Eek! I have ants in my pants!!!

Well actually, they are on my counter. Enclosed in glass. HUGE, REDDISH BLACK, menacing-looking Harvester Ants.

So Grandma and Grandpa Jensen sent this ant farm to us a few weeks ago, and then a few days ago the ants arrived in the mail in a little vial, kind of like a test tube. Yikes! Of course Scott was the only one home so he immediately dumped them into the farm without reading the instructions first... so he and I spent an hour after the kids were in bed fishing out the ones that didn't survive the trip, so that they wouldn't infect the others, without allowing any of their friends to make their escape! TRAUMA!!! Apparently when they die from here on out the other ants are supposed to bring them to the surface, but we haven't seen these valiant humanitarian efforts so far. By the next day one of them became entombed in one of the starter tunnels, and there he sits, as if to remind the others of what not to do, I guess.

So now we have these little darlings gracing our home for their lifespan, which is a few months, the booklet says. As soon as Kate laid eyes on them she yelled, "BEES!!" as plain as day, which is saying a lot for a child who only says about three words. Everytime we try to tell her no, they're ants, she screams in defiance," BEEEEEE!" Here's a shot without the freaky blue up-lights.

So, the "bees" are enjoying their new home, and making themselves more and comfortable. I'm not sure I'm so comfortable, however! I'm envisioning Kate climbing up on the counter (which she was caught doing today for the first time) and knocking the "bees" down and right out of their "hive"!!!! And into my house! Oh, and just to ease our minds, the packing label on the ant shipment reads "against state law to release ants into the wild". Huh? "Must be kept in captivity"?????? A little bizarre... but, the kids are already starting to get attached to them. They talk to them, sing songs to them, think up reasons why they might have dug a tunnel that goes in an arch, taking them right back where they started from, cheer them on when they've almost made it all the way through from the bottom to the top... they're officially part of the family!
So if you're in the neighborhood, stop in to see our space -aged ant farm... oh yes, I mean habitat... or, even better, HOME...(OOOH, I don't like the sound of that!)

Joshua's First Pinewood Derby

O.K., before this week is over, I better document Joshua's first pinewood derby! I don't have the greatest pictures of this one... but I'm throwing them in anyway! I was proud of Scott for staying up late several nights to make it happen, especially when he was doing it for the first time as well, and handymanning is not his forte. I wanted to help with the painting, and unfortunately that got pushed until Saturday morning, the day of the race. I ran to harvest at the ward garden in the morning, and when I got home to help Josh finish the painting, I realized that Scott had already put the wheels on, and that we couldn't paint our design exactly right because the wheels were in the way. Anyway, long story short... I asked Scott if he could take the wheels off, he said that it would compromise the stability of the car, I complained and whined, mainly just frustrated and irritated by the whole thing, but then he reacted to that by prying one of the wheels off, splitting a small part of the wood underneath the car, and I went totally ballistic! I completely lost it, and started screaming out of control... something about this stupid stupid car, that I never wanted him to take the wheels off if it would break the car, that I can't believe he would over-react to my whining by compromising the car, that I didn't even want to go to the stinkin' derby, yes, that's it, I'm just not going, that why do they want these boys to do something that puts all kinds of pressure on the parents to produce this...
Oooohhhh... it was ugly. What a wonderful scouting tradition, the pinewood derby! Well, after Scott and I had to separate for a few hours, and after a lengthy texted (and then later in person) apology on my part, we finished the car, and all went to the church, and he performed respectably. He won one race, was 2nd place in two, and third in one. Not bad considering all of my doom and gloom in the morning. I even set Josh up with the famous... "you-may-lose-every-single-race-and-it-doesn't-matter" talk. Good grief! My drama, drama, drama! Hopefully things will be better next year...

