Christmas = Snow = Sledding

With Christmas rapidly approaching, and not a snow flake in sight, we headed out in search of a much-needed "White Christmas" moment. Thankfully, Snoqualmie Pass is only a short ferry ride/drive away.

We went with some friends from church, and sort of invaded the mountain cabin of some other church friends. Thanks Hunts!

Here are a few shots from our fun outting. I'm still waiting for some pictures from a friend's camera (since mine, as you know, died a painful death on my last kayaking trip). So check back later for additional shots.

Snow angels!

Emma totally surprised me by being a little dare-devil on the slope!

Their favorite thing was to make a train and then barrel down the hill. I still can't believe no one broke an arm or neck today. Lotsa prayers on my part!

Here's what the "sled train" looked like at the bottom of the hill.

Jared catching some nice air. Now, 6 hours later, he's laying on the couch moaning about being sore. Hmmmm . . . not getting much sympathy from mom.

Last Call For Addresses

I sent out our family Christmas card last week, so if you were in my address book, you should have received it by now.*

If you haven't discovered this little holiday gem in your mailbox and you would like to, please email me your address and I'll send one out to you post haste!

yilankale at gmail dot com

*I didn't send any out to our BI friends. But if you really want one for your Christmas card collection, I'd be happy to send one to you too. Just let me know.

Happy Birthday Princess Adana!

My baby is 4 years old. I can't believe we've made it this far.

Sadly (at least as far as posterity is concerned), this post will be short & sweet. I have strep throat and am counting down the minutes until I can fall into bed. Same with Nathan. And Micah. Jared had it last week (thanks a lot, Jared). We're just hoping that the girls escape the misery, especially over Christmas.

So, quick recap of Adana's special day: She awoke this morning to a maze of bright orange streamers (thanks to the hard work last night of Jared and my friend, Mariann). She promptly tore into her pile of gifts, squealing with delight at each one. She is the best kid to buy toys for, because she LOVES EVERYTHING WITH ZEST AND GUSTO. Then she spent the rest of the day going to our doctor appointments and taking a nap so that we could rest also. She was perfectly happy, so long as she had her new toys in hand at all times.

This evening (per her request), we ordered pizza. Then we finished the celebrations with a bright orange Dora cake from DQ.

Here are a few shots from my camera phone (did I mention that I killed my camera in my last kayaking adventure? Such a bummer.):

The birthday diva with her gift from Uncle Joe. He Fed-Exed a bouquet of roses to her! She wouldn't stop hugging them. Joe, you have no idea what a standard you've just created for her future husband!

It's so hard to get a decent picture with a camera phone. This was supposed to be a shot of her blowing out her candles, not Emma fresh out of the shower or Micah trying to fight off the chills of his fever.

The cake. Luckily Sadly, this just doesn't reveal the neon quality of the ORANGE cake. We all gagged down a few bites, then called it a night.

Happy Birthday Adana! I'm just thankful that in your innocent 4-year old bliss, you had no idea what a lousy day this really was.

This one is dedicated to Grandpa G

Your granddaughter - the toenail biter.

If I can get a shot of her farting in the bathtub and biting the bubbles, I'll post that too.

(Sorry, family joke)

Oh, she is going to hate this post when she's a teenager. :-)

A Toast to Ken Craig

I don't even know how I first came across this blog, but I have to say I'm addicted! Ken Craig, whoever he is, makes me laugh out loud.

His post today (A Toast to Dan Fogelberg) is so good, I just had to share. The funny thing is I have thought the exact same things when listening to that song. (But I didn't want to offend anyone who got teary-eyed and sentimental listening to it, so I never shared my opinion.)

Thanks Ken, whoever you are! Merry Christmas to all!

And to all a good night.

My 3-year old Sherlock

This evening, I went temporarily insane took Adana shopping with me at the mall. Guess who she found seated on a plush red velvet throne, surrounded by acres of synthetic snow drifts and an entire army of automatronic reindeer in various robotic poses?

I think this was the first time in her life that she has actually come face to face with the big man himself - Santa Claus. (Well, except for that big buff black Santa that we had on the military base in Turkey. They must have pulled him straight out of a Marines training camp. There was no bowl full of jelly on that bad boy. Luckily, Adana was only a week old, so I don't think she suffered any lasting trauma from the experience.)

