2012

Well, wasn't that year a doozy! 

As Teresa once said, "My didn't saw that one coming!"  If you're still visiting this little blog and keeping up with our lives, thanks for sticking it out.  

The word that comes to mind for 2012 is SURVIVAL.  I figure I spent a good 10 out of these past 12 months just surviving.  First, adding a fourth child to the mix (which always takes a little adjustment), then losing our nephew Luke just 6 weeks after, then finding out about Rachel's skull at the end of April, followed by illnesses and difficult losses for several friends . . . so often I found myself with nothing more to say than, "UGH."  I gave up trying to recover from one blow before the next one hit.  My prayer became figuratively throwing my hands into the air and mentally exclaiming, "Blahhhh!" 

No words left. 

That's OK.  God knows our needs even if we can't put them into words.  How do I know that?  He never stopped taking care of me or those I love.

At one point early in the summer, my focus was making it through the day. If I could still physically stand up straight with the fear and anxiety that was raging through me, well, that was a good day.  One day CM friend Sarah posted this on her Facebook page. 

 

That was it. 

Maybe there was more to life than merely making it through the day.  Thanks to a little extra encouragement from my mom and a little added help from my friend Zoloft, things started to look up.  (We have since parted ways for the time being, but I have to say once again that modern medicine is a wonderful thing.) 

This year was mostly SO, SO tough.  There were so many situations I didn't want to be in, conversations I didn't want to be having, things I didn't want to be thinking about. . . but,  

thankfully, God's GRACE is SUFFICIENT in our weakness.  In everyone of those situations, I came out stronger on the other side. 

As Glennon at Momastery so aptly puts it, life is "brutiful"--a blending of BRUTAL and BEAUTIFUL. 

For all of the tough stuff, there really was so much beautiful--watching all of Rachel's "firsts" and some of the big 3's "firsts," too,  our vacation to Minnesota in June, the family weddings and celebrations, the gift of ordinary days . . . .  so, so much beauty. 

More than any of us could ever deserve. 

As we jump into 2013,

I hope we will all dream a little bigger,

endure the brutal

and embrace the beautiful.

 

I also hope you will keep stopping by.

More adventures await!

 

Dec. 28

How have your "leftover" days been treating you?  Ours have been quite the opposite of lazy, that is for sure!

Yesterday, David won the Husband and Father of the Year Award.  (Whew!  That was close!)  I had planned to go to Aberdeen and take Teresa with me, but at the last minute she decided she wanted to stay home.  David told me to take my time and enjoy my present from him (uninterrupted shopping with shopping money).  I did and it was WONDERFUL!  I did my part to help Aberdeen's economy (I'm always willing to help out), and came home to find the boys' beds bunked with the former office shelves moved into their room.  Teresa had scored a couple of cabinets from the office, too.  All of the big kids had "new" living spaces and they were so excited. 

Today I got into the mode of cleaning, organizing, and pitching, too.  If you weren't enjoyable to look at, useful, or had sentimental value, you didn't stand much of a chance around here today.  It feels SO good to get organized and ready for the new year! 

 

 

But . . . before we march into 2013, let's take a look back at Christmas 2012!!!

First, we have Melius Christmas.  We have our Santa Baby Rachel, the girl cousins (missing Lydia), John, Jodi, and Avery sharing the Christmas story, the boys' combines from Grandpa, and Dad helping Landen build a very complicated ship model Uncle John brought back from China.  It took him several hours to finish.  It obviously clouded Dad's judgement as he told Nathan he could have Mountain Dew before bed!  Nathan loves it when such opportunities arise!

Here we have Christmas in Eureka with the Joachims.  Just a cute closeup of Rachel, Rachel kissing Nathan, the grandkids with Papa Butter and Grandma Shirley, Landen's FAVORITE present, Aunt Amanda with her nieces and nephews, and Teresa with her new doll that came with matching jammies (they make such a cute pair)!

 Finally, we have Christmas Day at home!  Teresa got a Doodle Bear, Nathan tried out the gift bag, Rachel got into the fun and loved her new phone from cousin Lydia, the big kids kept the secret of a new farm picture for Dad, and Landen got what he asked for--a power strip, which came with the added bonus of an extension cord!  What more could a boy ask for? 

We hope you, too, had a most blessed Christmas with those you love most!

Stack of Facts

One of these days, I'll get a new fancy schmancy Christmas collage posted, but I just spent an hour going through all of the photos and, well, I feel a hankering for a Christmas cookie coming on.  (I must wean myself off the constant sugar intake gradually after the Christmas grazing.) 

Instead, I will leave you with this stack of treasures that Landen received.  After he opened Life's Imponderables at my mom and dad's, he was done opening presents because he was too busy reading!  I love it!

Happy Christmas Vacation!

Ever since we returned from Rochester, all I have wanted is one thing for our Christmas vacation--all of my little chicks together, gathered around the EdenPure heater (no fireplace here), drinking mugs of hot chocolate and singing Christmas carols as we all smile adoringly at each other.

Enter REAL life today after the school Christmas parties at the VERY start of Christmas vacation. . . .
Nathan and Teresa hitting and yelling at each other because Teresa isn't moving out of Nathan's seat.
Teresa screaming her head off because Landen's book bag is in her way.  This continues while I run into the Cenex to discover . . .
the gas station completely out of Cenex cards and I only had 1 more to get! 
Landen whining that he has no idea what he will do all Christmas vacation.
Me finding out halfway home that the gift card Landen took for his teacher never made it to school and he has no idea where it is.
Me trying another Cenex (no gifts cards there either) to return to find Teresa and Landen fighting over a book.
Getting stuck by the mailbox and having to shovel myself out before I can enter my driveway.
Rachel waking up from her nap as soon as we came in the door.  (Shocking, since all of her siblings are SO quiet.)
Landen telling me he is in a "living nightmare" because he has too much responsibility in life.
(Son, it's only going to get worse.) 
If we follow our history, someone will be puking by Christmas morning, too. 

But, it doesn't matter.  Sure, we will never have that PERFECT Christmas, but NO ONE EVER HAS.  Someone once painted the idea they had in their head, but that portrait only existed in an imagination.  Thousands of photographers have staged fake family holidays for their magazine pages, but they were never real. 

