My 3 New Loves

I have 3 new things that I love.

Squash with garlic pepper seasoning
Super easy, but oh, so yummy.
I peel a yellow squash or zucchini, slice it up, spray with a tiny bit of olive oil, then sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. garlic flavored bread crumbs and 2 tsp. Tastefully Simple garlic pepper seasoning (I'm sure you could substitute a pinch of pepper and 1 tsp. garlic powder. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Yum!

Broiled Grapefruit
This recipe comes from Sweet Treats and More, one of my new favorite sites for recipes.

Slice a grapefruit in half. Use a knife to separate the fruit from the edges of the peel. Line a pan with foil and place the grapefruit on the pan, with citrus side up. Sprinkle each half with 1/2 Tbsp. brown sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. Place in oven on broil for about 4-6 minutes. Then top with a dollop of plain (or I prefer vanilla flavored) yogurt. This is so delicious! And she has lots of other yummy stuff to try. I made her Earthquake Cake on Saturday and everyone loved it.

And my 3rd new love is a tv show that Alfredo introduced me to. I watch it on Hulu now while I'm jogging on the treadmill ... it is called Awake. A man was in a car accident with his family. Now he wakes up and he is with his wife and his son is dead, then he goes to sleep and wakes up and he's with his son and his wife is dead. He is a police detective (with 2 different partners) and has 2 different shrinks. His cases often overlap between his two lives and he can't tell which life is real and which is a dream. Very interesting show. I'm loving it.

My grandpa Reed G. Bills

My grandpa's health has been deteriorating. Last night my dad called to tell me that the nursing facility called and they could not wake him all day. He had a fever and showed signs that the end was near. This morning, I drove to Provo to visit my grandma and grandpa. I had a nice visit with my grandma. Today she knew who I was, and she also seemed aware that my grandpa's end was near (her clarity and memory are spotty at best...last time I visited she didn't know who I was at all). A few minutes before I left, my grandma's sister, my great aunt Joann, came to visit. I left and I guess only minutes later, my grandpa passed. I am glad that I was able to say goodbye. He never woke, but I am still glad that I was able to kiss him on the cheek and whisper that I love him.

My grandpa is truly one of the best men I have had the privilege to know. On the drive there, I was listening to a fireside given by Sister Emily Watson Nelson and Sister Sheri Dew called The Savior Will Heal Without a Scar. They talked about the power the Savior has to heal... To heal us spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. To heal us completely so there is no scar, to help us overcome our sorrows, our trials, our weaknesses, our sins. They talked briefly about death and that if we live right, then there is really no such thing as premature death...but that to us left here to grieve, death always seems as if it came too soon. There is truth to that. I am grateful that my grandpa has been released...that he is reuniting with his parents and others that he loves. But I am sad that such a great man, one that I love so much, is gone. I am so grateful for the plan of salvation, for the Savior's gift of immortality...that we will all be resurrected and that if we live righteously and we repent of our sins, then we can live eternally with our Savior and our families. I am grateful that because He has engraven us on the palms of our hands, because of His Atonement, we can be healed without a scar. I want to try a little harder to do what is right, to draw nearer to the Lord, to follow the example set by my grandpa.

My grandpa was a gentle man. (This is especially impressive to me, because from what I understand, his father was not gentle or kind but rather harsh. My grandfather overcame his difficult childhood and became such a wonderfully kind person.) He was calm and composed and forgiving and loving. He was both intelligent and wise. He read a lot and knew a lot, but he also really understood a lot about life and how to be happy and how to counsel others. He had big, strong hands and he was a very hard worker.

As a little girl, both of my parents worked and so we spent a lot of time at my grandparents' home. My grandma picked us up from school every day and we spent our afternoons with her. We spent most of our summers at their home. We also went there for family gatherings, Sunday dinners, and other events. When my parents divorced, my mom and sisters and I moved in with them (even though they are my father's parents.) I know my grandfather really helped my mom during this difficult time, helping her to forgive my dad so that she could be set free from her pain and anger. My grandpa was a Bishop either before I was born or when I was very little. Even years later, people often called him Bishop and many people came to him to receive counseling. As I said, he was very wise...and he was a great listener.

