Family Dinners

I've been revisiting some old favorite conference talks in preparation for conference coming up this weekend. Tonight I revisited one of my all time favorites from Elder Oaks titled "Good, Better, and Best".  I love this talk, and I remember him giving it, and it really hitting home to me. I walked away from that talk with a greater desire to put family first. To make family home evening, scripture study, and temple attendance a priority. Today I got something even more out of it from this quote.

"The number of those who report that their “whole family usually eats dinner together” has declined 33 percent. This is most concerning because the time a family spends together “eating meals at home [is] the strongest predictor of children’s academic achievement and psychological adjustment.”³ Family mealtimes have also been shown to be a strong bulwark against children’s smoking, drinking, or using drugs.⁴ There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents: what your children really want for dinner is you".

What are some of your old time favorite conference talks that you find yourself revisiting again? 

I was humbled by President Oaks reminder. Since Buster came along, I haven't been quite as consistent at my cooking. I've gotten kind of lazy with it actually. Cereal again really?  But dinner is important. Some of the best conversations that I've had in my life have revolved around a dinner table. It doesn't matter what's on the table, so much as the focus and attention and time that is given to those sitting at the table, and hey if statistics show that it can help your kids make better choices in the future, it's worth putting effort into.

Some may think that with little kids and the chaos of just trying to get them to eat, that it is impossible to have a conversation and a pleasant experience at the dinner table. I say that, because I have definitely felt that feeling.  It might be impossible if your expecting a normal adult conversation, but if you can get a little silly and make it fun on their level dinner time can be fun, even if it is messy, loud, and chaotic. One of the things we like to do occasionally is play the animal game, or make silly faces, or go around and ask what our favorite part of the day was, or if you did something nice for someone. The kids love to be listened to. 

I'm going to try to make a new goal for myself to make family dinner a priority.  What makes family dinner a success at your house? What are some of the conversations you have with your kids at the dinner table?

One of my favorite, easy go to meals is simply rice and chicken. It's cheap, and yummy, and something that I almost always have on hand.

Even if I forgot to thaw the chicken in the morning I can throw it in a bowl of hot water and let it thaw for about 15 or 20 minutes and its ready to stick in the marinade. I've marinated for 6 hours when I've planned ahead and just 15 minutes before and both still taste absolutely delicious. What are some of your favorite go-to recipes?

Asian BBQ Chicken (from www.ourbestbites.com)

1/4 C packed brown sugar
1/4 C soy sauce
2 T lime juice (about 1 lime)
1/4 t cayenne pepper
1/4 t curry powder
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
1 t grated fresh ginger
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Preheat a grill (or an indoor grill pan or broiler). Spray cooking surface with cooking spray and place chicken on it to cook. Cook for 5-10 minutes on each side depending on the thickness.  Optional:  garnish with sliced green onions

Coconut Rice

2 c. white or Jasmine rice
1 can coconut milk
2 c. water
1 tsp. Kosher salt
Splash of white vinegar (optional, but it helps with the texture)
2-3 tsp. white sugar
Handful of chopped green onions, plus chopped green onion tops for garnish (we're using the whole animal here...)
Black pepper to taste

Combine rice, coconut milk, water, salt, vinegar, and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil  Turn heat to low and cover for 20 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed.  Allow to stand 5 minutes.  Add green onions, black pepper (if desired), and additional salt if necessary. 

Visit to Mount Rainier on Labor Day

This year for labor day weekend we headed up to visit our favorite local volcano. It was a gorgeous day, and I decided to pack some matching outfits so that we could take advantage of the beautiful wildflowers and snap a family photo, which you will see in the mail around Christmas time :).  The kids were troopers. They ended up hiking about three miles on their little legs. By the end of the day, everyone was asleep. I'm so grateful for this beautiful earth. There is nothing that makes me happier than enjoying the beautiful outdoors with my little family.

Hm. What's he gunna do?

 Don't worry this isn't the family photo we are going to use for our card, its just a sneak peak. :)

Discombobulated but happy.

Warning, this blog represents the current state of my brain. A little discombobulated and unorganized. That's kind of going to be the way it goes with my blogs for the next little while. I don't want my lack of creativity or lack of wittiness to keep me from blogging. So here it goes. Don't judge my misspelled words aight?

Here are some things that have made me happy in the last few weeks along with a few other random updates.

1. Buster in Warner's old suit toddling around the church on Sunday morning. Even if he does surprise me, as well as the entire congregation with bursts of occasional screaming ban-chi sounds, he sure is dapper in his little suit. Lately one of Buster's favorite words is happy. We can often  here him playing in another room chanting "Apee, appee, apee". I love it.

2. Walking this girl to school every day. The goodbye part doesn't make me happy, but having the walk to and from school is a daily tradition that has really grown on me. I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune when the rains come and I have to load up all three kids with boots, and jackets, and rain gear before heading out the door. But for now, the weather has been sunny and gorgeous, and our walks have been awesome.

3. Also, packing Liv's lunch box makes me super happy. I don't know why I love it so much. I guess I love knowing that she's getting healthy food in her body everyday. I also love to give it little added touches of love, making fun shapes out of things, or popping in surprise treats, or sending pictures that I've drawn of her favorite things.  I love imaging the look on her face when she opens it up and finds her yummy little lunch waiting for her. I hope she feels my love pouring out of it even though I'm not there.

