"Sith" Disease

Boofus and the Caboose have had mild flu-like symptoms over the last weekend, then yesterday a full-on bright flushed face with some lacey blotch-ing on their tummies...no sore throat, no runny nose, low fever, no coughing.
It looked like "fifth disease" to me, so I looked it up online, and sure enough that's what it seems to be...a common childhood virus that requires nothing but fluids, rest and acetominophin when needed. Oh, and it's called "fifth disease" b/c the genius men who were in charge of "naming" it couldn't think of a better one than "hey, it's one of the 5 common childhood diseases...measles, is already taken, so "fifth" will work."

So Mr. Wonderful aka Daddy, walks in from work last night; the youngest two rush him at the door like always, and Boofus announces,"We got Sith Disease!"

Yeah, they watched a Star Wars Marathon last weekend on TV--and once I thought about it, makes sense...the "lord of the Siths" had a red face, right? Makes total sense to me. I think that name is way better than "fifth disease", don't you??

Little Sponges

This picture has kept a grin on my face...the Caboose is "mocking" her sister while we were taking Senior pictures that morning.

She doesn't miss a thing.

From this morning:

The Caboose:

"Mom, can I go play now?"

Momza: "Well, you need to eat something before you run out,k?"

She's quiet for a moment. I hear the kitchen cupboards open, close, open, close. The fridge door open, close, open, close.

The Caboose: "Mom, I'm fasting today. I didn't fast on Sunday, so I gotta fast today, k?"

Momza: "No, you need to put something in your tummy before you run outside."

The Caboose: " I need the blessings."

Momza: "No."

The Caboose

So this morning I had a conversation with my youngest...aka The Caboose:

Momza: "So school starts up again this week, and we need to get back on schedule...you know, going to bed earlier, gettting up a little earlier, laying out clothes for the next day, you need to find your book bag and get it ready too."

The Caboose: "Awww...you sound just like my mother."

The Weekend!

So what did you do over the weekend?

I had a long one. In fact, this whole Christmas break feels like it's been like the song that never ends...do you remember that one from Shari and Lambchop? (If you just remebered it, I'm sorry for planting that tune in your head now...."this is the song that never ends...and it goes on and on my friends...")

So Friday morning I had to take a trailer full of Christmas trees back to the Church, for Another wedding reception. That's what Mormon sisters do....we loan out whatever we have for each other's kids' receptions: table cloths, little twinkly lights, ficus trees, or Christmas trees as is the case in November-January, and whatever else we have...then it all just gets rotated around to whomever needs it. Since our reception was last weekend, I had the 16 Christmas trees, and the trailer we all used to haul them around in, so I had to get them to the Church for the reception that was happening that night. Then, I went home to get ready to drive 2 hours north to Fort Collins for yet ANOTHER wedding reception of some friends' kids up there.(And yes, there were at least 10 lit-up Christmas trees at that one too--this is getting kinda silly!) It was great fun seeing old friends and catching up with them all.

Then Saturday was just a blur. I caught up on some rest.

Church started at 9am yesterday--a change from the 1 o'clock timeslot we've had this last year.

So we got up early (ugh), left the house by 8:30am and were kinda surprised to see that the Chapel was nearly empty until 8:57am when it seemed a Greyhound bus pulled into the Parking lot and let out 300 people! I am a Primary teacher for the 7-turning-8 year olds. The Caboose is in my little class of cutie-patooties.

We came home to some crockpot chili, then we all just hung-out and rested.

Dani & Brad showed up with laundry to do, and Brad basically stood in the kitchen like a puppy eating whatever came his way.

I'm more than ready for School to resume on Thursday. Let's just say I'm ready for a vacation after this one.

New Resolve

The Golden Rule...May 2009 be the Year I perfect it in my own life and appreciate it more as it is extended to me by others.

Living Fairly. Being Fair-minded. Less Selfish. More Sportsmanship.

May I remember to have Joy in the Journey and to ENjoy those that travel with me. And may I never cease to make course corrections when needed...or stop and ask for directions when I'm not sure.

May I never be too tired to listen to the dreams of my children.

May my children know that I am their biggest cheerleader.

May I be true to my own childhood expectations of the kind of woman I wanted to become.

And may I find the strength within to remember if I have to choose between being Right or Being Kind, that I am Kind.

Happy New Year!

Raising Sons and Daughters

My fingers are kinda frozen in this minute.
My mind is trying to put into words feelings of my heart.
It's taking me a minute to figure out how to do it the way I want to do it.

