Sometimes I Cook

 I grateful for a mother who taught me to cook at an early age. I can read a recipe, and feel very confident that I can at least ATTEMPT most things cooking-wise. But I don't know that I'd say I'm a good cook. I don't like to think about cooking dinner, and I rather not be in the kitchen. So sometimes I take a sabbatical from cooking, and Jeff gets to exercise his skills in the kitchen, and we eat frozen pizza, frozen lasagna and hamburger helper more often. And then when I return to cooking the task seems even more daunting than it did before, and I seem to forgotten all of those recipes that I used to have stored in my head. Plus, cooking means menus, and grocery shopping and lists. All of which, due to my wise and wonderful mother I CAN do, and I DO do them, but really, I'd rather not.

 But as with most things, the more I cook, the easier it gets, and the better life seems to be. Right now pinterest is my best friend, because I love to try new recipes, and pinterest is an endless supply of  new things to try. I also cook better when under pressure or a deadline, like company for dinner. So lately I've been trying to invite people over and I've been more on the weekends, when it is decidedly easier to cook, b/c I have help with Abi. And we eat leftovers and meals made from the left over grocery items that needed to purchased for the planned meals. And it's been working out rather well.

Tonight, I was short on time, and had no plan. But because I've been cooking and recipe perusing, and we had some fresh foods in the fridge, I threw something quick together. AND IT WAS REALLY REALLY YUMMY! (if I do say so myself)

We had some mixed salad greens, which is my opinion make the BEST salad.
We had a red pepper.
We had a pound of asparagus.
We had a little bit of uncooked quinoa, but not enough for a "quinoa dish"
We had frozen chicken.
We had some delicious campari tomatoes. (perhaps the yummiest store bought tomatoes out there)
We had some zesty italian dressing (even though it was expired before we opened it on MOnday, we are still eating it!)
We had the dregs of a bag of pita chips.
We had some dried cranberries and pecans.

And so I thew the mixed greens in a bowl, added the chopped red pepper, and tomatoes, sauteed the asparagus while I cooked the quinoa, and grilled the chicken on our george foreman grill. Triple tasking! I put all of the hot hot stuff in separate little bowls to be added to salad. Then I put everthing else on the table, we prayed and then we assembled it all into a massive salad on our plates. And it was fresh, and tasty, and filling (thanks to the chicken and quinoa) The cranberries even added some sweetness, which always seems make a meal more satisfying. The pita chips added a crouton like crunch. And Jeff said, "We should start our own cooking blog."

So here is the picture and the post. But no new blog, I'm not that committed to cooking.  Plus I'm soon to be expecting another sabbatical from the kitchen, come the beginning of July.

Thank you Jeff for always taking pictures. Even thought I hope this the last picture of me eating that you take.

Poteet Strawberry Festival and Allergic Reaction

This is our 4th year in Texas, and our FIRST time to the Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival. Hard to believe, I know. The first year I don't think we knew about it. The second year, I was in the hospital. The third year, we were planning to go, I had even dressed Abigail up as a little strawberry, but instead we got invited down to the beach to watch the Blue Angels, which was awesome. So this year, we made it. Friday they have free admission and free parking, which is beyond amazing! I planned all day to make it happen. I made calzones we could eat in the car on the way down, I left the house early enough to stop at Jamba Juice to get the party started right, and even left a little earlier Just IN case traffic was bad. We got to Jeff's work to pick him up, and I let Abi eat and play in the grass outside while we waited. As we did this, her whole face and upper body broke out into a terrible rash, and she started itching and fussing. I turned into a huge worrywart and after Jeff came out as much I wanted to get on the road, we went to see the on site Nurse Practitioner at his work, who seemed stumped and a little concerned and gave us some children's benadryl. And we were on our way. 

We spent the first good hour and a half right at the place we entered. There was this children's section with bubbles, and music, and a petting zoo, and a sand box,  and these twirly things the kids could dance around with.

First Abi twirled it around.

Then she stuck in her mouth, and was convinced that was it's best use.

Papa tried instructing her in the correct use

Then Mama tried. No dice. 

Onto the petting zoo, where they had goats, donkeys, pigs, kangaroos, Llamas, and a couple other animals all in together.

With her itchy rash and the Benadryl, Abi was not at her best this night. Thank goodness for her thumb.

But Mama can still make her smile. In fact, all she wanted was me to hold her and carry her. She doesn't quite understand I'm already carrying a child. She just thinks my growing belly makes a nice cushion for her to ride on.

Look at the camera? Papa, I'd rather climb the fence. At least the goat knew to smile for the camera.