No,  I am afraid "Silent Night" around the EdenPure in 4-part harmony is not going to happen.  But, it really doesn't matter.  The most important part of my dream Christmas vacation is HERE--all of us are together in our loud, crazy, messy, imperfect glory.  I am all too aware that there are many, many families (my extended family included) who are not blessed with such a gift, whether it be that members have passed away or are just not able to come home to be together. 

No, none of us will have a PERFECT Christmas, but that doesn't mean that it can't still be wonderful.  No matter what have lost or are missing, we all still have an abundance of things to hold close and celebrate . . . as loud, crazy, messy, and imperfect as those may be!  :o)

Snowman Kits

Tomorrow Teresa and I will go to Nathan's class to help with the Christmas party.  We hope they like these Snowman Kits that we made as part of their snack!

Kid (and Mom) Friendly Treats

Are you looking for a fun and simple tasty Christmas treat to make with your kids? 

Try these Minty Marshmallows! 

1.  Put your child who most enjoys destruction on the job of crushing candy canes with a meat tenderizer (or another destructive kitchen tool).

2.  Have another more gentle-natured child unwrap and stick mini candy canes into the top of marshmallows.

3.  While your kids are busy, melt 1/2 bag of white (or chocolate, if you prefer) chips.  Add about a teaspoon of shortening before melting.  I like to do mine in a makeshift double boiler.  I use a metal bowl on top of a saucepan of hot water.  This keeps them melted until the project is complete. 

4.  Dip the bottom of each into the melted chocolate and then dip in the crushed candy canes.

5.  Eat right away, wrap up as gifts, or use as a pretty centerpiece for your table!

Our Birthday Girl

. . . from our supper on Friday night and Rachel's birthday dinner on Sunday afternoon. 

After I put her to bed on Friday night, I swore she even LOOKED bigger. 

Happy Birthday, Rachel!

Special Guest

Guess what!  The special guest at Story Hour was Santa!  Teresa wasn't the only one who was surprised.  I guess when you are 3-5 years old, you just don't see that coming so far away from Christmas. :o) 

Teresa was happy to sit on Santa's lap, but she couldn't think of anything she wanted.  Santa said he would surprise her. 

Rachel took a turn at the end.  If she could have asked for anything at that time, it probably would have been a nap.  The little stinker didn't think she needed a morning nap before we left for the library on her birthday!

More birthday photos to come . . . .

Busy, busy, busy . . .

It has been quite a busy week, as you can probably tell by my lack of blogging! 
Packages have been arriving daily, evidence of my online shopping therapy while in the hospital.  Most of it was Christmas shopping, so I had a good excuse! 
I did the bulk of my shopping online again this year.  Zulily.com is one of my new favorite sites, as is Ebates.com.  I really do prefer the real life, tangible shopping, but that is just not realistic at this point in my life.  There is just one gift I am kind of concerned about arriving on time . . . one that we ordered on Monday.  It's not the end of the world if it doesn't get here.  The tooth fairy always has good excuses for not arriving when she should.  I'm sure Santa can come up with a good one if need be, too, if he has to deliver one present a little late! 
Christmas cards are in the works.  I can't wait to see them--they have been done in Aberdeen since Sunday, but I won't be able to get there until Saturday to get them.  (I was not anticipating this busy week when I placed the order.) :o) 
I took a road trip on Tuesday with friend Roxanne and four of our children to Eureka.  Our ultimate goal was to pick up the pig our families will be consuming over the next year.  With the promise of Subway near the end of the trip, it went very well! 
Yesterday was the boys' school Christmas concert in the afternoon.  Our evening was spent in our 2nd (and final) rehearsal for the All Saints Advent Program on Sunday!
Today we are entertaining a little named Ezra.  It's been a wonderful day!  He liked us right away and Teresa has had fun having another one year old around to mother.  :o) 
Along with all of these things, there have also been preparations for Miss Rachel's birthday tomorrow!  The girls and I will go to Story Hour in the morning.  They are expecting an unnamed Special Visitor at the library.  Teresa does not expect it to be Santa.  She asked me if I know of a new guy who moved to Faulkton who may be stopping by!  She will be, I hope pleasantly, surprised.
We will have a birthday supper with Grandma and Grandpa Melius and then will have Rachel's 1st Birthday Party on Sunday with grands, aunt Amanda, godparents, and god-siblings . . . (god-cousins)?  Whatever you call them, we will have a lot of children here and it is sure to be fun! 
After that party, we will skedaddle back to church for the Advent Program at 4pm!
So, yes, it has been a BUSY week, but it's all good stuff.  We've been happy (except for Nathan when he has to put on his boots) and healthy (except for a few runny noses).  No complaints here. 

When the Weather Outside is Frightful . . .

a cup of homemade hot chocolate is so delightful!

 

Homemade Hot Chocolate

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cup white sugar (more if you prefer a less dark chocolate taste)

a pinch of salt

2/3 cup boiling water

7 cups milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

whipped cream

 

Combine the cocoa, sugar, and salt in a saucepan.  Blend in the boiling water.  Bring this mixture to an easy boil while stirring.  Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes.  Watch that it does not scorch.  Stir in milk and heat until hot, but do not boil!  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Ladle into mugs and garnish with whipped cream.  Makes about 8 servings.

Refrigerate any leftover hot chocolate and make a delicious morning mocha latte the next day!

Make that 3 Front Teeth!

 

Grinch Cookies

 

 

Here's a new holiday recipe from Landen.  The third grade class had a student teacher for a few weeks named Miss Togel.  Thursday was her last day and she brought Grinch Cookies to share with the class.  Landen said they were SOOOO good that he brought the recipe home with him!

Last night, the boys worked together to make their own Grinch Cookies.  They are really good and we think you will like them, too!

Grinch Cookies

Mix together:

1 dry white cake mix

2 eggs

green food coloring (as Grinchy as you'd like)

6 T butter

 

Mix below in a small bowl:

powdered sugar (a cup or so)

1 tsp. corn starch

 

Make small balls of dough and roll them in powdered sugar mix.  Bake at 375 for 9-10 minutes.

