a hike in the cold

Last week we went for a hike. It was actually a park, with picnic benches and lots of nice little walking trails, even a campground. it was so pretty and right next to the river. we parked in the lot and walked down a few of the trails. I was picturing hiking with VIEWS of the river; much like most seattle area hikes are next to a creek or river but there's not much access. not this one. we were RIGHT there. RIGHT next to the raging-with-snowmelt-river, which made it so enticing for little boys. I took one look at this:




and decided we wouldn't be crossing. I was told there were tons of hiking trails on the other side, but when I took a closer look at the other side (thinking maybe I would talk myself into crossing if they looked good) I noticed they were snowed and iced over still (dang it).
well the boys and I checked it out anyway but decided to stay on the side we were on. aren't they the cutest little hikers?


I love bright's boots in that photo.

Here's bright scaling a huge lava flow "mountain" (if you click on the photo you can see an enlarged version)


what we saw on our hike:
a big stripey rock


A cute Asher and a "mountain"


A very chill deer, just hanging out.


I can't wait to go back to the park in the summer when the river is less ragey and the trails are prime.


After we hiked we stopped at a diner. it was set up in an antique rail car. I was sure I had the place figured out before I got in there (greasy spoon, nasty coffee, dirty diner decor) I was wrong! and glad.
here's a photo of our booth, you can see the cool old stained glass window and the wood was all glossy and dark, the lighting was the original 1905 light fixtures updated with energy efficient bulbs (yay), walls adorned with photos of it in its prime.



the boys got some pancakes which were surprisingly tasty, I got some coffee-nasty but a nice warm up after our 30 degree hike.
here're the boys out in front. they were so excited to eat in a REAL train!

The seaside

A few weeks ago, we visited my folks and decided to head out to Point Defiance Zoo. After much hype and build up, we arrived in the parking lot to discover it was closed. A huge bummer for the boys after driving for an hour. Near the Zoo is a beach and park, so we hit it up. It was loaded with people, dogs, families and combers. I didn't think we'd have a too exciting time, however, while looking in a crack of cement at a former boat launch, I found this little guy:



we were poking him and passing him around a bit,



then my aunt found another one



The thousands of sticky,tiny little "feet" on the bottom were so tickle-y.


Coco was there too, isn't she so pretty?



we harassed them enough and tossed them into the water to escape being eaten by the many dogs that were out for walks


Me and my cuties



Though cloudy and a tad cold, it was a beautiful "Seattle" day

boys

When I found out I was having a boy, I was worried about things like this.


And this:



definitely about this:


Those poor critters didn't stand a chance.


I really thought we'd be surrounded by girls and I would spend my time with my kids painting nails and playing barbies; instead, we have snakes and legos in the play room, we're going to a monster truck show this weekend, and I couldn't be more excited.

This post is mainly a diary type entry. nothing about our boys, decor other cool amazing thing that I feel the need to share with you will be posted here. please skip this one if you're not interested in my brain's garbage. thanks.

(this may or may not be my brain)


SO this week I got some troubling news. it involves an unexpected phone call during a busy part of my day. it caused me to stop and really ponder some things: how I handle stress, what I do when I am anxious, and what's really at the root of these feelings when news of this sort comes my way. I have had lots of distressing news/events in the last few years. some of the things happening to me, around me, or in the lives of people who are very close to me(thus affecting me). Not sure if I am feeling nostalgic and reflective because it's the new year, and I can't help but be reflective during Christmas and New Year's, or if it's my minds way of telling me to start dealing with it all, purge it, and to move on.
I like to discuss and analyze with my friends, and then re-discuss and re-analyze. If you've ever helped me out with a problem, you've witnessed this first hand. but mostly you've gotten sick of talking about my issue, problem, friends problem, conflict, conflict resolution, or other such drama; and I love you just the same :)

I find that I don't often physically show stress, maybe in my face,


but I generally don't freak out and get all angry. I find that in times of extreme stress I just get quiet, and try to inwardly figure out a solution. this usually ends up in me getting super anxious and I begin to feel a burden of how can I do this alone.
As I reflect today, I'm reminded of the one who can help, who can ease all burdens, who is the answer to all questions. I would say I have a healthy prayer life, and am so glad that I have the Lord to turn to in times of worry, stress, anxiety, or anger; but also in times of joy, appreciation and happiness. like my theme song for this year: Blessed be the name of the Lord. It's just SO true!!
I love that praying really is communication; a conversation with our creator.


(I always talk to God on a headset)

the same one who invented me, and the formula for me, the one who CREATED me (sorry, sometimes it blows my mind!). There are times when I have to remind myself of this, HE made no mistakes when he made me, it was my sin that caused my problems and all my special little neuroses. He knows all about what's going on and he's probably laughing at my little way of "dealing" with it. He knows he'll hear from me again and again (and again, and...) about it. the best part: he still loves me.
I know that He is waiting to hear from me about the news of this week, and most of all hoping I trust in him, and his perfect plan. I know all about His perfect timing, and am so blessed to be able to glorify him to others through the story of my recent miscarriage.
So, because it's the new year, instead of resolving to be thinner, younger looking, work harder, or make more time, I will be working on trusting the Lord, and being less selfish when it comes to prayer, and my interactions with others. If you're stil reading this, thanks for "listening".