My grandpa was also a lot of fun. My cousins, sisters and I can all remember swimming in the pool and having him pretend to be a drain monster that would try to catch us. He would also put us on his feet and dance around, singing, "You can have her, I don't want her. She's not right for me." Or "You can't have her, I do want her. She's just right for me. She's just right, she's just right, she's just right for me." My grandpa also sang a song about tuppence a lot. "Oh, I've got six pence, jolly, jolly six pence. I've got six pence to last me all my life. I've got tuppence to spend and tuppence to lend and tuppence to send home to my wife... Poor wife. No cares have I to grieve me, no pretty little girls (often he's substitute one of our names...like no pretty little Jennys) to deceive me. I'm happy as a king, believe me, as we go rolling, rolling home. Rolling home. Rolling home. Rolling home, rolling home. By the light of the silvery moo--oo-oon. ..." Then it would start over but with four pence, then tuppence, then no pence.

My grandpa loved to tell jokes. He had a unique sense of humor, with his favorite joke being the joke about the brick. Perhaps the strangest (and maybe not the funniest) of jokes, but one that my whole extended family loves.

My grandparent's home was always open...to their children, grandchildren, even neighborhood children. My grandma often gave snacks to neighbors and gave them a safe place to play after school, especially for a few whose homes were not very safe. Most of their children moved home at some point in time for various reasons, and they were always welcomed.

I always felt safe with my grandparents. And loved and cherished. I am so grateful for their example.

Horse back riding

During spring break, Ella's friend from school, Zoe, had a sleepover at our house. We had pizza, popped popcorn, and the girls watched a movie. The next morning, the girls played and played...inside and out. Even though Zoe is Ella's friend, the other two girls get along well with her too. In fact, Gabby even slept downstairs with the other girls.

Zoe and her mom own a horse. Zoe's mom (who is the vice principal at the girl's school) offered to let the girls come ride the horse. Michelle and Ella have ridden the horse, Delta, once before and were very excited to ride it again. Gabby was too scared to ride Delta or even to sit on her but she did enjoy petting the horse. The girls also got to help brush Delta and give her treats afterward. Gabby enjoyed it enough to talk about Delta for several days afterward. Zoe's mom is agreat teacher, and Michelle especially did a great job riding.

Museum of Natural History at the U of U

During spring break, my sister Suzy spent a few days with us. On one of the days, we headed to the new Museum of Natural History. We've been to the older one but this was our first trip since it reopened in its newer, bigger facility. There were a lot of people there, but it really didn't seem crowded since things are on five different levels. There was a lot to see... dinosaur bones of course, as well as a few live animals. There were puppets to play with and displays of animals in various habitats.








I thought this little guy was so cute...and it was so cool how he runs on just his hind legs. :)


It was a fun visit and we plan to go again in the summer some time. :)

This Easter bag brought to you by the letter B!

Sesame Street would have been proud of the Easter bunny's basket (well actually bags this year!). Everything inside began with the letter B...a bag, books, bunny candies, bubble gum, and bubbles.

Easter Fun...the week before

We did all of the traditional Easter activities as well as a few new activities (at least new to us) during the week before Easter. Some were definitely secular, some were more spiritual. I think all were fun.

We did an Easter egg hunt. A friend joined us for this.





We dyed eggs. I found (at the dollar store) cute little wrap arounds/stickers that turned your eggs into bunnies, and the kids had fun dying them and decorating them. Another friend joined us for this.








We made (paper) Easter lilies. (Another idea from the blog We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ.)




We also made our annual Easter bunny cake. I bake it (in a bunny shaped cake pan) and then the kids get to decorate it. Some years it turns out looking at least kind of like a bunny. This year the girls had two extra friends over and it turned out looking like an abomination. Kidding. It was covered, and I mean covered, with sprinkles, colorful frosting, and sugar crystals. Other than the shape, it didn't resemble a bunny at all. But the point (in my mind) is for the kids to have fun and not to create a masterpiece (as I am not crafty/artistic, it wouldn't look much like a masterpiece even if I was the one to decorate it...) and that goal was accomplished.



And another new addition, from the blog We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ... how jellybeans teach us of Christ.


