It's Fall time but I haven't fallen off the planet

It's been over a month since I've posted, I'm sorry! I forget that I have a blog, I'm too busy reading other blogs and websites that I forget that I need to update mine! :)

Here's a quickie...

Here are a few pics from playing in the leaves last week.

 

I updated my food blog tonight with a fun Halloween recipe, check it out!

What's On My Dish?

I created a food blog a while ago and am finally going to announce it here. Go to What's On My Dish? to read recipes and other food related posts there.

Ihave a calendar of my family's menu in the side bar. I planned out my meals back in January & February and it was great! I stopped doing it when the baby came but now I'm starting it back up again. If any of you want to plan out your meals, the easiest way to start is to just write down what you had for dinner each night, then the next month you can get your ideas from what you had last month, or start adding new things.

A few times people have asked for a recipe from me and I didn't feel comfortable giving them my personal blog address with the recipe. Now I can give them my food blog address. Please feel free to give anyone my food blog address so that my personal blog stays unread by just anyone.

This food blog is dedicated to my first set of dishes (pictured below.) I loved the dishes but after 7 1/2 years, it was time to let them go. I have now gone to plain ol' white Corelle Ware since they go with everything and are kid friendly. :)

Visit What's On My Dish?

Ode to Oaklen - Sept 2009

Here's another round of Ode to Oaklen...

Imagination
I wasn't one of those kids with a huge imagination, so now as an adult I get to enjoy Oaklen's imagination.

Who needs toys when a 3-yr-old can do this?

Turn a paper bag into an organ
Use a foam block as an inside lawnmower
Make the laundry basket into Scuffy the tug boat
Use my bedspread as a human ball
Open and close the closet as a cuckoo clock
Use cowboy boots and a fire hat for a fireman costume with his "fire package" backpack.
Aboard the stairs to drive his airplane (with a seatbelt and everything)

I've heard him playing with his Bob the Builder & Wendy figurines. He speaks in narrative like: " 'Oh no' said Bob. 'I'm coming to help' Wendy yelled." I can tell he's used to to reading books.


My little munchie
He's still always trying to get into the fridge and eat. He's made quesadillas, waffles, and has cracked eggs all by himself.

Here he is one morning with a bunch of string cheese. I got up early to go to the temple and came home to see him awake, sitting on the couch, happily eating cheese. I managed to catch him when he was on his second string cheese.

Oaklen is pretty good at cracking eggs. He doesn't even get any shell in it. This picture shows that he cracked an egg and the yolk made a heart shape. Isn't life grand? :)
One Sunday morning I got up and heard Oaklen downstairs and knew he was up to something in the kitchen. I managed to get the camera as I approached him...I ended up making waffles that morning even though I hadn't planned on it.



Toilet Training
It's been a week since he's been using the toilet. We've had a few accidents but I simply can't be mad at him because he's always so happy. 30 seconds after I clean him up he's running around happy as can be.

Singing
He loves to sing and is often singing at any given moment. Many people smile at him while we're shopping, and say to me "Well, at least he's a happy kid!" His favorite song is How Firm A Foundation. The primary is learning it this year and even though he's in nursery, he has learned it since we, as a family, sing it all the time.

Here is Oaklen singing the first few lines of How Firm a Foundation:



Orange - He still loves orange. In nursery he always chooses an orange crayon and he has used up almost all the orange stars that they get to put on their scripture verse each week.

He loves to be orange man and wear his orange backpack:

Heavy Machinery - He still loves to watch the garbage trucks, street sweepers, excavators, trains, you name it!

Pencils - Whenever he sees a big jet in the sky making a white line, he says "Hey there's a giant pencil!"

Friday Frugal Tip - Clinique Pencil Sharpener

If you think that your cheap eye liner or lip liner pencil is no good, think again. Take a look at your sharpener; a good sharpener will make all the difference.

I found this gem:
The Clinique pencil sharpener. It sharpens the pencil perfectly, even the cheap wet & wild brand. I discovered this about 10 years ago and have had one ever since. Recently I got another sharpener that was included in one of my cheap eye pencil packages. I thought I'd use it for my back-up make-up bag. NO WAY! It ruined all of my pencils, and was hard to use.

Last week I happened to be passing the Clinique counter and picked up a spare Clinique sharpener. Did it break my budget? Nope, it's a whopping $1. Now that's a sharp bargain. Pun intended.

Ezril - 6 1/2 months

My baby is already 6 1/2 months old! We started giving him a little bit of solid food last week. His first taste was millet. It's a good first food for babies. (Just grind up the grain and cook with water.)

