Future QB?

**Sorry, apparently I thought I could keep the video private but still let YOU see it.  It should be working now.  DUH**

Anthony would say definitely YES! 

I say, “Son, go for something less physical… Golf, maybe.  Or better yet, chess!”

Chess seems safe enough, no? 

But every day… every. stinkin’. day… C plays catch with his daddy.  And he loves it.  I just hope I can dangle a bishop or a golf ball in front of him one day and he’ll fall for it. 

Doubtful, I know. 

Here he is working on his speed and agility {not to mention bobble-headed-ness} in Anthony’s old pads and jersey.  Makin’ his daddy proud!

 

 

 

Back to {home}school

I don’t know what I was thinking.  The local public school started last Monday.  Why I thought they started TODAY is beyond me.  I didn’t find out until last Sunday at church that the kids would be going back the next day {good thing, too, so I could avoid the embarrassment of sending my kids to play at a friend’s house thinking there was another week of summer left}.  I was planning to use that week as a planning week for THIS week.  Silly me!

As a result, we are getting started a week late.  However, other school districts in the area actually are starting today.  Phew!

Normally, we don’t take the summer off.  We school year round but this summer was different.  I started a blog… THIS blog and it took up much of my time.  I had no idea how to use Wordpress.  But by golly, I was going to figure it out because I paid for hosting!  I couldn’t just let it sit.  That would drive me nuts! 

Now that I’ve got that {somewhat} under control, I’m now trying to figure out how to apply the make-up to my blog.  You know, the beautification.  As you can see, I haven’t the faintest idea… it’s an education in itself!

But, it’s time to get back into a routine. 

This year is exciting for me because K is entering an age at which there seems to be several rites of passage as a homeschooler.  She is phasing out of Liberty Girls, taking this last semester and then moving on to YASA.  This will be the first year that she will be making her own Book of Centuries while the rest of us work on a family one.  And she will also be taking my ‘Homemaking 101’ course.

Did you laugh at that?  Me too! 

Me…. give a homemaking course?  That’s comedy! 

But we’ll start with simple things.  She really wants to learn how to cook so we’re going to work on that first.  When we get to the sewing course, she will actually be teaching me.  True story!  She may not know much about it yet but she can at least look at our machine and thread it.  I look at the diagram and still get a little confused.  I know how to sew a straight line though {once the machine is threaded}, does that count?  Go me!  Don’t ask me to thread the bobbin.  I don’t get that.  You can show me a hundred times but unless you are standing over my shoulder, walking me through it, I just don’t get it.

And in other homeschooling news, this year is also very different for us because this is the first year we’ve actually been able to buy books!  I’ve bought a few miscellaneous items here and there but the internet, workbooks, and the library have been our main sources of education.  We’ve just never been able to afford much else.  However, this year, in a surprise move by my biological dad {the one that thinks I still love NKOTB}… he offered to buy supplies. 

WOOHOO! 

I resisted at first because he handed me his debit card and told me to order what I needed.  No parameters, no guidelines, nothin’. 

Umm, hi!  My name is Brooke and I have a hard time spending money… period.  Especially with no guidelines.  Give me a number, a limit, somethin’!!  HELP!

He wouldn’t do it so, I ordered some things from Rainbow Resource and…. it hasn’t arrived yet.  DRAT!  But it should be here sometime this week.  Yay!

I may have been a bit nervous to give him the printed receipt.  It was $220 but I could have spent a whole lot more than that.  There are so many things that I want!  It was so hard to decide.

Luckily, he didn’t bat an eye.  And I am sooo grateful for the generosity!  I knew this would be the year we would really need to step it up and get more supplies.  K is getting older and needing more structure and content.  She is even more excited than I am.  Well, maybe not.  I am pretty darn excited for the books to get here! 

But even after ordering $220 in supplies, there is always more that could be useful.  So, in another surprise move, he took me to Costco, bought us a membership {I forgot how much I love it there and how much money I can save} and more supplies.  Workbooks, Bob books, a sketching set {because we can’t afford for K to take her art class this year… Anthony’s going to do a little ‘lesson’ with her every Tuesday}. 

AWESOME!

Then he took me to Barnes and Noble.  Children’s Dictionary, A Child’s Book of Poems, and a ‘learn Spanish’ set.

 

K is absolutely in love with words now.  That dictionary is definitely getting used.  Anytime she asks me what a certain word means, I tell her to go look it up.  She always says, “OH YEAH!  I forgot!”

Now, the only things I need to get are the basics… pencils, erasers, colored pencils, sketch books {for nature journals}, sharpeners, paper, rulers, etc.  The stuff that doesn’t cost a fortune!