 

 

Around the Christmas Tree

This is, without a doubt, the prettiest tree I have ever had. 

I know my mom wouldn't be offended by this statement.  The tree we had growing up, God bless that tree, could have been used in the off season as a giant green toilet scrubber.  It always looked cute decorated, but it was nothing short of a miracle.

David and I bought a real tree the first year we were married since I had never had a real tree and I really thought I wanted one.  I was wrong.  It wasn't that pretty of a tree and it dried up before New Year's Eve.  Let's not even mention the mess pine needles make.

I purchased a nice artificial tree the next year, which lasted us until last year.  Every year a few branches broke off and last year we didn't even put the bottom row on it.

This year I decided to take the plunge and buy a tree to fit our vaulted living room ceilings.  My big Black Friday purchase was a 12' tree.  Sister-in-law Angela and Aunt Darla filled my cart with purple and silver accents.  With lots of help from David (I can't reach the top even with a ladder) and our own loved ornaments, it made one big beautiful tree.

I love it so much, I just might keep it up year round. 

I love it . . . and I have no idea where I am going to store it.

 Here is just a sampling of some favorite ornaments.  Every year each child receives an ornament that goes with one of their interests or milestones for the year. 

Gingerbread Time

As I log more years as a wife and mom, it is fun to see each year which recipes stand the test of time in our family. 

This recipe for Semi-Homemade Gingerbread Cookies is one of those keepers.  It starts with a store-bought sugar cookie mix and the dough rolls out very easily.  These cookies taste just like "real" gingerbread cookies and have a soft texture, too.

Hand your assistant cookie decorator a can of frosting with built-in sprinkles and you are good to go!

All Nathan Wants for Christmas . . .

is a Nintendo DS, but he would have better luck asking for his two front teeth!

Monday

It is Monday after a wonderful weekend on the MOVE!

Our trip to Rochester with all four kiddos went very well.  We arrived at St. Marys Hospital early Friday afternoon.  We first checked out the elevator, then we showed them the toy rooms, Rachel's room, and the hospital chapel.  Our South Dakota farm boys nearly got stuck in the rotating hospital door, but once we got them to keep moving FORWARD, all was well. :o)
After that, we continued to our appointment with Dr. Bite at the Mayo Building downtown.  The Plastic Surgery department is on the 12th floor, but that wasn't quite high enough.  We took them up to the 19th floor and we spent a long time admiring the view of the city below.
Rachel had a great check up and we won't have to return for another visit until the spring.  Then they will want to see her progress after a year and once before she starts Kindergarten.  I am OK with that.  With the big event behind us, it doesn't bother me to come back for occasional check ups. Especially now that we know familiar faces and places, it makes for much less stressful visits.  Besides, there is a lot of great untapped shopping left for me to do in Rochester--I just know it. :o) 
Our road trip involved visits to all of the Melius aunts, uncles, and cousins.  It is quite convenient having family placed along the way and we are thankful for the fun times we spent with them all!

Yesterday I was able to conclude the weekend with the Christmas on the Prairie Concert in Hoven.  What a beautiful way to begin this season of Advent!

Now it is time to unpack . . . and put those suitcases away for awhile!

It's good to be back home again!

Sisters

I thought I'd post a little update to show Rachel's progress toward healing.  Now that the secondary stuff is under control (did I mention the strep throat, stomach bug, and molars last time?) her body can concentrate on the most important thing!

We are doing well and preparing for our post-op check up trip.

Next up, baby sister will be getting ready to turn 1!!

Rochester Recap

Here are photos of Rachel the day after surgery until we came home.  The big one was taken on Thanksgiving morning.  I thought she looked really good that day--she looks much better now!  The swelling goes down a little each day. 
After a checkup with our family doctor on Wednesday, we were blessed to have several days of Thanksgiving celebration. This is our first full day at home.  Can I just tell you how great it is to not have the surgery lurking in the back of my mind or to not have to mention "Rachel's surgery" in the future tense anymore????  It is ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!!  I don't think it was an accident that our journey with Rachel's craniosynostosis from diagnosis to surgery covered an entire GROWING season.  Our faith and trust certainly grew in those months.  Again, we are so thankful for all of the prayers said for our family along the way! 
We will return to Rochester for her post-op check up on Friday.  We will be taking all four kids so they can see the hospital and Mayo Clinic, and meet one of Rachel's surgeons.  I wonder what kinds of questions the boys will have prepared for Dr. Bite! 
As promised, here is a photo of the hospital chapel.  It was quite a walk from our room to the chapel, but I still managed to get down there a few times and attend Sunday mass.  What a blessing to have such a beautiful place to pray right in the hospital!

Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

I am working on a photo collage from our time in Rochester.  Until then, I wanted to share a song that was a big part of my week.  In all things, give thanks.  We all have 10,000 reasons.
God bless your Thanksgiving!!!

