Moo?

Tonight James was INCREDIBLY tired because he refused to nap today. After dinner we went outside to play, which made him happy. The kid was running all over the place, rolling around on the grass, turning around in circles and laughing like crazy. I tried to take some pictures of him but they mostly turned out blurry because he was running all over the place! (Luckily I got a few good ones :))


Finally I said it was time to go inside, and he kept falling over and giggling and making me drag him inside. He was lying on the grass on his tummy, when all of a sudden he reached down with his mouth and took a BIG BITE of grass. Like, how a cow would.

Kids do the darnedest things when they're hyper.

yummy crock pot soup!

I love trying out new recipes, and I tried a winner yesterday and thought I'd share!


The recipe is for Smashed Potato Soup that you make in the crock pot. I got it from this website. I also made Golden Flax Bread to go with it - which sounds impressive but is totally cheating because I made it in the bread maker! Oh well, what better thing to wake up to in the morning than the smell of homemade bread (AND it only took about FIVE minutes of prep time)? I've been making this bread recipe for awhile and we love it! I also thought I'd whip up some Honey Butter to go with it. Yummy!

Here are the recipes....hope you enjoy!

Smashed Potato Soup

Ingredients

3-1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1/2 cup chopped yellow and/or red sweet pepper
1-1/2 teaspoons bottled roasted garlic
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4-1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup whipping cream, half-and-half, or light cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
Sliced green onions for garnish (optional)

Directions

In a 4- to 6-quart slow-cooker, combine potatoes, sweet pepper, garlic, and black pepper. Pour broth over all.

Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or high-heat setting 4 to 5 hours. (I did it on high for an hour and a half, then low for 5 hours.)

Mash potatoes slightly with a potato masher. Stir in whipping cream, cheddar cheese and the 1/2 cup sliced green onions. If desired, top individual servings with additional green onions. Serves 8.


Golden Flax Bread

Ingredients

7/8 cup water
2 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons milled flax seed
2-1/2 cups bread flour (I used 2 cups white flour and 1/2 cup wheat - I may use more wheat next time)
1-1/2 Tablespoons non-fat dry milk
1-1/2 teaspoons fast rise yeast

Directions

Add ingredients to the bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer (I do it in the order listed here). Select basic cycle with a light or medium color setting. Yield: 1-1/2 pound loaf.


Honey Butter

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Mix all ingredients together. I actually made about half this much for our little family.

Hugs

This morning as we were getting ready for church, I was rushing around trying to get dinner in the crockpot and trying to do my hair. James kept saying "Mama?? Mama??" and I would respond with "Just a minute, Bud!" This continued on for awhile, when he finally came to the door of the bathroom and grabbed onto the door frame. He kind of squished his body up against it and held on really tight. I asked, "what are you doing?" He said "HUG."

So I scooped him up and gave him a big old hug that lasted forEVER (this kid LOVES hugs lately - he gives great ones!). It was so sweet and a good little reminder of what is most important. I just love my little boy.

"Have you ever played for a prophet?"

Today I had a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was asked to play the organ for the funeral of a woman in our ward. (Once everyone in our ward discovered I am a musician, the phone calls just started coming! I am glad though, it is so nice to feel needed!)

The woman who passed away was the widow of Paul H. Dunn, a former general authority of the Church. I figured that there had to be some general authorities at the funeral (and as I walked into the church building I saw a man standing outside in a black suit, all official-looking, and I wondered if he was some security guy for some important person who was coming)... Boy was I right....

As I played the prelude music, my bishop came up to me and said hi, and then he smiled and said, "So, have you ever played for a prophet?" "He's coming??" I asked, and he replied, "he's already here!"

Wow, what an experience. It was so amazing to see the Prophet of God in person. Also, he's really tall. And a wonderful speaker - he seems to let loose a little and tell more jokes when he's not speaking in general conference.

I have to say that I am so so glad I took the organ class at BYU, even though it has been SO long since I've taken it (and quite awhile since I've even played an organ). Man, I have such the renewed appreciation for organists. Playing the organ is HARD. Seriously, people. I practiced for quite awhile this week and got the pedals down for the opening hymn ("Be Still, My Soul") but I have to admit that I cheated and used the bass coupler on the closing hymn. After I found out President Monson was there, I got a little stressed, and on the opening song I had a few little issues with the organ (particularly the VOLUME pedal - I NEVER know if it's too loud or soft...stressful...), but overall it went pretty well. I can't wait to practice the organ more and get better at it (I am assistant ward organist, so I'll have an excuse!).

Wow, what a day!

I can't wait to hear from the Prophet and all the general authorities at conference next week!

getting comfy

James found a "bed" the other day that he made a little place in and got real comfy. What's more fun than making a "place" and watching Cars, anyway?

words I simply have to document...

Gween

i-pud
(with a short "I" sound)

Cox

Ounce

Geng
(he uses this one ALL the time - he loves to be carried and held lately!)

nging or ging
(this is my FAVORITE [and so hard to figure out how to spell it!] - he has actually grown out of this a bit and it sounds more like "again" - but for the longest time he has said it as one syllable with a sort of ng sound at the beginning and the end of the word. Love it.)

Victories of Mommyhood

My child ate applesauce!

I know this may not seem so amazing, but seriously, it is! My kid is such a picky eater. His entire food repertoire consists of graham crackers and milk, apple juice, Gerber oatmeal, grapes, graham crackers and milk (yes this is his favorite), chicken nuggets and mashed potatoes. Ok, ok, so there ARE more things he will eat, but sometimes it seems like he won't eat ANYTHING. And yes, he used to eat applesauce all the time when he was a baby, so I have no idea why he wouldn't eat it for ages.

But today, he ate it! And he liked it! I made it into a game and we said "1, 2, 3!" and put our spoons (full of applesauce) in our mouths as fast as we could. He was hesitant at first, but once he got a tiny lick of it he said, "Mmmmm!" I am so happy. It's funny the things that make you happy when you are a mommy :)

Now onto veggies...

easily entertained.

Lately, James has a new thing he likes to do.

He'll be in his room, just playing innocently...


...when all of a sudden he takes a sudden dive for the laundry hamper!


And he's in!


He does this all the time, don't ask me why. It is pretty darn funny.

You know you're a mommy...

...when you can hardly even take a shower in peace without it being interrupted by the pitter patter of little feet, and a little voice from the other side of the curtain saying, "Mama?? Mama??"

(I peeked out from behind the curtain to a happy, huge-smiley face and a cheerful, "Hi!!")

happy AUTUMN!

I was just sitting here and realized that tomorrow is the first day of autumn! This is happy for many reasons, like:

1) I really don't like summer all that much. It is just too hot and sunny for me. I much prefer cooler weather, and I much prefer cloudy days to sunny days.

2) There is something comfy-cozy about autumn and winter that I just LOVE. I can't wait to build a fire in our fireplace and drink hot cocoa!

3) Autumn/winter clothes are cuter than summer clothes - I just love a cute sweater.

4) This is when all the HOLIDAYS begin! I love the holidays. In our little family, fall/winter is holiday central (when you include birthdays and other such events in the holiday category). It all started last week with Jonathan's birthday. For me, General Conference has always been like a holiday - I love it so much! That is in a couple of weeks. Then comes my birthday in mid-October, Halloween, of course (which we LOVE - see here, here, here and here), Thanksgiving (can't wait to go to Oregon and eat tons of pie!), then James' 2nd birthday at the beginning of December, our 4th anniversary on the 20th of December, then Christmas and New Years of course. Now that is a lot of celebrating. I can't wait! :)

Happy Autumn, everybody!