Memorial Day

GOD BLESS THE USA! Thanks for all those who have served in the military!


Such an AMAZING sight going to the graves of the U.S. Vets


My dad's headstone.

Yesterday was a nice, relaxing day full of fun with just the family. First off, we went and visited my father's grave at the veteran's gravesight next to Camp William's. Eight years ago, May 19,2001, I recieved a phone call around 2:00 a.m. from my sister in Washington. I thought it was just part of my dream I was having, so it took me some time to get up and answer the phone. It was a call to tell me that my dad had passed away. I only had three weeks of school left before I graduated to get my bachelor's. I flew home that morning and just hoped that my professor's would be okay with everything. My roommate, Brandi Oveson, was a huge help at that time in my life. She helped call airlines to book a flight while I got packed and asked her friends to borrow a car to get me to the airport, and emailed all of my professors later that day to let them know what had happened. As soon as that was done, I was on my way at 5 a.m. Though it has been 8 years, I still think about that moment and not listening to the promptings of the spirit to call home the night before just to say hello and goodbye for the last time here on earth. I rarely go to my father's grave because I feel if I really want to remember him the best way is to live the principles he taught and to teach my kids those principles as well. Even though he is missed here on earth, I know he is doing a great work where he is right now. I also think of my mother at this time as well because I know she misses him greatly and wishes he was around so she could talk with him. It is a hard time for her because their anniversary is at the end of this month, his birthday is next month along with Father's Day. My heart goes out to her.





So, off the soap box. The next thing we did was taking the kids swimming. We were at the Lehi Legacy pool for an hour or so and then came home to eat some grilled hot dogs. After eating, we watched Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End, but we all fell asleep and took a nap. We then just chilled for the rest of the evening and grilled some hanburgers for dinner with homemade buns. It was really yummy!!!


Kalena with one of the flowers that we set on my dad's grave.

Friday Night....Just Relax!

So, for the past little while Cliff and I have been doing a family movie night every Friday night. The kids get to stay up a little later than usual and watch a movie with each other. But, for dinner we go and get pizza to start it off. I am so thankful for that cause it means no cooking for me or cleaning. All we get is Little Ceasars $5.oo pepperoni pizzas. This past Friday, I got the pizza and they wanted to eat on the trampoline with their dad. Any time Cliff would try to move away from the kids to get some space, they would just move to him like he was a magnet.

10K Memorial Day Race

I have to keep entering races for 2 main reasons:

1. It makes me keep up on my running.
2. It is ADDICTING and SATISFYING to finish the race.

This race kicked my butt. The last mile was the hardest one to finish off. Most of the race had a steady incline, so that was hard enough. But, add the wind to that especially the last mile. It was harder than running my 1/2 marathon relay in the snow.

It was nice to have Cliff and the kids waiting at the finish line this time. Thanks Babe for getting the kids ready and coming! He didn't see me coming because he thought I was wearing something else. My time was 56 min. and 5 sec. It averaged 9:04 minute mile. My next race, I think, will be the Provo Canyon 1/2 Marathon. I just need to get signed up for it.

Thanks Andrea for running with me and letting me beat you this time! Have fun running with Kimo in the July 24th run.

Who LOVES homemade bread?

I got the best recipe for breadsticks from my friend Valerie and made them the other day for dinner. She got the recipe from her sister-in-law, I think. Who got it from the Lionhouse cookbook. So here is the recipe:

Lion House Dinner Roll Recipe (what I use for breadsticks too)
2 Cups of warm water (100 to 115 degrees)
2/3 cup of nonfat dry milk (instant or non-instant)
2 TBS dry yeast (SAF's brand the best)
1/4 cup of sugar
2 tsp salt
1/3 cup of butter (real butter)
1 egg
5 to 5 1/2 cups of bread flour

Directions: Combine water and milk powder, stir unti milk dissolves. Add yeast, sugar, salt, butter, egg, and 2 cups of flour. Mix on low until ingredients moistened, then mix on medium for 2 minutes. Add 2 more cups of flour, mix on low until wet, then mix on medium for 2 minutes. Add about 1/2 cup flour at at time in mixer or by hand until dough is soft, not overly sticky, and not stiff. ( I usually use a total of 5 1/4 cups). Scrape dough out and place in bowl with tiny bit of veg. oil) Roll the dough around in oil and cover in bowl until doubled. Roll out into desired breadstick shape...bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Top with butter and seasonings.

