FHE

Last week for Family Night we played this game from The Friend called "Time to Decide." We drew cards that gave scenarios the kids might encounter at school and then they gave examples of courageous actions when it was Time to Decide. I hope my children have enough of a solid spiritual foundation that when they are faced with Times to Decide, they will react with an automatic response that brings goodness to the world.

I've really been trying to use The Friend magazine in our Family Nights--it's such an easy way to incorporate gospel teachings. I've also been trying to relinquish control and put the kids in charge of planning, but it's become clear that will be a learning process. They listen much better when they themselves plan it, though.

This week for Family Night we went to the park with several families to play and have a picnic, and mostly to soak up the wonderful weather before it turns cold later this week.

** Do you have Family Night?
** If so, what works for you?

Sunday.

I got a few boxes of peaches last week and over the course of the week did a lot of peeling and cutting. And snacking.

...and lots of stirring...

...with a break to watch Jack pop peas in his mouth.

This was my first time making peach jam and the aroma was intoxicating! For some reason, the aroma reminded me of the old Strawberry Shortcake doll named Baby Apricot--remember her? Anyway, i kept leaning over the pot and inhaling deeply and my kids all thought I was weird.

I stopped to admire my new pot, which was a result of burning my first batch and fusing the boiling peaches to the bottom of the pot. I love the deep red color. It's just a cheap walmart pot, but it's HUGE.

And here is tonight's payoff! Why are kitchen activities so cathartic to me?

My weekdays are taking on a delightfully predictable routine and I'm finding I am snapping photos of the same moments of each day; kids launching off to school, morning hair-dos, Baby on our morning walk, naptime sweetness, etc. More on that tomorrow. And Mimi had a birthday; more on that tomorrow, also. Happy Monday tomorrow, everyone!

Oh, and also--I watched this video today and it lifted my spirit.

It's got a glimpse of the amazing Stephanie Nielsen in it, which brought the message that much more poignancy.

I'll be finding a way to load it on my ipod and go for some time alone up the canyon.

Sheesh.

Mike, clearly not amused, while rescuing me at Lockout #3.

I locked my keys in my car THREE TIMES last week. Three! What have I done to earn such bad Karma? At this point, I'm a little afraid of what's in store for me this week.

And, um, I've loaded my life with spare keys.

9/11/09

What a good message for today.

Zen Moments from my Playlist

"Creep," Radiohead



"When You Come Back Down," Nickel Creek



"Nothing at All," Allison Krauss

Shakey Shake....Shake It!

From back in the day. Oh, how I love this band forever.

Baby Steps

Tuesday evening I sent Mimi & Friend to Friend's house
to borrow cilantro.

A half hour later I went out to see if they were ever going to return and found
this
on my driveway.

The bag of cilantro, delivered. Brother.

I've been pining for fajitas, which began like this:

{lots of garlic}

The urge to cook hit me like a madness! Behold my filthy kitchen, which I didn't even bother to clean before starting. I never do that.

After recovering the cilantro dumped on my driveway, I marinated the chicken and slapped it on the grill. And after loading the photo on my computer, I realized how grody this shot is. Dry heave. Who wants to see raw chicken on the grill? I should've waited 'til I flipped it. Hzzzrrrrgheh (sound of dry heaving).


I love how the onions & peppers smell. Unfortunately by this time, my natural light had faded and they look rather....wormy. I'm realizing I don't make a very good food photographer. (but I sure as h*ll can cook.)


I like to grill tons of chicken so I have pre-cooked meat ready to go for menus later in the week.
I've been playing around with my fajita marinade, and the current version is here, on my recipe blog. (Yes--the recipe blog I haven't updated since I had the baby, 1 year ago. That is because I have not actually cooked since...I had the baby, 1 year ago.)

We're taking it slow around here.

Baby steps.