Adana was ENTHRALLED by her first encounter with Santa. She stood rooted by the fence around his enclosure. She stared, mouth hanging open, as child after child climbed up on his lap to chat with him. Finally, I dragged her away. As we were leaving, Santa himself came out and gave her a candy cane. She took it tenderly and promptly thanked him. He asked if she's been a good girl and she silently nodded yes. Then we turned and walked away to finish our shopping.

Later, as we were driving home, she announced out of the blue, "I think there are two Santas."

"Why do you think that?" I asked.

"That Santa didn't say Ho Ho Ho. And he didn't have any elves. And he only gave candy canes, not presents. The real Santa who gives presents must be at the North Pole."

Crap. If this is what she's coming up with as a 3-year old, I can only imagine how she'll respond to the tooth fairy in a few years . . . I'm picturing 6 year old Adana, upon losing her first tooth, leaving a note under her pillow: "Look lady, why don't you just go ahead and deposit the money directly into my Pay Pal account."

Thankful Lists 2009

This is a continuation of a tradition that my mom started when my siblings and I were little. Every day, from November 1st until Thanksgiving Day, we would list one thing that we were thankful for. She has a list for each of her children every year that we lived at home.

And now I have the same for my kids. Here are this year's lists (completely in their own words and unedited, which is important to remember when reading Adana's list):

JARED

1. candy

2. plan of salvation

3. my family

4. food

5. my talents

6. my body

7. sports

8. atonement

9. the prophet

10. scientists

11. nature

12. my house

13. my clothes

14. my brain

15. my teachers & leaders

16. Gordon B. Hinckley

17. my grandparents

18. technology

19. games

20. books

21. priesthood

22. soccer

23. friends

24. Christmas snow globes

25. tortilla soup

26. Rudy's Texas BBQ

MICAH

1. sports

2. family

3. candy

4. rollerhockey

5. our bodies

6. the gospel

7. my parents

8. money

9. education

10. books

11. food

12. plan of salvation

13. returning to heaven

14. exercise

15. doctors

16. traveling

17. school

18. scriptures

19. shoes

20. prophet

21. Jesus

22. Heavenly Father

23. missionaries

24. Holy Ghost

25. health

26. my home

EMMA

1. Mom and Dad

2. food and water

3. church

4. shelter

5. love

6. soccer

7. talents

8. my body

9. animals

10. basketball

11. swimming

12. books

13. fun

14. Phantom (our cat)

15. being nice to Adana

16. teachers

17. candy

18. plan of salvation

19. Book of Mormon

20. banana splits

21. molten cakes

22. Bob's peppermint ice cream

23. going to my friend's house

24. homemade slushies

25. school

26. science

ADANA

1. hugging and kissing

2. Jesus

3. licking orange suckers

4. getting married with flowers and a white dress and something on my head

5. sitting on chairs nicely

6. riding my horsey Dorado

7. eating apple pie

8. being a good girl

9. pumpkin pie

10. making a rainbow fish

11. being nice to Emma

12. making apples grow

13. corn

14. painting

15. doing stickers

16. seeing Baba

17. making "A" in my name

18. cake

19. skating in the rain

20. orange turkeys with orange feathers

21. apples

22. pineapple drinks

23. going to church

24. my pink chair

25. singing "Row Row Row Your Boat"

26. my circle moon

Texas Thanksgiving

This year, we were able to spend Thanksgiving in San Antonio with our awesome friends Jessica & Darin, and their 4 very cool boys.

It was, in a word, fabulous. The weather was pleasant, the hospitality was 5-star, and the companionship was comfortable. A much needed vacation with much missed friends.

The first day, we hit the San Antonio zoo. It is probably the best zoo I've ever been to. Get this: you can actually SEE the ANIMALS, not just their empty habitats. That's what I call a good zoo.

The kids especially loved feeding the lories. You just have to spend the whole time hoping that you don't get pooped on.

Day 2 we visited the Alamo. It wasn't quite what I was expecting (sprawling desert stronghold in the middle of a vast wilderness of sage brush and howling coyotes). Nope, it was a small fort surrounded by high-rise hotels and a McDonalds on the corner. If only Davy Crocket could see it now.

Then we strolled along the Riverwalk. Cute little shops and restaurants . . . but dang, they need to put a guard rail next to the water. I spent the whole time screaming, "Adana! Stay away from the edge!"

