My Dad, the Patriarch

Dad has always been the patriarch of our family, but recently he received a new calling. He has been called as the new patriarch of our stake! How wonderful that we live in the same stake! Of course, he could give his grandchildren blessings no matter where they live, but it's really great to be close.

I am so proud of my dad. The call was so unexpected. I don't think one ever expects to receive a calling like that. Dad says he's a little overwhelmed, but knows that with the Lord's help he can do the job. He will be ordained and set apart this Sunday.

Amazing Mint Brownies

I usually don't like mint brownies. I think often they taste like they have toothpaste in them! However, at a bridal shower recently, I found a mint brownie that was amazingly good! I finally got the recipe and I'm posting it here.

When Alex made the brownie part of these, he got distracted and made two mistakes. He didn't put enough cocoa in it, so the brownie part isn't as chocolatey, and he added twice as many chopped nuts as the recipe called for. The kids said we should call them mint tannies, since they aren't dark brown. They were still amazingly good!

MINT BROWNIES

3/4 cup butter or margarine
3 squares unsweetened chocolate or 2 Tablespoons butter and 1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mint Topping:
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup canned milk
4 Tablespoons butter
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
2-3 drops green food coloring

Chocolate Frosting:
6 Tablespoons butter
1 small package semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup), melted

Melt butter and chocolate squares or butter and cocoa in small sauce pan. Mix sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl with melted butter and chocolate until well blended. Add flour, salt and nuts. Pour into greased and floured 13x9x2 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Cool and frost with mint topping.

Mint Topping: Combine sugar, butter, milk, peppermint extract and food coloring in small bowl. Blend well. Spread on cooled brownies and chill. Frost with Chocolate Frosting.

Chocolate Frosting: Combine butter and melted chocolate chips in small bowl until well blended (I put both butter and chips in a bowl and microwaved them until melted, then stirred them together well). Spread on cooled brownies.

Muffy's Visit to the Groomer

Muffy, now 6 months old, had her first visit to the groomer's today. We think she looks So cute!!

Dupaix's Law Camping

I've decided that if Murphy can have a law, so can the Dupaixs. Our law would go something like this: "Whatever you are least prepared for will likely happen." That seemed to be the theme of our overnight RV camp-out.

So, here are some things we learned from this experience:

• You should take the generator, even if electricity is provided at the campgrounds. We didn't bring ours, and the power was out of service the whole time we were there.
  
• You should make sure the batteries on the trailer are well-charged before beginning your trip.
  
• Even if you don't think you will need them, take flashlights and extra batteries. Cell phones do work in a pinch, but not as well, and only until they run out of power.
  
• It's a good idea to bring winter-weight sleeping bags, even if you're inside the trailer, in case the heater doesn't work. Fortunately, we did have warm sleeping bags 'cause we didn't have heat!
  
• Consider bringing ice, just in case the fridge doesn't work. Our fridge didn't.
  
• Be flexible in meal planning--you might have to revise things. We had to eat perishables pretty quickly, as the fridge warmed up.
  
• Consider not wearing makeup. That way, if the water heater doesn't work, you don't have to scrub your face with cold water for too long.
  
• Remember to bring and apply sunscreen. Early in the season, nobody has built up a tan yet. This is particularly important around water.
  
• Remember to put chemicals in your RV toilet. I'm not going to explain that one.
  
• Make sure the towing vehicle is in good running order before you leave for vacation. Had we done this, we would have made it all the way home, instead of most of the way home.
  
• Always treat your extended family kindly. They may have to rescue you some day. Thanks Becky, Mike & Dad!!
  
• Kids are amazingly resilient. In spite of all the things that went wrong, ours considered it a grand adventure and never complained. They kept talking about how much better we had it than the pioneers did!

The kids search for tiny shells along the bank of the river.

This was supposed to show the mist rising off the water. It was a hot springs. The water was quite warm.


Andre caught a fish! We think it was a yellow carp. Unfortunately, because the fridge didn't work, we had to give the fish to our cats when we got home. The cats didn't complain!

Spring Break

Wouldn't you know it, just as soon as our kids got off for spring break, it started snowing. It snowed a little here and there, and melted rapidly. On the night of the 15th, however, it REALLY snowed! Paul and Michelle had to get up super-early to take Michelle's roommate, who has been staying with us, to the airport. We had about a foot of snow on the ground! It looked like Christmas. They had to be out the door before any snowplows came by, too. The amazing thing was that once they got past the point of the mountain, there was no snow on the ground! It really concentrated on our area. These are some pictures I took a little later that morning.

