Oscar Stew

This last weekend was General Conference. Drew and Brinley quickly became experts on the do’s and don’ts of conference. They’ve even written a book on it, due in stores this October. Here are a few samples:

Make sure you start the day off right. Make yourself some whole-wheat-yet fluffy-truck-stop-style pancakes, complete with froot loop and raisin flair. The whole wheat is important, especially for Daddies. They need the extra oomph to keep those heavy eyelids open.

If it’s cold, snowing, and windy outside, don’t get mad. Make a pancake that reflects the weather.

These old guys are really smart, and have a lot to say. It’s ok if you can’t sit still for eight hours; there is plenty of work to do…

To keep you and your sister occupied, you should do lots of different things, but be sure to share! It’s also important that you wear your jammies all…day…long. Maybe even into the next day. You get bonus points if your shirt is on backwards.

It’s really fun to make a pancake out of Play-Doh, and then stick your pencils and crayons in it so it looks like a birthday cake. It also makes it easier to keep track of the colors you’re using.

Trust us, “conference homework” is more fun and easier than school homework.

What is conference homework? Well first, you have to color the ties. It’s ok if you don’t stay inside the lines.

If someone is talking that isn’t in your conference book, you should play Raisin Bingo. First one to get 5 in a row gets to eat the raisins! I wonder why mommy won’t let us use M&M’s?

To make your Mommy and Daddy know that you were listening, write down words that you hear the old guys say. Work, Savior, talks, life, gospel, God, prophet, spirit, prayer, Book of Mormon, Christ, principle, Joseph, Latter-Day Saints, kind, temples…you get the idea.

On your conference homework you get to color their hair and faces too. It’s OK if your sister gives President Monson blue and green hair. He used to be in a rock band.

Uh-oh. Don’t tease your sister too much or you could get sent to your room.

Say your sorry and that will make it better. Then you should make bead rings, bracelets, necklaces, whips, chains, and cat toys.

Make sure you use all the beads. Mommy will buy more.

For all the babies out there, make sure you smile a lot, and take naps during sessions. That way we have our best shot of actually listening and enjoying the talks. Nice job Ro-diggity!

Our life has finally resumed it’s regular schedule, we haven’t lost ourselves in the depths of spring break blues, or in mourning Kelsey’s departure. While the men are at school/work we ladies have kept busy doing fun stuff around the house, while we “patiently” wait for winter to pull it’s claws out of spring…

Here is Domestic Diva Brinley, host of the next hottest show on Food Network – Gourmet Cooking for the Toothless. Here she is getting ready to add the goose-goose, er….couscous to the pear/broccoli gumbo.

We use all natural ingredients, including leaves and bark…This chicken noodle soup will have a crunch to it, that’s for sure!

Moving on to breakfast foods…peaches, oatmeal and some Wheat Germ for added brain power. Rowan might not be crawling yet, but watch her IQ soar!

Later in the week Binnie & I decided to go full throttle with the girl power and make a new church bag for her. Here Brinley is showing us how to apply interfacing – it’s easy she says…just look for the bumpy side.

I let my 6-year-old play with matches and my (almost) 4-year-old do the ironing. Rowan put down the blow torch!

Do you think Brinley is having fun yet playing with all of mommy’s big girl toys?

Forget the bag, she’s breaking out, making something on her own. Something. Next week we’ll work on sewing a straight line.

Look at that intense focus. She didn’t even sew her fingers together!

The finished product. Look for Brinley’s latest designs on Etsy. Watch out Martha!

Amy’s birthday was on Tuesday. I wasn’t able to be there, but the kids, our families, friends, a florist, and I made sure that the wonder woman in our lives had her day… 

Drew loves fireworks, sparklers, and all things that go boom. So it’s no surprise that being delegated the duty of lighting the candles was more than a cheap thrill for him. Sweet blue tongue dude! 

He’s a true pyromaniac, just like his father. That’s what every responsible parent dreams of. Mmmmmhmmm. Just to be on the safe side, we hide the matches in some weird places around the house.

The lady of honor. Make a wish! Props go to Drew for snapping this rare photo of the superhero behind the camera.

This is the best cake I never made.

A special thanks goes to all of Amy’s friends who made her day special when I couldn’t. Never before has she had a birthday that tasted and smelled so good! 

Happy birthday Amy! We love you!