7 Children plus one cousin

I'm always amazed when I go to Logan and Amy's house (my son and his wife)  
Even with 7 children, it's generally very calm, and busy. 
A happy place to be.


Wednesday Elora and I stopped by.  Here's just a brief sample in this video clip. 



Love these 2 pictures of Macie, Laurynn, and Elora.

Many more happy days together to come...

Cami has an announcement!

 

We do sincerely Thank You for all your help and support!! 

Comic contest is in the 11th hour!

Please help my son Brock.  


It was looking like he didn't have much of a chance, but suddenly today his comic was put in FIRST PLACE.  The contest ends tomorrow morning at 9AM!! (California time)


If he wins, this would mean so much to him and his family.  Winning means a YEAR'S CONTRACT with DC comics.  


In Brock's words, here's what would really help:

"Here's what you can do:
1. Go to www.monsterplex.com

2. Click on "Sign up!" in the upper right hand corner of the screen.

3. Complete the registration process (should only take a couple of minutes)

4. Now go back to www.monsterplex.com or click on Monsterplex from the "VOTE" tab back at Zuda

Now for the fun part! All of this counts towards the win!

5. On the right side of the screen under "Comic Information" is a box with several things inside, including a button with a checkmark and the word "VOTE". Click on that button. (It should now read "My Vote")

6. Just below that is "Rate this comic:" Click on the empty star that matches the rating you think Monsterplex deserves (5 stars is best!)

7. At the bottom of that gray box is a little red square with a "+" in it and that says "Add to favorites" next to it. Click on the little red square.

8. Finally, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and leave a nice comment!"

Looks complicated but it's not!

It will be very clear once you're on the site.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adjusting the mirrors on your car?

I have been doing this wrong all these years!
I saw this today and just had to pass it on.

Seriously, am I the only one who hasn't been doing this correctly?

Tyler's Kindergarten Teacher Yesterday!

I was picking Elora up from school yesterday when I saw this woman who looked like Tyler's kindergarten teacher. But no, this woman looked TOO much like Tyler's teacher to be her.
It's been 19 years, she should have changed more than this.


Here is Mrs. Bimat back in 1991 with Tyler, my youngest son.

So of course this put me on the hunt for his kindergarten memories.

 Look what I found

With Cindy and Katie, who both lived on our block at the time.

 

A few months ago when I was outside emptying the garbage, 

I saw Cindy and her Mom driving by their old house.  

Turns out Cindy is married now and expecting her first baby.

 

I found also something Tyler said to his teacher 19 years ago, and she wrote it down:

This makes me feel incredibly guilty now.  

We did get Tyler glasses but it was not till years later.  

I had no idea he needed them back then.

Tyler's self portrait.

He was sure a colorful little boy.

 

Some interesting facts (at least to me):

1.  Tyler lost more teeth in kindergarten than anyone in his class.

2. He was in the very first kindergarten class of Redbank Elementary school.

3. Out of the 4 kindergartens at his school, Tyler was the only one that year who had perfect attendance. 

4.  Three of Tyler's elementary teachers married the school janitor.  Not the same janitor.  

And this is how I remember Tyler in 1991.

He looked so little in that big school.

 

Every day he would get out of the car, walk a ways, then stop and turn around and look at me one last time, then continue on.  

It ripped at my heart every time.

So glad he found Karen and they lived happily ever after.

I finally found the book I was raised by!

So I was in Barnes and Noble the other night looking for a book I read about on another blog, because I think I was raised this way.

And I know my mother never read it...it was not printed till after she was done parenting.

But as far as I can tell, it's her philosophy.

I couldn't remember the exact title but I knew it was something like,  "How to raise a child without force."

So I go to the Parenting section of this book store and notice all the books are listed by author in alphabetical order.  

I go up to the Customer Service desk where there are 2 waiting clerks with 2 empty computers.
Both gentlemen look to be about 20 years old, 25 at the most.  I ask one of them,

"Excuse me, but I'm looking for a book called How to raise a child without force.  Do you know if you carry that book?"

The young clerk turns to me and says,  "
"Just go look through our Parenting section."

"I've already done that, but the books are all listed by the author and I don't know who the author is."

Then this same young clerk says to me,

"Well have you tried verbal affirmations?  Or there are other things you can try, like....

I cut him off and said,
"I'm all done parenting.  I'm just looking for a book CALLED,  "How to raise a Child Without Force."

I wanted to say,  "Look at me.  Do I look like I am just beginning parenting??   I'm old enough to be your mother, maybe even your grandmother!" 

I know, he was just trying to help.  But I laugh now every time I think of him trying to educating me about not being so forceful as a parent!

This all started when I read one of my favorite blogs last week, Asking Jane.    Jane is the mother of 11 children.  Her blog was put together by her oldest daughter Natalie, the mother of 4 sons.  About once or twice a week Jane will answer a specific parenting question.  Her take on things is a bit different but I love her answers.

