Saturday, February 28, 2009

Cold


This morning Sage was drinking a mango smoothie and got cold. She ran and put on her gloves and my beret; those helped but apparently not quite enough.

S: "My face is still cold."

A: "Well I'm not sure what you can do about that."

S: "How 'bout a beard? All over my face and neck...."

That ought to do it.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Listen Up


Rachel McGoye
. Just a girl (a classically trained vocalist that is) and her guitar making lovely songs. One critic said it this way: "If lying in a fresh warm pile of laundry on a cold winters morning could have a sound, it would be the voice of Rachel McGoye."

Exactly.

Listen up here.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Birthday

Sage turned 4 on Friday. It's was a good week for her...a birthday party, a day at the zoo and treats galore.

This year her party was a birthday tea party complete with hot cocoa, scones, mini-blueberry muffins, tea sandwiches and cupcakes (the birthday girl served as assistant chef). I'm still getting the hang of this birthday thing so Sage was ripping open presents at lightning speed...next time I'll remember to prepare her a little more to slow down and be polite!

Sage's big gift this year was a day at the San Diego Zoo (our first time). We started the morning with blueberry pancakes (her favorite) and then headed for the zoo. The weather was just what we ordered, sunny and about 70 and the zoo was lovely. The animals were kind of sleepy and our feet were pretty tired by the end of the day but we were happy...any time we get to spend the entire day with Shane is a good day.


Her favorite part of the day was the Skyfari...a sky tram that flies you across the park


Skyfari again...underneath that kiddo is a little baby bump


Climbing a tree by the zebras


Poor kiddo fell asleep on the way home

We ended the night with some In N' Out, cupcakes and ice cream (and presents of course). All in all a good birthday.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

10 Ways for Mothers To Spend Effective Time With Their Children

While searching for a quote today I found this on a blog. Just what I needed. It's quoted directly from Ezra Taft Benson's "To the Mothers in Zion."

First, take time to always be at the crossroads [ie, in the home] when your children are either coming or going--when they leave and return from school--when they leave and return from dates--when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your children are six or sixteen. In Proverbs we read: "A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame" (Proverbs 29:15). Among the greatest concerns in our society are the millions of latchkey children who come home daily to empty houses unsupervised by working parents.

Second, mothers, take time to be a real friend to your children. Listen to your children, really listen. Talk with them, laugh and joke with them, sing with them, play with them, cry with them, hug them, honestly praise them. Yes, regularly spend unrushed one-on-one time with each child. Be a real friend to your children.

Third, mothers, take time to read to your children. Starting from the cradle, read to your sons and daughters. Remember what the poet said, "You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be--I had a mother who read to me" (Strickland Gillilan, "The Reading Mother"). You will plant a love for good literature and a real love for the scriptures if you will read to your children regularly.


Fourth, take time to pray with your children. Family prayers, under the direction of the father, should be held morning and night. Have your children feel of your faith as you call down the blessings of heaven upon them. Paraphrasing the word of James: "The . . . fervent prayer of a righteous [mother ] availeth much" (James 5: 16 ). Have your children participate in family and personal prayers and rejoice in their sweet utterances to their Father in Heaven.



Fifth, take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening. With your husband presiding, participate in a spiritual and an uplifting home evening each week. Have your children actively involved. Teach them correct principles. Make this one of your great family traditions. Remember the marvelous promise made by President Joseph F. Smith when home evenings were first introduced to the Church: "If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them." This wonderful promise is still in effect today.

Sixth, take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible. This is a challenge as the children get older and lives get busier. But happy conversation, sharing of the day's plans and activities, and special teaching moments occur at mealtime because mothers and fathers and children work at it.


Seventh, take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family. Individual scripture reading is important, but family scripture reading is vital. Reading the Book of Mormon together as a family will especially bring increased spirituality into your home and will give both parents and children the power to resist temptation and to have the Holy Ghost as their constant companion. I promise you that the Book of Mormon will change the lives of your family.

Eighth, take time to do things together as a family. Make family outings and picnics and birthday celebrations and trips special times and memory builders. Whenever possible, attend as a family, events where one of the family members is involved, such as a school play, a ball game, a talk, a recital. Attend Church meetings together and sit together as a family when you can. Mothers who help families pray and play together will stay together and will bless children's lives forever.