Going as Planned

I have been updating in short bursts via Facebook since we arrived in Rochester.  If you are interested in the vital information prior to surgery (Jimmy John's did NOT put mayo on David's sandwich when we were actually on the Mayo Clinic campus!) or during (procedure times, etc.), check my page or send me a friend request if we are not yet "friends."  :o)
It is true--God gives us the grace for WHAT IS.  Handing Rachel to the doctors on Wednesday morning happened without a tear shed on any of our behalfs.  We saw most of our "people" on Tuesday, but the surgeons and anesthesia team stopped in again before the surgery.  I felt completely safe sending Rachel in, and after the Valium they probably could have taken her to the moon and she wouldn't have cared! 
We received updates about every 2 hours and the surgery actually was a little shorter than anticipated.  Dr. Bite (plastic surgeon) had told us a couple of times beforehand that if it went longer, we should not worry.  He was just making her head the best it could be.  When the Child Life Specialist (staff members who keep the hospital environment as home-like as possible for children) found out we had Drs. Wetjen (pediatric neurosurgeon) and Bite, she said we were in the BEST possible hands.  Good to hear even if she was just making a nervous mama a little more calm!
In the midst of surgery, my FB friend Sarah became a real friend when she met us in the cafeteria on her lunch break.  It was a very welcome diversion and so nice to finally meet her!  There are a couple of other Rochester FB Catholic Moms that I still hope to meet before we leave.  We also wandered the halls and checked out the gorgeous St. Mary's Hospital "chapel," which rivals the St. Joseph Cathedral in Sioux Falls.  I was able to get some great pictures with the light streaming in yesterday afternoon and will post those sometime. 
We were also told about the hospital library and I checked out a book there.  Back in Junior High, we were assigned a historical book report and my mom suggested a book called The Mayo Brothers.  I remember reading it and being fascinated by these doctors I previously had heard nothing about.  That book is the reason I STILL always buy iodized salt because I learned from that book that it can prevent goiter!  Who wants a goiter if you can prevent it? :o)  It was probably also the reason that the day our family doctor suggested a CT scan last spring that my first thought was, "If there is a problem, we will go to Mayo."  Can you believe it?  That book was right inside the library entrance.  Totally unexpected, I know!  I re-read it to refresh my memory of Rochester's medical history.  I actually remembered parts of it from the first time.
I was glad when we got the call that closing started at a little after 3pm, but it was still about 8-9 hours total until they were ready to bring her into the ICU.  Rachel didn't have any recovery room time, so she arrived plugged into a lot of things.  They decided to keep her intubated through the night to help her rest and she did just fine getting extubated yesterday morning. 
I finally got to hold her mid-morning yesterday, but she didn't really wake up until afternoon when she cried, rolled over in her crib, stood on my lap, and started playing with my sticky name tag.  It only lasted a few minutes until she was tired again, but it was a glimpse of our Rachel.  Her swelling increased throughout the day (as Dr. Wetjen told us it would way back in July).  She could still open her left eye last night, but it looks like today will be the day when they are both swollen.  Even with her swollen little face yesterday, everyone (even the young male residents) were saying how cute she is.  I just told them to wait until she looks like herself again! She's at least in the top 4 of the cutest babies ever in the world--I am sure. :o)
We were moved to the regular Peds floor yesterday afternoon, so I slept (actually quite well) in Rachel's room last night.  David came back at about 6am this morning and we had a changing of the guard.  Our hotel is literally across the street, so I came back for some breakfast and to throw in a load of laundry.  That being said, it is about time to throw it in the dryer!
Thank you for all of your prayers.  Now we just sit and rock and wait for healing.  Please also send up a prayer for the families who are struggling with critically ill children who will be in the ICU for much longer!!
  

Two Parts Excitement/One Part Fear

We made it!  It's my birthday week.  Tomorrow I will be 34! 
More importantly, tomorrow is the day David, Rachel and I leave for Rochester for Rachel's surgery on Wednesday morning.  When we chose Nov. 14, I wasn't sure it was going to be a good birthday present to leave on my birthday for such an occasion, but now I feel that it is a great gift from God.  Today I am two parts excited to have this experience behind us and one part scared, but I think that's just part of being a mom. :o) 
I was thinking the other day, 1 year ago, I was becoming VERY anxious about giving birth to my fourth baby. I was more anxious about labor and delivery with Rachel than with any other of my children.  I had already done it three times and I knew it was going to hurt.  Bad.  To add to it, we knew this baby grew a bit bigger than the rest.  Even so, I didn't want to have an epidural.  I had one with Teresa that didn't really work and for some reason I just wanted to do it on my own.  My birth plan became prayers and I asked for them wherever I could get them.  We all know how it turned out.  Our baby girl came in just 4 hours with only prayers as pain medication.  Oh, it wasn't pain free at all, but they got me through.
So, today I guess I'm just excited to see how God's grace will become apparent to us this week.  He led us to our doctors in Rochester, let Rachel grow a bit more before surgery, and every single time I have felt scared or overwhelmed these past several months, He always send me encouragement in one way or another.  If you are reading this, you were probably one of the people God worked through to comfort or encourage me at some point and you didn't even know it. 
I know that this could be a much more serious surgery and I am thankful that it isn't.  I always have been thankful for that.  It doesn't help that I have a general fear of surgery anyway.  I'm not sure what the technical phobia is for that, but I have it.  At least we know that I don't have Munchhousen's by Proxy (sp?) (where a parent will put his/her child through medical procedures for attention) nor will I seek out extensive plastic surgery when I am older. 
(Well, maybe I'll keep Dr. Bite's card handy for a few birthdays down the road . . . just in case.)  :o)
I'd like to leave you all with a quote from our good old furry friend Grover.  "Hey, do not shout!  This kind of situation does not call for freaking out!  Wabba, wabba, wabba, and a woo, woo, woo!" 
See you next time from Rochester . . . .

Fun with Words

I acknowledge that my blog writing has been a bit light as of late, but I've been busy with some new words in my life.
I still love you, my little blog, don't worry.  :o)
When I returned from the MN wedding, I suggested to my husband that a Kindlefire would be an excellent birthday present for his wife.  He agreed!  As luck would have it, the HD was available the week I was ordering it!
I had to download Angry Birds, just because, but my favorites are still Seven Little Words, and now, Words with Friends.  I am good with words, but not particularly good at Scrabble (as the scores on my various games will prove).  I'm still having fun being challenged by my friends and learning how to be a more competitive player.
When I haven't been playing around with words on the Kindle, I have been playing Grammar Police.  I applied for a freelance copy editing position last month and Dakotafire Media wanted me for the job! 
I am such a grammar/spelling/punctuation nerd.  As soon as I received my online copy of the AP Stylebook, I was like a farmer reading his new tractor manual.  Copy editing is actually something I have wanted to do for some time, but thought I would have to be a reporter first.  I still may do some freelance reporting, but the copy editing will come first.  I've only worked a few hours so far.  I am excited for my future responsibilities with their print magazine and website.  If you'd like to see the work they are doing from Frederick SD, check out www.dakotafire.net.
By the way, I only copy edit when I am on the job.  I do not edit any e-mails, letters, cards, or any other notes you may send me!  I would also appreciate it if you returned the favor and didn't copy edit my blog.  I know I can get kind of sloppy sometimes (and I don't always follow AP rules). :o) 
Until next time, feel free to challenge me to a game of Words with Friends.  You will probably win!

