Happy Highlights

Here are a few things that have made me happy this week:

• Gerald got a new church calling!  He is now teaching the Valiant 9 primary class with another man from our ward.  He'll be great!  It's his first calling as a primary teacher, and I'm a little jealous that I've never been a primary teacher.  Maybe someday down the road we'll get the chance to do that together!
• I cleaned out and re-organized my hallway linen closet, as well as under our bathroom sinks today.  This was a project that has needed doing for a long time now; it definitely feels good to have it done!
• This morning Katelee cuddled in bed with me after waking up and we read stories together. It was so cozy and sweet and wonderful.
• Harry Potter.  Awhile ago I decided to re-read the Harry Potter series, even though I have read it a few times in the past.  But this was the first time I read all seven books in a row.  I am now on the last book.  It has been so interesting and fun to read all the books in order after already knowing the end.  Seriously These Books Are Brilliant.  I can't believe the tiny hints and clues you find in the very first book or two that relate to things that don't show up until book 6 or 7.  But it's not just the brilliance of how the details are all so interconnected.  I think that Rowling is an amazing writer; her descriptions are incredible and the characters are truly delightful.  I laugh aloud often, and even cry at times.  And the story itself fascinates me every time I read it.  Okay, so sorry about the book review. But if I am making a list of things that made me happy this week, this had to make the list without a doubt!
• I had a long talk on the phone this afternoon with my sister. (While Katelee was sleeping, of course, because I am supposed to be talking on the phone less, right?) I love talking to her; it made my day!
• I went visiting teaching. (I know, it's about time, seeing as it is the 31st!) I love the sisters I visit teach. They are amazing and have become some of my best friends, and it is so fun to visit them.
• My tulips are beginning to poke out of the ground, we flew a kite today with some friends, and general conference is coming up this weekend - all signs that spring is here!

Meal of the Month - March

Sweet & Sour Chicken

This is another long-time favorite of ours; it's been on our list of top favorites for about 6 years now! We always get lots of compliments on this recipe when we make it for others.  You should definitely try it!

Ingredients:

• 4 breasts of chicken
  
• 1 T. oil
  
• 1 carrot, sliced
  
• 1 clove garlic, minced
  
• 1 c. sugar
  
• 4 T. cornstarch
  
• 1 1/3 c. water
  
• 3 T. oil
  
• 2/3 c. vinegar
  
• 4 T. soy sauce
  
• 1 onion, chunked
  
• 1/2 red pepper, diced
  
• 1/2 green pepper, diced
  
• 1 small can diced pineapple
  
• Cooked rice
  

Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes. Sauté in oil with carrot and garlic until no longer pink. Remove from heat. Combine sugar and cornstarch in saucepan. Stir in water. Add oil, vinegar, and soy sauce. Cook and stir until the mixture turns thick and clear. Remove from heat. Stir together chicken, sauce, veggies, and pineapple. Serve in bowls over hot cooked rice.  Delicious!

Dessert:  White Texas Sheet Cake

Even if you think you don't like white cake, you should try this dessert once.  It is a dense, moist, rich, completely fattening cake with a sweet almond flavor.  It is without a doubt my very favorite cake EVER!  And that's coming from a chocolate lover!

• 2 c. butter
  
• 2 c. water
  
• 4 c. flour
  
• 2 c. sugar
  
• 4 eggs, beaten
  
• 1 c. sour cream 
  
• 2 tsp. almond extract
  
• 2 tsp. salt
  
• 2 tsp. baking soda 
  

Boil water and butter. Set aside. Mix everything else together in a bowl. Add the water and butter. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 – 22 minutes in a sheet cake pan.

White Texas Sheet Cake Frosting

• 1/2 c. butter
  
• 1/4 c. milk
  
• 4 1/2 c. powdered sugar
  
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract
  
• 1 c. chopped nuts
  

Heat milk and butter to boiling. Put in a bowl and add the other ingredients. Spread over cooled cake and serve.

Dress-Up Days

Do you remember playing dress-up as a little kid?  There was something so magical about putting on a few accessories; it really seemed that you could become whoever or whatever you imagined.  I love that Katelee is a dress-up girl.  She is constantly playing dress-up.  But more than that, she is developing such a great imagination.  The other day, for one example, she was pretending to be Jessie the Cowgirl (from Toy Story 2).  I had to call her Jessie all morning, and she had to have a little braid in her hair.  She galloped around and yelled "hee haw" and called for her horse, Bullseye.  I love it when she plays like that!  

