Friday, February 26

"A Wilderness Explorer is a friend to all, be a place or fish or tiny mole." - Russell

When Porter turned eight he joined Cub Scouts in the Wolf Pack. He loves Cub Scouts. He loves that he has a uniform with patches (that have not been sewn on yet, why don’t they make those things iron on), he loves that he has a book and he loves doing the activities from the book and earning more patches and clips that hang off buttons and belts and he loves doing it all with his “pack” of friends.

I was asked to assist in Porter’s pack and Olen is the Cub Master so we’re just one big happy Cubbing (that’s Cub Scout slang) family. I’m not as enthusiastic as Olen and Porter are about scouting. Tying knots and helping the elderly cross the street or making bird houses out of milk cartons aren’t really what get me going. Our pack’s once a week meetings at the brink of dinner time isn’t my favorite thing either. But you know what is? This guy.

So I am embracing the call and learning to enjoy the hour I spend each week with Porter and my friend Ashley (who really does it all) as we help our pack of eight year-old boys progress patch by patch towards becoming Eagle Scouts. I guess dinner time will just have to wait.
 

Wednesday, February 24

Wordless Wednesday: Big Sister For Life

"She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child."
 ~Barbara Alpert

Katie, Chelsea, Darcy, Bethany, Olivia and Aubrey. I love you.

Monday, February 22

You're beautiful baby!

I am most grateful to accept this award from Lourie. Even as I sit with my pony tail, pink-striped pajama bottoms and Olen’s t-shirt; I am feeling very beautiful. Thank you so much Lourie.


The conditions of accepting this award are to share seven facts about you and to pass the award on to fifteen other blogs you’ve recently discovered. Now, here’s the thing; you know how people say that it’s the third baby that can really throw things off kilter (haven’t you ever heard anyone say that)? Well, they ain’t kidding. I’m getting the hang of it all now just great, but man did our third kid really rock my boat. Diaper bags, nap times, feedings and car seats really don’t leave me much time for discovering new blogs. Not to mention my return to real estate and my desire to have a life outside of my computer chair. So instead of nominating fifteen other blogs I’ve recently discovered I would like to award this Beautiful Blogger Award to all of you. Thank you for taking the time to see what’s going on in our little world and for being so beautiful. Good for you.

I really love reading random and little-known facts about you, but when listing stuff about me I always feel like that one scene from [one of the best movies ever made] Beaches when CC Bloom is getting interviewed and she’s all “…I’m a person with deep feelings who feels things deeply.” Gag me, right? I’ve done a few tags where you answer funny questions about yourself and I’ve left up one or two, but I’ve also deleted a couple after 35 nauseating minutes of publishing. But since I know I can’t ask you to go back home and write out your seven facts without me sharing first, I will be brave.

First here’s what facts my family would tell you about me:

Porter
“Well, you’re really pretty (okay, some of these aren’t facts). Your favorite color is yellow (totally is) your favorite foods are your diet foods like fish (totally aren’t) and you like to spend time with your family.”

Olen
“You love to travel, and want to live in Italy (dead on). Your hobby is doing your nails (dead wrong) and your favorite movie is Life is Beautiful.”

London
“You like to clean (well, I like a clean house, so yeah).”

Here’s what I would tell you about me:
1. I’m turning 29 this year and am freaking out a little about it. Having Olen talk about getting a mini van is not helping.
2. If I could spend the day with anyone in the world it would totally be Tina Fey, we would be best friends forever. If she even knew I existed.
3. I think I missed my true calling as a news anchor. I think I could totally rock that job.
4. When I was little I wanted a small family. I would tell my mom, “I’m only going to have eight kids.”
5. I have tried, but just can’t get into sparkling vampires or under-aged werewolves. But really I know it’s just because I’m crazy jealous that such a mediocre piece of literature could be so insanely (and monetarily) popular. But I would never tell anyone that.
6. Being a mom and wife are what I love best. It's the greatest to loose count of how many times I get to say "I love you", and really mean it, each day.
7. I am a deeply feeling person who feels things deeply. There, I said it.

