Where's the reset button on this thing?

When a computer or electrical device has a glitch, one often presses the reset button to correct the issue. If anyone can tell us where that button is on children that would be helpful.

Mg runs during swim lessons, kicks during dance, and dances during soccer. I think we need to hit reset.

Appointment

This week those at Church Headquarters approached David to ask him to join the Institute Curriculum Department Team as a field writer. He accepted this appointment.

Part of his work will now involve the preparation of lessons and chapters for the Church's Institute Manuals. This is an incredibly challenging/daunting endeavor. He will be expected to prepare and write effective, interesting lessons with strict doctrinal precision, brevity, simplicity, and clarity; potentially being able to influence - in a very small way - the teaching of The Church's worldwide young adult audience (since the collaborated lessons in the manuals get translated into multiple languages and distributed for teachers and students wherever institute is held). {The real challenge for him will be brevity... hee hee...} The other part of his work with the 9th graders will continue, but with a reduced teaching load.

This is not a common opportunity for S&I instructors, and we are fairly excited for the challenge it will bring to David's work. He will get to used some of his lesser-used gifts like gospel research and writing. He always enjoys an intellectual challenge, so this will be a blessing on many levels.

Father & Son Safari

It was a big hit !


Tm and Jx ready to catch bugs with Safari hats, sunglasses and bug jars in place.


Tm and David at the peak.

No bugs but two lizards were spotted and almost caught before the group returned to base camp for the Big Lizard...


Our second fondant adventure. Marshmallow fondant (MMF) is much better than the corn syrup uncooked fondant (the white parts here).


Check those gator nostrils David carved!



Somehow we missed photo ops for the gator pinata but here is some video.


And finally the gifts. David cut and carved and sanded these the night before. Their accuracy is impressive! Time to pull out David's old school army men for some tactical work.

Carrot on a stick

Mg informed us last year of her desire to learn to swim. At the time, she was struggling to ride a bike with training wheels. We told her she could get swimming lessons after she learned to ride a bike without training wheels.

We practiced and practiced with the trainers to strengthen her legs. T joined right in. At 3 1/2, he said he was ready to take the trainers off, as Mg continued struggling around the cul-de-sac.

After 3 days of practice, he was riding in circles and mastering the skill of balance.



Then came winter and the bikes were put away. Now it's Spring and the bikes are back out. T picked up where he left off and Mg had a bit more confidence and still more motivation with the not-yet-reachable swim lessons.

T approached us last week and said, "I can ride a two-wheeler. Does that mean I get swim lessons with Dad?" So that's why he was riding at 3 1/2! He can't start on his own but he's earned swimming time. Mg heard this and her confidence boosted a bit more. She had a goal to pedal 10 full rotations without support. She did it! Then she was told swim lessons come after she can go on her own (because her legs are long enough to start). With that motivation and some neighbors cheering her on, She went off...

I'm not sure she's ready to bike past the cul-de-sac but she has her circles down pretty well.



Someone else is joining the fun, too.

Good Eats

David and I enjoy the Television Show "Good Eats" on the Food Network. I love the creativity and the lessons taught. They have provided me with excellent recipes for crepes and french toast. I've also learned some tricks about pies and buttermilk. The host doesn't just give recipes but tells the why and the science of food interactions. It's great!

This week, we watched an episode on Tamales. David has recently been wanting a good tamale. So yesterday, I printed the recipe at 12:25. After covering the carpool rides, I did a quick, uncharacteristic shop-for-one-meal's-ingredients trip to the store and got to work.

2:27 PM Corn Husks, now soaked and pliable.

Corn meal dough

Chicken filling

I expected a short 20 minute break for the second round of carpool but it ended up being that plus feed-the-kids-a-quick-snack-and-get-them-to-soccer-then-get-them-home-and-more-food-because-there-is-no-way-the-tamales-will-be-ready-before-bedtime-now kind of a break.

7:17 Tamales in the steamer almost done

7:33 PM Finally time to eat:-)

7:49 PM Yum. I got a 5 star rating and it's one of his top TWO meals I've ever made him. (That may because this has some kick to it, rather than the usual spaghetti-with-tomato-sauce-garlic-and-a-bit-of-Italian-seasoning.) Now that's a keeper! A great benefit is that it makes 50-60 and there's no way we can eat that in one batch so I have a good number in the freezer for another meal or two.

Good Eats is a winner!

By Popular Demand?

Many thanks to David's parents who encouraged (under threat and penalty of death is the story I heard) him to practice piano and also forked out the money to have him study with one of the best piano teachers in Northern California (who also was his aunt...), who understood that playing the piano is as much about tone, interpretation, and meaning as it is notes and rhythm. He can always point out on the radio and in performances if the person has been trained by those few who understand how to make an instrument sing versus those who have learned notes and speed. It's quite a difference. Even though he grumbles about not playing as well now as when he was busting out Rachmaninoff and Liszt during his teenage years, he's still good enough for our needs.

His musical talents have blessed our family quite a bit. A year ago, Mg started taking lessons from him, and is progressing wonderfully, and recently I requested that he add me as a student. He used to teach piano lessons, but did not have time for quite a few years to keep it up. Once I started taking, some of our neighbors learned that he was again giving lessons and have convinced him to give up one weeknight to again take on students for piano or organ lessons. Once news got out about that, his schedule has been filling up fast. He has filled up four of six mentally allotted spots in just a few weeks. It is kinda exciting for him to put his parent's investment to work helping others go beyond just learning to play.