I’m thinking tomorrow will have to be ‘picture day’ for us.  I’ll force them to let me do their hair and dress them.  They don’ t have anything new to wear but they can at least look less ragmuffin-ish, right?  Not that my kids are ragmuffins.  But sometimes they might look like it.  That darn wavy hair of A’s… and H’s.  Always looks messy but I promise we brush it!

And since we don’t have the books we ordered, this week will be very ‘light’.  I wish UPS would just hurry up with my package!  We’re going to have a real SCIENCE book!  I’m giddy, can you tell?

Well, how was your kids’ first day/week/month of school?

How we spent our Anniversary!

We’ve never done anything super elaborate for our anniversary.  The most elaborate thing we’ve ever done was to have dinner at The Melting Pot.  That was going to be a ‘tradition’ from then on because… well, have you been there?  It’s AMAZING!!

The tradition lived on for 2 whole years…….

….. and then we were poor.  Eating at The Melting Pot is not cheap, my friends!  Each time we went it cost us over $100… for just the two of us!!  Oh, but it was soooo worth it!

Since then, we’ve done absolutely nothing fancy whatsoever.  Remember?  5 kids?  Umm, yeah, that’ll put a stop to any plans you might have for dinner and a movie.  Not only are movies and restaurants overpriced but what about a babysitter? 

We used to have one of those.  Actually, we had a few of them.  Anthony has a sister that lived just a few miles away with four kids, and all our kids adore each other…

… she moved to Arizona this past Christmas.  ON Christmas day.  Is she nuts?  I think yes!

My parents were always willing as long as they didn’t already have something going on…..

… my dad was offered a job in Santa Barbara, CA in January of this year.  He took it.  The nerve! 

My sister was willing if she didn’t already have plans to go clubbing or something….

… she moved to California with my parents.  How rude! 

I’m beginning to see a pattern developing.  It’s US!  **Gasp**  I promise, we shower!

So now, we are in a predicament.  While it’s easy to find someone to babysit the girls {they are pretty well-behaved and have some manners}, the boys are a different story, entirely! 

My grandpa would even watch the girls if I asked him to.  Anthony’s parents would have no qualms about it.  I have a cousin who also would not object.  She actually comes to get my girls on a weekly basis just to go play at her house with her daughter. 

No one wants to take on the boys.  My cousin HAS taken them but I feel that they overwhelm her slightly… besides they {my cousin’s little fam} go to bed at like 7:00 or 8:00 every night.  No, seriously!  It’s ridiculously early!  I don’t know how they do it. 

I know there are some neighbor girls who would babysit {but seriously, they don’t know what they’d be getting themselves into with little C} but I have issues with leaving my five children in the hands of a teenager…… at night…… with no adult.  And besides, I once asked a girl in my ward what she charges to babysit.  Do you know what she said? 

$3-$5 per hour, per kid… {and she claimed this to be pretty standard for all teen girls… please tell me she’s wrong!}

WHAT?

So, for me to leave my five children, even at only $3/hour… that’s $15/hour….

Dinner + Movie = 4 hours {approx}

divide by 3, add 7, multiply by x, remember the square root of pi {isn’t that banana cream?}, and carry the Y…

{or something like that…}

That equals $60 bucks… FOR A BABYSITTER!!!!!!!

PLUS, probably another 40-60 bucks for dinner and a movie!

Ummm, no thanks! 

So, what did we do for our first anniversary without a babysitter?

Maybe not ideal but you know what?  We really enjoyed it!  Happy 11th anniversary to us!

How do you usually celebrate your anniversary?

 

Watermelons and the Time I Got My Hair Did

I realize that watermelons should have absolutely nothing to do with hair.  And really they don’t have anything to do with each other in this post.  That would be gross! 

It’s just that I was on Pinterest the other day and saw that someone had pinned “how to cut a watermelon”.  From what I could tell from the picture, it appeared to be the same way that I was taught to cut and cube a melon.  So, I thought to myself… Self, maybe there are others out there that don’t already have a simple way of cutting a watermelon.

And then I decided that I needed to show you.  Just in case YOU are that person that is looking.  And if not, you can marvel at the wonderful hairdo my 6 year old, H, gave me today… Imagine me cutting the watermelon with said hairdo, because I totally did. 



And now imagine how hard it was for me to get that angle.  Which is why you also get a lovely view down my back.  And pretend that the dog isn’t in the pic… he’s really not part of my hair.  Oh, and one more thing… imagine a green headband in the front view.  Yeah, I was stylin’.  Except that I had no make-up on… pretend.  {You only get a little pic because I look that good without make-up.}

 

We’ll now move onto the cutting of a watermelon:

{Note:  There are many ways to cube a watermelon and I am not claiming this one to be the best.  I am only sharing the way that I find to be the simplest for me.  Some of the other tutorials out there are great, I’m sure, but I am too simple minded to figure them out.  THIS I can handle! ;)}

You’ll need the following items…. a watermelon {obviously, right?}, a sharp butcher knife, and a cutting board.