Recipe W.O.W. Re-DO #4: Baked Chicken and Rice

My mom went through a lot of cooking phases as we grew up. A few that I remember most vividly were the "stir fry" months (she really made us respect the wok!), and the "sprouting" period (our laundry room became a veritable greenhouse for sprouts of all kinds), and the "juicing" stage (I still LOVE carrot juice because of this one! Celery juice on the other hand...), and in more recent years, the "bundt cake" phase (every family gathering was a new bundt surprise... Sometimes she would make 2 or 3 at the same time just to taste test them!).

What I didn't know as a child during all of these phases, which were so exciting and fun for us, was how much work it was! Just to get a home-cooked dinner on the table each night is a major accomplishment in my world, and I'm sure with 3 little girls within 4 years under foot, was an incredible feat for my mom! But overarching all of her cooking ins and outs, there are a few recipes that were our family "classics". Deliciously simple flavors, easy to put together, readily available ingredients, crowd pleasers; everyone in the family loved them. These were the ones that withstood the test of time; and my mom still makes them a lot. The only downside to these classics is that some of their ingredients are... well let's just say that they've been on my black list for several years. You know the typical 60's-90's era offenders? Condensed cream soups, the Oh-so-msg-fruitful Powdered Soup Mixes, trans-fat shortenings, and stuff like that. So of course, these were some of the first ones on my list to Re-Do. It's been tricky, but I've been playing around with a few of them, and I think I've finally got this one to a point that momma would still be proud to claim it as her own.

Katy's Baked Chicken and Rice

(please forgive me for some of these amounts... they may not be exact)

Either 1 whole chicken, cut up, or 1 large pkg bone-in, (that's right not boneless!) thighs, breasts, and legs (should be about 6-8 pieces, depending on the size and cut, the last time I made this I used only thighs and legs)

1 pckg whole baby portabella or crimini mushrooms, sliced thin or small dice
1 onion, chopped fine

2 heaping TB dehydrated onion
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
2 heaping tsp salt
28 oz carton good quality chicken broth (I love Imagine or Pacific organic brands, the taste difference is huge)
2 cups sour cream

2 cups basmati rice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a skillet, add the mushrooms and onions, drizzle well with olive oil; saute down until translucent and golden.


In a bowl, combine dehydrated onion, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, chicken broth, and sour cream; whisk until smooth. In a 9X13 pan (I use metal for this, but I think you can use glass) place rice, mushroom and onion, and broth mixture; stir to combine. Nestle chicken pieces down into the rice. Turn to coat the top of the chicken pieces, but if you're pan is deep enough, you should only have a little bit of the chicken showing above the rice mixture. Bake uncovered, 60-90 minutes, or until chicken juices run clear and rice is light and fluffy.

I bet you didn't think it was going to be this simple! That's my mom's style... and I tried not to add anything fancy to change the straight-forward flavor. Now, I know that bone-in meat is out of fashion, but it really effects the flavor and cooking time of this dish, so just enjoy the savings! I bet you could even do this with all drumsticks... kids love those.

Side note: My family growing up ALWAYS adds sour cream to top this on their plates. We were almost addicted to sour cream... I've since tried to refrain from doing that, and I think this still comes out moist and flavorful... but if you are the type that wants your rice to be creamy, a dollop will do ya, as they say. Pair with green beans, jell-0, and a green salad with homemade buttermilk dressing, and you've got a classic Rosenhan family Sunday meal. Here's to you, Mom! Happy Birthday!

Making up for lost photo ops...

I'm sorry about this, yet another shoot of my baby, but you see, I hardly took any pictures of this kid her first year and a half of life! Remember, I did not have a digital camera... (not a good excuse, I know!)
Anyway, so I'm trying to make up for some lost time. This was on an overcast day when I was feeling downright crummy. A friend in the ward crocheted this cap and gave it to Kate the day before, and when I put it on her I knew that we needed to just forget our troubles and have a photo moment. She doesn't understand hold still and look at the camera, so I just followed her around our yard. We played peek-a-boo behind the vines, and collected rocks, and pulled blossoms off the apricot tree. I smiled the whole time... I hope you will, too! Thanks, Kate!

