Like father like son!

No one at our house likes snakes, no one.  Whenever Jeff sees a snake - TV or real life - he dreams about snakes that night.  He often tries to fight the snake in the night ... of course there are no snakes in our bed, just me.  This literally happens every.single.time.

So, we all went to the zoo this afternoon.  Of course we saw the snake (well, I looked the other way).  Everyone went to bed tonight and I stayed downstairs to do some work (and avoid Jeff killing the snake, LOL!).  Lo and behold I hear a terrified scream and go into Blake's room.  He is mostly asleep but tells me there is a snake in his bed and that it licked his arm.  Like father like son.

Blake is now upstairs sleeping with Jeff.  I think I'll let those two battled it out tonight and I'll take the couch.  :)

Heartbreaking

Tragically, a few weeks ago in Star, there was a terrible car accident.  The family involved is in our ward.  Their daughter is one of Mylie's friends and their 5-year old little boy was in Jeff and I's nursery class a few years ago.  He died from injuries sustained in the car accident.

It is heartbreaking, no other words for it.  No one expects to bury a 5-year old.  Jeff and I attended little Alvin's funeral on Saturday.  It was a beautiful celebration of his short life.  Both his parents spoke, and I was impressed with their strength.  There was beautiful music and sweet stories about his life.

Our Bishop gave a wonderful talk about why bad things happen to good people.  I am sure this was a question weighing on everyone's mind.

• To the sightless or hearing impaired, [God] sharpens the other senses. … With the loss of a dear one, He deepens the bonds of love, enriches memories, and kindles hope in a future reunion. You will discover compensatory blessings when you willingly accept the will of the Lord and exercise faith in Him” (Ensign, May 1996, 25). —Elder Richard G. Scott Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

• President James E. Faust said, “Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful. … For some, the refiner’s fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process” (Ensign, May 1979, 54).

A few years ago Jeff's mom recommended the book "The Shack" to me.  I hadn't heard of it, and didn't know anything about it, but she told me that it really touched her.  It touched me as well.  This book has come back to mind many times in the last week.  The main theme that I took away from the book was that the Lord can't give us free agency, and then take away someone's free agency to prevent horrible things from happening.  We either have free agency or we don't.

The person who hit this family rear ended them going 55 mph.  The family was stopped at a stop light.  Yet at the funeral, the family prayed for the woman who hit them, to comfort her.  My heart was so touched at their forgiveness and their capacity to love.

The last week or so has reminded me that we have no idea what our tomorrows will look like.  We need to embrace each day and each moment.  After hugging Mylie 13 times the other night before bed, she called me back for one last hug.  My initial thought was frustration (enough stalling!), but it immediately changed and I went back in her room and hugged her as tight as I could.  I will continue to hug them and love them.  I don't want to have regrets.

Conversations ...

A few interesting conversations with the kids today:

Blake got in trouble and got sent to his room.  As he walked off he said, "Mommy, you know Jesus is watching you!"

In the van today Mylie randomly tells me that when she is going to have a baby she doesn't want to wear a dress - just a shirt and pants or shirt and a skirt.  Because when they have to take the baby out of your tummy, she doesn't want the doctor to pull up her dress and see her panties.  She just wants the doctor to have to pull up her shirt to get to her tummy.  Oh honey, your panties will be the least of your problems!  That is what I wanted to say, instead I just said, uh-huh.  

Spicy Mac & Cheese

Last summer my dear friends, Karen, Leslie and I went to Sisters, Oregon for the quilt festival.  For dinner one night we went to a Brewery in Bend.  Everything on the menu looked great, but I ordered something I had never ordered in a restaurant before - mac and cheese.  It was to die for good and I couldn't stop thinking about it after we got back.  I knew I had to replicate it and so the search began for a recipe.  I found a great recipe from Pioneer Woman and then altered it a bit.

Let's just say - this is so good!!  I wouldn't try to calculate the calories on it, but seriously, so good!  Mylie and I are going to make it right now.

Steph’s Spicy Macaroni & Cheese

(adapted from Pioneer Woman)

1 box pasta

1 tablespoon olive oil


diced onion


diced peppers (I like to use a combo of red, orange, yellow)


1 4 oz can chopped green chilies


2 to 3 cloves garlic, chopped


diced ham

1 cup cream


1 generous cup grated Pepper Jack cheese
(I use half cheddar and half pepper jack and usually use more than 1 cup)

2 tablespoons butter


Salt


Pepper

paprika

Boil pasta until al dente. In a large skillet, add olive oil and saute garlic and vegetables over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Add ham.   Add in canned chilies and stir around, then turn off heat. Drain pasta and add it to skillet. Pour on cream, add cheese, then add salt, pepper, and paprika to taste and stir gently. At the end, add 2 tablespoons butter and stir again. Check seasonings and serve.

**You can add in other veggies – I sometimes use tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes.  You could also add corn. 

**Sometimes I double this recipe.  I take ½ and put it in a 9x13 pan and sprinkle bread crumbs over top and then it can be baked later for another meal.  I imagine it would freeze well. 

Reasons I love summer break ...

• Mac and I are sitting and relaxing in the recliner.  
• I don't have papers to grade.  
• I don't have any deadlines looming. 
• It was 65 today. 
• My house is clean.  
• We made a yummy dinner tonight - in fact, I've made dinner every night this week (that is a big deal!)  
• I still have a little bit of my vanilla diet coke left from happy hour.
• We haven't been out of bed before 8:30 all week.   
• But mostly, because I can hear the contagious laughter from Mylie and Blake playing together outside.  From what I can tell, Mylie is teaching Blake gymnastics.  There are lots of belly laughs to be heard.  

This summer is the first summer since I was 14 years old that I haven't worked.  And so far - it is delightful.  I don't think (knock on wood) that I have yelled all week.  We just play, sometimes take a nap, go to the park, go to happy hour, and play some more.  I am taking a grad class (online) at BSU this summer - get this, called Blogging in the Classroom.  Three days in and I think I will like it.  Yes, my homework all summer long will be to blog.  Can summer get much better?

May is in the books!

Five months down!  Whoo hoo!  We had a great May - albeit busy.  Multiple field trips to the prison for me, finishing school for the kids, memorial day weekend, gymnastics for Mylie, and school starting for Jeff.  Our summer is off to a great start!

You can follow my picture a day calendar here:  http://www.shuttercal.com/calendar/myliesmom/2012.