 

Start by cutting both ends off the watermelon.



Stand it up on one end, like so.



And start shaving the sides off with the knife, starting and the top and curving down toward the bottom.

 

I always end up having to flip it over because I’m never able to get it all shaved off when that end is on the bottom.





Now cut the melon in half.



Slice from one end to the other about 1-2 inches apart.  {I did mine a little bit large so you could see the detail better.}





Then start slicing the opposite way.





If you like them in ‘tubes’ you can leave them at the length they are.

 

If you want them as cubes, you can lay each row down on the cutting board and cut through them as big or small as you like.



Repeat with the other half and VOILA!!  Watermelon ‘tubes’ or cubes!

Roasted Potato Salad

Remember when my mom was in town and made this little thing called raspberry cream cheese bread?  And remember how we all went nuts and thought we’d died and gone to heaven? 

Yeah, she’s an amazing cook.

Well, while she was here, she also made a heavenly potato salad for a family potluck.  It’s unlike any other potato salad I have ever had! 

It’s not your typical mayo, mustard, eggs, and pickle salad. 

This is truly THE best potato salad recipe… EVER! 

I don’t have pics of the process because she was at my grandpa’s when she made it.  Psshhh!  She just couldn’t wait…

So, here it is, slightly adapted from the July issue of People Magazine.



2 1/2  lbs. unpeeled red potatoes, cut into bite sized pieces
1 medium red onion, cut in half and sliced thin
2 T canola oil
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 can of corn
1 cup diced celery
2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar (add a couple teaspoons of sugar or honey if desired)
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 – 3/4 cup sliced fresh basil


Preheat oven to 425. In a large bowl combine potatoes, onion and oil, toss with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper.

Spread mixture on 2 lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until potatoes are crispy.

Remove pans to wire racks; cool to room temperature.


Combine potato mixture, corn, celery and garlic powder in a large bowl. Whisk together olive oil, vinegar {and sugar or honey}; drizzle over vegetables and toss.  Coat evenly. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Cover and chill at least 2 hours. Add basil just before serving.  Toss.

 

I’m pretty sure you’ll love it!  Such a light and refreshing take on an old classic!  DELICIOUS!!!!!

Some favorite blogs… and a HOP!

***Note to RSS subscribers... I'm sorry if you got this twice.  It's my first link-up and apparently, I stink at it.  :)  So sorry!

I love blogging!  I think it’s the best thing since bubble gum!  Not only do I love writing my own, I also love reading them. 

Since starting this blog, I’ve ‘met’ some really fun people that I think you might want to know.  Some of them don’t even know that I exist… ok, most of them have no clue and probably really wouldn’t care anyway.  Others have become my ‘friends’ in a way.  It’s amazing that there are so many women out there that share the same passion as me.  People that feel the need to share what they love whether it be crafting, family-life, homeschooling, journaling, cooking or whatever the case may be. 

And how amazing is it that we all get to learn and grow from each other?!  I’m pretty sure I couldn’t live without it now that I’m so far involved. 

So now I’ll stop babbling.  Let you get reading and finding some fabulous blogs.  But remember, this is only a TEENY TINY list of some of my favorites.  There are many more that I am not listing only because I will save them for another HOP!

OH, and one more thing… I want to find more fun blogs!  I LOVE it! 

About the HOP… Please link up your fabulous blog to the list.  Wanna know the rules? 

• Ok, it has to be family friendly.  No weirdies, k? 


• Follow me… BUT ONLY IF YOU WANT TO!  No, I’m serious.  I want genuine followers.  Not the ones that follow only because they expect me to follow them back.  So of course, if you like me, follow me.  If not, don’t!  We {as in, all of us} can only keep up with so many blogs.  But you are still welcome to link up. 


• Link up to the main page of your blog.  That way we get to see your blog in all it’s glory!  Not just one fabulous post. 

 

And now on to the blogs…

First up, we have Grumpy Grateful Mom.  She’s seriously great!  I relate to her on so many levels because although she has one less child than I do, her family is pretty much like mine.  Her kids are wild and crazy… in a good way, just like mine.  I think C might be just a tad bit crazier than her 3-year-old though.  She’s just missing a nine year old.  Anyone got one for her?  ;)  I read her blog when I need to feel ‘normal’, which is usually every time she posts.  I’m pretty sure she thinks I’m a stalker.  Sorry, Grumpy!

 

Next up is another blog that I read when I need to feel ‘normal’.  Not because of her kids though.  She’s a mess, just like me!  Literally, she has a hard time with the housework stuff.  Me too!  She’s pretty funny about it, which I like.  She also homeschools her children.  Her site is called Balancing Everything.  She doesn’t have a button, though.  Nor does she allow comments most of the time {maybe once a month or so}.  That drives me NUTS!  But it’s her blog.  She can do what she wants with it, I suppose. 

