A trip to the zoo

Easter weekend was our only soccer-free weekend in recent memory. We took advantage and went to the Waco Zoo. For those who've been to Zoo Boise, think Zoo Boise with Bamboo trees instead of evergreens. The signage was all the same, the entrance was the same, must be owned by the same company. We arrived a few minutes after opening, and it the weather was just right for a light jacket.

Nathan was at work (furiously writing grants to get a slice of Obama's stimulus pie), so he missed out. So did many other people. When we arrived, there were very few cars in the lot. But by the time we left, it was full. Even with a full parking lot, it didn't feel very crowded.

Our favorites:

Mine was the squirrel monkey holding an Easter egg.



Andrew's: The tiger. No photo of that, but check out the size of this snake.



Bryn's favorites were the lions. Again no photo, but they had three lions. When I looked at the male, he opened his eyes just a slit--just enough to check me out and then pretend he wasn't looking at us. Wouldn't it be fun to know what they are thinking?

This photo is a plexiglass slide near the otters. You can see into their pond from the inside of the slide as you descend.




Cait's favorites were the elephants and rhinos.

Diana's favorite was hard to tell, but since she didn't want to leave the elephants, I'd have to say that was her favorite. Here she is showing off her well developed climbing skills.



We ended our adventure with a trip to my favorite fast food: Wendy's.
Diana stayed awake all the way home, to nap in her own bed.
It was a perfect day.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

Because I've mentioned this recipe 2 times in the last month, I am going to post it. It is from one of my mom's friends, and though it isn't copied word for word here, all the essentials are here. (IE, I TOOK OUT THE GARLIC).

Notes: You can easily keep everything in this recipe in your house--making it an emergency meal option with a great loaf of bread. Most of the time, I omit the onion & use "Better than Bouillon" rather than broth.

This is the perfect meal for when you have a leftovers from a rotissiere chicken, are wondering what to do with canned chicken, or are sick and have to make your own chicken noodle soup! Hunt family Favorite. Well, I still have to convince a couple of children that Tortellini are worth eating. Nathan and I like it.

Chicken Tortellini Soup
9oz pkg frozen cut broccoli, thawed
6 C Water
3—10 ¾ oz cans condensed chicken broth
1—10 ¾ oz condensed cream of chicken soup
2 C cubed, cooked chicken
1 C chopped onions
1 C sliced carrots
1/2 to 1 tsp. basil
½ to 1 tsp. oregano
7 oz. pkg tortellini
grated parmesan cheese if desired

In a large saucepan, combine water, broth, soup, chicken, onions, carrots, basil, oregano. Bring to boil—add tortellini. Simmer uncovered 30 minutes. Add broccoli. Simmer additional 5-10 minutes or until broccoli is tender. Serve with cheese.

This is the bread that Nate baked

Nathan gave me my first lessons in bread baking. What he knew came from his mom and grandmother. He baked bread on our first date--at which point I knew he was a keeper.

Thank you for bringing this man of many talents into my life and kitchen! Tonight he baked bread while I was gone. But not only that, he had the girls washing dishes, at the same time, so I came home to bread,(needed for tomorrow's school lunches), and clean counters.

What more could I want?

Please come for lunch, there's plenty.

Accounting class complete!

It's done! I finished my BYU accounting class today! I took it to re-certify to teach, even though my immediate plans do not include formal instruction at this time. The accounting class was the big hurdle. There are several smaller ones still at hand, but with an approaching deadline, May 30, it will not be long before the whole process is complete for 3 more years.

Many people have supported this effort along the way, from cheerleading to watching kids while I study, to reading papers I've written for assignments, to paying for the classes, etc. To washing dishes while I didn't, and waiting for me to read a story later . . . Thank you--it isn't possible without you!

Knowing the way home

I've survived my worst nightmare. Thank goodness it wasn't worse and ended quickly.

I got out of the shower this morning around 10:20, and we were planning to attend an elementary school cookout, beginning at 10:55. I came into the office and made a couple of phone calls. I noticed that my blue recycling tub had been tipped over, with the contents in a pile next to my desk. I began to get curious about this, even though I knew who had done it. Diana.

