Catching up

Finally have a keyboard and mouse that are not broken. An unnamed child of mine for some unknown reason thought it would be a great idea to spit into them. And I just thought I was draining water out of my keyboard.

Sugar cookies

I really wanted to do this around Valentine's Day with my visiting teaching circle of ladies but just couldn't find the gumption with the flu and all. Not only was I feeling physically blah but I was emotionally listless.

Lion House Sugar Cookies
1 1/2 C sugar
2/3 C butter
2 eggs, beaten
2Tbl milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 1/4 C flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Directions:
1. Cream butter and sugar
2. add eggs, milk and vanilla
3. Sift four, baking powder, and salt together. add to cream mixture. Combine thoroughly.
4. With hands shape dough into a ball.
5 . Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2-3 hours or overnight.
6. Grease cookie sheets lightly
7. On floured surface, roll 1/2 to 1/3 of dough at a time, keeping the rest in fridge.
8. for soft cookies, roll 1/8 to 1/4 in. thick.
9. Cut with cookie cutter. Place 1/2 in. apart of cookie sheet.
10. Bake at 400F for 8 minutes or until a very light brown.

I finally did manage to organize something towards the end of the month with some of the ladies and after the boys came home from school, we made some more.

It was fun

and messy too.

the Glaze recipe:
2 1/2 C powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. water plus 2 tsp. of water
1 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
1/2 tsp almond extract
mix together. divide into smaller bowls before adding food coloring. a drop or two go a long ways. I bought new paint brushes of different thicknesses to decorate the cookies. The glaze dries quickly and then you can layer and embellish.


Just some guesses as to what this kid might be when he grows up....a chef (because he loves food and eating and is constantly fixing himself something and is very creative at it)....a doctor of some sort (he loves working with tools and doesn't fear blood and gross things, this is my wish for him of course :0).....maybe a construction worker or contractor (he's strong and again, likes working with tools).....but who knows...just will have to wait and see.

Still have no inclination as to what this little fellow will be.

With Toki....some kind of scientist.....maybe not an astronaut although that would be cool....he's so afraid of heights and freaks out when walking down those open staircases of apartment buildings or when we hike up to Mt. Timpanogas he has to be touching the mountain and freaks out when his siblings or I get too close to the edge....maybe perhaps working for NASA in the controls or designing parts for the space-station (of course my dream)

Discovery Museum

Lolo

on the laptop. Some web-sights we go to are pbskids.com, moshimonsters.com, clubpenguins, and dance mat typing (bbc.co.uk) where Toki is learning how to type.

Chris and I got to conversing about how we didn't know how to use a computer or type until we were much older than our kids. Me....I learned to type in high school and I never used a computer until college.

I found myself wondering if placing a laptop on a lap for long periods of time causes infertility or maybe cancer.

Anyway, I do want to give my kids all the opportunities in life, so just in case....no more laptops placed on laps for extended periods of time. *I read that young children shouldn't stand near a microwave when in use, in a parenting magazine. On the microwave topic....often microwaves are on counter level and if you are short like me that would be at breast level. Thus I no longer stand in front of the microwave when it's running, for fear of getting breast cancer. O.K. a little too much insight into my cancer phobia.

Date Night

We met up with the Mitchells for some dinner and then Chris and I saw Avatar in 3-D. I really loved the movie. I've been having some inner conflict as to why anyone would want to become a God to a world like ours with so much inequality, starvation, abuse, war, hatred, etc....finding a few reasons such as to experience love, personal growth, and to have the plethora of experiences that come from having children.....but at such a cost.... I think if I were to be a Goddess, it would be to a planet like Pandora and untouched by our hunger for power and money. Sometimes I wish for a world without disease and other types of suffering, a safe place, free from evil and terrible things, a place where the kids do as they're told and are perfectly obedient........sounds a lot like Lucifer's plan before he fell away. I'm not saying I'm falling away....just that I hate seeing so much suffering and here I am in my little bubble, warm and well fed. I do however know I would like to increase my faith and react more because of it than because of fear.