71 Toes is the blog I go to when I need rainbows and butterflies, sunshine and roses.  Seriously, she is the kind of mom that you long to be but will never amount to.  {Well, I’m sure YOU will, I just won’t.}  She’s been Mom of the Year in Arizona, literally.  Her daughter, Lucy, has Bardet-Biedl syndrome which will eventually cause her to go completely blind.  Yet, through it all, she and her family are always upbeat about it and have high hopes.  Love her!  Yes, she’s one that doesn’t even know I exist.  Oh, and her photography skills are to die for!  Plus she’s gorgeous… the whole family is.  Also no button.

 

And now, so as to refrain from overwhelming you, I will stop there.  You’ll have plenty to read between all three of the above blogs.  Like I said before, I have many, many favorites but I want to make this link party/HOP a monthly thing so I’ll feature more next time.  We’ll see how this first one goes.

Who knows… YOU may be the only one.  And that would be sad, but I promise to come and visit!  Oh happy day, right?  I’ll link up first, then you won’t be completely alone.  ;)  Or maybe I'LL be the only one.  That would be funny... and sad. :(  So, link up, friends!!

No Charge For Awesomeness!

{Sorry Kristin.  Totally stole your title but seriously, what else do you call it?}

Way back in high school, Anthony LOVED to run.  At least that’s what he always claimed.  He said it made him feel free and helped clear his mind.  Did I believe him?  Sure, why not? 

But if I’m being honest, which I am, I had never known him to be a runner.   

A few years ago, we started a mental bucket list and on his list was to run a marathon.  Me, being the skeptic that I am, thought… Ok, Anthony.  You go right ahead and put that on your list.  Oh, and good luck with that!

I know, such a supportive wife I am.  But to his face I was much more, what’s the word… encouraging.  Oh, ok.  When are you planning to do that? 

Well, maybe not much more encouraging.  You get the idea.  It was a good thought and that was all I thought it might amount to.  Like I said, I’ve never known him to be a runner. 

But then last year, he started doing some early morning runs with a neighbor of ours.  These runs eventually turned into a half marathon.  The Canyon to Canyon Run, which Anthony missed the sign up deadline for so he ran without a bib, a number, or an official time.  But he still had fun. 

His running depleted to almost nothing after that and there it stayed for a while.

Then, in February, he announced to me that he was going to run the Salt Lake Marathon.  He would begin training that very next morning.  And guess what happened that next morning… NOTHING!  He slept in and declared the next morning as ‘the one’. 

Again, nothing. 

This went on for a couple of weeks.  Meanwhile, the SL Marathon was drawing nearer and nearer. 

In March, we started P90X and for some reason, that seemed to light a fire under his roonie.  He was out the door training for that marathon in no time!  AND doing P90X with me {because seriously, if you’ve ever done P90X, you know it is nearly impossible to do on your own… I NEED HIM!}

And so, in April, he ran his first marathon with his oldest sister {she runs it every year… She’s pretty much SuperWoman!}.  One less thing on the bucket list!  His goal was under 4 hours.  He missed by only a couple of minutes.



As soon as that race was over, plans were made to go up to Boise where he and his sister would run The Great Potato Marathon.  That time, he made his goal, just barely under 4 hours and he won his division!  Go Anthony!



But most recently, he was recruited by a guy in our ward to run a relay race with him, some family members and other friends.  12 man team.  They would only be running from Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 

Ummmm, HELLO!!  Yes, he is nuts!  Along with every other member of their team, No Charge for Awesomeness! 

Oh and I have to tell you that everyone in his car {there were two cars total} kept calling him Superman.  Really?  I’m pretty sure his ego didn’t need to be fed any more than it already is.  He was pretty fast and ran the second hardest set of legs of the race.

I love you Anthony! 

But seriously, he’s been on a kick after losing over 30 pounds and being able to ALMOST keep up with Tony Horton on P90X in the pull-up department.  He’s just proud of himself.  He really ought to be.  He’s worked hard to get to where he’s at. 

Anyway, back to the relay… here are some pics of the event.

And yes, Kristen, I have noticed that the longer I wait to post something, the less detailed I am.  Gotta do better about that!

{The sleeping arrangements… looks ‘fun’ to me.}

{Apparently the driver was pretty hot… looking? or from running?  I know not.}

{Yoohoo!  Anthony, the camera’s over here.}

 

His future running plans include the Logan Marathon next month and eventually, he’d like to be part of the 50 club.  {A marathon in every state.}

Anthony is now convinced that he’s going to get me to run a marathon {or a relay} someday.  Psh!  He’s got another thing comin’!  You see, I believe running is of the devil.  I don’t run… besides, when I do I look like a fairy.  My mom has always made fun of the way I run.  No one wants to see a big prissy girl running by.  Actually, maybe they would.  It would give them a good laugh. 

