You have to try this

I made a really good lunch for myself the other day: one spinach-herb wrap folded in half and filled with: some cooked chicken breast cut into small pieces; 1/2" slice of feta cheese, crumbled; some colby-jack and parmesan cheese shredded; fresh rosemary; black pepper.
I cooked it in a cast-iron skillet until the cheese was all hot and melted together and the wrap was browned and crisp. Delicious.

I hadn't ever made Baklava until about a month ago, and it was so good I'll be making it again someday soon.

Baklava
4 cups walnuts finely chopped (16 oz package)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 pkg Fillo pastry sheets (16 oz fresh or thawed)
1 cup melted butter
12 oz honey
Grease 13x9 pan. Mix walnuts, sugar and cinnamon. Place 1 sheet fillo in pan at a time and brush with butter. When there are 8 sheets in pan, sprinkle with 1 cup walnut mixture. Put 6 more layers of fillo and butter. Sprinkle with 1 cup walnut mixture. Repeat this process 2 more times, ending with 10 or 12 sheets fillo. Brush top with butter. With sharp knife cut halfway through layers in a triangle pattern to make 24 triangles. Bake at 300 for 1 hr 25 minutes.
Syrup: Heat honey until hot but not boiling. Spoon or pour over hot baklava. Cool in pan for at least an hour.
To serve, finish cutting through layers.
In my opinion, this is one dessert best enjoyed when it is fully cooled. It's just not as good when it's hot out of the oven, but I couldn't wait to taste it.

Day at the park

On Friday John didn't have to go into work so we went to a local park/zoo/conservatory.

Thanksgiving 2007

Jaina and Leanne model the lights John and Jerry put up for me. The job kept us up until 1:00 a.m. Yawn!! The pies: Pecan, chocolate pecan, two pumpin pies, sour cream-raisin in the blue-green dish, cranberry-apple-pecan, and apple squares.
The main dishes: green bean casserole, Swedish meatballs, cream cheese mashed potatoes, ham with mustard sauce, corn bread stuffing, traditional sage stuffing, cranberry sweet potatoes, turkey, squash, and cranberries.
Carrots, celery, olives, pickles, cream-cheese pudding cookie salad, jell-o salad, homemade rolls with homemade jams, and a pear-dried cranberry salad with vinegrette dressing. YUM.
The grandkids: Clayton, Nathan, Emily, Heather, Rebecca, Jaina, Neal, Leanne.
Front row l-r: Doug, Luke, Joel, Chet

Allergy visit

I took the boys down to La Crosse last week--Monday, Nov. 19. Three days before we were to have the entire family at our house for Thanksgiving. But John and I felt that Joel's allergies needed a bit more attention, so I took the first appointment we could get down there.
We stopped on our way to Brina and Jerry's to stay the night at Mom's work. Throw the cow over the fence some hay. That didn't come out quite right. We stayed the night with Jer and Brina, but first we stopped to see Mom at work. Got it? Good. So anyway, this is my beautiful Mom as you might have guessed, with Joel and Clayton. At her work. Tuesday Joel and I left for La Crosse at 8:15 a.m. His appointment was a 9:20. He got seven pricks on his arm, all representing different allergens. He's allergic to six of them, including cats, dogs, mold, and some trees. Not sure which trees that includes. He also had blood drawn, again, from his little arm. We still don't know the results of that test. Should find out next week. So anyway, that's a long introduction to this picture. After the appointment, we met Julie, Erin and her boys, and Brina with her boys at the hospital cafeteria. I used to live with Erin and Julie and it was so fun to have lunch with them again.
Our boys--Ethan (cutie Brina babysits), Clayton, Chet, Ty, Connor, and Joel. We even got a compliment from a perfect stranger about how well behaved they were. Whew!! Fooled another one!

Hunting and first snow

In preparation for going hunting this year, John bought a deer call. All the kids had to try it, and of course John needed to perfect his new-found talent. So for the next 45 minutes, it sounded like we had an extremely lonely buck in the house. One morning--Nov. 9 I think--we woke up to huge flakes of snow. Rebecca was off to school as always, and the boys had to get out in the snow too. Even wanted their shovels and had plans to make a snowman. Joel was quicker with a shovel than Clayton and had the entire garage apron cleared of it's 1/2" accumulation in a record 3 minutes. Clayton was pretty upset by that. And the snowman never did take on a physical form. He's still a dream in our kids' minds.

