I hope it doesn't come to this...

Our laptop is dead.

It has a hardware problem.

It's not even a year old.

We can't find the receipt.

I am grateful to have another computer downstairs...

But I still miss the laptop.

I'm STILL working on my re-arranging project. It was interrupted by a trip to Wal-Mart on Saturday, and then by keeping the Sabbath, and then the biggest mound of laundry I've ever seen appeared yesterday...and today. And then there's quilting, and visiting teaching (does anyone else visit teach FIVE sisters?), and dinnner, and dishes, and the list never ends.
Maybe I'll get my house in order today...and then again, maybe I won't.

I guess it will all still be there tomorrow :o)

Todd just announced that he is engaging in Kashi warfare, so I'm off to eat my bowl of cereal (with 8 grams of fiber per serving...)

(holy sh!z) Apple Dumplings

I made V's apple dumplings last night, and they were wonderful.

We will definitely be making these over and over again for years to come.

Combine in sauce pan:

2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Heat over medium heat until mixtures become syrupy (I just brought it to a boil to let the sugar disssolve)
add 1/4 cup butter to the sauce and let it sit while you make the dumpling dough.

Dumplings:

2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup shortening

Cut in shortening with pastry blender
Add ice to 3/4 cups of water
Add water to pastry mixture a spoonful at a time
Roll out to a size that will cover your apple (the dough is sticky...like the dumplings you'd drop on your stew...so I had to pat mine out on a floured surface rather than roll it)
Make a cinnamon and sugar mixture
Place a peeled and cored apple in center of piece of dough
Spoon in sugar and cinnamon mixture add a dab of butter
Seal up apple and place in baking dish.

Heat oven to 375

Pour syrup mixture over apples in baking dish.
(syrup thickens as it bakes)

Bake 35 min

Re-arranging

Thank you all for your sweet comments on the last post. I really am fine for the most part, but I actually thought I might be pregnant this last month so it was disappointing to find out otherwise. Combine that with the memories of losing my father-in-law, and my "baby" turning 9, and I DID need a good cry.

I'm amazed at how therapeutic this blog has become. It's been a good thing for me...mostly because I can look back and see all the blessings I have, but also because I can post some of the harder stuff and it helps me to move on.

I've got a big day of cleaning/re-arranging ahead of me but I can't wait to post what we've been up to (mostly because that will mean it's done). Vanessa gave me a bunch of decor for my house in exchange for quilting, and I finally convinced Todd to switch out the wood-burning stoves.

Now there's ash everywhere you turn, and my table and counters look like the "craft graveyard" aisle at the DI, but I'm ready to attack.

Wish me luck...

Memories

The second week of October holds a lot of memories for me.

Way back in 5th grade two of my close friends were seriously injured in a bus accident during this week.

Nine years ago I became a mother. I think it was the happiest month of my entire life.

Five years ago I had my appendix out while I was 20 weeks pregnant with Dillon.

Three years ago I was in Washington saying goodbye to my father-in-law, who was suffering from cancer.

A year ago I found out that my pregnancy wasn't meant to be, and I was going to miscarry. Again.

I never thought that a year later I would still have empty arms, but "Aunt Flo" showed up today, right on time.

I got emotional about it all tonight, and set out to find the perfect song. I wish I could play it, but the lyrics will have to do. It is called "Just Let Me Cry" by Hilary Weeks.

I believe that everything happens for a reason.
We're not just tossed by the wind and left in the hands of fate.
But sometimes life sends a storm that's unexpected,
And we're forced to face our deepest pain.

And when I feel the heartache begin to pull me under,
I dig my heels in deep and I fight to keep my ground.
Still at times the hurt inside grows stronger,
And there's nothing I can do but let it out,

So just let me cry
I know it's hard to see
But the pain I feel
Isn't goin' away today
So just let me cry
'til every tear has fallen
Don't ask when
And don't ask why
Just let me cry

When I agreed that God could put this heart inside me
I understood that there would be a chance that it would break
But I know He knows exactly how I'm feelin'
And I know in time He'll take the pain away

But for now just let me cry
I know it's hard to see
But the pain I feel
Isn't goin' away today
So just let me cry
'til every tear has fallen
Don't ask when
And don't ask why
Just let me cry

I've felt joy, the kind that makes my heart want to sing
And so my tears are not a surrender--I'll feel that way again
But for now, for this moment...

Just let me cry
I know it's hard to see
But the pain I feel
Isn't goin' away today
So just let me cry
'til every tear has fallen
Don't ask when
And don't ask why
Just let me cry

I believe that everything happens for a reason.

Brayden's Bat Party

I got this blow up bat at the dollar store. It was the last one they had so I got the display model. We hung it on the ceiling fan, turned it on low, and it "flew" around our heads.

Brayden moved on to the Bear den and had his first meeting today after school. His webkinz bat, Fangs, is modeling his new neckerchief and slide:
Because of Todd's recent gum surgery, he couldn't wear bat teeth with the rest of us. It's just as well, though, because the grocery store only had 4 sets left anyway.

Grandma Graves gave Brayden this cool volcano lamp/toy that he saw (and loved) in the gift shop when we visited Mt. St. Helen's. She also gave him three books full of volcano facts, and he is thrilled to read and share them with us.

The arrow behind Brayden's head is part of a huge styrofoam target that we got Brayden to go with his archery set. (His brother's did not shoot him in the neck...)

Todd has been waiting for weeks to play Star Wars battleship with Brayden. I only know the millenium falcon, but there's a bunch of other good guy and bad guy ships too.

Dillon is already showing off on Brayden's new skateboard.

Grandma and Grandpa Salisbury gave him this Halloween shirt with bats on it...

and Lego Star Wars for the Wii. They can't wait to play all the levels on this one.

Caleb and Dillon gave him a Lego Bionicle, and Grandma Great gave him money and he's dying to go to the store and pick out another Bionicle to share with his brothers.

The battleship game is over, and the boys just used their flashlights to hunt for plastic bats in our dark basement. Now it's time to sing and eat cake.

Setting up for the party...

Brayden wanted a Bat party this year. I'm just glad his birthday is in October, or this could've been really difficult! He made me this list of "bat facts" to use while planning his party:

Todd and I were intrigued to learn that there were no bats in Australia. Turns out he really meant ANTARCTICA. That made more sense.

For breakfast we ate pancakes with "Plum Nectar" (which is really plum syrup...yeah did I mention that after I finished canning apples, V called to say she received a free box of plums? So we made plum raspberry jam, and I made plum syrup)

I thought it would be fun to throw rubber bats in the air and shoot them with our nerf guns, but Brayden does not approve.

I found a piece of purple bat fabric at our grocery store that I used for a runner. The confetti is Runts candy (for the fruit bats among us)

The place setting:

The bat droppings are whoppers. The treat bucket is a soup can spray painted black with wings. Inside there is a dollar store flashlight (for our bat hunt later tonight), bug fruit snacks, a York peppermint patty shaped like a bat, and some plastic bat teeth.

Thanks to my Dad for teaching me how to fold a fancy napkin...who knew that 20 years later it would come in handy...and look so bat-like.

Brayden is NINE!

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