Ninth, mothers, take time to teach your children. Catch the teaching moments. This can be done anytime during the day--at mealtime, in casual settings, or at special sit-down times together, at the foot of the bed at the end of the day, or during an early morning walk together. Mothers, you are your children's best teacher. Don't shift this precious responsibility to day-care centers or babysitters. A mother's love and prayerful concern for her children are her most important ingredients in teaching her own.
Teach children gospel principles. Teach them it pays to be good. Teach them there is no safety in sin. Teach them a love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and a testimony of its divinity. Teach your sons and daughters modesty and teach them to respect manhood and womanhood. Teach your children sexual purity, proper dating standards, temple marriage, missionary service, and the importance of accepting and magnifying Church callings.
Teach them a love for work and the value of a good education. Teach them the importance of the right kind of entertainment, including appropriate movies, and videos, and music, and books, and magazines. Discuss the evils of pornography and drugs and teach them the value of living the clean life.
Yes, mothers, teach your children the gospel in your own home, at your own fireside. This is the most effective teaching that your children will ever receive. This is the Lord's way of teaching. The Church cannot teach like you can. The school cannot. The day-care center cannot. But you can, and the Lord will sustain you. Your children will remember your teachings forever, and when they are old, they will not depart from them. They will call you blessed--their truly angel mother. Mothers, this kind of heavenly, motherly teaching takes time--lots of time. It cannot be done effectively part time. It must be done all the time in order to save and exalt your children. This is your divine calling.

Tenth and finally, mothers, take the time to truly love your children. A mother's unqualified love approaches Christlike love.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

A Few From Sage


*Sage and I were walking home from a friend's house and she was demonstrating her "sashy" (sah-shay) ballet move where you run sideways.

"I'm sauteeing!"


*We rarely use the microwave. But today Shane needed to get some gunked on food off a glass so he popped it into the microwave. Sage heard it on and asked:

"What's in the microphone?"

*We were singing "How Firm A Foundation" and when we ran across the word "refuge" Sage asked what it meant.

A: "It means a safe place."

S: "This is a refuge."

*Listening to Suzuki piano:

S: "Who's playing the piano?"

A:
"A man named Haruko Kataoka."

S: "Why is his name that?"

A:
"He's Japanese."

S: "Why is he Jackanese?"

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Listen Up

Simple. Good. Pete Murray.

Listen up here.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Decadence


We made this for Shane's birthday breakfast. It might make a nice Valentine's Morning Treat. Shane says it's "sinful."

Croissant French Toast

  • 1/3 cup half and half or whole milk
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1.5 oz. orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 1-day-old croissants, halved lengthwise (the ones from TJ's are great)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Maple syrup
1) Whisk first 8 ingredients in medium bowl. Add croissants to egg batter and turn until thoroughly coated.

2) Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add croissants and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Serve with warm maple syrup or whipped cream and strawberries if you happen to have those.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

A Mama's Best Friend


Growing up there was a mean mom at church who used to threaten her kids with hot sauce. At a tender young age I promised myself that my children would never have to endure such torture.

That was then, this is now...

These days hot sauce is my greatest ally. My sister-in-laws (2 wonderful, loving, patient mamas) introduced me to this form of discipline; it works like magic. Anytime Sage uses unkind words, is physical or doesn't obey the first time she gets a dab of hot sauce on the end of her tongue. A very handy alternative to spanking.

And call me crazy but this kid wants to be corrected....I point to the kitchen, say "hot sauce" and she runs to get the bottle from the fridge, unscrews the cap, hands it to me and sticks her tongue out.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Listen Up

When it's time to clean I put Jem on the Ipod and go to work. Her music is a marriage of electronica and rock...very cool.

Listen up here.

P.S. She also sings a great love song. Find it here.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Motivational Posters

You've all seen these posters before right? In schools, offices...anywhere that people might need a little boost. Well tonight I needed a laugh and my sister Kass had just the thing....







Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Listen Up


Timmy Curran...yet another surfer/musician...and some more of those laid back tunes.

Listen up here.