for the love of DINNER

What's for dinner?

The worst part of every day is facing that terrible question. So lately I've been branching out, way out to the tippy edges of branches that shouldn't be walked on. Or even considered.

For example, butternut squash cannelloni. It looked something like this:

But mine wasn't nearly so pretty. It's from Everyday Food and it seemed like a good idea at the time. We'd branch out to that butternut squash inside yummy lasagne noodles, enjoy a little ricotta over the top. What's not to love? Who'll notice a little squash with all that noodle-cheese goodness? Well, Ellie for one. I coached her so carefully. Deep breathing through the nose, a glass of water nearby. And then I said those fateful words. "Careful, Ellie. I don't want you to spray that all over the table." She tried, I'm sure she did. But then she sprayed that cannelloni all over the table in a huge gagging motion. I won't be making that one again. Ever.

One day I decided that instead of feeding my family chili from a can, I'd impress them all with my homemade chili. From DRIED beans, I'll have you know. And then I guess I ventured too far out on those vegetable branches again and added red and green peppers. The chili is in the freezer now, for my own personal lunch-time consumption. It's not as popular as it's much easier canned cousin.

A couple weeks ago, I decided we all needed to have brussel sprouts. Because how can you not like something you've never had? And I'd never had them, but had a secret suspicion that I just might be one of those kinds of people who eat brussel sprouts when no one is looking. And I was right - they were delicious browned in olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper (like this recipe but without the cheese). Truly a treat. But my family is NOT that kind of family.

A couple really yummy sweet potato soups (click here -but use the cream! - and here) hit the spot for me this fall. Did you know that actual sweet potatoes aren't orange and MUCH more easily disguised than those bright orange ones? Good to know if you've got little ones with sharp eyes for anything unusual popping up at the dinner table.

I must be a glutton for punishment because there is no end of "no like it" and "no thank you noodles, no thank you peas" at our house and yet, I continue to go out on a limb at dinnertime. Because there is NOTHING so cute as Carver saying as he clears his plate, "this was the most delicious dinner ever EVER, Mommy!"

It must have been a canned chili and toast night.

Lately

So I've been thinking that this here blog needs a fresh post after that preachy one. Sometimes something comes over me and I have this need to write things I'm thinking about and it comes out sounding like a talk over the pulpit. I'm afraid that people might start thinking things - like maybe things are nice and orderly around here. That maybe we're walking around all grateful for each other and our delicious dinners that Mommy made. Just in case you might be in that delusional state, I'm here to clear things up for you. And to point out that you must not have read the profound things my kids are grateful for. Webkinz. Water. Ears. Streatch? I'm pretty sure the goal was to see who could write the MOST feathers the fastest.

Every night, we check on Grace repeatedly to make sure she has her clothes on. Because she mostly doesn't. When we tuck her in, we say "goodnight, Grace. I love you. KEEP YOUR JAMMIES ON!" She says okay and then strips down after we leave. She covers herself up with a blanket and we just put them back on to keep her from freezing in the middle of the night. But on at least half a dozen occasions, she's reverted completely to her birthday suit. One priceless nap I wished I'd snapped a picture of that little bum up in the air and her diaper tossed rebelliously to the floor, but you'll have to make do with her desperate attempts to reclothe herself after waking up. Grace also talks nonstop, repeating and repeating until we answer her. And even then, sometimes she doesn't stop.

Carver's into leaves. And a strict avoidance of peanuts. Except for his daily PB&J. :) He's always checking with us to see if something has peanuts in it. But really, Carver's big thing lately is helping with his strong muscles. Nothing makes this kid's day like helping out. It's not always quite what I had in mind, but we'll get there. The other day, Grace was reminding us that she's afraid of worms and Carver chimed in with "I'm not afraid worms. Worms friends. Worms tickle me." Very cute. OH! And Carver says he's going to be a football player when he grows up so he can tackle people. Grace has been echoing this dream and adding that when she grows up to play football, "boys tackle me!"


Lydia's soccer season wrapped up a couple weekends ago. Their team started so strong, but the games got tougher and tougher as the season went by. Lydia was a trooper, playing in rain and thunder and running harder and longer than she ever thought she could. She's still playing soccer at ALL her recesses! She loved playing goalie, but it sure stressed me. I'm not one to sign up for that kind of pressure.


Some of us are less enthusiastic about the sport. This is Ellie's 3rd season as a faithful fan and I think she's ready to retire. What do you think? But in her defense... BRRR.... some of those games were COLD!! Ellie's braving a whole new world in January and playing basketball. I'm excited to see how it goes! At least it's inside, right?


Whew. I feel better already. Much more normal around here.

more than THANK-YOU

Monday was my night to teach a lesson in Family Home Evening and the perfect time for the thankful turkey to make an appearance this year. It's become a family tradition.