April Family Celebrations

We've had numerous extended family members come to town this month. The first week of April and into General Conference weekend, we had my sister, Sue, and her family in town. They were here to listen to their son, Zachary, give organ and piano performances prior to his graduating from BYU. He also went through the temple and was ordained an Elder while his family were here. He has been called to serve a mission in the New York north, spanish speaking mission. He leaves in just a couple of weeks.


While they were here, they were thrilled that it snowed. Being from Las Vegas, they don't get much opportunity to enjoy snow. This is little brother, Aiden, beside a snowman he and Ben created in the back yard. They used almonds for the eyes. Aiden and his sister stayed at our house all week. It was too bad their spring break was a week before our kids' spring break!



For Easter, my brother, Alan, and his family were visiting from Minnesota. Their purpose in coming to Utah was to help their BYU-student son get ready for his mission to Brazil. The younger girls got to dye Easter eggs with our kids and other cousins on the Saturday before Easter. Lisette and her cousin, Alyssa, really hit it off. They became fast friends. The two of them collected the eggs our ducks have started laying.



We had a houseful for Easter dinner. We had two of my siblings and their families, and also my parents over. The food was the extremely tasty, and the company was fine as well. It was a great day.

New Recipe Invention - Chocolate Pecan Bars

The only picture I got is when they were almost gone!

This is just too good not to pass along!

I was going to make blonde brownies today, and as I was making them, decided to try something different and add pecans. Oh, my sweet goey goodness! You just have to try these! If you like pecan pie and chocolate, this is the dessert for you. They're best eaten warm, in my opinion, but there's really no wrong way to eat them.

CHOCOLATE PECAN BARS

2/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chocolate chips
24 pecan halves

Cream butter, brown sugar and eggs. Add rest of ingredients EXCEPT the last two. Spread in a 9 x 13-inch pan and press pecan halves into the tops of where you will cut the bars. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Eight Large Pizzas, Please

We're getting ready for a combined young men/young women activity tonight. We're having a pizza baking contest. The youth were divided into 8 groups of 8-9 kids, and asked to choose a sauce and up to 8 other pizza toppings. Tonight they will put together their pizzas, bake them at the homes of church members living nearby, and then bring their creations back to the church for judging. I got to make the pizza crusts.



I've never pre-baked pizza crusts before, but I think they turned out great! Look out Boboli! We'll see how they work when they're topped and baked again, but I have high hopes.

I Wish You Enough

I got this from a lady I visit teach. I thought it was really nice, so I'm posting it here. It came with a heart warming little story that took place in an airport, but the poem was the important part, so that's what I'm including.



I Wish You Enough

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "hello's" to get you through
The final "goodbye."

Michelle's Home for the Weekend!

Michelle drove home for a whirlwind visit. It is so nice to have her home. She's cheerful and energetic. She loves college life and is doing well in her studies. She's been doing laundry, of course, and brought home some things she won't need in the next few weeks until school gets out.

Meanwhile, we had two of our cats fixed yesterday. We found this clinic in Orem called "No More Homeless Pets." All they do is spay and neuter surgeries and vaccinations. They are very reasonably priced, and seemed to do a good job and take good care of our kitties.

I'm taking a bookbinding class at a community arts center here in town. It's really fun! Next week I'll finish up the class.

A Visit With Friends

It has been a full day! Our family, my parents, and my sister and her family all performed a musical number in our sacrament meeting this morning. We sang "A Child's Prayer," while my niece and nephew played the violin and cello respectively. My brother-in-law played the piano for us. It went pretty well. I think I was the only one who messed up. I have yet to perform anything in this area without making at least one mistake. Not sure why that is. Maybe I need humbling!

After our sacrament meeting we went just a couple of miles away to Mark Johnston's farewell in Highland. We enjoyed their sacrament meeting, and then had a nice luncheon at the Johnston's house. Many Johnston relatives were there, and also some friends. We were thrilled to see the Cluffs there, and also the Blacks sat behind us in sacrament meeting. So nice to see friends from Tooele. We talked quite a bit with the Cluffs, who told us some of the news from Tooele 4th ward. Made us quite homesick.

After the luncheon we came home and got special recommends for the Draper temple dedication, which will take place on my birthday. The Cluffs came over to our house shortly after that, and we gave them "the tour." It was so nice to visit with them. We would love to have all of our Tooele friends come see us!

This evening we went to a stake high priest quorum meeting. It was nice. The new stake president is an old friend from my mission. It is the first stake I've lived in where the stake president is younger than me!

