Lately ...

I've really been in a "blogging Blah" lately. But, seeing as this blog pretty much serves as all my scrapbooking lately - I've gotta get all the going-ons down.

As fast as possible ...

Here goes (in no particular order):

Happy Thanksgiving!! We had games and munchees (M's homemade rolls for Turkey samiches, dips, crackers, veggies, drinks, treats - yum!) at Gma and Gpa Millers. I didn't get many pics - but, here are the few I got. All the kiddos are constantly surrounding M. SO funny. They love her ... she's so good with each of them.

Have any of you played speed scrabble before? It is so SO much fun. Plonnie and Tina ... you two have to play it with me sometime FOR SURE!!! Gramps and Hanna spelling post game ...

I had to snap this ... Ty's post scrabble excitement ...

Melynda and her permanent team for every game we play ...

We had Thanksgiving dinner at Gma and Gpa Jensons. Very Delicious - and a super fun crowd:

RyRy with his 2 buddies ... (Krystal LOVES him so much!)

Cute lil' baby Ty - kept his arms folded for the entire prayer. haha. I HAD to snap a picture. So, my eyes weren't closed, OKAY? I admit it!!!!

Aaron's Thanksgiving program at school. I cried. It was so cute. He is growing up toooooo fast!

Sunday dinner at MY house! Tyler brined a turkey - and it was SO DAM good!!! We joked to each other that it's about time we learn how to cook a big dinner on our own. We ARE in our 30s already!! haha. Mom still had to come early to make the gravy. Everyone contributed - it was really yummy.

We've signed Aar-Bear up for Little Hoopsters this year with his buddy McEwan. It has been such a blast going to their practices and games. It's quite the crack-up. But, they're learning quick - so, it's been really fun watching. I'll probably post more pictures as the season continues.

Who doesn't love a treat stop after a game? Sophie was cracking us all up. There was some guy in the restaurant that SLIGHTLY resembled Santa ... all the kids couldn't stop sneaking peeks at him. SO FUNNY!! Sophers kept putting icecream all over her face to say, "Ho Ho Ho". Quite the hyper bunch. Good times.

Best buds ...

I think it's so funny that the boys will stand about 2 feet away from each other saying, "Pass it! I'm open!!" I really think that's my favorite part ...

Well - there it all is in a nutshell. Hopefully, I'll feel motivated to keep up to date a little better. I sure enjoy keeping up with all of you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh .... here's one more pic hangin' out at the bottom ... :)

Home Again ... New Plan

Our Aar-Bear took his turn in the hospital this weekend ... our little 24 hour get-away (haha). Anyway - it's been a little frustrating, because every time our kiddos get sick we see a different doctor (they, of course, never get sick during regular hours - only during on call hours). And, every minute counts with these kids. They get SO sick SO fast. Having to travel and explain over and over and over again ... and try to find past information ... is very time consuming. And, really - I HATE feeling like I need to convince whoever I'm talking to that my child just needs some IV fluids - and they'll be fine. The response is always, "Well, we'll see." So, we have FINALLY wised up and talked with the on-call doc this time about a different plan - so, maybe we can just be in the hospital for a couple of hours rather than over night next time. So, apparantly, doctors offer a "Care Plan" for special needs children ... and Krystal and Aaron qualify. YAY! We will be meeting with their pediatrician this week to get a plan typed out and signed that we can just bring RIGHT to the hospital when the vomiting begins. And they should be able to get treated without doubting our explanations. We are so SO happy to be home. And very grateful that we have all had the flu this year. We should be good for about a year now. :)

Homemaking Heaven

If only homemaking could be like this every day ...

White bread:

2 cups flour + 1 cup bread flour (I just use all-purpose flour for this too)
1 tsp. yeast
1 tsp. salt
1/8 cup sugar

1 cup warm milk
2 Tbsp. butter (I melt this with the milk when I warm up the milk)
1/4 cup lukewarm water

Mix the dry ingredients together, and then add the wet ingredients. Mix until a ball forms (adjust water and flour as needed)

Be sure to take a picture of the homemakers involved ...


Knead dough for 10 minutes on a floured surface ...


Put kneaded dough in an oiled bowl and let rise for 90 minutes.

Go shopping during that 90 minutes ...

Shape risen dough into loaves and let rise for 60 more minutes ... Krystal even made her own little loaf ...

Make cookies and play games in that 60 minutes ... take 25 or so self portraits and then pick the only one with everyone in it (barely) .... :)

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes - bread should be golden brown and sound hollow when thumped on the bottom ...

Reap the rewards ...

A mom needs a homemaking day with most of the kids away every so often! :) Thanks for a spectacular and yummy day, Plonns!

Note by Note

I just read this book: "A Celebration of the Piano Lesson Note by Note" and I absolutely LOVED it! Obviously, I AM a piano teacher - so that might have something to do with it. I really could not put it down. Tunstall's writing is so articulate and expressive - I found myself nodding in agreement so often .... chuckling along with her "student stories" and feeling excitement, disappointment, and anxiety along with each of her personal experiences as a teacher and student.

Here is part of one of Tunstell's opening paragraphs ...

"What is the enduring appeal of the piano lesson as a basic ritual of American childhood? ..... Piano lessons are not only about music but also about trust and confidence, chaos and order, spontaneity and discipline and patience, sometimes even about love ... and once again, and always, about music: its beauty, its power, its capacity to convey profound emotions beyond the reach of words. This is true from the beginning, the very earliest lessons."

Mostly, though, I felt motivated ... not only to be a better piano teacher ... but, to find more joy in what I do every day ... and not just as a musician. To experience life to its fullest - every step (note by note) of the way. I find so much joy and pride in learning a piano piece ... and I feel that same way with each of my students ... and my children. Life is full of those moments of beauty - and I am so thankful for those. Tyler has to work many extra hours this week to make up for the time he took off while Krystal was sick and in the hospital last week - and, despite my depression about that, I feel so much joy for the friends and family I have ... for the work that I have to do -- that gives me purpose.

Wow ... I really rambled on. Anyway - here's to a good book that made me ponder life. :) I highly recommend it. And ... be sure to play a piano today, too! ;)

So Glad to Be Home

Although Marissa was finished with the flu virus Tuesday morning, Krystal ended up in the hospital by Tuesday afternoon. Bless her heart. Thank heavens she bounces back quickly - and we were able to bring her home this evening. She is 100% - bouncy, chatty ... the exhausting works! :) I'll take that EVERY day, thank you! Much MUCH better than the scary lethargic, confused and jerky. The doctor informed us that we will pretty much end up in the hospital with our kids until age 7 or so if they get the flu. :(! (Krystal and Aaron both have been diagnosed with Ketotic Hypoglycemia.) So, although we have their diet under control ... so they don't just randomly wake up sick ... we can't ALWAYS prevent the flu bug from hitting.

Anyway ... all healthy now. Thanks for the help and prayers.

Frazzled ...

There's nothing better than cleaning up vomit at 4:00 in the morning. UGH!!!