We also read several stories about Easter, including
The Easter Story by Carol Heyer (Christian perspective)
In the Garden by Caralyn Buehner (LDS perspective)
The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous (fiction, about Pennsylvania Dutch)
Celebrate Easter with colored eggs, flowers and prayer by Deborah Heiligman (nonfiction about traditions around the world)
Three Days without Light: A Nephite Easter Story by Timothy Robinson (LDS perspective, Book of Mormon)

Christ Centered Egg Hunt

One of the ideas to make Easter more Christ centered from We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ was to do an Easter egg hunt but to have family members' testimonies of Christ inside the eggs. I liked the idea but decided to change it just a little and instead include the testimonies of our prophets and apostles. I plan to put each one in an egg and hide them around the house for our FHE. The kids will look for them, then when they find an egg, we will stop, read the testimony and match it to the name and photo of the apostle. I hope that it will strengthen their testimonies of the Savior and will help them remember the true reason we celebrate Easter. We will also watch the youtube video He Lives and make Resurrection rolls (recipe at blog mentioned above). I've included the testimonies I'm using here in case any one wants to copy them. Then the work is done for you! :)
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"The Prophet Joseph Smith confirmed the Savior’s central role in our doctrine in one definitive sentence: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”7 Joseph Smith’s testimony of Jesus is that He lives, “for [he] saw him, even on the right hand of God; and [he] heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father” (D&C 76:23; see also verse 22). I appeal to all who hear or read this message to seek through prayer and study of the scriptures that same witness of the divine character, the Atonement, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Accept His doctrine by repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then throughout your life following the laws and covenants of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As our Easter celebration approaches, I express my own witness that Jesus of Nazareth was and is the Son of God, the very Messiah of ancient prophecy. He is the Christ, who suffered in Gethsemane, died on the cross, was buried, and who indeed rose again the third day. He is the resurrected Lord, through whom we shall all be resurrected and by whom all who will may be redeemed and exalted in His heavenly kingdom. This is our doctrine, confirming all prior testaments of Jesus Christ and stated anew for our own time. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."--Elder D. Todd Christofferson, April 2012 General Conference

Elder Neil L. Andersen said, in April 2012 General Conference, "I witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He suffered and died for our sins and rose the third day. He is resurrected. In a future day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is the Christ.33 On that day, our concern will not be, “Do others consider me Christian?” At that time, our eyes will be fixed on Him, and our souls will be riveted on the question, “What thinks Christ of me?” He lives. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

In April 2012 General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson said, "After the Savior was crucified and His body had lain in the tomb for three days, the spirit again entered. The stone was rolled away, and the resurrected Redeemer walked forth, clothed with an immortal body of flesh and bones.

The answer to Job’s question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” came when Mary and others approached the tomb and saw two men in shining garments who spoke to them: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.”14

As the result of Christ’s victory over the grave, we shall all be resurrected. This is the redemption of the soul. Paul wrote: “There are … celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.”15

It is the celestial glory which we seek. It is in the presence of God we desire to dwell. It is a forever family in which we want membership. Such blessings are earned through a lifetime of striving, seeking, repenting, and finally succeeding."

Elder L. Tom Perry (in April 2012 conference) said, "We can be delivered from the ways of evil and wickedness by turning to the teachings of the holy scriptures. The Savior is the Great Deliverer, for He delivers us from death and from sin (see Romans 11:26; 2 Nephi 9:12). I declare that Jesus is the Christ and that we can draw close to Him by reading the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. The first testaments of our Savior are the Old and New Testaments—or the Bible."

Dallin H. Oaks said (in April 2012 conference), "I know that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God the Eternal Father. I know that because of His atoning sacrifice, we have the assurance of immortality and the opportunity for eternal life. He is our Lord, our Savior, and our Redeemer, and I testify of Him in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

President Uchtdorf said (in April 2012 conference), "My dear brethren, I testify to you this day that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, live. They are real! They are there!
You are not alone. Your Father in Heaven cares about you and desires to bless and uphold you in righteousness."


In October 2011 General Conference, Elder Russell M. Nelson said, "God lives. Jesus is the Christ. His Church has been restored to bless all people. President Thomas S. Monson is His prophet today. And we, as faithful children of the covenant, will be blessed now and forever."