"Roses are red, violets are blue..." My husband writes poetry... who knew?

Every year since we've been married, Scott has given me flowers for Valentine's --and I LOVE flowers!! This year, however, we already had some lovely roses from left over from a meeting earlier in the month gracing our home, and another bouquet that Scott picked up for a family gathering at our house a week or so ago. Also, I wanted to save a little money, and Valentine's flowers are such a gouge... So, I asked him for a favor this Valentine's. In lieu of flowers this year, I would love the gift of a clean bathroom, and a little something written from him to me. Didn't have to be poetry of course, but... o.k. I was hoping. Well, I'm sure that he was thinking, "Man, if I could just get the flowers and be done with it!" But, I'm a tricky lover, you know? Always keeping him on his toes! So on Valentine's morning, under my cell phone, I found a strip of paper, and on it was this:

Thirteen Valentines For Our Thirteenth Valentine's Day -- Feb 14, 2009
I think you will consider it a fine interlude; it starts in a place with the beatitudes.
(So I got the kid's together and we started our hunt... we have some blocks with Pres. Hinckley's 6 B's, and that is where the next one was:)

1. "Charity... suffereth long..."
Your longsuffering toward me makes glad my head, I would have you look next to where we sometimes find bread. (the bread basket)

2."...is kind..."
Your kindness to me is a welcome repose, and so your kind words; they smell like a rose... (off we went to the flowers on the kitchen counter)

3."...envieth not..."
You help me remember that life is not about gain, but hope to snatch eternity in this world of much pain. Go to the place where the mammon abounds in great coinage; you will see, the new clue will astound! (I was cracking up too hard to go find this one..."mammon abounds in great coinage?" the kids found it on the change jar in the office)

4. "...Vaunteth not... is not puffed up..."
You help me remember on God to rely, instead of myself as a tiny black fly. (on top of the fridge next to the fly swatter... how romantic!)

5. "...rejoice not in iniquity..."
What I watch on TV or see on the Dish, If I care not or perceive not, might stink like a fish. SO now I watch very carefully the place where it lies, this box of these wonders, these shows, and I am apprised. (what part of this one is about his everlasting love for me? I have no idea...)

6. "...not behave itself unseemingly..."
Don't go to Wal-Mart in your pajamas indeed, (I'm always harping on him about doing this) if you do you may find that you stand out like a weed. But, use good language and spell right, and "THINK ON THESE THINGS" (We have a wall plaque that says this)

7. "...seeketh not her own..."
You serve others so smartly so well, and so true, you seek not your own and you do shat is true. You teach joy in service and you do it so well, I love to see you mixing that bread I love so well. (the first thing Olivia said was, "How many 'so well's' are you going to put in there, Dad?!" He must have been getting tired, but you have to admit this is just so cute...)

8. "... is not easily provoked..." (Anyone who really knows me knows that this one would be a stretch...)
I am grateful for your patience. I am grateful very much. I am glad you spare your anger while I let the trash keep piling up. (He knew he was safe here, because he never lets the trash pile up!)

9. "...thinketh no evil..."
Your mouth is a pleasant fountain of good and righteous words. I love to hear you speak softly as a flea lights upon a bird. (What?!?) Your words betray your goodness, and make me feel so cheery. Your company a blessing, like a wreath of bright red berries. (Huh? Of course we knew where the next clue was after that one...)

10. "...rejoices in truth..."
I know you love the scriptures, and can recite those timely verses. You shared some timely counsel from the Journal of Discourses. (My current favorite church reference book, much to my husband's delight)

11."...beareth all things..."
Bearing the sons of men is a job that is quite daunting, but you bare it up so well that it seems not so alarming. I hope I have the faith to put on God's armor and that my faith is not like the kind that sits upon the armoir. (Boy we were almost stumped on that one, until we noticed the 'faith' plaque on top of the TV cabinet. Then I remembered the night before as he was at the computer him asking me, what's the cabinet that holds the TV called? It's an armoir, honey...)