Nathan's 7th Birthday

Nathan turned 7 on Saturday!  We celebrated several times.  Grandma Melius made him a pile of birthday "cakes" for this birthday--complete with trick candles.  He LOVED it!  Later that night, we had his "angel" cake for dessert.  On Sunday, we had a joint birthday dinner with grandparents, aunts & uncles, and godparents. 

It was a feast fit for my 7 and 5 year olds and inlcuded all of their favorite foods . . . hot dogs, macaroni and cheese (boxed, of course), sugar rice, deviled eggs, tomato soup (out of a can), cheesy chips (Doritos), and jello. 

Nathan told me it was the best birthday dinner ever!  He said there were so many of his favorite foods, he didn't know what to pick.  It was quite a combination, but I had a hunch that it would make his day.   

Happy Birthday, Nater!  You still bring the life to our family party and we're thankful for it.

WWBD (or What Would Brick Do?)

 

Whew!  We made it through the Teresa's birthday/Halloween combo with sufficient happy memories made once again. 

Teresa opened her Barbie and Barbie car before brothers went to school.  Grandpa and Grandma Melius joined us for birthday muffins later in the morning.

Costumes were pretty easy this year, thanks to a large supply of FREE choices: a past costume (skunk), a handmade item my aunt Paulette had made for her boys (mummy), a well-timed birthday present from grandparents (Tinkerbell with a tutu extension we found in storage), and a little creativity from mom (road atlas/GPS).

Landen has issues with costumes.  He's not big into Homecoming festivities either because he is opposed to looking "ridiculous."  We were two days out from Halloween and he still hadn't decided on anything.  I told him he had to be SOMETHING, but I was not going to spend a lot of money on a costume. 

Farmer?  Golfer?  Old Man?  No.

He didn't even go for covering himself in fake spider webs and calling himself "Spider Man."  I was sure he would go for the clever word play on that one!

So, I turned and thought about Brick.  (You know--the bookworm from The Middle.)  What would Brick do?

He would dress as his obsession--a book. 

What is Landen's obsession?

Maps.

So, I turned and asked, "How about we cover you with maps from an old road atlas?"

He thought that was a GREAT idea!

Thank you, writers from The Middle, for creating a character who can be so much like my son!

And, so, our costumes were done.

After birthday observations in the morning, the rest of our day was spent at Nathan's 1st grade Halloween party, doing a little trick or treating and playing at Uncle Daryl and Aunt Darla's house after school, attending All Saints Day mass, and then trick or treating in Cresbard with the boys.  (Teresa's behavior at church earned her an early bedtime--even on her birthday. 

"Don't worry,"  I heard Nathan whisper to her, "I'll get you some candy.") 

We went to bed happy and with tummies full of chocolate, thanks to my boys!

Orange Poppy Seed Muffins

I found this recipe in one of my favorite cookbooks.  Ironically, the recipe included neither orange nor poppy seeds!  So, I added them myself.  I suspect grated orange peel would also be yummy, but I didn't have any real oranges on hand!  They have a very light flavor and texture. 

Teresa and I made a thin orange juice and powdered sugar glaze to top them.

 

Orange Poppy Seed Muffins

2 1/4 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 1/4 cup oil

1 cup milk

1/2 cup orange juice (prepared--NOT solid concentrate)

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1-2 T poppy seeds (depending on your preference)

 

Mix sugar and eggs in a medium-sized bowl; add oil.  Add remaining ingredients to the batter.  Scoop into greased or lined muffin tins and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.  You can also bake it in 2 greased loaf pans and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

No Words

We returned home Saturday night with the type of message on our voice mail that no one ever wants to get.  Friends of ours lost their 10-month-old granddaughter, daughter, niece, and sister in an accident earlier that day.  Little Amaya.  We had not met, but she was born about a week after our Rachel.  My dear friend Dianne's grandbaby.
Too close to home.
Today we went to their home, although we had missed seeing them.  We did get to visit with family and Amaya's big brothers.
I used to think I had to say something in these situations.
I don't feel that way anymore.
When Luke died, I learned that words don't matter.  Actions do.  I remember so many faces, some completely unexpected, at his prayer service and funeral or arriving at the door.  I hardly remember a word that was said. 
Words weren't important.
Hugs were.
Smiles were.
Tears were.
So, today we showed up, as hundreds will, and left our humble offering of prayer, support, and bottled water. 
It's a good thing that words don't matter anymore because I didn't have any anyway.  I haven't had any since we first heard the news.
No one can fix.
No one knows what to say.
Thank God that we don't have to.
He has it all under His control.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

So Long, Thomas & Percy!

I was pregnant with Teresa when my friend Claudia came out one summer afternoon to help me paint Thomas & Percy (with the help of an overhead projector) on the boys' new basement bedroom wall.  A few months later, I added the stripes.  I told Landen that they were "Monster Stripes" to scare the monsters away, but I don't know if he ever really fell for that one, even at four years old.
The boys asked me to repaint their room and had quite elaborate ideas for murals that I should incorporate on the walls.  I suggested this--I will paint a solid color and they can choose the posters for their walls.  Landen already had this great world map.  Done.  Nathan wants a shark poster for his wall.  We will have to look for that soon. 
I have to say that I like this elephantine shade of gray.  It feels nice and cozy.  I am waiting for a new curtain and new green comforters.  The others were not big investments (either from my college days or the OLD Aberdeen Walmart), so it is time to spruce everything up in there.
The best part of this project was probably getting the boys to clean out under their beds.  Landen isn't too bad (mostly books and newspaper clippings), but Nathan stashes all sorts of treasures and wrappers under his. 
I had been missing my Reese's Peanut Butter eggs that I stashed in the pantry last spring.  (One day, I went for one as a treat and found an empty box!)  I never did find wrappers under his bed . . . I found them as I was organizing his closet last week! 
I'm afraid that kid is an incurable sneaky snacker!  Next time we are at a store together, he owes this mama a candy bar.  :o)

Good Times

The Rochester road trip was a success! 

