The Bacon Bomb

Ok, many of you know that we love to cook, and we will use any occasion to try something new.  A few months ago Chad found a description online to make a bacon bomb, and just had to try it. (http://www.bbqaddicts.com/blog/recipes/bacon-explosion/)  We are always willing to try something new, especially when there is bacon involved; because anything with bacon has to be good.

He made it for an office moral event, and it was gone within minutes.   Yesterday was the farewell party for a friend that Chad has worked with for the past three years, and as a special treat for Brian, he once again pulled out the smoker to create the bacon bomb.

To begin with we created a lattice of bacon, weaving in each strip of bacon.

 

Next we spread 2 pounds of Italian sausage over the bacon lattice.  We also sprinkled in some shredded cheddar cheese.   We then crisped up another pound of bacon, crumbled it, and spread the bacon crumbles over the sausage.

Now time to create the bomb.  Chad rolled the sausage into a log, and proceeded to roll that into the bacon.  Isn’t that looking great?  Now this should not ever be mistaken as healthy.   Your arteries are clogging up just reading this.

The final step is to smoke this bomb for a couple of hours to give it even more smoky flavor goodness.  You can cook it fully with the smoke over several hours.  You just need to reach a core temp of 170 degrees.  We choose to smoke it for a couple of hours and finish it in the oven. 

Then slice it up, and enjoy.  It is really good on a hamburger bun or homemade French bread, or just plain.  Anyway you eat it, it is a slice of heaven, and a sure way to heart disease. 

Biking with Connor

Today Alyssa and Sam were at a birthday party, and Connor was feeling left out.  As it was not raining, it was a perfect day for a bike ride.  Notice the not raining part?  Yes, any day is a perfect day when it is not raining!  It may be cloudy, it may be looking like rain, but while it is not raining it is a perfect day to be outside.

Kaylin was down for a nap, and Chad was cooking away in the kitchen.  Connor and I mounted our bikes to head down the road.  Connor’s one request, to go to the store and get licorice.  Really?  We could go anywhere,  the park, the beach, but he wants licorice.   Well I already had a plan in mind, so we set off.

 

Remember, Connor has only been riding a “two wheeler” for a few weeks, but he thinks he is a pro.  He was even doing tricks are we went down the road,  pulling his feet up and resting them on the bar in front of the seat.  

We crossed Rezanof, the big main road here in Kodiak.  I was a little nervous because we were crossing just after a blind corner, and the speed limit is 45.  Connor was unfazed, and was very patient waiting until there was not a single car in sight.   Once we crossed the street we were on the bike path for a little way, the only bike path in town.

Here he was free to zoom away from Mom, and Mom let him zoom away just long enough to get the picture.

 

 

At one point we had to go up a fairly steep hill.  Last year the girls had started out having to walk up this hill, so Connor is in good company.  He was still smiling all the way up, and excitedly got back on his bike to zoom down the other side.

Again we had to wait to cross the street into the Walmart parking lot, and again Connor is already asking for licorice.  

 

We parked our bikes and headed into the store.  The first stop, the bike department where we found a new helmet for Connor.

My requirement:  The extra support at the back of the head.

Connor’s requirement: Not a girls helmet.

We found the perfect one.

One more stop on our excursion through the store.

Connor got his licorice!

 

 

What a fun day out with my favorite little boy.  A great ride, a new bike accessory, and a treat. 

Of course he wore his new helmet home.

Thanks for a fun outing Connor!

Homemade Ravioli

Yes, this is the dinner referenced from my previous post “A Mother’s Nightmare”.  We made homemade ravioli!  It was super good, really easy, and well worth the time spent, if you can forget about the nightmarish incident that happened during the middle of this process.

We began by making the pasta dough. 

After messing around by hand for a couple of minutes, Chad wisely decided to let the mixer do its thing for 15 minutes while we moved on to making the filling.  I love my mixer!!  We had to survive without one for the month of April because a little plastic bushing had broken in our previous Kitchenaid that was not replaceable.   Chad replaced all the other gears, but the plastic bushing was the key.  The makes two Kitchenaid mixers shot in 11 years.  I hope the third one lasts a little longer.  Since we use our mixer daily, take could be asking a lot.

Once the dough has been kneaded and allowed to rest for 30 minutes (and I ran around looking for a lost child)  it is ready to begin rolling.