Garlic Bread Seasoning
1/2 cup powdered Parmesan cheese
2 tsp kosher salt
2 TBSP garlic powder
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp basil
2 tsp marjoram
2 tsp parsley

Mix all together. ( I keep a large jar made of it for future use) Mix desired amount with melted butter and put on breadsticks. :) Yummmy!

Here is a picture of them in the oven.



Now, I have a pancake recipe too. I can't claim this as my own either (thanks Cajsa), but it is the easiest pancake recipe to remember and so yummy too! This is how I make pancakes now and forever.

1 box of jiffy muffin mix
1 c. white or wheat flour (but I like wheat)
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
2 eggs
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
milk

Mix all dry ingredients together. After stirring, add eggs and oil. Then add milk for desired pancake batter consistency.


Kalena trying to get part of an eggshell that happened to get into the mix when she cracked the egg.


Tula'i stirring the batter...more like getting it all over the outside of the bowl.


Maika putting the flower into the measuring cup.


Picture of all my not so BIG helpers!

Clean up, clean up, everybody.....

So many posts, but don't know where to begin. I have decided to begin with a funny one, at least now it is.

A couple of evenings ago, I was sitting at the island in our kitchen talking with Lela and Cliff was in the piano room with Lavea'i rocking him. Kalena was with Lela and I eating half my dinner. As we were talking I could hear in the background little noises. But, I wasn't too focused on it because of the conversation Lela and I were having until Cliff said, "What is that noise?"

Lela and I pause our conversation and walks over to the stairs to see what the boys were doing. As I get up to see what was going on, Lela was already making her way back and told me not to go and look. Of course, I have to and find out that both Maika and Tula'i had taken black and orange crayon to my wall going up the stairs. I was mad, but not as mad as Lela thought I was going to be. Lela had already taken the crayons from them. I took a couple of steps down the stairs and then turned around to scold them both. I slapped their hand and told them that we don't color on the walls. Both said okay, but I am sure it didn't sink into there not so innocent brains. I also scolded Kalena for leaving her crayons downstairs on the floor and not putting them away.

BUT....the next day Cliff had them wiping the walls even though it wouldn't come off with the wipes. (Besides I have touch up paint and can just paint over it, like all the other marks on the walls) But as they were down there washing off the walls this is what I heard out of the mouth of these babes:

Kalena: Boys, boys, we don't color on the walls, okay?
Maika: Okay.
Kalena: Okay Maika, tell me what did I said?
Maika: says something about who knows what
Kalena: No, Maika I said we don't color on walls. Okay Maika?
Maika: Okay.
Kalena: Okay Tula'i?
Tula'i: uuhh

It was hillarious to hear all of it because Kalena sounds just like me when I tell her something. I always ask her, "K, what did I say?" and then she will repeat what she thought she heard me say. So, here are a couple of pictures of them trying to clean the wall. I couldn't believe they actually tried to clean in for more than 5 minutes. And then Maika was done with it! Afterwards, Tula'i stopped and then Kalena finally told me that it wasn't coming off the wall. Next time...hopefull there isn't one, but next time I will make them scrub until it is gone. I know magic eraser will take it off, but I other touch ups I have to do anyway so why not this at the same time?

Swimsuit Giveaway!!!!

There are 4 swimsuits to be given away this Friday, but the catch is that you have to registar before Thursay night at midnight to be entered in the drawing. They are cute modest swimsuits, so check the sight out:
http://www.sweetlifeinthevalley.com/2009/05/fun-free-fridays-giveaway-swim-fashions.html

Mother's Day...

Cliff had asked me what I wanted for MOther's Day and I told him just a really long uninterrupted nap. But, the more I got to thinking about it...good luck with the nap-it NEVER works! So, I have been needing new running shoes. One day in the van on the way home from Valerie's house I told Kalena to tell Dad that he needed to get me a new pair. He did just that and then some. He truly is amazing when it comes to getting me gifts. Before we went and bought my shoes, we went and watched X-men: The Origin. LOVED it!!! Because we were late leaving the house, we went and had lunch after the movie at JCW's. The best shakes ever, but now I can't even finish a whole shake on my own, so I brought the rest home to the kids. Lela has to babysit that evening for someone else so we packed the kids in the van off we went to to get my new shoes. The store we got them at analyzes how you run. Then they have you try on some shoes for comfort and size and have you run on the treadmill again. I picked my shoes out and then Cliff paid for it while I was getting the kids in the van.

