Yogurt

Yes, I am a copy cat. Like my good friend Nichole, I was inspired by the Enrichment we had a few months ago about food storage and using the things that we store and following the commandments.

I am going to the cannery on Tuesday and will be buying wheat (and other stuff, I haven't figured out what yet). Also I am getting a wheat grinder for Christmas from my amazing parents! YEAH!!

Anyway, this is my Yogurt that I made. I was shocked by how easy it was, and by how thick and creamy it turned out.

I took 3 1/2 cups of 2% milk. Heated it in the microwave for 10minutes, to a temp of 185 degrees. (This is the sterilizing part. You heat it so if there is any bacteria it is killed off before you turn the milk into a petry dish for the right bacteria.)

Then I set the milk on my counter and took a bath. When I got out of the bath, the milk was the perfect temperature (115-118). I put 5 ounces of Dannon Straberry Yogurt in a borrowed thermos (thanks Nichole) and then put the warm milk in.

Then I left it on the counter for 8 hours. When I opened the thermos I had thick yogurt.

I was shocked! I am pretty good at burning things, and ruining recipes. I can't get through a batch of grilled cheese sandwhiches without having to throw at least one away, but I MADE YOGURT!!!

I put it in the fridge and then the next day I added a little home made jam (not this home, Sister Grabowski's home) and fed it to the kids. Austin had two big bowls and then other kids had less than half, but that is pretty normal.

Then a couple days later I added a little sugar, frozen strawberries, and bananas and blended it up in the blender. It was delicious!

Pre-school

My baby had his first day of pre-school last week. Ryan is attending the Aberdeen High School pre-school with Layla this year. I took them both last Friday and had a meeting while they played.

At first he cried and then he had fun. After the parents meeting we got to leave. I called Jason as I was driving away and cried and cried.

When did the baby in our house grow up? He is not in the nursery, or in a crib. He is out of diapers (yeah!). He had his first gymnastics class last week. And now he is in pre-school. It just seems like he is still my baby.

Well, I only cried for a little while and then I went to Target and the library all by myself! It was fun.

Today when they were at school I did laundry and then took a bath! I think I can get used to this no kids at home thing.

These pictures were of him before we went to school his first day! Isnt' he adorable!

Daddy Daughter

Friday night our Stake had a Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance Date (or something like that).
Jason took Layla, and I went to help. It was a fantastic activity.
They had lots of games, good food and dancing.

There were a lot of Daddies there and I was impressed that they were willing to give up a Friday night to be with their little girls. Dad's are so cool!

Below I have included a video of Layla and Jason doing the Chicken Dance. Layla is the little girl with the black skirt on who knows how to shake what her momma gave her!!

Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance Date

What a girl wants. What a girl needs.

So I have figured out what I need. Are you ready? Are you sure? I need a wife. I know that I have discussed this with some of you recently, but it is true. I need a wife...I need someone who just takes care of my needs before I even know what they are.

I need someone who picks up, washes, folds, and puts away my clothes.

I need someone to take care of my children while I am at work, or doing whatever it is that people who don't have children to take care of do.

I need someone to clean my house while I am away.

I need someone to make my dinner and have it ready when I get home.

I need someone to clean the bathrooms, change the sheets and do all the of cleaning that just doesn't get done!

It's funny, I know a lot of women feel like they just aren't living up to everything that they feel they are supposed to do...I don't have that problem, I accept that I can't get it all done, I just want to know what I need to do to find someone else to do it all!

Fun Family Date Night

Tonight is Friday night.

That means date night.

Right?

Right?

Um, no. Not at this house anyway.

Tonight Jason went to his parent's to help his dad work on something. That was good of him. The kids and I decided that we needed to do something fun. We decided to have a picnic dinner.

We made sandwiches and used cookie cutters to cut out shapes (thanks Aunt Mandy for the idea and the cookie cutters). Then we made cookies! My sister posted a really simple peanut butter recipe that was easy to let the kids help with. (one egg, 1c peanut butter, 1c sugar 1t vanilla, mix, roll, bake 350 for 10min). YUM!!

I guess date night can be fun even without my favorite date.

Jason's BIrthday Present

For Jason's birthday he got Guitar Hero for the Wii. He loves it. He has had his Dad, brother and sister over to play with him. He has even beat the game on the easy level. Although he says that they medium level is "kicking his butt".

And, yes, that is a new TV. We did not buy it for Jason's birthday, but we may as well have. It is mostly for him anyway. It does fit better than the other one did.

Anyone who wants to come over and play with him is more than welcome. I tried once and, excuse the language, I sucked!! Maybe I would try again if someone else came over and sucked too!

Boys will be boys

We have a whole in our back yard that fills up with water. Then we have a tiny pond in our back yard that frogs can jump in and play. Now we have a little boy who thinks that those frogs are his pets/friends. Ew!!!

It's Official

Okay, I am not sure what "it" is, but it is official.

We no longer have a nursery. We have had a nursery in our home for the last seven years, and we dismantled it today. Crib is in pieces, stars and moon border peeled off wall, star and moon shelves off walls. I am sending my baby clothes to friends who are expecting. No babies welcome here (at least anytime soon). (I mean to stay, please feel free to bring your baby over to visit, just take him or her with you when you leave!)

Ryan has been back and forth between the crib over the summer and we finally took the plunge and took it down. He is old enough to sleep in his big boy bed. I was the one who had such a hard time with it.

We are not sure yet what the plan is for that room. Austin suggested it be the "upstairs toy room". We will see. I am just proud that I finally let go and let it happen!