JUST SAY NO TO RUNNING!

 

Bitter {one year ago today…} but Sweet {brownies}

I’ve had a hard time putting this post together.  Not really sure why.  It could possibly have something to do with the fact that today marks the one year anniversary of the day my sweet Grandma passed away.  Today also marks what would have been her 76th birthday. 



Yes, she died on her 75th birthday.  I think it was planned. 

That may sound funny but you’d have to know my grandma.  Besides being loving, caring, happy, carefree, spirited, a phenomenal cook, and overall just amazing… she was also very stubborn.  I don’t mean just a little bit. 

Everyone always believed that she was the type of woman who would live to be 104, at least.  Unfortunately for us, her stubborn ways were no match for the Parkinsons and Alzheimers.  It wasn’t the alzheimers that ended up taking her away, at least not physically.  It was the Parkinsons.  Mentally, the alzheimers was taking over and made her, at times, not seem like Grandma anymore.  However, she was quite witty in that state.  And even hilarious at times. 

I had the privilege while she was sick {along with many cousins and aunts/uncles}, of taking dinner to Grandma and Grandpa at their home once every other week.  It was a huge group effort to keep them both full and keep Grandpa from losing it.  He was Grandma’s main caregiver and often had a hard time.  These mealtimes also gave each of us that helped a chance to spend some quality time with Grandma before she passed.  We knew it was only a matter of time.  The amount of time may have been unknown but it was time we needed to spend with her and we all knew it. 

It got to the point that she had to be fed, like a baby.  She could no longer feed herself. 

Last summer, a nurse and doctor started coming to the home during the day to aid Grandpa in caring for her.  She was getting to the point that she could no longer walk, even with assistance and Grandpa just wasn’t able to do it on his own.  In the evenings, it was a chore to get her to bed on his own.  It became necessary for someone in the family to assist him in changing her and getting her up the stairs.  This task was most often left to my mom or my cousin.  When they were unavailable, Anthony was often called upon to help.  I am a weakling and pretty sure that I would never have been strong enough to do it.  

I will be forever grateful to those people, relatives and otherwise, that helped Grandma during the latter part of her life.

For the last several weeks of her life, she was bedridden.  No one could even touch her without her grimacing in pain and agony.  It was agonizing to watch.  Seeing your SuperWoman grandma in a state like that is heart wrenching. 

A hospital bed was brought to her home and she was confined. 

Around the 8th or 9th of August last year, Grandma had given up.  No matter how hard anyone tried, she just wouldn’t open her eyes.  Her feedings had all but depleted and even when she would eat, it was only a bite or two.  The nurse let us all know that it was only a matter of days.  Usually seven was the max at that point. 

Maybe it was selfish of me but I hoped that I would walk in there the next day and she would be awake, eating and talking.  I knew she could prove them all wrong.  Her communication skills had been… interesting for the past little while.  Often, no one could make sense of what she had just said.  She counted a lot… “One, two, two, two, two, three, three, two, two…” 

There were many times that she would start a sentence but end with the counting.  “I want to… two, two, two…”

It broke my heart that she didn’t believe that she was at home.  No matter how many times we told her, she never believed us.  We were all ‘in on it’ as she would say. 

I must say that I am grateful for the fact that she never forgot who I was.  At least not when I was around.  She did, however, forget my poor grandpa at times.  That broke his heart into a million little pieces.  {He is her second husband… my grandpa P, her first husband, passed away when I was six}

There were times toward the end that I believe she was able to see beyond the veil.  She told me {and other people too} some things that didn’t make sense at the time but as I reflect back, it made perfect sense.  I believe there were many angels {including Grandpa P.} in the living room with her, by her bed. 

I have two favorite ‘beyond the veil’ moments with Grandma.  One of them is when I was holding her hand and trying to talk to her.  She wasn’t looking at me yet but as I spoke she turned toward me.  She smiled then and squeezed my hand just a little tighter and said, “I don’t know why…. I love you!” with a big ol’ smile on her face.  I could have taken offense to the ‘I don’t know why…’ part but I know that’s not how she meant it.  She then looked to my left just slightly {no one was there} and gave a little nod of her head, smirked and said, “She’s mine!”  And then she looked back at me and smiled. 

I’ve never felt more loved!  In that moment, she possessed all the love in the world, just for me!  At least that’s how she made me feel.  I believe she was talking to someone on the other side announcing that I was her granddaughter.  You may think it’s silly, but that’s how I feel.

