Arrived

Great flights yesterday, on time, Cranapple juice en route, a little rest, arrived just after noon. So glad to be here! Dan was at the airport to meet me curbside, and both boys had fallen asleep in their car seats - whahhh! When Joseph opened his eyes (when we were almost to the house) and saw me, he was speechless! Amy was getting ready for a meeting at the hospital and Scott came over and we had KFC for lunch, Joseph announcing he doesn't do chicken, gravy, biscuits or macaroni and cheese. Left him some plain potatoes: more chicken and stuff for us, right? Well, he had a little mac-n-cheese he dabbled with while he watched me. He was in heaven cause he had me AND uncle Scott at the table. Andrew chowed down, not picky. Dan kind of ran around the table doing service for us all and I'm amazed at the efficiency. Role reversal, way!

After lunch Dan and Scott and I took the boys outside to play ball - Amy drove to the hospital. About 80 degrees, high sunshine, felt cool to me since there's no humidity! I let the boys do the hard playing and took pictures and tanned my legs.



My camera battery died before I could get pics of Joseph. He and I pretty soon threw the ball to each other while Scott and Dan pummelled each other with the toy football. I had to fetch our ball out of the bushes plenty of times or run across the lawn for it. Joseph had to hold his hands together and just stand in one place. Shade and sun on the lawn, a gorgeous afternoon, whew! Dan and Scott took Andrew inside and Joe and I went exploring, walking from the apartments to a creek nearby, talk-talk-talking. We threw rocks in the creek, and sticks, and discussed not throwing in the McDonald's bag on the side of the road. When he picked up what looked like bark to throw in, I said, "Is that a tree or a rock?"

Nana, he announced, rolling his eyes and pointing over our heads, that is trees. THIS is a rock.

We howled and laughed at the sounds the rocks made when Joseph dropped them in the creek, little ones gurgling and pipping and chuckling, and big rocks gulloping and kerplunking as they went in. Joseph watched me for cues and red-faced and hot, his blue eyes crinkled in his face, (and, blast, the camera plugged into the wall at home) belly-laughed every time.

This is what I came for.

Feels okay

What'd'ya think? Is it gonna rain?

Scott barbecued for us in a downpour last Friday night and here it is Thursday, still soggy. Hmm. And cool, and it isn't SUMMER is it if it's this. Seminary is out and I'm loving reading and studying still; glad. Wish I could share what I learn. Wish I had someone sitting on the couch to talk my head off to. Talked to Scott today - he's back on the road, lots of deliveries. Feels okay. Had a plate of Skyline chili for supper in front of the game last night, as if he didn't eat enough of that here! He's a S(ky)L(ine)C(hili) (oooooh SLC) machine. Medium cheddar not sharp, not Mexican. Pinto beans, no. No onion. Spaghetti, not angel hair. I'm a 5-way. When he shredded some cheese for me several nights ago and shredded a knuckle in the process we laughed (after I Bandaided his finger) about noodles, sauce, cheese, onions, oh and skin - 5-way. EW!

At Aunt Marcia's last summer


Andrew spaghetti-face

Not much going on

Scott's been here and gone. Took him to the airport this morning. Sad. When I talked to him this evening after he got off the plane he told me he's headed home to crash. I know it's been a rough day; in pain from the treatments with Ron, an hour and a half in the car before he ever got on the plane, sick stomach and a headache from the plane ride. That (with the plane trip) happens to me too, the stomach and headache; it's hard to shake for about a day after you've landed - I fly to Utah in a week and am not looking forward to it. The part about being in Utah again, yes. The part about getting there, nuh-uh.

Kent's mowing. He's racing around the yard because it's almost dark and the chance of rain increases while I write. There'll not be another time this week to get yard work done either before days of rain come or we have to leave to work in the temple Friday, so it's tonight. And there probably won't be time for Rummikub - I know I know, that's dumb, but we like to play and I've gotta throw Kent off his winning streak!

Jen 2004. She hates the glasses, but oh well.

Back to normal

Coooooold today! Saw Ron yesterday, the trigger point therapist, who worked out trigger points in my leg and back. I can walk again. I had a trick knee most of last week - you don't know when your knee's going to collapse in a stride and you'll fall, so you look pretty funny mostly walking around kind of on tip toes or lurching and staggering in pain! I yelped, SHOUTED, whenever a step was collapsy and painful. Unless I was in public - then I just froze in place. Couldn't wait for Ron to get back from, yeah, southern Utah! He and his wife went hiking,  I think in Zion's. I was on the couch here and he was rock climbing... anyway, now I can walk. SOOO so glad. Kent's way glad.

Brady

Happy Mother's Day

Kent gave me a card first thing this morning that made me laugh. That's a good thing. Mom and Dad sent over a card by e-mail that Dad made, and I opened the coolest video (link) from Jen, also in my e-mail - she made it in Smilebox, and the link is to there. I was in tears before it was over, kind of messed up my makeup right before church. Kudos to Jen for her talent, and thanks so much to everyone else who wished me a happy day, especially Regina who waved at me from her porch as we turned out of the driveway to go to church. I love you! To my kids, you're my best friends and am glad we're a family.

Dana and Brady, 2006

So long ago

Kent home teaches a man in the ward whose memory is failing. He told Kent last night he remembers when his brothers were little (he named them) and in a crib. No, his wife said, those are your sons.

Right, right, the man speculated, then said he remembered getting under the boys' crib and stealing their milk. An odd little account, obviously combinations of memories this elderly man has. Kent told me this while I was brushing my teeth and I looked at myself in the mirror and saw my age.

I don't remember much if anything about my very early childhood; too far from it. I wonder when I WILL start remembering it though, and talking about it like it was yesterday. The little kids in these four funny pictures (on the scrap page) were so long ago. Right?

Yummy Turkey Butternut Squash Chili

I love it! Here's the link for this beefy version from Southern Living. I made a turkey version that both Kent and I love. Dipped cornbread in it. Wow! Recipe below.

Turkey and Butternut Squash Chili

1 pound ground turkey
½ to 1 green bell pepper (to taste), chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 to 4 cloves roasted garlic (to taste), diced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced stewed tomatoes, drained
½ of a 15 oz-can Stokes green chile sauce with chicken, mild
¼ to ½ cup spaghetti or marinara sauce
1 (16-ounce) can pinto beans, drained
½ small butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 1 1/2 cups) (See NOTE below)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1½ teaspoons ground cumin
1½ teaspoons chili powder
1 cup frozen corn kernels

NOTE: I used one half of a small ROASTED butternut squash I was storing in the freezer. Thawed it and cubed it semi-frozen. Since it’s already cooked, add it to the warm chili a few minutes before serving.

Preparation: Add a little virgin olive oil (extra virgin is fine) to a skillet or Dutch oven and cook turkey over medium-high heat until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Add bell pepper, onion and garlic – sauté with the meat until tender. Stir in tomatoes, green chile sauce, spaghetti sauce, pinto beans, chicken broth, cumin and chili powder. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. Stir in corn and cook until chili is thickened. Add cubed butternut squash.

(If using raw squash, cube it and add it with the other ingredients and cook the chili 15 minutes until squash is cooked through. Add corn last.)

Makes 8 servings (serving size: 1 cup)