Life, and experiences, and living.

I thought I'd just let you in on some, um, well, funny? Is that the word we'll use? Okay, funny things that have happened this week.

Item #1. Shawn wakes up every morning stinky. No surprise. However, he also heads straight for the refrigerator and pulls out the cheese. Not just any cheese, colby jack every time! As we're cutting the cheese...hehehe....he will squeak "CHEESE!" So we've taken to calling him the stinky cheese man. If you've ever read the book with the same title you'll laugh.

Item #2. Haley melts to pieces once a day on a regular basis. We're working hard to prevent it, and cut it off before it's out of control. One particular day she wanted to watch TV and she needed to do her chores. She started melting, and screamed, "I want to watch Monsters Impersonated!" I couldn't help it....I melted in a pile of laughter.

Item #4. Mark and I were driving home from Bountiful yesterday. In a funny mood. I'm loosing my voice and am very tired. Haley and Mark in the back seat are poking and prodding and playing a game where someone is going to get hurt and start screaming. They are loud, and my head can't handle it. I squeak, "Hey! Let's have quiet time!" Of course, no one can hear me. So Mark bellows, "Hey! We're having quiet time!" That lasted all of 3 minutes. We're still in a funny mood, they start at it again. Mark bellows, "Hey! There will be punishment!" and I reply, "Punishment will include but is not limited too time on a chair, in a room, or away from the TV. " Mark, "Side effects of continuation may include tears, grumpiness in situation, soar bottoms and death." We cracked up and the kids just stared at us like, What? So, I'm sure they think we're nuts.

We had our Primary Program this sunday, whew, that's over! During the program we had several children answer a simple question instead of memorize lines they didn't understand completely. One boy was asked what he knew about Joseph Smith. His reply was, he was a boy that listened to several different religions talk and went bonkers, so he prayed and saw a vision. Another little girl asked how she knew the Holy Ghost was real, she answered, "Because when I throw snowballs at peoples faces I have a feeling this is a bad idea." Kids are so honest! I didn't do much for it. Haley, my 1st counselor was in charge. I can honestly say it was the best program we've had. And I've never heard a choir of kids sing so loud.

Well, that was our week. Let us know about yours!

ER

Things My Mother Taught me...and she didn't even know it!

My mother turns 50 in January. (What a great opening line! Keep reading mom! Don't kill me yet!) She has brought me up with my 5 siblings through heck and back. I have never proclaimed to be the perfect child. In fact I was a terror! However, she taught me many lessons in life. To celebrate her 50th year on this earth, I have made a list of lessons I learned from her, that were taught by example....ehem....

1. Always double check the gas pump is put back before driving away. (love ya mom!)

hehehe......

2. Never give a toddler an entire candy bar. (Lesson learned with help from Joel, age 2)

3. It's a bad idea to leave a 12 year old in charge of her 5 younger siblings in a torrential thunder storm. ( We all recovered physically, except the baby birds. I still hate thunder)

4. You can do anything with duct tape. (including car maintenance, thanks dad)

5. You can clean anything with Simple Green.

6. You don't need a dish washer...that's what the Lord gave you 2 hands for!

7. Sometimes the dog is your smartest kid.

8. It doesn't matter if a house is haunted or not. If the kids believe it... it is. (I swear to this day, there is something unnatural about that house!)

9. If you keep a close relationship with the Lord, he will help you. Even if you don't think you need help.

10. Always follow through with your promises (and threats) no matter how outrageous, it helps your children. (I remember a certain mother throwing the van door open and confronting a certain unruly teenager that had snuck out in front of her entire group of friends. * embarrassing* Thanks mom, you saved my life.)

11. Your mother is usually right about the boys you date. (Saved my life again)

12. Don't ever stick anything in your ear, it may sprout. (With the help of Jodi)

13. Be careful what you say around your very smart toddler, it may come back to haunt you! (or the rude lady next door)

14. Yes, we have rules for a reason. (remember the riot downtown?)

15. You will survive this, and be better for it. (Still with us mom?)

16. Kill an enemy with kindness...they never died...but I have less enemies!

17. Your mother is generally right about parenting.

18. Yes, you can fit 6 kids into the back of a subcompact car. (though they may come out bruised and scratched up)

19. Pay attention to everything, you never know what knowledge could do for you. (Thank you girls camp first aid courses, and Jodi's leg thanks you too)

20. You can't microwave forks.

21. If you wake up in the middle of the night with an insatiable desire to buy water and fire wood....follow through! (If you meet the entire ward at the store at 3am, you know where it came from)

22. You can do anything you set your mind to, or the minds of your children.

23. The Lord has a sense of humor. (Lesson learned over, and over, and over)

24. A Mothers Intuition is real, so listen to it.

25. Just keep learning, just keep learning....learning...learning...what do we do we Learn.....

Thanks mom! Love you! You have been an incredible mother!

Most of you understand the meaning behind these...Have a Great Day!

It's been a while...

So, here's why...

mark's father, David, came out from Missouri for a week to help us start our basement remodel. We worked like dogs for an entire week, up early, up late....we ran into problems and still we succeeded. We managed to almost completely finish the bedroom to the sanding down of the drywall phase....and the bathroom needs a little more drywall work, and i have to pour the cement shower basin, but it shouldn't take too long...as long as I get down there to do it!