As we gradually give him food, his diapers will gradually loose their sweet "new-baby" smell. :( I'm savoring those last few wiffs. :)

He's quite a joy in our lives, he's a happy baby and is always sticking his tongue out as you can see in some of the pictures below.

Salem's 6th Birthday Review

I'm a little late posting this, but here is Salem's 6th birthday review. His birthday was on a Friday so we did many things with our little family on that day, then had a big family party on Sunday evening.

This is the sum of Friday's activities
* Breakfast in bed
* He got to open one present in the morning, it was a Darth Vader mask!
* We went to Sugarhouse Park and played on the playground
* He got to go to Toys R Us and redeem his $3 gift card from Geoffrey's birthday club. He chose two wrestler action figures.
* We went to the library and the librarian gave him a sticker and helped us find some books about birthdays.
* We got to meet Darrell at Olive Garden for lunch.
* We played with moon sand at home.
* We went bowling
* At the bowling place he opened a present and it was a fish bowl and goldfish crackers. It was a clue to where we were going next...
* We went to the pet store and Salem got to pick out two goldfish. He named them immediately: Zinner and Miguel.
* We brought the fish home. (Unfortunately Miguel died the next day and Zinner died on Monday. It's okay...we had funerals and talked about the plan of salvation, we even sang "I am a Fish of God.")



On Sunday evening we had a family birthday party. Salem and I had been making a pinata for this occasion for a few months. We made it out of paper mache so it took a while to dry and do another layer, then we forgot about it and finished it up a few days before his birthday. It turned out really cute.

Our friend Rachael posted pinata instructions on her blog and that's how we got the idea. Salem did most of the work and it was pretty easy. We decided on doing a spiderman head since the balloon looked like a head. What did we fill it with? String cheese of course! :)

Here are some pics from his family birthday party. I made a goldfish cake for him. Thank you family for coming and the fun gifts!

A Somber Occasion

Today marks a somber occasion for me and my family. It's the 20th anniversary of my father's death. September 10th will always be a dreaded day in my mind.

Last year for his birthday, I wrote a nice post about him. Go ahead and read it again if you'd like...I just re-read it and now don't know what to say. All of my memories are summed up in that blog entry. I prayed to Heavenly Father last night asking to bring forth some memories to my mind, I have faith that he will.

Here are some random things that I'll tell you:

* My dad's death was sudden; he was killed on a motorcycle, a girl was in a car turning left and didn't see him. We of course didn't' expect it.

* I always try to remember what we did the few days before his death, but can't remember hardly anything. The one thing I do remember is coming home from my friend's birthday party the day before and he and my mom laying on their bed watching TV. I came in and told them about the birthday party and stared at their bare feet. The day he died was on a Sunday so we went to church that morning and I remember him working on the motorcycle in the back yard later.

* I listened to "In the Living Years" on the radio close to the time of his death and now it reminds me of him every time I hear it. The new children's songbook had just been published and we (some primary children) sang "Love One Another" with the sign language for his funeral. Every time I hear that song sung in primary I get emotional.

* He was buried in his cub scout uniform since he was a cub master for many years. I often go to cub scout meetings now (for Primary) and feel weird seeing that green scout uniform. I'm not necessarily traumatized by it but does feel weird. I'll get over it.

* The night he died, and after everyone left, my small family went into my mom's room and said a family prayer. We weren't in the habit of saying family prayer so this one particularly stood out in my mind. We all knelt down, held hands and prayed. After the prayer was said we all cried to our hearts content.

* When I was told that my father died, I didn't cry. I'm sure I was in shock, plus there were tons of people there watching me and I probably didn't want to cry. A few hours later my neighbor (Miss Margene) took me into my room and just hugged me. She let me cry and it felt good to cry without anyone watching me. Between tears I said "It's like he's going on a mission and never coming back."

* When my best friend Tracee found out about it, she found a few random things from her room and put them in two bags for me and my sister as a gift. It was sweet of her to do that. When I saw her, she gave me a big hug, a real meaningful hug. I was always used to hugging people bigger and older than me so it felt nice to hug someone the same size as me. That hug is my most memorable hug of all time.

* A few weeks ago I remembered that 10 years ago I sent an email to many friends entitled "Cherish life." I went back to my old email address to find what I had written and I couldn't find it! I found a few replies from friends but couldn't find the original email. If any of you know what I'm talking about and happened to save that email, please forward it to me! Anyway, the email was talking about cherishing life and that you never know what you have until it's gone. This may sound morbid but I often think "what if this were the last time I would see [this person]? Would I regret something I did or said?" I try always make sure to hug my loved ones and verbally say "I love you." PLEASE don't hesitate to say I love you, it may be the last time.

