Dates with dad

We've started something fun with our kids. Every Tuesday Dave takes one of them out on a date. There's not a whole lot to do in our town in the winter, but they enjoy going out to dinner or playing arcade games at the pizza place or going to the candy shop. Then sometimes they'll run an errand while they're out. I can't tell you how much the boys look forward to this! They love choosing what to do and spending special time with their dad. This week he took Tyler to A&W for burgers and a root beer float; then they picked up some things for me at Wal-Mart, looked at Play Station games and brought home salt water taffy to share. It's amazingly calm here at home with just 4 of us, and I always like to have a break from fixing dinner. We usually have leftovers or something really simple. It's been a good thing for everyone.

2 new things

I did 2 things for the first time on Saturday. First I drove a truck. After 3 years of wanting to put wood chips under the playset, we finally did it; we decided it would be a good day because the ground was soft from the rain. Dave recruited the cousins to come help dig (their favorite thing in the world), while I borrowed Nathan's truck to pick up the wood chips from a local nursery.

Alec & Braden were hard workers! They kept working long after all the other kids got tired and went in to watch a movie.It doesn't look that deep, but they dug down about 4", put weed barrier down, then covered it with 2 cubic yards of wood chips. It feels so good to finally have that project done.

My other first was making egg rolls, which is something I've always wanted to do. I just followed the recipe on the wrapper package, and they were super easy and yummy. First I cooked the pork, then I added shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, and green onions. It called for oyster sauce, which we didn't have, so I used Teriyaki sauce instead. Then I wrapped them up and fried them in oil. And we had the perfect tray to put them on, thanks to Emily. Next I want to try making dumplings.

Date night

For date night Friday we went down to see grandpa, who had just gotten out of the hospital. First we ate at our favorite crepe restaurant and did a little shopping at Costco. Then we went to visit with my mom, my uncle Michael and grandpa. He did NOT like being in the hospital and got almost no sleep. He kept saying "So there I was for 48 hours, with that thing (I.V.) in my arm." Poor grandpa. I told him it's amazing he's been in the hospital as little as he has. He really is very healthy for 87. Then we headed over to Borders to spend a couple of Christmas gift certificates, although we ended up not buying anything because we were getting too tired to make a decision. I guess we'll have to go there earlier in the evening next time.

.

So I have to take some time to stress the importance of weekly dates. I have talked to several friends recently who admit they haven't been on a date with their husband in months. Gasp. When Dave was called to be on the high council recently, one of the things he was instructed to do was weekly dates with his wife! I thought that was so cool. It's not just a luxury - it's essential. I find myself looking forward to it all week, and I'm almost giddy with excitement Friday. We have been going much more regularly since my nephews moved here. Kristen tells Christopher and Jonathan to keep their Friday nights open, and they use one while we use the other. Of course we pay them, but it just helps to have it put into the schedule. Our problem before was waiting too long in the week to decide what to do for our date, and by then it was almost impossible to find a babysitter. So I encourage all you married couples out there to make weekly dates a priority. Just put it into the schedule, and it will be more likely to happen. Then lose the guilt - it's important for your relationship no matter how long you've been married, and it will make you a better parent, no matter how old your kids are.

Chocolate-covered cherry cookies

I took dinner over to Kristen's family yesterday; I wanted to make something extra special for dessert, since she can have sugar again. My mom made these coookies a few years ago, and when I bit into one I couldn't believe how incredibly good it was. So I just have to share the recipe. I don't know if it's the exact same one my mom uses, but I got it from my Better Homes and Garden Homemade Cookies cookbook.1 1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 10 oz jar maraschino cherries

.

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl mix dry ingredients. In a large bowl mix butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix altogether. Shape dough into 1" balls and place 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press down center of each ball with your thumb. Drain cherries, reserving juice. Place a cherry in the center of each cookie.

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

4 tsp reserved cherry juice

.

For frosting: in a small saucepan combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk; heat over medium heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and stir in cherry juice. Spoon about 1 tsp of frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry. If necessary, thin frosting with additional cherry juice. Bake about 10 minutes or until sides are set. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. I thought some of the cookies needed more icing, so I added a little bit after they got out. I ran out of cherries for the last few cookies because I doubled the recipe and used marshmallows instead. They were totally yummy too. Next time I might add nuts also.

When it rains it pours

We're finally getting a little rain around here. Although we've loved the warm sunny weather, what we really needed was cloudy and wet. The boys were all excited to be able to use their umbrellas this morning.

.

My family is keeping the medical community in business this week. Kristen is coming home from the hospital today. My mom had a stent placed to allow her many kidney stones to pass. My father-in-law had two surgeries in a week. My sister Emily had surgery on Monday. And my grandpa was admitted yesterday with a dangerously high calcium level. Our prayers have been rather lengthy this week.

Welcome baby Luke!

Luke Hansen made his grand entrance this morning at 6:05 after just one push, weighing in at just 6 lb 2 oz and measuring 19.5" in lenth.After getting the big kids off to school, I took Dallin, Eric and Brennan down to the hospital to meet him. Seeing Luke's bare legs, Eric told Kristen he wants to take him home and put clothes on him. The boys were ready to go after just 5 minutes, but I didn't want to leave. This is the first time I've been able to visit one of my sisters in the hospital with their new baby, and I could hold that sweet little baby all day.

"Baby!"

Welcome to the family, Luke. We're so happy to have you here.

Temple trip

We drove down to L.A. Friday night, stayed at the temple apartments, and participated with Stake Temple Day on Saturday. It always seems like such a huge thing to go down there, but then we have a wonderful time and it's so worth it. The kids always love road trips, especially when we eat at Red Lobster on the way home.Dave and I took turns going to the temple and watching the kids. It was an incredibly warm day (I really should have packed shorts and t-shirts), and the boys loved being near the temple.
First they rode scooters and played at the park behind the apartments.

Dallin took this picture of me. It's a bit crooked, but I still like it.

When we got too hot we put our scooters away, went over to the mission house to watch the Joseph Smith video (the visitors center is still under construction), then headed over to the temple grounds.

There was a bridal party there, and Brennan kept trying to get in their pictures.
There are a couple really cool trees to climb there.
At one point Brennan tried to run into the temple when the doors were open, Tyler tackled him to the ground to stop him, and Brennan screamed for all to hear. I was on the other side of the reflecting pool, so it took me a little while to get to them. That was exciting.
Dallin looks mad in this picture, but actually he was being reverent. Do you realize how close the temple is to Beverly Hills?! I've been looking at a dresser at Crate and Barrel online, and since we had a couple hours between our sessions, Dave suggested we go to the store to check it out. They didn't have it in stock, but I thoroughly enjoyed walking through the store anyway. I can't remember the last time I've been in a store and loved everything in it. And Dave's excited he's found a way for me to want to go to the temple more often. Oh the time I could spend here...