An Early BDay Laugh for Jess

Remember on "Baby Mama" When She Says "Is That Chocolate or Poop?"?

It was chocolate (Nutella, to be exact).




I've had some political things to say, but I found them put eloquently at other blogs, so have a gander: Learn about the mortgage crisis at Amy's blog. Learn about the Republican crisis at Brent's blog. So help me, I think I've become a Montana Libertarian!



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Sing Along with Amy Poehler's Sarah Palin Rap (click to watch--I can't get it to embed from the nbc site) from SNL 10/19/08


one two three
my name is sarah palin you all know me
vice president nominee of the gop
gonna need your vote in the next election
can i get a ‘what what’ from the senior section
mccain got experience, mccain got style
but don’t let him freak you out when he tries to smile
cause that smile be creepy--but when i be vp
All the leaders in the world gonna finally meet me

how’s it go eskimo(eskimos)
tell me what you know eskimo(eskimos)
how you feel eskimo(ice cold)
tell me tell me what you feel eskimo(super cold)

i’m jeremiah wright cause tonight i’m the preacha
i got a bookish look and you’re all hot for teacha
todd lookin fine on his snow machine
so hot boy gonna need a go between
in wasilla we just chill baby chilla
but when i see oil, let's drill baby drill
my country tis of thee
from my porch i can see
russia and such
all the mavericks in the house put your hands up
all the mavericks in the house put your hands up
all the plumbers in the house pull your pants up
all the plumbers in the house pull your pants up
when i say ‘obama’ you say ‘ayers’
obama. (ayers) obama (ayers)
i built me a bridge - it ain’t goin’ nowhere.(ohhh)
mccain, palin,
gonna put the nail in
the coffin
of the media elite (she likes red meat)
shoot a mother-lovin' moose, eight days of the week
[three gunshots] now ya dead, now ya dead,
cause i’m an animal, and i’m bigger than you...

yo i’m palin, i’m out!

Heidi is Hilarious

Today at naptime as I programmed the DVR, a commercial came on Nickelodeon about kids voting in the presidential election.


Heidi: I'm going to pick John McCain.
Me: Why?
Heidi: Because he's better.
Me: Better at what?
Heidi: He has a cute name
Me: Hm. What else.
Heidi: He looks like Santa.
Me: Ya think?
Heidi: Without a beard.


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Also, today I was sustained as Primary President (leader of about 40 kids) at church. This is the first time a calling has made me queasy--not because I hate it but because I feel the mantle, and I'm feeling a little Moses-ish about it.


However, today was the Primary Program (where the kids speak and sing in the main church meeting to share what they have learned so far in 2008) and my last day as chorister. It went really well, especially considering that (a) I missed all but one practice and (b) I had to open the program with President's remarks after being sustained for all of 10 minutes. Phew! You can bet I napped hard today!


Now Rich is gone to an Insurance Conference until Tuesday night and I'm wrangling the wee Melins on my own. I am hoping to get a handle on Primary this week (I am glad Stake Training Meeting is on Thursday) and have fun with my children in the gorgeous fall weather (it's 60 degrees!). What are your plans for the week?


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PS: Here are some awesome quotes about children I used in my message today...


“We must be so careful in speaking to a child. What we say or don't say, how we say it and when is so very, very important in shaping a child's view of himself or herself. But it is even more important in shaping that child's faith in us and their faith in God. Be constructive in your comments to a child—always. Never tell them, even in whimsy, that they are fat or dumb or lazy or homely. You would never do that maliciously, but they remember and may struggle for years trying to forget—and to forgive…[P]lease know that your Father in Heaven loves you and so does His Only Begotten Son. When They speak to you—and They will—it will not be in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but it will be with a voice still and small, a voice tender and kind.12 It will be with the tongue of angels. May we all rejoice in the thought that when we say edifying, encouraging things unto the least of these, our brethren and sisters and little ones, we say it unto God.”-Jeffrey Holland, April 2007

I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve the children of our ward. I know that Heavenly Father will use them to teach me to be more like Jesus. And I will always strive to show His love to them, to bring them closer to Him. This is a sacred trust. As President Hinckley taught us,

"Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interest in these little ones. Now, love them, take care of them...welcome them into your homes and nurture and love them with all of your hearts.”