Projects

With only one full day in between business trips Chris tries to make the best of it. Last week, just an hour before we had to leave to take him to the airport, he made a birdhouse for our female parakeet and just a couple hours before having to drive to the airport today, he finished the bunk bed ladder and rail. What a guy.

Some things I'd like to work on:

Asking my boys to do things using "please" and "will you." Because I am their mother I feel entitled to tell them what to do because I am wiser and they need guidance. I either don't feel like I need to use polite words, lose my patience, or think it quicker to just give out demands. However, I've made a mistake and thus have created a couple bossy kids in the process. I'm in the very beginning stages of undoing the damage and I don't know if it can be done. crossing my fingers

Being a funner mom. I can be unenthusiastic with my motherly and wifely duties. Sometimes it just gets old. Maybe you can relate? I think if the lull drags on, everyone just starts getting down. So, even if it's just an outing to the dollar store or dollar theater, or reading the Wizard of Oz before watching the movie together.......I need to make the initiative. Since Chris is out of town, I can no longer rely on him to get us moving.

Making due with what I have. I'm envious of large, extended, Mormon families who have a strong social support system in place, helping each other and with kids the same age. I think it's a blessing for them. Their kids have so many good examples to follow. I feel like I'm doing this alone. And it's really, really hard sometimes. sniff, sniff. One of the speakers today at church spoke a lot about serving your neighbors. Not to be judgmental of him, but I was, when I thought...that guy has never bothered to speak to us...and when I thought...when are you going to come over and help me? How horrible of me.

and building up my kids. Just being more positive with them, praising them, really listening to what they have to say. They deserve it. They are precious to me. My test and gifts from God.

Latest Reads

These books are written by Indian authors. They both gave me some insight into Indian culture, which I think is complex and fascinating. Climbing the Stairs is set during WW II. I never thought about this before but because so many of the people believed strongly in Gandhi's teachings that nonviolence is the weapon of the brave, they weren't able to fight in the war and if they wanted to or did, they were often ostracized by their families. The second book was set more in our times but both books included lots of protesting against the government and in the first book, against British rule. When parts of India were under British rule, the Indian people had to put up with a lot of discrimination from white people that lived on their lands because of the color of their skin. They became an independent country officially in 1950. Hurray.

I think there is so much inequality created because of the caste system. I don't want to criticize the culture but I can't imagine being stuck in one of the lower castes. It's sad to think what some of those groups do and are only allowed to do because of their caste. I'm specifically thinking of the people who clean up the feces from homes, known as Sweepers who are part of the group of Untouchables. They are not allowed to interact with other people of higher caste because they are considered dirty. Imagine having that label upon you, your whole life. I guess if you don't know any better, it wouldn't be as bad but I can't imagine not wishing for a better life. Here's a video if you are interested.



I also think that Indian people are some of the most beautiful people in the world. They have beautiful features and so many of them are striking to me. Chris showed me a picture of one of his co workers who is Indian and who Chris speaks highly of. He was really good looking and I sort of joked that someone's not telling him the truth about who his dad is because he was so light. Chris joked with him about it and the guy said that in Indian culture, the lighter skin is favored and often in arranged marriages the lighter skin is preferred. Interesting stuff.

A while ago I heard on the news that India has a low incidence of colon cancer and that researchers think it may be due to the high consumption of turmeric spice. They were testing that theory. The next time I went to the store I made sure to pick up the spice and started using it here and there. Because it does change the flavor of my usual dishes I started using it less and less. However, turmeric is a main ingredient in curry and I use curry powder a couple times a month.

While a missionary in Japan, I got to try Indian curry. Indian restaurant owners who opened shop in Japan, made a variety of curry and you could choose how hot you wanted your dish. They served all curry with Nam pan and you could choose to have a tasty yogurt drink with your meal. Seriously, some of the best food I've ever had and I miss it. If I ever go back to Japan, eating at an Indian curry shop will be on my list of things to do. Both books mention food quite a bit. I kept wondering what this or that looked like and what it might taste like. Made me really curious about the food. It all sounded really healthy and delicious. I wonder if I'll ever get a chance to get to know some other dishes besides curry.

