Mother's Day

Yesterday I was redeeming a wonderful coupon at JC Penny's and overheard a conversation between two friends regarding fun things that their families do for Mother's Day. The one tradition that stood out to me was a journal entry of things the children said in response to questions about Mommy. Like, What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?

Since DH doesn't always take a hint, I decided to ask my son what he thought of Mommy.

What is Mommy's Favorite Thing?
-Yellow Bike

What is Mommy's Favorite Thing to Do?
-Ride her yellow bike

I have a very observant 4 year old.

Monday Family Home Evening

We took the easy way out tonight. The weather was just so beautiful, and with the school right across the street, we had playtime as a family. Brent took the kite and TJ really enjoyed seeing it fly. M put her baby in the stroller and pushed her across to the park. They swung in the swings and chased daddy up and down the slides. It was a fun family realtionship building experience. And they came home tired to boot.

Big Thompson Canyon

A wonderful friend was willing to watch my kids for me yesterday and DH and I went for a bike ride. I have been dreaming about this ride for years. I used to think that the people we passed on the way from Loveland to Estes Park were absolutely out of their mind. Then I started riding, and I became jealous because they could do it. I didn't think I could. I have only been riding for 2 years now, and have been thrilled with what I have done, but climbing?? No Way!

Well, we decided to do it. It was such a fun ride, I was amazed. It took a little while to get into it, but it was fun, and challenging, but not so much so that I couldn't continue. I didn't feel drained until we got through Glen Haven and started up the steep incline, just before Estes Park. Two riders came down while we were climbing up. I think that would be the better way to go, but the view and the feeling at the top are both written on the little sign up there, "A Piece of Heaven."

Next Up: Buena Vista Bike Festival - Tennessee Pass, Here We Come!

Monday Family Home Evening

Yea Candee!! Thanks for sending this week's lesson. I am thankful for Birds and Insects. She sent us a picture of a bumble bee, and black and white copies of the Seagulls eating the crickets from the gospel art kit. She also sent some paper crickets that were folded so they could be picked up by toddlers easier. TJ and M had such fun squishing their crickets as I tried to tell the story of the seagulls eating the crickets. What a wonderful example of Heavenly Father answering prayers.

Yummy Bread Recipe

I love to cook. I am not classically trained, but I am very willing to try new things. We have a running joke around here that many things I make are "refrigerator Velcro." A way of cleaning out the fridge and using up what food I have floating around. (Thanks Alton Brown!) I found this recipe while trying to meet a challenge from a few friends of mine regarding using whole wheat and other grains while baking. I used a 9 grain cracked cereal, which had flax seed in it, and left the flax seeds off the top. What a hit! I made it by hand, cuz I gave the bread machine away long ago.

Whole Grain Dinner Rolls with 3 Seeds

Enjoy!

Almond Brownies

While poking around in Mom’s basement, I found a fun little book called “Make a Treat with Wheat” by Hazel Richards. It is a little spiral bound, well used, book that I have enjoyed. I am trying as many of the recipes as I can, since I don’t know when Mom will find it missing and I will have to return it. However, given my son’s condition and the fact that whole grains are just good for all of us, I thought I would post a recipe that we enjoy, courtesy of Mrs. Hazel Richards.

Almond Brownies
1 cup sugar
¼ cup margarine or butter
2 eggs
¼ cup milk
2/3 cup less 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/8 tsp salt
2 squares melted unsweetened chocolate
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond extract
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs and milk. Sift together flour, cornstarch and salt. Add to sugar mixture. Mix in chocolate, vanilla, almond extract and nuts. Bake in a greased 9 X 9 inch pan at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Monday Family Home Evening

Tonight, we had a lesson on Easter. I told the story of Jesus Christ's suffering in the garden of Gethsemane, His crucifixion, burial, and Resurrection. I came across a wonderful activity that suggested gathering an empty egg, an empty envelope, and empty box with a lid and other "empty" things. I asked my kids what was in the objects, and they responded that they were empty. Not bad for nearly 4 and 2 years old. I then explained that Easter was to celebrate the empty tomb. Jesus no longer was in the tomb, he was resurrected and that if we followed His teachings, we would be resurrected too.