12. "...believeth all things..."
Your testimony of the truth is built upon a rock. I am strengthenend by your witness and I know others are as well. If you seek a tiny witness hole, you may find the final clue. (it was stuck in the front door peep hole)

13. "...endureth all things..."
I know that together we can endure to the end and find the blessings that our Father has for us. I am eternally grateful to be yours. Be mine. I love you dearly, and Happy Valentine's Day,
Love, Scott ( That one was worth the whole thing. What a cutie!)

So when you ask for an alternative to flowers, be prepared!!! So of course, I think now it is clearer why we laugh because of how "not funny" we are! I was laughing so hard through the whole thing that I had to go back and reread them to catch the sentiment! Scott, I love your random, quacky humor, but especially your sweetness. You actually embody more of these attributes of charity than I do, and you do it without drawing any attention to yourself. I love you, sweetheart!

Making Sweets with a Sweetie...

As soon as she realized that it was "Valentime's", Isabelle has been prolific in the craft room churning out card after card... and giving them to everyone that steps foot in the door this week. This is most definitely HER holiday...

So, following her sweet lead, and as part of my New Year's determination to take life "in moments" and make (and record) more memories, I actually did something this week that I have been meaning to do but have not done since the whirlwind of our move here to QC and all that has commenced since. I MADE SUGAR COOKIES! Now stop laughing... I know it sounds ridiculous, but this is a big deal for me!


Yes, it took me ALL WEEK to make the 2 batches, (I thought we would do them for F.H.E., and I didn't even manage to get the dough finished before we had to call it quits and send everyone to bed... yes, they were all smiles as we tucked them in without dessert!). So I knew I would be finishing them either late at night or at Kate's naptime with Izzy (which ended up being both)...



As sad as it sounds, it is very hard to me to stop my constant, the-work-never-ends-so-I-can't-stop-working mode to actually slow down, let it go, and just make cookies. And especially sugar cookies. You know, the zero-nutritional-reward-for-hours-of-tedious-labor cookies! Pure unadulterated sugar just for kicks is really not my style. And of course I had to search and search for a recipe that didn't call for shortening (this health nut has her standards, you know! As warped as that sounds...) And to be honest, if I hadn't have had to make them for Izzy's class party (I was chairperson, and the treat sign ups were both conveniently out of town) I don't know now if I would have even done it at all. And boy, wouldn't it have been tragic to miss this smile...



So, I may have let my house go further down the drain, and let the laundry lion win his match again this week, but WE MADE SUGAR COOKIES!!!



And I sat with Izzy as we decorated them, and we played the "echo song" game, with a Valentine's theme. It goes something like this: Izzy sings an original melody and word phrase, and then I repeat it exactly ( Or at least I try to, even with the atonal-sounding tritones she throws at me!). Then after awhile we switch places, and I make up the phrases and Izzy repeats them. It's great ear training, actually. When you repeat the phrases a few times, it starts to actually sound like a song! Ours ended up something like this, with Izzy in the "composer's seat":

Oh, how I love Valentime's Day!
(Oh, how I love Valentime's Day...)
It puts so much joy in my heart
(It puts so much joy in my heart...)
It's all about loving and giving
(It's all about loving and giving...)
and it's just such a wonderful time
(and it's just such a wonderful time...)
Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful, (sung in the stratospheric child's upper register) Valentime's Day!
(Wonderful, Wonderful, etc... Valentime's Day!)
it's my favorite day of ALL...(sing your highest possible note here, mine was an impressive high B flat that day, I even ran over to the piano and checked :) )
(it's my favorite day of ALL..)

etc..

We sat at the counter frosting and sprinkling, and sang our hearts out, verse after verse, for a good 30 minutes. Just Isabelle and me, having each other all to ourselves. A simple thing, but one of the sweetest of my motherhood thus far. Now that was a moment worth making a mess for...

