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!

Big next few weeks

I figured while I was waiting for my pumpkin bars to come out of the oven and the baby to go to sleep I could do something useful- besides packing nad cleaning because those are just no fun at all. Yep- packing- for those who missed the announcement on FB, me and the boys are moving up to Oak City the week after CHristmas in time for Gabe to start the next school "semester" on the 4th of January. Unfortunatley we didnot sell the house, but are giving it to the power plant for 90% of appraisal value-w hich meanas we will be taking a loss. I wish I could buck up and save us the money, but I am a little more concerned with the happiness of my children and selfishly my own mental health;) But before the packing and the goodbyes we get the celebrate Christmas in our beautiful home. We have only have one Christmas on our own before and I am excited to try our own traditions. I am thinking soup bowls on Christmas Eve for dinner, making Santa's treats( I found a recipe for eggnog cookies that I am sure Mrs. Santa will LOVE) and sledding up the canyon I am hoping. Of course the CHristmas story will be read and this year acted out with the little nativity I finally purchased. Christmas morning will be gifts- bunny hop included mom, sausage and cinnamon rolls with cocoa for breakfast and then for dinner a rosemary pork tenderloin. MMmmmm. I am so excited. Please tell me you didn't notice that my plans mainly revolve around the food. he he. I am an addict. Anyway- Even before the Christmas excitement we are so pumped up to travel to AZ to visit Steph and Brian and all of Hans' family. Steph is getting closer to her due date and I am so excited to see her preggers belly in person! We will leave on Friday and get home on Wednesday. I am trying to prepare the boys for the drive which really shouldn't be that bad since it is only 7 hours and nap time will take about an hour- maybe two if we are lucky.
Well, Merry Christmas to all!!! My timer went off so I am ready to finish up the night!

Halloween Pictures

RECAP

If I tried to catch up over the last three months this would be forever long- kind of like trying to catch up in your journal when you haven't written in a year- so I will just post what is happening in the here and now.... Not much.
We just got finished with Fall Break( or deer hunt as we southerners call it). Gabe kept asking when he could go back to school. I swear our life is not that boring, especially since Hans got to be here the whole time and we did some fun stuff. We have decided that the only reason we like living apart is that we vallue our time together so much more. When Hans is home we go and explore the area around us. This weekend we hiked in Snow Canyon- so beautiful. I never knew that I would someday not only appreciate desert beauty but love it. But only in the fall when it isn't too hot!:) And then we drove out to the old mining town of Frisco. I really liked seeing a bunch of old building and the huge charcoal kilns. I can't help but wonder how they survived out here in the middle of nowhere. The boys were a little disappointed though. I had told them it was a ghost town and they kept asking where the ghosts were- my mistake! We really jope to keep up this "spirit of exploration" when we start living together full time again.
Tait has learned all the baby tricks the past few weeks. All except walking that is and I sure hope that he won't do that any time soon. He even got his first tooth and is working on the next.
I'm excited to start attending a mini seminar once a week on the Love and Logic Principles of Parenting- maybe it will do me some good, helping me learn a little bit more patience.
Hans' job is going well. He is switching to Mondays off instead of Fridays this week for the next while. It will be different but not in a bad way. Gabe loves to come home from school and have Daddy here, and Hiett enjoys the alone time with Hans while Gabe is gone. And as long as he comes home, I am happy!
We are looking foward to a fun Halloween and hope you all enjoy the candy and festivities!

Well, since I haven't updated in a LONG time, here is a

Eight years????

I truly cannot believe that it has been only eight years since I met Hans. And yet it also seems like so much has happened but it happened too quickly and I still feel like I am only like 22 years old, at the most. But I guess I am just wishing since I just turned 27 and feel really old. I am just glad I have siblings and friends that will ALWAYS be WAAAAYYY older than me. Just joking guys.
My life has been blessed since I met Hans. We have struggled together but have been patient(or not so patient) but still made it through stuff and hard times. But we have never really had a trial(knock on wood) and I am so glad because I think we needed a few years to get really get together, to strengthen our relationship to face something extremely difficult. This past year has been the greatest lesson of all because we learned how much we really do need each other. Both of us are a little too independent and needed to realize that there is a reason for marriage and that we need to be humble enough to need and ask for help not only form each other but from the Lord. I am so thankful for the last 8 years with Hans and am so happy that I chose him and he chose me.

