Let's Get Cooking

Hi, Kiddos,

I have so many memories from growing up, sitting in the kitchen while my mom made the most delicious oatmeal bread.  Every so often I whip up a batch for our family, but it had been months! 

Today, I got a few hours to myself while you went out for some fun with daddy, so I took advantage and got cooking.

First, the bread:

 Bowl 1 (lower left)- let everything rise together
2 tbsp dry  yeast
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup warm water

Bowl 2 (top left)- let sit until cool to the touch
2 cups boiling water
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup black strap molasses
2 tbsp. butter

Bowl 3
Up to 6 cups sifted flowers (add flour gradually)

Add the yeast mixture to the oatmeal mixture, then gradually add the flour. 

 Once you get it into a ball, knead the dough.  

 Place in a well oiled bowl, cover with a damp tea towel in a warm place.  I usually turn on the oven to 250 when I start and turn it off when I start kneading the dough.  Place in the oven until the ball doubles.

 Like this!.  Cut this in half and put it in greased bread pans.  Cook at 350 for 40-50 minutes.  Super easy, super delicious bread.

Voila!  Delicious.

On a happier note

Dear T, A and H,

As you all know, nothing makes me quite as unhappy as a cluttered, disorganized, messy house. Yes, I think those are different things. Your rooms alone can send me into a frenzy. In my attempts to let go of some of the things I can't control, and go big on the things I can control, I cleaned kitchens like a crazy person tonight:)

It's not even 10pm and I have done all the kitchen drawers. Woot woot!  There will be peace in my heart for at least 10 hours with this organization in our lives.  Next up- Daddy's closets, and all the cooking stuff.  Get ready kids!

xoxo
mom

Here are the pictures:

My new school supply drawer.  Pencils-check, sharpeners- check. Erasers. Tape. Glue. Scissors. Hair ties. Tissues.  All of it in ONE PLACE!

Kitchen tools we use ALL the time.

Less frequently used kitchen tools.

My official junk drawer.  The three of you seem to need various things from this drawer all the time, so it is nice to have a lot of these things together.
Below: cue the music.  We have a mostly empty drawer!!  It is a matter of hours before you wake up, Anna, and figure out you can put paper here, but heaven help me- I have a mostly empty drawer.... with our doorbell in it.  It all makes sense to me.

The Road

Dear Taylor, Anna and Hudson,

We haven't talked about Grandpa here lately, and I often think about the speech my brother gave at my dad's funeral.  It was one of those times where words are so powerful they take your breath away.  This isn't a post about your uncle, but reminds me that I should talk to you about his incredible gift for words.  His speech was a powerful, moving, remarkable tribute to a man that was all of those things.  He finished by quoting this blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

He spoke about how our dad was his road, rising to meet him, supporting him along the way through every step.  

I often think about how Grandpa was incredibly supportive of the three of us.  His support always seemed to me like a great devotion or loyalty to us.  No matter what we did, he was all in.  Soccer- check. Swimming- check.  Driving us to and from afternoon activities.  We hosted a party- he made pizza.  Your uncle went to a neighbor's party- he sent him with a homemade pizza.  We needed help with homework- he read most of the book to find the best way to help. We learned to drive- he taught us. 

Grandpa wasn't perfect, and when I am ready, I will tell you the funny things about Grandpa (like how he hated mouth noise or when we played with a soda can by clicking it).   

It has been six months and three days.  Time is marching on and I am still so sad.  I want to get to the place where I think of Grandpa and all these memories from a place where I can smile and not cry, and I am really not there yet.

I love you three so much and I am so grateful to you for telling me your favorite stories about Grandpa. 

xoxo
mom 

I Color

Dear Buddy,

You are such a big guy! Today while I was helping the girls with homework and starting dinner, you sat the bar and colored!!! I couldn't believe it.
Love you bud!
xoxoxo
Mom

My little buddy

Dear Hudson,

I often think my heart will burst with love for you.  I have said this again and again, but you have brought so much joy to our lives, and most of our time with you is so much fun!  You have such an incredible spirit and love of life, and we love watching it.  You have just hit the 18 month mark, and while I don't know any of your stats (and as I write this, I am remembering that you need to get an 18 month check up), you seem to be really healthy.

You are talking up a storm!  You say anything we say, and walk around saying, Mommy, Daddy, Tay, Anna, Hubbie, blantet, baba, hot dog, cheese, yodurt, train, car, truck, baby, so nice, love you, I sit, sit down, walk, and anything else.

You run and dance with wild abandon.  If you hear music, it is like your body can't hep but get moving. We have had a lot of rain, and the puddles are too great to resist.  You do a flashdance style dance style dance in the water and it is hysterical!

Your favorite partners in crime are the "girls."  You run around yelling, "girls" in case they have forgotten to include you.  Now that you are racing upstairs you are happiest bouncing between their rooms, playing with their toys, or coloring, while saying, "I color, I color."

Buddy, we love you so much I can barely stand it.  You are the sweetest little guy and love your mama!!!

xoxo
mom

Cruising in the car.

You saw a niners display and stopped to say, "GO NINERS!"

Running around with your sisters' toy in their mouth.

new kicks

Winding down

Dear Kids,

We have had such a great vacation. We have mostly stayed home and it has been fantastic. We have built blocks, gone for walks around town, played with the doll house, had friends for dinner and taken it easy. You girls had a couple days of basketball camp and today was wacky dress day (see picture of Anna below).


I will be so sad to see this vacation end.
xoxoxo
Mom

The Rose Bowl

Girls,

We hope you had as much fun as we did. Daddy and I loved having some 1:1 time with you! It was a long day, but such am exciting Stanford victory.

Xoxo