Grandma Honey: 9/1/14

What I've been thinking about

I've decided that no matter how wonderful a couple's life is together,

no matter how great their marriage is,

having small children is lots of hard work, and sleep deprivation and challenge.

I got to have a front row view into some of it this past month, when first the McKs came for an

11 day visit, and then Karen and Tyler also came for another 11 day visit.

And I am in awe!

I am in awe over what young parents go through day in and day out, and over again.

No matter how tired they get.

I had forgotten how truly hard and challenging this season of life was.

It brought me back to a day when my first two were toddlers. I was sitting on the front porch one
afternoon thinking….this is so hard! The joy like none I had ever known, YES….

but hand in hand came all the work and severe sleep deprivation.

I know, I keep mentioning sleep deprivation.

I'd also been reading a book this past month called, “This is How We Grow” by Christine
Hibbert. It's a memoir of loss and motherhood. The author's sister and brother in law die and she
and her husband get custody of their 2 nephews, along with the 4 they already have. It's in detail
the depths of struggle they go through to make this new life of 6 kids work.

Page 302 she writes,

“…comfort is overrated. If we choose to grow, we choose discomfort. Growth is after all,
by definition, an uncomfortable stretching to something greater.”

On page 347, this same author shares this quote from an unknown person:

"Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and
discouraged men who kept on working."

My mother, who raised 8 kids, had written on the inside cover of one of her journals:

"There is no progression ease to ease."

I told Karen one day as teething Leo was clinging and reaching for her continually all day long
that my friend Darlene and I have discussed how we both MISS being needed THAT MUCH by
one little person. NEVER since has anyone NEEDED us that much. And never will they again.

To me, this is on the front line of what life is all about.

And I have no doubt, my grandchildren are all living in GOOD homes.
What peace this brings to me and Grandpa Dennis.

Odd moments from the past 2 weeks of family

Some of these pictures I really like. Some are baffling to me.

Like this one of cousins Violet and Richie.

I had to think for a bit to figure out why Grandma Susan

was behind the plant in the corner.

(Then I remembered was Susan looking out at our back yard right before I snapped this picture.
But there is something about it that just makes me LAUGH.)

Or this picture. I have no idea what's going on
here with Erin and Karen.
I only hope this is not how they really feel about our family gatherings.

Or this one….who took this picture anyway? Brock?

Richie was so proud of his new skill.

I like his focus here.

I do love this one of Brock, Cami, and Erin.

Leo doesn't look like Prince George

but in this one picture he sort of does.

No one agrees with me. Or cares.

Leo is exactly one day older than George.

And what is going on here?

(and don't worry, I did get permission to show this)

They are still beautiful when bored?…hungry?…tired?….listening?...not sure what they are here….

Maybe they just needed to eat?

I did NOT like the goodbyes.

If we could only figure out a way to live in California and Washington at the same time.

The contagious Granola

I don't know what it is about this granola but my family loves

it. Dennis eats it every single day for breakfast and for a

bedtime snack.

And who ever stays with us lately, wants it everyday too.

Crazy. Like it's contagious or something.

So I make it about once a week.

Here are the ingredients:

Pay no attention that the bottle of canola oil says high heat.
Any canola oil will work for this. Or probably other vegetable oils as well.

While this recipe is definitely not mine,
I've had many recipe requests for this so here it is:

Rebecca's Almond Granola:

12 c oatmeal (old fashioned)

2 c brown sugar

2 c coconut

1 t salt

2 c nuts (we like walnuts, pecans, almonds, and cashews)

1 1/2 c canola oil

2/3 c water

3 t almond flavoring

Mix oats and brown sugar in very large bowl. In separate bowl mix coconut, salt, nuts, oil, water, and flavoring. Add coconut mixture to dry ingredients.Stir till oats no longer look dry. Spread on 2 large brim cookie sheets.

Bake 250' for 1 1/2 hours, stirring and switching pans placement in oven every 30 min.

Please note: The pictures below show it made with parchment paper. I discovered this is totally unnecessary so I don't bother with it anymore.

I so LOVE karen's hair, btw.

The night before's popcorn kept RIch and Leo

busy while we cooked….

….Until….Rich fell back in his chair and landed on the floor.

Poor baby.

Back to work Karen went,

dividing the granola over 2 cookie sheets.

We've discovered the parchment paper is unnecessary.

The last batch I made I didn't use it, and it was just as good.

Bake for 90 minutes,

stirring, and changing out pans every 30 minutes.
(in other words the top tray gets switched to the bottom and visa versa)

And there you have it. It makes A LOT.

If you stay with us,

we'll have some granola waiting for you.

Tyler's Ham Fried Rice

This is Tyler's special recipe that he got from his father in law,
who used to be a chef. We all really enjoyed this last night.

It's a mixture of lots of good things like brown rice, carrots,
onions, eggs, ham, soy sauce and an entire package of peas.

A meal in itself. The recipe is on Tyler's blog.

He made it in my Ninja cooker, but at home he uses his wok.

Or you could use a large frying pan.

Rich and Leo loved it too, and they are at ages, well….
let's just say they don't like everything…

but they do LOVE their Daddy's rice.

The only changes Tyler made in the recipe was

he used safflower oil instead of peanut oil, and 6 eggs instead of 4.

Formal diners we are not. We're going on 11 days of paper plates.

And it made enough that we had leftovers for lunch!

We are savoring our time together
which is soon coming to a close.
Less than 2 days and they will fly away back to Washington.
:(

Karen's Quinoa Burrito Bowl

Does this not look good?!

So it's not our picture, but it's what Karen made

for us yesterday for dinner.

I loved it so much that I hid away the tiny bit of leftovers so I could have more later.

Karen made this for us last year when we were in Portland

and I loved it so much I asked if she would make it while here.

And our very sweet girl said YES of course!

Quinoa Burrito Bowl recipe

The only difference she made to the recipe is

omitting the lettuce... and she used chicken broth in the quinoa
instead of just water.

And I had a little chicken left over from our potato bar

a few days ago, so I added that to the toppings.

(We didn't need the chicken but Dennis thinks it's not dinner without meat. So it made him happy.)

Thank you Karen for another wonderful meal!

Then after church today Karen put some of the leftover toppings
from last night, over her tuna sandwich. She also sprinkled some
celery salt over that….and it was DELISH….

I know, because I tried the same thing.

Next up, Tyler's meal. He's cooking as I write this.

Do I have a great life or what.

Have you tried a potato bar lately?…and Karen's salad dressing

Potato Bar was name of the day for our family gathering last night.
Amy requested it and it's so easy.

Toppings:
green onions
yellow and red peppers
chicken
olives
tomatoes
chinese noodles
chili
cheese
sour cream

For Amy's favorite punch recipe go here.

I like a meal where everyone can make it the way they want.

And maybe even come back for some more Chinese Noodles.

Karen made a salad dressing I LOVE and want to make it again.

Karens Balsamic Vinegarette from Food Network

1/2 c olive oil
1/4 c balsamic
1 T chopped garlic
1/2 salt
1/2 t black pepper
1/8 t dijon mustard

Laurynn had water polo, and Austin had to work, but we did get to have Kylie and Macie with us.

They are seriously such sweet hearts. If you know them at all, you know this.

Chandler found his own way to party. I'll tell you something about Chandler. No matter what is going
on, now matter who is there, he is happy and helpful and never complains about anything.

Now wouldn't you think he would make a great husband someday?