The Joy of Wheat

So last night I went to a wheat class for enrichment. My friend Lacey taught the class and did a fantastic job. So after the class I came home to tell John all about it. I had a slice of bread that Lacey had made. When John tasted it he instantly fell in love with the bread. He ask me if I was going to start making homemade bread every week like Lacey. I told him if he bought me a $400 mixer I would. He just smiled and said sure, save up for it.

Anyways I was so inspired by the class I decided to get up this morning and grind some wheat. I have an old wheat grinder that my mother-in-law gave me. When I pulled it out John said, that thing is so loud is sounds like a jet engine. Of course I, the doubting wife, thought yeah right it can't be that loud. So I pull it out and start it up and it was loud, I mean so loud it made my head hurt. The boys were at the kitchen table and immediately stopped coloring to watch and the baby started to cry. So I took Katelyn to another room while it finished grinding the wheat. Once it was done I turned it off. The noise didn't stop immediately, it had to power down. It sound the exact same as an airplane powering down. So John was right it sounded like a jet engine.

Well I ended up with some beautiful grounded wheat. I was so excited. So I took some of the wheat flour and made banana bread. It turned out really well and the kids loved it. Next on my list is popping wheat. I will let you know how it turns out.

Soup, Mom's best medicine

So all last week me and the kids were sick. Well more me then the kids. At least they didn't act very sick. I mean we had the same cold so they should have wanted to lay on the couch all day but instead they were bouncing off the walls and begging me to play. But I digress, anyways while I was sick I kept thinking if I made this Cheesy Chicken Chowder I would feel better. But at last I could not get myself off of the couch long enough to make it.

Well this week I am better and last night I satisfied my craving and made the soup. And I will tell you I do feel better after eating it.



So now all I need is some of my friends yummy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and I will be completely healed.

Cheesy Chicken Chowder
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups diced, peeled potatoes
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onion
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
2 cup milk
2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 cup diced cooked chicken

In 4 qt saucepan bring broth to boil. Reduce heat; add carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes add potatoes and continue to simmer for 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. (I usually do 10 on carrots and 15 on potatoes because I like them soft.) Meanwhile melt butter in a medium saucepan; add flour and mix well. Gradually stir in milk; cook over low heat until slightly thicken. Stir in cheese and cook until melted; add to broth along with chicken. Cook and stir over low heat until heated through.

I am a rock star!

I am pretty sure Ben is making this song up as he goes along. He kept at it for at least 20 minutes before he stopped. His musical talent definitely comes from his Dad.

My Robot

Ben has been begging me for days to make him a robot costume. I kept putting him off because I had no idea how to make a robot costume. Well today I finally decided I needed to do it. I have to say I thought it turned out fairly well. Ben really liked it. And once we got going I was having a great time. I guess in the future I will just need to push aside my concerns and go for it.

To make Robot:
- Get one of the boxes that you get from the church mill
- Cut head and arms holes
- Tape top flaps together so box is taller
- Cover with aluminum foil using lots of tape
- Tape two cups to the top
- Draw pictures on front of costume
- Put two cups on hands
- Top with a pot for the hat

Don't slap my hand....

Last night I was grating cheese for dinner and Ben kept trying to sneak some. I finally told him that if he took any more cheese I would slap his hand. His response was "Don't slap my hand mommy, slap my bum. If you slap my hand you are giving me five."

Baby Blessing

Today we blessed Katelyn. Overall it was a wonderful day. Katelyn looked adorable in her little outfit. Most of the family came even though they got a ton of snow. We did lose some to sickness, snow, new baby, a mission, away at college, and foot surgery. We were sad they could not be there but of course understand. We had plenty of food. (John and I will be eating Chicken Salad Sandwiches morning, noon, and night for the next week). The toy room, surprisingly, is still in pretty good shape. I think that is because the kids entertained themselves with the Wii. And now that it is all done I am very tired. There are still dishes to be done and chairs to be put away but I think I will wait until tomorrow.



As one final note I do want to say that nothing makes me feel closer to my Heavenly Father than when I look at my sweet babies . I am so so blessed to have them.

Thumb Sucker

Well it is official my baby is a thumb sucker. I haven't had a thumb sucker before so I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand it is great because she goes to bed so well. On the other hand I think how am I going to break her of the habit. My 2 year old is currently very attached to his binkie and soon I am going to have to take it away. But at least I have that option. How can I take away a thumb?