What Samantha has been up to lately.....

Recently Samantha got out her trusty High School Musical Cookbook and asked if we could try some more recipes. A while ago, we had made "perfectly paired cookies", "Name-in-lights lemon bars e, (both subpar) and "Top Billing Taco salad (which was pretty good) and had shelved it for a while. This time, She wanted to try some Ryan & Sharpay recipes

Sharpastries

"what better way to start your day than with Sharpay's favorite food- Pastries! These peach packed turnovers are easy to make and sure to please, even without imported ingredients"

1 12-ounce package refrigerated cinnamon rolls

• 1/3 cup of peach preserves


• 1/8 teaspoon of ground cinnamon


• 1 15-ounce can of peach slices, drained

Steps to Make Peach Pastries:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Coat foil with non-stick cooking spray. Save for step 3. Open package of cinnamon rolls. Separate dough into rounds. Use the palm of your hand to flatten each round, into 4 1/2 inch circle. Save for step 2.


2. Put peach preserves and cinnamon into small bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon to mix well. Use table knife to spread preserves mixture over each dough circle. Place one or two peach slices on each dough round. (If necessary, use a sharp knife to cut peach slices to fit.) Fold dough over to enclose peach slices. Use fork to seal sides of pastry.


3. Place turnover's on prepared baking sheet. Bake about 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn off the oven. Use hot pads to remove baking sheet from oven. If you like, drizzle turnover's with icing, from package. Cool slightly, serve warm. Makes 8 pastries.

(We left out the cinnamon)

Everyone liked them except Jacob (big surprise). They looked kind of weird before we put them in the oven but looked much more appetizing after baking & actually tasted very good. We had trouble with the dough falling apart where it's separated into rings for the cinnamon rolls even though we flattened it out really good. When we folded it over to make the turnover it tended to open a bit where the lines had been. It's probably because I bought the storebrand cinnamon rolls... definitely not up to Sharpay's glitzy high class standards but alas, we do not all have Sharpay's rhinestone studded Gucci wallet!

Our 2nd HSM cooking project was

Ryan's Co-president Potatoes

which was pretty much a funeral potato recipe with frozen hash browns and sour cream, cheese, cream of chicken soup, minced onion.

However, I really liked this recipe & will make it again because it wasn't as saucy as most funeral potato recipes. It came out kind of crispy on the edges and bottom of pan and had a good flavor. It filled a 13 x 9 pan and fed our family. Carly disagreed with me- liking the saucier, more traditional funeral potatoes better but if you think you might like a slimmed down version here's the recipe.

Ryan's Co-President Potatoes

"As co-president of the drama club, Ryan knows supporting roles, like choreographer, are important to putting on a great show. Serve this side dish with a fantastic entree to put together the perfect meal"

1 32 oz bag frozen hash browns, shredded style

1 C shredded cheese

1/2 C sour cream

2 T minced onion

1 can cream of chicken soup

3/4 C milk

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 C crushed cornflakes

1. Let potatoes stand at room temp. to thaw or place in colander in sink and rinse with cold water to thaw. Turn oven to 350º. Lightly coat a 13 x 9 pan with vegetable spray.

2. Pour soup , cheese, milk, sour cream, onion, salt & pepper into a large bowl and mix together. Add potatoes and stir to coat.

3. spoon potato mixture into prepared pan, spreading evenly. cover with foil. Bake 45 minutes. Remove from oven, remove foil and stir potatoes if desired. Top with crushed cornflakes and bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes til heated through and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. 12 servings.

We probably used more cornflakes than that. I didn't measure. I also tossed the cornflakes with a little bit of melted butter before putting them on top.

(Even spooning out the soup can be dramatic! Ryan & Sharpay would be so proud)

Samantha had a couple sick days from school this week but is feeling much better now that she has passed it to me. I spent my saturday in bed and am feeling a little better today. She took very good care of me yesterday however. Her older sisters were gone to work and a choir trip and she very capably assumed the female nurturing role much to my appreciation. she checked on me in my bed often, heating up hotpacks, getting me tylenol, water, movies, whatever I needed. The boys were sweet too, about checking on me and getting me something if I asked but Samantha very much has the female instinct for mothering and caretaking.