Family Poetry Night

We have Family Home Evening at my parents' house every first Sunday. My sister, Becky and her family come too, and any other relatives that happen to be in town. Last night my mom presented family poetry, written by ancestors and sisters of ancestors. She also shared some of my poetry from 20-odd years ago. Then, we had the assignment to come up with a poem as a family. Here's ours. Only the first line is accurate--just for the record:

Dupaix Pets

The house of Dupaix is full of pets
With dogs and cats and a bird,
Ducks, a giraffe, an elephant too,
And a hippopotamus herd.

In the kitchen lives a very fine goat
Who eats up all the trash.
And, in the bathtub up the stairs
A dolphin and trout make a splash.

Polar bears, penguins a whale and a seal
Are at home in the freezer out back.
In the yard, lions, tigers and bears
And horses circle the track.

Oh, how can we live in such a place?
Where do we sleep at night
While the owls, bats and other fowl things
Think that is the best time for flight?

We ran out of time, but the kids wanted some kind of ending that indicated we live in a zoo (!).

Today my mom gave me a poem Dad tore out of the local newspaper. It's really cute. It's by Shel Silverstein.

Snowball
I made myself a snowball as perfect as could be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas and a pillow for its head.
Then, last night it ran away.
But first--it wet the bed.

Beef Enchiladas

Tonight we had beef enchiladas for dinner. They were so yummy! I thought I'd share the recipe here. It is my brother, Dan's, recipe.

BEEF ENCHILADAS

1 lb. hamburger
1/4 cup chopped onions
1 10-oz. can refried beans
2 10-oz. cans enchilada sauce
1 10-oz. can tomato soup
12 flour tortillas
2 cups grated cheese
Sour cream

Brown hamburger with onion. Add 1 can refried beans. Mix enchilada sauce and tomato soup in separate bowl. Add 1/2 cup of mix to meat mixture. Pour enough tomato soup mix to cover bottom of 9" X 12" pan. Fill tortillas with meat mix and roll, then place in pan. Cover tortillas with remainder of sauce and cheese. Bake uncovered 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve with sour cream.

A Letter to My Future Children (when I was 20)

I have been going through an old journal from when I was almost 21, and had already received my mission call. For some reason, in the middle of all the mission-prep stuff I was involved in, I wrote this letter to my future children. I thought it was pretty good for a 20-year-old. I thought I'd share it here.

My Dear Children,

I don't know who you are, or when I will get to meet you, but I know that you are up in the Spirit World, anxiously awaiting your opportunity to experience earth life. I wonder if you are watching me, silently whispering your hopes for me and your dreams. Am I everything you want your mother to be? Perhaps not. By the time I am your mother, perhaps then I will be. I hope to be. That is partly why I've chosen to follow God's plan for me in serving a mission. The experiences and spiritual lessons and growth I gain from my 18-month service will help me to become a good mother.

I want to be the kind of mother you can talk to; take your troubles and worries to. I want to be wise and kind. I want to teach you of your noble heritage as spirit children of God.

If I could speak to you now, and give you advice about life on earth, I would tell you to hold fast to the truth. Listen to those whom God has chosen to teach you, and above all, be obedient to God. Surround yourselves with things that are good and clean, pure and uplifting. I would counsel you to choose carefully those things you allow to influence you. Remember that clean thoughts are the beginning of a clean life.

Satan is very real, my children. He will test and try you. He will not try so hard to influence you when you are strong and your testimonies firm. Rather, he will wait until you slacken up a little, when you decide that you don't have to try so hard to obey. That is when he will tempt you, for if he can get you to disobey just once, he has a passageway to your soul.

In earth life you will find that there is a constant conflict between the body (which I will help create for you) and your spirit, which is the literal offspring of God. You will find that the world teaches you that it is more important to perfect your body than to refine and build upon your character, or spirit. Though we are counseled to clothe our bodies in cleanliness, and always be neat and orderly in our appearance, we must not place that above our spiritual progression. Both are important, and in this life we are commanded to overcome the "natural man." That is to say, control and make a servant to you those natural urgings and appetites our earthly bodies have. Part of the reason we fast once a month is to let our bodies be aware that they are in subjection to our spirits.

There are two ways a person can attract other people. One is the way you are physically, the other is the way you are spiritually. Though you can attract someone to your physical beauty, if there is nothing more than physical attraction, the relationship will dwindle, and ultimately perish.

The things of the spirit, on the other hand, are eternal in nature. If you can increase your spirit, and develop a high, righteous and noble character, one that is worthy of a child of God, then you will find that as you reach out in love and service to your fellow earthlings, others on similar spiritual planes will be attracted to you, and want to be near you and want to be like you. This attraction is of a higher order than that of mere physical attraction, for the relationships established under a familiarity of spirits will endure all that is physical and temporal, and will last throughout eternity.

