Thursday, May 16, 2013

The Worst Blogger Ever

Well, it's official.  I am the worst blogger ever!  I got busy with housework, homeschool, travel, piano lessons, organ practice, scouts, being a wife, and just breathing.  Life sometimes get's busy so I just let everything go.  But, I resolve to do better.  Here's a quick list of happenings in the land of the Ericksons:

  • School is winding down.  It officially ends next week and we are soooo ready.  The twins did their CRT's and I've just got to do some reading tests with Doc and Graci and then we are done!
  • I took on the fundraiser for our cub scouts.  We are selling cub scout cookies.  The sign ups are in and now I've got to make enough dough for 1284 cookies!  I think next year the boys should come up with the fundraiser!
  • We traveled to Idaho for a dear family member's funeral.  It was nice and peaceful to be with family and honor such a lovely woman.
  • We are planning a trip to Bear Lake for Memorial Day.  My kids are so excited that they actually got out the suitcases and packed a month ago.
  • Much to my astonishment I am actually learning how to play the organ.  I was called to be the ward organist having never even sat at one.  I honestly thought that I wouldn't be able to learn it, but it's coming along.  My ward is very patient.  I've learned to play it as quietly as possible and pray that the congregation sings really loud.
There's been a lot more going on than that, but those are the highlights.  So, I will be a better blogger.  I think I'll take the weekend off and post again Monday.  Maybe I'll post a recipe for cub scout cookies!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Country Living In The City

John and I dream about living in the country.  Having acres and acres of land, chickens, cows, no neighbors for miles.  We love the quiet, we love the solitude.  We especially love the lessons that our children would learn.  They would learn what hard work really looks like, where food really comes from, how vast our world is, how amazing God's creations are.  For now, however, this is just a dream.  We live in a city.  We have neighbors on every side of us, we have limited space for animals, just a lazy hounddog.  We need to be here for now but I still want my children to learn all of those lessons.  We are doing our best.  Some of our friends and family think we are crazy, but we have made some choices so that our children can still learn those "country living" lessons.

We don't have TV at our house.  We have televisions, but we don't have any channels.  We have to pull an antena out of storage to watch them.  We want our children to find ways to fill their time without television.  When we sit down for a family movie night, or a special show we want to watch it is special because we don't watch it everyday.

 We grow food.  I am not a great gardener, but I am a passionate one.  I love getting my kids outside pulling weeds, planting seeds, and carefully nurturing those seeds to maturity.  I think there are great lessons in the dirt, lessons of patience, of sweat, of creation.  Wonderful things are learned from growing something.

 We don't have and will never have cell phones for our children.  We grew up without a  phone in our pocket and they will too.  Learning how to have a conversation, speaking with confidence, writing a letter, connecting to people, have been lost since cell phones came along.  I want my children to speak in full sentences, not lol or rotfl.

 We get up early.  John is awesome at this, I am not.  I am learning.  He understands the peace and joy that comes from seeing the sun come up.  I am waiting for that joy, haven't found it yet.  If you were to walk by our house in the early hours you might see my kids running in circles in the front yard.  John wakes our children before the sun to read.  If they start to sleep he gets them running.  He wants them to live with discipline and that means getting out of bed and getting to work. (he gets that from his dad).

  We let our children run around and play.  We don't sign up for tons of activities, we dont don't have tons of toys or games that require them to play a certain way.  They climb the giant apple tree in the backyard, they get sticks and play knights, they build rock towers and racetracks from leaves.  We make them go outside, with access to a bike and anything they can find in the yard and they play.   They usually come in covered in mud or dirt, with scrapes on the knees and elbows, and pink cheeks from the sun.  We have some friends that don't like to play because we are "wild".  That's okay, we like wild, we like a little danger, we like adventure. 

 Yes, we are different, yes we are weird, but, you know, we kind of like it that way.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Celebrating Spring

We had a beautiful Easter weekend.  We enjoyed celebrating our Savior.  We went to church and then went to Granny and Papa's house to celebrate.  It was great.
I wanted a "nice" Easter picture of my kids, this is as "nice" as they get.  I just love them.

