Self-Quarantined

I think our whole family has had the swine flu. It started with Braden getting the fever, and he gets bad body aches where he can't bend his joints. Then Tina got a higher fever. I got it next and then Brooklyn was the last (so far.) She also has lost her voice which is so sad - almost like hearing a dog which has been de-barked try to bark. She tries to scream and can only whine.

Yesterday I decided to wage war against germs with the kids and we sanitized the doorknobs, lightswitches, and telephones. I also cleaned the kitchen all day. We also opened all the windows to get all the "sick air" out. Hand sanitizer is our constant companion, along with antibacterial cleaner. Hopefully we are on the mend and can function again. Cough drops and throat lozenges will have to suffice for now. I don't want to go to the doctor now that we are almost on the mend.
But I have to wonder if I brought this on myself. Life was getting so busy I was thinking it would be nice to have a few days off...What was I thinking?? Stir crazy kids, feeling miserable and energy-less, does not lend itself to fixing all the things I have to do everyday, but I did enjoy being in PJ's for the past 3 days. I have no clothes, so it was nice not having to wonder what to wear;)

halloween trick or treat

this is tina. When we went trick or treating we were ballerina and a butterfly and ronald and fred flinstone and smartiepants. a guy gave us rings. there was marieo and luigi. Luigi said to daddy, "wow are you supposed to be a caveman or something?" I thought it was funny and then she knew him from fruity pebbles.

Now this is Melanie: She is great! I can't believe how well she takes the initiative:) I have to say that this has been the funnest Halloween so far with my cute family. We have carved 2 sets of pumpkins, the costumes turned out great (if I do say so myself). And we had a blast trick or treating. Here are more pictures:

Braden also had a great Preschool program on the 29th. They were so cute, and he was singing the songs to me today. I can't believe how well he knows them. How I wish we could find our camera that takes video!!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Fall Update

Tina has turned the big 7. She had a Polka-Dot party - We played Twister and the dot game. We polka-dotted socks to play twister in, and they each got a polka-dotted bow to signify which team they were on. (I made a bow tie for Braden). Tina also decided she wanted to get her ears pierced this year. I was when mine were pierced, and I was a little hesitant to have her get them done so early, but so far they have done great. She has a Sapphire birthstone earrings in that are blue, and she can take them out on November 2nd! Here are her cute friends all posing for the camera. I can't believe how old and responsible she is. She helps me remember things and has always been a big helper for me. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful girl!

One neat thing about September 27th is that Cole was blessed on Tina's very birthday. She was very gracious to let him share her special day. The blessing was wonderful (as always). And we had an intimate gathering afterwards. I'm so grateful for the priesthood in our home and to know how special Cole is in our family too.

Then starting October 1st, we HAD to carve pumpkins. In the Family Fun magazine, they have a great section called "twisted pumpkins" and Braden wanted to make all of them. So we went down the road to our neighbors who sell pumpkins and bought those and also some baking ones (see previous post). We all got into the spirit of Halloween. And I have to include this very cute picture of Cole for his 2 month mark. He is such a sweet, mellow, and wonderful baby. If you talk to him, he'll crack a smile from ear to ear. I absolutely adore him!!!

And I just can't resist adding this one. Brooklyn has decided to potty train herself. She will take off all of her clothes and run around until I can get to sitting with her in the bathroom. I caught her coloring with the other kids. What a funny nut. She insists on doing everything herself and has actually surprised me with all that she can do, but she is also very busy all day long! When we think she is doing something, she will be somewhere else getting into mischeif. Yesterday she discovered permanent marker:( Does anyone know how to get it out of clothes? Or chairs? Or toilets? Or counters????

the tortise and the hare

In the shower this morning, I was thinking about this story in correlation to my weight loss "race". In the past, I would exercise really hard for a few days and then lose my momentum after getting really sore and not wanting to hurt more. After I had Brooklyn, I got on a good system of exercising every day. I'd mark an "E" on a calendar and enjoyed seeing lots of E's filling up the months. The exercise would generally be about 20 minutes a day. Once I got a little stronger, I pushed it up to 30 or 45 minutes a day. I got 4 pounds away from pre-pregnancy with my first child, but then I got out of the habit.
That was the closest I have been to achieving any type of weight goal. This week so far I have exercised my 20 minutes daily, and I am thinking like a tortise. I won't expect the big 20 lb. weight loss immediately. I acutally gained a pound this week, but I will still try to exercise everyday. I find that if I do, I don't eat quite so badly - I don't want to undo the work I just did. I don't enjoy exercising like my mother or others I know. It's a CHORE. But I have enjoyed Winsor Pilates DVDs. I feel more flexible afterwards. I also run on our elliptical on the other days (we bought that after Brooklyn was born and I needed to feel we were getting our money's worth!)
Unfortunately, I am not able to join a group exercise class, which I was planning on doing after Cole was born, because of time constraints (life gets too busy sometimes), but I figure this system worked with me after Brooklyn. I hope I won't "take a nap on the sidelines" and fall off my schedule, but if I do, I'll just get back on;) I'd love any workout hints from y'all if you have fun with it!!