Love,
Your future mother

Peanut Butter Popcorn

I made this yummy treat for an Enrichment activity last night. I've had several requests for the recipe, so I thought I'd include it here.

Peanut Butter Popcorn
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 quarts popped popcorn

In a 3-quart microwaveable bowl, combine corn syrup and sugar. Microwave on high 2 minutes or until mixture boils.
Stir in peanut butter and salt. Immediately add popcorn, toss to coat. Microwave, stirring three times, five minutes. Cool. Store in airtight container. Makes 2 quarts.

My President's Day Surprise

How nice it was yesterday to spend time together as a family. Lisette prepared a special FHE lesson about the Netherlands. We also had dutch food for dinner. Since we have dutch ancestry, my mom was a great resource for show and tell items from the Netherlands. Lisette did a great job. Mom even had made a native dutch costume, which Lisette wore as she made her presentation.

Earlier in the day, however, things were not so rosy. Michelle, who had surprised us by coming home for the weekend, was doing laundry in the basement (typical college student, eh?). On one of her trips down there, she said, "Oh no! Mom! You'd better come see this!" Well, I knew I'd better come take a look.

My laundry room is small. There is room for a washer and dryer, a folding table, and not much else. We had laundry baskets, both clean and dirty, in the small walking space in front of the washer and dryer and under the folding table. Since my kids help with laundry at our house, there were also clothes on the floor of unknown levels of cleanliness. It was into this flotsam and jetsam of laundry that the gallon-sized bottle of liquid laundry detergent fell, broke open, and spilled almost all of its contents.

For some reason, there is no drain in my laundry room floor. There is one nearby in the water heater closet, but that obviously was not the low spot in the floor! The good news about that is I was able to reclaim much of the spilled soap. It took me a few minutes of pondering to decide how to deal with honey-textured soap all over the floor. I knew if I added a lot of water, I'd end up with lots of bubbles. Didn't want that. What I ended up doing was grabbing a funnel and rubber scraper from the kitchen. Bit by bit, I scraped the soap off the floor and into the funnel. It took a long time. I knelt on a towel and leaned forward for most of the job, which I have learned today is a great way to work out your glutes!

Meanwhile, Paul worked on the taxes. All day. That's all he did. I'm really glad he's willing to do it.

The Faith of a Child

Ben has a weekly homework packet. He brings it home on Mondays and has to turn it in by Friday. He usually finishes it Monday or Tuesday and turns it in at that point. This week he finished his homework Tuesday, but lost it. I thought maybe he'd turned it in, but he insisted it was lost at home somewhere. We've been looking for it for three days.

This morning I asked him about it again, and suggested he might have to ask his teacher for another packet. I was scurrying around getting things ready to take the kids to school. When I turned back to where Ben was, he held his finger up to his lip and said, "Shhhh. I'm praying to find my homework." I figured it couldn't hurt, and went out to brush the snow off the car. When I came back in, he said, "I found it!" "You found your homework?" I asked, "Yes," he said, "It was under a pillow on the couch." I was amazed. I told him he must have a lot of faith. "Yes, I do," he said.

My Take on the Twilight Books

Last night, at Ward choir practice, the 11-year-old next to me was telling me all the things she liked about the 3rd book of the Twilight series. I listened to her talk about how Bella had been kissed by Jacob, and Edward's reaction to it. She asked if I had read the Twilight books. I told her I had read them all.

I also have observed that nearly all of the young women I work with have read the Twilight books, and refer to them as their favorite books. One big exceptions is my own 14-year-old daughter.

For the record, as I said, I read all 3 books. I enjoyed them very much, particularly the first one. They were well written, and had memorable characters. I would recommend them to my adult friends.

So, this is my issue. These books are not, in my humble opinion, appropriate for young girls! I really wonder what these young girls' mothers are thinking. Have they read the books themselves? I realize there is a huge, cult-like Twilight mania that has hit our fair state, but would you, as a mother, feel good about letting your pre-teen or teenaged daughter read books that contain the following situation: the main male character regularly sleeps overnight in the same bed as the main female character? Not only are they not married, they're still teenagers (ok, I realize Edward was over 100 years old, but he was posing as a teenager, and, really does it make it any better that she's sleeping with a 100-year-old?). I don't care that they never had sex. It still isn't appropriate, and I don't want my impressionable young daughter thinking it is.