I thought that was the end of it, but nope. We went to Walmart and he bought me a pedometer to know how far I am running when I run outside. As we were looking at them, there were also heart rate monitors for $40 bucks. He asked if I wanted to get one of those too. I told him no, but he told me he already got me one. He had paid for it at the other store without me knowing. It is a really nice monitor and it works really well.

This was all on Saturday. When Sunday rolled around, he was going to make me breakfast, but I didn't really want anything except cereal. So, I asked him if he would just get the kids ready and that would be good. It was nice not having to worry about it. After church we went to Valerie's house and ate dinner. We had to bail early because Cliff had math homework that took the rest of the night.

I also want my mom to know how much I love her. She is an AMAZING Mother! I am in awe almost every day at how she raised 7 children. I also think of the minor things I did when I was a teen to just make life more miserable for her. It is funny how I never understood, until I became a mother myself. She cooked for lots of years and I never heard a single complaint. Just after 6 years, I already am running out of ideas of what to make for dinners. I have 5 and am feeling like my head is cut off most of the time.

Bye Military Mom!

I was just about my business today making my friend Valerie the cover for her newborn baby boy's carseat and doing laundry. Out of the blue my phone rang...because it normally doesn't. I answered and it was my Unit Administrator, Russ, on the other line. This is how our conversation went:

Me: Hello
Russ: Hello Sgt Fano. This is Russ Bowker here.
Me: How are you doing?
Russ: Good and you?
Me: Good.
Russ: Well, I just thought I would call and let you know that you are a civilian now.
Me: Really? Wow, thanks Russ.
Russ: It looks like your orders were cut yesterday and now it is your time to go and be a mommy to those little ones that you have.
Me: Thanks, my husband will be happy to hear this news.
Russ: Well, I just want you to know that you have done a hell of a job and have served your country well.
Me (choked up): Thanks again Russ.
Russ: Well, they have drill this weekend and I need to get you the paper work, so I can either mail it to you or you can come and pick it up.
Me: I will come up this weekend and get it. Thanks again for everything.

That was the end of the conversation. I was happy, but sad in other ways. I know that I am doing what the Lord has asked us mothers to do...STAY HOME! I am blessed to be able to stay home with my children, but it sure was nice getting that extra cash for the month.

BUT, I did finish the cover for Valerie and it is cute...I just might have to make one for myself.

This one is made for the handle of the Graco carseats, so I would have to adjust the straps for the Evenflo. But, I guess now I will have more time to do these types of tasks.

'Fallen"

The other morning I was talking to my sis-in-law on the phone. All the kids were outside in the back. Tula'i happened to be at the top of the porch stairs staring at a dandylion he was holding in his hands. I turned my back and began to walk away, but not even 10 seconds later I hear lound crying. I go back to look, knowing it was Tula'i, and saw him upside down at the bottom of the porch. He must not have been paying attention to how close the steps were and took a good fall. I hung up with Andrea and picked him up only to notice his eye was going to be black and blue. He had also scraped right next to it really well. Of course after the stormy tears flowing down his had quit, I got some pictures of it.

You look at his face, but man you should have seen the concrete! His head is so hard that I it put a huge crack in it. HAHAHA! Just kidding!

Eency, weency, spider

I go and play volleyball during the week with a group of ladies. It has been fun, but my shoulder kills me because of it. After we were done the kids get into their carseats to go home and begin to start driving. Suddenly, I hear a loud scream from Kalena and Maika begins to freak out as well. I turn my head to see what the deal was and Kalena yells, "Mom, there is a spider." Yeah, it was hanging from the van ceiling next to Maika and hence the reason he was freaking out. But, the funny thing was that it was so tiny you could barely see it. Looked like a baby one.

But, the ride home continued to be interesting. After telling Kalena that the spider wasn't going to do anything because it was so little, she calmed down. But then she kept on telling Maika where it was...even that it was on his head at one point. That made him scream and cry even louder. I looked back in the mirror and saw it was on his head, but had to tell Kalena to stop telling him.

She finally stopped, but then began to tell me "Mom, your car is ruined."
Me: Really?
Kalena: Yeah, there is a whole in the top. (Meaning the ceiling)
Me: Yeah
Kalena: So, we need to go buy a new car so no spiders can get in it.
Me: hahaha

Later, when I tried to put Maika down for a nap he got freaked out and didn't want to go because he thought the spider was going to get him. I had to reassure that nothing was going to happen then he was okay.