Mason's Chart

When I was a little girl my Parent's would pay us a dollar for every day we could fill out a job chart (don't tell Mason, he only gets a quarter). The fun thing about doing this, is that you can adapt it to every age - depending on how much they can do. Mason's chart is pretty simple: prayers, make bed, brush teeth (morning and night), get dressed, eat breakfast, school time, help with dishes, and pick up toys. He feels good when he can see that he is accomplishing good things every day, and it helps to remind me to teach him spirituality, good hygiene, work and helpfulness, education, etc. With the quarters he earns, we divide it into 10% for tithing, 50% for his missionary fund 20% for saving and 20% for spending. He enjoys taking his quarter to the store and buying gum or candy. It's fun to see what he will spend it on.

He's my little ham

Here is me walking in on Mason decorating Stanley's hair with stickers

Have a laugh :). #reallife

Charlottesville Half

Some of you may remember that this year I made a goal to run a half marathon. When my friend Jeni mentioned that she would be running the Charlottesville half and invited me to run with her, I was excited. I have come to love this beautiful city. Running is one of the best ways to get to know a city I think. In the past I've run some races (all except one as a single girl), and this time I realized that training for a race with kids takes special planning and a very supportive husband. So first of all here is a huge shout out to my sweetheart of a husband and darling boys, for sacrificing for me so that I could do this.
It was a great race - my best time yet, which wasn't amazing, but amazing for me :) (my moto - always compare yourself, to yourself, and not to anyone else, right?) A little rain never stopped these people right here. Lots of hills (Charlottesville runners are strong), and a beautiful river to run by. When you run hard as many are I'm sure familiar, you pull from deep inside to give your best. I love the feeling of giving your best, accomplishing goals, and having a supportive team to help you. I love how the Apostle Paul refers to life as a race. "...let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb 12:1). It was inspiring for me to see runners cheering each other on, and the relief and happiness on faces as they made it to the finish line - food and friends....sort of like heaven, right? :) I also thought of this scripture in 2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith". During my race I thought a lot about my Aunt Kathy who is suffering from cancer. When I was visiting Utah for my sister's wedding, I saw her - and was so amazed at how patient she is in suffering. She seemed to be peaceful and happy. I dedicated my thoughts to her during that race. What an inspiring woman and example for me, such faith and love. Afterwards we hit the hot tub and it felt great! Good times!

photo cred goes to Jeni Awerkamp's phone and a kind stranger: in the pic - me, Katie L, Lucy L, Jeni A, and Ryan A..come rain or sun.

General Conference Cinnamon Rolls

General Conference weekend was always something I looked forward to growing up. The sweet feelings and yummy food that accompanied the occasion made it special. I want my children to love it as well so today we decided to follow Nate's family tradition and make cinnamon rolls. As usual, Mason was eager to step in and help. He is the best little buddy to bake with because he gets so excited. He is also pretty helpful. Here's the recipe I use. It makes a lot, so we like to share with neighbors, or you can use the dough to make other things like cinnamon bread (same idea but in a pan), pizza, rolls, danish dessert rolls, etc:

10 1/2 c bread flour

1/2 c sugar or 1/3 c of honey

1 T salt

3 T yeast (instant)

mix

3 big quarter size blobs of soy lecithin (today I accidentally forgot to include it and it was just fine)

4 c plus 2-3 T of hot water (add enough water for it to be a cookie dough slightly sticky texture)

you don't want the dough to be circling around the mixer - you want it to stay put, like cookie dough

let rise for 25 minutes

spray pans and surface and rolling pin with oil

cut the dough in half

repeat this process twice or divide and use other dough for something else

roll it out to about 24" x 24"

spread on top 1/4 c of melted better

add about 3/4 c brown sugar on top of that or enough to spread evenly on top

then on top cinnamon - sprinkle all over generously (about 1/4 c probably)

roll it up, and use about 18" of thread to cut the cinnamon rolls. Put the thread beneath the roll, and cross over and let it cut through the dough.

let the cinnaon rolls rise while you heat the oven to 350 degrees

bake for 25 minutes

When it comes out, you can either add frosting immediately, or wait until it cools a little, so the frosting doesn't melt. Just depends on how you prefer it. I might prefer waiting. Here's a frosting recipe you can use if you don't have cream cheese.

4 T butter

2 C powder sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3-6 T of milk or water

Happy General Conference day!!!

blossoms and babies

One of the things I really appreciate about being a Mother, is how my children really almost force me to take a slower tempo. As a single, I took my own tempo - fast and furiously trying to accomplish as much as I possibly could in a given amount of time. Having children changed all of that. I quickly learned that it wasn't about me and my schedule anymore. It was about slowing down a little, still working really hard (a lot of focus and love that goes out of my body), and enjoying the small sweet things, and not sweating the other little things either.

Today was one of those days when I just really thought how much I enjoy this season of my life - that is so slow paced and good. Of course every day isn't like that, but I really enjoyed today. My little boys really have nothing to worry about right now, except when they will eat and sleep. It was so nice to take my little ones tempo and enjoy seeing the world through their eyes a little. The ants, the sticks, the birds, the grass, the blossoms, the dogs, all of the detail. I think the world is glorious.