I may have mentioned before that we made four trips up to Grandpa John's house in a row. I get the medal this year for most loyal wife...four weekends in a row is a bit much for all of us. Anyway, on our last trip there (that'd be our fourth, for anyone who wasn't paying attention before...) we got to see eagles. I think they're eagles. Pretty sure. Or who knows, maybe they're flamingos. But anyway, neat.
While we were loading up the truck to come home Clayton fell asleep on the floor.

Well, what are you then?

I was getting lunch for the boys today and Clayton was sitting at the table waiting. He was staring off into space and then suddenly turned to me and asked rather indignantly, "Mom, why does Grandma Pam say I'm Darlin'? I'm NOT a darlin'." I tried to explain that it's a good thing...like Sweetheart or Punkin, but he still wasn't convinced. I asked him what he'd like to be, if not Darlin'. He muttered, "Just a boy."

Crazy kids...

This afternoon I'm reading a book, enjoying my quiet time while the boys napped. They wake up and immediately start wrestling with each other and to my eyes it looks like it's getting rough and someone's going to get hurt. Then Joel stands on Clayton's back and balances there and I'm grimacing inwardly, thinking we'll be making a trip to the emergency room this evening. I say to Joel, quite calmly, "You'd better be careful...I think you're hurting Clayton." And Clayton says in a thin little voice as his breath leaves him in a rush, "No I like it! Oof."

I took Joel to the La Crosse Allergy Clinic last week and while we were waiting for him to get poked, Joel said to me out of the blue, "When I get big I'm not going to have kids." Visions of grandchildren faded away and I asked him why not? "Because you have to feed them." Yes, that's generally required...So I got to thinking, maybe I make too big of a deal out of mealtimes? Granted, my boys want to eat literally ALL the time. They eat more than I do and I am in the kitchen all day long, preparing food or cleaning up. But maybe, just maybe, it's time I accept the fact that kids do need to eat, and since I'm their mother I do have to feed them...

Another thing he said to me was that he's going to marry Rebecca. Instead of getting into the in-breeding issue I just nodded and said "That's nice." He expanded on the issue: "Sometimes I feel bad that when I get big I won't live with Rebecca and Clayton anymore." So apparently, his solution is to marry Rebecca. I wonder where Clayton comes in? The ranch-hand, perhaps?

If you'll excuse me now, it's feeding time at the zoo.

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to my older brother Lee (November 18). He'll be...let's see, I have to do the math. He was born in 1972, so what does that make him? Okay I've got it...35. I hope you have a wonderful day Lee!
And a belated birthday to sis(-in-law, but who really cares about those two extra little words?) Brooke. I am sooo sorry I completely forgot your birthday. Can you forgive me?
And last, but not least (I hate that saying, not sure why I just typed it...) Happy Birthday to Amanda. She's officially 29 and holding.

Our little girl

I love her dimples.

Awhile ago I had to call the insurance company and the billing department of the urgent care I took Rebecca to (she'd had yet another bladder infection) because I thought we'd been billed in error. I was getting more and more upset because the insurance company said I had to call the clinic and the clinic said I had to call the insurance company. What I finally figured out was that if the urgent care is connected to a hospital, they have a right to charge whatever they want. Had I gone to a free-standing urgent care, we'd have only owed the co-payment. Luckily, I didn't go on the third Tuesday after a full moon because then we'd have really gotten charged. And watch out for those urgent cares that have automatic doors! Chances are, they're more expensive. It ended up that we owed the doctor's uncle and I bought the receptionists a fancy supper that night. Payed the light bill for the entire clinic, and the janitors too. Had I only known that a few bricks would make the difference between $100 and $20...no kidding. ANY way, the point of this story is that I was upset. Noticeably. The boys were napping and Rebecca knew I needed quiet time. (She didn't have school that day.) While I was reading a book, she was very busy writing me a letter. She gave me a pile of coins with the note.

To Mom and dad,

I am giving you this money becuase I want you to have it to keep becuase I know we are poor so I want you to keep this money so you are a few sens more so you can buy what you need and I don't give it back to me becuase we all have needs and you have a biger need then I do so keep it entell you need it and for if you need it. Love, Rebecca

I laughed and I cried: laughed because she thinks we're too poor to pay the bill--when really I'm just upset about the seeming injustice of it. Cried because she gave me all of her money. I love it when I can see a little bit into her mind, and I can see that she really is compassionate and caring, even if most of the time she comes off as having a terrible attitude.