Halloween, what happened?! I don't know...you tell me!!! We we're up early and worked straight until trick or treating time. The kids, in thrown together costumes went to Grandma's Party, thanks to Sara and then trick or treated in Curtis and Mary's neighborhood. It rained, but not too much...they seemed to have fun...it's all a blur. Then we came home, put them to bed, and fixed a major plumbing problem until about midnight. We don't know much about electrical and plumbing...and very little about mudding and taping so we tried to get as much done as we could before David had to leave. I hope he recovers well...he worked so hard!

When I have a little more time I'll post pictures of Mark's baptism...halloween...and a few other things!

luv ya

Erin

Update on our carrot chunks...yuck...

So it's 7pm and I just laid down in bed. I can't even sit up anymore. Mark is off to a bishopric meeting and we probably won't see him until close to 10 tonight. the kids are all asleep, except for shawn that keeps yelling from time to time "it's hungry!" pointing to his mouth. Though, after our experience yesterday I have learned that feeding "it" creates messy problems. So, Pedialyte and crackers today, we'll try oatmeal and rice tomorrow and see how it goes from there. Haley and Mark stayed home from school and rested. After their initial episode this morning, however, they seem quite improved! They even begged for toast this afternoon and we had a small bowl of oatmeal for dinner. 7up all day today, and we'll try toast and eggs in the morning, if they keep that down for an hour I'll let them go to school tomorrow. I have done more laundry today then I ever cared to do. I also have scrubbed more surfaces then I care to remember. I am toast. Goodnight!

ER

Carrot chunks, and other things you find in....

So, Shawn Sunday morning woke up throwing up. Here we go, I thought, but he felt better the rest of the day. Then that night he started crying and the diarrhea started. Yesterday he looked good again, then last night, blah. You get the picture. Anyway, Little Mark came up in the middle of the night and said he had to throw up. I jumped up and yelled, "In the Bathroom!" Knowing I don't have a carpet cleaner and Shawn's lovely display on the living room carpet yesterday was almost too much to handle. So he obediently went and let it go in the bathroom....sink. Yuck. Haley was gracious enough to do it in the bath tub. at least there I can wash it down the drain. Suspiciously carrot chunks are always there, though I can't remember feeding them any yesterday...hmm....yuck. I know, this is your favorite post right!

Well, now my minions are on their 3rd disney movie. Laying on a sheet, and blanket with a bowl in their own little area in the living room. I have a mind to roll up the rug for safety. Hmmm.... hopefully we'll survive the day. Love you all, go get some lunch!

ER

Fun Quotes

Just because...

Photo Contest...

Hello all!

We've entered a photo contest for Parents magazine, there we're Thousands...of entrants. We we're picked to be a finalist! There are still over a hundred photos! To win we need your votes! Here's the link! If you received my e-mail before I don't believe you need an account, you just have to click on the link and then the button below the picture that says VOTE FOR ME!! Thanks!!

ER

Conference Cinnamon Rolls

Several people wanted my cinnamon roll recipe from conference this weekend. Here it is, stolen from the Pioneer Woman, (you can find her website using the button on my sidebar) She has some great recipes!

This particular recipe was altered for my sissy's severe reaction to milk. The great thing about this dough is it can be refrigerated for up to 2 day! Also, omit all but 1 tbs sugar in the dough and you have a great pizza dough!

Warning! Make sure you READ the directions first! This isn't a normal recipe!

Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls

Added by Ree on September 3, 2009 in Breads, Sweet Rolls

Prep Time 2 Hours Cook Time 30 Minutes

Servings 8

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

• 1 quart Whole Milk (I used Soy Milk)
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2 packages Active Dry Yeast
• 8 cups (Plus 1 Cup Extra, Separated) All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon (heaping) Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon (scant) Baking Soda
• 1 Tablespoon (heaping) Salt
• Plenty Of Melted Butter (I used Nucoa)
• 2 cups Sugar (I used 1 cup white sugar and 1 cup dark brown sugar, you will probably need more then this, just make it again)
• Generous Sprinkling Of Cinnamon (I mixed this into the sugar for easy application of the two)
• _____
• MAPLE FROSTING:
• 1 bag Powdered Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Maple Flavoring
• ½ cups Milk (again I used Soy Milk)
• ¼ cups Melted Butter (Again, I used Nucoa)
• ¼ cups Brewed Coffee (I left this out completely and added another 1/4 cup of soy milk)
• ⅛ teaspoons Salt

Preparation Instructions

Mix the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan. Scald the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point). Turn off heat and leave to cool 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in both packages of Active Dry Yeast. Let this sit for a minute. Then add 8 cups of all-purpose flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour.

After rising for at least an hour, add 1 more cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir mixture together. (At this point, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it – overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to overflow out of the pan, just punch it down).

When ready to prepare rolls: Sprinkle rolling surface generously with flour. Take half the dough and form a rough rectangle. Then roll the dough thin, maintaining a general rectangular shape. Drizzle 1/2 to 1 cup melted butter over the dough. Now sprinkle 1 cup of sugar over the butter followed by a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.

Now, starting at the opposite end, begin rolling the dough in a neat line toward you. Keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Next, pinch the seam of the roll to seal it.

Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a seven inch round foil cake or pie pan. Then begin cutting the rolls approximately ¾ to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans.

Repeat this process with the other half of the dough. Let the rolls rise for 20 to 30 minutes, then bake at 400 degrees (see note below) until light golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.

For the frosting, mix together all ingredients listed and stir well until smooth. It should be thick but pourable. Taste and adjust as needed. Generously drizzle over the warm rolls. Go crazy and don’t skimp on the frosting.

Note: My rolls don’t work for me at 400 degrees anymore. I now bake them at 375 degrees.