For Heather

You turn 17 today, Heather. I can't believe it. You weren't born my sister, but you belonged to us. The first time mom saw you she cried out, "that's my baby," because you were always supposed to be ours. I loved to hold you when you were little. I used to love to take you out of Sacrament meeting when you'd cry so I could sneak some of your snacks. You didn't seem to mind, but then again you were a baby. You were such a spunky little girl, you even taught yourself how to ride your own bike. You used to come with me when I taught dance and be my "special assistant," you had so much natural rhythm. And we'd say "Liar,Liar" quotes back and forth while we'd drive home. You were always good at doing impressions, you still are.

When I got married you were just a little girl. You were mad at Craig for stealing my attention from you, but I think he grew on you. You were an aunt by the time you were 12, and you're niece and nephews love you.

You are good at everything you try. You've done dance, track, piano, tennis. And you're so natural at all of them. You're smart, and talented. But most importantly, you're loving. And now you're almost grown up. Only one more year. It's seems so short. I don't think I'm ready for you to be grown up yet. But I guess it's going to happen anyway.

You're growing into such a beautiful woman, Heather. Despite the fact that you've been raised by 5 mothers. Happy Birthday pookie bear, I love you.

If I lived in Logan I would come pick you up this afternoon and take you out for ice cream, and then we would do "Liar, Liar" impressions all the way home.

FHE Captain Moroni Style

I can't take credit for this fabulous ingenious idea... it was all Craig.

Cardboard + foil= one mighty fine sword.

Guarding our "fort."

"Swording"

Craig the Lamanite.

wholesome recreational activities

Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentence, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. (Proclamation on the Family)The End...

Homemade Pizza

Happy Friday, Everyone. In the Meaker family, growing up we had a pizza-every-Friday tradition which was absolutely fabulous (side note: my brother Matt still adamantly insists on pizza every Friday, and if he doesn't get it he's very put out). 90% of the time my mom made Homemade Pizza. And she makes the WORLDS BEST, homemade pizza. Oh, I can't even describe it. So I thought I would share the amazing recipe with ya'll. And trust me, it's not actually that hard to make, because I can do it, and it ACTUALLY turns out tasting amazing. I know, surprise surprise. Anyway, here's my gift to you. Try it. Your kids will LOVE you. Have a fabulous weekend!

Homemade Pizza

375-400 deg.: 20 min.

1 pkg. yeast (quickrise)

3 cups flour

2 Tbls. oil

4 Tbls. surgar

1 teas. salt

1/2 c. warm milk (110 deg.)

3/4 c. warm water (110 deg.)

Mix yeast and flour in separate bowl. Mix remaining ingredients in a mixer. Gradually add flour. Once mixed let the mixer run for 10 minutes. Remove dough and place in an oiled bowl. Let rise for 30 minutes, or until you poke the dough and a hole stays. Spread into a circle and roll out on a pan or pizza stone (you simply must use a pizza stone, there really is no better way to cook it) Let sit for 5 minutes, then add toppings and BAKE!

Look at all that homemade goodness. Oh, delish. I hope you all enjoy!

the power of suggestion

I don't dye my hair, ever. Twice in my entire life have I had it highlighted. The reason: besides the fact that its an incredibly expensive habit, I genuinely like the color of my hair, alot. From about as early as I can remember my mom would tell me how beautiful my hair color is, how much she loved it. She called me her "little golden girl," she still does. And even though I'm 25 and have three kids of my own, I still like it when she says that to me. It makes me feel good. And I love the color of my hair. Why change something that you love about yourself? That got me thinking about the power of suggestion on the self-image of our children. My hair was not the only thing my parents used to praise me about. My dad used to tell me how smart I was, how articulate, how mature. He said I could be Katie Couric (with different politics of course) if I wanted to. So I grew up knowing I was smart, knowing I was sharp. It gave me the confidence to become the things my dad saw in me. (did he say egotistical as well? hmm.) My mother told me I was a good girl, that she always knew I'd make good decisions, and I never gave in to temptation. I never put any drugs or alcohol into my body. I've never smoked anything. When I married my husband I was still a virgin. Mothers, fathers, have you thought about the power you have over your children? What are their strengths? Do you tell them? Tell them what you know they are, what you know they can be, and they will become it. I love my daughter's hair color. It's beautiful and in the sun, she has the most beautiful highlights. I brought her outside to take a picture of her hair in the sun. Then I told her how beautiful her hair is. She smiled.

yummy

I bought my kids this amazing Citrus shampoo, that makes their litttle heads smell so delicious that I just want to nibble on them all day long... and I do, by the way.

Manic Monday

I kind of lost it tonight when both of my sons insisted on screaming/getting out of bed/ throwing a temper tantrum- for 2 whole hours instead of go to sleep immediately like their angelic sister. This coupled with the fact that Mr. Robinson had a strange allergic reaction after riding his motorcycle home from work today (yay for adult allergies- that randomly appear) and thus took a rather large helping of benedryll and passed out/ slurred his speech and laid on the floor (quite hilarious actually) the entire evening, leaving me a lone woman trying to control 3 kids for family night. They actually got really into my story about Nephi cutting Laban's head off. (Carter's REALLY into swording bad guys right now). It was precious. But that only made it worse that I totally lost it later, when I really wanted to be done being a mommy, and just be a human for a few hours before passing out, and the little stink-bombs wouldn't go to bed. It's okay though. It was nothing that melodramatically sweeping from the house, rushing to the car, and frantically speeding down to Arctic circle couldn't fix. I really wanted a milkshake, but I knew I'd regret it tomorrow when I had to pick out my clothes, so I settled for a medium Rootbeer, leaned my chair all the way back, and stared out the sun roof while listening to the MO-Tab. It only took an hour, and I was a much more sane mommy. I don't even know what happened after I left, Craig was passed out in the hallway. The poor guy. Someday I'll get this mommy thing down. Thank goodness little children are so forgiving. And also thank you to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Oh, and thank you Hannah for reminding me that this stage will pass.

nice.