A few days ago she gave the book title that I went looking for.  I got the title a bit wrong.  Here it is:
Raising a Child not by Force but by Love

Check out Jane's question last week and see what you think.  Her answer will not be what you expect.  Oh and you can submit your child raising questions, and I'm sure she will answer them!  She is one very wise mother and grandmother. 

I realize I have mentioned this blog before, but it's impressive.

PS  The book's basic philosophy is raising your child by the Golden Rule, which the author believes is a higher law than 'natural consequences.'  It's all about how to treat a child the way you would want to be treated.  Yep, that was my Mom's way!

Oh, and keep in mind, the logo on Jane's blog was created by her daughter...so her daughter is the one calling her mother "brilliant", not Jane :)) 

Busy Babies

The mischief phase has begun!

Amy says they do everything together. 
Téa usually leads the way but they go from one place to another all through the house.

"Those dog toys don't taste very good!"

I got permission from Amy before showing the last picture below. 


See the pile of diapers on her front porch?  
Amy opens the front door and just tosses them out.  
She doesn't want them smelling up the house, and then she will just put them in the trash later.  This makes me laugh! 

Grandpa of course could not leave without picking them all up for her.  

The best time to go to the movies

is about 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon.


No waiting in line for tickets.

  




















No waiting to get her popcorn

No sharing the chipmunks with the other customers

She didn't bother anyone with her spilt popcorn

And once the lights came semi-back on, Elora got to try out all the seats she wanted to.

If you look really close I think you can see her little eyes.

I was thinking at best I would be able to tolerate the Chipmunks Sequel, but it actually was not bad. 

And what would an afternoon with Grandma Honey be without a Jamba Juice of Peach Perfection!

Jamba wasn't raking in the customers either.  I like the ghost town feel.


btw,  these were all Elora's poses.  I just snapped away.

Best Ever Minestrone

That's what it's called.  Recipe in a sec.

First, I want to show who it came from:

Sorry, but this is the best picture I have of Wendy Alba. Taken the day she taught the girls yoga.


We've been teaching our YW (girls in our church ages 12-18) about Divine Nature this month.  The importance of being a good wife and mother, how to take care of a home, and the rich blessings that come with that.


So last Sunday Wendy gave a lesson focusing more on the importance of taking care of a home and family.  For part of her display she had her recipe file, packed with you guessed it, RECIPES.  After the class I asked her if she had any good ones that are non dairy and she pulled out BEST EVER MINESTRONE.  I quickly copied it down in my Daytimer. 

Not that I lack recipes but I am forever wanting to try new ones.  I made this last night and it was so good!  Comfy food. I served it with cornbread and it was perfect.


So I thought I would share.

Here it is.  It's very kid friendly too. No chunks of tomato in it. Wendy has 3 little ones. Den does not like to see chunks of tomatoes either.  Wendy says its an old family recipe that came via her Mom


Wendy Alba's Best Ever Minestrone Soup

lb hamburger
1-2 carrots shredded
2 stalks celery, diced
1/2 onion, diced

Fry this all together, and then add:

28 oz canned tomatoes (whirl in a blender first)
1 qt water
2 lrg carrots, sliced
2-8 oz cans tomato sauce
2 c beef broth (I used one can)
1 T parsley leaves
1/2 T oregano leaves
1/4 t pepper
1/2 t garlic salt
can garbanzo beans, drained
can red kidney beans, drained
can green beans, drained
2 c dry Mostaccioli pasta

You don't even cook the pasta separately!  Bring to a boil and then just simmer 15-20 minutes until the pasta is done.
My only note would be to add salt to the hamb mixture, and more salt to the soup if you want it.

We loved it and hope you do to!
This is saying a lot because we hardly ever eat beef. 

I'm really proud of myself that I've learned to make computer arrows today!

Richard's first girlfriend...1956

My brother Richard with Susie Zander  
(just got her name off the back of this 1956 photo)

 Is he that old, 
that swimming pools use to look like THAT?
And what's with the swim cap on his head?

Mom sure dressed him up for a birthday party!  

The rest of us didn't dress that well for church. 

 

Those 2 can't seem to get enough of each other.

This must have been the day they broke up.

Richard, John, Jill

Happier times, just with the brother and sister a year later, in 1957

Mom's Chocolate Sauce

Internet picture
The ones we made tonight disappeared too quickly to get pictures of them.

Den and I don't eat chocolate, but we made this yesterday for our Youth Fireside, which was tonight. 

Mom had written on the recipe not to double this. So we had to make 2 separate recipes of it.

Which means I would have to stand at the stove and stir this for 8 minutes, 2 times.  

Do you know how long 8 minutes is when you are just standing there at the hot stove?  

So after doing the first recipe, my wrist hurt.  I had to do some stretching.  

So I elected Den's help with the 2nd go around.  A short while after his 8 minutes of stirring was completed, he announced that he was going to the store to get some Ibuprofen.  "Because of all the stirring?" I asked.  He said no.  He claimed it was from his new shoes hurting his back and legs.  Same difference:  we are getting older. But at least we are doing it together.

