Two Happy Kids #2

Fitted sheets + fans = really cool fort

Two Happy Kids

Lavender is happy playing with Daddy's shoes. She knows she's supposed to tie them, but she can't quite figure out how. Keep practicing girl!

Evan is happy that he has his GoPro back! He finally gets to look through the thousands of photos he took in Chicago. It really is a miracle that he got the camera back! Left in the back of a cab. Several days later an employee of the taxi company posts on Reddit. Aaron found the posting online and made contact.

Happy Father's Day

 (or Daddy Day as Lavender calls it.)

Here are a few pictures of my daddy.

Such a handsome guy!

When I was very young, my Dad used to make up stories for me at bedtime.  My favorites were about "Elmer the Eagle."  I don't remember much about Elmer's adventures, but I know they often had a moral about obeying or making good choices. Dad was always trying to teach me and take care of me.

Now my oldest son is a father and today he reminded me of my dad.  He asked his four year old if she wanted to go to the store that Sunday afternoon.  It might have looked like he was teasing her, but he was really trying to teach her. My dad often did that sort of thing. On the way home from church he'd ask if we wanted to stop and get an ice cream cone or go to the drive-in movie. My brother sometimes answered "yes," but I knew it was a trick question to see if we would remember to keep the Sabbath day holy.

My Dad has always had a good sense of humor and liked to tease. At the store they'd ask for his phone number when he paid with a check (yes, we actually used to do things that way!)  He would reply that he didn't have a phone. The store clerk would get a little flustered and then my Dad would laugh and give his phone number.  He also liked to have fun at election time.  Once a friend of his was running for a local office and Dad put signs for the opposing candidate in his yard one night.  They both got a good laugh out of that.

When I was a teenager my Dad began having serious problems and pain in his leg.  Finally, he was diagnosed  with cancer.  He and my mother were very concerned and Dad talked to me about the possibility of dying from cancer.  I was not very understanding and I got really upset with him. I got out a copy of his patriarchal blessing and read part of it to him that promised him health and a long life.  I wasn't very gentle or compassionate, but I was full of faith that my dad would be healed. Dad received priesthood blessings and many friends and family members prayed for him.  Later, he went in for another biopsy and the doctors could find no evidence of cancer.  They said that the initial diagnosis must have been in error. We knew the truth:  Dad was healed by the power of God.

I am grateful for my Dad and all that he has taught me throughout my life. I love you Dad!

My Saturday

9:00 AM - Taught Pornography Prevention class
10:30 - Baby shower
12:00 - To the temple with Sonia
1:00 - John was baptized for her father and she was baptized for her grandmothers.
3:30 - Walk with Jenny. Lavender was happy to "see Gramma" at the cemetery.
6:30 - Frisbee at the beach with my sweetheart.
8:00 - Sunset, ahh!
8:45 - Dinner at the Prado

A Few of My Favorite Things . . .

. . . Now even better!

I love granola, but I haven't been able to find a gluten-free, sugar free version I like.  I decided to quit searching for the right brand and start looking for the right recipe.  Fortunately I found a good one here! It is very versatile and you can use whatever nuts, seeds and fruit you like.

Yummy GF/SF Granola

2 cups gluten free whole rolled oats

½ cup raw nuts, chopped

¼ cup raw seeds (sunflower or pumpkin seeds are great)

½ cup unsweetened dried fruit, chopped (I like unsweetened coconut)

2-3 tablespoons honey (or use maple syrup)

2 tbsp coconut oil, melted

½ tsp vanilla extract or almond extract

1 large pinch fine sea salt

Recipe: Preheat the oven to 300º F. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and use your clean hands to mix well and toss to coat. Spread the mixture in a thin layer on a baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes (may take a little longer), until very lightly toasted.

I also like meatloaf, but I rarely make it.  It takes so long to cook and I hate having to check it in the middle to make sure it's done.  Here is the recipe I use, plus a fun, easy way to cook it.  It's another recipe you mix with your hands.

My Favorite Meatloaf

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey

3 slices bread torn into small pieces (or 3/4 cup gf oats)

1 egg

1 cup milk (or almond milk)

1 onion chopped

1 T worcestershire sauce

1 t salt

1/2 t dry mustard

1/4 t pepper

1/4 t sage

1/4 t garlic powder

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and use your hands to mix well.

(Here comes the cool part! Are you ready?)

Use an ice cream scoop to scoop large balls of the meatloaf mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan. (That's a cookie sheet with sides.)  Bake at 375 for 25 min.  Serve with ketchup.  After dinner, clean your pan by throwing away the foil.  Easy!

Funny Girl

Yesterday we got in the car to go to Costco. I said, "Hop in your car seat, doll."
She said, "I not a doll. Don't call me doll."
"What should I call you? Kitty-cat?" I teased.
"Call me . . . neighbor!" She replied with a laugh. She continued, "Hi there neighbor!" And gave me a friendly wave.

That afternoon, Aaron gave Lavender a ride in one of the big boxes from Costco. He even attached a rope as a handle and pulled her through the house while the box slid around on the tile. Lavender loved it and wanted to play again today. After awhile, she told Aaron that it was his turn. She insisted he get in the box and she tried to pull him with all her might. She was frustrated when he wouldn't budge. Fortunately, she accepted my suggestion to give bunny and monkey a ride instead.

Safe and Sound

Planning a flight with a toddler? Never, I repeat, never bring a carseat on the plane. Unless of course you want to be miserable, annoy/enrage other passengers and incur the wrath of an obsessive flight attendant. That's all I'm going to say about the flight home.

It is great to be home! We got in lots of walking during our site-seeing and museum-going, but nothing beats early morning walks with my sister. The cacti even bloomed to welcome us home.

I also finally received a Mother's Day gift that I requested. My family have me two of Brian Kershisnik's prints for Christmas. "She Will Find What is Lost" has been hanging in my living room ever since and I love looking at it every day. I love the other print too, but "Nativity" wasn't framed, so I mentioned that I would love to have it framed for Mother's Day.  It is beautiful and definitely worth the wait!

I don't think I mentioned this earlier, but when John and Evan headed to the emergency room in Chicago, Evan's GoPro was left in the taxi. Unfortunately, with all the stress of the situation, none of us could remember the name of the cab company. John paid cash, so there was no way to trace it. We tried calling dozens of cab companies, but nothing turned up. Evan was heartbroken. He had documented the entire trip and had thousands of pictures on the memory card that he was crushed to lose. We kept calling even after we got home, but the chances of finding it seemed slim to none.

Then Aaron had the bright idea to look on Reddit. Sure enough, there was a post about a GoPro found in a taxi. We made contact today and the camera is already headed our way. The girl we spoke to said, "My co-workers made fun of me for posting it on Reddit, but ha! It actually worked!" We are so grateful to her and to Aaron!

To top it all off, Evan got the chest tube removed today. It was very painful, but at least he's healing. For now that is. He may be having surgery soon, but that's a story for another day.