In April 1996, President Henry B. Eyring said, "I testify that I know that God, our Heavenly Father, lives and that he loves us and that he knows us. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that we will be resurrected and can be sanctified because of his sacrifice. I testify that we can know the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost. I know that we can live together in families in eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God. I pray that we may, with all our hearts for all our lives, offer testimony of the truth to our families."

In April 1999 conference, Elder Holland said, "On this Easter weekend I wish to thank not only the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ but also His true Father, our spiritual Father and God, who, by accepting the sacrifice of His firstborn, perfect Son, blessed all of His children in those hours of atonement and redemption. Never more than at Easter time is there so much meaning in that declaration from John the Beloved, which praises the Father as well as the Son: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

In March 2002 Friend, Elder Packer gave his witness to children, "Little ones, you will be tested, perhaps more than any generation that ever lived here. You will meet many people who do not believe in Christ. Some will be agents for the evil one and teach wickedness. Sometimes this will be very tempting. There will be times when you will make mistakes (and all of us make mistakes). There will be times when you will wonder if you can live the way he taught we should live. When you are tested, when you are disappointed, or ashamed, or when you are sad, remember him and pray to your Heavenly Father in his name. Some men will say that he did not come to earth. But he did. Some will say that he is not the Son of God. But he is. Some will say that he has no servants upon the face of the earth. But he has. For he lives. I know that he lives."


Elder Bednar in October 2007 conference, "May you and I repent with sincerity of heart and truly come unto Christ. I pray that we will seek through the Savior’s Atonement to have both clean hands and a pure heart, that we may become holy, without spot. I witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Eternal Father and our Savior. He who is without spot redeems us from sin and strengthens us to do good and to become better. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."

In April 2010 conference, Elder Cook said, "It is a significant responsibility to speak on Easter Sunday to Latter-day Saints across the world, who love our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We celebrate this morning His victory over death. We cherish our understanding and feel heartfelt appreciation for the Savior’s willing atoning sacrifice on our behalf. His acquiescence to the will of His Father won the supernal victory over death and is the transcendent event in the history of mankind. ...I bear my apostolic witness that Jesus Christ lives and is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. He has provided the pathway to true happiness. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Elder Scott in April 2010 conference said, "This Easter, resolve to make the Lord Jesus Christ the living center of your home. Be sure that every decision you make, whether it be of a spiritual or physical nature, be guided by the thought “What would the Lord Jesus Christ have me do?” When the Savior is the center of your home, it is filled with peace and serenity. There is a spirit of calm assurance that pervades the home that is felt by the children and adults alike."

Elder Hales in April 2010 conference said, "I bear my special witness that Jesus Christ lives. He is the shepherd of the lost sheep, the rescuer of the stranded soul, the healer of the wounded heart, the hope of all mankind. With Him as our Master, let us fulfill our duty to God with faith in Him and His eternal love for each of us, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

In April 1996 conference, Elder Ballard testified,
"I testify to you that Jesus is the Christ. He lives and invites everyone to partake of the joyful feast of the gospel. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter days. May we all be blessed, my beloved brothers and sisters, with an increased desire to seek after and feast on the things of the Spirit I pray humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

challenges

After General Conference on Sunday, I watched Mormon Times on KSL. They interviewed a couple named the Zabriskie's. Craig Zabriskie had been injured in a boating accident and had many physical challenges. I loved what he said, "Trials are mandatory. Misery is a choice." That has been echoing through my head ever since. Trials are part of life, but we choose our response.

This week has been spring break. I had a list of things I wanted to get done and a list of places I wanted to take my kids. But Ella woke up Saturday morning feeling sick and was sick until Monday. Tuesday she was feeling better and we went to the Natural History Museum (post to come). Wednesday, Gabby woke up and said she didn't feel well and spent the day throwing up. Michelle didn't feel great on Thursday, and I've got a cold now. My week didn't turn out at all the way I had hoped. But our illnesses were pretty minor. I got lots of time to cuddle with my kids. We had lots of time with just us. I didn't get everything done that I wanted to. We didn't get to do all of the fun things that I'd hoped. But we got lots of rest. We have done a few Easter projects. We've visited with my sister for a couple of days. I've had plenty of time to read and relax and to ponder on what I learned from conference. So I am choosing to focus on the blessings of this spring break rather than the disappointments.