The other favorite memory is when she looked at me one day when I came for a visit {just before she was bedridden} and told me that she was so sorry.  I couldn’t figure out what she was so sorry about.  She just kept shaking her head in sympathy and saying, “I’m so sorry!”  At first I thought it was just the alzheimers talking.  She often had funny things pop up in her head that made no sense.  But she finally said, “I’m so sorry for what you’re about to go through.  I can’t imagine going through that.” 

At the time this made no sense but I felt the power as she said it.  It was real! 

Grandma, thank you for the warning.  I think I’m living it now.  It’s been rough but we’ll get through this!!  I love you!

Other members of my family have stories similar but I will not write them here.  They are stories for them to tell, not me. 

Anyway, as she neared the end of her life, we all kept holding on to hope that she might wake up again and talk.  It was not meant to be.  After the seven days that we were expecting something to happen, we knew it would be any time. 

Her breaths became very labored.  She was heavily medicated to keep her from feeling so much pain when she had to be rolled from one side to the other to keep from getting bed sores.  It was the only time she showed any sign of life {aside from the labored breathing}, when she would grimace in pain. 

I believe it was the night before our anniversary last year that everyone gathered around her bedside in her living room.  Anyone that could be there was there.  She was going to pass at any moment and we all wanted to say our final good-byes.  Each of us that wanted to took a moment with Grandma, in private, and said our final words to her.  My girls each gave her a kiss as they tried to understand and accept exactly what was happening.  It was hard.  C didn’t want much to do with her.  I think it was a little scary to him.  B was just a baby but held her hand for a brief moment. 

Afterwards, we all gathered and had a meeting of sorts.  It was kind of like a testimony meeting.  People shared their thoughts and love for Grandma.  Told funny stories of better times.  It made us all cry…. and laugh.  How great to be someone so loved, like Grandma, and have your family be able to tell such wonderful stories of your life. 

Anthony and I took our kids home that night, sure that it would be on our anniversary (the 18th) that she would pass.  That would be hard.  It didn’t happen!

The 19th is my aunt’s birthday and we thought for sure it would be that day.  She wouldn’t be able to hold on any longer than that. 

The night of the 19th, we gathered again… with birthday cake!  We figured if she hadn’t passed, we would sing to her on her birthday… the 20th.  As the clock struck midnight, she was still with us.  Her breathing was even more labored than ever before.  It was a solemn time.  To realize that she had made it to her birthday after not eating or drinking anything for almost two whole weeks was baffling!  But everyone was somber. 

I had left Anthony and the kids at home.

Around 12:30 we sang.  It was a very spiritual, and quiet “Happy Birthday” song.  Same words, same tune, different tone.  It was magical!  Grandpa kissed her, told her how much he loved her and cried. 

Everyone was handed a piece of cake.  We ate.  And then I went home. 

Most everyone else stayed. 

After coming home and being in bed for no longer than maybe an hour {if that}, I got the phone call…

Grandma was gone. 

It hit me hard!  I knew it was coming but it still felt like someone had stabbed me in the chest to hear the words. 

I believe she wanted to celebrate her birthday both here on Earth and have another celebration on the other side with loved ones lost long before!  And I’m sure she had quite the reunion with so many people.  Her Ma and Pa, her Mother {who died when my grandma was only 3}, her dad, her sister, my Grandpa P, and many many more. 

Happy Birthday Grandma!  We all miss you so very much.  But we’re all doing alright.  We’re taking care of Grandpa for you.  He’s bought a few new cars since you’ve been gone, trying to ease the pain but he’ll be alright, too.  You take care!  I love you!

 

But now… on a lighter note! {We like lighter notes, right?}

A few weeks ago, my cousins and I had a Girl’s Night Out at one of their houses.  As I entered her home, I realized she had made what she always calls ‘Grandma’s Brownies’. 

I’ve had them a couple of times when she’s made them but I thought maybe Grandma had made them once and she got the recipe from her.  Never again did Grandma make them.  They’re good so I was excited! 

I was one of the first ones there.  As one of my other cousin’s entered, she looked at the brownies and gasped.  “Are those Grandma’s Brownies?”

Huh, that’s weird.  She knew about them too.  Hmmm….

A third cousin entered and said the same thing.  “Oh, I love Grandma’s Brownies!”

What the heck?  I don’t remember these famous brownies.  Where was I? 

When I informed them that I don’t remember Grandma making these brownies, they were all shocked.  They say that she ‘always’ had a pan of them on her counter. 

So the next day I inquired of my mother.  She also was surprised that I didn’t remember them.  “She always had them out.”

She did?  I remember no such brownies.  I remember pilafi, orange chiffon cake, cinnamon rolls, homemade bread, blt’s, delicious sandwiches, bread pudding, and many other delightful creations but I do not remember brownies. 

My guess?  She hid them from me, knowing that I would eat them all!  She knew me well enough to know that I was a sugar-holic.  Seriously! 