"Good Times, Good Times..." A Month In Review

Good Grief! It's tough to get on here and post as often as I would like to! I talked to a friend the other day who has an absolutely darling blog (the illustrious Molly Reynolds, click here) and she gave me two great gems of blogging advice: 1) YOU own the blog; the blog doesn't own you, and 2) Find your groove. Loved those two thoughts. Well, I certainly haven't found my groove yet (or in my case, my 'jive', I guess...), but I'm enjoying the opportunity to preserve memories. My children look forward to each post tremendously, and really, that's the point. Anyway, until I achieve a more predictable blog post routine, I wanted to document some of our great moments of the last 3 or 4 weeks.

Josh's first Blue and Gold Banquet!
They asked all of the Scouts to make and decorate a birthday cake, to be "wacky judged" and eaten for dessert. Joshua displayed his latest Indiana Jones lego masterpieces. He worked on them for hours to get every detail right. Unfortunately, about 20 minutes after this picture was taken, some over-active fellow scouts decided that they wanted to "rebuild " his cake... and dissassembled his vehicles and smashed the pieces into the cake! It was unbelievable. Josh cried all the way home, and for about an hour after. You know, I didn't know when they said that Scouting would make your sons stronger that this might be the way it would occur... to teach them how to handle their thoughtless peers? Well, we all better get ready to toughen up a bit, because next pack meeting is the infamous pinewood derby! Oh, I can't wait...
Here is Josh playing the "eat-a-saltine-cracker-and-try-to-whistle" game... Don't you just want to kiss those little scout lips!!




LION KING at Grady Gammage auditorium!!!
We bought group tickets about a year ago... and here we all are! The show was AWESOME!!!

Here's my Broadway Babies after the show! We had a ball...


We took a trip to Las Vegas for my cousin Alex Green's missionary homecoming. As always, it was a wonderful opportunity to connect with some of most fun, uplifting, classy people that I know! (Of, course, they're my family, so I might be a little biased...) But in reality, we feel so lucky and blessed to have extended family that set such fine examples of testimony and dedication to the gospel for our children to follow. It is inspiring to see, and it makes you want to keep such a legacy of faith going with your generation... Love you, cuz's!

This is my dad in his "element". Playing his old classic sing-alongs on the guitar while his family harmonizes...I think he's singing here one of our family favorites: "Nothing's Quite As Pretty As ______(fill in child's name) In The Morning" Of course as kids we would all scream for him to put our names in... and he would make a special verse for each one of us. I love you, Dad!


Whenever Kate can make eye contact with someone lately, whether friend or stranger, she asks for food (signs of course)! Here is proof that I really do feed her! Just look at those Jersey Cow eyes... I'll have to post another fairy tale sometime to tell the tale of how they came about!



Forts are a frequent occurrence at our house, but I rarely get a shot of them in use. This one is definitely not their best work, but they were having so much fun under it, and I was especially impressed that Kate was staying in one spot for more than 30 seconds! What a bunch of cuties...



'LONDON'S RUN'NERS!!! As many of you know, Queen Creek has an annual cancer benefit run in honor of a girl named London... it's a wonderful event. This year Kate, Izzy and I opted out, but Scott and the kids did the 2 mile fun run. Next year it's the half marathon for sure! Hee, hee! We lingered afterwards and enjoyed the festivities, complete with... face painting! Kate acted like she was being branded when she got hers... what a drama queen!


...face painting! Kate acted like she was being branded when she got hers... what a drama queen!




And last but not least...
Our stake has a garden... and our ward has a section of it! At the beginning of January we went as a family and helped cultivate (I think that's the soft term for 'yanking nasty weeds'), and last week for F.H.E. we were able to help harvest it! It was a mudbog that evening, but here are the fruits of our (and many other wonderful saints') labors. Yes, I get excited about pictures of fresh, homegrown (and FREE!) produce! And Kate shared my enthusiasm in helping me bag it up... YUMMM!!!!