Day 3 was Thanksgiving! Jessica & I spent the whole day chillin', cookin' and chattin' in the kitchen while the dads played with the kids outside. Heaven. We had mountains of yummy food. My boys (all 3 of them) especially enjoyed grossing out the Fawcetts by sucking every single goobery speck off of their drumsticks.

All in all, a wonderful trip, where old friends were reunited . . .

. . . and new friendships kindled. Adana & Noah bonded over their undying love of non-stop eating. She's finally met a boy who can sneak food as well as she can. True love.

Day 4 was spent on a looooong flight home. How does one keep Adana entertained on an 8 hour flight? We tried naps. We tried movies on my iphone. We colored, played with toys, and flipped the seat tray up and down so many times I think the hinges broke. But she was still bored.

UNTIL . . . I pulled out the digital camera. She LOVED looking at all the goofy pictures that I snapped of us.

Saturday night fun

The Great Bathroom Remodel, part 2:

Tonight was counter top demolishing night.





And sink removal. Anyone need a couple of sinks?

Eat your heart out Pottery Barn!

Nathan's grandma is amazing. Absolutely amazing. She just made these quilts for Jared, Micah & Emma. (Adana's is still in the works.)

Emma's

We're talking hand stitched!! Check out these hand stitched flowers at the bottom! You can't buy this quality!

Jared's

Micah's

Thank you Grandma Beylik! We love you! (I'm pretty sure she doesn't read blogs, so can someone in Bakersfield please show her these pictures?)

Just another Friday evening

I admit, Bainbridge Island is not the most happening place on a Friday night, but this seems to take it to a new low.

I give you: The Great Bathroom Remodel, part 1.

Brooke’s Top 10 Rules on Calorie Consumption

1. If nobody sees you eating it, there are no calories. (That’s why I always try to hit the fast food drive-thru when I don’t have my kids in the car with me.)

2. If it is served in tiny, appetizer-sized portions, there are no calories. (If you eat a big 'ol hot dog, it’s loaded with ‘em. But eat a few dozen of those little cocktail wienies that they serve at wedding receptions and you’re safe.)

3. If you eat it over the course of an hour or so, there are no calories. (Going back to the wedding reception scenario . . . if you just plant yourself next to the food table and graze while chatting with all your friends, you’re working off the calories just as fast as you consume them.)

4. If you turned down something more decadent in favor of something “healthier,” there are no calories. (So go ahead and decline that Monster Hot Fudge Sundae for a moderate-size banana split. Heck, that’s a serving of fruit right there.)

5. If it has vegetables in it AT ALL, there are no calories. (That’s why I LOVE chocolate chip zucchini bread!)

6. If it was given to you in the spirit of service, there are no calories. (I’m pretty sure that God, in His infinite mercy, eliminates all calories from meals brought in by your visiting teachers when you’re sick or just had a baby.)

7. If you are distracted and don’t really pay attention to your food while you’re eating, there are no calories. (This is why I try to eat my meals while checking my email or watching Modern Family. If I don’t remember the chewing & swallowing steps, the calories don’t count.)

8. If you are merely finishing off what your children left on their plates because you hate to see perfectly good food go to waste, there are no calories. (Duh! Moms have know this for years.)

9. Closely related to #7 & 8 above – If you are absent-mindedly munching on your kid’s Cheerios/goldfish/graham crackers while sitting in church/doctor’s office/school play, there are no calories. (Which is why I typically pack cookies or Swedish fish for such occasions.)

10. If it contains the words “whole grain” or “enriched” or “fortified,” there are no calories. (Enriched Candy Corn . . . Mmmmmm . . .)

I'm sure someone out there (Jessica) is going to raise a question about the fact that I don't eat sugar. 'Tis true. I typically don't. However, by following my above-listed, scientifically tested and not so clinically proven Rules, I am occassionally able to indulge a bit.

Besides, even I can't make it through an entire sacrament meeting without a few Swedish fish little sustanence.

Oh, now I get it.

You may remember back in August, when I went though a very painful thinning process with my carrots. I found it morally repugnant to be aborting such verdant, promising little starts before they even had a chance to grow and grace my salad bowl. Sigh. The memory still haunts me.

Well, after that trauma, I determined that I would only thin one of my two pots of carrots. I just couldn't bring myself to do it to the second pot. I had SEEN THE LIGHT; I was an enlightened person. No longer would I casually inflict death and destruction unnecessarily (and by necessary, I meant before my vegetables were ready to be chopped up and served for dinner).