All these animals all in there together mixed with dirt and hay made Jeff's allergies go crazy.

Then we watched a crazy circus. The Fearless Flores Circus. It was really crazy. Abi hated it. She knew what they were doing was dangerous, and she would burst into tears at all of the tense moments. Sweet girl. Then we went and watched monkey race around a track on dogs. Not even kidding. Thank goodness Jeff took the pictures to prove it.

Then we finally let Abi do what she would have done for hours if we had let her. Play in this massive sandbox. She did this for probably twenty minutes, and it was her happiest time of the whole night, except for when a lady gave her a free dum dum. 

Look Mom, Sand!!!

Oh, it got in my eye.

Try Again!

Look at all this Sand!

Jeff and I tried for a couple picture while Abi was playing in the sand:

First Try. 

We tried for more festival scenery background, then I said, "Let's take one where I don't look so tired." and Jeff said, "I'll try and make my neck not look so wierd."

Final try! Much better.

Meanwhile, Abi is still loving life in the sandpit. I try for a cute close up.

"Abi, what are you playing with?" Trying to get her to look up at me and answer.

She looks up for one split  second:  "Dirt, Mama" she says. I think this might have been her first experience with actual sand. She usually just has dirt to work with. We need to get this girl to the beach!

And this is how it went everytime we tried for the stroller, or had Jeff try to carry her. Mama got a good  walk around the huge grounds with a 25 weight in her arms, and who knows how much extra weight inside her body.

 The festival was huge and amazing, and full of vendors and over priced food, and strange people. We did see a few families from our ward, which was cool. We tried some delicious Strawberry Shortcake, and Abi finished off our cake and said "More" and then wandered off in search for more Strawberry shortcake. I followed her, but she walked quite a way thinking she was by herself in order to get herself some more strawberry shortcake. There were live endangered birds at an exhibit. It was quite amazing.

 We stopped at a vendor selling these pillowcase dresses for little girls, and the lady said she has sewn over 20,000 dresses (or something, I can't quite remember) and that most of them go to Africa or Russia to girls that don't have clothes or pretty dresses. Jeff loves to support good causes, and so we bought a cute dress, pictures at the end of this post. We left the festival at around 9:00, thoroughly happy and exhausted, without going on any carnival rides. Maybe next year Abi will be in better spirits, and not be in the middle of a huge mystery allergy attack. All things considered, we had a fabulous time, and Abi did great in the car, falling asleep on the way home.

She learned a new word this weekend:  Itchy

Close ups of her sad rash. All over her face, even under her hair, and down her neck, back, arms, and chest. 

Below is Abi on Sunday in her cute new dress. After 24 hours of Benadryl every 6  hours her rash was very mild. After 3 more days of hydrocortizone, it is nearly gone. She just has a bumpy (but not red face). All that is left is her scratch marks from the worst days.  She goes to the Dr. tomorrow for a follow up. I think that is was caused by something she ate, but I'm not sure. At first I thought dairy, so we have tried to limit her dairy, but it is hard, and today I let her have some dairy and nothing happened. So I really am clueless as to what cause it. So I am skeptical that the Dr.'s will know, seeing as I am with her 24 hours a day and am in charge of what she eats. But we will see.

Creation, Creativity, and the Creator

Post by Jeff:

It seems every few months or so I have an existential crisis. Which doesn't seem normal or healthy but keeping it to myself doesn't seem to help, so I might as well blog about it. Mostly it has to do with a lack of patience with myself and a narrowed perspective. I believe in God. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in all that the prophets have taught since Adam to Thomas Monson. I am confident that I have the truth, for I have not found any other philosophy or religion that comes anywhere close to making as much sense as the doctrine taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for the most part living the gospel and having a family and all that makes me very happy.

What is hard for me are the hours and hours that I have to spend during this life completing mundane and tedious tasks, (driving, cleaning the kitchen, entering information into the computer, etc.) when I feel such a strong aspiration to do something more. I want to create something original. I want to make a contribution. I want to change the world! But, I can't even change myself. I try. "I am going to exercise every day." And I do for a while, until almost imperceptibly I stop and before I know it I am feeling lethargic and tired and fat. "I'm going to read my scriptures every day." And I do for a while, until almost imperceptibly I stop and before I know it I am feeling spiritually malnourished.