* I have a necklace locket and in it holds a picture of my mom & dad. The picture of my dad was the last picture that was taken of him. It was up at our mountain property, he was in the background of the picture being taken of me, my sister and some of my mom's friend's kids. His face just happened to be the perfect size to stick in the locket. I'm glad.

* That next year after he died, I remember having a dream. I don't want to say it means anything, but when I think about it, I am happy, so I'll share it. Here is what I remember from my dream:

It was very bright and white, I was a little girl playing and waiting in a room with other people. I think my mom, brother & sister was there. The "camera" (my mind) took me out in the hallway to see my dad dressed all in bright white carrying a bag. I ran to the hallway and jumped up to give him a big hug. We both smiled because he was home.

That's all I remember, I don't know what it means. I'm not trying to prophesy anything but it's a fond memory. Here is a picture of he and I before I was baptized. I don't really like that we're not smiling but I like the "all white" picture.
* On January 29, 2002 I escorted my mom, and sister to receive their temple endowment. After the session, we were all sealed as a family. (Darrell did my dad's temple endowment a few years prior.) The phrase "Families Are Forever" always seemed incorrect for us. Now "Families Can Be Together Forever" is the correct phrase.

I love you Daddy!

PS - Darrell thanks for making waffles today. I don't know if you realized it or not, but it was perfect to have them today. I even found some old Mrs. Buttersworth syrup in the pantry to put on them. It almost tasted just like how my dad used to make them.

Friday Frugal Tip - Emissions & Safety Inspections

August is the renewal month for safety & emissions inspection with our van. I have not been putting it off, I just planned to do it the last week of the month since school would be starting.

As far as I understand, a while back all inspection places charged the same amount; then the laws changed and now they can charge whatever they want. I called around many different places and the cost varied as much as $10. Some places have coupons and other places accept competitor coupons up to $5 off. We have usually chosen a place that only does inspections for their business, who take competitor coupons. This is the best way to go especially if you have an older car.

Be careful with choosing auto shops that do inspections. They will often be picky or find something else "wrong" with your car. They give out hefty coupons like "free safety insepction with purchase of emissions" but they try to make up the difference with other services.

Some inspection places will submit the info to the state and give you the renewal sticker immediately, but they charge a fee for this. Save yourself a few bucks and easily renew online for free. You'll get the sticker in the mail within a few days. If you renew the last day of the month and won't get the sticker before the new month begins, you can print out a temporary renewal paper and stick it in your car until you get the sticker (there's no need to stand in line at the DMV.)

This time around I decided to call the dealership where I bought the van last year to find their price. I was surprised that they were $1 less than the cheapest place I called (at regular price without a coupon.) Today I got the safety & emissions done at the dealership. I enjoyed lounging in the waiting room with free granola bars, rice krispie treats, juice, herbal tea, and apples. There were toys, a tv & dvd player, and newspaper & magazines to read. They could have shuttled me somewhere if needed and to top it all off, they wash & vacuumed my car for free!

As Annie would say "I think I'm gonna like it here."

Happy Birthday Salem - Half a Dozen

Salem is 6 years old today!

Spiderman - Salem loves to dress up in his Spiderman costume as well as his lion, Batman, cowboy, duck, Peter Pan, sheriff ...and the list goes on. He would play dress-up all day if he could. (The funny thing is that he doesn't even know who or what most of the characters are, he just likes to dress up in them.)
Activities - He loves to choose the activity for Family Home Evening, or during Mom & Me time. He comes up with some lengthy rules or agendas and they usually turn out fun. He loves to go with his Dad to Young Men or Young Women activities.
Love Notes - He loves to make cards, color pictures and write notes to everyone. It's adorable when he leaves a love note or picture on my or Darrell's pillow. The drawings are classics!
Energetic - He is a happy, healthy kid who is full of energy.
Memorable - He's already old enough to remember his past. I hope he has fond memories and continues to build great ones.

I love you Salem Wallace!

Babywearing

Tomorrow I'm teaching a babywearing class at the Breastfeeding Cafe. What is babywearing you ask? It's literally wearing your baby...in a carrier, sling, wrap etc. If you've seen me during the first year of each of my children's life, you have seen me wearing my baby. My favorite is the ring sling since it's so versatile but I also use a wrap, mei tai, and pouch.

Salem in a ring sling


Oaklen in a pouch sling


Ezril in a wrap

There are many ways to wear your baby. I was going to start explaining them all but I figured someone has already done the work for me, so here is a blog I found from a google search that does a pretty good job.