In the Marriage Bureau for Rich People, arranged marriages were a main topic. I've always been curious about this topic. One of my neighbor friends that I played with growing up had her marriage arranged. I was shocked when I first heard of her marriage and couldn't imagine a modern girl putting up with that. However, the book mentioned that romantic love/marriage doesn't last and that most couples whose marriages are based on that initial romantic love will in a couple years have to find other things in their marriage to keep it strong. Arranged marriages are supposedly arranged by people with more experience and wisdom, keeping in mind the compatibility between two people based on several factors including marrying within the same caste. Love develops later as these two people come together, have a family and experiences together. It doesn't take much to convince me, so I must say that I'm convinced that it can work.

All in all the books were pretty good. It took me a while to get into them since I felt both had slow starts. They both gave me some really good insight into the culture and also ended with a love story, which I'm a sucker for, even if it is arranged.

We are working through the Flu

First Chris, then I, and now all the kids. Sure makes me appreciate good health.

Some things I remember happening this past week:

Vy said something that made me chuckle...."Mom, all I think about is food." To which I could not disagree.

He also made us cards. One was a snowflake and one he wrote, "I lve Daddy, I lve Mommy" to which he drew the three of us holding hands. (he was the only one who made us cards...A thoughtful Vy...which he really is). This boy is so sweet and sour. And I love him.

For the purpose of division of labor, I believe we had the following conversation about who has it worse (Rated R, not for the modest, mature generation):

Chris--You didn't have to go to work feeling like this, and then lock your keys in the car and have to wait for road side service, and then try to drive home. I thought I was going to die. But I had to stay alive for you guys.

Lucy--Yeah, that's pretty bad. But I did have to get 3 kids off to school, 3 different times, and attend a school program looking like a train wreck and everyone giving me that look of disgust. And your girl problems didn't start up, and you don't have the runs. I definitely have it worse.

Chris--What about when we had cryposporidium and I was on that toilet for a week straight.

Lucy--You only had it for a week? Lucky. We had it for four weeks and you didn't get the debilitating cramps. I had it worse.

Chris--You did not have it for four weeks but it's true I didn't have the cramps. What about the time I had the stomach flu and I threw up all over the bathroom floor?

Lucy--Oh, I definitely had it worse. I was 8 months pregnant with Lolo and had to clean up man puke. Brotha, you might of had the stomach flu, but I had it worse.

Chris--Yeah, I'll go do the dishes now.

Date night

Went to check out some hot pots.

It actually got too hot in there.

Nonetheless it was worth checking out. Just up the street were hot pots that were made for a housing community. It just look like a bunch of steaming swimming pools and hot tubs. Super nice. I'd live around there if it weren't for the long commute.

Some sushi and udon for the two of us.

Happy Birthday to Toki

We had some of our favorite friends over for a "Game Night." Here they are playing "bop it." Lots of competitiveness, cheating, calling each other out, denial, and even some good punches. Boys, gotta love em.

While Chris led a game of Settlers with these very loud, excited boys, I got the better end of the deal with a game of Ticket to Ride with about half as many kids. They actually were getting it and wanted to keep playing. I'm thinking a cute black and white picture on that wall would look nice.

This face sums it up.

He's still holding a grudge that we let him sleep through most of the festivities.


Some brownies and ice cream. And not to mention all the goodies while playing games. The level of hyperactivity and noise was off the charts.

Some more silliness

A pinata. Everyone gets so worked up about not getting as much candy as so and so.

Cheap thing was decapitated after the first hit. Homemade ones are better.

Some gifts. Love how the boys are so eager to hand Toki their gift and then await for the reaction. He was so gracious. But then again he scored. His friends are so generous.


A last minute game of football. Half the boys were here and the other half were jumping on the trampoline. I'm always glad to throw a party for the birthday boys. They're so happy and built up afterward. Next time my goal is not be so raunchy while getting it all set up.