. We get visitors all to ourselves. It helps my girls know they can have the best of both worlds when people come. They aren't so far away from home while still experiencing all of these new great people and things.

I've been after Kimi for years to get those fixed...and to stop taking pictures of herself up close.

A special shout out to other friends who didn't/couldn't come. The same sentiments go for you!

Day 1

MOVIE. Sweet movie about love. I love movies about love. Peanut M&Ms all the while watching the sweet movie about sweet love.

PASADENA. Didn't buy anything, just walked and talked while others bought.

LONG LUNCH. We were loud, but they loved the energy we brought into their quiet little place. Yeah, they did I'm sure.

HOUSE FULL OF BEDS. BEDS EVERYWHERE. I put chocolates on every pillow.

The R.S. lunch was good. I really like this new ward I'm in. Each of the women here are so talented. Lots of musicians, math experts, business owners, quilters, good cooks, women of action. I can learn a lot from them.

Julie & Julia!

-In the kitchen with Erin and Si.

From our gourmet tales to yours-

Basil Couscous Salad

Here is my beef with this salad. I think when Misty first gave me the recipe for this, it called for Spinach. Si decided that she wanted a little crispier lettuce, so she added romaine. Well, I gave her version to some the women who helped with the luncheon. When they brought it, they used romaine, particularly romaine hearts, and neatly chopped at that. This means the salad was light green and very symmetrical. I relooked at Si's posting and she forgot to write in that she mixed the romaine with spinach. Si! Put that in there! Romaine and spinach or some kind of dark leafed lettuce so you have a variety of green color like the picture above.

Chicken Teriyaki Pasta Spinach Salad

I didn't use craisins for this recipe since I was serving it with the other salad which also had craisins, but used red grapes so there was still a pop of color. Love this salad. I make it a lot.

Almond Raspberry Torte

This recipe is actually from Heidi Bingham. I will post pictures below of the day she became a grandma for the first time. I am lucky to live by Tara and Colton, so I got to be a part of Lola Jane's entrance into the world.

Heidi's legs in this picture look the size of my pinkie finger. She is such a pixie. Her torte is the perfect dessert for a shower or a luncheon. This dessert is the easiest ever. Really, I made 5 pie tins worth and it was fast. I love the almond flavoring and you must use real whipped cream, no cool whip. yuck. Musing: Why would anyone use cool whip for anything when whipping up some real cream is so easy and tastes so much better? That is a musing indeed. Mash up the raspberries a little and just spoon them on top. Good dessert Heidi!

1 cube butter, softened

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1 T almond flavoring

2 eggs

Mix all together and spoon into greased pie tin. Sprinkle slivered almonds on top. Bake about 25 mins. at 350 degrees. Cut into 8 pieces, each topped with a dob of fresh whipped cream, then a spoonful of slightly mashed raspberries. Yum.

Those 3 recipes at once are going to have to carry me for a couple of days, because the women right here...

are coming to see me for 3 whole days starting tomorrow. Wow, what great timing! I have lots of things planned and cooking every day is probably not going to happen. yeah!

Glimpses of Today

This shot taken within 2 seconds of Kate opening her eyes this morning. She sleeps until 6, wakes up, comes in our bed and sleeps for another hour or so. I usually just watch her until this moment.

Ali saying- Don't take my picture! Taken at 7:15 am. By this time, she has already been to her early morning seminary class, and come home for 40 minutes before leaving for high school. Maddie is at high school by 6:45 straight after seminary for 0 period p.e. Brett is handing Ali money, because super nice senior friend Scott Gray is taking Ali and Maddie out to lunch today.

Brett also made his famous waffles and orange julius because it's Friday and the girls went every day to seminary. Kind of an 'I'm proud of you breakfast' from dad.

I realized that I did not talk to another human (who can talk) from 8 this morning until 4p.m. All alone in these trees. On the positive, I exercised, read my scriptures, steamed the floors, went to the store(oh so I did say thanks to the check out guy), cleaned, pushed Kate in the swing, read books. On the negative, well, dang, it is so counter to my nature to have a house where there aren't teens and kids running in and out grabbing a cookie and saying hi all of the time. Not my kids even mind you, everyone else's. I'm used to Misty's kids just showing up because they want to play at Aunt Erin's. I'm used to sitting on my front steps and waving at my neighbors driving by. I realize from my past posts that I am happiest running to stores where I know the people working there, going to school events and hugging every kid I know there and that was pretty much all of them. I am used to going to lunch and playing with my band. I miss that the most right now. No creative outlet for good old mom. It's ok. I know it will come. It probably won't be in the same form, but in some way. I think I need to be more proactive. If people described me, they would probably say I am outgoing, but really, I am rather shy. Must work on that.

Good Husband Moment of the Day: Around 2p.m., I was craving chocolate. I know I know. Listen, for some reason I am skinnier than I have been in a long time. I am exercising every day with the girls. SO, if I go to the store, sometimes (every time) I will sneak a candy bar home and hide it so they won't be tempted, but I can enjoy it. Well, today I was opening the cupboard, closing the cupboard, looking here, looking there, trying to find anything that had chocolate in it. No luck. Then, I had to get some butter for some reason and I found this..

Brett must have seen it half eaten when bringing in the groceries. He didn't hold it up and call me out to the girls. He didn't eat it himself. He just quietly must have put it in a place that only I would find it, which I did.

Things going the D.I.:

1-The doo rag that Spence, Tanner, and DJ bought on the way to Lake Powell so they could wear them while playing cards on the houseboat.

2-The sweater I thought was so nice and bought him for Christmas that he never wore.

3-His "lucky" shorts he bought at the D.I. and insisted on wearing at church basketball games and swimming often. Notice how big the leg openings are. Scary.

4- The shirt we got at the D.I. for Trek. He got to go with both Maddie and Ali and it was an experience they will never forget.

His room is clean, bare, clean.

As I put the last of his things in the big bag, I took Kate to read books. We went into her room and she pulled out a book. We opened it and this is what I saw.

Ouch. (Cue Sunrise Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof. Mentally listen to that during the rest of your reading.)

Young moms, enjoy every single minute of your kids while they are at home. Have scripture study every single day even if it is hard. Do it when they are young so it is a habit ingrained in them. Don't skimp on Family Night, on family meal times and on taking quiet moments to teach your kids the gospel. There comes a time when they are an adult and from then on, your role shifts to a supportive role. You just get to watch and pray and love and counsel and hope and that's only if you can reach them and if they let you. It's still an important role, but a time when you hope what you taught them will carry them through. I'm so grateful to Brett for leading out when our kids were young. We are trying to find out when in the world to do it with this new schedule. We can't really do it before 5:45 in the morning. We are trying to read at 9p.m. and whoever is here is here. It's not the most effective, but we're just hoping the obedience factor will carry us!

Finally, even though I said enjoy every single minute of momhood, make sure you still retain what makes you YOU. Always find a little time each day to do whatever your passion is or you can get lost in the shuffle of it all. If you are happy, everyone's happy. Isn't that true? The wife and mother sets the tone of the home I think. If she is positive and happy, that feeling seeps through the entire family.

Wow. This sounds like an advice column. That's it for today. I have to go cook 3 items off of Si's blog before bed. I am in charge of a Relief Society luncheon tomorrow and I am making 2 salads and dessert. I'm also going to sneak a red vine from these girls who just finished swimming and are now watching Paul Blart Mall Cop for a late night....