I even asked Anthony… even he remembers “a sheet pan of chocolate cake, not brownies”. 

Yes, they are cake-like but oh-so-delicious!  He refuses to call them brownies. 

Anyway, I’d like to dedicate the posting of this recipe to Grandma. 

We’ll call them the “Hide From Brooke Brownies”.

 

In a medium bowl, combine the following:

2 c. flour

2 c. sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

Set aside

 

Bring the following to a boil in a saucepan:

1 c. butter

1 c. water

1/2 c. cocoa

 

Pour the boiling ingredients into a large mixing bowl and add the flour mixture.  Mix until well combined. 

 

Add the following:

2 eggs

1/2 c. sour cream {buttermilk may be substituted}

Mix until well combined and pour into sheet pan {large cookie sheet} sprayed with non-stick spray.

Bake at 350* for 20 minutes.

Pull out of oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes before starting the icing.

 

Bring the following to a boil for icing:

1/4 c. butter

1/4 c. cocoa

6 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 lb. powdered sugar

Pour over warm brownies as evenly as possible.  Spread gently so as not to ruin the top of the brownies.



Allow to cool completely before cutting.  {In the pic below, I got a little anxious and failed to let the brownies cool.  That’s why the icing is cracked.  If you allow it to cool completely, it will cut very smoothly without cracking.  OOPS!  Do as I say, not as I do!}



 

 

 

 

 

 

11 Years and Five Kids Later…

Well Afony, I’ve got absolutely no money to get you anything for our anniversary.  What’s a wife supposed to do? 

Dedicate a whole blog post to you, of course!  This is it, Baby! 

Oh, did that sound weird to you, too?  It felt a little funny sayin’ it.  I don’t use cutesie little pet names such as Baby, Babe, Honey, Dear, Sweetie, Muffin, Tootsie, Sugarplum, Darlin’, or anything of the sort, EVER!  You are my Afony, Mr. Jameson, or Mr. Head. 

{If you are not Anthony but are reading this, I know what you’re thinking… Well, not really but I can imagine what you’re thinking.  And I’ll answer your thoughts by saying, YES!  I really am that awesome!}

I know just what you need.  Because after 11 years of marriage, I’m bound to know a thing or two about what you want. 

A TRIP!  {Call it what you want… vacation, getaway, jaunt… it’s a trip}

But seeing as how our finances are screaming a loud resounding NO to a ‘real’ trip right now, let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we? 

I remember it like it was yesteryear.

 

The phone rang {the real, cordless phone… not a cell phone.  We had real live home phones back then, remember?}.  I answered, it was your sister.  She had overheard me mention at church to someone that I would be dating over the next two years while ‘my’ missionary was gone.  She lived in my ward at the time with her hubby and kids.   

She asked for my mom and I assumed she had a scheduling conflict with babysitting my little bro.  But instead, after speaking with my mom for a brief moment, my mom handed me the phone after saying something like “Yeah, Brooke and her friends are going somewhere together tonight.  She can invite him along." 

I looked up in horror!  {I mean, what if he was a nerd?  What if I didn’t like him?}  GREAT!  So, I reluctantly took the phone. 

Me:  Hello?

You:  Uuuuuuhhhh, hello?

Me:  Hi. **awkward silence** So, my friends and I are going to Classic Skating tonight.  Did you want to come? 

You:  Uuuuuhhhh, sure. 

And that was about the extent of our conversation.  Remember?  Of course I had to get your address to come pick you up.  You didn’t have a car yet.  Being a newly returned missionary meant that you were still on the lookout for the ‘perfect’ one.  Wait!  Am I talking about girls or cars?  Now I’m all confused!  Probably both.

Before picking you up, I had already prepped my friend {who was ordered to ride with me} to make this as non-dateish as possible.  She was coming to the door with me and everything.  I mean, I had a missionary!  I couldn’t go falling for another guy only 10 days after he left!  Besides, I was absolutely positive you were going to be a geek.  And I didn’t want you thinking we had something going after only a phone conversation and a Classic Skating jaunt. 

And then when I saw you… I couldn’t even look at you!  You were absolutely NOT the geek I had envisioned.  The nerd you were supposed to be was a dark and handsome guy!  I would say tall but let’s face it, you’re really not that tall.  Dark and handsome? Yes.  Tall?  Not so much.  Not that you’re short… 5’10” (or just under) is perfect!  Am I giving you a complex yet?  So sorry!

Anyway, as we walked outside, I introduced you to my car. Do you remember what I said?  “This is my car.” 

Wasn’t that profound?  You knew right then and there that I was ‘the one’ didn’t you?  I’ve never heard you admit it but I’m sure of it.  Who wouldn’t fall for me with a line like that?  Seriously.