I. Was. Passionate. Aaaannnnd . . . that passion lasted all of about 5 minutes. Because almost immediately, I forgot that I had even planted carrots.

Until yesterday. I just so happened to be walking on the side of my house (which I rarely do now that gardening season is over), and I noticed two big pots CHOCK FULL of tall, waving green plants. Oh yeah! My carrots!

I harvested one from each pot.

Hmmmm . . . . So THAT'S why you're supposed to thin them. Crud. Lesson learned.

Emma Unleashed

The other day, while I was tidying around the house, I found a small pile of papers. As I read through them, they began to paint a very telling picture of an obviously traumatic moment in the life of my eldest daughter. I suspect that they were created last Saturday night, when both Nathan & I were gone and the 4 kids were home alone. Allow me to walk you through this journey of passive-aggressive anger and female domination :

(I was going to scan the pages, but unfortunately, I just discovered that my scanner is not working. So you'll have to just imagine these messages written in the scrawling pencil script of a 7-year old.)

#1 (in very large letters)

Emma's

Room

(with a stick figure below and an arrow pointing to it which says "me")

#2

don't come in

with out asking

P.S. only mom and dad

don't have to ask

(and no pretending to be my

mom or dad.)

#3

Jared and

Micah not

allowed.

#4

don't you dare

come in

if you are my

brother

#5

mom and

dad and

friends only.

(friend dose not mean bros or sis)

#6

even thoe dad

is a boy

him and my friends

that are boys are

allowed

#7

girls and

my friends that

are boys

ONLY!!!!!!!

#8

non of my

bros allowed

or els

(followed by a picture of a face with x's for eyes and tongue hanging out)

P.S. I am so serius

#9

nobody 5 or younger

allowed without

permeseon from

me!!! or els

#10

The Yes's and No's

no boys unles

they are my friends

dad is alowed too

The 4 major rules

Yes - my friends that are boys

Yes - my dad in my room

No - my brothers in my room

No - sneking in my room and takeing stuff

♪♪Back in the Paddle Again . . .♪♪

(Are you singing the song? Do you even know what song you're supposed to be singing??)

Since I had to miss a couple of our kayak outings last month, I decided to make them up - in one marathon session - on Thursday. Thankfully, two of my kayaking buddies agreed to re-do those stretches to keep me company.

It was a BEAUTIFUL day. It's always a bonus when we are able to spot an eagle. They are fairly abundant around here, but I never get tired of seeing them.

Our trip took us completely around the north end of the island - from Fay Bainbridge park on the east side to Manzanita Bay on the west. I love passing underneath the Agate Pass Bridge (Yes, we do live on an island. Thankfully, it is connected to the mainland by a bridge.)

Happy women and a very happy, cozy little boy skipping preschool.

THIS. IS. THE. LIFE!

Brooke's MmmmMmmm Good Winter Drink

In a whopping big mug (not one of those crappy little coffee cups), spoon in 1 heaping tablespoon of Pero (since Kraft - may they rot in hell - discontinued Postum) and 1-2 heaping tablespoons of Candycane Cocoa (Nathan's recent Costco discovery - Yum!!).

Add hot water. Stir. Top with Reddi-Whip (optional, but really, why wouldn't you?)

Enjoy!

Halloween 2009

Jared = the color "red"

Micah = Ho! Ho! Ho!

Emma = a "creative weird-o DJ"

Adana = a fairy (the costume looked like it was meant for an angel, but she insisted - loudly - that she was NOT an angel. No one seemed to argue with that assessment.)

Halloween night, a friend of ours had a party for the 12-13 year old kids in our church. One of the activities was a Fear Factor competition. She provided an assortment of gross things for them to eat. The one who ate the most won a huge chocolate candy bar. Most of the kids were able to gag down the mackeral, anchovies and rotten banana. We lost a bunch of them at the raw oysters. But it was the LIVE WORM that really tested their resolve. Here is Jared trying to gag his down:

Click on that last picture so you can get the full effect of the desperate water guzzling. :-)

Like Daugher, Like Mother

A week ago I took Adana in for her first major haircut.

It made me jealous.

For the past 12 years, I've been in the process of growing out my hair. Every 3 years, I chop it super short and donate the ponytail to Locks of Love. Then I spend the next 3 years growing it out again. I've done that 3 times, and the last time was when we were in Turkey (just over 3 years ago). It had gotten way too long and I was sick of it.

So today, I hacked it all off. And it feels so much better!