 

This is the fun part.  The kids love cranking the handle to roll out the sheet of pasta.  Next we lay a sheet of dough over a ravioli form and are ready to add the filling.

Chad made a sausage filling (on the left) and a ricotta cheese filling.    I loved the cheese and Chad preferred the meat.   That was not a surprise.

After each cavity has been filled you can now add another sheet to seal in the filling.    The ravioli form has raised edges that crimp and seal the ravioli.  It also makes it look very professional.   Alyssa liked to help crimp the edges and was a great help.

 

Next just dump the finished ravioli out of the form onto a floured surface.    Alyssa and Chad work on that while I take pictures for posterity. 

Viola, in no time a sheet full of delicious ravioli for dinner.

 

Then we just boiled them for a couple of minutes.  Fresh pasta cooks faster, just enough time to get the table set.

 

 

Doesn’t that look great? 

I know you all are going to go out and try this yourself so you know just what I am talking about.    We even had homemade sauce, but that will have to wait for another time. 

A Mother’s Nightmare

I know reading this, all you mothers will be chewing your nails and shaking your heads.   This is a true story, I lived it, and now I am passing it on.

 

Alyssa and Sam are dog sitting for our neighbors this week, which means that several times a day they go next door to feed the dogs and take them out for a walk.  They have really been taking this responsibility seriously.  Many times Connor will accompany them because he thinks that he is big and should have the same responsibility. 

Yesterday Connor had swimming lessons again, and the girls were gone with the dogs by the time we got home.  Chad and I began to work on dinner while Connor and Kaylin played.   Time worn on and the girls should have been back, so I set dinner aside and went out to see if they were coming down the road.  No sign of them!  As I looked around I also saw that there was no sign of Connor either.  We had gone to a friends house during the day, and had loaded all the bikes in the back of the truck to take with us.  The bikes were still in the truck, so Connor could not be out riding.  He also was not in the back yard, or playing with the neighbors. 

I ran back into the house and looked in his usual places.  I knew that he could just have curled up someplace and fallen asleep.  But he was not on the couch, in the bean bag, up in his bed, or in his closet (one of the places I always forget to look).  Now I am really starting to get that feeling, you know the one!  That panic in the pit of your stomach when you can’t find something.  So I started knocking on all the neighbors doors, and even stopped the girl delivering papers if she had seen a little boy wearing a red and blue coat.  I was afraid that Connor may have decided to go out and catch up to his sisters.  He did not know where they had gone, but I got in the car and drove to the park that is  just over 1/4 mile away.  This is where Chad had told me the girls had gone, so maybe he would be there too.    He was not there and neither were the girls.  Ok, feeling is getting stronger!  Now where were the girls? 

I turned around and headed back home and I am starting to think that I have given my kids a little too much freedom this summer.  As I came over the hill I saw the girls up head, they were almost home.   Somehow I had missed them when I drove by only a minute or two before.  They had been hiding behind a bush when I passed by the first time,  something that should have made me mad about.  And was Connor hiding form me too?  Connor was not with them, and they had not seen him. 

Now  rushing the rest of the way home I ran into the house to let Chad know that I still could not find him anywhere.  Chad had continued to work on dinner; homemade ravioli that he was taking to a friend from work.  He did the usual run down, did I check .….?  By now the girls are back, have put the dog back in the house, and are walking around behind all the neighbor’s houses calling for Connor.  I even got some of the our neighbor Casey concerned too, when I went to ask in Connor was inside playing with his son.  So now I jump in the car again to drive a couple of other routes that we have taken for walks.  The first route I took leads over to Bishop Rush’s house.  They lives about 1/2 mile away, and the kids had walked the dogs that way on Sunday.  They all like to walk by The Rush’s house because they can stop and look out over the ocean.  This has me even more panicky as I scower the road and eye the steep cliff that falls away to the waves below.  Still no sign of a  little boy, wearing a red and blue coat, looking for his sisters.    

Of course I have been praying, and crying and now I was heading home to try another route.  As I head up the hill I saw a couple out walking.  I had just decided to stop and ask them if they had seen anyone else out, when my phone rings.  Thank goodness for cell phones!  I don’t have a real one, but a little prepaid one that doesn’t do anything special.  Special or not  it was a life saver to hear Chad on the other end.  They found Connor!

