A gift to the earth.

What is more appropriate than a kid becoming completely potty trained* on Earth Day? It's the only gift a little guy, ahem, "big boy" can really give. No more diapers in the landfill from this dude. I was hoping that he would be trained before we moved into the new house but was thinking this might just be wishful thinking. But the Easter Bunny's gift of the undie megapack helped make a mom's pleas reality. At first he wanted to wear about five at a time - I get it, he was used to the padding- now he will wear one or two at a time and if they have a large character on the rear he insists that it go in the front (he's not the only one). Which looks a little uncomfortable to me. But I'm not complaining as long as he is keeping them dry. He's even amazingly waking up dry in the morning - I'm not going to risk going without a pull-up yet though.

His nursery teacher commented that when she took him potty he told her he wanted to stand on the potty to go. Oops, I guess this is what happens when most of your training happens in a porta-potty (at the lot) and now that it is warming up, I have been encouraging the go pee outside method. Yes neighbors - the Westbrooks are moving in...and marking our territory. (At home he stands on a stool and when we are in a public place I hover him over like an airplane)

Binkless and potty trained - now if we could just get him out of our bed at night...

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*Who determined he was completely potty trained? Me, his mother. I am accepting accolades for this achievement (on behalf of Miles of course).

Found in the Sound

U.S.A - 1 Pirates - 0

AP (NAIROBI, Kenya) - Navy SEAL snipers on the fantail of a destroyer cut down three Somali pirates in a lifeboat and rescued an American sea captain on Easter Sunday. The surprise nighttime assault in choppy seas ended a five-day standoff between a team of rogue gunmen and the world's most powerful military.

Yo Ho! Take that. I don't know why but this story just made my day. Yes, I do know why, it's because I'm a news junkie and usually what I read is just sad sad sad. Generally I don't check in much with the computer or TV on weekends but I have been following this story closely because, like polygamists, these modern day pirates intrigue me and I found myself praying for this captains rescue, especially after he escaped once by jumping overboard and was recaptured.

Aside - I know Pirates don't make the best topic for an Easter Sunday entry so if you are desirous of something inspiring of a religious nature, I highly recommend this but read on...

So piracy (on the high seas and not just of digital media) in 2009? What?! I know Johnny Depp made pirate culture cool again but these "rogue" Somali's are taking it too far. I'm sure there are pirates from other countries too but right now the Somali's hold 12 ships and over 230 international mariners hostage*. A few days ago they took a French family that was out sailing hostage and death ensued.

This particular U.S. ship captained by the heroic Mr. Phillips had "been carrying food aid bound for Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda" when "crew members said they saw pirates scrambling into the ship with ropes and hooks from a small boat bobbing on the surface of the Indian Ocean far below". Ropes and hooks? Now all I can picture is Capt. Hook... I'm having a hard time getting out of fantasy land while at the same time understanding the horrific reality of modern real life pirates. Even Hillary Clinton recently chuckled when speaking about the growing threat of pirates. I don't know if she was picturing Depp or Hoffman when she committed her faux pas but we have to switch gears because pirates are now real. When Chelsey recently posted about going on a sailing trip I have to admit that pirates crossed my mind. Hopefully pirates aren't stalking Catalina Island but you never know. Before too long it might not be politically correct to have your kid be a pirate for Halloween or have a pirate themed party.

Aside #2 - For the record Ben has always thought it a crime for to wear pirate/nautical inspired striped shirts and I always get an "Arrrrr" from him if I dare put one on.

Anyhow, I applaud this ships captain who willingly offered himself up to save his crew, his crew - who regained control of their hijacked ship, the Navy Seal snipers who acted swiftly and accurately and Pres. Obama for not negotiating with terrorists of any type (eye-patch or no eye-patch) and for ordering the rescue effort.



* Plus we don't have a great history with this country - remember Black Hawk Down? If you read the book you probably remember the atrocities that occurred in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. If you saw the movie you probably have no idea what was going on. Even if you read the book first then saw the movie you would still have no idea what was going on. It was a terrible movie. But, I also want to say that I feel very sorry for the average - non-violent Somali people, I'm sure they endure many hardships, which I'm sure drives many to piracy and crime to survive.

Easter 2009

The night before Easter. Easter Morning

*The Easter bunny was quite generous this year. Considering that her parents didn't get Avery anything for her b-day (if we take you to Chuck-E-Cheese, that is your present) and the kids have been super patient while their parents slave away at the new house the Easter bunny must have felt it was his/her duty to indulge the children. He brought minimal candy - the Reeses Eggs were for Ben and I got a pack of gum. Wait, let's reverse that. The Easter bunny also must have hit up Target's $6 sale on movies, Barnes and Noble and Lowes for some gardening tools. That smart Easter bunny also brought Miles two packs of manly cartoon underwear which we will find ultimately leads to a very happy and diaper bag free mom.

Easter Miscellany

Cute stuff that came in the mail. The ceramic eggs came from Aunt Britt and they were full of candy but to get it you had to break the egg. This would have been an easy decision for Miles had we let him at it but Avery really suffered over this one. Ultimately hers had an accident and the candy was revealed. Then we poked a hole in Miles' and retrieved the candy out of the back, egg intact. I told Avery I would try to glue her egg back together....someday. The cookies and a box of goodies came from Gma Maggie and another box of goodies came from Gpa Mark makingthis one sweet Easter.