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Here is the handout that I will give at the class about ideas to make your own sling:
Make your own baby sling
Sewn Ring Sling - http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/floating.html
No-sew Ring Sling - http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/no_sew.html
No-sew Ring Sling video - http://slingyourbaby.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-thread-your-ring-sling.html
Where to buy the rings
• http://nestmom.com/nursing_17/Sling-Rings.htm , nestmom is located in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. You can save on shipping by picking them up directly.
• http://www.slingrings.com/
• IFA Country Store – Bull nose rings
• Home improvement stores – look in the hardware section for chain & rope accessories

Pouch Sling - http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/tubesling.html
Another pouch sling idea - http://www.wearyourbaby.org/Default.aspx?tabid=128

No sew wrap - http://www.wearyourbaby.org/documents/MakeAWrap.pdf

No sew ABC or Mei Tai - http://www.wearyourbaby.org/Default.aspx?tabid=118

What you can do with different yards of fabric - make a sling with as little as 2 yards of fabric: http://www.wearyourbaby.org/Default.aspx?tabid=66

Here is a list of many other links about making baby slings:
http://www.thebabywearer.com/lists/Sewing.htm

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My favorite Dr. Sears has a great article on babywearing.

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Ten Reasons to Wear your Baby http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/laura_simeon.html
by Laura Simeon, MA, MLIS

1. Wearing a baby is convenient.
When we carry a baby in a sling, we can walk around freely and not have to worry about negotiating steps, crowds or narrow aisles with a stroller. Plastic "baby buckets" and removable car seats are heavy and awkward for parents, babies often look uncomfortable, and they are kept at knee level. A sling can block out excess stimuli when breastfeeding a distractible baby, and it allows for discreet nursing in public places. A sling can also double as a changing pad, blanket, or cushion when away from home. I've found my sling especially handy when negotiating busy airports with a small child and several bags!

2. Wearing a baby promotes physical development.
When a baby rides in a sling attached to his mother, he is in tune with the rhythm of her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and the movements his mother makes – walking, bending, and reaching. This stimulation helps him to regulate his own physical responses, and exercises his vestibular system, which controls balance. The sling is in essence a "transitional womb" for the new baby, who has not yet learned to control his bodily functions and movements. Research has shown that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not1. Mechanical swings and other holding devices do not provide these same benefits.

3. Babies worn in slings are happier.
Studies have shown that the more babies are held, the less they cry and fuss2. In indigenous cultures where baby-wearing is the norm, babies often cry for only a few minutes a day – in contrast to Western babies, who often cry for hours each day. Crying is exhausting for both the baby and his parents, and may cause long-term damage as the baby's developing brain is continually flooded with stress hormones.3 Babies who do not need to spend their energy on crying are calmly observing and actively learning about their environment. Baby-wearing is especially useful for colicky babies, who are far happier being worn, but placid, content babies and children will also benefit greatly from the warmth and security of being held close.

4. Baby-wearing is healthy for you!
It can be challenging for new mothers to find time to exercise, but if you carry your baby around with you most of the day or go for a brisk walk with your baby in her sling, you will enjoy the dual benefits of walking and "weightlifting". A long walk in the sling is also an excellent way to help a tired but over-stimulated child fall asleep.

5. Toddlers appreciate the security of the sling.
Slings are usually associated with infants, but they can be very useful for toddlers as well; most slings accommodate children up to 35 or 40 pounds. The world can be a scary place for toddlers, who feel more confident when they can retreat to the security of the sling when they need to do so. Toddlers often become over-stimulated, and a ride in the sling helps to soothe and comfort them before (or after!) a "melt-down" occurs. It can be very helpful in places like the zoo, aquarium, or museum, where a small child in a stroller would miss many of the exhibits.

6. Baby-wearing helps you and your baby to communicate with each other.
The more confidence we have in our parenting, the more we can relax and enjoy our children. A large part of feeling confident as a parent is the ability to read our baby's cues successfully. When we hold our baby close in a sling, we become finely attuned to his gestures and facial expressions. Many baby-wearing parents report that they have never learned to distinguish their baby's cries – because their babies are able to communicate effectively without crying! Every time a baby is able to let us know that she is hungry, bored or wet without having to cry, her trust in us is increased, her learning is enhanced, and our own confidence is reinforced. This cycle of positive interaction enhances the mutual attachment between parent and child, and makes life more enjoyable for everyone.