And my sweet husband brought me home flowers today because he knew it had been a rough week and not what I'd been hoping. I am blessed.

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Also, on that same Mormon Times they interviewed a blogger that had lots of great ideas for teaching your children the true meaning of Easter, for making a Christ-centered Easter. I've read quite a bit of her blog now (it's great!) and copied several of her Easter ideas. There are some great ones. We made handprint lilies and did the carnation experiment. We have read several books about Easter. We are going to use jelly beans to learn the true meaning of Easter tomorrow. On Sunday, we will make the resurrection rolls as part of our Family Home Evening. Check out her ideas at We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ.

General Conference Thoughts

I have been reflecting on General Conference all week. I loved listening to the leaders of the church speak, and so many of the messages were things I needed to hear. I especially appreciated Elder Holland's talk and President Uchtdorf's talk. I liked President Uchtdorf's thought that if you are gossiping, judging, or envying others, Stop it! I am not sure I'd ever realized until I listened to conference that I do spend time envying others...and that I need to stop. Both Elder Holland and President Uchtdorf spoke about this.

Elder Holland said, "May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those."

I am richly blessed and should focus on what I do have and not what I don't and should not envy others. There is one particular area in my life where I find this most difficult, but I am going to work on it.

I loved Elder Holland's explanation of the parable of the workers in the vineyard. It used to really bother me that they all worked very different numbers of hours and received the same wage, but over the last few years I have come to realize that what the Savior promises those who are faithful is "all that the Father hath" and that none of us truly deserves that, but that our Father and Savior love us enough to bless us that completely. In addition, those who labor throughout their lives receive many blessings during that labor that they wouldn't receive if they didn't begin to labor until late in the day/late in their lives. There is peace from working and laboring in God's kingdom throughout your life. Elder Holland's explanation about this parable added new depths to my understanding of this parable and made me even more grateful for a loving Savior and Father that are so desirous to bless me despite my imperfections.

I love this quote by Elder Holland as well: "Which leads me to my third and last point. This parable—like all parables—is not really about laborers or wages any more than the others are about sheep and goats. This is a story about God’s goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a story about generosity and compassion. It is a story about grace. It underscores the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it."

Grace has been something I've been hearing about a lot lately. Our wonderful stake president spoke about grace in stake conference recently. A book on CD that I'm listening to has talked about it. Conference talked about it. As this Easter season is upon me, I have been reflecting on the grace that the Savior offers. The love that He offers us and how little, really, He asks in return. Repentance. Love. Obedience. That's all He asks.

Michelle, in particular, really tried to listen to conference. Ella was quite sick and slept through a lot of it and Gabby would listen for awhile but then get distracted. Michelle's favorite talk was the talk by Elder Neil L. Andersen. She especially liked the story about the family from Haiti where the three children were buried by the earthquake. The parents prayed and searched and finally heard a baby crying. Olgan Saintelus knew it was his baby crying, so they began to dig. Hours later, they hear a young child singing "I Am A Child of God". All three children were found alive. This story touched her heart, and it touched mine. Miracles do happen. I have a friend from high school whose son has epilepsy. He's been on medication for several years and they have taken him off the medication. If he can go an entire year seizure free without meds, they will consider him healed. He's now past 210 days. My friend updates every day on facebook and gives thanks to Heavenly Father. What a tremendous blessing and miracle! I know of others that have had miracles in their lives. In many ways, Ella's quick recovery after open heart surgery and her healthy heart now are a miracle. I know that God does hear and answer our prayers. But I also know that sometimes our prayers are not answered right away. Or that the answer that comes may not be the answer we were hoping for.

I loved what Elder Anderson said about that:"Miracles are not always so immediate. At times we thoughtfully wonder why the miracle we have so earnestly prayed for does not happen here and now. But as we trust in the Savior, promised miracles will occur. Whether in this life or the next, all will be made right. The Savior declares: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”31 “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”32

I testify that as you love Him, trust Him, believe Him, and follow Him, you will feel His love and approval. As you ask, “What thinks Christ of me?” you will know that you are His disciple; you are His friend. By His grace He will do for you what you cannot do for yourself."