I went into the living room where I thought she was on the couch watching TV with Caitlin. Ummmmm . . . not there, beginning to worry. I had passed the recyclng can in the hallway, and when she wasn't on the couch, I realized that we had a problem. I checked the front door and sure enough, the deadbolt was unlocked, but the door closed. I knew immediately she was gone.

Running out into the street, I called her name frantically several times, and nothing. I live on a pretty long cul de sac, but today it wasn't long enough, because she was nowhere in sight. I ran back into the house just to check one more time, but she always answers when I call--so I was pretty sure she'd gone far from the house. I opened the back door, with each second feeling like an eternity. I called to Caitlin to get her shoes, and ran out the door to a neighbor's.

I quickly explained that this was an emergency, and would she please wait at my house in case Diana came back. She kindly agreed and came right over.

Caitlin and I got in the car, all the time praying to know what to do and where she could be, I felt like we should go the way we always go on our family walks--to the right. There is a loop that goes around the cul de sac, and we can do it at Diana pace in about 10 minutes, so a few times a month, we go all together. This was the right thing to do, because she was on this path, about halfway around--in the middle of someone's yard playing with their hose and trying to get a drink.
Barefooted.
Not a care in the world.
Oblivious to what might have happened.
10:40 a.m.

I was so grateful to find her--there were no unkind words, feelings, or reprimands--just happy she was in my arms. She looked up at me as if it were the most natural thing in the world that she should go on a walk by herself.

How long was she gone?
Did anyone see her? If anyone saw her, were they someone who would be helpful?
Or want to hurt her?
Did she know the way home?

We rushed home to thank my neighbor for help and thank Heavenly Father than we found her, put shoes on Diana and show up in time for lunch with Bryn. My heart and adrenaline were on high speed for awhile.

The time when I can shelter, teach, and be involved with Diana's daily life is limited. I want to teach her how to make it on her own. Today--she succeeded. And thankfully, nothing serious came from it. For a very short season, I get to be the way home. I hope she knows the way home when my season is over.

Three of my favorite parables are about being lost. They all are in Luke 15, but I will only include the middle one:

Luke 15:7-8
"Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost."

Diana's adventure (for that's what it was to her), was not a long way off, and she might not have been in any peril at all, I will never know.

Just wanted to rejoice with you that she is found.

Heard at the Hunts

Just in case you think your kids aren't listening to the commercials during the evening news, check out this conversation Nate heard in the car with kids after soccer practice:

Andrew: "I feel great! I sneezed and sneezed all day, but at dinner mom gave me a Claritin and I feel a lot better.

Bryn: "You should take Zyrtec next time. It's onset is 2 hours faster."

Unreal. There is a reason I mute the commercials. Add this to the list.




PS. Time for my second to last accounting update: Last quiz taken, check. Final on Monday and then a very big check! I am already planning my celebration party. Instead, I should be studying.

Five

This morning at breakfast, Caitlin said, "Diana, what's your favorite color?"

Diana replied, "My favorite color is PINK!"

I thought it was the first time I've heard her string that many words together, and she said it with passion. PINK!

Later at lunch, however, she proved me wrong when she said
"I want the pink ones."
She was referring to her supply of Easter jelly beans on this occasion, but this phrase is also used for the dress she wants to wear every day or her favorite shoes.

And later again at naptime, "I get out of bed."
Less amusing.

I guess there were more five word sentences than I thought . . .

p.s. Thanks, Kim for the idea of using a number for my title, and Danica for this new category of topics to share--"Heard at the Hunts"

pps. One more accounting quiz to GO before my final. Tonight I made a little chart of what I have to score on the final to get a B or a C in the class. At this point, an A is out of reach. But I can have a very bad final and still pass, so I am content with that. I used to be a straight A kind of student, but that was many moons ago. We used canned chicken tonight, I think I was at the computer for at least 5 hours today, so we had Chicken Tortellini soup and bread for dinner. One of my favorites--so easy and delicious.

It's strawberry season

Take my 2009 Freezer Jam Challenge this strawberry season.

If you've never tried making freezer jam, why don't you try it this year? I will include instructions below, please try it and post about your results in the comments, or on your own blog. And to add extra incentive, if you're the first newbie to make freezer jam to post about your results in the comments, I will send you a package of Sure-Jell in the mail.