7. Slings are a bonding tool for fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers.
Slings are a useful tool for every adult in a baby's life. It makes me smile when I see a new father going for a walk with his baby in a sling. The baby is becoming used to his voice, heartbeat, movements and facial expressions, and the two are forging a strong attachment of their own. Fathers don't have the automatic head-start on bonding that comes with gestation, but that doesn't mean they can't make up for this once their baby is born. The same goes for babysitters, grandparents and all other caregivers. Cuddling up close in the sling is a wonderful way to get to know the baby in your life, and for the baby to get to know you!

8. Slings are a safe place for a child to be.
Instead of running loose in crowded or dangerous places, a child in a sling is held safe and secure right next to your body. Slings also provide emotional safety when needed, so that children can venture into the world and become independent at their own pace.

9. Slings are economical.
Slings cost far less than strollers, front-carriers or backpacks. Many mothers consider the sling to be one of their most useful and economical possessions. Inexpensive used slings can be found in consignment and thrift stores, and new ones can be bought for about $25 -$50 (U.S.) - not bad for an item many parents use daily for two years or more! A sling can also be sewn for the price of a length of cotton, some rings and batting; sling patterns are available.

10. Baby-wearing is fun.
Who doesn't love to cuddle a precious little baby? And when your baby is older, having her in the sling makes conversations easier and allows you to observe her reactions to the wonders of the world around her. It's also fun for baby, because when she is up at eye level, other adults notice and interact with her more. Your child will feel more a part of your life when she is in her sling, and you will find yourself becoming more and more enchanted with this special little person.

Happy Birthday Darrell - 31 Flavors

My dearest Darrell, Happy Birthday!

Dedicated - Today is his birthday but what does he choose to do? Work on redoing our front porch!
Able - He can do anything! It's amazing to watch him take on any task and succeed at it.
Religious - One of the reasons I married him is because he is a great man of valor.
Reasonable - He's down to earth and very easy to get along with.
Elastic - He'll bounce back from anything, nothing will get him down.
Loving - He's a great father and husband, very loving.
Lucky - He's going to hate that I used that word since he thinks "there is no luck." He always has been very blessed and I'm lucky to have him!

I love you Darrell Wallace, you're 31 delicious flavors!

4th Annual Breastfeeding Cafe

I haven't blogged in over a month because my life has been busy this summer. One of the reasons is due to planning the 4th Annual Breastfeeding Cafe with the Utah Breastfeeding Coalition.

KUTV did a story on the breastfeeding cafe and aired it tonight on the 5:00 news. I'm in a bit of this news clip. (They spelled my name wrong but oh well. :) )

The breastfeeding cafe will be at the Salt Lake Main Library during the whole month of August. We are in the share space in the atrium area on the ground level next to the various shops. You can come and learn more about breastfeeding and/or attend classes & events. Here is the events calendar. I will be teaching two baby wearing classes, and will also be doing a children's reading circle.

This cafe is open to not only moms, but the whole family. If you're interested in coming, let me know!

August 1-31
Main Public Library
210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City
TRAX stop: Library Square

Join us in the SHARE space on the ground floor in the atrium area.
Mon-Thurs 10-7, Fri-Sat 10-6, Sun 1-5

FREE Events and Classes

• Baby Wearing
• Infant CPR
• Sign with Your Baby
• Ask a Registered Lactation Consultant
• Bluegrass Concert by The Wildflowers
• Children's Storytime
• Massage: Prenatal & Infant
• How to Protect Breastfeeding at Birth
• Ask a Registered Dietitian
• Pregnant and New Mothers Circles
• Breastfeeding 101
• Natural Birthing
• Breastfeeding Photo Contest

...and more!

Oaklen's 3rd Birthday Review

Oaklen's birthday was a few weeks ago and he had a fun weekend!

Here is a movie about the adventure we went on the day before his birthday:


His birthday was on a Sunday so we did the usual church, then had family over for a party that evening. I made an orange cake with an "excavator" on it. (The excavator was part of his gift.) Click to view bigger pictures.

I did a photo shoot of him for his 3-yr-old pictures. This was the best one, he loves his orange garbage truck!

Friday Frugal Tip - Free Credit Report

Here's a quick Friday Frugal Tip...

The credit bureaus are required by law to let you see your credit report once a year for free.

Go to:
www.annualcreditreport.com

You can request a credit report from the three major credit-reporting agencies:
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

If you just request one report at a time, you can view your credit report 3 different times a year for free. Stagger your requests to once every four months and you can check for fraud or disputes on a regular basis.

(The websites will try to sell you your FICO score or other credit monitoring services but all you really need is the detailed credit report that they give you.)

It was an easy, quick process and it gave me the report online to view or print.

Enjoy! (I hope.)

Monday morning date night

My Dearest Sani Taire,

I just finished my date with you. Oh how I love you so much! I look forward to our weekly dates and always dress in my best evening gown.

