Tagged

I was tagged a few weeks ago, but I've been too busy until now. So here are 7 random things about me.

1. I have lived on 4 different islands, totaling 7 years: Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Grenada and St. Vincent. I am no longer a fan of sand (especially with kids), lay me by a pool and I will be happy.

2. I have a cook book collection. I love trying new recipes, I read cook books for fun. Consequently my family gets to try all kinds of new foods.

3. I have a fetish for hair bows, my girls always have them in their hair. Unless Aaron is holding the baby and he always takes her "Brain sucker" off.

4. I pretty much only wear make-up on Sundays and special occasions.

5. I have a very sweet tooth. I LOVE chocolate, but only milk chocolate.

6. I like to sew (if I have time) but I only make crafty things or curtains. Don't ask me to follow a pattern, it won't turn out pretty.

7. I like to vacuum, it gets done almost daily. With four kids it has to be that way if I want a clean house.

One more I just thought of: I'm a terrible speller.

Dozens of "Dozens"

We got back from Utah about a week ago. We had such a good time. It made me realize that I do miss living by our families. The kids were so excited to see their all "Dozens" (that's Hayden for cousins) they could hardly contain themselves. Now flying from Arkansas to Salt Lake with 4 kids could either be a disaster or go smoothly. Fortunately the older kids have traveled enough that they were excellent and the baby slept most of the time, so we were very happy.

With my mom and dad gone I only have Susie there and she was headed out to California with her family for Spring Break, but we did get to see them for a little while. It was sad not to have my family around but nice not to have to divide up the time. The rest of the week was spent having good ol' Gardner fun. We took all the Grandkids (10 them) to Temple Square and played at the "I am a Child of God" exhibit, we hung out at the new cabin for a few days, we celebrated birthdays, we played. and played until the kids dropped. It was a very fun trip. Thanks Papa and Nana!! Hayden still asks to play with his "Dozens" everyday.

So this past week was spent playing catch-up. However, thanks to a friend a got a bit of the food storage bug in me. Because we have moved around so much I haven't built up too much food storage. So since Saturday I have made 12 pints of strawberry freezer jam, canned 75 lbs of flour, 60 lbs of sugar, 50 lbs of rice, and some oats. Because we don't live by a church cannery, the stake has equipment and mylar bags to use. So instead of canning the food, I sealed them in the mylar bags. It was pretty fun!

Rain and Mud and more Rain

With the exception of last weekend, it has rained pretty much every day for the past 2 weeks!! I'm so sick of it I could scream. Our back yard and empty lot next to us are completely muddy. The few times it hasn't been raining the kids run out side, only to be attracted to the mud. I don't get it, why would you want to go outside and walk through the mud. So I have scrubbed shoes, rugs, and carpet countless times. Yesterday, when Isaac got off the bus he didn't come right in the house. I saw him in the back yard (with his uniform on) "adventuring". "Hello!!!! Do you not see the mud." "Mom do you know that if you step in mud you sink...watch." Thank heavens for Clorox 2, it got the mud out. We are on our way to Utah on Saturday. Hopefully the weather will be nice to us there.

Changing the subject to Mr. Hayden. He is hilarious. His latest thing to say when asked to do something is "Yes siree ma'am" as he salutes me. He can sing most of the words to the Jump In song "Push it, Push it to the limit, limit". Yesterday day we were playing a new game when he won he instantly jumped up and sang "We are the champions". He definately has an older brother and he picks up of things very quickly. He makes me laugh. Everyone needs a Hayden in their family.

Shout out to Mom and Dad

As most of you know my parents our on a Mission in the Philippines. This has been a great Gospel conversation starter. Like yesterday, I was at Isaac's parent teacher conference. I told his teacher that he would be missing a week of school because we were going to Utah to see our family. She asked if that's where my parents live. I said "well right now they are on a mission for our church." Then she asked what church we went to. So I told her The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She looked at me funny and I said, "We're Mormons". The baby was starting to cry and our conference was over so I got up to leave. Then the teacher said, "Tell me about Mormons". Thus started a great conversation. We talked about basic beliefs and then a lot about what missionaries do. So thanks Mom and Dad!

Confession

So my baby is 3 months old now and I still have about 10 pounds left (give or take 5...I'm not sure where I started). I've never had to work off baby weight, it has always just come off with in a month or 2 after having a baby. I guess the fourth time around is different I got hips out of it this time...I'm not sure I like them. I might have to start working on it. Here's the problem. I have 3 big down falls.

1. SMORES I found an old recipe that I love. I make them about once a week. The kids love them too. Let me share the wealth.

5 cups marshmallows
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup light corn syrup
5 tablespoons butter

Melt all together then add
8 cups Golden Grahams (I buy the big malto meal bag... just to have plenty on hand)
1 cup marshmallows unmelted

Stir all together and put in a 9 by 13 pan
let cool and eat.

2. Wheat Bread after Halle was born my friend brought us dinner...yummy soup and homemade bread. The bread was to die for, so I got the recipe. I still need to get that soup recipe it was way good! Once again I make it about once a week.

Bread Starter

3 Tablespoons instant potato flakes
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup sugar

Stir together and let set over night.

Wheat Bread

2 Tablespoons yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water
1/3 cup honey

stir gently and let it sit until foamy
add:
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup gluten
1 Tablespoon salt
1 cup of the starter
6 cups wheat flour

knead together for 10 minutes
Make 4 even balls and place 2 on a greased cookie sheet.
let rise until double in size, about an hour

Bake one cookie sheet at a time
350 for 20 to 25 minutes (usually about 22 minutes)

The recipe says to bake it at 375 for 20 minutes, but I think that over does it and it gets dry.
Enjoy

3. Exercise I've never been good at making time for it, and now with Aaron's schedule I'm having a hard time finding time when I'm not exhausted and don't have kids. I need to figure things out.

There you have my three secrets. Now I need to stop buying Golden Grahams and wheat flour and need to start moving my body!