Angels and Demons

No, I'm not reading a book by Dan Brown. I'm just reflecting on bringing up children and how they can switch personalities during the day. I can definately tell it's summer based upon their behavior. The boys are trying to bother each other--just for the fun of it. Yesterday brought quite the learning lesson with it for all of us. My hubby and I were downstairs in the kitchen when we heard Chief coughing and gagging. When asked what was wrong all I could understand from him was the word "mouth." I thought he must be unconscious when I first saw him--he was lying at the top of the stairs not moving. Then as we got closer, my hubby asked what happened again and Chief sprang up, led us to our bedroom, and showed us a small black canister he had apparently been playing with. Pepper spray. We shooed the kids (yep, the younger two were there too) out of the room and gave them milk to drink (milk is better than water at attempting to relieve symptoms borne from pepper spray contact). I tried airing out the upstairs rooms--particularly my own. Just from walking into the room, my hubby and I were gagging and coughing too. Not fun. Lesson for parents: don't assume that placing your personal items under piles of stuff on the dresser is a good way to hide them. Lesson for kids: don't play with stuff on your parent's dresser and don't press a button just because it says "press."
Later that day the Angel showed up in Chief. He gave a particularly enthusastic "pep talk" of why we should be 'faithful, and courageous' like the stripling warriors--willing to fight for what's right. He was very passionately into his speech, it was great! He also had us do the "love seat" again. Each member of the family got a chance to sit in the chair (love sac), be cheered for and then the other members take the opportunity to singularly tell them one compliment--one thing they love about that person. The kids just light up when it's their turn and they love to come up with things about everyone else too.

An innocent blunder

What started as a simple request led to a disastrous frenzy, leaving only destruction and visible tumult in its wake. The other day my hubby said he'd like me to take a chainsaw to the thick forest protruding from the top of his head. I've only done this once previously, about three years ago. After 1 1/2 hours, I think I did a fine job. But my hubby never did request me to cut his hair again--until now. However, the other night did not give the same results. I suppose it was because I didn't watch the hair-cutting video this time, or because I was impatient, or that I am not a perfectionist and it showed that night. Whatever the reason, at least hair grows out. I wish this were the end of the tale, but it's not. As I said, a frenzy ensued. Once my hubby was out of town (to camp with the scouts), he was unable to stop me from turning the razor and scissors on the remaining defenseless children. I couldn't help myself. First Chief fell under the blade, left with one side of his head botched when I tried to blend. Then Punkie, excited to have her first haircut, started cutting her hair with scissors. Luckily, not too much was cut, and I didn't cut more than 1 1/2 inches straight across the back. You might say she was the most unscathed of the three children. And Red was my last victim. I don't want to talk about what happened to him, it's too unbalanced. At least I had the good sense to put away the weapons before I turned them on myself.

Cub Scout Camp pics

Red left a day early with his Dad to prepare our camping expedition this weekend. He called and left a message on the phone that he forgot his emergency pack. My boys tend to pack backpacks with "emergency" supplies, just in case. So I checked out his latest pack: 4 trail mix bars, 1 gatorade bottle, jazz basketball, dinosaur toy, binoculars, 2 baseball caps, and 1 leggo toy.

At least if there is an emergency, we'll have some fun.

Here's a few pics from Chief's day camp last week:

How much fun is that?!?!

Triple Berry Muffin recipe

So I'm still catching up on things. Doesn't help that I'm procrastinating as much as I can. Found out today that my 8 year old believes (due to a 5 year old neighbor) that a boy can get a girl pregnant by spitting in her mouth while kissing. Their spit apparently combines together to make a baby in her (as he pats his lower stomach area). He then must have noticed the incredulous look on my face because he asks me how babies are made. I remind him that males have sperm that contain some DNA and the females have eggs that contain a portion of their DNA and that only one sperm can enter an egg, thereby combining the DNA, mixing it up to make a baby (yep, I know there are exceptions and yep, I totally skipped how the sperm gets into the female--he'll get that talk when he is old enough to ask about it).
Here's a recipe I slightly modified from Taste of Home called Triple Berry Muffins. I found it Father's Day morning when I realized we were out of muffin mixes (gasp!) and I had a request from Red to make them for him for Father's Day--since it's the "boys" day.
Triple Berry Muffins
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup mashed berries (I used raspberries and blueberries)
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
1/2 cup chopped fresh strawberries

In large bowl, combine first 6 ingredients. In another bowl, beat eggs, milk, vanilla and butter, adding 1/2 cup mashed berries; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in berries.
Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 372 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
Serve warm. Makes 1 1/2 dozen muffins.