Well, that's a recap for now... maybe next month I'll actually blog as the events happen! Baby steps, Deb, baby steps...

W.O.W. Re-Do #3: Cheesecake Bars

Recipe W.O.W. Redo #3: Cheesecake Bars!

This may very well be my only dessert Re-Do... (Baking is not usually my forte)

I don't know anyone who doesn't like cheesecake... especially during Valentine's. I've made the fancy kinds and they have their time and place, but I've been wanting to Re-Do a recipe that I can make for a crowd that uses natural ingredients and is not fussy... But that still tastes like cheesecake! Not the dryish, gummy, over-cooked after-tasting cheesecake, and not the oozing, goopy, is-this-cheesecake-or-cheese-pudding tasting cheesecake. You know, the light, creamy, mouth-feel-with-just-the-right-amount-of-body tasting cheesecake. And I personally love that little hint of citrus in the background. So if you like the kind of cheesecake that I like, you'll love this recipe. I've adapted it from one that I found online, and I make it in a jelly roll pan (half-sheet) so it makes a great number of little bars or squares for taking to the family function or the ward whatever . I top them after cutting with all kinds of fruits and sauces, and then there is a variety for people to choose from. I haven't tried it, but I'm sure you could freeze them as well, right in the pan, (wrapped well with plastic wrap) and then thaw and cut later. YUMMM!!!

Cheesecake Bars
CRUST:
2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (try to find some without the hydroged oils and H.F.C.S (high-fructose corn syrup) and whiz the whole crackers in your FP, then measure)
3 TB sugar
5 TB melted butter

FILLING:
4 1/2 blocks (48 oz) softened cream cheese (do not use lowfat)
1 1/4 cup sugar (fine-grain dehydrated cane juice if you can find it -- TJ's has a good one)
3 tsp grated lemon or orange zest (if you don't have a microplane grater yet, get one immediately!)
1 1/2 TB freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice
3 tsp pure vanilla extract
5 or 6 large eggs (depends on size - I only buy free range organic eggs, and they vary somewhat)
2 cups sour cream (1 regular sized carton is fine, and I always buy organic full fat on this one. The reason for the organic-only dairy, raw if you can find it, is that 90% of the toxins from commercially raised dairy are in the fat; so sour cream and butter are loaded with it. So you get so much healthy bang for your buck when you buy organic dairy (we'll save the raw speech for another post).

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and lightly grease your jelly roll pan. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 3 TB sugar in a bowl. Mix well to combine. Pat the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for five minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

For Filling: Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Add the sugar, citrus juice, zest, and vanilla. Beat until smooth, scraping down the sides with a spatula. Beat in the eggs one at a time until blended. Set beaters to low and fold in the sour cream. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the crust, and smooth until even. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the cheesecake is firm in the center (test by gently shaking the pan, if it looks jiggly in the center, continue to bake.) Cool on a wire rack and then chill for at least two hours before cutting. Toppings can range from lemon curd or fresh berries, to chocolate or caramel sauce drizzle. The sky is the limit on that!
I hope you enjoy these!

PLEASE VOTE FOR MY KIDS!

Hello to those who still love me after that last post!
To ALL of our friends and lovedones!

I'm sorry if you get this request more than once...

Firstly, I try never to ask for special favors, but my children are involved in this one, and that's my soft spot...

Our kids decided to enter an art contest last week... and I didn't know until today that whether they have a chance to win or not depends upon public voting! They didn't mention that anywhere on the website before the contest, and we don't listen to the radio station that is sponsoring it. So we are behind in the running now...
So the first phase of the contest ends on Feb 1. You can vote once per day, per email address, in each age category. Isabelle is in age 5-7, and Joshua and Olivia are both in age 8-10. Their names are listed next to their artwork.
Here are their submissions:








Here is the link to cast your vote:

http://www.mix969.com/pages/fridge-art/

Thanks for giving our kids a shot at this...