Because of both of our illnesses we forgot about her primary talk til last night but I was too worn out last night to worry about it. I told her we would work on it this morning. she got up this morning early and I woke up to her very quietly placing the tylenol bottle, a peeled orange and my water bottle on my bedside table with a note. I thanked her and told her to get completely ready for church and then we'd work on her talk. She did all she was asked and about 9:30 we sat down to write her talk. We brainstormed and wrote down her thoughts on the primary theme and discussed her experiences and scriptures she liked and how they related to each other and did a little study on LDS.ORG and this is what she came up with. It's not memorized like we like to do but it's done and it came from her heart. She wanted to share it with her grandparents so this is for you Grandma Donna, Grandpa Mike, Grandma Carla and Papa:

Spinning: Advice from a chubby beginner

Having now attended 9 spin classes at my local rec center I feel qualified to give advice to anyone out there wondering what it might be like and should they "spin" too.

Let's just get the basics out of the way...

Spinnning is an exercise class involving stationary bikes, loud music and a perky instructor who's goal is to get you pedaling. I love the atmosphere of the spin class I go to. They have the lights dimmed, some white lights around the ceiling and lots of fans going.

The first class I attended was an evening class. Alone- I walked, tentatively, into the rec center having a general idea where the spin class was located but not specifics. I hate that moment of being unsure, not knowing where I am going, what I will be doing.

I like my ducks in rows. (But they so often insist on paddling about willy, nilly- )

I saw a woman walking in the same direction and she looked approachable; a little round & squishy like myself but determined- like she knew her way around this place. I asked her if she was going to the spin class and she was. She introduced herself: Sue, and started taking me in hand, giving me advice on how to approach my first class.

What a blessing she was to me that first night. I know it was just an exercise class but it's never fun- that vulnerable feeling of trying something new, going somewhere where you might not fit, being overweight in a fitness class.

I needed someone like Sue, not some hardbodied athlete that would intimidate me but a motherly figure to guide me.

Sue's advice was very good advice so I'll pass it along to any other beginners out there:

1. Your bottom is gonna hurt.

2. Don't try to keep up with the instructor your first couple classes. Just find a steady pace and try to last the hour. Your bottom is gonna hurt.

3. Your legs are going to be sore tomorrow and maybe even worse the 2nd day. Your bottom is gonna hurt.

She was right on all accounts except I went swimming with my kids the next night and after that my legs didn't hurt at all.

Along with Sue's advice here's a little of my own:

1. FIND A FRIEND:

I went to 2 evening classes and then started going at 5 in the morning with my friend Amy. Going with a good, dependable friend is a MUST! Knowing she is waiting for me to pick her up or that her car will pull into my driveway at 5am is great incentive. I have never hit the snooze once. If I did I'd be late because I only allow myself 10 minutes to get up, dressed, grab my water and head out the door. I try to get my clothes set out the night before and my water bottle in the fridge. I set my clock ahead 10 minutes because seeing the time 4:50 would just do me in. I know, I know, it's silly, it's all in my head, but whatever works to get my behind out of bed I say.

**warning** the first morning you have to drive it may stress you out a little and you may wake up at 2:45 with a start, thinking you've overslept and left Amy waiting, you may also wake up at 3:45 with a start thinking you've overslept & left Amy waiting so, when your alarm goes off for real at 4:50/5:00 am you'll be ready and alert and happy you didn't oversleep and keep anyone waiting.

2. Your bottom is gonna hurt!

It will likely be class #5 that you find yourself happily surprised at the end to realize you didn't spend 75% of the class trying to find one comfortable spot on that bike seat. In our spinning class, there are 2 kinds of bikes. I rode a spinner on my first class, a schwinn on my 2nd and for some reason when I went for my 3rd class I couldn't bear the Spinner seat, but the Schwinn was AHHHHH so much more comfortable. I don't know if I just needed it to conform to the bruises it left the night before or what but I haven't had the nerve to try a spinner again since...