Another recipe from my sister

My sister is 'THE COOK', so it's only natural that I'm stealing as many recipes as I can while I'm visiting her. Here's another recipe she kindly made for me:

Avocado-Mango Salsa
1 ripe mango, peeled, seeded, diced
1 tomato, seeded, diced
2 green onions, finely sliced
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 jalapeño chili, minced
1 avocado, peeled, seeded, diced

Combine first 5 ingredients in bowl. (Can be made 3 hours ahead; refrigerate.) Stir in diced avocado and season to taste with salt and pepper.

*Note: My sister doesn't add the tomato or the jalapeno chili, and she does add some chopped Cilantro. When she is out of green onions, she substitutes some onion powder. This recipe, made with the Cilantro, is nicely tangy and refreshing for summer.

Hello from Virginia

Sorry there won't be any pics from my end--I don't have my camara with me. I had packed a week ago to visit my in-laws house for the weekend. On Saturday I got a call from my Mom, who was worried about my sister--she hurt her back the day before and wasn't able to walk around. I volunteered to ditch my poor hubby and kids to help out. Soon I got a phone call from my bro-in-law who booked a flight for me the next day, and the rest is history. My sis is walking around, but on pain killers (and pry will be until she has physical therapy for a herniated disk). I'm just around to lift the kids (well, the four year old is fine, the 19 month old just needs a boost occasionally), driving, and to bend over for those things she can't do. In the meantime, we're having some fun hanging out.
Here's a recipe for granola that I begged her for. My mouth can't even detect the wholesome stuff--it's really very good when kept in an airtight container.
Title: Granola
Ingredients:
GRANOLA
8 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups wheat germ
1 1/2 cups oat bran
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup chopped or sliced almonds
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup honey
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups raisins or sweetened dried cranberries or mixed dried fruit
coconut to taste, if desired
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment or aluminum foil. Combine the oats, wheat germ, oat bran, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and walnuts in a large bowl. Stir together the salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. Add coconut if desired. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes. Do not overbake. Stir once halfway through. Cool, then stir in the raisins or cranberries before storing in an airtight container.

Fun relaxing days of summer?

It must still be spring because we've been busy over here. Well, okay, most people have been busy around the Memorial Holiday. Here's what we've been doing:

Here's Chief at his Spring Concert. He's wearing a "Good as Gold" shirt. Being to his concert reminded me of how my parents used to show up to my school assemblies. I remember how excited I was whenever I saw that one/both were able to take off work to be there. Now I can't believe I'M the parent. Talk about strange!

Chief's figured out who his girlfriend is. There were several girls talking about which one would be his girlfriend. Chief, a logical boy, came up with a solution to figure out the lucky girl. They played tag and the last one caught was his girlfriend. As one friend put it: he must be into athletic girls ;).

We went to a family b-day party Saturday. Cake...ice cream...presents...what more is there to say?

On Monday we went to the cemetary to visit my Dad. Every year we listen to the scottish band play (can you believe I used to be in one? Yep, the whole kilt/tie/hat/sporn/laced up shoe ensemble--but I played the drums, not the bagpipes). The cemetary has free hot dogs and sodas. This year they also had cookies and cake to celebrate 150 years of "service" to the community. I actually didn't have a mediocre hot dog this year cause my lovely sister and fam brought bagels and cream cheese (yum!).

Then, because the zoo was literally a zoo as evidenced by the parking lot, we went to the museum.

What part did my kids like best? The sand and water tray of course!

Then last night we had the notion to cook our food up in the canyon. The kids had a great time driving Mom and Dad crazy by running around, climbing trees, and ignoring whatever the two tall people said. Though Chief got to pass off a few cub scout activities, including bandaging cuts (on Red--the monkey climbing and falling out of trees--and Punkie--while attempting to out-run Mom on a high speed chase).

And tonight was Red's last soccer game. He said it went great, but doesn't know the score (which is fine by me). We provided treats. Actually Dad did, but I was in charge of treats for the cub scout Pack meeting. Chief got his first belt loop metal (for playing baseball last den meeting). It's his first award! Yea!