The main female character, Bella, is a pretty passionate person, and she is forever trying to seduce her boyfriend. She practically begs him to "do" her. She claims she can't help herself. I realize that females have appetites, but do I really want my daughter thinking it's good to try to seduce the boys she knows and likes? Remember, Bella's not married to the guy. Do I want her thinking she really has no control over her passions?

And, that's not the end of the inappropriateness. In later books, the main character is engaged to one young man, and still seriously interested in another, even kissing him, as my 11-year-old friend noted. Now, I realize the reason why this relationship continued (not to give anything away). I read the books. The problem is, would someone as young as 11 realize that it's not proper behavior for real girls?

The biggest objection I have of all is the author's description of the honeymoon scene in the 3rd book. If the scene described in the book were in a movie, it would be rated R, no question about it. If R rated movies are not okay for our young daughters (or us either, for that matter), on what planet is a rated R book okay?

I think we need to be careful what we expose our young girls to. I have no problem with them reading the books as young adults, when they are less impressionable, and have had some normal experiences with boys. Please, let's be as wise in what we allow our young women to read as we are in what we allow them to view and do.

And that, is my humble opinion.

Ben is 7

Ben opens a new game for the Wii.

Ben enjoyed celebrating his 7th birthday a couple of weeks ago. It is hard to believe he can be so aged. Next year we will be seeing him get baptized.

Ben loves being the center of attention. For gifts he got a slip-n-slide, an Uno game, a new game for the Wii, a flashlight, and sundry other things. He chose sweet and sour chicken for his birthday dinner, which he would eat every night if given the choice! The cake he asked for was one with colorful sprinkles mixed in. The frosting also had sprinkles, and believe it or not, his dad found ice cream with sprinkles in it too!

We celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa, and our local Aunt and Uncle and cousins as well. We all had a great time, but nobody had a greater time than our guest of honor, Ben.

25 Random Things About Me

This is from Facebook, but I thought it would be fun on a blog. Becky did this before me. So, enjoy the list, consider yourself tagged, and write your own list on your blog.

25 Random Things about me

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, the 2nd of 9 children, and lots of foster siblings. Lots.

2. I have dabbled fairly successfully in many artistic ventures, including, but not limited to: quilting, counted cross stitch, embroidery, sewing, knitting, crocheting, oil painting, quilling, papier machet, jewlery-making, scrapbooking, card-making, drawing, face painting, animal-balloon sculpting, etc.

3. I love ballroom dancing, and took 400-level dance classes at BYU.

4. I love animals and as a kid I wanted to be a veterinarian. A cat allergy, which I later outgrew, dampened this hope.

5. I am severely allergic to honeybee venom, as of 2007. I carry an epi pen, but have little or no fear of bees.

6. I love springtime and flowers.

7. I am a USU extension master gardener course graduate, and have done some advanced master gardener studies. My teacher was Larry Sagers. I set up the observation beehive at Thanksgiving Point's children's garden as an advanced master gardener project.

8. I learned to play flute in grade school and performed in the BYU Marching Band at the 1981 Holiday Bowl.

9. I am embarrassed about my teeth and wish I could have braces.

10. I am quite frugal and actually use my food storage, including the wheat--I'd be happy to take it off your hands if you don't want yours!

11. I love to make things. When my oldest was little, she thought I could make anything.

12. Beautiful things make me misty. This seems to be getting worse as I get older.

13. I love neatness and order but don't like housekeeping.

14. I hate planning meals and often get into cooking ruts. Most days I don't know what's for dinner until well into the afternoon.

15. I spent over 12 years either pregnant or breastfeeding.

16. When I would bring a new baby home from the hospital, I always had another child still in diapers waiting at home (except, of course, the first baby). I have seven children.

17. I was a beekeeper for several years with my husband, which I loved. This ended in 2007. See #5.

18. I love good smells. My favorites are cinnamon, baking bread, warm honey and vanilla.

19. I love chocolate and nuts together. Love them. Love them. Love them.

20. Ice cream is my weakness. Especially with chocolate and nuts (see #19).

21. I want to be an fiction author. I was an English major at BYU my first year there. Never should have changed my major....

22. In 2007 I sold a (true) story to the Friend Magazine. Still waiting to see it published.

23. I have worked as a secretary, seamstress (alterationist for a dry cleaners), MTC teacher, small business owner and burger flipper. Favorite job was MTC teacher.

24. I love to knit and have an online store where I sell knitted stuff.

25. I dislike being late, loud noises, bad smells, cooked green peppers, lemon merangue pie, getting up early and women being negative about men.