I first made freezer jam in the summer of 2004, while very pregnant with Caitlin. My friend Sarah and I were due at the same time, and she was overdue. She came over one morning to help me experiment and try freezer jam for the first time. LOVE IT! We've used it almost exclusively since then, but I have to confess that Saturday was the first time since moving here that I've made it. It's like coming back to an old friend. Nathan walked in the kitchen and said, "You are delicious!" so there may be other perks for you as well . . .

Did I mention that kids can help with this project? If your child is too young to hull strawberries on his own, try hulling them and then having him cut the berry into smaller pieces. My kids have participated in this process since '04.

I recommend starting with strawberry, but the sky is the limit. If the instructions don't have the exact flavor combo you are looking for, try doing a search in the recipe section of Kraft.com under Sure-Jell.

I've tried these:

Strawberry
Strawberry pineapple--uses canned crushed pineapple
Strawberry kiwi--delicious
Strawberry blueberry--my ALL time favorite

I need to branch out--there is a theme here. I have a little bit of frozen rhubarb in my freezer, strawberry rhubarb would be good. Peach . . . . mmm . . . . haven't lived in a peach friendly state since 2001, but that has all changed now, so I should try it this year. Thanks to women who make jam (Mom, Nancy, Nana--Nathan's grandma, and 2 ladies from church) who inspired me to learn how to make this great homemade treat. Can' t wait to hear about your jam!

Basic Instructions: Strawberry (buy 2 lbs strawberries, 4 cups sugar, and 1 pkg Sure Jell)

1.Wash and rinse plastic containers with tight fitting lids. Glass jars work, too. 1-2 C per container is a good size to begin with.
2. Hull and cut into small pieces--6-8 per strawberry.
3. Mash berries (I use a potato masher. If you don't have one of those because your husband isn't an Idahoan, you could use something else). Measure fruit, you need 2 C mashed fruit.
4. Measure 4 C. sugar into a large mixing bowl.
5. Stir fruit into sugar, and let sit for 10 minutes.
6. Stir 3/4 C water and pectin in a small saucepan, and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir into fruit/sugar mixture.
7. Stir for 3 minutes, or until sugar completely dissolves.
8. Pour in 8 oz jars or containers and leave 1/2 inch space at the top to allow for expansion in the freezer.
9. This is the hard part. Let stand 24 hours at room temp. Then freeze up to one year. It will keep for 3 weeks in the fridge, and thaw in fridge.

Latest sewing project(s)

During some spare moments when I was procrastinating Accounting, I was working on these:

Bryn and I worked on baby quilts for church to donate to the NICU. All that we did was sew and tie them, they were already cut for us. Cutting is my least favorite part of any sewing. I finished handsewing them on Saturday, they've been around a little over a month.



More cub Scout patches: no photo of these, but I did sew on Andrew's Bobcat.

And this wallhanging for my sister in law, Sarah. She picked the colors, I picked the pattern, called Buckeye Beauty, (which seemed like the obvious choice since they live in Ohio). It took me much longer than anticipated, (largely due to the procrastination problem previously mentioned), but I am happy with it.

I like to learn something new, or challenge myself in a new way. This is more blocks than I've done before, and I learned a new trick for the half-square triangles. It is also the first quilt I've made without a border. I have three favorite parts about it--
1. Thinking about Sarah while I made it.
2. The contrasts between darks and lights
3. The bold stroke of orange--it is the most striking color in the quilt, and brighter than most colors I've used before. I also was advised against using it, but love how it turned out--it adds a little more life.
4. Ok, I thought of one more--I like following the line of squares diagonally across the quilt with my eyes.



ps Have I mentioned lately how I wouldn't mind being locked in my room with my sewing machine?

Know a good foot doc?

Further evidence our mothers were right: nothing good happens after midnight.

Here's what happened on Nathan's late night run in with my wooden shoe rack. I saw it this morning and it was less red and swollen.
Tonight, when I looked at it and said, "You should show that to someone."
He replied, "I just did."

Easter Traditions

Disenchanted by large scale egg hunts, we've done a family egg hunt as long as I can remember. This year, for the first time, we were able to move it outside! We have close to 50 eggs which we re-use each year. The sports theme eggs made their debut this year, because I am the shopper and love them.