 

And where was he?  He had gone to the neighbors empty house to wait for his sisters to come back.  This had been one of the first places I had checked, but I had not fully investigated.  I had just opened the front door and called inside. 

Connor had made himself comfortable in a chair situated behind the door, and not visible during my quick peek inside. 

 

And there he had curled up and fallen asleep.

Kaylin’s First Haircut

Kaylin’s hair has been getting long, and I have been trying to grow out her bangs.  When it is pulled back it looks really good, and it is out of her eyes.    

But sometimes it is a mess.

 

The other day she was sitting down looking at a book, one of her favorite things to do on her own.  She had to tilt her head back to see under all the hair.

 

So I finally had to cut her hair.  Now she has bangs and she can see through the mop. 

 

I think she is still pretty cute.

Happy Father’s Day

Once a year we get the chance to stop and think about all the great men in our lives.   Father’s Day is not about the great gifts we can give, but the great gift we have in our fathers. 

I have a wonderful father who taught me the value of hard work. I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with my dad.  When I was about 3 or 4 years old he would take me out to the fields with him.  I would ride beside him on the tractor, I would carry siphon tubes, I would drive the truck while he threw hay out the back for the cows.  I also would stand at the end of the irrigation pipe in the tall wheat to make it easier for Dad to find the end of the pipe.  I remember having to wave my hands in the air because I was not tall enough to be seen over the stalks of wheat.   All through my childhood I belonged outside with my dad.  

As I grew I was given more responsibility on the farm.  I felt so good, as a teenager, when Dad could tell me the job he needed done and he knew I would do it.  I loved running the heavy machinery, and proving that I was capable of any big  job.  My dad was my hero and I loved working alongside him.

I have a great father-in-law, who has taught me the love of running.  I am amazed at the goals he has set and accomplished.  He is over 70 years old and has run the Boston Marathon a couple times in the last few years.  He has encouraged me in training and entering a couple of races, and I am honored to follow his example.   I am so blesses to have these fathers in my life to help and encourage me. 

Now I spend time alongside another great man, my husband.  I am married to a wonderful man; the father of my children, the fixer of all things technical, the auto mechanic, the problem solver.  Over the past couple of years Chad has made it a personal challenge to be able to fix broken cars, broken dryers, and see to other home maintenance problems.  Knowing that this is not something he had ever wanted to do, and had not learned, how I am awed by all he does for his family.  My children have an example of a hard working father who encourages them to work by his side.   He is the love of my life, and my best friend.  Thank you Chad,  Happy Father’s Day!

Traveling with Youth

The youth from our ward went on a pioneer trek.  The logistics of our ward being on an island mean that for the youth to attend a stake activity they have to fly over to the main land.  You can imagine what that means for all those leaders that have to plan for extended travel arrangements.  Our youth get over to the main land once a year for youth conference and camp.  Most years this means that the stake leaders have double duty because they have to plan both of these big events back to back.  Needless to say we need a big travel budget. 

So this year a pioneer trek was planned.  They combined camping and hiking with service projects, stake bonding, and a dance.  From the reaction of our youth it was a big success.  Chad and I volunteered to fly up to Anchorage to act as chaperones for the flight back to Kodiak.  We enjoyed a wonderful Saturday in the big city, ate more than we should have, and went shopping (yikes!).   Armed with photos of the shoes Melanie had to have, our prepaid phone, and a phone book with addresses; we were off.  We quickly learned that neither one of us are really shoppers, but we found the shoes, some workout cloths, and the running store.   Skinny Ravens running store was awesome, and the people were very helpful.  They looked at my feet, (a little awkward if I had not be prepared for that) measured me and suggested several pairs of shoes.  Then I got to try them out on the treadmill.  I know this is the case with most running stores, but this was the first I have ever visited.  We even got to see a movie, which may not be here in Kodiak for a while. 

Sunday morning, snacks in hand, we showed up at the airport to meet our trek weary youth.   We heard all the great trek stories, including that it rained on them the majority of the time.  I have already mentioned Kodiak weather right?  I guess Soldotna weather is not much better.  Those of you burning up in southern climates, think of us and send some warm days our way.  