3. Don't take beautiful 16 year old daughters

Class #5 was a day when there was no school so Carly wanted to come with Amy & I. I had been going for a couple weeks and was feeling a little confident about my spinning abilities. I had been through the fire of those first "just get through the class" hours. I was actually switching gears now and able to get out of the saddle (ride standing up) for bits here and there although my legs tire quickly in this position and I usually can't keep up with the rest of the class quite yet. I gave her Sue's advice and helped her get her bike set up and then proceeded to watch her blow me away. She kept up beautifully, switching gears, out of the saddle. It was a bit demoralizing.

4. There may be times it kicks your butt. Whatever. Get off the bike but then tomorrow... get back on.

Class #8: The classes are 45-60 min, depending on how early you get there to warm up. I took Carly and Rachel to an evening class. It was an instructor I hadn't been to before & she was hard. And my bike was messed up, it kept switching gears on me and messing up my rhythm. I don't know what was wrong with me, I even switched bikes after I realized my gear issues. I just couldn't stay on so I left my 2 beautiful daughters spinning away (yeah, it was Rachel's first class, Carly's 2nd and they were going strong.....) and walked away feeling a little defeated. I hadn't walked away ever but I just didn't feel good. I stretched and walked on the track a few laps and then I went back on Wednesday with Amy which was also hard, but I did it. I don't know if it was harder because I quit on Monday or if my body is off rhythm this week. I have had sick kids and maybe I'm fighting being sick more than I realize. Friday will be better.

I'm going to stick with it. It's hard. It makes me sweat. I like it. Class #10 Tomorrow!

To the dance, to the dance, to the dance, dance, dance...

I was at a wedding reception helping in the kitchen for a friend when she left.

Rachel took the picture for me.

I'll fill you in tomorrow on how it went.

Very cute.

Very nerdy!

Nerd Love

Tomorrow there's a dance at Carly's school called the Bargain Ball. A tutorial for High school boys on the cheap date I suppose. Tickets are cheap.... dress is casual.... dinner is supposed to be simple..... dollar menu at Wendy's cheap? I am not sure. We'll see....

Carly was very disappointed upon hearing that in her circle of friends the guys were not planning on going to the Bargain ball. She figured because of this she wouldnt' be asked at all. Then- Wednesday at lunch the boys were huddled up, whispering and pointing and she thought "I don't want to get my hopes up but this looks promising!" Early afternoon brought texts from her friends with cyber squeals of "I've been asked to the bargain ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

She hoped....

We had a busy Wednesday. There was New Beginnings for Young Womens with parents invited so nobody was home for a while.

About 9:30 after we were all home Mark went outside for some reason and found a CD case on the front step with Carly's name written on the front. Inside were some lyrics printed on paper and a CD. Several of the boys wrote and recorded a nerd rap for her and their own dates. It was fun and creative!

Obviously, it's much funnier to listen to but here are the lyrics so you can get a glimpse....

"Yo, what up? This is as white as it gets, Boi!

Once upon a time, this kid went to school.

Believe it or not, he wasn't very cool.

He played D'n D and checkers and chess,

At Star wars Trivia, he was the best.

Never had anything stronger than milk,

and his suspendas, they made outta silk.

His pants are high with his dice on the ground,

At the comic book store is where he'll be found.

But when she walks in, his heart just stops

He's even sweatin' under his argyle socks

Have you ever heard the story of the two nerds in love?

Its' the story of you and me.

A nerd kid and his girl sent from heaven above,

with you I'll get to level three

You make me feel like I've been struck my a lance

Will you go with me to the Bargain Ball Dance?

(listen to the end to hear who's asking!)

So after the lyrics end there's a lot of video game type music, bleeps and blips for about 2 minutes before finally at the end there's a voice saying:

Carly will you go to the bargain ball with me? .... Michael

She whooped in delight. Of course her answer would be.....

