Problematic Pathetically Puny Packaging

I just got home from Costco and feel the need to vent, sorry! Some days that's what blogging's for. Is anybody else annoyed that you don't get as much food in packages as you used to? I bought graham crackers today and I KNOW they used to have four packages of crackers in each box. I used to scarf down a pack of graham crackers as a kid (dipped in milk--mmm, mmm, good). The graham crackers I just bought? Three packages to a box. But it gets worse. [Cue spooky soundtrack] Now there are only nine crackers in each package. There used to be ten! And I'm pretty sure the actual crackers are smaller. Didn't the graham crackers used to look like two squares when you broke them in half? They appear to be smaller and more rectangular than I remember.

Another thing I know well is saimin. Packages of Saimin, also known as Top Ramen noodles, are smaller these days too! Shrinking food. I am not a fan.



Would you rather pay more money and get the same amount of product or pay the same amount and get a smaller product?

Kids Teach Kids to Say the Darndest Things

 
Yesterday the baby was sitting down in the living room playing with her wooden ABC blocks. She started throwing them so I said "Don't throw blocks or you'll get a time out." I didn't mean it or anything, she's only 19 months old. But a few seconds later she picked up a block, stood up, threw it, mumbled under her breath, and walked into the bedroom to sit on her sister's bed. The grumbling part was too cute! She did learn her lesson quite fast and stayed in her self-inflicted time out for only three seconds.

She's also started enjoying bedtime. I love that she now tells us when her day is done by requesting "A pillow, a blankie, a nie night!"

C. is really embracing her ability to talk. She says "hi" and "bye" to everyone she sees. And everyone she sees thinks she's adorable. They're right. Talking babies are delicious.

There's nothing quite like like a talking baby. And when that talking baby will parrot ANYTHING you say? It's even better. Right kids? It's crazy. C. is their new toy. I often hear "Listen to this, guys!" My favorite ditty is thanks to J. (who receives generous support from big brother and little sister). C. responds to hearing *certain sounds* by saying "Oh, cheese!" as she wags her chubby hand in front of her nose.

However sleep-deprived that poor mama of octuplets is, she can rejoice in the knowledge that at least one child won't teach the other one to smack herself on the bottom while singing "We will, we will, rock you."

I'm (Slowly) Learning

Thanks to our Relief Society blog, I got some spiritual instruction today! The TFOT today was Elder Robert D. Hales' conference talk, Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship. From the blog:

A few key concepts were discussed.

1. True disciples of Christ see opportunity in the midst of opposition.

2. True disciples seek guidance from the Spirit, they receive inspiration tailored to each encounter.

3. True disciples respond in ways that invite the Spirit of the Lord.

4. As true disciples, our primary concern must be others' welfare, not personal vindication.

5. True disciples avoid being unduly judgmental of others' views.

6. Sometimes true disciples must show Christian courage by saying nothing at all.

To all who seek to know how we should respond to our accusers, he replied, we love them. Whatever their race, creed, religion, or political persuasion, if we follow Christ and show forth His courage, we must love them. . . . we desire with our love to show them a better way - the way of Jesus Christ.

I'm glad the blog is still up and running. Love not feeling isolated in the land of babysitting, er, teaching tiny children!

Because Some Days the Bread Falls Flat

My sweet husband is just about the greatest guy ever. (I'm not dissing *your* hubby, just complimenting mine.)

You see, I spent the last few days literally trying to breathe because every so often my lungs don't work the way they should. It happened in Brazil where a doctor misdiagnosed me with dengue fever. It happened in Moscow (Idaho, not Russia!) when the boys were babies. And it happened this week. My lungs burn and I inhale albuterol and warm steam like nobody's business.

But this post is not about breathing.

It's about baking bread.

So after scrubbing a bazillion pots and pans and doing all the dishes Saturday, Ben decided to bake bread. He has baked bread supervised (by me) before. But yesterday was his first solo flight. He asked a few questions during the mixing process and then brought me the dough-filled Kitchenaid bowl to inspect before tucking it in to rise.

A few hours later we were eating quazi-yummy bread. The loaves rose, but then fell during the big bake. Ben was sad. Something wasn't right. Ben questioned the whole process. Was the butter/sugar/salt/milk combination wrong? Did the pans get bumped? Was the yeast water not warm enough? Was it too warm?

Amid this bread-eating question-asking was his daughter's voice; "Daddy? When can you teach me to bake bread?" (S. is a total daddy's girl, so I was only a little bit shocked that she didn't ask me. Oh, and I was bundled up on the couch barely breathing.)