Here are a few of her 'classic' dress-up costumes that she likes to wear.  (The fact that I've taken all of these pictures within the last couple of weeks just goes to show how often she dresses up.)

The Glamour Girl

The standard items are glasses, purse full of small toys, and jewelry.  Sometimes when dressed like this she'll come up to me and say, "Hey, dude."  I do not say that, so don't ask me where she learned it.

The Cowgirl

She loves to pretend to be Jessie (last year's Halloween costume), but when she found this cowgirl costume at the children's museum, she was in cowgirl heaven.  Yee haw!

Elmo

The funniest part about this is that she won't talk to me when pretending to be Elmo.  

The Little Mermaid

Take a towel, find a belt or sash and tie it around you.  You know - like how Ariel dressed when she first became human. I think she learned this from her friend Alexis.

Santa Claus

Still a favorite, even in March.  When she is Santa Claus, she carries around a bag of random toys with her and says, "What do you want for Christmas?" in her lowest, gruffest voice.

The Bride

To become a bride, you just have to find any cloth-like item and put it on top of your head.  Then Katelee will ask me to marry her, and we'll dance in a circle, and that means we are married.

The Bag Lady

This is one of my personal favorites.  Katelee will simply put on every random dress-up item she can find in any way she can get it to stay on.  It is usually accompanied with a large bag full of other random toys and gadgets, but the day I took this picture I guess she was content with her small coin purse, which was full of the plastic pizza from her doll house and a few play coins from her piggy bank toy.

Superhero

You know she loves superheroes. She wears her cape around all the time, but I snapped this picture of her at the children's museum pretending to be Batman.

The Princess

Probably her most common dress-up choice these days is the princess.  The actual princess dress varies from day to day, but the absolutely essential elements are the 'glass slippers' and the crown.

Does this make you want to be a kid again and play dress up?  Anyone want to go to an expensive dress shop and try on elegant dresses we could never afford?  Just kidding, I would never do that...  :)

My Quest to Do Less

My biggest flaw as a mother is my tendency to be constantly busy.  Lately this has really been weighing on my mind, and I am trying to make a conscience effort to slow down.

I love Julie B. Beck's powerful and classic talk "Mothers Who Know" that she gave in general conference in October 2007, I try to read the talk every few months on a regular basis. (If you're interested, you can read the talk here.) While everything in her talk really resounds within me, I find some of the things really hard to do.  This is what Sister Beck says about doing less:

"Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all."

I feel like this is exactly what the spirit has been trying to tell me for awhile.  But, if I'm honest, I'll admit that this is really hard for me! I wonder if other mothers struggle with this, or if it's just me. I was born with one of those over-achieving, need to stay busy, make more to-do lists, Type-A personalities, and it's hard for me to let go of all the things I do. It's so easy for me to get caught up in my own work and projects and expect Katelee to just be interested in what I'm doing or to entertain herself. Don't get me wrong; I do spend time with Katelee. But lately I have been so busy that I don't relax and savor that time like I wish I would.  

When I think of doing less, a few things immediately come to my mind. I need to sleep less (get up earlier, BEFORE Katelee, and get some things done) and I need to talk on the phone less (hard to do with my current church calling, piano lessons, and my friends and family that I love to stay in touch with).  I also need to work less.  I've been feeling this one for some time now, which is why I am going to cut back significantly on my piano teaching once the school year ends.  Ever since I made the decision to do these things, I have felt a lot of peace.  But it's easier said than done.  I know it sounds so selfish, but I will really have a difficult time letting go a little in these areas.

But I DO want to change. When I really think about the kind of mom I want to be, I know I'm not living up to my own expectations. I want to be the mom who really listens, who gives Katelee my full attention when she needs it. I want to be available to play for a few minutes whenever Katelee wants a companion.  I want to have more quiet, relaxed moments when the spirit can be more abundantly felt. I want Katelee to really, really, really know without a shadow of a doubt that she is more important to me than doing the dishes or chatting on the phone with a friend. So I'm asking for your suggestions. What are the little things you do that help you spend more quality time with your kid(s)?  How do you better enjoy your playtime with them, because honestly sometimes I just don't want to play super heroes anymore.  What things do you give up in order to "do less?"  I would love to hear any advice you have as I attempt to be a little better.