Now she had to find a fun way to answer him back. She had to work Thursday and had a party after work so was worried she wouldn't have time to do it. Rachel and Jacob said they would help her and they got busy brainstorming. They picked out a Taylor Swift tune "Mine" and wrote new lyrics for a first verse and chorus.

Jacob and Rachel would dress up as nerds in keeping with the Nerds in love theme and go serenade him with the song they wrote. They really hammed it up and were so cute. I hope he appreciated all the effort they went to. It was fun to see the kids working together on a project helping each other out.

The i-say-yes-to-the-bargain-ball-date-dance Song

Uh-Oh-o-oh-o

Uh-Oh-o-oh-o

You were in high school playing D’n’D and Star Wars Trivia

I was a “girl sent from heaven above”

I liked your argyle and your silk suspendas

Wondering if I’d ever get asked to this Bargain Ball.

Can you believe it?

I was lying on the couch - I heard the doorbell ring,

Yes! Yes! I got asked last night!!

(Chorus)

Do you remember how we felt at Taco Amigo?

You took me out on a date for the first time.

We went on coasters and we even did some laser tagging

You were my first date, and so I answer...

YES!!!

Fortress of Solitude

In need of privacy & solitude...

Jacob has created his first man-cave.

ahhhh...

my little boy is growing up

Busted in the boy's room

On Thursday I needed to stay late at school finishing up my lesson plan for the following week. I was struggling to get it all put together right and so found the boys and had them come out to my classroom to do homework while I finished up. Both My big girls had after school things going on so they wouldn't be home and Samantha had her after school 4H club.

They were out there about an hour and playing around. I had to get after them several times for being too loud and rowdy. Shocking for a couple of boys, I know! I was the only one in the classroom but there was a music class going on in the other half of the trailer. They announced they both needed to visit the little boy's room so they headed off together to the main part of the school.

About 10 minutes later Jacob comes back in alone looking a little subdued and announced "Mason's in trouble with a teacher." WHAAAT? I asked. "Well, he was climbing up the bathroom stall and kicking the door of the one I was in and making a lot of noise. One of the teachers was walking by with her class and heard all the noise and sent a student in to investigate. She's talking to Mason right now. She asked if I was involved and I said I was just doing my thing, Mason was the one being crazy. (which I do actually believe, by the way)

I figured that he would be out in a few minutes, hopefully feeling a bit ashamed. About 10 minutes later his own teacher walked him out and I could see the little tear streaks on his face. His teacher loves him and thinks he's wonderful so she was very nice and said "he feels really bad" to which I replied "he should!" and "I'm sorry you had to come out here"

We have a little bit of a split schedule at our school. Half of the kids go at 8am and get out at 2:15. They are the early birds. The other half go at 9:15 and get out at 3:30. They are the later gators. My kids are early birds so although they had been hanging out with me for over an hour and were seriously in "out of school mode" there was still a school full of kids. I like to think he never would have done this during regular school time........

I was happy to see, however, that Mason did feel ashamed and embarrassed. He was very quiet after that. On the way home I told him he would need to make cards for both teachers to apologize for wasting their time and misbehaving. I also told him we could make sorry cookies. I thought we could all use a little bit of Peanut butter-oatmeal-chocolate chip therapy.

He helped me make cookies and while they were baking he made his cards.

When he brought me the first one I had to fight to keep a straight face as I read:

Dear Mrss o-----,

am sorry for wasting your time at school you are the secent best teacher in the shool! I MEAN IT!!

Love, Mason

I knew it was loyalty to his own teacher that made her 2nd best and because I know her I didn't have him rewrite it. I thought she'd get a kick out of it as well. I really liked the adamant "I MEAN IT!!!" after calling her 2nd best.

This was his card to his own teacher:

Dear Mrss G------,

am sarry for wasting your time at school. You are the firs best techer in the school! I MEAN IT!!!

