Precious

Do you can your own food? Or do you get canned food from someone else that lovingly spends hours slaving over a steaming stove preserving the season's freshest bounty to enjoy the year through? I just opened this jar of apricots that my mom canned last summer. They are perfectly apricotty- Clark ate half a jar before I made him stop and then he cried for more. These apricots are especially special because they are from my great-grandma's tree. My great-grandma passed away a few years ago and our family had been trying to sell her house. It was really old, but it was also falling apart, and finally had to be torn down. The whole property was razed, along with the apricot tree, a few months ago. So, these are the last of the last, and I'm savoring each one-- the ones I can pry out of my one year old's hands.

These tomatoes I canned with my friend last summer. The girls and I picked 17 pounds. That turned into about 7 quarts canned. This is the last jar, and we ate it up tonight. I was reading a preserving book lately. The author said that nothing could improve the flavor of her cooking more than home-preserved tomatoes, not even culinary school. I agree. If you have access to some roma tomatoes this summer, you should try canning your own. But make more than 7 jars-- you'll need them.

Reality Bites

The other day I served the girls up some chicken burgers. They were happily munching away when Camille asked, "Where to hamburgers come from?" We've been talking lately about how things grow. So, when she followed up with, "I mean, how do the cows make the burgers?" I had to laugh. I started to tell her, but she interrupted with, "they don't come from the inside of a cow, do they?" and a horrified look on her face. When I said that they did, that hamburger is meat from an actual cow, she got pretty upset. "Why do we eat cows? Why do people eat cows?" I tried to explain that Heavenly Father created animals for us to eat, but that didn't do much good. "But I don't want to eat cows!" she exclaimed. "Well, Camille, this is chicken!" "But does chicken come from inside a chicken?" Yeah.

Camille gagged her way through that chicken burger. I explained to her about vegetarians. "But why don't they eat meat, mom?" I wanted to say, "because it's gross!" but I didn't. It is kind of gross, though, isn't it? Some delicious muscle- mm mmm! Anyway, she hasn't complained about meat since, but I'm ready for the bombshell to drop sometime. And if she wants to become vegetarian, I've got her back.

Purl Soho Free Shipping This Week

I never buy stuff from Purl Soho because I don't want to pay for the shipping. But, if you want some great fabric, yarn, or craft supplies, then this is the week for you! Free shipping through Friday. I am only getting 2 things. I promise.

No More Zero Hero, Clark Turns One

Clark on the eve of his first birthday. I was planning on writing this post already, but as he was climbing the stairs, I thought that it was so appropriate- symbolically, you know.

In bed- the last night of being zero.



In the morning! Clark is one! The girls thought that he probably looked bigger, but weren't sure.

Clark reading his favorite book- "David Smells" by David Shannon

Ready to Party- the theme, as you can tell, is Cookie Monster. Can a proper noun be a theme? Can a proper noun be a Scrabble play? The answer to both is yes.

Cookies to take home

Cupcakes. I am a copycat.

Clark likes AJ because he has some great chew toys.

Pizza and bagels with peanut butter and bananas. See? Cookie shapes.

Then we tried to make him wear a hat.

It's always an exercise in futility. And yes, Andrea, I had to put this in after your comment tonight about your Easter pictures.

Why are all these people gathered around me singing?

Starting to dig in

Love Daddy. He wore a blue shirt to make me happy.

Getting messier!

This is Isabella. She likes to pose.

Messiest.

This is when Clark started getting a little punchy. Could it be the insane amount of frosting that he ate?

Then he got to take a bath

And play computer with Anna

And play in the Clark drawer

And go to bed.

I tell you what: I love this little boy. I thank God for him. What a blessing to be a mother.

Utah 2010

Our nice friends let us borrow their mini tv. Combined with our laptop, the girls could be entertained at the same time. But, all of the kids are actually really great travellers (so far), and were happy almost the whole time.

We got to visit grandma Berle- So nice to see her, she's a sweet lady.

Camille and I after tubing down the hill in Soldier Hollow

One of the last days of the season- we were happy to see snow, no matter how little.

Uncle Sean tried to steal a moose but was foiled by Clark.

Grace refused to do snow- putting on the boots just made her mad, so Camille and I did the snow by ourselves. She loved tubing (after the first time), and making snow angels. And throwing gentle snowballs. It was a fun time.

Taking the lift up the mountain

The most memorable part of our visit- going to Chuck E. Cheese.

Going for a ride- Grace fears for her life

Reading a DI-acquired book together in our hotel room

Picnic at the park

At Temple Square

Our other great friends lent us their kids' winter wear, which was a great help. 40 feels cold to us!

Walking along the Provo River Trail. I never did this when I lived here, presumably because I was too cool.

We bought our first-ever single stroller for our trip. Yeehaw!

Provo continues to draw us back, thanks to our sweet siblings being there. It was nice going there with Paul this time. We went to a ballet at the Wilk, followed by dinner at the Bombay House, home of our first date. It's nice to still be in love.

My sister lives across from the house that I lived in in the bitterest sweetest summer of my life. Passing it and thinking of losing a best friend, gaining a best friend, having the most free fun ever, and meeting my true love all in this one little place was still bittersweet. But mostly sweet. I like how life is now, and these things helped me get there, although if I could go back in time, I'd tell BYU Sarah to shape up a little and that lots of the things that seemed important aren't. Maybe this talk I could give to the current Sarah too.

Little Lucy

We went to Utah to visit my sister who just had her first little baby last month. Rachel is a very capable mom, and though we went there to "help" we mostly just hung out and had fun. Pretty impressive.

All the cousins. Notice how much Lucy and Clark love posing for pictures.

Lucy with Daddy Vico. We like to post them together to show the size difference. She's just so wee!

Mommy

A little less happy

Please mom- kisses will not pacify me

Lounging outside

I
It's just what you do in the "spring" in Utah

Dear Rachel, I think you make a lovely mom.

Dear Vico, I think that you are a terrific dad.

Love, Auntie S.

Let Them Eat Cake

Do you want some cake? No, really. Do you? I made this delicious, slouchy, Italian Cream Cake for our dessert tonight. It has coconut, pecans, and cream cheese frosting. A portion of it can be yours if you leave a comment or e-mail me and live in our burgh. I will deliver it to your home. It's delectable 3-layers are just too much for our family to eat, even with family visiting.

Happy Easter!