Chuck E. Cheese

A few months ago Gerald expressed a desire to take Katelee to Chuck E. Cheese. We both forgot about it until we got a coupon in the mail for a pretty good deal at Chuck E. Cheese. The coupon included pizza, drinks, and game tokens, so we decided to make a night of it and go! Katelee had never been to a Chuck E. Cheese before. Actually, I don't think I had ever been to a Chuck E. Cheese before. We had fun, especially Katelee, who seriously was so excited about all the little rides and the games she could hardly contain herself. Her eyes were wide with excitement the entire time we were there.

Some of the evening's highlights were:

The mini carousel; this was the first thing Katelee saw when we walked in and she was so excited to ride it.

Another ride that she wanted to ride over and over again.

The bowling game - I think this picture is cute because it shows how excited she was about everything.  She rolled the ball all the way up the alley, so she is jumping up and down and clapping.

This was by far her favorite game.  You push the red button and try to punch the rubber duckies so they fall over.  Katelee must have used at least half her game tokens on this one game alone.

Katelee at the end, showing off her 'prizes.'  The coupon we used only came with 30 game tokens (which was plenty for us), but luckily they had lots of little prizes.  Katelee left with a bead necklace, a twisty straw, a small sucker, a tiny plastic spider, and a butterfly ring.

It was like Christmas all over again!

Flashback Friday

I love these Flashback Fridays; they are my way of keeping our family history, something I'm not that great at in other ways.  So, humor me as I post another flashback!

So, did you know that Gerald is a drummer?  He started refining his rhythm skills before Jr. High.  He was so anxious to play in the high school drum line that his older brother and sisters pulled some strings and he played the cymbals in the drum line in all the parades the summer before his 8th grade year.During his 8th grade year he borrowed some music from one of his sister's friends and practiced on bar stools that he set up in his basement to learn how to play the quads.  He auditioned and played the quads starting the summer before his 9th grade year and through the next three years in high school.  He played bass drum his last year in his high school marching band.  He also played the drum set for the high school jazz band his junior and senior years.

Gotta love this picture!  By the way, his very favorite percussion instrument to play is the timpani.  

At college, he auditioned for the BYU marching band and got to play the 4th largest bass drum for the football season before his mission and then the largest bass drum for two years after he returned from his mission.  

But one of his favorite drumming experiences was for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake.  He was in the Olympic Band, and played the biggest bass drum (his specialty)!  We were newlyweds when he participated in this, and I remember how excited he was to be in the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as perform at various venues throughout the Olympics.  This was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we will always remember!  

 

Picture Tag

Here's how it works.

1.  Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer.

2.  Select the 4th picture in that folder.

3.  Explain the picture.

4.  Tag 4 other people to do the same.

The fourth folder of pictures on my computer is titled "Katelee's Blessing Day."  Her blessing day was May 7, 2006.   I really love the fourth picture in that folder; it is my mom and her mom, my Grandma Klingler, holding Katelee between them.

I think this is such a sweet picture.

But, while I have this folder open, I can't resist posting another few pictures of Katelee on this special day.  Because I'm a mom, and I love to show off my baby.  And besides, she really was so beautiful in her blessing dress!

I tag Liz, Suzi B., Tammy, and Cecily.

A Dear John Letter to Winter

Dear Winter,

This morning when I woke up and saw you outside my window, I knew I had to tell you that I think it's time I stopped seeing you.

I want you to know that I appreciate the good times we've had.  I love the coziness you brought to Christmas, and the memories of building a snowman in the backyard.  Sledding was also great.  But I have to share my true feelings with you.  It's just time for you to go.

It's not you, it's me.  Well, maybe a little bit of it is you.  Why do you have to be so gray and cold all the time and shut out all the sunshine?  Not to mention that you literally make me sick. But mostly it's me.  I'm feeling restless and I need a change.  They say the grass is always greener on the other side, but in this case, I think it's true.  I can't even see my grass with you around. 

I want to be completely honest, so I need to tell you that there is someone else.  Spring has been stopping by now and then for the past few weeks, and I think I'm falling in love.  All the sunshine and playing outside and flowers ... it's really hard to resist.  Those are things you just can't offer me. 

We can still be friends.  I wouldn't mind seeing you every now and then, for short periods of time.  Maybe you could stop by for a few weeks next Christmas and we could catch up.  But I just can't handle you being such a big part of my daily life anymore.

I am so sorry if this is hard for you to hear, but I really just need to move on.  I wish you the best.