Love, Mason

I checked in with the 2nd best teacher the next day to see what she thought. Mason gave her the note at 8am when he went to school. I stopped by her classroom about an hour later. The minute she saw me she started laughing. I had asked Jacob to walk Mason to her classroom to make sure he did it. She said She could hear Jacob talking to Mason for about 5 minutes outside the classroom door while he got his nerve to walk in and give her the note. She was sweet and wrote him a note back:

Dear Mason,

Thank you for the cookies and the apology. I'm very impressed that you would take responsibility for your actions and make things right. Not everybody would; plus that took a lot of courage. I would draw you a picture too but I can't draw very well. Your picture is great. Thanks again,

Mrs. O-------

He was pleased with her note and so I think it turned out to be a good learning experience. Hopefully he has learned his lesson.

Carried away by paper crafts...

I had way too much fun folding and cutting paper this Christmas season.

I needed something to liven up this space on my bannister. I couldn't find the lights I usually put there and thought the garland looked a little sparse. We made these poinsettias at school with one of our classes and I thought they looked pretty so I bought some tissue paper and made a bunch!

I also needed something for this space between my clock and my stockings. It's not a very deep ledge and I have the star stocking holders and a garland. Any ideas on what else I could put there?

These paper stars were fun to make this year and filled the space but still if you have any ideas.....

I'd love to hear them.

Bethlehem Dinner 2010

For the last 3 years we have had a "Bethlehem dinner" on Christmas eve. Our goal is not to be super authentic to the region or time period of Christ's birth but to try to think a little bit about how things might have been different for Mary & Joseph as travelers than we normally do things.

We have simple foods that can be eaten without silverware. We use wooden kabob skewers to select our food from the buffet and continue to use them to eat with or our fingers. We try to use as many wooden dishes as possible. I try to pick up a couple new ones every year that we can use. I found 3 large square wooden plates at DI several months ago and I think I'll look for some more of those. We just use paper plates to eat from as the theme is simple. After we fill our plates, we take them to the family room and sit together on a big blanket on the floor and just enjoy eating and talking. We don't really have a program at that point but just eat and have fun together.

We did do a couple things differently this year which we really enjoyed. We invited 8 more Boca's to join the party. Since they live a little ways away we started dinner a little earlier than we have in the past.

We had been given a sugar cured smoked Turkey as a Christmas gift from a friend so we served that in stead of our usual marinated chicken kabobs

Most of the kids decided that it tasted like ham instead of turkey. Whatever it tasted like it tasted really good!

Cucumbers and olives are always on our menu but the spinach dip was new. Carly requested it and made it as mine never seems to turn out right. She has the gift. It was terrific.

Cheese cubes are also another staple but we had pomegranates from my parent's trees in Southern Utah so that was a fun addition.

The last couple of years I have just purchased french bread but wanted to try something different this year so I found a recipe for Jewish Challah bread and it was wonderful. I made it earlier in the week to try it out and our family gobbled up 2 big loaves in about 30 minutes with a pot of soup. It is definitely a permanent addition.

Aunt Abby brought Salmon bites to bring in a little fishy flair. She got a lot of "what's thaaat" from the children but there were several who were willing to try it before spitting it in the trash. However, the ones who like Salmon were very happy. She also brought some Red velvet cookies... not so authentic but oh... so good. And while we're talking so good.. The piece de resistance was the baked brie with nuts and dried fruit. It was so good it made you want to cry.

serious tears.

buckets of tears.

Really. It was that good.

and we can't forget the grapes, always on the menu and in the category of

"so expensive in December you want to cry"

but it's once a year as Mark says, and we like to try to have some things that are sorta authentic...

Now that you've seen the spread here's a little peek at what they do with it!

The grape and cheese Kabob was big this year

Some favored the simpler grape only Kabob.

There was one propeller kabob.

I thought Ava's cuke/grape/bread kabob was the most interesting

hmmmm or maybe the grape/olive/cheese kabob

or it could be Samantha's "I'm just happy to be here kabob"

Whatever the kabob...