This poem my Mom used to recite as I was growing up by John Milton. I think of it sometimes as I am walking. This is when Adam is talking to Eve:

“Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,

With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun,

When first on this delightful land he spreads

His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit and flower,

Glistening with dew; fragrant the fertile earth

After soft showers, and sweet the coming on

of grateful Evening mild; the silent Night,

With this her solumn bird and hisfair Moon,

And these the gems of Heaven, their starry train;

But neither breath of morn nor rising sun

On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flower

Glistening with dew, nor fragrance after shower,

Nor grateful Evening mild, nor silent Night,

With this her solumn bird, nor walk by Moon,

Or glittering starlight, without thee is sweet”

The happy feeling of a clean kitchen after my babies are asleep

this hyacinth that I bought from Trader Joe's for like $2.50 that just brightens me up every time I see it. So worth that $2.50 and the smell!! Mmm.

these blossoms outside my apartment door. heaven.

how Mason sticks his tongue out when he concentrates. I don't know but I find it really cute.

how Stan is always searching for the nearest softball field

how Mason loves to run freely on an empty lawn 

Stan trying to break into this soccer field in search of a ball :)

Mason and his sticks

finding every puddle imaginable and splashing in it

these tiny little cones

this wooden bear we pass on our way every day to the law school or back

flowers describe my feelings so well - so many colors, so many shapes - sometimes bright and open, other times mellow and quiet - like these ones here.

on the street where i live

his bike of preference today

looking at the tiny ants

popsicles when we got back

UVA Law grounds

healthy snacks :)

I grew up with a garden, so I love fresh fruits and vegetables. My parents were SO great at providing healthy, fresh foods for us every day. During the winter we always had grapefruit that my Mom hand cut each piece for us (we're talking 11 kids here folks - and good thing she was speedy). She with my Dad also made oatmeal, toast, and eggs. Looking back, I can't even believe how spoiled I was. For some reason I get a thrill when my kids are willing to try a new healthy food. Like "yes! you are getting the joy of eating real food!". I love that Stan and Mason like an occasional grapefruit for breakfast with eggs or toast, and bell peppers and string cheese for a snack.

Mom's honey whole wheat recipe

Not everyone loves whole wheat bread, but once you make it and smell it, it becomes pretty addicting. Growing up I remember watching and helping my Mom make a lot of homemade, honey whole wheat bread. I remember loving the smell as it baked in the oven, and cutting into it as it steamed - smearing on a little butter and honey. Mmm, nothing like home made bread. So here's THE House of Jacob family whole wheat, home made bread recipe. I have no idea how many generations back this recipe goes. It always brings a little piece of home when I make it. You have no idea how much Mason enjoys making this bread recipe. We've done it two days in a row now, and shared it with our neighbors. That is the way my Mom taught me to serve others - by taking them hot, homemade bread. If I came back too early from the widows homes, she would say next time -"be sure to stay and talk to them for a while". At first it felt a little awkward to be honest, but gradually I learned to love those times - sitting with those women and feeling their love. Mom, thank you for teaching me the joy of serving others! This recipe makes A LOT, so feel free to cut it in half if you like!

5 c hot hot water (i usually microwave it in a safe bowl for 2 to 3 minutes

1/2 c oil

1/2 c honey

1 T salt

2 T yeast

3 T gluten and or dough enhancer

add wheat flour (or white) until it pulls away from the sides and starts to pull away from the bottom - it should be 11-12 cups. The texture should be firm, a little sticky, but not too sticky or not too dry. You can grind the wheat yourself, or just get already ground wheat flour from the store.

Mix it for about 10 minutes for wheat, 5 minutes for white

let rise or start to knead. I like to let it rise if I have time, just because it makes it even fluffier :).

Divide into four loaves. grab some from the side of the loaf on the table and push the dough toward the center with your palm. Continue until it has all been pushed to the center. Fold it over to make a loaf. Put the ugly side up in the pan, and squish it with your palm to get all the bubbles out. Then pull it out, and put it back in with the pretty side on top this time. Fold the edges under to make it nice and rounded. 

That last part is the tricky part - but hopefully that explanation helps, or just call my Mom and she will teach you like a pro :).

Let the loaves rise as you wait for the oven to heat up. Then once they start to get a little bubbly on the edges (or whenever the oven is ready), pop those babies in.

Bake @ 350 to 375 for 40 minutes.

When you pull it out, my Mom usually tops it with shortening (i know - it's what makes it so amazing and probably the little less healthy - but this is the worth the calories part), lets it cool for a few seconds, then pulls them out of the pan, and sets them on the counter. That is when it is devoured :).

Enjoy!

Mason was so excited to make bread, he got the wheat himself from the basement, and ground it by himself.

An observant Stanley

who doesn't love playing with dough?? :) (we clean his hands every time before we cook...:))

our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe

Of course with all of the heathy foods - it's fun to have an occasional treat, right (which for me means birthdays, holidays, and travel of course). My sister Ramona always said that if you're going to eat calories - make sure they taste good, otherwise don't waste your time. So here's a recipe I remember my sister making for us growing up which was apparently worth her time, even though she would make an entire batch, eat one, and leave the rest for us. She won a lot of sister points those days. Anyways, this recipe has a sweet spot in my memory. Mason helped me make these for a Young Women's activity we had for our Church that night which I was in charge of. We had a General Conference jeopardy, and I think we all had fun - in a nerdy kind of way :). Happy General Conference weekend!!!

Mrs Field's Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe

3/4 c butter slightly melted
3/4 c sugar
3/4 c brown sugar
mix to a fluffy point
1 egg
mix again
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 c flour
3/4 bag of your favorite chocolate chips

Bake@ 375 for 8 to 12 minutes (depending on how soft you like them). I usually bake them for 10.