What I wanna say is this:

To all of you Momma's out there
Who may stumble upon this blog of mine or actually follow it:

Thank you for doing your best as you are mothering your children.
Thank you for teaching them what Character, Morals, Integrity means and how to live with those traits and habits in this very screwed up world.
I need you to keep fighting the good fight. The same fight I am fighting day in and day out.
Thank you for being Consistent and True while raising your Children, who may some day have an association with My Children.

The past couple of days I have had a few, very hard-to-come-by moments of reflection, and I find my thoughts focused on the recent marriage of my oldest daughter, Dani. And on the yearling anniversary of my oldest son, David Scott. More specifically, how grateful I am that they have married really good people. I mean REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.
How grateful I am that my daughter-in-law's mother taught her so well the very important principles of living an honest life. A faithful life. A strong work ethic. A loving nature. An un-selfish character. A morally upright foundation to build upon.
I love this young woman. And she loves my son. She inspires him to be better with all the love of her heart. And he loves her.
When I think of Mr. Idaho--I just feel so much respect for him. He too, has come from a family wherein only the very best of training was employed. He is earnest in all he does. We love him. Dani loves him.

So to all of you Moms out there, wondering if all of your hard work is for naught, may I APPLAUD your efforts and give you a cyber "pat on the back" for your effort!
I have 4 more children who will go out into this world someday, looking for their own unique "someone special" to bring home to the rest of us...it may be one of your own.

They say "like attracts like"...I think that is so true. So just know this: This Momza sees the inherent BIG Picture and is doing all she can to build responsible, faithful, loving adults prepared to meet their match.

Don't get discouraged when days go wrong as they sometimes do. Don't quit trying to have FHE, family prayer, and encouraging your teens to do their best, developing their talents as well as their character! I'm doing the same thing!

We mothers have so much at stake. Motherhood is not for Sissies!

"Do not be weary in well-doing."

TEN GREAT THINGS ABOUT 2008 & more

My World. Thanks Andra S. for taking this.

Homestaging with Kelly. We make things pretty. ;-) She loves Red!

My attempt at taking Diana's senior pics. She was brave to let me.

Sign I posted for the kids before we moved.

On the Mission. So, this is the story: The night she came home from her mission, we stayed up way late...at least until 1 or 2 am, as she poured out her heart to me about her mission: her companions, her investigators, the language (spanish), the trials, the joys and we also went through her missionary journal--a large journal that was filled to the very end with pictures and momentos that made it into a large scrapbook--each page filled out by other missionaries and friends from the mission. She comes to one page and says as she points at a picture, "See this guy? Yeah, if he ever asks me to marry him, I"m sayin' "YES!" Then she turned the page. I'm like, "WHAT? Wait! Who is that?"

"oh" she says, "that's Elder P****; you'll never meet him though, so no big deal." [shrug]

"O ok." Which just goes to show you that you just never know how things may turn out!

He came home, walked into her heart and closed the door behind him. His parents raised a good son.

Rocky Mountain High.

Thoroughly worn-out and well-done.

Biggest Surprise of My Life!

What a way to start 2008! He was awesome and so was his Mommy!

10. First Doula client gave birth in January 2008--which totally rocked my socks off! Sixteen year old Mom was fantastic!

9. Mother's Day in Meridian, ID. Thanks to Lorna S. for showing me how to truly love and serve others, and reminding me that Heavenly Father is keenly aware of my mothers' heart.

8. Dani's safe return from the New Jersey Cherry Hill Mission after 19 months of service.

7. Kent's new job that brought us back to Colorado, just like our sweet Bishop said would happen in a priesthood blessing months earlier.

6. Moving back to Colorado. The home of my heart. Where I will live until I am old-er and gray-er.

5. Losing 15 lbs. without dieting in the first month back in CO.--even tho' Nannette takes me out to lunch almost daily! Who knew happiness was the cure for fat?!

4. Working with my new home staging partner, Kelly--who makes me laugh so hard my teeth hurt.

3. My first home birth with Dottie. So totally wonderful, amazing, inspiring, tender, perfect.

2. Dani's marriage to Mr. Idaho December 18th. A beautiful blessing for us all in the Salt Lake Temple.

1. Having the entire family together for Christmas after being separated for 5 years. I needed that.

Two Easy Recipes for NEW YEARS

So I am not a traditional Black Beans for New Years' eve Momza. I think I have made my last pot of beans last week when I made Split Pea soup and all of the people in this house (also known as my FAMILY) ate something else. We're not a bean-eating family evidently.
So this is what's cookin for tonight:

EASY Green Chili Beef Tortillas
You'll need a crockpot. Yeah, there's a reason Crockpot Lady is on my blog. I love my crockpot!