Happy Easter.

Some dates don't have to be marked on a calendar for you to know they are coming. Some you just feel coming. Yesterday was one of those days. Yesterday was 10 years without my littlest sister.

She would be 26 going on 27. She would be a nice person. She'd live near a beach. She would be a cool aunt. She'd still be fast. Other than that I don't know what she would have become by now. She might have gone to culinary school. She probably would have gone to college on a running scholarship. But to me she'll always be sixteen, the last to leave the nest.

Luckily, the memories haven't grown dimmer. I just realize that, while close, the age gap and self-involvement was enough for me not to have had as many memories as one might like. Some of you have memories I don't have, because you were classmates or friends or had a different familial relationship.

The memories I wish I didn't have lie in a box. It's round and has clouds on it. Inside are newspaper articles, an audio tape of the memorial service, a few pictures, a couple letters Ben wrote to her while on his mission, stickers, artwork, a cd, her chapstick. I don't look through it often. Maybe two times in the decade that has passed.

Time doesn't really heal all wounds, it just changes your perspective of the pain. While sad to lose a sister, I think now how exponentially harder it must be to lose a child. This perspective doesn't feel like healing to me. Losing someone close is also a devestating reminder of our own mortality, and thus I live life a little more guarded, if not fearful of sudden tragedy. This might be normal as one matures and grows more aware of the bitterness in the world - but for me will always be tied to a day ten years ago.

When is 60 degrees beach weather?

When you were expecting April to be spring like and when you woke up April 1st to snow. And April 2nd, 3rd and 4th to rain, wind and even a smattering of hail. And when your patience with the weather in the Northwest has just started to grow thin.

That makes sunny and 60 glorious. Flipflops, t-shirts and a few hours outside resulted in the pinkness of sunburn (as opposed to the pinkness of cold and wet skin) and warm feelings all around. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon between Conference sessions than enjoying God's green earth - along with many other sun-starved humans. The kids even put their feet in the water (It's not that warm - I'm not sure if it ever get's that warm). Avery and I enjoyed it so much that we went back for sunset and low tide and were rewarded with the sight of two seals frolicking in the Sound. I now see the wisdom in the incredible length of the summer day here offset by stubby days of winter dreariness. In other words, wake me up when summer comes.

Avery convinced someone to let her walk their poodle.

Chocolate Sheet Cake.

"You're not going to make that from scratch are you?" Those are the loving words I was greeted with after announcing that I was going to make a cake. A cake I had been thinking about for two days. A cake I ran four miles for, just so I would not feel the least bit of guilt when I indulged. A cake I had to buy a new pan for because the other is in storage*

(I apologize in advance to any Catholic, Lutheran or other friends honoring Lent** by giving up chocolate. Or if you are on a chocolate-free diet. You may just want to skip to a post that won't stir any passions - may I suggest "Choosing Paint")

I defiantly continued to pull out the flour and cocoa from the cupboard. I was going to make it from scratch - despite my dismal baking record. It's only dismal from Ben's perspective anyhow. I have quite liked the things I make. But I can see why, maybe he wouldn't like my desserts. First of all, I don't bake often so maybe he's mad at me about that. When I do bake, I just can't bring myself to take the time to measure exactly. But I've found that if you say "close enough" when you pour the baking soda into the palm of your hand and toss it in that things generally work out fine.*** The most egregious of my baking sins however, is my need to add things to the recipe. Generally to increase the nutrition. Things like ground flax seeds and wheat germ tend to find their way into the bowl, even when I promise myself I will follow the recipe exactly. I just can't help it. And I should probably just stick to making granola bars.

But I'm glad I made the cake. And judging from the seconds and thirds that Ben had (darn him and his never expanding waistline) he was pretty grateful himself. So without further ado here is the recipe I stole from The Pioneer Woman. It won't be the last.

Pioneer Woman Chocolate Sheet Cake

Combine in a mixing bowl:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a saucepan, melt:
2 sticks butter
Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa.

Stir together.

Add 1 cup boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat.
Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.

In measuring cup, pour 1/2 cup buttermilk.

Add:
2 beaten eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture.

Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.
While cake is baking, make icing:
Chop 1/2 cup pecans finely.

Melt 1 3/4 sticks butter in a saucepan.
Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat.

Add:
6 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 lb minus 1/2 cup powdered sugar (whatever that comes out to...?)

Stir together.
Add pecans, stir together, and pour over warm cake.
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So I did use white 100% whole wheat flour (Trader Joes has a good one) and I thought it tasted a little wheatie at first but after it cooled it was unnoticeable. The cake isn't the point in this recipe anyway, it's the frosting. And since it was so healthy the four of us ate the whole thing in under 24 hours.



* My first choice was to make this cake- http://ugapo.blogspot.com/2009/03/molten-chocolate-cake-recipeheaven-on.html, but my ramekins are in storage and I figured an extra jelly roll pan will be more useful. But when I unpack I will be making this.

**I just learned how long the Lenten period is - I don't know why I always thought it was just one or two weeks. But 40 days (now I get the symbolism)plus x number of Sundays (46 days total this year) of going without whatever - that is quite a sacrifice - which I do realize is the point.

***Check before you use this method. The crook of my palm is a perfect teaspoon, yours may not be. ;)

March Recap