Sunday morning between meetings Ben baked bread with his daughter. They worked together so well. The questioning questions were still there. I was consulted again before the first rise. (Although not from the couch this time, because I was on the mend.) It looked good. Ready to rise. Ready to bake!


Sunday's bread looked very much like loaves of leavened bread should! Daddy and daughter shared a loaf with the neighbors. They made me smile. They gave me a delicious buttered slice.

Some days the bread falls flat. And some days the bread is so good you forget all about the flat-bread days.

Today's Etsy Pick

I'm glad one of my resolutions this year is to be more organized because look at this beauty I found on etsy:

link
I love this!

My new year's resolutions are boring this year. I came up with organizing paperwork and eating more vegetables. My sweet hubby likes to start New Year's Eve conversations with "I'm not really big on resolutions, but this year I'm going to. . ." He comes up with useful, great resolves. Maybe instead of coveting the talents of etsy sellers, I should make this completely unrealistic resolution: I want to learn how to make a shelf like that. Carpentry is one of two things I really, really, re-he-he-ally want to learn how to do someday. Pottery making is the other thing. Shapely shelves laden with pottery. Yummy!

Our New Year's Eve Cup-Themed Party

We got this idea from the book "Steven Caney's Ultimate Building Book" (Ben's Christmas gift from Amy and Andrew!)

I Have Time to Make Three Collages? Cool!

Church doesn't start until 11:00am this year. And except for a pair of boys' pants that are getting ironed, er, I mean fluffing in the dryer, we are completely ready to go! So I sent an e-mail to my folks and played around with Picasa 3.

I could get used to Sunday mornings like these. Even Ben slept in! His slew of morning meetings didn't start until 8:00am, a lazy morning for a guy who thinks getting to work by 7:00am is a late start. I'm making waffles for breakfast next week!


Playing with Playdoh

 

Learning to Use a Hair Brush

 

Campfire with the Cousins

 

Have a Quirky New Year

A while ago Logan, my sis-in-law, blogged about her quirks. It was a fun post to read. I've been slow to do the same. Here are my (top) six quirks, in no particular order.

QUIRK #1: I shop at thrift stores. I like buying second-hand items. First off, I feel like I'm contributing positively to the planet by reusing things. I can always find kids' clothes in pretty decent condition for super cheap. Especially girls' clothes. And second, I hate spending my money on something like a new shirt only to find it looks horrible after one wash. If it's already been washed I know what I'm getting and can avoid things that are too wrinkled or skeewumpus (that word takes me back!).

QUIRK #2: I wash my hands a lot. Yes, I'm borderline obsessive about it. I just can't stand having dirty hands. I can get my hands dirty when there's a project to work on, but in day-to-day living, I keep my hands clean. One of the things I liked about having a newborn was that I could insist that others wash their hands too!

QUIRK #3: I hate drinking my calories. In a restaurant, if I have a choice between a delicious fruit-flavored juice and an inferior diet cola I pick cola pretty much every time. At home I drink water, milk or Crystal Light--try their new flavors: orange-pineapple and white grape. I don't like the idea of wasting my daily caloric intake on beverages. And It's not like I count calories fanatically, I guess I'd rather ingest a hunk of chocolate.

QUIRK #4: Be it ever so humble my home is usually messy. I love blaming it on the kids, but the truth is, I kept a messy home before they came along. It's probably for some deep psychological reason, but an untidy house doesn't move me to action like it should. It does bother me sometimes and I am getting better at cleaning, but (here it comes) when I do get to cleaning, the kids seem to mess stuff up again pretty quickly. This very minute the living room floor, which was clean last night, has about a dozen things on it. Told you I love blaming the kids!

QUIRK #5: I go on reading binges. I have a hard time reading a book one chapter at a time (though I am better with non-fiction). Once I start a book I have to finish it. I'll sacrifice sleep and pretty much put everything on hold to finish it. My friend Mollie tells me she reads 50 pages at a time and then forces herself to clean or fold laundry. I just can't do it. I get all obsessive about it.
M-U-S-T---F-I-N-I-S-H---B-O-O-K! If you want me to disappear for a while, just throw a book at me.

QUIRK #6: I can hold a grudge. About 15 or 20 years ago my siblings and I were watching TV and we happened upon the most horrible Pidgin English rendition of "How Great Thou Art." It was bad. My sis, Jamie, and I would relentlessly mock that song: "I hea 'da roh-ling tun-dah!" Only recently have I given the hymn a chance. It's actually got a nice message, Jamie. Who knew?!? But I still find myself rolling my eyes and chuckling every time I have to sing it.

Have a great 2009. Enjoy life. Make some resolutions to improve. Blog about your quirks. Or do it all and blog about your resolve to improve upon your enjoyable quirks.