A Whole Lot of Nothing

Aah, closing day is near. We had a change of plans and we are closing on both homes tomorrow. I'm very excited! We've been moving boxes by the truck-load into the garage of our new home for the last two days. (And by truck I mean my brother's Silverado and Jeremiah's pick-up, which is so small it's been mistaken for an ice cream scoop on wheels.) I got a key to the house from the neighbor last night and I'm very tempted to just go start moving in to the house today. But I should be packing up the last of things here so that we can just move furniture on Friday.

Things would go a lot faster here if I weren't so lazy and if Jack would cooperate and if Jeremiah hadn't busted up his knee playing the hero at a baseball game last week. He may have damaged his ACL - he has an MRI scheduled for this afternoon - and has a 15 lb. lifting restriction. So we're going to be that family in the ward asking everyone to move them. Don't you love that family?

Also, I couldn't sleep last night. Maybe I was just anticipating a sleepless night with Jack based on the two previous nights. Or maybe it was the Dr. Pepper I had with dinner around 8. But I got up with Jack at 2 this morning. He went right back to sleep, but I was awake until at least 5. Most of the time I spent laying in bed with arbitrary bits of random miscellanea running through my head. I did however get up and read a few pages in the latest (and last?) Harry Potter installment. (Not a wise selection, I've now decided, since they tend to be addictive and I certainly have no time for reading at the present.) When I can't sleep I have a sure-fire defense, I only have to ask Jeremiah to hold me and it's not long before I'm catching up on those z's. Since I know he hasn't been sleeping well because of said injury, I just waited for him to wake before asking him to hold me. Finally I got some sleep. Even Jack cooperated and slept until 8.

Now, on to packing, cleaning, laundry and wishing I had time to read that book!

On a Lighter Note

After this morning's excitement I thought I'd better lighten the mood of this blog. I've been meaning to post this awesome pie-crust recipe. It came in my Cuisine at home magazine and it's super easy. I think pies are pretty difficult but I was able to make a lattice-top pie crust for my blueberry pie using this pastry recipe. Super tasty + super easy = lots of pie for me this summer!

Flaky Pie Dough
2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp table salt
1 stick unsalted butter, cold, cubed (8 Tbs)
1/2 cup shortening, cubed
1/3 - 1/2 cup ice water

Combine flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter and shortening with a pastry blender (or criss-crossing knives) until butter is pea-size. Add 1/3 cup ice water and blend with a fork. If needed, stir in more water 1 Tbs at a time until dough is moist and clumps, but isn't sticky. Divide in half, shape into disks, and wrap in plastic. Chill at least 30 minutes before rolling.

Makes 1 double-crust pie.

And here's my recipe for blueberry pie filling:
3/4 cup sugar
3 Tbs corn starch
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
4 cups fresh blueberries
1 Tbs butter

Preheat oven to 425. Combine sugar, corn starch, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Take a handful of berries and mash them in the sugar combination until mixture is thick and well combined. Fold in the remaining blueberries. Pour into prepared crust and dot with butter. Cover with top-crust and cut holes for steam. Use a foil collar t prevent crust from over-browning. Place on lower shelf and bake 50 minutes or until filling is thick and bubbly. Cool on wire rack.

I also like to brush my top-crust with milk and then sprinkle it with cinnamon sugar.

When you die, if you get the choice between regular heaven and pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick, but if it's not, mmm pie!

My Heartrate is Almost Back to Normal

The kids and I have been sleeping in lately. Yesterday both Isaac and Kenley slept in until 10:00, so I wasn't worried when this morning Kenley still wasn't up by 10:30, but I did crack open her door hoping that the noises the rest of us were making might get her up.

I hopped in the shower and then gave Jack a bath. He likes his bath until I take him out of the water and then he cries a lot. I thought it was weird that Kenley wasn't out of bed with Jack making all that noise so I opened her door all the way to check on her. Her bed was empty, but I wasn't too concerned because I figured I hadn't heard her get out of her room over Jack's crying. But then I went in the living room and still didn't see her. Isaac was in there and I asked him if Kenley had come out. He said she hadn't.

