President' Day

Mmmmm, President's Day. We are having such a lovely, lazy day. We should have cleaned the basement. We should have cleaned house. But we didn't. We slept in.
Brittany worked on her new skill, crocheting and watched the Olympics and old movies.

She has produced these squares. The plan is to stitch them together someday and make a little afghan.

The boys have been constructing. I only wish I thought they were going to be the ones to clean up this room. Oh well, that is the price you pay for a peaceful house sometimes.

Then we all went to the movie, loved The Princess and the Frog. Now I am thinking of having waffles for dinner. A pretty darn near perfect day. Thank you Mr. Presidents!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you get to eat some sugar cookies with the folks you love!

Bird Brooches

I joined a swap where you were supposed to make a brooch featuring a silhouette. These were the ones I came up with, I had to try several because I didn't know which one would turn out. Now I can't decide which one I should send off. My partner likes peacock blue. Which one would you send?

Joshua

See this face? Cute isn't he? Unfortunately it is deceiving. Joshua and I have been embroiled in a power struggle for the last couple of weeks. Potty-training. I know, he is three and a half and loads of kids have been doing it for a year by the time they are his age. Basically he has a lazy mother and it is easier to use the four diapers a day and not have to deal with the accidents and laundry. But we really need to accomplish this. So any suggestions would be appreciated. We have already tried new underwear,, spending the day on the potty while mom reads to you, rewards including beloved candy corn, Bakugan, and legos. That is when you know your kids should already be potty trained, when he wants legos and Bakugan as his reward.

Yep, he can do tricks on my furniture but can't use the potty. I know, he won't go to college like this right?

Soup

I have been in the mood for soup lately. My lunch girls have been serving soup lately and I really like it. I had to try and make Sarah's Squash soup and since I liked the way it turned out I need to put it here so that maybe I can do it again sometime.

I baked two big pieces of butternut squash the night before and then chilled it. I sauteed a chopped onion in butter then added the scooped out squash. Then I added about 1 1/2 to 2 C chicken broth and a few shakes of nutmeg. This isn't a very exact recipe is it? Then I blended the whole thing in my blender. Returned it to the pan and added a little (probably 1/2 cup) of cream. It was really yummy!

I also tried a creamy cauliflower soup. I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe that I found here. Only instead of the veggies she used I used the cauliflower, leeks and half an onion. Then I blended the whole thing in the blender. It was really yummy, but my kids objected to the way it made our house smell.

I also tried Julia Child's potato and leek soup. I didn't take a picture but to be honest it didn't look too much different than the cauliflower and leek soup. I am about to return Julia's book to the library so for my own benefit here is the recipe.

2 T Butter

3 chopped leeks

2 T flour

1 chopped onion

6 cups chicken stock

4 cups chopped potatoes

Melt the butter in large pan, saute leeks and onions, cover and cook on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with flour and cook for two more minutes. Stirring continually add 1 1/2 cups chicken stock. When the liquid is smooth and starts to thicken add the rest of stock then add potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Heat to boil and then lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes until potatoes are tender. Puree in blender and then add about 1/2 cup cream.

Organizing the Garden

Wearing a flower in your hair is a big deal here in Utah if you are a female. We have been collecting them for awhile but they never have a safe place to land once they leave Brittany's head. Then they end up all mangled and ugly. I have seen this idea a few time in blogland and decided to try my own.

I just took the back out of a frame and then wrapped it in fabric that matches Brittany's room. This is actually the fabric her drapes are made of, if I could ever find a curtain rod to hang them with. Anyhow, then I hot glued it the fabric in place and added a few rows of ribbon, also hot-glued in place. Stuck the whole thing back in the frame and reattached it.

Now our flowers have a home. Course I had to make some new ones, this is a great time to do that. All the dollar stores are getting their Spring blossoms.

Books

I have been trying to get this posted for a week. It is harder to find time to write the book review than it was to read the book!

First, Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig. This was the book for the Book Blogging Babes for January. I am glad Liz recommended this one. I love when someone helps me find an author I might otherwise never have found on my own. She said the author's style reminded her of Stegner. I agree but I think I liked Stegner's characters more. It is the not unusual story of live in the frontier west. I love that subject, it always makes me so glad I live in this century. It was a very engrossing story of two men and how their lives and families develop as they make a new life in Montana. I thought the two men created an interesting contrast. They were a perfect example of the different ways people handle challenges in life. One becomes bitter as things don't go according to his great plan. The other, while not perfectly happy tries to do the right thing and have a good life. As Liz and Janice have both mentioned enough about Anna, I did wonder if it would have bugged me as much if I weren't married. Right after I finished Dancing I read Messenger by Jeni Stepank. Do you remember seeing this amazing boy on Oprah? I do. I remember how absolutely mesmerizing this amazing child was. Such an old soul yet, joyful soul. Watching him always made me think how we are encouraged to be like a child. This is a book his mother wrote about his life and their life together. Amazing poetry and quotes through the whole thing. I am kicking myself that I returned it so I can't list a bunch for you although my very favorite was his personal philosophy to play after every storm. Amazing boy, amazing mother. I found this book even more engrossing than Dancing at the Rascal Fair and that is saying something. I was afraid for the end to come though, I mean you know from the beginning he dies young and I don't do well with bad things happening to children. But I couldn't stop reading it and didn't cry like I thought I would. I found myself wanting to be better after reading this book, better mother, better person, better peacemaker. That is exactly what Mattie would have wanted us all to feel.