Speaking of fall...Rich and Me at the London Temple last month

Some Family Stuff...

1. Remember THIS LITTLE BABY? Well, it's a boy and he's growing in my SIL Kristen's tummy and we can't wait to see him! I mentioned him last post, but I wasn't sure I made it clear that he was THE LITTLE BABY I was so excited about last summer.
So, if you're keeping score at home, I'll be getting a niece from my sis Dana, then a nephew from my brother Sam, then a NIECE from Rich's brother Jess (YAY!), and we're hoping for another nephew (but we'll take another cute girl, right?) from Rich's brother Mark. Woo-hoo! What a spring time that will be!
2. Speaking of nieces and nephews...my nephew, EVAN turns EIGHT today!

Happy Birthday, Evan!

Thursday in Helena

Since all my Montana sibs are working too hard (both Laura & Darrin work, and both Matt & Amie work and Matt goes to school), and since my kids are out of school, we took a field trip to visit our Helena cousins and deliver Halloween- and Euro-booty on Thursday. We left home at 9am and got there around 11am, in time to share treats and have a picnic lunch! Aunt Laura (Rola), Jared, Addie, Sam, Jake, Heidi, and Gabriel enjoying some Halloween treats (I thought I got Matt in that photo, but apparently not!)
Jake & Heidi were so happy to be reunited!
Sammy likes chocolate pumpkins!
James was excited to ride the mountain goat at the Great Northern Carousel. Believe it or not, I think this is his frist time on the Carousel!
Sammy and his Daddy
Heidi, Jake & Jared spinning!

Addie on her sea horse
James checking out his reflection in the pole
"WEEEEEEEE!"
Heidi & an otter
Outside the carousel, we climbed on rocks and wildlife statues...
Addie, Jared, and James on a bear
James, Addie and Jake mauling a bear (isn't that a cute bear? I love it!)


Jake dashed away as I took this group shot by the bear
Addie and an otter
Uncle Matt helped the kids go bouldering...look at my baby James up there!
Jared and the goat

Sammy jumping boulders
Addie riding a bear
One last turn on the carousel...Jared rides a wolf
Addie on a horse

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We said good bye to Postums at the Carousel (Amie had to work, Matt had homework) and took Jared back to his house (where Darrin was preparing to go to work and Laura was on her way home from work). It was a quick trip, but so much fun. I loved spending time with my kids in the car (really!) and seeing my cute nephews again. We love you guys! Come see us, and get ready for another AWESOME Christmas party (let me know about dates!) The kids were so good on the way home! I got them some drinks and trail mix out of the trunk and we listened to the radio as we drove. They fell asleep just before the turn off at Three Forks and slept all the way home, so I had a nice 40-minute chat with Aunt Marti on the cell phone (mostly discussing the calling I will be sustained to tomorrow at church), and we got home the same time as Rich! PERFECT! I heart my fam! XOXO

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PS: We bought a Select Comfort bed on Wednesday night, so Rich is building a little platform for it right now. I can't wait to sleep on it! We'll save the ol' Stearns and Foster for the guest house at the ranch :)

Another Heidism

Monday night, Heidi laying on our bedroom floor (I have banned her from the bed)

Heidi: Chinese kids say 'moshakomaguchi' when they have bad dreams. Know what that means?
Me: (groggily) No, what?
Heidi: It means 'Lay by me.'
Me: Hmmm, where did you learn that?
Heidi: In Spanish class.

Hot Meal for a Cold Day

I keep losing this recipe on my computer, so I am going to post it here, then I can find it and you can, too!