I didn't even have time for a People crossword puzzle.  My sister was my roommate and we did some serious power shopping on Saturday before and after Kevin & Christine's wedding.  Our mom taught us well.  (Our dad is SO proud!)

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Kallas! 

On the Road Again

Tomorrow as the pheasant hunters pour into South Dakota, I will be heading out of here to Minnesota! 
Thanks to my husband, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law who will be handing most of the kiddo duties, I am able to go to my cousin Kevin's wedding as he marries his fiance Christine in Rochester.  I am so excited!  Kallas weddings are always fun.  Kevin is a great guy and Christine will be an awesome addition to the family.  We closed down the pizza place when we met them for supper after Rachel's appointments in July. 
I am reminded of the movie Date Night (and Tina Fey's fantasy) as I think of what I am looking forward to this weekend . . . remember this one?

"if anything, I fantasize about being alone! Just on my worst day. . . I'd like to run away . . . get a hotel room just so I can sit in a room by myself and eat my lunch . . . with a Diet Sprite."

Sure, the wedding is the main event and I am looking forward to kicking back and having a few drinks with my extended family.  But do you know what else I am SO looking forward to? 

A good book, the People crossword puzzle, and a quiet, quiet, quiet hotel room.  (I don't do Diet Sprite, but hopefully the hotel will have good coffee in the morning.)  :o)
I know.  This fantasy makes me sound SO old.  But, I don't feel old.  I still feel . . . eh . . . 28 or so.  I'm just TIRED, people!  Mostly my EARS are tired, God love these verbal, out-loud-thinking treasures with which He has filled this family. 
An introspective mama's gotta regroup in some silence now and again!
With her FULL attention on the People crossword puzzle. 
No interruptions.
That is, if I don't fall asleep before I finish it.

I Like it Big, Too.

I read I Like It Big today and felt much the same as its author.  Bigger families seem to be the norm around here.  Another one of our couple friends had their #4 last week.  As I keep telling my mom, "Four is the new two!"
Earlier in this parenting adventure, many veteran parents told us, "If you can handle three, you can handle any number."  I found this to be true in our family as well.  When we got married, we wanted four children, we planned on four children, we had three . . . and then this mama found herself struggling to stay afloat for a good three years. 
As I have posted before, being open to God blessing us with a fourth child was a HUGE leap of faith.  I thank God every day for reaching both of our hearts--separately, but at the same time.  We were each sitting around our kitchen table at meals feeling as though someone was missing, and we didn't know the other had been feeling the same way.  Now that empty place is filled by our smiley red head who can't shovel food into her little mouth fast enough!
I can honestly say I LOVE having four children.  Life is actually easier now than it was with three--even two--little ones.  When our "big three" can't agree on anything else, they can agree that they love their baby sister.  She kicks her legs and squeals when she sees any one of her siblings enter the room.  I LOVE to see their LOVE for each other.
Sure, it isn't the idyllic Waltons existence I thought a bigger family would be.  Having four children has taught me that this parenting gig is not for the faint of heart and I can be pretty darn faint of heart at times!  Having a larger family brings plenty of chaos, yelling, screaming, and crying.  Sometimes the kids even do those things, too. 
I know our family can be an acquired taste to some who are blessed with our presence.  I am well aware of when we are in a place where our brand of energy--and size--isn't particularly appreciated.  But, I am also aware of when we are in a place where we ARE appreciated, and thankfully we find ourselves in those places much more often than not.
Having a larger family may mean bigger grocery bills, more dirty shoes strung around the entry, and more lost socks and mittens, but that's OK. 
We will just have more children to return the favor by taking care of us when we are old. 
Landen's farming career, Nathan's salary as a professional athlete, Teresa's income as Princess of Whoknowswhere and Rachel's career as a neurosurgeon will all assure we are in the best possible nursing home our children's money can buy. 
Until then, I'll keep their tummies full, their feet warm, and their fingers covered.

Life is good. :o)

The Girls and Me

Here's a little peek at what we've been up to lately.  I spent most of last week fluffing up our nest and preparing it for winter.  I swear I have the instincts of a bird . . . or maybe a bear.  All last week, all I wanted to do was organize closets, eat hot soup, and crawl into a nice warm bed at the end of the day! 
David's cousin Ashley was haivng a baby shower a couple hours away on Saturday and I planned to take the girls on a little road trip.  On Thursday, David's aunt Darla called and asked if we would be interested in going a day early and staying overnight with Grandma and Grandpa Neises. 
The boys were good with that, so we girls hit the road early Friday morning!
Here's a little of what we did.  First of all, NO ONE was allowed to get hungry.  Grandma (as any good grandma does) made sure of that.  Uncle Dann brought in the miniature horses so Teresa could get a 4-wheeler ride and ride a horse for a bit.  Then, she and Darla treated the horse to a snack.  Grandpa's workworking shop is not far away, so we popped in to check out his latest project.  He is making a replica of the church where the Knights of Columbus was started.  He just uses pictures as a pattern and has built many beautiful houses, landscapes, buildings, and churches this way.  It seems someone in the family always has a standing order with him.  (Landen is hoping for a shop right now.)  :o)  Then we ran back to Grandma and Grandpa's house in time for--what else?--a snack, got ready for the "baby wash" as Teresa called it, and partied until Rachel fell asleep while simulaneously eating pudding dessert.
A successful road trip?
Yes.  Yes, I think so! 

Power Tool

 

My mom gave me this handy apple corer/parer/slicer a couple of years ago.  I hadn't had an abundance of apples since then and I even forgot I had it! 

I pulled it out this morning and Nathan said he just how to use it because that's what Mrs. Mitchell used to make applesauce in their class last year!  With the boys' help, we had it up and running in no time.  They helped me make an apple crisp and another batch of crock pot applesauce.  For payment, they got all the peelings they could eat!

They were so excited at lunch time to show Dad the new apple tool and how it works. 

That works for me!

An Apple (or Two) a Day

It was Apple Week at our house!  We were blessed with some friends' abundance of apples.  We enjoyed fresh apples, an apple pie, two batches of crock pot applesauce, and an apple cake.  My first experiment with hot water bath canning apple pie filling was a success, although I only tried four pints.  I also baked an apple crisp and stuck it in the freezer for later. 