And this is where the existential crisis comes into play. WHY? Why should I exercise? Why should I read my scriptures? Why should I go to work and work all day every day for the rest of my life? There are obviously very practical answers to these questions. I need to exercise so that I can reap all of the physical and mental health benefits of exercise. I need to read my scriptures in order to maintain my faith. I need to work so that I can financially support myself and my family. I have met people who have given up on life. People who just sit around all day smoking one cigarette after another, with nothing to look forward to and nothing as far as I can see worth living for. I don't want to do that. It's not that I want to give up, it's that I want to do something more.

But what? What do I want to do? What could I possibly do that would fill that need? I've thought a lot about this question, and I have a few ideas. I'd like to write a book or maybe create a work of art. I'd like to build a useful invention or create an organization that really helps people in need. I'd like to become the expert at something or write a song that everyone knows and loves. The only problem is that I have to clean the kitchen first. I need to take Mo for a walk. I need to read my scriptures. I need to go workout. I need to go home teaching.  I need to get this work done. I need to pay this bill. I need to sleep. I need to eat. I need a break.

To be honest though, lack of time, energy and money aren't the only limitations. And this is perhaps the most discouraging thought: I feel like I can do a lot of things okay, but I don't feel like I do anything at the level that  I would like to be able to do it. Maybe this is how most people feel. It's certainly how most people are. Mozart may have been an incredible composer, but he probably didn't paint as well as Michelangelo.  Michael Jordan may be generally considered the greatest basketball player of all time, but does that make up for his failed marriage? If one is to be the best at something, they must devote themselves completely to that one passion. I don't know that I need to be the best at something, I would just like to be better at the things that I try to do.

I can't imagine anyone is still reading this, but let me give you some examples:

This is a bench that I am trying to create. It looks okay, but the legs are all chueco and I'm just not sure it's all going to come together. I could have posted some pictures of equally flawed wood, clay, stain glass, and art projects. 

This is a song that I practiced and practiced so that I could play it at a recital. I  performed it okay, but it wasn't flawless.  I made lots of mistakes. I could have put a picture of so many other songs here that I feel the same way about. I even started writing a song once, but I never finished it. 

This is probably the only book I will ever publish. I wrote and illustrated it myself in 4th grade.  It's okay, but there are blank pages right in the middle of it and lots of typos. I have written a lot of papers, poems, and posts that I feel good about, but like this post, I feel like it could be better or that it shouldn't have taken me so long, etc.

And in the end, I arrive at the same question: WHY? What is the purpose in creating? Especially when our creations are so flawed and pathetic in comparison to those of the Creator. I can think of a lot of scriptures to answer this question, but I don't want to make this into a sermon. I've done this more for my own reflection than anything else. Surely God wants us to be inspired by his creations. But inspired to what end? I don't think it is just to show off. I think what God is saying is that there is more to our existence than simple maintenance. That he wants us to create like Him. That it is through the process of creating that we become like Him. To that end I make reference to the one creation I have no embarrassments about, although I don't know that I can take much credit.

Nichole has heard this rant many times in various forms and I always come to the same conclusion: The best thing I can do is to just keep trying to do my best everyday to be a good husband and father, to excel in my career, and to follow the example of Jesus Christ. If I do this, eventually I will be able to look back and feel that I spent my time on that which was most important and created a beautiful life and family. And who knows, maybe I will do something truly great. I'm only 29!

Best Easter Break Ever!

Last weekend we had party time-extended version with our good friends, the Franci. To add to the fun, we met at my Uncle Doug's house in Arkansas. It was great to spend time with him and his wife, Rhonda, as well as my cousin, Trea and his family. We left Thursday night, thinking that driving through the night would be easier with Abi. Of course, we overestimated our energy and stamina for such a long drive and were sooo grateful to be able to stop in Dallas with our friends, The Goggins. What's a Goggin? Nichole actually got sick later that night and so it was very fortuitous to be in the Goggin's apartment and not in our car. The next day we set out for the rest of the drive to Arkansas. I'll let the pictures tell the story from here.

Our first rest stop. Nichole wanted me to emphasize that she was still feeling sick in this picture.

Of note here is the fact that I am wearing a new t-shirt. I finally broke down and consented to Nichole buying me one. Probably the first purchased t-shirt I've gotten in like 10 years. 

God bless Texas!

Later we stopped in Texarkana where Abi had a blast playing on the Dairy Queen play place. We figured we better go to Dairy Queen one last time before leaving Texas as they are found nowhere else in the United States.
"Dairy Queen: That's what I love about Texas!"

We then purchased a plane to fly the rest of the way to my Uncle's property. We let Abi try her first landing, which didn't turn out so well. Thankfully everyone survived.

Here Abi is flying the plane. Everything was looking good, but I guess she just couldn't reach the brakes.
We'll have to keep practicing.

