Now this is an airplane!

So one of Scott's favorite activities is to ask Seth to make him a specific type of airplane out of paper and tape. Usually it is an F14 or fighter jet or something like that. Two Sundays ago Seth Scott Simon and Micah all stayed home from church because they were sick. While we were gone Scott asked Seth to make him a 747. I guess Seth knew that 3 hours needed to be filled somehow because this is what they came up with. The materials include a 2-liter soda bottle, an oatmeal can, a grits can, a portion of a wrapping paper tube, tin foil, paper, and masking tape. I so live in a house full of boys!

Yummy yummy yummy for my tummy! Soup!

My cousin for a Christmas gift treated me to a cooking class at Kitchen Kneads. It was a class on cooking Indian food (think curry). The title says spicy, but it means spicy as in seasoning, not spicy as in it is so hot you need to eat the plain yogurt off of everyone else's plate so your throat would stop burning and your eyes would stop watering and you could stop wiping the sweat off your brow like I had to with one of the other dishes. But I digress. This soup was so easy, so nutritious, so delicious and best of all, my lactose intolerant family can eat it! Here's the recipe:
Spicy Chickpea Tomato Soup
1- 19 ounce can chickpeas drained
1- 13.5 ounce can light coconut milk
2- 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes
1/2 cup naturally sweetened apple juice
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chicken stock

Put all of the above ingredients except the chicken stock in the blender and puree the mixture until smooth. Transfer to a medium sauce-pan and add chicken stock. Bring to a simmer over moderately high heat. Season with salt and black pepper.
Ladle into bowls and garnish with: 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt and chopped scallions, green part only. The cook said she also likes to squeeze fresh lemon juice (1/2 half lemon) into the soup just before dishing it up. She also held out one can of the tomatoes and put it in without blending it, which I liked better because I like a soup with something to chew :) Also, if you don't like tomatoes you can switch and do two cans chickpeas and 1 can tomatoes.

relationships and boa constrictors

"A good relationship is a bit like a pet boa constrictor: either you feed it every day or bad things happen." I normally wouldn't admit it, but sometimes I read the highlighted Yahoo articles on my email page... even the relationship ones :). This quote was so great I had to share. Not only is it funny, but it is also true! The article went on to say that each relationship needs little things each day to stay strong. The author, Ty Wenger listed five daily habits for happy couples. 1. talk daily 2. flirt 3. be stupid together (relax have fun enjoy something stupid) 4. get independent (pursue individual interests) and 5. share a spiritual moment (pray). It might not be from an apostle, but I thought it worthy of sharing! Have fun feeding your boa! ~Melissa

Things that make you go "Awwwww"

So every now and then my children surprise me with how sweet and good natured they can be. This week Seth was in New York City on a business trip. He left Tuesday morning. Wednesday afternoon/evening Simon started acting sick. It seems like without fail when Seth is gone, and life is stressful as it is, someone has to get sick on top of it. Well, to make things even better that same night I started getting a head ache, not fun but doable. Unfortunately it turned into a fever, aches, queasy stomach, etc. Knowing there was no way I could take care of Micah, Zach, and a sick Simon on top of being sick I called in the Priesthood. Thank goodness for good neighbors, and the power in priesthood blessings.
The next morning as I lay in bed Scott came into my room and I explained that I was sick and would need his help with breakfast and possibly making his lunch. He was quick to say he could help, and then went downstairs to where his brothers were. This is what I overheard him say. "Guys, I've got some good news and some bad news i mean some bad news and some good news... The bad news is Mom is sick. The good news is that we can help her by doing things like pouring the cereal and milk and making my lunch". It just made me feel so proud of him for being so sweet and handling it in such an inspired way! "The good news is we can help". I am so thankful for times like this that remind me to be grateful for my children, and to take a step back and recognize their innate goodness. I think sometimes as parents we get so caught up in "parenting" that we forget that they are not just our children, they are children of God and as such have inherited divine qualities. I think it would make me a better mom if I took more time trying to recognize these qualities, instead of lamenting the "natural man" within them.