Put a little oil in the bottom of your crockpot.
Add your uncooked roast of choice. I've used beef and pork. Both are good. Both favorites.
Sprinkle some ground pepper on it, to your taste.
Add about 3 TB of minced garlic on the top.
Open a can of green chilis and pour it on the top.
THAT'S IT!

Put the lid on it and COOK on Low overnight, into the next day or evening. Just let it cook until you're ready to eat. For the last couple of hours, let it cook with the lid off to get rid of some juice.
Then shred it all up in the pot.
Serve with flour tortillas, cheese, sour cream, salsa--whatever else you like on your burritos!
And I'll be serving it with spanish rice.



Bechamel Lasagna

This is what we had for Christmas dinner. My family jumped up and down when I offered it up instead of the traditional stuff for a change. The best part is that I didn't have to cook it. My husband loves making it, and Dani wanted to learn how, so she was his "assistant". Yea for me!
We got this recipe from our very kind friend, C. Valduga, who is in fact, from Northern Italy.
It's his Momma's Recipe, no kidding.

Bechamel Lasagna
YEILD: 2 large (bigger than 9x13) pans

Ingredients:
2 Boxes of Lasagna Noodles (No-Cook or Regular)
Mozzarella & Parmesan Cheese (Shredded...amount depends on how much you love cheese! We use a large bag of each)
Salt

RAGU (red) sauce:
olive oil
Whole cloves of garlic
6 cans diced tomatoes
2 lbs. of Ground Pork

In big pot:
Saute garlic in olive oil. Crush tomatoes in a food processor or blender...just a little to make it more saucy, but not totally smoothe. Add tomatoes to garlic. Then add Pork. Cook until browned. Add salt to taste.

BECHAMEL (white)sauce:
Pint of Half n Half & 1/2 Gal of 2% milk or 1/2 Gallon of Whole Milk
Flour
Nutmeg

In big Pot:
Add about 1/2 gal of whole milk or half n half with some 2% milk to make a 1/2 gallon.
Bring to low boil, then add flour to thicken. Use a handheld mixer as you slowly add the flour so it comes to a smoothe consistency. Add the nutmeg until you can just barely taste it. Add salt to taste.

ASSEMBLY:
Spray LARGE baking pan with Pam or similar (for easy serving and clean-up!).
Spread a small amount of Ragu sauce on bottom of pan.
Then Noodles.
Ragu. (red sauce)
Bechamel.(white sauce)
Cheeses.
Start Over.
End with Cheese.

Cook in 350o oven for 30 minutes COVERED with aluminum foil. Then UNCOVERED for 10 minutes. Then, take it out and let it sit undisturbed for 15 minutes to set before serving.

*Notice there is no cottage or ricotta cheese in this recipe. It's not how they make it over there!

This makes an enourmous amount of food...don't eat it alone...call some family and/or friends over! Tell someone to bring a salad, and someone else to bring some great Italian bread over with them! Start the New Year off right, surrounded by people you love!

ENJOY!

Cutting Apron Strings

The Wedding is Over, the last reception is through...and for the first time as I drove away from Dani's new home last night--a cute but typically small newlywed apartment, I felt the sting of cutting away another "apron string".
I went up to Denver to take David Scott & Tisha to the Airport and then took the rest of Dani's belongings to her. I hadn't expected to see her so soon after this weekend, but she needed her stuff. In fact, I thought she would be revelling in some alone time, as Mr. Idaho was at school. I was surprised when I showed up with her stuff and she said she was actually glad to see me; she said she hated being alone...and noted that,in fact, she's never been alone. Not in a huge family, not in Europe when she was a Nanny, and not on her mission...there's always been someone else around. I had always thought she was my child who would relish some peace and quiet.
So we took off shopping. And she was happy. And it was easy. We're not in the same roles anymore. She's making a new life for herself and her identity is changing rapidly...from a daughter to a wife and homemaker. That's alot of change. For both of us. I am not one who wants their kids to live at home forever--quite the contrary-- I have encouraged all of my kids to DREAM BIG, to travel, explore, in short-- to run away from home--but write and call to tell me all about it!
Anywho, we went grocery shopping! Shopping for TWO is so much different (and cheaper!) than shopping for 7...or 9 when they were all home. Or 12, as has been the case over the holidays.
I so enjoyed this experience with her...giving her ideas on what to cook this first full week of married life and then stepping back and letting her decide what SHE wants to make for her husband. Am I making too much of this? I don't know. I'm easily entertained, I know.
And sentimental too.
So when we're loading groceries in the car--Mr. Idaho's on the phone with his Mom-- so I hug this girl of mine once more and said "Enjoy this very sweet time in your life. Just you and him. Before you know it, there will be a mortgage, and babies, and you'll wonder where the time went, and this will all be a vague memory of when it was just the two of you. So enjoy this time. Be good to each other. Take care of him, make a wonderful dinner tonight, we love you both!"
Then I got in my car, turned on my GPS, got on the highway, and cried on the way home.

