Spring is here!

I know, it's been here for like a month already.  But it's finally starting to feel like it:

(1) Thunderstorms.  Check.
(2) Several pregnant friends and even several births within the last few weeks.  Check.
(3) The urge to spring clean and open the windows.  Check.  (Well, the urge is there, but I'm still in the process of actually doing it...spring cleaning this year will also involve getting rid of major furniture and selling off whatever we don't want to move to our new apartment, as well as the usual cleaning out of clutter and cleaning the whole place top-to-bottom.)

Next up will be a cookout at my sister's, and starting long walks with Obi again (I just can't bring myself to do it when it's cold!).  Then planting my hanging herb garden.  Then picnicking and buying fresh flowers and getting ready for a big summer!  WOOHOO!

Sabbath Day Activity Jars

For our Primary lesson last week (we teach the 8- and 9-year olds at church) we talked about keeping the Sabbath Day Holy.  It's always a good lesson to relearn, I think.  While we always know certain things we really shouldn't do on Sundays, it was particularly interesting to read about the Savior in the New Testament and how He spent the Sabbath Day serving others.  He healed people, fed people, taught and prayed with people.  It wasn't a time for three-hour-long naps (although we occasionally NEED those around here) or watching TV, etc.  My favorite quote from the lesson was by President Spencer W. Kimball: "The observance of the Sabbath is an indication of the measure of our love for our Heavenly Father."  We discussed this with the kiddos, and decided that if an activity helps us feel greater love for Heavenly Father and our fellow men, then it's probably an okay thing to do. 

Then we gave each child a (reused) jar with lots of bright, colorful strips of paper, and gave them a challenge.  (Side note: they LOVED smelling the inside of their jars...well, the ones with the old peaches, applesauce, and jellies did...not the spaghetti sauce ones so much. :)

I guess it's the same challenge I'd offer to you and me.  We told them to take it home and, sometime during the week, to discuss the lesson with their families (maybe for an FHE lesson or as a good Sunday activity).  Then they could, as a family, brainstorm ideas for things to do on Sundays that are good and holy and family-approved, writing each idea on a slip, folding it up, and putting it in the jar.  They got to decorate the jar however they wanted.  That way, whenever they were bored on Sunday mornings or evenings they could look in the jar and get an idea or two of something fun to do that is meaningful and productive but still in keeping with the commandment to keep the Sabbath Day holy. 

I came up with a list, but Paul and I have yet to make our own jar.  Most of my ideas were adaptations or piggy backs of things listed AT THIS WEBSITE.  Check it out!  (The list is at the bottom of the page, but don't skip over some of the fun quotes and object lessons mentioned! :)

I'm excited to make a jar like this for myself...I already have a journal jar, but sometimes on Sundays (Paul's first day off of work) we tend to veg out a lot...yes, it's restful for our bodies, but not very rejuvenating for our spirits.  So I am looking forward to finding more meaningful things to do to make this day truly one set apart.  And if YOU make one, let me know how it turns out!

Google, Restored!

Sorry I've been MIA...we got a virus of some sort that was affecting everything related to google--including gmail, blogger, google search, etc.  So we finally buckled down and backed up our most important documents and restored the computer to factory settings (for the third time in two years)...well, at least everything is working again.  :)  I'll get our pictures and my digiscrapping and church documents back on here soon enough, and then I'll feel normal again.  It's funny how much we come to rely on things like our cell phones, computers, etc...Paul also recently lost use of this itouch, and together it's been kinda nuts.  :)

We'll survive!

Question.

If you were 16 and had $1000 to go anywhere in the U.S. and do anything you wanted for Spring Break, what would you do?  I need ideas for a story I'm working on...

They can be volunteer-related or pure entertainment.
They can be sports camps or visiting relatives or educational or completely reckless. 
No limits, other than the $1000. 

Go.

Mexican Bean Salad

More beans yesterday as part of my "Week of Beans!"  I pretty much completely stole the recipe from HERE, adjusting for ingredients we didn't have on hand, so I won't repost it.  Go check it out and give credit where it is due.  But I WILL say that we used it as a dip for our leftover chips and it was surprisingly filling.  It EASILY could feed 4-6 people as an entree, and even more as a side dish.  And it was delicious.  Just look at it!

A healthy and tasty vegetarian/vegan meal.  I'm off to have the leftovers for lunch!  I'm linking up HERE, so go check it out--there are a LOT of cute spring/Easter decorations posted today!

My Morning

It was a pretty typical morning for me, at least typical for lately.  :)  Paul got up and his legs weren't working.  I got up and cut my heel badly and bled all over.  Obi sat outside the bedroom door and whined, waiting for Paul to get up (which is actually pretty cute).

I avoided a few phone calls and the dishes just fine.  *Sigh*  Off to be productive and turn this day around!  :)

Vegetarian Chili

I have been exploring some vegetarian options for dinners, mostly because of financial reasons but also, of course, health.  One of my favorites so far has been the slow-cooker vegetarian chili we're having for dinner tonight.  It smells and tastes amazing and sneaks in a lot of colorful veggies.  Also, it's easy--mostly made in the crockpot.  We're serving it with corn chips and cheese, which is what I grew up with, but of course you can have it plain, with cornbread and cottage cheese or crackers or whatever you like.  :)

Chili never LOOKS as good as it tastes.  :)  But this is amazing!