Even with all of that apple baking, I still had enough left to fill this basket.  My intention is to make one final batch of crock pot applesauce, but other things have to get done, too, so they are still waiting for me!

It was only a matter of time before our curious little turtle found them.  While I was working at the table this morning, Rachel was behind me eating her first apple "like a big girl" as Teresa says. 

See all of those bites out of the apple she's holding?  Yep.  She did that all by herself with her 8 chompers!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Yesterday David turned the big 3-5!  We had the usual birthday birthday coffee in the morning with some aunts, uncles, cousins and his parents.  Then he spent the rest of his day finishing up Harvest 2012! 

We all went out for prime rib last night, so we got home too late for cake.  Teresa couldn't wait for Daddy to have his cake after lunch today.  As I was getting my camera, she said, "This is so exciting!!"   

In this photo, the big 3 are singing, "Have you ever been kissed by a slimy old fish?" 

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Monster Cookie Dip

This is another recipe I made for the Open House.  My friend Tonya shared this with me last summer and it was one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted!  A friend of hers found this on Pinterest.  I have not yet jumped into Pinterest.  I leave the searching up to others and glean my favorite ideas and recipes from them! 

You will also be happy to see that this dip is nearly fat and calorie free!  :o)

 

Monster Cookie Dip

8 oz. softened cream cheese

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1 T brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup mini M&M's (3 tubes from the candy aisle)

1 cup mini chocolate chips

 

Mix together and enjoy.  Serve with graham crackers, pretzels, or eat by the spoonful.  Store in the refrigerator.

 

(Sorry . . . no photo again!  If it turns out looking like cookie dough, you've done it right.)  :o)

Almond Joys

The 2nd Celebrating Fall Open House was a success!  We were blessed with a beautiful day outside and in and many wonderful guests joined us for the afternoon.  My main goal for the day has always been for area women to come together to visit, eat, and shop if they wish.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and there were guests from all age ranges--even one tiny guest who was not even a week old!

After I line up the vendors, my main focus becomes the refreshment table.  I love to bake and the open house gives me the opportunity to try real things.  One of the treats I featured this year were Almond Joys. 

 I unfortunately do not have a photo to share.  There was just one left at the conclusion of the day.  Just as I was about to pluck it off the tray and pop it into my mouth, Landen came around the corner and asked if he could have it.  Oh, the things we sacrifice for our children!  :o)

Even though I don't have a photo, I did promise that I would share the recipe.  I tweaked one I found online and this was the result:

Almond Joys

1 bag sweetened coconut (in the baking aisle)

1/2 can sweetened condensed milk

about 1/2 cup powdered sugar

whole almonds (about 24)

1/2 bag chocolate chips

1 tsp shortening

Mix together coconut, milk, and sugar and roll into balls.  Place on a cookie sheet or baking pan.  Put an almond on the top of each one and press down slightly.  Then melt 1/2 bag chocolate chips with 1 tsp. shortening.  Stir until chocolate is smooth and drizzle on the top of each almond. 

Enjoy!

Twins

Nathan didn't realize that our neighbors and Landen's classmates Brandon and Christopher are twins.  They really look nothing alike as they are fraternal; I just thought he knew that!  This was our breakfast conversation:
Nathan:  "So are Landen and me twins?"
Me:  "No."
Nathan:  "How do YOU know?" 

Growing Along Together

Open Air Dining

Harvest means dinner in the field on most days.  The girls and I take our meals on wheels wherever we are called.  Dinner is a hot meal and "lunch" at about 6pm is bologna sandwiches, assorted sides, and the famous Melius Pepsi floats made with Schwan's ice cream. 

We have discovered this year that the stow and go feature of mini vans is the perfect corral for a 9 month old baby.  And, it makes it convenient for Rachel to beg food off of grandma like a puppy.  See that pudding mouth?  Mmmm!

Teresa gets the credit for most of these photos.

Tomorrow we take the tractor another round . . . .

Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats

I ventured a little out of my cooking comfort zone to try this oatmeal recipe. 
The result? 
It was a success! 
This is from the blog He and She Eat Clean and was shared by Facebook friend Sarah, whose family follows a clean eating plan. 
Now, you can't mess with a South Dakota farm boy's diet too much.  We are a mid western meat and potatoes eating family, with plenty of fruits and veggies, too.  I am thankful that we eat the beef we raise, so we know exactly where the majority of our meat comes from.  David doesn't complain about what I cook, but I also know not to veer too far off the meat and potatoes path lest he start. :o)  I can't say I would do things much differently if I were single, since I was raised as a meat and potatoes girl myself.
Still, this recipe looked like something this family might like!
This was the first time I ever bought steel cut oats (which looks nothing like oatmeal) and almond milk.  I am a descendant of dairy farmers.  As long as you don't have a doctor's note saying you can't drink milk, you support the dairy farmers and you drink your milk! 
I gathered all of my ingredients and stirred this together before bedtime.  By the next morning, the kitchen smelled wonderful and all I had to do was stir and serve our breakfast!  We did add a little more brown sugar and milk to our bowls, but other than that, it went over well!  In fact, we all (except Rachel because of the almond milk) had a warmed up bowl for breakfast again today.  Just add a little extra water on the 2nd day. 
It makes 10-12 servings.
You will need:
3 cups steel cut oats
3 cups vanilla almond milk (original recipe says unsweetened, but I could only find regular)
10 cups water
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup brown sugar (original recipe calls for IDEAL brown sweetener)
3 T cinnamon
1-2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Spray crock pot with cooking spray.  Mix all ingredients together in crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours.  Stir before serving. 

Check out heandsheeatclean.blogspot.com for more recipes and information on Clean Eating.

