When Dad Was Gone: The true story

When Dad is Gone: The True Story

Have you ever thought you were supermom? Have you ever felt invinsible?
Well I have. Several times, in fact. And every time I felt like I was the best mother since motherhood was invented something always happened to bring me crashing back to earth and face my human failings.
What happened to cause my recent realization? I am so glad you asked...

It all started a few weeks ago when my hubby told me he had to be out a town fro a few days for work. Since he usually doesn't have to travel for more than a day trip, a few days away sounded like an eternity! Still, I was determined that my kids and I would have a successful time while he was away. (Successful meaning we all survived with minimal tears)
So the day of the trip came and I and my 5 kids all waved good-bye to daddy. I got all the kids ready for school and at their various buildings in pretty good time. I kept the house clean, cooked a nutritious dinner, got everybody to their different evening events, and even managed to babysit for a friend of mine. When daddy came home 2 days later I felt great. I had done it!
As my reward for those few days of single mom-ness I got to go to the temple and Time Out For Women. Let me tell you, I felt great! I was renewed and motivated for everything I needed to do in my life.
Then came the big trip!
My wonderful husband had another work related trip that would take him across the country for 5 days. (This is not mentioning all the time he had to spend at work to get ready for this trip) Well, you can imagine that it was a busy time for all of us here at home. But I was still determined that I would be successful. Nay, that I would thrive under in this situation. After all, what is the point in having a good week followed but the amazing uplifting of temple attendance if you can't do better the next week?
Despite the task of taking care of my 5 small children all on my own we had a great week. We were all where we needed to be almost as soon as we needed to be there. We ate dinner together every night. We even got to video call daddy every night which the kids loved.
By Saturday I was feeling so good about everything that we made it an outing day. We went to the grocery store and got doughnuts from the bakery, went to the library and had some play time, and even made a quick stop by the pharmacy. Things were really looking good. I only had one day left to make it till by other half came home. Sunday.
Now with 11 o'clock church it would seem hard to be overwhelmed in the morning. It would seem hard to be late. And your right. It would seem to be that way. 
The kids all got up around their normal time. They did their normal Sunday morning things and even all got dressed on their own. This were running so smoothly that I had no problem sitting down to feed the baby at 9. I was so confident in my ability to get my kids to church on time that I even started to plan my Facebook post for the day. It was going to be a photo of all of us sitting in a church pew a whole 10 minutes before the meeting started with the caption "Rocking it as a single mom."
HAHAHAHAHA
Oh the arrogance! Oh the inability to understand what a child is capable of in just a matter of minutes!
After I got the baby down for a brief nap I went downstairs to get everyone's hair brushed. And that's when I first noticed a curly lock of hair laying on the bathroom floor. I called in my oldest and she informed me of which child it belonged to. Brookly Jane!
I called the offending child to me and noticed for the first time that someone had indeed cut her hair... All of her bangs were now less that and inch long!
I haven't ever seen such a bad hack job before and it looked bad. I mean BAD! I lost it then, completely lost it. I started to laugh so hard I was crying! It was hilarious!
Then I noticed that my informant, Hannah, also had something going on with the front of her hair. She had cut her bangs off as well!
She was the one who had been chopping hair and was trying to blame it on her little sister. Wow!
It's really hard for kids to understand how upset you are about a situation when you are leaning on the wall because you are laughing so hard. This was the perfect end to my perfect week and served me right. I had been so cocky and so full of pride.
Honestly, I wasn't even that mad until I saw Clark. His big sister had cut a chunk from that back of his hair. Not my precious baby curls! I really think that if Liz had any hair the girls would have cut that too. (They didn't try it on Hyrum because he freaks out if scissors come any where near his head.)

It took me the next hour to even up everyone's hair. There wasn't much to be done about Brookly except let it grow out, poor kid. Hannah thought she looked beautiful after her hair cut.
But Clark, my poor Clark, had to have his hair buzzed. The entire time I kept thinking "By Odin's beard you shall not cut my hair!"
In the end we did make it to church. We were only a few minutes late but it all worked out. And I learned a valuable lesson from it all. Don't plan your prideful Facebook posts first thing in the morning or you will have a crazy day;)

Replacing A Coat Zipper

Replacing A Coat Zipper

Do you have kids? They go through clothes like crazy. Okay let's be totally honest here, kids go through everything like crazy! But clothing kids, especially if you have a large family, can get very expensive.
I am a firm believer that if you want to have a large family, even on one income like my hubby and I do so I can stay home with the kids, then Heavenly Father will provide a way. That way comes in lots of forms. Everything from babysitting other children, to coupons, to being really thrifty by buying a coat when its on sale at the end of the previous winter season. Yup, that's how I got my son his awesome new coat for the currant school year.
Another way we have been able to live frugally is to mend things before we resort to buying something new. In order to keep up with all the wear and tear kids put on their clothes I had to learn to sew. My mom taught me the basics when I was in high school and I filled in the rest with lots of practice. It has come in handy! Because I can do some basic sewing I am able to save money by repairing my families clothing items instead of replacing them all the time.
When the zipper on my sons coat broke after just a few weeks of wear I was pretty annoyed. But I didn't just throw out the coat. I spent $3 on a new zipper and now his coat is as good as new!

