To the rescue...

I feel like Supermom. I just remembered (at 11PM) that I want to make beans for dinner tomorrow. Heroic act number one, since that means I need to soak them overnight and I have forgotten to do this for the few weeks. (This dish has been on my weekly menu list a while). I headed down and instead of shirking the task of sorting the beans, I went through them carefully and managed to pull out not one but THREE rocks. That's right...I have saved the day and my family's teeth. For the moment, I feel just super.

This just might become my new favorite book...

*Note: For any without Youtube access, you can check it out here.

Cookie pie

DSC03785
Originally uploaded by Adam W.

It was Spencer's turn to do the treats for Family Home Evening this week. When I asked him what he wanted to make, he responded, "Cookie pie."

"How do you make that?" I asked.

"You put cookie dough in a pie thing (plate) and cook it."

Got it.

When I asked him where he got the idea, he pointed to an area of the kitchen near the counter and said, "I was right here, and I thought of it."

The kid's got a great brain. Cookie pie was a great success. We used sugar cookie dough, baked it for 2-3x the normal time, frosted it, and added sprinkles. Delicious.

Ignore my attempt to fix the red eyes in the photo. That's the only drawback to having blue-eyed kiddos.

Thanks to Spencer for sharing a great idea!

YouTube Orchestra

Ben Chan is a NYC resident and is playing in the upcoming Mormon Orchestra concert. He is a finalist with the YouTube Symphony. The performers selected by YouTube voters will play in Carnegie Hall.  

Click here for information on how to vote for Ben (or any others that strike your fancy). 

Surprise!

Spencer woke up this morning to a little surprise. Mom and Dad were sleeping in HIS room. That's right; we've gone back to our old ways. About 4AM FEROCIOUS winds started to blow the trees (big ones) behind the house so that even the thickest oaks were visibly swaying. Being career basement dwellers for the majority of our married lives, we are unaccustomed to hearing the effects of windy nights and wondering whether the siding will survive. There was no way I was going to sleep. I checked on the kids, wanting to make sure they were okay, and the noise was much less violent at the front of the house. You couldn't even hear it in Emma's room (due in part to the white noise from her humidifier). Realizing that I could be close to my kids and further from the trees by moving to one of the front rooms, I quickly convinced Adam to move the mattress from the guest room into Spencer's room where we slept very soundly...until Emma woke up at 6 AM with her usual plea, "Eat! Eat!"  

Anyone else in VA getting these gusts? This is even more wind than a few weeks ago when I was in the Costco parking lot and the take 'n bake pizza was tossed 10 ft. in the air from my shopping cart. 

A Time of Change

A lot has been going on as of late:

-We've changed residences (exactly 2 miles from where we were before).

-I've changed from 2nd to 1st violin in the Mormon Orchestra for this concert.

-That means I change positions a lot more and play the highest note possible on my violin. Yikes!

-Adam has changed the number of businesses he is involved in from 3 to 4...but maybe I've lost count and it's more than that. 

-Spencer and Emma have gone from sleeping in our room (or in an attached closet-like space) their whole lives to having rooms of their own.

-We've gone from being responsible for the cleaning and care taking of one level to three.

And with all of this change, we needed a change of pace this morning. So...we played hookie from scripture class, stayed in our pjs until about 10, played doctor, read books, and now we are going to buy Valentines and rosin (for Spencer's violin) and have fun playing with those this afternoon.

It feels like a snow day without having to shovel, and I am loving it.

Preschool Nativity

Preschool Nativity
Originally uploaded by Adam W.

For preschool this year, we have done a co-op with some other kids in the ward. Each Mom takes a week and prepares activities focused on the letter of the week and a theme we moms selected. Spencer has been blessed with some really spectacular teachers. On this particular preschool day, parents were invited back for the last few minutes to see a Nativity play (the letter of the week was N and it was the last preschool class before Christmas). Spencer played the part of Joseph. It is so fun to watch as he learns and grows in understanding. Thanks go to Rona Scott for organizing this sweet Nativity play!