Abi loved Doug and Rhonda (or Pops and Ra-ra as she called them)

So, Nichole and I tried to think how we could make Easter less about candy and more about Jesus, but we had a really hard time deciding on anything. We finally settled on the idea of presenting Abi with an Easter basket full of fun stuff we would probably get her anyway. Not really more about Jesus, but at least less about candy. I'm not sure how I was thinking we would present it to her, but when Abi and I opened the bathroom door Saturday morning, there it was. I think Abi was still waking up in this picture.

Speaking of Easter not being about candy...Doug and Rhonda kept this big bowl of eggs full of candy in the middle of the table the whole time we were there. It was an excellent test in self control for all of us. 

Doug and Rhonda's place was like a wonderland: Slides, tire swings, teeter-totters, regular swings, merry-go-rounds, a pool, and lots of space to run around. My uncle made everything. It stems from the way my dad and his brother grew up.  My grandparents built a go-kart along with a figure eight go-kart track, a zip line, and full size tennis courts. I don't think they were necessarily super rich, just knew how to build things and worked hard. 

"I'm gonna barf!"

These two were hilarious. They were constantly fighting over space and possession: pushing, tackling, and shouting "mine!" over and over. 

Here is Doug's white and purple Camero and Trae's truck. He has won quite a few car shows with these. 

It's pretty hard to get all three of these kids to look at the camera at the same time.

Dying Easter eggs was going fine until Abi knocked an egg out of my hand. In an effort to save the egg I knocked the table over, spilling dye everywhere and smashing a few eggs. It was pretty embarrassing. 

Nichole and the boys helped Doug gather up firewood for a little bonfire. 

We had fun roasting mini marshmallows

My two cute girls

Abi loved this horse even after falling off it our first day and having a meltdown. I love how even when she gets hurt trying something, she doesn't give up and maintains her adventurous personality. 

We learned that when my grandparents moved to Mena around 50 years ago, they were the only members. They started holding meetings in their home. Now, there is a beautiful building along with a wonderful branch. The Easter service was fantastic. I learned some new things about Christ's atoning sacrifice and we all really felt the spirit. 

After church and a great lunch, the hunt was on! 

Good find Abs!

This is like the best Easter picture ever. Pure joy!

Later that day we did some impromptu limbo. Maybe we'll make it a new Easter tradition. 

How low can you go? How low can you go?

Austin

Tyson

Abi

Monday we took a drive up the mountain to Queen Wilhelmina State Park. Here we are with our stand-in son, Tyson.  

Here we are trudging along a grueling 1 mile hike. This occasioned Abi's second time relieving herself outside this trip.

Here they are. All three actually kind of looking at the camera. Amazing.

I'm going to take this opportunity to tell you about my other new shirt. If you can't tell, it's a picture of the Russian from Rocky IV with the phrase, "I must break you!" I got a gift card for Christmas to the Gap, so we went and there was nothing there but overpriced metro-sexual clothing. Then I discovered this gem hidden in the middle of the clearance rack and I knew it must be mine. Assuming anyone reads these captions, Nichole was concerned that someone might be offended by the term metro-sexual. I mean no offense, I am simply making an observation of the kind of clothing typically offered at the GAP. Isn't this a nice picture?

Abi had mixed feelings about riding the 4-wheeler, but I had lots of fun. 

Our last morning with the Franci we went to Sofia's Donuts and Grill. It was awesome! Our host was this really really nice Cambodian lady (I don't know if she was Sofia, but I like to imagine she was). The kids were out of control knocking over  glasses of water and dumping out sugar packets, but she treated us like royalty and gave the kids free sprinkled donuts. I asked for a maple bar and she asked if I wanted it filled. I was flabbergasted. "Filled with what?" I asked. "Creamcheese,  custard, raspberry filling..." Stunned, I saw an opportunity I might never have again. "Can I have cream cheese and raspberry filling?" "I'll try." She tried and succeeded. It was incredible. 

Here we are with Doug, Trea, and Rhonda at their self owned plane painting shop. Pretty awesome. Abi loved it. We are so glad  we got to see them and had such a fun time. We hope to make the trip out there again some time. 

We had a blast hanging out with the Franci: Staying up late playing games, eating popcorn, laughing and joking. We miss having them as neighbors so much. We are looking forward to our next adventure: Renting a 14 seater van and driving to the grand canyon, an Alaskan cruise, an all expense paid trip to Hawaii? We'll see. 

We decided to give Abi another shot at flying with Austin as co-pilot. She nailed the landing this time.