They were all tired, having been on the road for over 3 hours to get to the airport by 8:30 am.  They wolfed down doughnuts and juice, and roughhoused a little in the terminal.  It was all quite once we boarded the plane and traveled an hour to get back home.  Then it was time to load them all up in the vans and take them back to their loving families waiting at the church.  Did I mention this was a Sunday morning?  Yes, we got them all back in time for  Sunday School, just what they all wanted. 

  

I have to say, even with some of the chaos, it was fun to hang out with these great kids.  The trek would have been fun to go on too, but that may have to wait for the next one in four years.  

Swim lessons

Connor has started swim lessons again this summer. All of our kids love to be in the water, and Connor is no exception. He does pick up things faster than his sisters did, but he also has a great example to follow. He has sat through a “few” swim meets and has been awaiting his chance.

So once again I find myself traveling that well known route each day to the city pool for Connor's lessons. He went through one session during the winter and passed level 1, so this time he has moved up to level 2, and it is really funny to watch. There is one other little boy Connor’s age and the rest of the kids are much bigger and older. I was at the edge of my seat at the beginning of his lesson on Thursday. The instructor had each boy (there are no girls in his class) jump in. She was about 20 feet away from the edge, which is what made me nervous. The rest of the kids are big enough that they can touch the bottom when they jump it. Connor being 4 years old is not at that point yet. So I was ready to run for the pool as I watched him make his leap. He jumped in with full confidence, went under, and came right back up doggie paddling like crazy until the instructor “rescued” him and set him safely back on the edge.

The lesson continued with floating on tummy and back and kicking around with kick boards. The final part was to put on life jackets and jump from the diving board. Connor is a pro with the life jacket, as that has been his swim aid for over 2 years. Now he is ready and walks out with great confidence to the edge of the board. With a couple of instructors down below, he jumps in!

The second time he seems a little more timid about leaping from this height, but after a second he takes the leap.

The third attempt, the instructor follows him out to the edge of the board and lowers him into the water.

I asked Connor why he didn’t just jump in like he had the first time.

He replied “it looked fun.”

The other little boy had not been able to jump in on his own, and Connor thought his way looked more fun.

Play Ball!

Sam has started playing softball this year.  She is playing machine pitch, something that I don’t even remember at that age.  Machine pitch is a wonderful thing because the kids actually have a  chance of hitting the ball when it is pitched.  I remember trying to hit the ball, when half the time it didn’t even make it across the plate.  Sam is one of the older kids on her team, and is also one of the smallest.  Of course what do you expect when her mother has always been the shortest, always!  I have sat and watched every game, rain or;  well it is Kodiak.  It is usually rain or rain.  But in all fairness they do call off the games when it is really raining.  I think they would still try to hold the games half the time if it was not for the fear of the kids sinking up to their eyeballs in the mud.  Yes, they play on a dirt, sand, and gravel field.  What happened to grass?  They do not call the game just for weather conditions, but more for field conditions.  Even with the ever changing Kodiak weather we have had a few beautiful days for games, but those days are rare.  

This past week Sam had four games on the schedule.   Friday’s game was canceled due to pouring rain all day long.   She and i both breathed a sigh of relief when the coach called to break the news.  She was looking forward to having her lifelong friend Dara spend the night and all the things they would do.  I was thankful to spend the night at home instead of  sitting on wet, cold, metal bleachers for an hour and a half.  For all her other games during the week, they went ahead as planned.   

  

Twice this week Coach Uriel had her play catcher.  He commented that she is the best catcher because she stays in position and stops the ball.  She looks pretty cute all garbed in the catchers mask, and padding.  She doesn’t like playing catcher because the ball hits her.  She doesn’t really complain to anyone but me, and I just point how well she stopped the ball with some part of her body, so I am sure she will continue to play catcher for a while to come.     

Alyssa is 11!

Happy Birthday to my oldest girl!

We have been hearing about this day for weeks. The planning, the invitations, and the theme, Harry Potter!!!

I don’t remember getting this involved with my birthdays as a kid. Most birthdays in my family were celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa coming over for cake and ice cream. Sometimes for an extra special birthday (8, 12, 16) we could invite friends over for a party. Now that I think about it, with 11 kids, my mother would have been planning a party all the time!