I loved the way you handled yourself as we waltzed in the dining room and as you helped me up each and every step. You were so gallant when we encountered the light saber fighting child who wouldn't dare let us touch his legos. I was happy that you weren't jealous as I foxtrotted with Mr. Broom and did the cha cha with Mike Mop. You were so kind to let the 3 year old push you around as I talked with Dust-in. You're so good with children.

I love the way we get dirty. Sani, you are quite powerful. Thanks for such a good time. You always make me feel good after our date. My house lingers of traces of you and makes me smile. See you next week, I'm looking forward to it.

Oh, and don't worry about sending me a return note, I already know how I turn you on!

Sincerely,
Your mistress Heather

Happy Birthday Oaklen!

Oaklen is 3 years old today!

Ostentatious - Oaklen is very social and is not shy. He is quite the entertainer!
Always smiling - He has a contagious smile that will make anyone happy.
Kissable - Those cheeks are so kissable! He's so easy to love, even though he's a turkey at times! :)
Little - He may be a "big" three-year-old but as he says "I'm still little!"
Excavator - He is really into big trucks right now, he loves his garbage truck and his excavator shoes.
Non-stop - Oaklen is always doing something...eating, reading, playing... sometimes when he isn't supposed to. Guess who was the first one up this morning and already in the refrigerator? Yep, Oaklen!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Cake

This recipe is derived from The Amazing Wheat book by LeArta Moulton. I have made some notes and changed the recipe name so it's easier to search on search engines. (In the book it's called "Anything Goes Cake" on page 170.)

Whole Wheat Chocolate Cake
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups brown sugar or succanat OR 1 1/2 cups honey**
4 T carob powder or cocoa powder
2 t baking soda
1 T salt
3/4 cup cooking oil (I used canola)
2 T vinegar (probably apple cider vinegar, but I often use white vinegar)
2 t vanilla (a trusted friend told me to double the vanilla in recipes...always, so I did 4 t vanilla)
2 c liquid, mashed fruit or vegetable*

Mix dry ingredients, then add liquids. Mix together. Bake in ungreased 9x13 inch pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. For 24 cupcakes, fill into cupcake liners, bake 350 degrees for 17 minutes.

*To this basic cake recipe, just about any leftovers can be added. Try tomato soup, mashed potatoes, vegetables or fruit, squash, etc. (The consistency will be a little different if the the fruit or vegetable is more liquid or solid, but it doesn't affect the taste. The main difference would be either a light fluffy cake versus a brownie texture.)
** NOTE: When I use mashed bananas, they are already sweet so I just put in 1 cup of succanat instead of 2 cups. (Judge according to your taste buds. You can eat this batter since it has no raw eggs!)

Homemade Enchilada Sauce & Bean Enchiladas

A few years ago, I found this recipe for Enchilada Sauce here. I've used it when I don't have a can of enchilada sauce on hand (which is almost always.) It's cheaper to make this stuff plus it's usually healthier.

Enchilada Sauce

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce (I used "no salt added" tomato sauce)
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1. Heat oil in large 2-quart saucepan; stir in flour and chili powder; cook for 1 minute.
2. Add remaining ingredients bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Makes 3 cups sauce.
This is enough to make one enchilada casserole in a 9x13 dish.

Bean Enchiladas
When I make enchiladas I usually like to fill them with a bean mixture. Last night I used the following:
1 can kidney beans
1 can olives
1 small can of green beans (hide them and no one will know!)
1/2 package tofu
mexican seasoning (I used The Spice Hunter brand, and it's great!)
onion powder
a dash of garlic hot sauce (I found at Dollartree.)

Spray 9x13 casserole dish. Add a layer of enchilada sauce. Fill 8 tortillas with bean mixture and place in dish. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over tortillas ensuring to get all parts of tortilla. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top and decorate with green onions or chives.

Place in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Broil for a few minutes afterward if desired to get the cheese crispy.

When I make this again I'm sure it will be different. The filling is never the same. You could add cheese to the filling to make it extra good but it's also extra fattening and costly. :) If you don't have canned beans you could grind dry beans and cook with boiling water to get a bean spread.

Bob & Wendy

Oaklen has taken on a new identity and he's brought me & the fam with him.

Oaklen = Bob the Builder
Heather = Wendy
Darrell = Rolly
Salem = Scoop
Ezril = Muck

He often calls me Wendy and won't respond to me when I call him Oaklen, I have to call him Bob. This is rather funny since we have a neighbor named Bob and another neighbor named Wendy. I've told both of them our situation just in case they hear those names being called out and it's not implying them. :) It's a little embarrassing at the store when Oaklen calls me Wendy as I'm giving the cashier my credit card with "Heather" written on it; but so far, no one has raised an eyebrow.