This year, I wanted to talk about what it means and feels like to be grateful. I think I got a lot more out of the conversation than the kiddos, but they cooperated nicely. :)

When you're grateful...
you cherish what you have and treat it kindly
you aren't jealous of what other people have
you aren't thinking as much about yourself
you don't complain
you remember who your blessings are from
you feel happy, content, peaceful, patient

I've been thinking all week about how gratitude changes behavior and how, more than anything, this year I have gratitude goals. I could list my blessings, but I want gratitude to change me.

I want to act grateful to be a MOTHER. I want to cherish my children more, treat them with love and respect and tenderness. I want to complain less about diapers and laundry and dishes. I want to be grateful for my kids' individuals strengths and abilities and not try to mold them into anything else.

I want to act more grateful for my HOUSE. It's not fancy, it's not big, but it's our first. And I sure want to give it my best. I want to keep it more organized, decorated and homey. I want to feel content with what I've got. And not whine when it's time to mop the floor again.

I want to be more grateful for the SAVIOR this season. I want to remember all He gave to us and give to others around me in return. I want to be more like Him, even when it's hard and I get selfish with my time and energy. I want to be grateful for forgiveness and repentance, so grateful that I take advantage of it more often.

I want to find new things to be grateful for every day.

Like wheels on grocery carts.
And Carver's strong muscles to carry in groceries.
For a little bit of rain instead of a lot of rain.
Cleaner closets.
Christmas wrapping paper.
Hot chocolate.
Kids who played nicely together - some of the day.
Friends.
Family.
Derek.
Date nights.
Great books.
Christmas shopping almost done!

Isn't Thanksgiving the PERFECT way to get Christmas underway?!

Howell-oween 2009

I like Halloween less every year. It's about a 4 out of 10 this year. I LOVE pumpkins and cute costumes and even the candy. But I don't love spooky or scary or gruesome and there is more of that every year. There is a house in the neighborhood with all the yucky violent decorations you can imagine and my sweet Ellie is afraid to check the mail or walk home from the bus stop on that side of the street. When did Halloween turn into a walking horror flick? Ick.

On THAT happy note :) .... here's my best Halloween moment:

Carver wanted to stay home and pass out candy with me after our church "trunk-or-treat." I was skeptical since he has a hard time when I gave away zucchini last summer and he doesn't even LIKE zuccini. He must think of Halloween as an exception.

He stood on our porch and yelled, hands cupped around his mouth, in his costume and socks:

COME PEOPLE!!
Come to my house!
Lots of candy!
Trick or treating!

I laughed and laughed and couldn't get it on video. It was the funniest thing ever. AND he loved handing out the candy, too. What a breakthrough!

Carver ASKED to be a ghost! He thought of it himself, asked for it and that was that. Another cool milestone.

Then Grace wanted to be whatever Carver was. For awhile it was going to be a "princess ghost," but in the end we were lucky she wore the ghost sheet as much as she did. She was a serious grump that whole week.

Lydia wanted to be a witch this year.

So you guessed it - Ellie did, too. :)

And continuing with the theme. Here's Ellie in her halloween T-shirt, posing as she always does.

And Carver copied her! TOO funny.

So that's that. One holiday down, 3 more to go this year. Stay tuned to see if I get around to adding a funny video of pumpking carving... Don't hold your breath, though. :)

Carver's happy day!

Carver's 4th birthday started with a sprinkled donut.

Grandpa & Grandma Eucker and Auntie Lyssa came that morning, too. Carver got to ride in Grandpa's "silver car" to go get ice cream for his party. It is really Grandma's car, but Carver's world is pretty much Grandpa-centric these days. He LOVES that car. Nevermind our super cool van is silver, too. Clearly it's not the same as a silver Acura - even in the mind of a 4 year old. Grandpa pushed Carver on the swings and played with him, too. My dad is a saint. Really and truly!

Carver wanted cupcakes for his birthday - darn! I don't care much for cake myself and I'm always trying to offer more tasty choices. Apple turnovers anyone? Pie? Giant cookies or brownies? Not for this boy. Just a classic cupcake for him.

Carver had FRIENDS come to a little party at our house - just 1 hour, with lunch and cupcakes.... how hard could that be? Let's just say I overestimate myself sometimes. It's a REALLY good thing my parents came to help! All the kids were super well behaved, but they just flew through our little painting craft and bean bag toss. We had to throw in a few classic stand-bys... Duck, Duck Goose - London Bridges - Musical Pillows. And the kids had a great time. They ate their pizza and their cupcakes and Carver had a great time. Whew! Success.

We had sweet-n-sour meatballs, rice and rolls for dinner. One of Carver's favorites. And more cupcakes - what else? What a happy day for our little boy. The best part was when he'd climbed in my bed in the morning and said, "Carver's birthday? Almost?" YES! It's finally here, bud. The girls climbed in bed, too, and sang happy birthday to him, too. We sure love Carveroni!