Now you know what to do, you beautiful blogger, you. Don’t leave me hanging.

Saturday, February 20

You make me happy when skies are grey.

Yesterday was so sunshiney, yes that's a word, and warm. Today is cloudy, chilly and raining.
I had such high hopes for today and the yard work that was to be accomplished, oh well.
Instead we pulled out the half-priced paint sets I've been saving for a rainy day such as this.
Now I'll catch up on the kids' journals while they watch a movie.
I'm thinking a little ghetto toffee would make this day perfect.

Wednesday, February 17

If ya ain't got a Disneyland...

Every Tuesday at the Bass Pro Shop is kids' night, but you don't have to be a kid to have a great time.

We got to have Aubrey come along and the lady asked me if all my kids wanted to enter the coloring contest. I said, "Yes, and so does my sister." and totally threw her for a loop.

First we ate a little free popcorn and colored while checking out the aquarium feedings happening behind us.

The craft project was making your own kaleidoscope. This was a huge hit with Aubrey and Porter, but London was done sitting still after the coloring.

Bass Pro's boat show is happening right now. (What a coincidence.)
Here's what scheming and dreaming at its finest looks like.


Daisy was such an angel and charmed all the other customers walking by with her dimpled smiles.

Porter and Aubrey try their skills at the target practicing.

London gets a lesson from "Eagle Eye" himself.

But decides she would rather watch.

London gave me exactly .5 seconds for a photo op in the most comfortable hillbilly chair I've ever sat in.

I said, "London, I want a picture of how pretty you are. Say 'cheese'!"
Then I got this:

"Yikes Elle. That turned out to be a scary cheese. How about you don't say anything and just show me your beautiful brown eyes?"
Then I got this:

"Wow. Okay, this time just look at me with your eyes and smile, but don't say anything."
Then this:

"Alright. Just hold still and let me take a picture and then I'll buy you some cotton candy."
And finally this:

Porter gets his chance to burn rubber like Dale Jr. at the Nascar simulator. Aubrey (who rode shotgun) got a little car sick, it was that real.

He could only just barely see over the steering wheel and came in 14th place. Not too shabby for his Nascar debut.

This pictue tells a lot of stories. 
Two generations.
Two boys in a candy shop (Their motto: "Early to bed, Early to rise, Fish all day, Make up lies").
Teacher-Student.
Father-Son.
Suspenders.
Father-in-law fresh from heart surgery (two weeks ago).
Louis L'Amour in the back pocket in case he finds himself waiting on the women.
Nights like this just go to show, you don't need a theme park to find the "happiest place on earth".

Tuesday, February 16

Four months came way too fast.

(Thanks to Auntie Lisa for the outfit and flower clip. So cute!)

She's discovered her hands and stares at them any time she's not asleep or being held.
She gets really sad when she's left alone in a room.
She has chosen Porter as her favorite; he can always make her laugh.
She babbles and coos and London can translate what she says. She's usually saying "London".
She hates tummy time.
She loves to cuddle.

Here are all my babies at four months. Daisy reminds me so much of Porter, in looks and temperament, but I can see a lot of London in her too.

Friday, February 12

A Valentine that lasts.

Here's what I've been doing for Porter's class Valentines from kindergarten to the second grade. No glitter, no glue; nothing but recycled crayons, one wicked heart baking sheet, a bag, a design and a staple.

I know what you're thinking: "Molly, killer idea but I was up all night last night making my kid's class Valentines. You're a little late."

Sorry. We didn't make these till last night either. But keep the idea for next year, and when crayons go on sale super cheap in the fall when school starts grab a few...hundred. And think of me and the amazing Valentines you and your kids will make. Also, next week when Valentine stuff goes on clearance see if you can pick up your own wicked heart baking sheet.