Mobius

We are really blessed to have a children's museum in Spokane. It's called Mobius and there's a TON of things to do there for kids. I would say it's small but packs in the greatest hits of all things kids love:


A huge water table


Bugs


A "market" where you can shop, or be shop owner


you could even pack your canoe with as many food items as possible for your trek downriver to your dino excavation, as my boys did.


A roadway complete with real traffic signals and "cars".



There's even an excavator run on hydraulics! Asher scooping out a ditch in a sea of lentils:

We don't visit Mobius as often as I or the boys would like, but I am so glad it's there. Especially with the winters being what they are here, we may visit more often!

Scone recipe

This Scone recipe. How can I even describe it? It's moist, sweet, and delectable. It can also be savory, or spicy depending on how you want to flavor it.
On Christmas morning I always make these scones, a savory batch and a cranberry orange batch. They're usually both gone before I can have one! this is not a flaky dry scone that you'll want to dip in coffee, if you like that, just cut out some of the sour cream and it will harden up. I like mine to be great on their own, with out having to dip them in anything.

If you want to make the dough for a savory batch cut the sugar in half, and in the end stage of scone making add your bacon, cheddar and onion or smoked salmon and Gruyere; or even this idea: ham chunks and green onion, then when they're done baking swipe some brie in the center while it's still warm. Hungry yet?

For the sweeter version, you can add pumpkin and spices to make a starbucks like scone, you can even add blackberries and lemon zest and make a lemony glaze for the top. let me know if you are interested in these variations and I can write one up for you.


Beki's Scones
3/4 c Sour cream (I sometimes use 1 cup to make these over the top moist, and melty in your mouthy)
1 tsp Baking soda
4 cups flour
1 cup sugar (cut this down to 1/3c for savory scones)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp salt
1 c Butter, cold-ish
1 egg, gently beaten
1-1/4c dried cranberries (if making pumpkin, only add 1/3c, and then 1-2t pumpkin pie spice)
2 large oranges for zesting and juicing.
1/4 c orange zest, divided (some will go in the dough, some will go in the glaze)

***
Put sour cream in a small bowl and stir in baking soda, let sit and proof on the counter while you sift the rest of the ingredients. I
n large mixing bowl or mixer with whisk attachment: flour, sugar, powder, tartar, salt. stir slowly til combined. cut in butter with wisk attachment or pastry cutter. then add the sour cream stuff, and the egg.
If you're using a mixer, get your dough hook out and switch from the the whisk. again, slowly stir just until combined, this will ensure you don't have a tough scone to bite into, you want moist, and flakey NOT chewy and tough.
at this point add your mix ins (again, i am using the cranberry and orange zest, reserving some of the zest for the glaze) mix them in. then turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface, not to much flour or it will mix in and make the dough tough. shape into a disk about 1" thick, and cut like you would a pizza making a bunch of little triangle shapes. this will make about 8-10 large scones about starbucks's size. if you want the cute little sizes make 2 disks with your dough instead of one. get out a cookie sheet and spray with some spray oil, or lightly grease. bake at 350 for 12-15 mins, you want them to be set and just starting to get golden on the edges, do not over bake, they'll be dry. unless you like that sort of thing, then bake away!
when they're no longer hot, dig in and eat or pour a glaze over them like I do.

Orange Glaze
1/2c orange juice
1T orange zest
1c powdered sugar

mix together in a pyrex and gently pour over slightly warm Cranberry orange scones. this makes a lot of glaze, so you'll have enough for 2 coats of glaze

for a pumpkin glaze
1/2c water
1c powdered sugar
1/2t cinnamon
1/4t maple flavoring


I really hope you guys try these. they're amazing and always on my table on christmas morning, the perfect breakfast to grab inbetween gifts :)

calvin, is that you?

So Bright is on the very edge of being able to read whatever word is in front of him. he has a little ways to go, but still, he's a big boy! on one hand I want him to be able to read, on the other, I know it will mean I have ANOTHER max on my hands. all that means is, he'll pick up a book and I won't see him for days or until the book is finished. I am excited for that stage of Bright's life, and know that it will mean I won't be asked to play legos nearly as much. Anyway, he's been "reading" a lot of calvin and hobbes. he'll pick out words like "oh no!" and "AAAAAACCCKKK!" or things of that nature and he's pretty good at being able to tell what's going on in the comic just by looking at the pictures. oh, and it's about a boy with a HUGE imagination. Sound like a little boy you know? the similarities between my first born and calvin are endless.

Case in point:




If you look closely you can see on his Mayflower box he's written almost exactly what Calvin has written and in the same "font".
he was reading the comic strip and really thought it would be a good day to serve the public his special brew (aka, lemonade).
I may start reading more calvin in hopes to better understand what it is in my sweet boy that makes him snuggle me one second, and rumble down the hallway as a roaring monster truck, the next.