This is what happens when you let your husband get your kids ready for bed. Seriously, Honey? Even Hannah knew that this was Ethan's shirt...Oh, and check out Carter's ab muscles... what a stud, what a stud.

the wisdom of mothers

On Sunday I was talking to my mom about what it was that she did to make a totally manic, over-run with kids household so wonderful, and comfortable and loving. She told me a story about one Sunday morning when my dad had to work (he was a firefighter) and she was trying to get me and three of my siblings ready. And it wasn't going well. We were screaming, she was flustered, and late... you know the routine. So instead of continuing, she stopped took us all out on the front porch and sang songs with us until we were all calmed down and happy. We were late to church, but the feeling changed. So the other day I was outside mowing the lawn and the kids were out with me swinging on our neighbor's swing set. In the middle of mowing Carter ran over and started shouting "Mommy push me on the swing!" My first reaction was to tell him not now, maybe later, and that I needed to finish the lawn. But let's face it, I probably wouldn't have gotten around to it, or the kids would have lost interest long before I was finished. Instead, however, time slowed down, the clouds parted, and I remembered my mother's wise words from a few days before. I stopped mowing the lawn and went over to push my kids on the swings for 20 minutes. And do you know what? I still got the lawn done, and it didn't take that long. But, I'm glad I took the time to play with my kids, instead of letting the moment pass me by. Thank goodness for the wisdom of mothers.

Go Cougars!

The BYU game last saturday was, AMAZING. OH, so good, and so hot. I went from wearing 2 shirts, the top one a 3/4 sleeve dark green, and a white under-t, to just my white t-shirt, and I was still sweating! But boy was it worth it. I think I may have given my in-laws a scare when I started taking off one of my shirts...

59-0 , Oh yeah, that's a shutout.

This is what I get for wearing my sunglasses the entire game and NOT putting sunblock on. Nice... racoon eyes.

where were you?

so do you know how your parents always remember where they were when they found out JFK had been shot? Today I was thinking about how it had been 7 years since September 11. Seven years. Wow. I can't believe it was that long ago.

I was in my freshman year of college, still living at home. It was early in the morning, and my dad ran into my room and said a plane accidentally crashed into the WTC. (this was before everyone knew what was going on) I went into my parents bedroom and we watched as a few minutes later the second plane hit. When we realized that this wasn't an accident, that we were being attacked, oh...We were literally screaming. I can't even describe the feeling. I cried a lot that day.

So where were you?

sometimes I wonder...

if, now that I have 3 kids, I'll ever

get anywhere on time- instead of 10 minutes late... like I always am now.

get enough sleep, hmm, is 3 hours enough?

get the house all the way clean

get the laundry all the way done- before there's another huge pile waiting for me

go to the store without feeling frazzled- even when I'm alone

not have a constant sheen of sweat on my face, because hauling 3 kids around is, so. much. work.

not look down to see boogers and spit up stains all over my clothes

have enough time with Craig

know what I'm supposed to do with them

-A tiny voice inside of me says, probably not. But still, sometimes I wonder...

lame.

So when I finished Breaking Dawn (the last of the Twilight books, for those of you unaware that the world is round) I was seriously depressed. The End, no no no, I want to know more. My one consolation was the fact that at that moment Stephenie Meyer was feverishly writing, Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edward's perspective), so while there wasn't going to be anymore story after the final book, at least I had that to look forward to. Like a truly obsessed Meyer fan I'd gotten on her website and read the first chapter- oooo, so good- so I was really looking forward to it. Well guess what. I got on her website the other day like I do every few days- like I said, obsessed- and there's a little notice posted. Long story short: someone leaked an unfinished draft, it's all over the internet, yadi yadi yah. And she's decided to put it on hold indefinitely. INDEFINITELY! WHAT! The sad part is, I got on- once again obsessed- and read the whole manuscript (which she posted on her website- so I'm not a dishonest shmuck) and it was amazing, typos and all. It would have been... well, so good. I only hope that indefinitely turns into a month... or less. I hope. So thank you, dishonest person whoever you are for spoiling it for the rest of us. People are so lame.

Go me.

I just wanted to pat myself on the back for getting home from the grocery store at 10pm tonight, and before putting away all the groceries (and this was a big trip we were out of everything), I cleaned out the fridge (which had gotten quite disgusting with left-overs. Every time I opened the door some weird odor would come drifting out, and I kept lying to myself, saying it MUST be drifting over from the trash. But no, it's the fridge.(I guess that's what I get for going out of town 2 weekends in a row) Anyways, I totally cleaned out the gunk, then sprayed the shelves, and wiped them down. (extra kudos to me). Then I separated my meat BEFORE putting it in the freezer, imagine that, so I don't have to thaw out the whole thing, just to freeze half of it again. Then I carefully put away all the groceries in the right place, emptied the dishwasher, filled it, and sterilized the sink. Oh yeah, I'm seriously loving the fact that I get to wake up to a clean kitchen. Anyways, this probably sounds ridiculous, (and it is, by the way) but what I wanted to do, was come home, throw the groceries in whatever crevice I found and go straight to bed. Which would have put me behind by half a day tomorrow, and let's face it, that smell would still be waiting for me.