1. Take out that bucket/shoe box/jar of broken crayons you have. I know you have one, we all do.

2. Peel off the "skin" (London talk for label).

3. Bang and break.

4. Take out the heart shaped silicon baking sheet you use only once a year, but it is totally worth it.

5. Melt. Baking time depends on how much you banged and broke your crayon pieces. For the size above, seven minutes works perfectly. Smaller pieces = less melt time but the colors can melt together and then all your crayons will look like "boy colors" (more London talk).

(After melted, I transfered the tray into the freezer to set up faster because I had to make three more batches of these and the oven was needed to bake dinner. I'm sure if you're not in a rush they would cool on a countertop rack just fine.)

6. Package. Porter didn't approve of Hobby Lobby's selection of "Mi Amore" and "I love you" Valentine bags, so I used these 3"x4" jewelry accessory bags so we could customize our messege.  

Porter did the peeling, banging, signing and filled the bags. I did the melting, cutting and stapeling.The kids in his class will do the coloring and loving.

Happy Valentine's Day from our family to yours.

Wednesday, February 10

Tuesday, February 9

Loserville, USA Population: zero

Porter climbed into the car and threw his backpack on the front seat.

“Mom, they’re going to pass out candy grams on Friday!”

I immediately felt sick to my stomach and the need for a hug from my mom. I was transported back to seventh grade homeroom sitting at my desk with a book in my face pretending that it was the most interesting thing I’ve ever read as the student council filled up the other desks around me with piles of candy grams from their adoring friends. I hated candy gram day. Junior high was hell and candy gram day was like a parade of cheerleaders and quarter backs presenting me with my own invitation to Loserville. I think I had five friends in junior high and two of them were teachers and one was my brother. It wasn’t until high school that…

MOM?!”

“Oh, huh? Sorry. What?

“Mom, that’s cool, huh. Candy grams?”

“Yeah, candy grams. Candy grams are cool. You never know who’s going to give you one. ” (At this point I’m working up a plan to go before school to the front desk and order a mountain of candy grams for Porter. No way will his desk be empty.)

“Oh, I’ll get one for sure.”

“Yup, I know you will sugar.” (I could go right after Porter leaves for school and grab a stack of order forms...)

“Yeah, you wanna see?”

He hands me an order form with the first box already filled out.

I read it and look back at him in the rear view mirror, he’s got his arms stretched behind his head and is looking out the window with a sly smile.

“Oh the cleverness of you, Porter boy.”
(How come I never thought of that…)


Funny how easy it is as parents to unknowingly pass on our own insecurities to our children. I don't think I give Porter enough credit; he really is one cool Cadillac and I should stop fussing. Now my plan is to order a candy gram for all the students in Porter’s class. Instead of one kid getting a mountain of candy grams, how about no kid having an empty desk. What if we reverse the system? Instead of feeling like the coolest kid because you got the most candy grams, how about feeling cool because you gave the most? This way everyone's a winner, and Loserville has one less resident on candy gram day.

Sunday, February 7

Molly's Rule of Life #1

Make big wishes on little stars.
I dedicate this to you.
You know who you are.
You, with the long-range plans that have been cut short because of things beyond your control and are now waiting to see what other plans lay in store for you.
You, looking for a change but can't seem to find one yet so you keep hugging the little people that need you until that change shows up.
You, about to move on to the next phase of your life and are unsure about the person you will be when you get there. 
You, starting over again from the bottom but knowing you can only go up.
You are a diamond in a coal mine being perfected through the pressures against you.
You are a butterfly confined to a cocoon experiencing the growing pains that are necessary to reveal your beauty on another day.
You are a daughter of God.
You are known.
So keep making your big wishes on stars that seem so far away.
You are being heard.

Friday, February 5

Flashback Friday: Is this the one Kate?

The year: 1992
The place: roadside Utah
The perm: very 1992

Katie says the picture of Porter in his pretend new glasses reminds her of me in a pair of my earlier frames (three cheers for Lasik) so I dug through my photo albums to satisfy the memory and found this one.

My family was on a vacation visiting my great aunt and uncle in Utah and my dad pulled over to let me pick some wild sunflowers on the side of the road because they are my favorite. I remember him taking this picture as the other cars sped by and just feeling really happy as time stood still.

