Whew...What A Busy Week!

My week has probably been a lot like yours. I can't decide if I'm coming or going!?! The end of the school year is loaded with LOTS of fun activities, programs and ceremonies. Here are just a few that kept us all busy this week.

Kellie was Gretel in her 3rd grade class's presentation of Hansel and Gretel. She sang two beautiful songs (even though I tease her that she has her dad's voice...) and did a fantastic job acting. Great Job Kellie!

'Gretel' dancing with Hansel

Mother telling Hansel and 'Gretel' to be careful in the forest while they are looking for food.

Mikenzie's Last Choir Performance of the Year

Here's all the girls in the choir singing "Reflection" from the Disney movie Mulon.

Mikenzie's Women's Chorus singing 'Hawaiian Roller-Coaster Ride' from Lilo and Stitch

So fun!!

Bob and I attended an American Helicopter Society Banquet at the Gaylord Texan Resort.

It's always nice to enjoy an evening out with my Handsome Husband.

p.s. Today is our 22nd wedding anniversary.

Funny how you can be more in love with

your spouse 22 years later than the day you were married!!

Mikenzie and I enjoyed a wonderful bridal shower

for our dear friend Courtney Schoen.

She is such a doll and her fiancee Cam,

is getting a real gem!!
Courtney... We love her!!
Blake had a soccer tournament this weekend.

Saturday night was a BEAUTIFUL night

for a soccer game!

Memorial Day 2009

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

~Lee Greenwood

I love three-day weekends. This holiday weekend even my Handsome Husband was home. He starting checking his 'honey-d0' list off one by one today. Some painting, some organizing, a trip to Good Will and a few other odds and ends.

I, of course, make a good supervisor. I busied myself with making Funeral Potatoes for a funeral today and a few other things.

But, today, I couldn't let Memorial Day go by without thinking about, with extreme humility and gratitude, the many men and women throughout the history of this country who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that I might have the opportunity to live in this blessed of all lands.

In my home, we reverence those who have ever served our country, living or dead. It is because of them, their love of our country, their courage to stand for what is right and good that we enjoy the unparalelled blessings that we do today.

Today, on Memorial Day, from the bottom on my heart, Thank You.

Here's the sign I posted on our marquis this weekend.

This morning, to my delight, many flags were flying this morning here in Stonebridge. I hope there were many flags flying in your neighborhoods, too. Enjoy...

"Mom, I'm Bored!"

What do you do on a rainy day when your 9 year-old comes to you and says, "I'm Bored!" You suggest she could clean her room. No takers there. "How about playing Barbies or organizing your American Girl Doll stuff." A simple negative nod of the head. "How about playing a good old-fashioned board game? You know the ancient ones that you actually have to roll the dice and move the men, like Life, Sorry or Monopoly?" About now, I'm getting the look like I have three heads all of a sudden. Hmmm. I'm almost out of ideas until I look out the window to see big drops continue to fall from the very gray sky outside. The nester in me knows that there is nothing better than the smell of fresh-baked bread on a gray, cozy, we-might-as-well-stay-inside day.

"Hey. I know. How about learning how to make bread with me?" I reluctantly suggest.

"Sure!" The cute, little nine-year old girl, replies.

So we both don our favorite aprons and get to work. Come along. We'll show you how it's done.

The recipe for Fool-Proof Homemade

Whole Wheat Bread

This is for real, folks.
We're actually going to pretend we're 21st century
pioneers and grind our own wheat!

Lucky for us, we have just the wheat we need.
Soft, white winter wheat.

Start by slowly putting 10 cups of your
wheat in your wheat grinder.
It takes a few minutes. It's loud.
It sounds like an airplane taking off.

A few minutes later,
you've just made your very own
healthy, fresh, whole-wheat flour.

Here' the staring ingredients.
Flour, salt, yeast, oil, honey, dough enhancer and water.
That's all folks!

First, pour 6 cups of warm water into your mixing bowl.
We're using my prized Bosch mixer.
I think this thing could actually mix cement.

Then add a few cups of flour and.......

mix for a few seconds.

Then add 1 1/2 t. salt.

Add 2 T. dough enhancer.

(Don't ask me what it does. It just does it.)

Add 1/2 c. oil.

Any kind will do.

Add 1/2 c. honey.

(Here's a tip: By adding your oil first, your honey

won't stick to the same measuring cup.)

And finally, add 3 heaping T. of yeast.

Yes, I said, heaping.

Add a few cups of flour a little at a time,

until the flour that was previously ground is gone.

When all the flour is finally in, let the dough mix

for 10 minutes.

10 minutes is up.

You should have a beautiful dough that is

beginning to clear the sides of the bowl.

With flour, less is more.

You know what I mean.

Oil your countertop with a little bit of oil.

Pour out all of your beautiful dough.

Dough. It's a miracle in the making.

Our dough will make 6 perfect loaves.

But today, since we're tricky, we're going to make

four regular loaves and two special loaves.

One cinnamon loaf and one loaf with cinnamon AND raisins.
My Handsome Husband LOVES Cinnamon Raisin Bread!

Aren't they lovely?

Ready to rise.

Place your ready loves in an oven that has been

preheated to 170 degrees and then turned off.

They should rise beautifully and double in about 30 minutes.

About 30 minutes later, they've doubled in size.

Simply turn your oven on to 350 degrees and press Start.

About 30 minutes later, the smell of heaven

starts to permeate the house.

You know your loaves are perfect when their

internal temperature reaches 190 degrees.

Oh man does it smell good in here!!

Six perfect loaves.

Bread. The staff of life.

Great job, Kellie!

You did it!

It's finally time.
Let's test them out.

And the verdict is?

YUMMY!!!

So, the next time your 9 year-old girl says, "I'm bored!" You'll know exactly what to do!!