The Book Blogging Babes are reading E.M. Forster's Room with a view in February, one of my faorites! Want to join us?

Girl Booties

I made a pair of girl booties this weekend. Love them! Don't they make you wish you were having a baby girl? Well almost. The pattern is here.

All is Right in Matthew's World

See that? Happy boys. That makes me really happy today. Matthew and I spent the morning at Primary Children's Hospital talking to Cardiologists about a heart murmur that has been showing itself during this winter's round of Strep Throat. Our doctor recommended we go and have it checked to make sure it wasn't a problem. I have to admit, I was pretty nervous. My niece spent almost three weeks there when she was a baby and it was a very scary time for us. As much as I am grateful Primary's is there I really hoped never to have to go there again. But our day was really a very pleasant adventure. Matthew and I had fun spending the day together and found everything they did really interesting. Of course best of all is that Matthew is fine. But I can't help but be especially grateful for this picture of happy boys playing the Wii after spending time in a place where so many kids aren't so lucky. It has been a good day.

Valentine's Day Chandelier!

Mary's Hot Fudge

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it so I thought I would share one of our favorite sweet treats that I think will be perfect for a sweetheart. Hot Fudge!

See don't you wish you had a spoon? It is soooo good.

They had these jars at our dollar store so I bought a few and we will tie on a bow and give these to our teachers for Valentine's Day.

When I was growing up one of our favorite neighbor ladies use to make this for a neighbor gift every year. So it is called Mary's Hot Fudge. Really it is so easy and really only takes about 20 minutes to make.
1 cup butter
1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cans of evaporated milk
4 C powdered sugar
2 t vanilla
In a heavy sauce pan melt butter. Add chips. Add milk and sugar. Cook over med high heat. When it boils turn it down a little. Cook for 8 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add vanilla.
That is it! Enjoy!

It is going to be Valentine's Day before you know it. I love to decorate for Valentine's Day, I think it is because it is so nice to have a pretty holiday in the middle of winter and no one really expects you to do it. So whatever you come up with seems great. I had a bunch of things I have accumulated for Valentine's Day but after all the recent moves I can't find it. It included some paintings the kids had done. I really missed them so last weekend I had them do new ones. I really recommend Valentine's Day as a subject because everyone can create something great resembling a heart. The trick is to only get out red, pink and white and then even if they get swirled together it still looks good.

I do admit to helping Josh maintain his heart shape. But isn't it great?

Brittany made a Love fairy

And a love bug, which is fun because I call her that all the time.

Matthew made an awesome heart too.

I love Kid-art!

The New Bedroom

It is finished! The bedroom by Hobby Lobby. Really, love their fabrics.

I tend to get carried away, I am sure a new little quilt to put at the foot of the bed wasn't really necessary but it really does pull it all together and it was fun to do. We want to cover everything in that cute brown print with the tiny pink flowers. Brittany even wants a skirt made from it! Really, I am very happy with the end result. I want to hang out in there more now!

The Marshmellow Creme Frosting

My nice husband made me dinner last night. He is big on presentation. It was so pretty I had to take its picture. Then I ate every last morsel.

Frosting break-through. I saw this recipe in a magazine and thought it sounded yummy. It was. I am not sure whether it was the large ratio of butter or the marshmallow creme but I have to make sure it is in my recipe archives here on the blog because everyone now wants it on their birthday cake. It was sooooo good!

2 sticks of butter softened

1 jar of Marshmallow Fluff

3/4 C powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Beat butter until light and fluffy. Beat in marshmallow cream then sugar and vanilla.

Husband is Away

You can always tell when William is on a business trip. I get inexplicably productive. I think it is because I feel like the need to make dinner and clean house has been lifted while he is gone. That and I start working away on projects as soon as the kids go to bed and stay up late working on them. So here is the beginning of what I have accomplished this week. I decided to make this chair I found at a thrift store in California a new seat. I love it. It makes me feel like I have my own little piece of Anthropology in my house.

I love to read Nie, and have wanted to try making silhouettes of my kids like she does for a long time. Here they are, my three little chickens as I call them. It was hard to take a photo without glare but you get the idea.

Here is the whole thing together. My little computer nook. Next my bedroom!

Cute Little Booties

I seem to have my crafting mojo back. I decided to try Heather Bailey's cute pattern that Abby raved about. Considering I started these the night before the shower for an expected baby named Max I am really pleased with the result. Now I want to try the girl version!

