How to cook a turkey

This is a few of the highlights from Hiett's kindergarten class's assignment. YOu know, most of them had the basic idea, wash, cook then eat. But a few of them added some interesting variations of the traditional cooking methods.

-Put the turkey in the microwave, put special things on it and cook it for 20 min

-First you wash the turkey, then cook it in the oven for 13 minutes, then get all the weevil worms out and chop its beak off. You should clean the dead worms out too. Then it's ready to eat.

-Put some recipe on the turkey. Put it in a pan. Cook it for six hours.

-First you need to shoot the turkey. Then you can cook it. Cut the turkey up and eat it.

-Put the turkey in the pan. Then squeeze the juice out with a red tube. Pour juice back on the turkey. Put it in the oven for 20 minutes. Then have a feast. Se sure to wear gloves.

And here is the best of them all written by HIett's friend Isaac- a fellow Oak Citian-
- Put the turkey in the oven and tie a rope to it. Then take it out and put an apple in its mouth. Put fruit around it. Take off the skin. LEt the turkey cool down. Put the turkey in the table and take out the bones and brain. then you can eat it.

You have got to hand it to the kids these days... thsi is going to make me smile all weekend long!

Mean Eyes Mrs. Potato Head

As some of you may or may not know, my children are not perfect. They do not even attempt to pretend to be perfect sometimes. Although several people try to tell me that they are so cute and so well behaved, I merely smile and nod like I know what they are talking about. I assure you I do not. Granted, I do love them- very much- even when I am so frustrated, so I just figure I must be doing soemthing wrong if they behave for others and not for me. Here in lies my problem.....
I was recently called to the Primary- and not just any calling but to teach Hiett's class. I love Primary and all(ok- I don't really... those of you who really know me know that I cannot stand children and haven't the slightest clue what to do with them) but it is an ok thing. But I thought I learned my lesson in my last ward. DO NOT ACCEPT A CALLING WHERE YOUR OWN CHILDREN ARE CONCERNED!!!
So, anyway, I am sitting there on the front row in a newish ward where half of them are Hans' relatives and I am feeling slightly judged. Hiett is squirming around on my lap repeatedly saying loudly, "NO, mom!" then he falls off and collapses on the floor appearing like I had shoved him off. (no I did NOT). I pick him up and resolutely put him firmly back into my lap and half-Nelson him into a strong hold that might have been interpreted for a hug(I hope!). Just then I hear some scuffling behind me and Gabe's teacher is seperating him and his best friend Lafe. I had already reached back and swatted him once for talking and being ill mannered. Once he is situated away from ANY other children, I turn around and give Gabe my "I am still watching you- you better believe we will talk about this later- I am so embarrassed" look. Or in other words, it was a stink eye. Well, I notice his teacher smirking at me, and being too mortified to even make eye contact I ignored her. As we stood up to leave she tells me and I will try to quote what she said as close as possible. "I really like you Mrs. Potatoe Head mean eyes you put in to look at Gabe! They wiped out every bit of kindness out of your face! That was great."
And what, pray tell, do you say to that. I am glad that my glare was so effective, at least from the teacher's point for view. Gabe however, did not seem affected in the least. I learned something valuable from this. I need to reserve my mean-ness for when 1) when no body else is around, 2) when it is really worth getting upset over, and 3)when I can really say what I need to and explain what I need to say. I am vowing to put away my Mrs. Potato Head mean eyes. At least until next Sunday.....

This last one is of our bedroom because I had to show off the quilt that Hans made me for CHristmas. He picked colors I would have and the kind of simple pattern that I would have picked out for myself too! He is amazing although I might be catching up to his skills in the sewing department. Last week I fianlly loaded my own bobbin and thread correctly for the first time ever!! HOw embarassing! Anyway- Tait has a tiny room that I have an "art" table set up in and then the older boys share a bedroom off the side of the kitchen. We have had the windows replaced and new doors are on the way. I think this will all work out quite well!! Wish us luck!