Nathan hides. Whoever finds the yellow egg with spots gets to hide the "adult" eggs, which are larger in size and fewer in number, (4). Since Nathan worked last Saturday (the day we usually hold our egg hunt) we had it last night, for Family Home Evening.

Bryn was the lucky finder last night, so she got to hid eggs for us. Nathan found 3 before I did, but was kind enough to let me pick it up. We fill ours with chocolate and jelly beans. Diana asked for jelly beans at breakfast, hopefully I'll get her to wait until after lunch! We missed having Stephen and Tara, and our cousins Odessa and Ada at this year's egg hunt.

For our lesson, we used this visual aid that Diana brought home from nursery, read a few verses from the New Testament, and sang "Jesus Has Risen." It was a great, short lesson that I think we'll use next year, too.

Happy Easter!

For the Love of Texas

My mom loves Texas. Especially when it it cold in Wyoming, which is most of the year.

Last week while Nathan was out of town, she came to visit, to help me manage the chaos that is our home life. She is a precious resource--and was able to do some very fun, and some very routine things while here. First, the fun:

Mom took each of my kids on a "date." I should have taken a picture of her leaving with Andrew, Bryn, and Caitlin on their individual turns. My camera was with Nathan in Chicago.

Andrew and Grandma went to Pizza Hut. She said, "Beth, he's different when he's not around the girls." They talked and enjoyed a little pepperoni pizza with some Buffalo chicken appetizers. Since I'd been at Bryn's soccer practice with the girls, Andrew shared the leftovers for our dinner.

The next night, Bryn and Grandma went to El Chico, a mexican restaurant not far from our house. My kids get a kick out of the name, they think it is so funny to have a restaurant called, "The Boy." Bryn ate a corn dog without the corn, french fries and tortilla chips. She misplaced a crayon in the car on the way home. I couldn't understand why it was such a big deal until mom reminded me that it would melt here, very quickly. Thankfully, the crayon turned up in the driveway the next day.

And Saturday for lunch, Caitlin and Grandma went to McD's, for her first Happy Meal ever. I think it is actually the first happy meal for ANY of my children, can you believe that? We must not be real Americans, but it's true! (I'd much rather go to Wendy's!) Back to my story about Caitlin, she loved having a chance to play in the play area, and was so excited for her toy, Dr. Cockroach, and her BOX.

Diana didn't get an official date, but she did enjoy plenty of playtime with my mom--reading books, watching my mom dry her hair in the bathroom every morning, and being pushed in the swing. She has asked for you a few times for you since you left, mom.

The biggest excitement while my my was here was on Sunday, the day after my mom arrived. It was beautiful weather, so we went for a walk, right after placing 2 loaves of banana bread in the oven. We looked at Nathan's watch, and went out the door. We took our time and enjoyed a little stroll. Towards the end of the walk, someone needed the bathroom, so we gave the keys to the kids, and let them run ahead to the house. As we approached the cul de sac, however, Bryn was slowly walking back to us and said that the key broke in the door.

No garage door opener.
No hidden key.
No key in my pocket, I was wearing a skirt.
NOTHING!
We saw a neighbor, who lent us a phone book and we called a locksmith, who said it would take him 25 minutes to get there. Remember the banana bread?????? UGH. I am trying to perfect it, because mine is usually overcooked.

While waiting, Nathan removed the key with a tool from his car.

We waited patiently in the Buick and out of the Buick, remember some of us can't sit still for 25 mintues. Or 25 seconds, for that matter. "Pop A Lock" came and let us in, and we gave him a well-done slice of banana bread. I will have to try again on the banana bread another day.
(The latest in our long history of lock outs, another post for another day).

Other routine things Mom got to see: lunch with Andrew in the school cafeteria. Bryn's school program--her gym class put on a program called "March Madness." Bryn did a great job with her b-ball skills! We took her to the Rocketship park, a must see the next time you are in town, whoever you are, and an evening of Cub scouts, and Sam's Club. What more could a grandma want? How about an early morning soccer game and photos? She helped sort laundry, wash my dishes, and was able to visit a quilt store, our public library, and we had friends over for cinnamon roll baking and lunch.