 4. Hanging with the Warner man. The first few days of school were really hard for me. Even the first week, but hanging out with Warner has really helped to soften the blow of Liv going to school. It is so fun to finally be able to give Warner my undivided attention. His personality has really started to come out. He is such a naturally sweet, tender-hearted, and content little soul. He loves to do whatever I'm doing. Lately, he is really into baking or cooking with me. It's fun to read the recipe together and then let him dump and stir the ingredients into the bowl. He also loves library time. He knows all of the songs and follows the librarian perfectly. We call it his school, so when Liv gets home he tells her "I went to school today too Liv!". He also loves playing with Buster. And by playing I mean riding Buster like a pony anytime he catches Buster on all fours. Luckily, Buster doesn't seem to mind, or at least he seems impartial to it.  

5. I guess this wasn't technically this week, but a few weeks ago, something that made me really happy was the super fun date I went on with J. It was his birthday weekend so we decided to splurge and go on a date, which doesn't happen very often. The babysitter came over around 6:00 and then we headed off to the lake. I windsurfed while Jaron swam by my side. Then we swapped. The weather was so pretty and the Lake was so still, but there was just enough wind to have a good ride. Then we decided to paddle out together on the board while we watched the sun set.  It was so romantic, and it felt like we were just young college students again going from one fun activity to the next. On our way in we talked to a couple about windsurfing. After only a few mintues of chatting the wife started to complain "I can never go on dates with my husband, because we don't like to do any of the same things". Her blunteness in front of her husband kind of caught me off guard.  I looked at him, who just stared at us with a nod, and didn't know quite what to say. You could say it was an awkward moment. So, what do I do in awkward moments, I laughed. Then, I suggested that they eat together, most people like to do that. That was a no go either. She simply replied in her Latino accent: "No no. It's not a good idea for people who don't like to exercise together to eat together. That would not be good".  I laughed again, this time more sincerely, but really I walked away from that conversation feeling so grateful that J and I never seem to run out of things that we love to do together.

After our fun windsurf romp, we headed off to our favorite Italian Restaurant, Paolo's. After Paolo's we headed off to a movie, which we also NEVER do, and went and saw the new Batman. I was thoroughly entertained. It was such a fun date. I want to remember fun dates every once in awhile that's why I'm writing this down.

Well, if you stuck with me to the end of this journalistic (is that a word) novel, I now have kind of sad news and need some advice. Liv is having a really hard time with school. Everyday when I go to pick her up, she falls into my arms with in exhaustion with a frown on her face. "Mom, I don't like it, please let me stay home". When I ask her what is wrong she usually can't pin point one thing, but I get the feeling that she sometimes gets bored, and that it's just a really long day for her.  I know it's not her teacher, because her teacher is great.  I also know that they are going to be learning some really great things this year. Her school has lots of good programs like music, and computers, and her teacher even does art on Fridays.  I know its good for her, and I don't feel like I'm organized enough to home school. Besides that I'm really kind of enjoying only having 2 kiddos at home during the day now.  So, those of you who are wiser and have been through the kid in school thing. Is this normal? Do I just need to give it a few weeks?

Seaside

We headed to another beach a few weeks ago with some dear friends. Seaside, Oregon. We had a great time and the weather, was really sunny and pretty.

This (below) is my favorite picture of the trip. Jaron with his new, well not really new, but improved surf board. For those of you that knew Jaron in his Hawaii days, you will remember Captain America. Well, after lots of hard work, Captain America has had a little make over. Say goodbye to Captain America and say hello to 

The JAILBIRD

Westport

We tried to squeeze in as much as we could the last month of summer. We had to fit in some beach time, so we planned a day and went down to Westport with some good friends.  My favorite part of the trip was watching Buster stick his face in the sand. He did it once and I thought he would cry and learn his lesson, but no. He kept on sticking it straight down in the sand. I guess he likes the feeling of sand in his eyes, an nose, and mouth. He must be his father's son.

Prayer Time

Goes a little something like this at our house:

Jaron or I- "Ok guys it's time to say a prayer. Can you fold your arms?"

Immediately, two hands shoot straight up in the air and a gentle quarel begins.

Liv and Warner simultaneously say:
"I wanna say it! I wanna say it"!
"You said it last time".
"You said it for dinner"
"You said it for breakfast".

They are of course making all of this up and have no consistency with the actuality of who prayed when, but none the less the quarrel lives on, and has been present in our lives every day, every time we pray, for the last . . . oh year or so.

Then the prayer begins. We never have a silent prayer in the Brown household. By silent, I mean, only the person doing the actual praying is talking. No. Not here. If I say the prayer, Jaron is usually eye balling the kids, and whispering softly, "Fold your arms Warner. Stop hitting Buster. Warner shhh. Liv close your eyes".

If Jaron is praying, Liv and Warner take turns whispering their different needs to us.  Liv's needs have been the same ever since we went to New Castle beach 3 months ago, when she got attacked by mosquitoes.  She whispers, "Dad. Don't forget to bless my bug bites". Warner's needs have been the same ever since Liv got bit by bugs, though he did not get bit, he whispers loudly, "Dad, bwess my bug bites too".  He likes to take on other people's pains I guess, because he also reminds us, "And bwess my wibs", ever since Jaron broke his ribs a few months ago.  If on the off chance Jaron or I happen to keep on praying or consentrating without acknowledging him, Warner will just simply do a whisper-shout "Dadddd!! Don't  FORGET To BWESS my WIBS!".

Sometimes, the kids just remind us of one need during the prayer, sometimes it's a whispered duet of many things that last almost the entire prayer.
Liv- "And bless my. . . "
Warner- "And bless my". . .
Liv-"And don't forget to bless me. . . "
and on and on.

We have become quite irreverent I'm afraid during prayer time around here these days. As cute as it is, I'm going to start asking them before the prayer what their needs are and have a quick talk on reverence so that we can get through the prayer in silence.

Silly rascals.