A Sneak Peek

Unbeknownst to me, there are interested parties who keep checkin' my blog for pics of THE WEDDING....this is a sneak peek of what's to come soon....
It was a beautiful wedding of a cuter-than-is-legal-in-some-countries couple. And it was over before we knew it!
We left Wednesday, December 17th, for Salt Lake City Utah. It was a long 10 hour drive, but we got there without a hitch and spent the evening with Mr. Idaho's family on Temple Square, looking at lights and each other...it's hard to keep up with 15 other individuals all the time. My favorite time came when we all sat around in the Hotel lobby, watching the little kids play with the Wii that Big Josh brought with him. He asked the conceirge if we could use one of the lobby rooms' TV's and with their approval, we all relaxed and had a good visit and a lot of laughs.
The next day, was THE DAY!!! YEA!!!! We got up early, got dressed...oh wait, I just wanna put in here a small detail...the Caboose had too many goodies the previous night and barfed her guts out until 2am. We had to strip the hotel bed, put her in the shower, and I slept at the foot of the bed, ready to carry her back to the bathroom just in case.
Okay, so that's more realistic. I didn't want you to think it was all Fun N Games!
So, we got to the Temple in plenty of time. I went with Dani to the beautiful Brides' Room...think lovely mirrors, dressing gowns, chandeliers and flowers with other brides and mothers tending to them all around. It was a sweet experience. Dani had been a little anxious before, but once she got in there and dressed, a calm came over her and all was well.
Then she went one way, to meet up with Mr. Idaho for a few minutes, and I went to a waiting room to greet other guests. We waited and waited for David Scott and Tenesha to arrive, but unbeknownst to us, he had misplaced his recommend ( a must to gain entry to the temple--he later found it in his sister-in-laws' dryer), and so he was with a temple worker making important phone calls to get approval to enter. They arrived about 3 minutes before the ceremony. So like David Scott. Only then could I relax. We were all there. Me, Mr. Wonderful, David Scott, Tenesha, Dani and Brad and his family...oh and the other 45 guests. We were set to go!
It was a beautiful ceremony and once I have more pics to share, I'll elaborate more! That's it for now!
Then Christmas came and went in a blur of activity....all of these kids...yeah they willingly showed up at my house on Christmas day.
From Left to Right: Deano, Dani, Mr. Idaho, Diana, Taylor, the Caboose, David Scott, Tenesha, Daisie, and the Boofus. At Garden of the Gods, Christmas day where it was a lovely but gusty 50o. It was great to get out, get some fresh air and sunshine.
At the Reception in Woods Cross, Utah.
Related by marriage...Daisie and Jen, Mr. Idaho's ever-inquisitive baby sister. She sorely misses her big brother, and if she could, I think she'd move in with he and Dani.
The Caboose and Taylor. When should we tell the Caboose she is 7 years old and too big to be picked up?
There's one more reception tomorrow night. Then there will be no more WEDDING CHANNEL. What ever will I do???

Christmas Eve Fun!

Things are never boring at Momza's house. This video proves it...while I was upstairs wrapping presents, I left the older kids to "hold down the fort". So being the awesome Big Brothers they are, David Scott and Mr. Idaho conned Daisie into ingesting "just one teaspoon" of cinnamon. The video says the rest. David Scott is big blonde and Mr. Idaho is the one rolling on the floor. The "surprise guest" is Deano, our special-needs brother.

The Mom Song *You'll want to listen TWICE!

Mom's To-Do List

Jack Frost is nippin', NO make that CHOMPIN'!