Enough squash everyone???

Here's some recipes that can use up some of the veggies in your garden that we always seem to have too much of. These are a little different, but they are all REALLY good- well, I think so at least.... I hope you enjoy!

SQUASH CASSEROLE
Fry three lbs of squash and 2 sliced onions
stir in 11/2 cups of cheddar cheese,
1 cup mayo
3 beaten eggs
12 crushed saltine crackers
1 pkg ranch mix and
1 tsp salt
Mix 2 cups of drybread crumbs with 1/4 melted butter
Put squash mix in a greased casserole dish then top with the crumbs

STUFFED SUMMER SQUASH

6 Round squash
12 strips of bacon
1/2 onion
1 1/2 cups sfotbread crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Boil about 1" of water, place squash in it, cover nad boil for 10 minutes until skin is piercable. Fry bacon, t hen onion, then add innards of boiled squash. Stir in bread crumbs and cheese. LOead until overflowing. Place in baking dish, cover loosely with foil. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Zuchinni Pie
Fry 4 cups shredded zuchinni, 1/2 cup chopped onion in 1/2 cup margerine
Add: 2 t Parsley, 1/4 t garlic, 1/4 basil, 1/4 oregano fry for 10 minutes
Then add 1 lb, already cooked hamburger or sausage.
Mix 2 beaten eggs and 2 cups cheese and add to the rest of the mixture

Take 1 package of crescent rolls and piece together to form a crust in a pie pan. Coat crust liberally with mustard then pour mixture into the crust, sprinkle top with paremesan cheese. Bake at 350 for at least 20 minutes- but it should take around 40 minutes when the knife comes out clean. Cover at least the last ten minutes.

Still Standing

Here's a poem that describes almost perfectly how I have felt since last September. I can't believe that it has been almost a year since Hans started his new job and we have started living apart. My hat goes off and my heart goes out to all military wives. At least I know where my husband is, what he is doing and that he will come home.
While my hat is going off- it goes off to all single parents especially my little sis who has been such a caring mom to her little girl while going through an ugly divorce- God bless her and her daughter, and my folks who have taken them in and have helped them survive this hard time.
I, of course, also tip my hat to all those in past or present military who have sacrificed not only their lives and time but sometimes minds and well-being for the benefit for every member of our nation and the countless of other people that our soliders have helped. God Bless America and our troops who are strong, courageous and committed for the betterment of this world. Sometimes I think that maybe our great nation might feel like this poem too, but thank heavens, "she" is still standing.
I am broken
lost
a part missing
pieces of myself away
alone, not lonely
and still standing

Faith bending
tried
Hollowed, hard
a tree swept by fire
my soul is stripped
but still standing

All spent
wasted
Falling out with fear
Destined like rain to fall
heart hurt and heavy
still standing

Time never passes
in wait
for the unexpected
until at last
clearing comes
I'm still standing

Finally in flight
soaring
Hope finds me
stars within grasp
now I stretch free
still standing

Hmmmmm.... Yeah

WOW! How quickly I lose track of time! I'll just do a quick update for all you out there dying to hear news from the Lovell Family. I seriously will update with pictures and everything one day... soon... I hope. We have been spending a lot of time up in Delta since school got out so we can be with Hans a little bit more. We have played in the sun a lot, chased kitties and have been tending the garden up there. (The garden is a little smaller than we are used to but it still keeps me busy!) I have to be back in Parowan at least 1 day every 7 to water the lawn, the garden there and mow the grass. So really, I keep moving most the time. I relish the time that Tait eats because it means I get to sit down- which doesn't happen usually- ask Hans. People ask me al the time if it is so much harder having three kids. I honestly don't think so. Tait is what keeps my days going and somewhat happy. Who can look at a smiling little baby face without any teeth, or hear a loud baby coo, or even cuddle with a baby for a few minutes and not feel better about life? At first, since Tait was unexpected, I thought this would be so hard, and his joining our family, even at this hard time has been such a great blessing. I have come to look forward to times Hans and I spend together as well as the family time that I took for granted before. And so life continues- not always as we expect it too, but it turns out better than if we could have planned it. The dark clouds really are worth the silver lining!