 I say this about every season, but I just love the spring.  I love to see the world come back to life, I love the cool breezes, and the lovely spring rain.  In honor of spring I made one of my favorite comfort foods, pasta primavera.  It translates to spring pasta and not only is it delicious, you can make it a dozen different ways with whatever veggies you have on hand.  Here's how I did mine.
Saute some onion and garlic in a combo of oil and butter.  Cook until just soft, not browned

I had some asparagus so I chopped it up to be about the same size as the pasta.  I used elbow macaroni because that's what I had. 
 Saute the asparagus just until it's bright green, a couple of minutes.  Add some flour to make a rue

 

 Pour in a couple of cups of chicken broth
 After that bubbled for a bit I added a combo of pecorino romano and parmesan cheese.  Also added some baby peas.
 Stir in the pasta and serve!
It is so delicious!  You can add peppers, leeks, carrots, whatever you want.  It is just like spring on a plate. (Yes we used paper plates, we were all feeling lazy).  Here's the recipe
 
 
Pasta Primavera
 
1 1/2 lbs pasta, cooked al dente
2 TBSP butter
1 TBSP olive oil 
1 large onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 bunches asparagus, cut to match pasta size
3 TBSP flour
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup shredded pecorino romano cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup frozen peas
salt and pepper
 
In large pan melt butter into the olive oil until foaming subsides.  Add onion and garlic and cook until translucent.  Add asparagus and saute just until asparagus is bright green, about 2 mins.  Stir in flour and cook for another minute.  Add chicken broth, stirring constantly.  Bring up to a simmer to thicken.  Once thickened turn heat to low and add in cheeses and peas.  Stir until cheeses are melted.  Add in pasta and serve with lots of pepper and a sprinkle of paremsan.
 


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Birthday and Bruschetta

Yesterday was my 33rd birthday.  It was beautiful and sunny.  My children were excited to celebrate with me.  We started our day with strawberries and cream.  Husband bought me beautiful flowers and a cd of one of my favorite musicians.  I just love him. Then, I went and bought myself a piece of german chocolate cake.  I'm the only one in my house that likes coconut so it wouldn't make sense to make a whole cake for me (actually it would make sense and I would eat the whole thing so it's just better this way).  It was delicious. We had school and played outside, enjoying our beautiful spring weather.  Before we knew it, it was time for dinner. Our birthday tradition is to let the birthday boy or girl pick their favorite dinner.  It's fun to see what each person wants.  Husband usually wants bbq.  Kids usually pick enchiladas or spaghetti.  Well, today was my turn.  I haven't really met a food I don't like, so this can be a hard decision for me.  But, if I think really hard I can come up with a few favorites.  I chose tomato bruschetta and roasted asparagus.  My family wasn't thrilled.  I was a vegetarian for a good while, so even though I now eat meat I generally choose a meat free meal.   I try and encourage my family to eat vegetarian.  I cook meat free a few times a month, but I also know that my husband loves his meat and potatoes so I try and cook things that make him happy.  I have a couple of kids, one in particular, that really don't love veggies.  We've actually spent many hours sitting at the dinner table waiting for him to eat his veg.  So tonight, because I didn't want him to go to bed hungry I baked a hawaiin pizza for them and I ate the bruschetta and asparagus.  Everyone was happy, my children went to bed with their tummies filled, and I enjoyed my beautiful veggies.  Birthdays don't get much better!
 
 


 
Grape Tomato Bruschetta
 
*note:  this isn't really an exact recipe, more a method so make it how you like it
 
1 pint cherry tomatoes (I used red and yellow)
1TBSP balsamic vinegar
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling
2 TBSP fresh basil, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
baguette
 
Slice your baguette and drizzle with olive oil.  Place in a skillet over med high heat and toast on both sides, about 3 mins per side.  (You could also put them under the broiler).  Slice tomatoes in half and put in a bowl.  Pour the vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper over the tomatoes and stir to combine.  Let them sit at room temperature while you toast your bread.  Stir basil into tomatoes and pour tomatoes over the hot bread.  Enjoy!
 
 
Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan
*again more method than measurments
 
1 bunch asparagus
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
3 TBSP grated parmesan cheese (preferably not the kind in the green can)
salt and pepper to taste
 
Trim asparagus and put on baking sheet.  Pour the oil, cheese, and salt and pepper on asparagus and mix until well coated.  Roast in s 425 oven for about 10 minutes.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Weekends and Banana Bread

 
 
I love weekends! Husband get's to be home and we get some much needed time together. Some weekends we have big plans of errands or work, and sometimes we get tot just hang out. This weekend was suppose to have some errands, however we just decided to stay home. We got some much needed work done around the house and we spent time napping and playing. It was lovely. I wish weekends would last longer. I guess that we have our busy weeks so that we can really appreciate our blessed weekends. I decided to make some banana bread (because I had some very over ripened bananas). It is scrumptious. I use just my mom's recipe, however I have learned a trick that makes it just amazing.
 
 
 Put your bananas in a microwave safe bowl, cover with platic and cut a few vents.  Microwave for 7-10 mins until they get super soft and give off a lot of liquid.
 In the meantime mix your dry ingredients
 When the bananas are done strain them into a sauce pan.  I know they don't look good now, but just wait.
 