And remember what you asked me while we were at Classic?  After you had to push me around on those rented roller blades… {and you thought YOU’D be the one out of practice}.  You said, “So, tell me something about yourself.” 

My answer was, “I have a dog.”

{Yes, I’m surprised he asked me out again, too.}

So at that point, you had been introduced to my car that had no name and you knew that I had a dog.  Also, seemingly, with no name.  But I couldn’t let you really get to know me.  Remember?  The missionary?

I remember all my friends and I were talking while you were changing into your shoes and we thought you were so good looking.  Not the guys, they didn’t think you were good looking.  Just thought I’d clarify.  Thank goodness for that, right?

Well, that’s the intro to our time together.  Do you remember it? 

The time following all of that was interesting but fun. 

Remember your essay?  The one I made you write about the dream you had.  Or how about the time Penny {one of Anthony’s sisters} farted in front of us the very first time I met her… on purpose!  That was… surprising.  And hilarious.  I remember how embarrassed you were. 

Do you remember how our tummies would rumble?  I swear you’re the only person in the world whose tummy growled as much as mine.  All. The. Time!

I remember eating popcorn and drinking ice water every time we watched a movie.  And falling asleep in your arms.

Zuka Juice and walks in the park… 

OH OH OH!  And remember the time I fell asleep and FARTED!  Ummm, yeah, that was embarrassing!  Remember how mad I was when you told me?  If you hadn’t told me, I never would have known and I would never have been embarrassed.  But instead, here I am sharing it with the whole blogosphere!  Remember, I’m human.  Humans fart.

Remember our first kiss?  I remember it.  Your mom called… another embarrassing moment!

One of my favorite things that you used to say was “Remember…. Anthony loves you.”  Always right before you would leave.  LOVED THAT!

And then there was that car of yours….. the Eagle Talon.  I had a love/hate relationship with that car.  You drove like a maniac in that thing!  So glad you don’t drive like that anymore.  And even more glad that you HATE when you see ‘idiots’ driving the way you used to.  Does that make you an idiot?  Just kiddin’.  Maybe just a ‘former’ idiot?

Your goatee was one of my favorite things!  I love that look on you.



Do you remember how many times we broke up?  Me neither.  Too many to count!

Remember proposing?  The third time?  That’s when I finally said yes… after a few days.  I was a hard sell!  Sorry about that. 

Then there was a wedding…

{We were married in the Salt Lake Temple but I don’t have any pics on cd of that.  They’re all just printed… darn it!}

What a fun day!  We still have people tell us that it was the most fun {not funnest, because that’s not a word} wedding they’ve ever been to.  Still!  I would have to agree.  Our DJ was the best!  And we’re pretty cool, too. ;) 

{I’m having a hard time with the ‘most fun’ thing.  Seems wrong but I know ‘funnest’ is NOT a word… even spell check says so.} 

Along our eleven year journey {12 1/2 if you count the dating time}, there have been five beautiful pregnancies {not that I was beautiful, just the pregnancy} and five perfect children! 

We’ve had our ups and downs.  Financially, mostly downs but in every other way, mostly ups.  And those up times are what gets us through the down times.  In a way the down times bring us closer both as a couple and as a family. 

If I could go back and change one thing, I don’t think I would.  You mean the world to me and I love you more than ever!  Looking forward to many more years to come. 

Love you, Mr. Head!

Puff Paint

Today I was SuperMom!  It happens… maybe not often, but it happens.

Want to be SuperMom, too?  {or Aunt, or Grandma… whatever}  Well, here’s how you do it…

MAKE PUFF PAINTS!



It’s a great way to use up all that self-rising flour you’ve been hoarding in the pantry.

Wait… what?  You don’t have self-rising flour?  Who are you?

Totally kidding, I didn’t have any either.  But fear not!  You can make your own, and I can almost guarantee that you have all the ingredients to do so.  Ready?

1 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Mix it all together and you’ve got self-rising flour!

 

Well, that was painless.  Now let’s make the paint…

I found this concoction on Pinterest.  It originates from this blog.  She’s got lots of other great things, also. 

I decided it was time I put some of the ‘Pinteresting’ things I have found to good use.  You’ll need to mix the following…

1 T. self-rising flour

1 T. salt

3 or 4 drops of food coloring (we used traditional and neon colors)

enough water to make a thick paste (1 T. was perfect for us)

Mix it all together and you’ve got puff paint!



 

Paint on cardstock or cardboard {don’t use regular paper… it won’t turn out well}.  Cardboard will help it not curl up on the edges.  Use brushes, cotton balls, q-tips, whatever you want.  Make sure you paint pretty thick!  Otherwise, it will not puff.





Once you’ve finished your painting, put it in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute.  THAT’s where all the magic happens!  You want it dry and puffed. 





How easy is that? 

Now, go on!  Be a Super… for the day!