I thought it was appropriate that Oaklen calls Ezril "Muck" since he watches me change his diapers. Darrell is usually Rolly but sometimes gets called other names from Bob & Wendy's machinery. Salem is usually Scoop.

We have been given a few Bob the Builder movies and he's watched them a few times; he mainly knows Bob the Builder from a few books that we have. One is an audio book so he gets to hear all the sound effects (much better than what mom or dad could do.) We also watch a youtube clip that has the theme song.

Motherhood talk

Today at church, I spoke in sacrament meeting. I wrote my talk so I figured I'd copy and paste this here. I didn't read it word for word, and I said things differently but here is the jist of it. The end only has notes since those were my extra things to say if I had time, but I did, in fact, have more time. (The Bishop asked me to speak on 'Finding joy in Motherhood.')

In the April 2008 conference, Elder Ballard spoke to the Daughters of God. I remember the beginning of this talk well since he got a few laughs when he said the following:
This afternoon I want to focus my remarks primarily on mothers, particularly on young mothers.

As a young father, I learned the demanding role of motherhood. I served as a counselor and then as bishop for a period of 10 years. During that time we were blessed with six of our seven children. Barbara was often worn-out by the time I got home Sunday evening. She tried to explain what it was like to sit on the back row in sacrament meeting with our young family. Then the day came that I was released. After sitting on the stand for 10 years, I was now sitting with my family on the back row.

The ward’s singing mothers’ chorus was providing the music, and I found myself sitting alone with our six children. I have never been so busy in my whole life. I had the hand puppets going on both hands, and that wasn’t working too well. The Cheerios got away from me, and that was embarrassing. The coloring books didn’t seem to entertain as well as they should.

As I struggled with the children through the meeting, I looked up at Barbara, and she was watching me and smiling. I learned for myself to more fully appreciate what all of you dear mothers do so well and so faithfully!

I think about what he said often when I’m sitting in church with my children. I was pleased when he mentioned cheerios since that is sometimes my sanity here in sacrament meeting. You’ve heard poems and other talks that spell out the word “Mother” like “M is for the many kinds words you say…, etc” but instead of using the word “Mother” today, I’m going to use the word “Cheerios” since that is one of the ways that I find joy in motherhood. Plus I figure if the apostle of the Lord can talk about cheerios, then so can I.

C is for Cherish – We must cherish each moment that we have with our children.
There is a poem that used to hang on a wall in my childhood home that said “Cooking and cleaning can wait ‘til tomorrow for babies grow up as we learn to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep, I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
Elder Ballard said:

I am impressed by countless mothers who have learned how important it is to focus on the things that can only be done in a particular season of life. If a child lives with parents for 18 or 19 years, that span is only one-fourth of a parent’s life. And the most formative time of all, the early years in a child’s life, represents less than one-tenth of a parent’s normal life. It is crucial to focus on our children for the short time we have them with us and to seek, with the help of the Lord, to teach them all we can before they leave our homes.

I try to think about that when I’m struggling with a hard parenting situation. This moment is such a small percentage of their lives. Elder Ballard quoted an author Anna Quindlen and stated “I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.”

H is for Hair – Yes I know what you’re thinking, what? Hair? What’s that all about? I chose “Hair” for my H because of my son Oaklen. He loves my hair and is always running his fingers through it. I have tried numerous tactics to get him to stop playing with my hair since sometimes it hurts but so far nothing has worked. I’ve decided to embrace this (as much as I can) and let him grow out of it. We’ll be reading a book and he’ll reach up and grab some of my hair for just a moment to “reconnect to mom” and then let go.

I liken this to our relationship with the savior. How many times do we need to reconnect to the Lord? Do we always have a prayer in our heart? Are we thinking about what would Jesus do in this particular situation? As a mother I need to ask myself those questions. Am I including the savior in this child rearing? Elder Ballard said:

Pray deeply about your children and about your role as a mother. Parents can offer a unique and wonderful kind of prayer because they are praying to the Eternal Parent of us all. There is great power in a prayer that essentially says, “We are steward-parents over Thy children, Father; please help us to raise them as Thou wouldst want them raised.”

E is for Example – Mothers should be good examples. President Hinckley always spoke highly of his mother, and he shared a few lessons that his mother taught him in various talks and books. There are many people in the world that start off a sentence with “My momma used to say…” or “My mother taught me…” I hope to live my life so that my sons will one day say “my mother taught me…” or “my mother always used to say…”

We think of the adult always setting the example, but I’m also thankful for the good examples that my children are to me. They are always quick to forgive, have incredible faith and often remind me of a commandment.