Today we went overboard. As I looked through past pictures I noticed that I have not made Alyssa’s cake for a few years. How can that be? I am a cake pro (or semi pro). Our big birthday thing has always been the cake! This year I had to do her cake. As I mentioned before, her theme was Harry Potter. Alyssa loves everything Harry Potter. She has all of the books, which I graciously passed down to her, she has seen all of the movies, and she dreams of getting her letter to Hogwarts.

So I started putting all of her planning together yesterday. It all started with the cake.

The Hogwarts Castle

I was very excited to do this cake for her, and she and her friends were very excited to eat it. Of course following a Harry Potter theme, there was so much more we could do. How about a Great Feast with all your favorite Harry Potter goodies.

Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, Grasshopper Cookies, Jelly Worms, Mini Wands and Cockroach Clusters.

Throw in some butterbear, (cream soda) and mix up a potion (ice cream sundays)

Can you say sugar high!!!

10 girls were running around the house screaming, yelling, playing, and making as much noise as possible. I did get them somewhat settled down for a group shot.

All in all, I think it was a fun birthday for her. (She said best party ever!)

Success!!

Thank goodness the next birthday is a few months away. I am partied out.

Happy Birthday Alyssa!

A Boy and his Bike

As referenced in a previous entry, Connor wanted to ride his bike with no training wheels. This is the result:

Dryer Monkey

Do you have one yet!?  They’re the best new home appliance!  The self contained Dryer Monkey provides hours and hours of useless entertainment as well as a good laugh and smile workout.

Get yours today!  (requires a Mom v1 and Dad 2.0 with Home 1.3)

 

What we will do for fun!

Memorial Weekend is always Crabfest in Kodiak. It is the biggest event to happen all year. Chad prefers to think of it as meat on a stick fest since that seems to be what is sold most. Crabfest used to actually be about crab. Here on Kodiak Island the major sourse of the economy revolves around fishing. You can drive all over town and see piles of crab cages for crabbing. And there used to be a ton of crab in the waters around Kodiak. Crabfest was a celebration at the end of crab season and everything was crab. Booths sold crab, everything was decorated with crab, there were crab races, and much more. But alas, many years ago the crab was nearly fished out. No more crab! At least not right around Kodiak. But the tradition of crabfest continues, including the time of year it is held. Always Memorial Day weekend, Thursday through Monday, and always the worst weather. I think in the six years we have lived here we have seen one decent crabfest. When I say decent, I don't mean that it was beautiful weather in the high 70s with not a cloud in sight. That is perfect weather here. No, decent weather means that it was not raining or really windy. It was still overcast with a breeze and probably in the 50s. (I believe that was the year I preformed with my belly dancing class. One day I may post about that. Thank goodness it was good weather, I would have hated dancing in bare feet otherwise.)

Well this year was no different. We went to the parade on Saturday.



Sam was walking in it this year with her softball team. It was raining of course. We stood by the side of the road waiting for a glimpse of her, Alyssa and Connor grabbing candy thrown in the street. Poor Sam came past wet, but smiling.


In Kodiak this must be fun.

After the parade we were all soaked, but we went on down to the festivities anyway. We saved out ride tickets for Monday hoping the weather would be better, but also to get more bang for our buck. Monday is buddy day and the rides are two for one. Being that ride tickets are $1 a piece and it takes anywhere from 2 to 6 tickets for some rides, we opted to wait for buddy day and get more rides for our tickets. But we still walked around, checked out the rides, had some meat on a stick, and a deep fried twinkie.

The kids were anxiously waiting for Monday to go on rides and talked about all the ones they would go on. They talked about new ones since last year, and old ones that did not make it back. The Gravitron being the one missing. Remember that one? Where you spin around so fast your feet actually leave the ground! Yes, it will be missed!?

Monday came! Probably the wettest day all weekend. Still we bundled up and headed downtown. Yes, this is fun in Kodiak!

At least Kaylin stayed dry! She did not venture out of her dry bubble to enjoy any rides this year.

The rest of us spent the next 2 1/2 hours out in the rain, getting dizzy, spinning around, and oh yes, freezing! But we used up all of our tickets.

As we huddled in the car, eating halibut wraps, halibut salad sandwich (both really good from the food booths) and McDonalds chicken nuggets for the kids, we asked the kids if they had fun. Between shivering and proclaiming they would be first in the hot bath when we get home, they all shouted YES!