Jack Frost is camping out in the Rocky Mountains!
It was -25o here this morning! It's like -9 right now in the Springs...and I am lovin' it! Thank goodness for central heat--otherwise it'd be awful. But I am toasty warm inside as we get things together for the final days before the Wedding.
The weekend was busier than usual. Friday night was our Wards' Christmas Party. I baked a turkey that they didn't need and got to bring it right back home--so I didn't have to cook dinner all weekend! Then the Missionaries came over Saturday morning for breakfast. Dani made crepes and that was yummy. One of our new elders' is from Quebec, Canada. My eldest son served in his area of Laval when he was there 2 years ago--so that was a treat to have him in our home --paying it forward! I love the Elders...so do my kids. They are genuinely good young men.
Then, Dani had her final dress fitting Saturday...it is so pretty.
We'll pick up the dress today. Then Saturday night, I went with Mr. Wonderful to his work Christmas party in Denver. It was really nice to get dressed up and spend an evening with him, eat food I did not have to cook or clean up after! And it was Yummy! Then the Company had random drawings for special gifts like cameras, tv's, ipods, and gps's. There were over 600 people there and only 10 giveaways. Mr. Wonderful and I are not "lucky" in things like giveaways, generally. But get this! When I saw the gift table with the GPS on it, I said, "I need that, I'm always lost!" (Just ask my kids or Nannette-- I always seem to take the "scenic route" when I drive--no kidding!) So we sat at the table, had dinner, watched a ridiculous employee "talent show" (my 7 year old is more entertaining, really)...then came the Drawings...the CEO read the names off of a "previously name drawn list", then that person would come and pick a number out of a hat...the number corresponding with a gift.
I was pretty surprised when they called out Mr. Wonderful's name. Then the number he picked was for a TomTom GPS!!! YEA!!! Now I will never be lost again. At least not on the road!
How cool is that?! So that was my Saturday.
Yesterday we had interveiws with the Stake for Temple Recs. I met with our former Bishop who is now a Counsellor. I love that he is familiar with me and my family. Of course, he was aware that I am a big bawl-baby when we talk of sacred things...he had the tissue out and ready for me. I can't help it and I'm too old to care if I shed a few tears in public. {Shrug} That's just who I am.
Then yesterday afternoon, I drove up to Loveland, Colorado to see Dean perform with the Special Community Orchestra. He played the violin. And it was the most awful sounding beautiful experience! He has ALWAYS wanted to play the violin--how grateful I am that someone finally let him! He even had a solo that was terrible and perfect all at once. The smile on his face brought tears to my eyes. (I make no apologies for tears, I told you). I loved it.
It was a 2 hour drive for a 20 minute performance, and I would do it again. The other performers were delightful, gracious & their smiles said it all. We are blessed by their goodness.

So after that, Dani & I took Mr. Idaho around to some friends' homes we know from when we lived in Fort Collins 2005-2006. Only a year, but we sure made some great friends there--they fed us dinner and sent us on our way. (Love to you Ray & Barb and Linda! We'll see you at the reception!)
So while Jack Frost is "nippin' on your nose" make sure you enjoy these days leading up to Christmas! It'll be over before we know it!
If I don't blog the next few days, just know I am busy with the wedding. We leave Wednesday morning for Utah and return on Friday. Can't wait!!!

Last Friday before the Wedding!

Ack! The time has flown by...the wedding is Less than a Week! Can you believe it? I have resigned myself to the fact that I will FO SHO forget something...I will either leave that "something" at home, or forget to do that "something" before we leave...either way, there will be a moment of "Dang it! I forgot!" And you know what? I hope it's something that I can go "meh--no big deal" about, and not panic or let it get me down.

Lists--I've made to-do lists, to-pack lists, to-take-with lists...'cept right now, I don't see those lists. Hmmmm.

Well, we had another dress-fitting last night. And for the record, those are not fun--not for Dani and not for me. The beautiful bride stands there, with huge floor-to-ceiling mirrors all around here, scrutinizing every seem, every puff of fabric, every line of the dress on her body. It's about as awful as trying on swimsuits! But the seamstress, Dianne, is amazing. Last night she measured some tulle for the viel she is custom-making for Dani...once she placed the veil on--my throat clamped up, tears welled, and yes, I was a mess. My girl is getting married.

That veil was magical. Sure the dress is gorgeous...but until the veil went on, it was just a "dress"...the veil made it a "wedding dress"...the whole mood lifted. Dani smiled. Awww. that's what we were hoping for...a smile from the Bride.

Okay, so I have to go find some lists, and a hairbrush!

Scenes from a Temple Wedding

This is where our family is going a week from today, as Danielle & Brad make sacred promises to one another. As Latter-Day Saints, we believe in Eternal Marriage. And the Temple is where that begins. To learn more, visit www.mormon.org.
Families Can Be Together Forever.

My Favorite Christmas Song

A Baby Changes Everything

He does.

Faith Hill's "A Baby Changes Everything"

SNOW DAY!

The kids' wish for a Snow Day has been Granted! No School Today! That means snowshoes & gloves & snowbibs and puddles by the door when they come back in for the 10th time because "Mom! It's cold out there! Can we have hot cocoa?"