Birthdays and Kindergarten

Can I honestly believe how old I am. Wow. I just got done registering Gabe for Kindergarten. I have a kid entering the public school system. Craziness. He was so brave for his evaluation and had no porblem answering all the teachers questions, I am so proud of him for not being scared. And then, a few weeks ago, Hiett turned three. Another crazy event to make me realize that time passes so quickly. And.... Tait is now two months old. It doesn't seem like it has been that long, but it in some ways it seems like he has always been here. Insane I know.
Anyway, for Hiett's birthday he wanted to go on a picnic and a hike and then the say after we had a friend party for him, themed after pirates. We had so much fun and only a few minor gliches which really are so funny now. The glitch was mainly the dog eating the birthday cake 15 minutes before the party started. Luckily, my dad and mom were here and my dad ran into Cedar to buy an already made cake that we just stuffed the pirate stuff into. I was so mad... but I didn't cry. And then when we went on oour hike, we didn't realize how steep a climb it was and almost lost a child here or there- I was crazy enough to let Tait come too. Hans carried him while I corraled the boys up and down the mountain. But we had so much fun, and I am so glad that we are still a complete family, and will be fore eternity no matter what happens!

The Outage is Almost OVER!

I cannot wait to have my husband at home again! Neither can the boys. It seems they say all to often, "mommy, I don't like you. I want Daddy to come home." Ouch, but I can't say I blame them. A sleep depraved single mother of three(and a menustrating dog) who has to constantly keep the house clean tends to be a little grumpy sometimes. Not that I was alone the whole month. For Easter we went to Delta for a week and I had the gracious help of my mother in law during the day and HAns at night time. We even went on a date and to a movie with the boys! And then, right after I came home so Gabe could go to school, my sweet dad used some time off to come down and help my out. It was so nice just to have him here and to have the boys spend time with their grandpa. I told him he must be a good luck charm because we have "shown" the house two times since he left and they are both seriously contemplating buying it!!! YIpee! Well, I guess we will wait to celebrate(and mourn) until the offers are in writing! But it should be an exciting week!

Finally more pictures!

Home again, home again, jiggety jig

We have been home for a few days now and life is pretty tame. I am so fortunate to have had my parents and sister come and stay with the boys while I was in the hospital so Hans could be with me and Tait. I don't think they quite knew what they were getting into, but bless them anyhow. The boys had a lot of fun with them. But now it's just mom and dad and life returns to normal. Hans took off this whole week to help me out and has been great. He has forced me to nap, has done all the dishes, dusted, swept and mopped even! He plays with the boys so I can nurse without witnesses and has been just been a great hubby and father. I am so lucky and blessed to be with my boys, all of them!

The Little one is finally here

Today at 11:29 our little bundle of joy arrived. We were as suprised as almost everyone else that it was a little boy. And this one doesn't look like any of my brothers yet, which is a good thing. He was 6 lbs 14 oz and 20 inches long. About the same as the others. I have do give Shellie a hard time because she made it look so easy. 3 pushes and done. Amazing!! Now on to the battle of getting one of our children to eat. Seeing Hiett you can tell that it doesn't ever get any easier in our house. Here are some picures of Tait William Lovell and his proud brothers and parents. Who are all glad that he has made it here health and his mom is doing great also.

A first for everything. . .

Just a little note to all of the fellow women out there. Most of you might be jealous because I don't really look pregnant and my labors are relatively short and as painless as they could be, ( I think), and I haven't had ANY stretch marks. That is, until this week. Yes, yes, it was bound to happen. My third child, I guess I should count my blessings. And well, I was going to post a picture, but honestly, who wants to see that!? To be perfectly honest, it isn't bad at all. In fact it is kinda funny. It's the kind of stretch mark that I will have a hard time hiding and not because I wear bikinis either. You see, this stretch mark is on my achilles tendon of my left foot! You thought I was joking about the swelling and water retention didn't you! My ankles get huge, I never thought they would get large enough to make their own stretch marks, but hey, it could be worse! JUst thought I would share and hopefully make you smile. By the way- SEVEN MORE DAYS!!!!!!