Cook the banana liquid on high until it reduces and becomes thick and syrup like.  I didn't take a great picture, but it is slighly golden in color, and smells amazing.
Smash up the bananas, add the syrup and the rest of the wet ingredients and mix until really well combined.
Add the wet to the dry and carefully fold together.  To much mixing will make tough bread so mix just until combined.  A few streaks of flour is just fine.
 Divide into two greased loaf pans and sprinkle each loaf with a little sugar.  This makes a great candied top.
Bake and enjoy!
 
Banana Bread
(makes 2 loaves)
 
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
8-10 bananas (very ripe)
2 sticks butter, melted and cooled slightly
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
4 tsp. granulated sugar (for topping)
 
Preheat oven to 350.  Microwave bananas 7-10 minutes or until extremely soft and liquid.  Meanwhile, mix dry ingredients in a bowl.  When bananas are done strain liquid into a sauce pan and place banana solids in a seperate bowl.  Cook liquid on high until reduced an sryup like, about 5 or 6 minutes.  Pour banana syrup over banana solids and mash until smooth.  Add rest of liquid ingredients to bananas and stir until combined, and sugar begins to disolve.  Pour wet ingredients over dry and carefully fold together.  Divide into 2 greased loaf pans and sprinkle each loaf with 2 tsp. granulated sugar.  Bake for 50-60 mins. rotating pans half way.  Let cool in pans for 15 mins. and then remove and let cool on racks.
 
 
 
 

Friday, March 22, 2013

Where Does Time Go?

I don't know about you but I feel like time has actually sped up!  There's no scientific research to back me up, but I'm pretty sure that 24 hours is more like 14 these days.  My life is filled with so much stuff that by the weekends I just want to stay in bed and read a book.  I love all of the things that get to do during the week, it just becomes so much.  How do you slow down?  How do you prioritize how you spend your time?  We have homeschool, housework, yardwork, swim practice, tumbling class, school groups, organ practice, piano lessons, church service, family time, and random obligations like doctor appointments.  It's a lot!  I feel like the biggest lesson I have learned as a mom and a homeschooler is that you have to do what's most important and let everything else fall away.  It's a hard lesson.  I miss spending time with friends during the day.  Having lunch and time to visit was something I really loved.  But, I know that I what I am sacrificing is worth it.  I have little glimpses during the day of why I do what I do.  It's those moments when Graci reads me a story from her reading lesson book without asking if the letter h sounds like a k.   It's those moments when Gunnar will bring me Green Eggs and Ham, sit on my lap, and let me hold him and read him that book 15 times before he runs off to play.  It's those moments when Gavin, Gage, and Gibson use their free time to write a story together about a magical world with wizards and beasts, or when they come home from swim practice so proud of themselves that they mastered flip turns.  My family always comes first.  I know it's not just homeschoolers that feel this time crunch.  All families are trying so hard to keep their families close, while trying to keep up with the speed of this world.  I read once about the amish communities and how they value quiet peaceful time.  If you were to go to an amish farm you would notice how hard they work all day in the fields, but when the sun goes down they are done.  They, unlike most of us, understand that work is important but when the sun goes down it's time to put work aside and have peaceful time.  They go in their homes, read, talk, and just spend time together.   I should try to be more like the amish.  I need to let go of the guilt that if I don't let my family do everything they want that they won't be happy.  I think children would be happier if they had to do less, if they had time to decompress away from all electronics and media.  If families would make it a priority to spend time together.  Not just be in the same house doing their own thing, but to turn off everything and spend time talking and being together.  I think something that simple could change the world.  So I am challenging myself to be more amish.  To give my family the gift of calm and quiet. 

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Fire And A Lesson In Etiquette, Man Etiquette That Is

This weekend we had our first fire and roast of the year.  We have spent countless hours in our little backyard enjoying a cozy fire with hot dogs and smores.  It has led us to some of our greatest conversations.  There are times, however, that our roasts aren't quite as refined and elevated.  This weekend's roast had my children rolling around in the dirt laughing so hard that they couldn't breath.  What were they laughing at?  Belching, of course.  Who can belch the loudest, who can belch the longest, and all sorts of different ways to make yourself belch.  I really try to teach my kids to be polite and act properly at a meal.  However, living in a house full of boys I sometimes have to step back and let the testosterone flow.  And I'd rather have that happen at our roasts than at our nice dinner with the missionaries (which has happened too!) So, I hope your weekend was filled with sunshine, family, fun, and maybe a little belching! 



Quick tip:  We use chocolate frosting on our smores instead of chocolate bars.  It's less messy!  Also, try using fudge dipped cookies instead of graham crackers.