VEGETARIAN CHILI

1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 red onion
4 cloves garlic
2 cans kidney beans or chili beans
1-2 cans diced tomatoes
1 small box macaroni
3 cups broth (or 3 c water and 3 bouillon cubes)
chili powder, oregano, cumin, pepper, red pepper flakes

1, Chop the peppers, onion, and garlic.  Saute in a few tablespoons olive oil for about 10 minutes, or until the onions are clear and the sauce seems kinda yellow and buttery.
2. Put the vegetables in the slow cooker.  Add in the beans, tomatoes, and broth.  Season to taste. (I started with 1 tsp of oregano, pepper, red pepper flakes, and cumin, and then added chili powder 'til it had the kick I wanted--about 4 Tbsp.)
3. Cook on high for two hours.  Add macaroni, and cook for 2 more hours.  Chili is done when everything is soft.
4. Serve with your favorite chili mix-ins and fixin's!  :)

If you're not too crazy about peppers, then you can substitute with zucchini, squash, carrots, etc.  Enjoy!

Guess What I'm Doing for Earth Day? :)

A brilliant little thing I found HERE.  Affordable, easy, adaptable, and travels well.

I tried a garden on some Purdue plots last summer, but it was far away and I had no motivation to go there every day.  Also, bunnies ate many of the plants before they even stood a chance.  This I could put right out on my patio, and even when we move this summer it will travel decently well.  I'm going to grow some of our more commonly-used herbs (mint, cilantro, parsley, chives...what else?) and some baby lettuce leaves so we can have salad more often.  I can easily label what is in which pouches so I'll never get confused.  I won't have to weed much at all!  Really I'll just have to look out for a good water/sun ratio and keep an eye on bugs.  I'm SOOOOOOOOO excited!

April Fools!

I don't usually get too into April Fools' Days, not on principle but mostly just 'cause I forget about it until it's here.  Once in a while, though, I pull out some real gems.

Like last year, when I was student teaching--I often gave the kiddos "fun packs" of activity pages that went along with the theme of our units or of the holidays (so that they can have something to do when they are done with seatwork or during quiet time), and on April Fools' I gave them bogus word searches and mazes...and then had them play tricks on their parents by sending home permission slips to the moon, just to see how many parents even read what they are signing.  :)  The kids loved it.  I got all my printables here--they also have a TON of ideas for family pranks and faux foods, you should really check it out!  When we have kids, I'll be doing something from this site like every year.

Then there was the year (2008) when Paul and I faked an engagement on facebook.  It was believable because we'd been dating for about 4 months at the time and just about EVERYONE was trying to get us to just do it and move on...although Paul was ready, I wasn't really even close, and I thought this would be the perfect payback to all the pressure!  We were pretty convincing, too--we had realistic-looking fake rings, engagement photos (taken by my sister, Cerene), a story about how it was all done, and, of course, facebook to make everything "official."  :)  On April Fools' Day, we told everyone it was a joke...and even got the story mentioned in the Exponent (Purdue's newspaper).  It was pretty dang memorable.  Of course, I had no idea at the time that all that "practice" would help us realize that that's what we really wanted, or that six months later, I'd be getting my own real diamond ring and a promise to go with it...

Cerene is the awesomest for taking our fake engagement photos--and she brought their dog, Leo, to join in the fun!

This year, however, I didn't plan well enough ahead to do anything.  I mentioned the shame of this on facebook, and here are some of the replies I got:

Mary--"Announce you are prego! You'll be like my 5th friend today!! Or your pup got the neighbor dog prego and the neighbor is ticked! =)"

Emilie--"I tried to convince Ian's mom I was pregnant..... too bad I'm Mormon....... hahahahaha she was like Love ya, nice try!"

Ashley--"I don't really have to think of any I have an April Fool every day of the year since I've had Phoenix." (Phoenix is her daughter. :)

Great-Aunt Jan--"I didn't think of any this year either, but in past years, I would tell my husband there was a big spider on his back, and he fell for it every year...ah, those were the days... :-)"

And Spencer--"My lame holiday gag is to ask Jamie (his wife, my old roommate) if she has gone to get the mail yet. Worked the first few years--now she's caught on and asks me. : )"

Thanks for the inspiration, friends!

What about YOU?  Any funny April Fools' Day pranks or stories, from this year or years past?  Any suggestions for next year?

Riley

Cerene and Riley...best friends forever.  :)

After Caida's diagnosis, Cerene wanted another little something to take care of, too.  Mom says it's her maternal instincts kicking in.  :)  Anyway, since they got her the day after Caida's visit to Riley Children's Hospital, this puppy is appropriately named Riley.  She's a golden retriever/catahoula mix.  She's GORGEOUS, and adorable, and merle, and so big for only being 7 weeks old!  We got to not only babysit, but puppysit last night--of course, Paul was most excited.  :)

Caida's getting used to Riley, too...

Although, we're definitely more appreciative of Obi.  I am not patient enough to handle a newborn pup--the whining, the lack of house training, the chewing/biting on everything, the tininess in our definitely-NOT-puppy-proof apartment...I had a hard time giving Caida the attention she wants/needs while still keeping an eye on the puppies.  (I guess it's a good thing I don't have kids?  If last night was any indication, I'm just going to go crazy...)  Not to mention Obi's total jealousy (and a little fear of the small puppy--Obi really needs to be socialized!) and need to stake her claim (aka pee on our carpet, which she NEVER does).  The two might not have totally hit it off this time around, but Riley's only getting bigger.  :)  There's always next time.

But isn't she the cutest?

To make matters even MORE exciting, our power went out late last night for no apparent reason.  There was no storm, no snow.  Most likely there was an accident somewhere with power lines, because I heard some police/fire sirens wailing down the road not long afterward.  But I don't know.  Caida wasn't too scared, though--just enough to sleep with me instead of on the blow-up bed, but otherwise she was fine.  We lit some candles and went to sleep.  I bet we sleep REALLY well tonight, though!

Emilie, don't be jealous, but...really, you would have died.  :)  She's too cute.  :)