Hunches in Bunches

Tonight Allison chose to read Hunches in Bunches by Dr. Suess as one of her two bedtime stories. I stayed to listen as Anthony read it to her - thinking it was quite an appropriate end to our day today.

"Do you ever sit and fidget when you don't know what to do . . . ?
Everybody gets the fidgets. Even me and even you.
And today was quite an awful day
for me and my poor pup.
My trouble was I had a mind
But I couldn't make it up."

Today was the day we had to finally make up our mind regarding where to go with Anthony's career right now . . . deciding on the best path . . . and it has been an awful process! Following one hunch one day, and another hunch another. I swear that during these last few weeks - there has been at least two of Anthony . . . . 'arguing and barg-ueing' as Dr. Suess eloquently put it. One day I would have Anthony 1 - following hunch #1, and the next day there would be Anthony 2 - following hunch #2.

"It's awfully awfully awful
When you can't make up your mind! . . .

"Oh you get so many hunches
that you don't know ever quite
If the right hunch is a wrong hunch!
Then the wrong hunch might be right!"

We finally decided on a path today . . . but not after much agony. If any of you know Anthony and I very well - we are not the most efficient decision makers. We agonize and go back and forth, then (thanks to Dad's training) make spreadsheets of pros and cons - even assigning numerical value to each reason - trying to make this complicated emotional decision into a simple algebra problem :) We're crazy! I kept thinking through this whole decision making process . . . if only Heavenly Father would tell us in minute detail which path would be the best, the easiest, which path would make life wonderful and dandy. If only he could give us that spreadsheet full of the infinite data that he has . . . wouldn't that be wonderful! But, yes, that would defeat the purpose. Where would be the growth in that?

So we are left to follow hunches in bunches . . . and maybe at the end just decide to eat lunch - the 'best hunch of the bunch'.

The Tomato

I have sewn, grown, and eaten my first tomato this week. Yes - a plant that I put into the ground with my own two hands, has born fruit - and it was edible! This is a major step in my life. Thanks so much to my wonderful garden-guru sister-in-law, Natalie, who patiently answered my novice questions as I set out to plant a garden this spring. I had in my mind that planting a garden was some big scientific complicated process, that I was definitely not qualified to undertake . . . I worried about where to put the garden - would it be OK by the fence, how do I prep the soil, am I planting the right kinds of plants, do I water with the hose? Do I need to have some complicated drip line system . . . I kept thinking of all these variables that I didn't know much about - and felt like I had no idea how to juggle and balance all of them . . . but finally I just planted a tomato plant - a leap of faith, and it grew! I didn't even have to water it that much - the sprinklers took care of it. I was making it way too hard! I was going to post a picture of my first tomato - but I ate it without thinking to take a picture. Nuts. But Carrie assured me as I was telling her about my tomato tonight - that she has seen a tomato before, and would be OK without the picture.

Stromboli Sandwiches

I found a new favorite recipe - Stromboli Sandwiches. It's perfect for potlucks. We had our annual Webster Lake ward pool party - and I brought this dish. It was wonderful! Thanks Taste of Home!

2 lbs ground beef

1/4 cup fineley chopped onion

1 cup ketchup

1 cup tomato sauce

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tsp garlic powder, divided

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp fennel seed

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 loaves Italian bread, halved lengthwise

2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the ketchup, tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, oregano, fennel seed, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 min or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine butter and remaining garlic powder; spread over top halves of bread. Sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese over each bottom bread half. Spoon meat mixture over top; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Replace bread tops; wrap each sandwich loaf in foil. Bake at 350 for 25-30 min or until cheese is melted.

Princess Update . . .

Anthony took the Disney princess - and he is Pocahantas too! We're a match!

Doin' her Business

I've been meaning to post this blog for awhile. I took this picture several months ago - because we hit a big milestone . . . actually 2 big milestones. Allison is potty trained! For the most part. Occassionally we have some rough days -but if I make sure she sits on the potty at regular intervals - it's wonderful! The 2nd big milestone is that Allison has learned to use the mousepad on the laptop! This is so amazingly wonderful for her mother. Now Allison - all by her big self - can sit (even while she's on the potty if she so chooses) and do her ABC's. I have to give a big thanks to Carrie for introducing us to starfall.com. It is Allison's favorite site - and now she can navigate it by herself without me sitting next to her. Yay!

Disney Princess

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

We went camping this weekend. I admittedly am not the heartiest camper - but I had a lot of fun! And it made me so happy to see the kids so excited. Carter loved being outdoors so much - and Allison was looking forward to this trip all week. She kept asking if it was Friday yet. We went to a campsite that is a little west of Colorado Springs. The campsite was near a lake and a playground - and right by our campsite there were a bunch of rocks that the kids loved to play on. Carter made friends with a little chipmunk - and loved chasing the little guy around the rocks. We spent a lot of time on Friday afternoon at the playground after we set up camp, and then came back to our campsite - where Allison decorated the plastic tablecloth with her markers and Anthony and I prepared our sloppy joe dinner. Allison enjoyed making pictures in the dirt with a stick and listening to Dad tell 'Fill in the Blank' stories. He would pause several times throughout the story to let Allison fill in the next word. That night we made a fire and roasted marshmallows. Allison also treated us to some campfire songs - Down By the Bay, Here is the Beehive, and Wishy Washy Washer Woman. In the morning we opened the flap of the tent and saw bunches of seagulls on the rocks. It was beautiful! We went on a scenic hike by the lake this morning - and then packed up to come home. The hike was so beautiful - and Carter loved truckin' along. Allison was funny - they had these markers along the trail - and she would get so excited to find the next number. By the time we got to 20 - we were back at the car - and she was so dissappointed she couldn't find 21.