If you would like to try this, here it is:

Mom's Chocolate Sauce for ice cream

1 cube of butter
3/4 c of semi sweet choc chips
2 c powdered sugar
1 1/3 c canned evaporated milk
1/2 t vanilla

Melt the butter and choc chips on low heat.  Then add the powdered sugar and the evaporated milk.  Bring to a boil and then turn the heat down and stir for 8 minutes.  Take off the stove and add in the vanilla.  Serve then, or put it in the fridge and heat it up later.  But do not heat in microwave.  Do not double this.  

As Den was stirring the chocolate sauce, right about 6 minutes into it, I said,  "Ya know, I bet my Mom cheated on this part. Somehow I just can't picture her standing there for 8 minutes."  

He thought for a moment and then said,  "I don't think she did the 8 minutes either.  Now, if the bishop would have told her to, she would have done it. Or if it had been in the scriptures."  

Yep, Den knew my Mom well.  Even in those few short years.   

Speaking of my Mom, here she is in 1957!
My mom is first row of adults, 2nd person from the left.  My Dad is right behind her.  Grandma Honey, 3 years old,  is the first child on the ground to the left. 

L to R
Back row: Uncle Don holding Donna, Dad, Grandpa Slinkard, Uncle Ted
2nd row: Aunt Carol holding David, Mom holding John, Grandma Slinkard, Aunt JoAnn
Bottom row:  Jill, Richard, cousins Lori and Lee Ann 

To their Moms, they will always be kids....

Perhaps one has to have adult children to relate to this?

It's a commercial shown during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. 


Thanks Aunt Mar.  Hope you don't mind me snagging this from your blog. 

Our hunt for MILK with Cami

First we picked her up from school:
(notice towards the end Den gives me the head sign when he wants the camera OFF.)


Den was on a mission to find his favorite milk, 
which had disappeared from EIGHT stores 
we had checked locally. 

So we had to go on a little adventure. 

Cam lovin' every minute of the milk hunt.

 

Perfect day until Cami spotted the McDonald's inside the store!

 

It was again perfect, 

once she saw her bag of Chicken Nuggets.

 

A grieving mother

I had been following Molly Jackson's blog for awhile.
Last week she was on Studio 5 telling her very touching story.
I just had to share it with you.


After the brief commercial go to 1:29

Computer problems

Thank you so much for all your support for Brock!!!

Our computer has been down.  So I won't be able to post until later today, or tomorrow.  It is sick with a virus.  Please don't give up on me.  I'm coming back. 

A message from my son

Brock has a message to share.
He can do this much better than I can explain.

"One of the dreams I've held onto since I was a little kid was to work for one of the big two comic book companies--either DC or Marvel. This month, I've actually got a shot at it. DC Comics has an online comics arm of their business called Zuda. Each month, 10 comic submissions are pitted against each other to see which can win a contract. Right now, I have a submission in contention, MONSTERPLEX, which I wrote and created (friends David Schlotterback and Michael DeVito join me on art and colors, respectively). 


The winner of the competition is based solely on popularity. This is
where I desperately need your help. Here's a list of everything the
Zuda overlords are looking at to determine which comic they're going to sign for a one-year contract:


1. Votes (very important--can only vote once)

2. Adding to Favorites (very important, and can only be done once)

3. Star Ratings (can only be done once--also very important)

4. Number of Comments (can do this as many times as you'd like)

5. Traffic (numbers count!)


To participate (vote, favorite, leave comments, etc.) you'll need to register an account over at Zuda ( www.zuda.com -- only takes a minute or two, tops). The competition runs for the duration of the month and the entries are STRONG. I'm not one to usually ask for help, but I think we've got a good comic and I'd so much appreciate your help in this. If you don't mind my saying, the prize is also worth thousands of dollars and, needless to say, that would be extremely nice.

Anyone can register and vote and add favorites! If you have any questions about doing so, please refer to this link: http://monsterplex.blogspot.com/2010/02/big-announcement.html (That's also the official Monsterplex blog where I'm posting daily updates and links to interviews and reviews). THANK YOU so much." 

Same school 57 years later

Yesterday on our way home from Sanger to get Den's milk (another story for another day) we drove right by my Mom's elementary school.  Not sure how many years she attended there but we have her report cards from 1938-1943.

It's now a church.

(on Kings Canyon and Locan in Fresno)

So I went home and found these pictures below.
Same building, 57 years ago:
Graduation from 8th grade, 1943.
My Mom is on the left.

Look, same window and doors!!

Funny how they had Dress up Day, even back then.
Mom's on the right.
Wonder whatever happened to Elmass and Mable.

And her teachers.
She would mention their names every now and then.
She contacted I think all of them in their later years and I know she use to visit at least one of these women in a Rest Home towards the end of her life.

Miss Lambercht, Miss Reynolds, Miss Norris

Well maybe this is where McKay gets his math gene.  The only thing she got "E" for excellence was in arithmetic, reading,  and in "is courteous and considerate"

 

Mom would often talk about how she was not a very good student.

I think she was just being her humble self.

So she kept this cartoon all those years.