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RL Ranch Cookhouse Chili

2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, coarsely chopped, plus more for garnish (optional)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 to 2 teaspoons chili powder
3 tsp brown sugar (Optional--this gives a more barbecue-ish flavor)
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 pound ground beef
One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, crushed
One 15-ounce can kidney beans, not drained
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Grated cheddar, for serving (optional)
Sour cream, for serving (optional)
Chopped onion, for serving (optional)

-Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add garlic and onion, and cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add cumin and chili powder; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
-Add beef, and cook until browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add green pepper, and cook for 2 minutes.
-Add tomatoes, beans and their liquid, and cook until thickened, 35 to 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.


Just Like Marie’s Cornbread

SERVES 6
1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/3 cup oil

Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl.
Mix wet ingredients in another bowl; then combine with dry and stir till combined. Pour into ungreased 8x8” pan and bake 20-25 min at 400°F.

More Than a Week Ago...

...1. we took down this cute sign that the kids made for us with Grandma.2. It was my brother Sam's 31st birthday (Yay, Sam) and this week he found out that his wife is carrying a MAN child (Yay, Seamus)

3. While Daddy was at Priesthood meeting, we put up the Halloween decorations and the kids dressed up in last year's costumes.
Sillies!
Eerie orange lights and spiders' webs in the front window
Bee, Punkin & Ladybug LOVE!

Monday: FHE with Geese

For Family Night, we went to the firefighter's pancake supper, then we took some leftover pancakes across the street to the lagoon and fed the crazy geese.


It was so beautiful...

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Tuesday night, Addie did her reading time with her siblings and it was so cute (she's so "teacher-ish" and bossy with them, but they all LOVE it).

Friday: Cookie Stealers

Heidi trying to look innocent with cookie on her mouth
Gotcha!
Heidi reading to James
Cookie Stealers being silly

Saturday in Bozo

It started snowing late Thursday night and it didn't stop until Sunday morning, so we were a little concerned about Richard being in charge of the Emergency Prep Fair in Bozeman (which is only 20 miles away, but through a mountain pass). We drove over Friday night and stayed at the Comfort Inn there with the kids. We swam and ordered pizza and watched ET while Rich set up Friday night, and then we dropped him off at the Stake Center early Saturday morning and had tons of fun in Bozo (well, as much fun as we coudl have as we were coming down with colds).

First we picked out Halloween costumes--this is the first year I copped out and bought them instead of getting creative or buying them the year before, but it's been a busy summer and fall, y'all! So Ad chose a bride costume, Heidi chose a Super Girl costume (and it is SO HER!), and James chose a knight costume (his costume didn't come with a sword, which makes me so sad that we decided against buying the little wooden one at the souvenir shop at Edinburgh Castle!).

Next, we went to Target and got some new snow gear for Heidi and James. Of course Heidi wandered off like she ALWAYS does at Target, but we found her snarfing Oreos after a brief CODE YELLOW (Thanks, Target employees). I wish Target had a clink for naughty kids. Anyway, we used James' birthday gift card from Nana to take some of the sting out of buying two new coats and a pair of snowpants (and two of those adorable $5 Halloween shirts--so cute!).

After Target, we spent an hour at The Children's Museum of Bozeman, which recently moved into a Bavarian-looking building SE of where it used to be. The kids had tons of fun there...

Addie sticking her face over the wind machine
hilarious!
I couldn't tear James away from the Isle of Sodor train set!
(next time you see him, make him say "Sir Top'em Hat"--you won't be disappointed!)
Heidi liked coloring and spinning the rice wheels
Addie had fun on the i-macs playing Kaleido-draw.
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After the museum, we met Daddy at the Stake Center and had lunch there. From 2-3pm, we helped him clean up the fair, and then we left for home (we were worried the pass would be closed, but we made it!)

My little sleepies on the way home
How Bozeman Pass looked on Saturday afternoon.