A Cake

I made a cake for my kids last week. Just because. My mom had brought a cake to Sunday dinner and my kids freaked. Apparently I NEVER make cake. I didn't realize there was this huge void in their lives where cake should have been. So while they were at school I made one. And I have to say it really was a fun treat for all of us. I just might do it again sometime soon. Just because they are great kids.

The Only Redeeming Feature of Fog

Utah has been socked in an inversion for more days than I care to count. I am starting to feel claustrophobic, someone return our blue sky! But the only good thing that comes from these foggy-smoggy mornings are the pretty patterns that are on everything. I took these the other morning, trying to find the bright spot in the smog.

Pretty as the crystals are I am so excited that rain and snow are in the forecast next week. Clean our air!

Winter Nesting

Remember when this used to be a somewhat crafty blog? I don't know what has happened to me since Christmas but I just can' t muster ideas for the old blog like I was. I am still working on things, course none of them are really finished, maybe that is the problem. Anyone remember the family sampler I started in the summer? I think I will call it my mental health sampler because it has never had a real destination. I just keep working on it, and it makes me happy. It may end up in the kids bathroom, I think it is almost done. It is full of little scenes that describe our family, a girl reading, cars, planes, fishing, our house and grass. And just plan cuteness, guess that is for me.

I have been trying to finish pulling the family room together now that the entertainment center had been repaired after all of its moves. My mom helped me get it and those pictures in the right place.

Our Bedroom. The latest project. This is what we have now, and have had for quite awhile now. That quilt has been through a lot of moves in the last few years. We are sort of tired of it.

One of the new options. I like this quilt I found, it is a dark chocolate. I want green to go with it.

Another option, I think I like the first one better though.

Funny how winter makes me want to nest. Clean house, change it. I guess it helps with the cabin fever. Are you nesting too? What projects are you working on?

Its A Table!

Remember my post a few days ago? With the mystery legs and top? Well they have grown up and moved inside.

We are now able to feed 8 people at once, should we so desire! This is big for us since we all had to eat in unison at our old table it was getting so tight. It was a very old table we got from my Grandma when we got married. I have painted it more times than I can count. The new one is beautiful cherry and I am terrified the kids might mare its beauty by doing something only a kid could think of. So as soon as it took up residence in the kitchen I hurried to make a table cloth and placemats to try and protect it.

This is the table in its new outfit. I love this fabric from Hobby Lobby.

I just made these from scrapbook paper and had them laminated, I need to be able to wipe them off.

I can't believe I just wrote such a long post about a table but I suppose it could be considered a new member of the family. Thanks William for the fabulous new table!

The New Mud Room

This is our new mud room. One of the great things about the Christmas holiday is that William's plant closes down for the week between Christmas and New Years. So he worked on lots of projects for me. He had this great, slightly unusual idea for a mud room for us. I love the green.
The unusual part is that it is in our garage! See he built that wall to separate his shop from the rest of the garage. Funny that the only wall with a striking color on it in my house is actually in the garage.

One of My Favorite Christmas Presents

I received these wrapped up in a box from William. Can you guess what they are going to be when they grow up?

Here is another clue. I will show you when it is all done. I am VERY excited!

Goodbye 2009

I have noticed other bloggers bid farewell to the old year in pictures. Well, my kids are back in school today, the Christmas decorations are put away and the washing machine is doing its best to catch up. So I have a minute to bid farewell to the old year, if only for my own benefit. I think I may do this every year. It was fun to look through the files of pictures from this last year and see all of the fun we have had, things we have done and places we have gone. Here are a few of my favorites; fishing in the mountains, spelling bees, class reunions, soccer in the cold, our wonderful new house with its fabulous yard, vacation with the Butlers at Bear Lake, Nutcracker, sledding, another great Halloween, vintage looking pictures with cousins, and a new family picture that was almost fun to take. I hope that 2010 is just as great as 2009 was!

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Hi! I haven't completely vanished. Just busy playing with new toys, figuring out the Wii, eating lots of evil food and watching movies with the family.I took the kids to see this movie today. It is playing at our local discount theater which we adore, movie, popcorn and a drink for four bucks. Happy, happy me. However, I think I would actually have been happy to pay full price for this one. It was just so fascinating to watch the animation, I loved that it looked so different from your usual kid movie. And I think George Clooney must have a really unusual, dry humor in real life because that he seems to deliver that in all the movies I like him in, he is the voice of Mr. Fox by the way. I told my mom for some bizarre reason this movie made me think of his O Brother Where Art Thou. Maybe it was just the same sort of quirky soundtrack. So if you are looking for a fun movie that is probably at your discount theater I would highly recommend this one. I might even buy it, I'm sure it will be out on DVD soon! Hope you are all enjoying this holiday week!

Matthew's Special Chest

So here it is, William's magnificent creation for Matthew's room. He is in our bonus room right now so there isn't a closet. He has been sharing with Josh but his dad decided it would be fun to add to the car theme we had going in there. This is one side.

This is the other. There are shelves with baskets on one side an hooks on the other. Didn't it turn out great? Now we just need a small army to help carry it up the stairs!