E is for Essential – Elder Ballard said “There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood.” Motherhood is essential to the Lord’s plan of happiness. What we learn in this life, will help us through the eternities.

One of the joys of motherhood is to watch your child become self sufficient. Heavenly Father also is overjoyed when we become self sufficient through provident living.

R is for Respect – I have a deep respect for all mothers, we are all different and unique. Elder Ballard says:

“There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else.”

I is for I Love You – Those three words are so beautiful; I never get tired of hearing them or saying them. When I was in High school, I went to an assembly hosted by the Community of Caring. I don’t really remember what the assembly was about except that they were talking about being loved. My friend sat next to me and whispered “Do you hear the words ‘I love you’ at your house every day?” I said “Yes, of course.” And she said “Oh, I don’t.” and she thought it was weird that I did. I was so used to hearing those words from my mom that I didn’t realize how blessed I was. I’m sure that my friend was greatly loved in her home, but to just hear those three words makes all the difference. Please, if you don’t already say “I love you” to your loved ones, start doing it!

In the proclamation to the world about the family, Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. We hunger for this nurturing and love. The greatest example of love is our Savior. Elder Hales from his last conference address spoke these words:

“But as children of God, our deepest hunger and what we should be seeking is what the Lord alone can provide—His love, His sense of worth, His security, His confidence, His hope in the future, and assurance of His love, which brings us eternal joy."

O is for Over and over – As a mother, how many times do you say “tie your shoes, wipe your nose, go to sleep, etc.” You’re saying them over and over again.

We learn by repetition. We come to church and learn the same things over and over, but we still need to learn it again.

S is for Sanctity – Motherhood is a sacred calling.

While serving as First Counselor in the First Presidency, President Gordon B. Hinckley said:

“I remind mothers everywhere of the sanctity of your calling. No other can adequately take your place. No responsibility is greater, no obligation more binding than that you rear in love and peace and integrity those whom you have brought into the world” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1993, 79; or Ensign, Nov. 1993, 60).

Speaking to mothers, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said:

“Yours is the grand tradition of Eve, the mother of all the human family, the one who understood that she and Adam had to fall in order that ‘men [and women] might be’ [2 Nephi 2:25] and that there would be joy. Yours is the grand tradition of Sarah and Rebekah and Rachel, without whom there could not have been those magnificent patriarchal promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob which bless us all. Yours is the grand tradition of Lois and Eunice [see 2 Timothy 1:5] and the mothers of the 2,000 stripling warriors. Yours is the grand tradition of Mary, chosen and foreordained from before this world was, to conceive, carry, and bear the Son of God Himself. We thank all of you, including our own mothers, and tell you there is nothing more important in this world than participating so directly in the work and glory of God, in bringing to pass the mortality and earthly life of His daughters and sons, so that immortality and eternal life can come in those celestial realms on high” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 48; or Ensign, May 1997, 36; see also pages 44–45 in the Marriage and Family Relations Participant’s Study Guide).

[After I said all of this I had more time so here were a few of my 'extras' notes.]
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Elder Ballard:

The third question: What can children, even young children, do? Now, you children, please listen to me because there are some simple things you can do to help your mother.

You can pick up your toys when you are finished playing with them, and when you get a little older, you can make your bed, help with the dishes, and do other chores—without being asked.

You can say thank you more often when you finish a nice meal, when a story is read to you at bedtime, or when clean clothes are put in your drawers.

Most of all, you can put your arms around your mother often and tell her you love her.

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President David O. McKay (1873–1970):

“[The] ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift to love, and eagerness … to express it in soul development, make motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world. She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, … deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God” (Gospel Ideals [1954], 453–54).

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"To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world."
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Discipline not of children but of yourself (Hinckley)
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Bloom where you are planted
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Family scripture, song & prayer never have a child go astray
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Happiness is… and gratitude journal
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The Family is of God
1. Our Father has a family. It’s me!
It’s you, all others too: we are His children.
He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,
To live and learn here in fam’lies.

2. A father’s place is to preside, provide,
To love and teach the gospel to his children.
A father leads in fam’ly prayer to share
Their love for Father in Heaven.

3. A mother’s purpose is to care, prepare,
To nurture and to strengthen all her children.
She teaches children to obey, to pray,
To love and serve in the fam’ly.

4. I’ll love and serve my family and be
A good example to each fam’ly member.
And when I am a mom or dad, so glad,
I’ll help my fam’ly remember:

[Chorus]
God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.