Buddies

I am so glad that my boys have reached this stage in life right now. The other day, after the boys had spent a morning playing Captain Hook and Peter Pan( we made swords out of paper and lots of masking tape), the whole morning had gone smoothly. There were no fights. I wouldn't say it was quiet- they WERE after all playing pirates- but they were playing TOGETHER. And then the crowning moment of the whole day, Hiett scooted his chair over next to Gabe and said, "Can I sit next by my buddy, Mom?" Seating arrangments be hanged! Whooohoo! And, yes, I guess it does get better... halfway through the meal, Hiett leans over, rests his head on Gabe's shoulder and Gabe automatically slings his left arm around Hiett's neck and keeps eating calmly, like this has happened a thousand times before. I sat there, quite stunned, and thouroughly enjoying every second of watching my children be not only brothers but friends, adn not just friends but "buddies". I truly sat there for I don't know how long until Hiett suggested that I take a picture of him and Gabe. What a great idea- things like this have got to be recorded- you never know how long it is going to last. But miraculously, this buddy thing continued all that day and into the night. I walked back into my room to findmy bed stacked with baskets and large toys and books and animals and articles of clothing. Gabe expained that they had made my bed into the school bus and that he was the driver taking Hiett to school. Then it would be Hiett's turn to drive. I'm not sure what school bus they have ever seen that was laden with all sorts of miscellaneous objects, but once again, they were playing TOGETHER and even cleaned up cheerfully. It was a wonderful day. I love my boys, they remind me of the goodness of kind words and working together and really of the greatness of love.

I can't believe it!

Wow. I went in for my 36 week appointment yesterday. Holy Cow. I am hyperventilating as I think of that number. Ok, not really. I don't get keyed up over too much. But whoa. Four weeks until my due date. And actually even less until the baby is born. We have an induction planned for the 20th of March, so Hans will for sure be there. I have babies really fast and we figured by the time I would realize I was truly in labor and on the way to the hospital, Hans may not be able to get to Cedar quick enough from Delta to see his baby being born. The doctor was all too accomidating. He would rather monitor the baby from the beginning of labor anyway due to the 2 vessel cord that may cause extra stress. So. Anyway. We have three weeks. THREE WEEKS. 21 DAYS!!!! I found a project, though, to keep me busy for the next while. I have to somehow figure out how to get the baby to move from the breech position into the correct head down position. The doctor gave me a paper explaining exercises. I laughed my head off. It talked a lot about mental imaging and then, of all things, laying on top of an inclined ironing board with my head at the bottom. I understand the thought process of gravity working to move the baby, but man. I just don't know if it is simple as that. The doc said they can manually move it, (FUN !!!) But that would more than likely cause labor to happen three weeks too early, so we decided to see if we can will the baby to move into proper position by itself by the 20th and if not, then I won't be induced but having a C-section! So much to take in. And I really don't know why I am sharing this all with you weeks before it is to happen, just so you aren't surprised I guess. Life is exciting. Hiett keeps praying that "his baby will come out today" in his prayers. I am so glad he is anxious and excited, but hope his words don't prove prophetic!

We actually were up in Delta this weekend to do Chelse's Bridal shower, but we had the additional perks of seeing the snow geese, which are pretty cool to see land in droves and fly in HUGE flocks. WE also got to visit the Nye Family Dairy and the boys got sucked on by the babies. They thought it was great. Well, Gabe did say it was disgusting at one point, but handed his hand back to the young heifer anyway. Hans and the boys helped(?) chop down some trees in the back of Will and Julie's house while we were off showering Chelse' with kitchen gifts and lingerie. It was a fun, very full weekend full of lots of excitement! Here's some pictures of our fun.