Love,

Jennifer

Pictures of the Wedding Day

I know I've been posting about it all week, so you already know this, but Brittany and Todd were married last Saturday.  It was an absolutely beautiful day.   Everything seemed to go so smoothly and Brittany looked absolutely gorgeous.  Some of my favorite things from the day:

• Being in the same room Gerald and I were married in 7 years ago.  Getting married in this room is actually quite a family tradition, now.  It is a room that is off the celestial room of the temple, so everyone has to wear white.  It was beautiful.
• Watching my sister being sealed to her husband.
• Listening to the good advice from the sealer who married them; he was from Hawaii and had a fun accent.
• Seeing and visiting with so many extended family members and close friends!
• Enjoying Katelee, who thought she was a princess in her bridesmaid dress and curtsied to anyone who would look at her.  She also spinned and danced through most of the reception, even though there wasn't really any dancing.  ;)
• Being in St. George and Mesquite where the weather was absolutely gorgeous.  The wedding day was perfect, in terms of weather.
• Getting to help set-up and clean-up the reception.  This may not sound fun, but I love to be involved in things like this and I like to feel helpful.
• Smelling the flowers that decorated the tables at the reception.  Mmmmm...they smelled good.
• Watching my sister and her new husband literally beam all day long.
• Being with some of the people I love the most.

The following movie clip shows what Katelee did for most of the reception; I think she's hilarious!  Love ya, babe!

Feelin' Blue

I'm feeling sad today.  It's just one of those down, feeling blue days, you know?  It might be because of the weather - I told you I was going to cry if I came home to find snow covering my lawn still.  Not only is there snow covering my lawn, but it has been grey and snowing all day long.  Or maybe it's just getting back to normal after the excitement and busyness of the past ten days.  Some of it is definitely the fact that yet another month of fertility treatment has failed, not to mention all the hormones that come along with that.  In fact, I am really heartbroken about this because my doctor has said that this month was our last try.  If this particular treatment hasn't worked by now, it's not going to.  So, we will meet and discuss our options, but I am thinking most of them are going to be extravagantly out of our price range.  But I might be wrong, we'll have to see about that.  It could also be the fact that today we received our third letter back from one of the graduate schools we applied to, and it was our third 'no.'  I still have hope we will get into one of the other four we applied to.  But still, it has just been one of those days.  I'm sure it's nothing that an ice cream cone, an episode of The Office, and a long night's sleep can't cure.  So we are going to leave now and go out for ice cream for our family night activity.  Here we come, Maggie Moos!

Practice Makes . . . Well, Better

I can't say the wedding cake turned out perfect, because I'm starting to believe that there is no such thing as a perfect cake. But, I was really happy with it overall. It was much, much, much easier and prettier than the 'practice' one I made for Gerald's birthday party. There were a few minor mishaps.  Like when we had a small freak accident, and some heavy photo albums fell on the already frosted and fondant-covered cake...aaaacckkkk!  There was a good half-inch deep dent in a couple places on the cake.  It was amazing how easy it was to fix, though.  You could hardly see but a little line after I worked out the dent, and I put a few dots over it and put it in the back.  Phew!  We also had kids that couldn't resist the temptation to touch the cake, both the night before when I was setting it up and at the wedding.  (Katelee was innocent this time - not like when I was making Gerald's birthday cake and she walked right up and helped herself to a bite!)  But it survived the kids, too, and it was actually pretty funny!  I mean seriously, what a temptation a big cake like this must be to a little kid - especially the big dots on the bottom layer.  The kids just had to walk up and take one to sample!  So funny!

   

The photographer took some professional pictures that I will post when I get ahold of them, but here are some I snapped just for now.  

More pictures of the wedding to come...

Wedding Week

It has been fun to be around this week before the wedding to help out a little and witness the last-minute preparations. Here are a few things I snapped pictures of:

Grandma measuring and hemming the little flower girl dresses

(aren't they adorable?)

baking, baking, and more baking

working out the decorations

making a wedding cake

cleaning house, last-minute shopping, and more...

Being here this week has really made me appreciate what my parents did for me when I got married. I know I appreciated it then, but not nearly enough! (You're usually a little clueless when you're the bride, right?) Anyway, thanks again, mom and dad! My wedding seven years ago was beautiful! And Brittany's wedding is going to be gorgeous!

The wedding is today! It's been a great week, but today is what it is all about. It should be wonderful!