This year was the best ever, most versatile, loudest, funnest Bethlehem dinner ever!

p.s. I have no idea why 1/2 the text in this post is underlined and some is not. I tried to get it to stop and it wouldn't!!!!!!!

I know it's January but we're Decorating the tree anyway

We planned to decorate the tree the first Monday night in December for Family Home Evening. Since Mark wasn't going to be home until 8pm we wanted to have as much done as possible. Mark's job is putting on the lights so we lugged in the Christmas boxes from the garage and set up the tree so it would be ready for him.

The kids then concocted a fabulous plan to trick dad. They locked the door to the garage so they'd have a little warning as he ALWAYS comes in the back door. As soon as they heard him fiddling with the doorknob Mason would jump in the tree box and lay inside holding the STAR across his chest.

As luck would have it Dad changed his routine and walked right in the front door which we keep locked as a rule. He surprised them. The kids did not want to give up their plan so they made up some story of something he needed to look at outside. Mark looked a little confused but seemed to sense that something was afoot and let them lead him outside and talk his ear off about nonsense while Mason got in place.....

Mark, being Mark- so incredibly hard to trick, looked at the Christmas box where we told him he needed to get the lights out of and whispered to me "Mason's in here isn't he?!"

I didn't say anything but my smile was hard to control so he knew he was right.

However he played along beautifully.

Lifting the lid and looking surprised

and delighting the children

completely!

I think they really would have had him if he'd come in the back door.

They lost their element of surprise

but all's well that ends well.

They'll have to come up with a new plan next year to trick the big guy.

a random evening in december

It feels a little "small" at our house tonight. At dinner we were down to 5 with Carly singing with her high school choir at Temple Square and Mark still at work.

Eating our Top Ramen stir fry was an adventure. The kids alternated between arguing and being silly. I had to get after Mason several times for not staying in his seat. He was jumping around, crawling under the table. I finally posed the question: Do you want to sit at the table and stay here until you're finished or go up to bed right now. He responded with a little smirk and a "hmmm..... I'm thinking" I proceeded to let him know I was counting to 3 and then I would make his decision for him if he hadn't made it yet. He quickly decided to stay in his seat and finish eating.

Because of this silliness I was surprised at what came later.

I sent Jacob to put away the dishes on the towel by the sink. Lo & behold it was already done.

Mason said "I did it for you Jacob!" I was happily surprised at this since I had already asked Jacob and Mason to set the table while I ran dinner to Mark even though it was Carly's job. Then Samantha started washing dishes and I instructed Jacob to put away the dishes that were in the dishwasher. He grumbled that he needed to do his homework and Mason who is clearing the table which is his job says "I will do it for you Jacob so you can do your homework"

Next Samantha and I got into an argument because she thinks I am picking on her and NOBODY ELSE!!!! because I got after her for getting offended YET AGAIN this evening by something somebody said that was not a very big deal she stormed at

*************************************************

I was looking at my "edit posts" option and found this post written to this point on December 9th.

I don't know what's wrong with me lately but I can't seem to get a thought or a post finished. I have many posts that I have begun but never finished. It is indicative of how I feel lately. Starts and stops and not a lot of finishes. I am hopeful that the New year will bring some momentum of change for me, some consistency. There's been some upheaval with Mark's new job and some distrust on my part of how things will go there. I feel like I've been holding my breath and I need to let it out and make plans with life as it is not as it was or because of worry of what might be.

It is what it is.

Ahhh...

I remember how this night ended up. I originally entitled the post "Mason's christmas Soliloquy" as he launched into a speech about how

"Christmas is not about getting things but about being kind and giving gifts and doing nice things for other people and how he didn't care if he got any presents at all he was just going to do nice things for other people all the time"

That philosophy came and went during the season but I'm grateful it made an appearance at all.

My Goal is to get all my Christmas happenings posted this weekend before it really gets ridiculous to be posting about Christmas so stay tuned... if you have the slightest interest in our Christmas that is.....

If not, then wait til next week when I'm on to bigger and better topics like Mason getting busted in the school bathroom by a 4th grade teacher. That's a good one!