Lately she has been very insecure for some reason. She constantly calls "Mom?" if she hasn't heard me moving around in the house. When I answer she says "I just wanted to make sure you're there." After awhile I get tired of it...where does she think I've gone? This is so unlike her--she's always been Miss Independent. I think it's just a stage she's going through, and I don't mind it (most of the time) because I'm reminded again that she's still just a little girl inside, not the almost-teenager she likes to pretend to be.

Boys playing

Tonight the boys are jumping on the couch downstairs, and I decided to start typing everything they say as they play. Here it is, almost word for word:
I’m a big boy. Boing!! Hehe. OWWWW. AHHH!! Uhuh. Now watch. Bounce-a bounce. Bounce-a bounce! Boing! It’s fun skating. Watch this Clayton. Watch. I did this! I went like this. Wight? Now watch. This is gonna be funny. Wight? He went like that. Now watch. The monster truck is going under the bridge and he doesn’t know the red car is coming! Boom. He’s going vroom-vroommmmmaama. Clayton, ‘member what we were doing? Where’s mine? AHHHHH! Now watch. I wanna do it. It’s fun. Can I do that? Fine. Then I’ll go on your side. Is the police comin’? Watch out!! OWWW! Whoa!! A donkey’s coming and I’m getting start up! I’ll say pa-chew! I’ll go whoa! And a squirrel is coming and it’s a talkin’ squirrel and a guy is walkin’…I slipped off of my kickboard!! Yeah! A cannonball comin'! Here I go! He was swimmin' and it bounces on the mountain. Wight? Now I'm gonna jump on 'kay? I'm gonna do bachew! And I fall on it like a mouse! Whoa whoa whoa!
This is all in about 5 minutes. Busy busy boys. And they really should be in bed. But how can I ruin their big fun?

Sunday drive

Sometimes John gets a wild hair and suggests that we drive down to Jer and Brina's for the afternoon. They live almost 3 hours from us. Makes for a short afternoon, but we try to pack in as much as possible. Rich and Judy decided to go too, so that was nice. The new house is really coming along. Eventually it won't look so top-heavy because there'll be a covered porch over the garage.
This is upstairs, where all the bedrooms will be.
Leanne, Brina, and Jaina
The view out Jaina and Em's bedroom window.
And I'd just like to pass along this tidbit: ladders and skirts and sisters and cameras mixed together equals an interesting picture. Make sure you're not the one on the ladder if you find yourself in this situation.

Saturday morning sunrise

Annual Post-Convention Ladies Brunch

Wonderful as always.Helpful tip: you never know when a portable, six-inch tripod will come in handy. I'd recommend you carry one in your purse at all times. Right next to the used Kleenix and emergency fruit snack pack.

Silly boys

I had been wondering why I was finding plastic bags all around the house until I saw this. Aha!! Mystery solved. The boys are Superman, and the bags make perfect capes. Just slip your arms through the handles and voila!! Singin', and singin'....
They've started wrestling (oh dear), and Clayton really gets into it, asking Joel "Wanna fight, Chicken? Huh?"

Relatives

Joel was in a huggy mood...he really took to Ben and Amanda and Aunt Pearl which I can totally understand because I love them too, but he just had to hug them all and share the love. Cuddle time with Aunt Pearl
Amanda's turn...
Monday morning, a quick picture before Rebecca had to get on the bus.
Clayton didn't want to join the group shot, as he prefers the entire spotlight.

Triplet's 40th Birthday

Arnold Cameron (born the evening of Oct 8, 1967), and John, Jim and Jerry. Arnold is considered the fourth triplet. Rich and Judy and "kids." Tom, John, Jim, Jerry, and Lori
A little to the left...Good!
Jerry made the comment that he felt like he and Arnold had just gotten married and were opening presents at their reception. Here's the happy couple...
Dad and Mom and Rebecca. Thanks for coming up again!! We love having you. I think it's our turn next time! Get the guest room ready.

Never a dull moment...

Captain Underwear even made an appearance Lor was trying on the shoes she won in Bingo. Mostly she was modeling them to show all of us how absolutely stylish they were. "Any takers? Anyone? Please?" They had lace ties. Fancy.
BINGO!!
Hark! Is that a smoke alarm I hear yonder?

Triplets

We had lunch at Olive Garden. Without kids. When can we do that again?
John and me Nichole and Jim
Jerry and Sabrina

Saturday morning photo shoot

Alright, everyone look snappy. Tucker, down boy!! Down! Go away. Smile!! And maybe you could open your eyes on the next one Clayton?
Just try to look natural.
Clayton, that's the neighbor's tree...oh, alright. But then get down!
Just smile one more time Joel?? Then we'll be done, I promise.