She watched my kids while I went to a general practicioner for the first time in a LONG time. I had a tetanus shot, my last one was my junior year in high school, which was an even longer time ago. My doctor said, "How did you slip through for so long?" So glad I haven't met any rusty nails in the interim. I'm good now for the next 10!

She waited with them while I had my blood tests the next day, got my haircut, and went on a date with Nathan to Target. And she helped me make this:



26 pint jars of canned chicken! You don't have to spend much time in my kitchen to hear about my love of canned chicken. (Most of my readers live over a thousand miles away, anyway!). It is a staple in our house since September of 2005, when I first tried it. A friend from our IL days taught me how and I've used it ever since. My mom & Nathan stood at the counter to cut it into pieces while I worked on my class. Then, my mom and I put it jars and sealed it so it will last a year. We use it a jar or two every week, and tonight I made one of my mom's recipes, Chicken Tortellini Soup with it, which I will post another day.

Mom loves Texas, but I think she loves us even more. She's visited us in UT, MD, IL, and TX. Hopefully the next time we'll see you in Wyo!

Accounting update & Musings: Liabilities

I am more than halfway there!!!!!!! I've taken two midterms, Nathan took a day off for one, and while my mom was here last week, I took another! I have to say this class has been a team effort of many people, so thanks mom and Nathan. This week I've taken 2 quizzes, one was a VERY low score, and tonight, a 100%. That is a much happier number for me!

So, this will be a much shorter musing on liabilities: defined as "Probable future obligations to pay assets (usually cash) or provide services to another entity."

So this is my big question about liabilities: How can I better keep myself out of debt? I am not referring to my financial situation at all.

I refer to how I get myself into debt to other people. I've started praying for help to stay out of debt to others, which has helped. It has helped me think twice before saying yes. Still, I feel pressure each day to take on more. There are so many needs in my church and community, my children's school, my home, and people I know with heavy burdens. Waking up in the morning feeling, "Where do I begin?" is not a pleasant experience for me. And once I get out of debt, how do I stay out? ie How do I deal with repeated invitations to give more? How do I know when I can, and when I can't?

What are your secrets for avoiding overcommitting? How have you learned to say NO? Please help if you have a tip, either post or email me. I appreciate in advance any tips you have for how to deal with this type of indebtedness, because I am not good in this department.

I've been thinking of placing a list of the commitments (debts) I already have somewhere near my phone so that when someone calls and asks me, I can glance at it, realize there is not time to follow through on one more commitment, and say NO.

Tomorrow Nathan is working, his first Saturday working since we've been here! The kids and I are going on a family adventure, possibly posting to come, but I don't want to commit!

Pay it Forward: Just for Fun

I'm paying it forward from my sister, Laura's post. Here are the rules:

1.Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!

2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send to your 3 Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the spirit and the thought That Count!

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it! If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same!SO, REMEMBER...Pay it forward!

I am sewing something for you. If I were locked in a quiet room with fabric and thread--you could leave me all day and I would be happy as a clam. I found this pattern for a cute ball--it didn't take that long and is fun to start and finish something in one day! A great way to use up scraps, some of Nathan's old pj's are the blue plaid print in that little ball!

If you want one, let me know. If you want something else, give me your idea or colors, and see what I come up with. (I also found a very cute pattern for making a felt doughnut I am dying to try--if you happen to need to add a play doughnut to your toy collection). And, it might take me 365 days to get it to you.

PS. Kim--I ship to Korea!

Life among the Bluebonnets

This post is dedicated to those who've listened to my many complaints about my current zipcode. It isn't as bad as my drama makes it seem. Unless it's August, and then, yes, it really is 95 degrees at 11:00p.m., and it's that bad.

I've lived enough places to know there are pros and cons to every place.

Here's one of our pros: Bluebonnets, the state flower. Our little town is nicknamed the "Wildflower Capital of Texas," and for the past 3 weeks or so these flowers, along with many others, have been showing their faces along the sides of the road. Today we made time to stop for the photos. By the way, Caitlin picked another flower, not a bluebonnet. We have one growing in our yard, but seeing one is not quite as impressive as seeing many together. This is on the side of a quiet Texas road, in the middle of somewhere. Click on the photos to enlarge and enjoy!