Crazy about Pumpkin

I have been going a little nuts this October trying out different pumpkin recipes. On October 1st, we went down to our neighbor's pumpkin patch and purchased our pumpkins. I got a couple of sugar pumpkins that you can make various pumpkin stuff out of. I thought I would give it a try. To make pumpkin you cut a sugar pumpkin in quarters and cook in the oven at 375 for 1 hour and remember to put the skins UP, so the inside faces down. Then you scrape it out and puree it in a blender or food processor. It can freeze up to 3 months.
Oh my...I have currently made:
Pumpkin cookies,
Pumpkin cake,
Pumpkin roll,
Pumpkin pancakes,
Pumpkin squares,
and soon to come: pumpkin bread!
They have all been really good, but I think my family is a little overwhelmed with pumpkin though. But for those of you who would like to try ONE of these (or all) here are the recipes:)

Pumpkin Chip Cookies
1/2 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. pumpkin
1/2 c. walnuts, chopped
1 c. chocolate chips
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
*Stir the shortening to soften. Gradually add sugar and cream together until light and fluffy. Add egg and mix well. Sift flour, baking powder, seasonings, soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with pumpkin. Beat after each addition until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips, nuts, and vanilla. Drop on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 min. Cool on baking rack. These cookies freeze well.

Pumpkin Cake
1 yellow cake mix- I used spice cake mix (reserve 1 c. cake mix for topping)
1 egg
1/2 c. margarine
*Mix well and press into a 9x13 pan.
Mix:
1 1/2 c. pumpkin
2 eggs
3/4 c. sugar
1 c. evaporated milk
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ginger
*Pour into pan over cake mix.
Topping:
1 c. cake mix
1 1/2 Tbsp. margarine
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
*Mix together until crumbly. Sprinkle on top of pumpkin layer. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Serve with whip cream on top.

Pumpkin Cake Roll
It can be made ahead and frozen till you are ready to use it.
3 eggs, well beaten
1 c. sugar
2/3 c. pumpkin filling
1 tsp. lemon juice
3/4 c. flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped walnuts
* beat eggs at high speed for 5 min. Gradually beat in sugar. Stir in pumpkin filling and lemon juice. Sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. Fold into pumpkin mix. Pour into well greased and lightly floured 15x10 inch baking pan (I did a cookie sheet). Top with chopped nuts. Bake at 375 for 18-25 min or til done. Turn out on dish towel, sprinkled with powdered sugar; starting at narrow end of towel, roll towel and cake together and let cool.
Filling:
1 c. powdered sugar
1 8 oz. pkg. soft cream cheese
4 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
*combine powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla; mix til smooth. Unroll cake; remove towel and spread filling over cake. Roll up again and wrap with plastic wrap, then with foil. Freeze until ready to serve.
Optional: You may want to take cake roll out of freezer and place in fridge for an hour before serving, depending on how you like it. Roll cuts best when frozen. Yields 10-12 servings. Garnish with sliced strawberry or mint leaves.

Pumpkin Pancakes: I just added pumpkin to my pancake recipe along with nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon.

Pumpkin Squares:
This is a Chambers Thanksgiving Tradition.
1 c. sifted flour
1/2 c. quick oats
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter or margarine
*Mix until crumbly. Press into 9x13 pan. Bake 8 min at 350 degrees
1 lb. can of pumpkin
1 can evaporated milk (13 oz.)
2 eggs
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
* Mix together. Pour on top of baked crumb crust. Bake at 350 for 20 min
1/2 c. pecans or walnuts
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. butter
*Combine and sprinkle over top. Bake another 15-25 min or until done
Serve with whipped cream. Makes 12-15 servings.

Testing, Testing, 123...

I'm trying to see how long it takes to upload pictures:) I've got a lot!

Here is Tina and Braden on their first days of school. Aren't they cute? My little learners:) I also have Cole's 1st month picture. I can't believe that he is almost two months soon!! Wow it goes fast! We are enjoying the fall weather, but unfortunately I have lost my camera:( I have a backup, so i'll have to get more pics downloaded.

Tina is liking 1st grade (for the most part). She does complain that it takes a long time and she misses me. I am rewarding her with a lunch with me on friday if she doesn't cry before school that week. I'm also volunteering on Wednesdays. I absolutely LOVE helping in the classroom. She has made a few friends and has only missed one spelling word (out of 5 tests!)

Braden LOVES his preschool on tues, wed, and thurs. He has a few friends also - some from our neighborhood to car pool with yeah! and enjoys telling me all about his school as soon as he gets home. He is gradually learning how to write his name. He is my little scientist. He is constantly conducting experiments like "Will it float?" in water or tying things onto a balloon to see if it will still float. He loves the show "Sid the science kid" on PBS.

Brooklyn is my little helper and mischief maker. She is always in the room with me - unless I have left Cole unattended - then she is on top of him. The only safe place is his crib, but I found her in his crib this morning!! AAHH! She means well, but doesn't know the meaning of the word "soft" or "Stop!" Like Dave says, "It's a good thing she's so cute!"

Cole is my sweet angel baby! He hardly cries despite his sister's loves. He is a good sleeper at night now. Only gets up once around 2 or 3 am, goes to bed around 10 and gets up at 6:30. He has started smiling and even laughed at the kids crowding around his face trying to get him to smile. I do feel bad, his eyes are so goopy, but I don't think it's pink eye. He also has lost most of the hair on the top of his head, but not as much as Tina and Braden did. He is still a munchkin being so small, but he is filling out. My sister Joanna said his eyes are not quite so "buggy" because his face is filling out a little more. He is so sweet and cute. I love him 100 times more everyday.

I'm Back!!

Yesterday a new modem arrived and now we have fast internet again. I'm so happy to have it again. It's like an old friend to see everyone again! I will have to catch up, but right now I have all of the kids looking on asking, "can I play ___?" So I'll continue this later.