Wednesday, February 3

"Did you know..."

(We got Porter new glasses yesterday. I tried to talk him into getting this pair, but I was shut down. He did let me take his picture and we sent it to Olen asking if he liked Port's new frames. Olen texted back, "Really?" and then we had a great laugh.)

Porter finds answers for everything and then loves sharing them with me because, you know, I don’t know as much as an eight year-old boy. And ain't that the truth! After a talk with Porter I always am more educated.

This was our conversation earlier this week while I was helping Porter with his homework (he started division and cursive). The stuff he was saying was too good to forget so I left the table to get a notebook and started writing everything down as he said it. I told him I was making a grocery list and he kept asking what was so funny about the groceries when I couldn’t hold back a few giggles.

“Did you know that pepperoni was invented by the French people?”
“No, I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah, cuz English words never end in ‘i’ or ‘u’ or ‘v’, so it had to be the French people.”
“Had to be.”

“Can I make a mini satellite?”
“Well, what would you need to make a mini satellite?”
“One 9 volt battery, four tiny pieces of wire, some tin foil maybe six inches, and can I use that calculator that only works in the sun?”
“I have everything but the tin foil.”

“Did you know that a zillion has 17 zeros? And a trillion has 16 zeros?”

“Did you know a kilometer is more than a mile?”
“Like it takes more kilometers to make a mile?”
“No, like it’s waayy bigger than a mile. Like it takes, oh, about six kilometers to get to the store, so it would probably take maybe thirty to get to California.”

“Mom, I know what you could do to stop getting speeding tickets.”
(I got ONE speeding ticket a couple weeks ago. Old news.)
“What?”
“You know how sometimes you get a head ache cuz your phone is ringing and LaLa is screaming and I know you have a hand full (he means hands full) so you get stressed out? On those days you should just drive really really slow or don't drive at all. But don’t forget to pick me up.”
“Okay. I can do that.”

I cherish these conversations with my son. They allow time for me to congratulate him on thinking things out on his own and also time so I can teach him how we can check our answers with other sources to make sure they’re correct. Like pepperoni came from Italy, a trillion really only has twelve zeros and a zillion isn’t considered a real number, but is just used to express a large quantity. And one kilometer equals just over half a mile, so it would be way more than about 18.6 miles (30 kilometers) to California. But he was right, no original English word will ever end in an ‘i’, ‘u’ or ‘v’, and I really should slow down or stay home when I’m stressed out.

Monday, February 1

Potluck Toffee

As I unloaded groceries to the pantry shelf I saw this recipe on the side of the generic saltine cracker box. They called it Saltine Chocolate Pieces and as I read the recipe I saw that I had all the ingredients, I bet you do too.

1 sleeve saltine crackers
3/4 c brown sugar
1 c butter
12 oz. (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 c chopped nuts (I like pecans)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line cookie sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Cover cookie sheet with saltines. Boil sugar and butter for 3 minutes (do not let this burn!). Pour mixture over saltines and spread evenly. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let set for one minute, then spread melted chips with spatula. Sprinkle chopped nuts over this and press down lightly to set. Cut on diagonal immediately or cool until firm, then break up. (I couldn't wait for it to set up so I put the whole cookie sheet in the freezer, worked great. Start to finish done in 10 minutes!)

My variation: After I made these once I thought I would like to control the amount of salt involved. Not because I wanted less salt, but because I wanted more. Have you ever had Trader Joe's salted chocolate almonds? Salt + chocolate = awesome. So the second time I made these with unsalted-tops saltines and sprinkled course sea salt on the melted chocolate chips just before adding the nuts. It was perfect.

I thought the name Chocolate Saltine Pieces was pretty lame and didn't give justice to how amazing these are. They taste like Roca Buttercrunch Toffee, except the main ingredient is crackers, so I wanted to name them Ghetto Toffee. Then Olen said it reminded him of something that would be brought to a church potluck. I agreed and we decided to rename this recipe Potluck Toffee. After you make these yummies, let me know what you would call them.