My heart started pounding. All I could picture was her empty bed. I ran back into her room, yelling her name, hoping that she really was laying in her bed and my eyes had played a trick on me. Still empty. I checked her window...locked. Where is my daughter?

The doorbell rang, I was praying that if Kenley had somehow gotten out of the house that it was a neighbor bringing her back home. It was my mom. "I can't find Kenley!" I practically scream at her. We both start looking through the house frantic and terrified.

I knew the house had been locked. We always lock our doors at night and we never leave the kids' windows open. Jeremiah locks the door behind him on his way out to work if I'm still asleep. I had to unlock the back door to see if she was outside. I couldn't see her anywhere.

I tried to call Jeremiah to find out if he had checked on her before he left for work. Then I realized he's not in his office today. I went back into Kenley's room. I looked under the bed. All I could see was a blanket...but it was the blanket we put her to bed with last night. I tugged at the blanket and see her little pajama'd feed beneath. I'm relieved, but only for a moment...

Then I had a new fear. She was home, but she was under the bed and I couldn't tell if she was breathing. I pulled at her feet and she started to whimper. I lifted up the bed and she crawled out, starting to cry. Music to my ears. I thought she had been taken from me. I was seconds away from calling the police.

I can't tell you the terrifying thoughts that passed through my mind while we couldn't find her. There are so many crazy, evil and desperate people who wouldn't think anything of taking another's child for their own needs. I cannot imagine what we would have gone through had someone really abducted her.

How could I be without her? How could I be without any of my kids? I embraced her and grabbed Isaac for a hug and thanked the Lord that I still had them. I hope I never have to feel the pain of losing a child. I don't know how anyone can handle that kind of heartache and my heart reaches out to those who have.

All That Glitters...

...is gone!

Jack has not been a happy baby the last few days. I think he's having a hard time in the heat. Plus he has had trouble passing gas. So today I sat nursing him for about 40 minutes trying to get him to go to sleep. Isaac sat in the same room with me watching TV and it dawned on me that I couldn't hear Kenley anywhere.

I asked Isaac to go and see what Kenley was doing. He walked down the hall, stopped and looked down at Kenley (I couldn't see her still) and then came back and assured me, "Nuffing." Good, I thought, I can finish getting Jack settled down.

Isaac and I have different definitions of "nuffing."

When Jack was finally asleep I too ventured down the hall, only to find this-

Yes, Kenley had found my make-up bag and decided she needed some beautifying. She got into the eyeshadow and blush and had wild time. A good share of it was smeared on her feet but it appears the majority of it she dug out with her fingernails and deposited on the floor.

It's so hot here and getting mad takes a lot of effort (even if she did use it all and I just bought it a month ago) so I just grabbed the camera and took a few snapshots. I called for Isaac to come and see what she had done. I asked him why he didn't tell me Kenley was making a big mess. It amazes me how children are more than eager to report the most minor of incidences - i.e. "She's looking at me!" "She's touching my chair!" - and neglect those of greater importance. Isaac, of course, had no answer for me. But they were both willing to help clean up and at least I got a fresh post idea from it.

S-O-L-D

We finally put out the "FOR SALE BY OWNER" sign. We had an offer in the first week, even though they did withdraw. We found a home to buy the next week, even though we didn't have a buyer for our home yet. We put in an offer and here is the house we'll be moving into at the end of the month.
Four days after that we got an offer on our home and so everything is working out great. We're set to close on the home we're selling on the 24 and the home we're buying on the 27. I am so excited! This new home has a lot more space and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world because I think it is just beautiful!

In Which I Thank Caroline for the Post Idea

...even though we are mortal enemies.

You Are a Ham Sandwich

You are quiet, understated, and a great comfort to all of your friends. Over time, you have proven yourself as loyal and steadfast. And you are by no means boring. You do well in any situation - from fancy to laid back. Your best friend: The Turkey Sandwich Your mortal enemy: The Grilled Cheese Sandwich

What Kind of Sandwich Are You?