1. The first thing you have to do is find out what size of zipper you need. Measure your existing coat zipper for the size. Zippers sold in the stores are measured from the bottom of the zipper to the extra fabric at the top. It's usually 1 inch of extra space that you don't really need. Get a zipper that's as close to the zipper you need as possible.
If you are having trouble getting a new zipper that is just the right size get one that is a tiny bit on the small side. It is better to deal with a new zipper that is 1 inch too small than to have one that is 1 inch too big. Trust me!

2. Next, get the old zipper out of there! This requires a seam ripper and some patience. It takes a while to get old zippers out since most coats have them sewn in really well. Do your best and take your time. As you remove the old zipper keep track of all the places the coat was attached to it. Then you will be able to attach the new zipper in the same places. 

3. Pin the new zipper in. Make sure you have kept careful track of where the old zipper was attached so you can put the new one in the exact same place. If you look at my picture you will see that part of my zipper is pinned the 'wrong' direction. This is so I can sew it to the interior of the front of the coat before I attach it to the inside lining of the coat.

If your new zipper is a bit too small, that's ok. You can either tuck the extra inch in and put the zipper all the way at the top of the coat. This gives you an inch of loose fabric at the bottom. Or you can use the whole zipper and have an extra inch at the top. 

4.  Now the fun part. Sewing the zipper in! If you have a zipper foot for your sewing machine then thank your angels up above. If not, it's ok. I don't have one and am still able to do lots of sewing projects.
On the side that has the zipper tab sew half of the new zipper in. Keeping the needle embedded in the zipper, lift the foot so you can move the zipper tab past the needle. Put the foot back down and continue on your way. You may need to back stitch a few stitches to make sure everything is still lined up.

And there you are! You have just replaced a zipper in a coat. Great job! 

Here is a photo of what my sons coat looked like when I was finished. I actually like this zipper way more that the cheap plastic one that used to be there. The new metal one will last much longer. Maybe even through the next boy who wears this coat;)

Rice Pudding

Rice Pudding

German Style 

Rice Pudding with raisins and cinnamon

I served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany and Austria. While there I fell in love with German cuisine. I learned from wonderful German women how to make food that was like a piece of heaven on a plate.
Here is one of the first German recipes I learned to make. It's sweet, creaminess is certain to bring a smile to the faces of your family.

Rice Pudding:
2 Cups Milk
1 tsp. Butter
1/2 Cup White Rice
1/2 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Heavy Cream, whipped
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon

In a medium saucepan bring the milk and butter to a boil. Stir well. Add the rice and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once rice is tender remove pan from heat. Mix in the sugar. Whip the cream and add it to the rice. Stir well. Dish into bowls. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

I enjoy this pudding warm and with some raisins in it. My hubby likes it best after it has been chilled in the fridge. And my kids love it for breakfast! Either way, it is a delightful addition to any day.

Frugal Food

Frugal Food

Lentils and Rice Casserole

It may look simple but this is one tasty meal.

The new year is always the time for new goals. Two of the most common goals deal with money and food. Everyone wants to eat better while spending less money at the same time. And guess what? You can!
Here is one of my most frugal meal recipes. This recipe checks a ton of boxes for different  diets such as gluten free and vegetarian. It's cheap, easy, and tastes really good!

Lentils and Rice Casserole:

3 Cups Water
3/4 Cup Uncooked Lentils, rinsed
1/2 Cup Uncooked Brown Rice, rinsed
3/4 Cup Chopped Onion
1 Cup Frozen Mixed Vegetables
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Basil
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp. Oregano
1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Place all ingredients, except cheese, into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Mix well. Cover with tinfoil. Bake at 300 degrees for 2-2 1/2 hours, until tender and water is absorbed. Remove tinfoil. Top with cheese. Bake uncovered until cheese is melted.

And that's it! It takes me 5 minutes to throw this meal together and it can bake while I drive kids to all their activities. Easy, healthy, and frugal.

Thriving with a New Baby

Thriving With A New Baby

(Tips from a 5 time mom)

You are going to have a baby. Congratulations! A new baby is a gift right from heaven. This going to be a wonderful experience as you watch your little blessing grow and develop.
With all the excitement of the new baby it can often be a shock when reality starts to set in. There are night feedings, lack of sleep, and lots of diapers taking up your time. It can be a bit overwhelming.
Don't worry. This to shall pass!
Until it does, here are my 4 S's that have helped me survive and the thrive with my babies.

S #1. Sandwich
I know that sounds silly but it is vital for you and your baby that you feed yourself. Being hangry is not a good thing. l say a sandwich because it is quick, easy, and only takes one  hand to feed yourself. You can even eat a sandwich while you nurse!