Love you all,

Scott, Debra, and family

Monday Mental Make-over...

You know, this blogging business is not easy for me! I'm here to admit that I'm having a small 'blogging breakdown'! I think it is a true blow to my subconscious perfectionism! The blogging honeymoon is over, I still don't know what I'm doing or how to do it, and now my insecurities are running wild! I'm trying hard to fight the increasing urge to be insanely critical of my posts... to the point that I don't want to post because... because I'm just lousy at this! I mean who wants to read a nutty mom's crazy rambling epic novel about chicken enchiladas anyway...!!!!????
(After some deep breathing...)

Good grief, Deb! Pull yourself together and just post your best, for goodness' sake! Hey, I just thought of a twist on a classic fly-lady quote: "Blogging done incorrectly still blesses your family...?" (the original for those who don't know it is: "housework done incorrectly still blesses your home", which I'm acually not so sure is true...)

When I started this blog, I hadn't really looked at many other blogs... I think maybe 5. You know, I'm thinking now that I should have stayed in the dark, really, because now the more of them that I read and see the more I think I stink! So, let me publicly pull myself up by my blogging bootstraps and hearken myself back to the reason I started this, and that was 3-fold:
1) Preserve and document my family's life,
2)Reach out to lovedones, and
3)Reconnect with and redefine my "inner Debra", so that I don't lose my mind, or allow my life's challenges to morph me into someone (or something) that I don't want to be.

That's all. That's it. I now remind myself that I didn't start a blog to:
A) Become a Famous Blogger worldwide,
B) Impress Strangers or Entertain Friends (remember that I'm not funny),
C)Become a Technological Blogging Blackbelt, or ESPECIALLY,
D) Fabricate some unrealistic 'blogworld' portrayal of a Perfect, or at least, Very Cool Life (does anyone else sometimes think that is what some bloggers do? Or is it just me having my pessimistic moment? Or are their lives REALLY PERFECT?!?)

So, I just had to reset myself there for a minute... before I launch into what I am thinking is a somewhat boring post... so my current motto is: "Boring is better than Blank!" Which was what I had before I started doin' the Jensen Jive...

(anyone who was just willing to suffer through this post to this point really loves me, so now you know who you are...)

Monday RECAP:
Last week, in honor of M.L.K. day we went miniature golfing for family night. It started out a disaster... balls flying out into the parking lot, bushes, streams... and kids (and parents) getting pelted by clubs swinging out of control... 3/4ths of us were in tears by the third hole! But fortunately, by hole 18 we had gotten into a groove. After witnessing our children's sportsmanship though, Scott and I made a mental note to do these kinds of things a lot more often... ;)
Here are some highlights:

Just playing around with 'scrapblog' for the first time... I'm so excited that I actually preserved another memory! And no gluesticks involved...Wow!

Click on the 'scrapblog' icon above (lower righthand corner)to view, and then click 'full screen to actually see it big enough to read it. (I'm sure you all know how to do this, but just in case someone else is "blogging challenged" like me...)

This may be more time than it's worth, but I'm thinking maybe I'll make pages like these to publish mini scrapbooks for my kids at the end of the year... if anyone else has thoughts about how to use scrapblog pages on their blogs, I would love to hear them. I'm just barely getting my feet wet with all of this...

Kathleen Pics

I was just told by a friend today about photobucket, and I'm trying to figure it out...



I've been saving this outfit for almost a year waiting for her to fit into it! Unfortunately, by the time we made it outside for the shoot, she was ready for naptime and I couldn't get very many shots. But it's a start at least. I don't know about anyone else, but our baby #4 has very few pics. So this year I aim to make up for lost time...


Even with the camel's hair, we think she is such a cutie! ;)

Come get me!

She is loving the weather, and spends lots of time outside picking treasures...
Hi Izzy! (She was my smile coaxer for the shoot, and she kept shrieking at a canine pitch to try to get Kate to smile...)

There's our little "Ka-tee"