A List. . . .

. . . . Mostly because I feel the need to record  something but coherent thoughts are not happening in this head.

~Cache called on Sunday and in the conversation he mentioned making a cake something like this to take to his Elder Quorum's potluck.  I can't be quite sure, but I'm guessing there were no repeats with his item. . . .

~We keep plugging away on merit badges for Chandler.  He's got 9 merit badges completed, with 4 in progress.  The biggest Mom-smiles come from Family Life and Personal Management being completed.  Personal Fitness is in progress.  I'll be thrilled to have those under his belt.

~Caleb became an official driver yesterday.  Many moms welcome an extra driver.  I don't know why I'm so hesitant. . . . (Maybe because I really, really just love my kids home with me?)

~I could be wrong, but I suppose there aren't too many people who climb trees in snow boots. . . .  (We can't keep that girl out of the trees whatever the season; now that spring is here she's a top the tree barefooted.)

~A few days after this post about Greta, she decided diapers were annoying and potty trained herself.  Just what I was waiting for!

~Indexing has taken Tom by storm!  Since January he has indexed about 15,000 names.  How does he do it?  He keeps his laptop out and whenever he gets a minute, he is at it.  I love that he is very diligent yet still notices when I am setting the table, emptying the dishwasher etc. and jumps up and helps me.  Often he lets the girls help him type in dates.  They love that too.  He is such a good husband and daddy.

~About a month ago we started something new at our house:  Each night after dinner we set the timer for 15 minutes and everyone pitches in to get the work done.  We get the dishes done, things picked up, laundry folded, sweeping and vacuuming done, garbages emptied etc. (depending on what is most needed that day).  I really thought we'd have a few complaints about it, but everyone seems to prefer attacking the work all together instead of how we've done it in the past.

~I've found that a way to a teenage boy's heart is {often} through his stomach.  Keeping the kitchen flowing with food preferable to the most hungry teen makes life a lot easier for some reason. . . It keeps me extremely busy, but Sister Beck always reminds me it is a powerful way to nurture so I keep at it.  On any given day there is usually some sort of bread(muffins, pretzels, multigrain etc.), a treat/snack to store in the freezer and a large evening meal.   Right now it is one of those most needful things.

~I subscribed to America's Test Kitchen for a free-two-week trial.  During that time, the girls and I watched a lot of videos to get as much out of it as we could. One day while baking up a storm, Greta commented that I was in 'American Fork Kitchen'.  Now Tessa wants me to talk like the hosts while I cook. It is quite laughable.

~A free New Jersey map arrived in my mailbox last week(thanks to freebies offered by the NJ tourism campaign).  It will be hung in the hall across from the world map.  I'm guessing that New Jersey geography will become a little part of our future conversations.  Having a visual reference will be nice.

~If someone asked me if I like to cook, I couldn't honestly say yes.  When discussing this paradox with Tom  a bit ago he pointed out that I'm not scrapbooking, crafting or making cards so cooking has become my creative outlet.  How very right he is.  I get bored so easily with cooking the same things so I'm always trying to find new and fun things to try to keep me going.  In an average week, I try about 5-10 new recipes.  It is quite crazy.  I don't really recommend it, it is just the only thing that makes the task enjoyable for me. I'm thankful for the Internet and the plethora of new recipes to try!

~With conference this weekend we have all picked something yummy we would like to eat.  I'll be busy in the kitchen, but this has become a well-loved tradition.  Tom wants Strawberry Chocolate Nachos; I chose two kinds of Chex mix--a sweet and a salty; Cache wants Fig-Prosciutto Pizza with Arugula; Caleb is having Philly Cheese steaks; Chandler has chosen Blueberry Pie; Tessa is having Puffy Oven Pancakes and Greta is having chocolate chips.  Should be quite the spread!

Off to do some dishes and marinate some fish and toast some couscous!