S #2. Shower
With all the sleepless nights and demands on my time I have found that a shower helps me feel human. Forget doing your hair and makeup, just get yourself clean and in some fresh pj's. A simple shower can be so refreshing to a tiered body.

S #3. Sleep
It's totally true what they say: If your baby is sleeping, you should sleep. Chores can wait. You need your rest! If you have older children then see if they can go over to a friends house during one of your new babies nap times. This will let you get some much needed z's.
The very best help I ever got after having a new baby was a friend of mine offering to take my older children over to her house so I could get some rest. She would even pick up my kids so I could get some sleep sooner. It was a life saver!

S #4. Scriptures
Take the time to read your scriptures. Taking care of your spirit is equally as important as taking care of your body. I like to read while I nurse. I have to be sitting down so might as well be productive. Or another way is listening to the audio scriptures. I have downloaded the LDS Gospel Library app on my phone. The app is free and I can listen to the scriptures being read to me. So handy!

So, here are my 4 S's. They are short, sweet, and to the point. But I do hope they help you as much as they have helped me. With them, I have felt like I have succeeded in my recovery from having my mew blessing.

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

It's that time of the year!

I know that you can buy canned pumpkin pack in the store, but have you ever wondered what a pumpkin pie would have tasted like in the days of Laura Ingalls Wilder? Well, I sure have. And since pumpkin pie is my favorite pie ever I had to try it from scratch. Let me tell you, real pumpkin puree it is like a bite of creamy heaven.

There was one year I had a neighbor with a large garden who had grown pumpkins. A lot of pumpkins! Thankfully, she was willing to share them with the whole neighborhood.

I ended up with about eight pumpkins in my garage and no idea what to do with them. But you know me, I had to do something with all these pumpkins. Waist is not an option with me. After a few jack-o-lanterns I found out how to make pumpkin puree. It has been one of the best, the yummiest, things I have ever done.

Before I tell you how to make your own pumpkin puree there is a warning... Once you use pure pumpkin puree in a pie or other recipe you will never, EVER, want to go back to the stuff from the can. It is that good!

1st. Start with a pumpkin. Most stores sell the little pie pumpkins next to the big jack-o-lantern ones. While the little pumpkins are grown to be made into puree I have used both kinds and have ended up with great puree from both kinds. The smaller ones will usually give you a darker colored puree, if you were wondering;)

2nd. Let's gut that bad boy! Cut your pumpkin in half so you can easily get to all the gooey stuff in the middle. Discard the stringy stuff but keep the seeds for roasting. You don't have to get too picky about how 'clean' the inside of your pumpkin is.

3rd. Once your pumpkin is cleaned out, slice it into smaller sections and arrange on a baking sheet. Face up is best.

4th. Put them into the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until they are tender. Poke them with a fork to see if they are done. The pointy edges should be just about to get crispy.

5th. Let the pumpkin slices cool enough that you can handle them. Then turn them over so you can pull the skins off. Yes, the skins should pull right off. If not, then pop them back in the oven for 5 more minutes. (There was a lot happening in the kitchen right about here so I stopped taking pictures. Sorry)

6th. With the skins removed it is time to puree! I use a blender but there are lots of ways to turn a pumpkin to mush. If you decide to use a blender like I do, place several chunks into the blender and push puree. You will need to add some water to get things moving. Add water a single Tablespoon at a time, just until things get moving. You want puree, not soup! (Before you ask, yes I did make that mistake one year.)

And that is it! Once you are done blending you have some awesome, homemade puree that you can use right away.

If you have more than you need, store in in freezer storage bags for future use. I put 2 cups of puree in each  bag and throw them in the freezer! OK, not throw. I carefully make sure each bag can lay perfectly flat so they take up less room. What can I say, I am a neat freak;)

You can store it in a freezer for 6 to 8 months this way... OK, more like over a year. I made a huge batch of pumpkin puree once and only just finished it 3 years later! Wow, so glad I was honest with you all.

Coming soon... Homemade Pumpkin Pie!

Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins

Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins

It's always a  struggle to get really good gluten free baked goods. But fear not! I have an amazing gluten free blueberry muffin recipe for you.

Here is what you need:

2 Cups Flour (Check out my Gluten Free flour mix!)
1 Cup White Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 Cups fresh or frozen Blueberries (if using frozen berries do NOT thaw)
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
1 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

AND a Mini muffin pan. I have tried these muffins in a regular sized pan and they just don't come out as well so we always go for mini muffins. Plus, my kids love the smaller size!

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the blueberries and gently toss. (This will keep them from sinking as the muffins bake.) In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, sour cream, oil, and vanilla. Mix well. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until moistened. Don't over mix. Grease your mini muffin cups. Fill them to 2/3rd's full. (I use my cookie scoop to get them all the same size.) Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan.

Well, there you have it. Straight to the point Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins. You can use other berries if you want but these are my daughters favorite. They also keep in the freezer for 2 months. Just bake, freeze, then warm them up so you can enjoy a mini treat!