Wisdom and old age

I've always (well at least since I was a teenager) loved General Conference. But for some reason this time I was even more overcome by how much love and respect I have for these wonderful men (and women) that lead our church. They have so much wisdom and they are so good. They love us and they love others and they set such good examples. I just found myself thinking of those who are critical of the church's leadership being older men and wishing they could really see the good works and the love that these men emulate. They are true disciples of Jesus Christ.

I happened to be reading a book called Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto. It is a novel in which one of the characters is immortal. At one point a priest is talking to the man that is immortal and is saying that in some ways old age is a blessing because it helps you see more clearly. He compares it to cooking a young chicken versus and older rooster and says that there is more flavor in the older rooster. I really liked what he said,

"Growing old is to be set free.... It is a slow and long-simmering process that extracts from you waht you are really made of. But it requires acceptance. You cannot put a flailing chicken into a boiling pot. You must accept the heat and the pain with serenity so that the full flavors of your life may be released. ...
As the body rots, so does the cage that traps us in our worldly concerns. when my legs became too weak to carry my body, I stopped pacing with worry. When my fingers became twisted I stopped pointing blame. When I lost my sight, I stopped seeing illusions. It may be dark in the pot that I am simmering in but I can see more clearly than I have ever seen in my life." (page 138, Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto)

I love this. I don't know that it is always true, but there is much to be learned from the wisdom of our elders. We as a society often don't show respect or honor to those who can often see more clearly and have learned from their past.

Easy and yummy dinner

I have recently started making the easiest but yummiest dinners chock full of veggies.

Mix together McCormick Gourmet Herbes de Provence Roasted Chicken and Potatoes seasoning mix (found by other seasoning packets like taco seasoning, fajitas seasoning, etc.) with 1/4 cup white wine (the alcohol cooks out), and 2 Tbsp. olive oil. Then mix together cut up uncooked chicken, and whatever cut up veggies you want (potatoes, onions, carrots are what I used this time...but red/green/orange peppers would be great, squash, turnips, zucchini, broccoli could also be added). Pour the seasoning mixture over the chicken and veggies and coat well. Then place in a 9x 13 pan and bake at 425 for 45 minutes, turning after 30 minutes. (The recipe is right on the back of the seasoning packet. Yum!)

I love this because the seasoning packet is just made of dried herbs...no extra stuff...no MSG or other additives and it's easy and delicious and is a great way to get the family to eat veggies.

I also like the (not quite as healthy...some additives... but still delicious) Knorr roasters that come with a seasoning packet and a bag to roast the chicken and veggies. And since everything cooks inside a bag in a 9 x 13 pan, there is almost no mess to clean up.

Just one more way I'm getting more veggies into our diet.

Fairy Realm project

Michelle had to do a book report/project on a fantasy for school. She chose Fairy Realm #3 by Emily Rodda. Her project had to show the setting of the story and several of the characters. She had to write about important events and characters as well.

She chose to use a soda bottle and a bowl to make a mushroom house like the fairies lived in. Then we cut out a door and windows and she put the fairies in the house using popsicle sticks and playdough. She was pleased with how it turned out and quite happy that she got a good grade (although she felt very sad that one of her closest friends "only got a B even though she worked hard").

St. Patrick's Day

Several families in our neighborhood are visited by leprechauns on St. Patrick's Day. Leprechauns can bring trouble as well as treats. I've always been quite content that the leprechauns have not found our home...after all, I don't like milk much when it is white, so why would I drink it when it is green? And I have plenty of work to do without having to clean up green footprints on my wall or any of the ohter mischief that they cause. But it has been a source of disappointment for my kids that the leprechauns haven't come.

This year Lucy the leprechaun did pay us a visit, but fortunately, she was nice. The night before St. Patrick's Day, I made green rice krispy treats for the leprechauns and my kids. The next morning, my children were delighted to find that the leprechauns had left them some treats...green nail polish, green chapstick, green suckers, green drinks and a cute card. Thank you, Lucy, for making my kids' day!