Sr. Helen Prejean

My friend Cathy invited me to join her to the South Dakota Pax Christi Conference on Saturday. 
The event was hosted by the Benedictine Sisters in Watertown and the Presentation Sisters in Aberdeen.  These are both such amazing groups of women!  If you think nuns are boring or if your only experience of a religious sister is what you've seen on TV, you need to become more familiar with these communities of sisters.  They are educated, funny, hard-working, joyful women who are placed all over the country doing all varieties of jobs.  It is always a joy to spend time with them. 
Sr. Helen Prejean is one of these amazing women, who is in a community of sisters in Louisiana.  You may remember her name from the 1995 movie Dead Man Walking in which Susan Sarandon portrayed her.  The movie was based on her book (of the same name) about her experiences as a spiritual advisor to a death row inmate. 
The conference focused on the death penalty in South Dakota and in the United States at large.  Pax Christi, and Sr. Helen, are strong opponents to the death penalty and support the dignity of all life from conception until a natural death.
Since the book and movie came out when I was too young to go to R movies, I missed them the first time around, but now I have my own autographed copy of Dead Man Walking. 
I'm truly thankful that Cathy invited me to share the day with her and meet this awesome woman who has done so much for social justice in the world.

On His Head

Nathan is always, always, always standing on his head!  In the hallway, in the middle of the room, on chairs, in his bed (when is supposed to be saying bedtime prayers), in the van . . . wherever he thinks he can, he will try! 
Before he does something I ask him to do, he stands on his head. 
After he is done doing what he is supposed to do, he stands on his head.
I'm beginning to think that God made this boy to have his upside down be right side up!

I love you, red heads of the world!

I didn't know if I should post about this because then I would have to admit I watched (mostly listened to) the new show The New Normal this past week.  I had it on as I was doing a little online shopping after the kids' bedtime (how did moms shop before the internet??) and although it's not something I'll watch again, I thought one part was particularly funny.
In it, a young woman has decided to be a surrogate mother for a gay couple.  They are all in the doctor's office and the doctor is explaining all of the prenatal tests that can be done to determine any range of deformities and disorders in their unborn child.  At some point, the doctor mentioned a possibility of the baby having red hair and one of the dads completely freaked out.  By the end of the appointment, the doctor was patting him on the back and assuring him that red heads only make up 4% of the world's population. 
I just did a quick Google search and there was an article in the 1/10/12 Chicago Tribune entitled "It's Tough to Be Red."  In it, it said there is such a thing as red head discrimination and it is a form of racism! 
This brings back a hilarious memory from last year's post-pheasant hunting supper in which one of David's aunts (whom I will let remain anonymous) reported to us that sperm banks were no longer accepting red heads because red headed children were getting picked on.  I'm not even sure how we got on that subject, but I don't think I've laughed that hard since. 
I guess I shouldn't have been laughing . . . it turns out this is a serious matter we have on our hands!
I had no idea. 
David seems to have weathered the red head storm alright, as have two of his three siblings.  I think my 86 year old grandpa has done alright in life, too.
As I've said before, I was thrilled to get 2 red heads and it was the first thing the nurses reported to me after Rachel was born. 
Maybe we just live in a more accepting region, where red heads are a welcome diversion from the dishwater blonds and light browns of European ancestry that seem to make up most of the country side.  If anything, I've noticed people will call hair a shade of red, even if it isn't, just because they want themselves or their child to be a little unique.  I used to occasionally dye my hair a shade of strawberry blond, but I don't anymore since I live in a household with three authentic red heads.
The last time I did it several years ago, it just made me feel like a wannabe.  I just can't compete with the real thing, which fortunately I've been able to pass down through recessive genes!
Stay strong red heads of the world!  You make up a colorful 4% of the world's population that we need. 
Otherwise, we'd just be black, brown, blond and BORING. 
:o)

Getting Ready!

Did you read your Faulk County Record yesterday? 
The 2nd Celebrating Fall Open House is only 10 sleeps away!
I am looking forward to spending a beautiful afternoon with women from the area.  (Men are invited, too, of course, but we usually don't see too many of them!)
I am finalizing the menu . . . expect some apple and pumpkin treats and I am going to attempt mulled wine.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate once again and we can enjoy a gorgeous fall day out on the deck.
Hope to see you there!

9 months old!

Rachel has become quite the mover and shaker . . . and noise maker!  She loves to hear herself talk.  (Why didn't ANY of my children get my introverted quiet gene??)  :o) 

She also loves to smile and laugh and put EVERYTHING into her mouth.  Some of her favorite foods are muskmelon, watermelon, bananas, and American cheese!

Her older siblings adore her and Nathan has nicknamed her "SongConk."  I don't know where he came up with this.  I thought if I ignored it, he would forget about it, but it has been WEEKS and he still has not!  I suppose he could call his little sister worse things!

Happy 9 months, Rachel Olivia.  You are our Rachel sunshine!

Homecoming 2012

Today was our favorite part of Homecoming week--the parade!!!! 

Teresa just could NOT wait and she was excited to show her baby sister what a Homecoming parade is all about, which is, of course, CANDY!

 

(Really, is anyone in need of a few hundred Frooties?  We have a few we could spare . . . .)

 

In between the shower of candy, we saw some "Incredible" First Graders and Third Graders dressed like "Bat Cats."

Teresa and Henry were awesome little candy catchers, but Rachel hung out with dad for this year. 

(Watch out next year!)

As usual, we did not end our Homecoming Day at a football game, but harvesting soybeans instead.  The boys didn't mind, though.  They got to be in the field with Dad and Landen found the game on the radio, so he was a happy farmer.

Life is good.

GO WILDCATS!

Fall on the Farm

 

 

 

 

We've been having all sorts of fun on the farm.

See Rachel's "pony hair" (as Landen used to say)?  I was able to gather just enough for a little red ponytail!

Nathan and Teresa LOVE it when I cut up a watermelon.  They take the rinds outside and bite off every last bit of watermelon they can get and throw the rinds into the trees when they are done.

We took a walk to check out the first yellow tree of fall in our tree grove.

Teresa loves getting the mail and our mail carrier Janice has been kind to let us keep our footstool by the box.

Like Chicken Little, count to ten and even more . . . we all have COUNTLESS blessings to be thankful for!

 

By the way, my chigger bite itch has subsided!!  Rubbing alcohol worked for me and many people suggested clear fingernail polish (which I did not have at home) to help the itch, too. 

 

Happy Fall!