Strangers

"Enter as strangers, leave as friends."

Saturday night 7 surfers entered my home. One of them was my husband. Three of them were friends I've already met. Three of them were strangers. The three strangers (plus one of the friends) spent the weekend with us.

These men make up about 1/4th of the guys that Brandon goes to Cabo with every May. That means that I was only privy to 1/4th of the laughter, 1/4th of the jokes, and 1/4th of the fun that goes on during their surf trip. I can only imagine what it's like with the whole group present. There's a brotherhood among surfers that is quite amazing to behold. I think it's something that only a surfer (or the wife of a surfer) can understand.

These guys were great guests. Perfect gentlemen. Helpful. Super sweet to my kids. Willing to let me hang as 'one of the guys'. They have nicknames for eachother and even dubbed me with a few nicknames of my own. "T" and "Tiffiny the Epiphany".

They helped fix our broken garage door, took out our garbage, helped my boys show respect for their sister, raided our closet so they could come to church with us, and just really left a great impression on me. They even let me feed them protein & spinach smoothies! I can't wait to meet their wives. (and to reconnect with the wives I already know.)

They would break out into spontaneous song and dance. They harmonized in song both at church and the dinner table. And they even chastised us for not having any Lionel Ritchie on the iPod.

My house was much quieter after they left. Which is sad because we love the chaos and we love having guests. You're welcome back anytime, guys!!!

Saturday night some surfers came to my home. Some entered as strangers. But they ALL left as friends.

Ryan aka "Refi", Rob aka "Rob Base", Lance aka "Lanny or Lancio", Brandon aka "Brando", Glenn aka "G or G-Dog"

Lost Primary Hymn

A childhood favorite. You can listen to it here

Autumn day, autumn day,



God gives richest gifts today.

Look on ev’ry side and see

Pleasant things for you and me.


Apples red and apples yellow,
Round and juicy, sweet and mellow


Load the trees till they bend over
And their branches brush the clover.

Child, be glad with all that lives,
But forget not God, who gives.

Gizdich Ranch field trip 2009 & Applesauce making @ the Asplund's (Conference weekend)

It's nice to be important.....

......but it's more important to be nice.

This is a mantra we've recently introduced to our 5th grader when her pre-teen ego gets a little bit bruised. Unfortunately, being nice doesn't always mean you'll come in first.

.........Or that you'll even come in 2nd (there was a 2 way tie for 1st).

But learning how to put yourself out there, take pride in your efforts, and deal with life's disappointments is priceless.

It's not just for keeping vampires away......

I am now just discovering what many of you probably already know.

A fresh bulb of garlic is the high heel of the kitchen.

You might not have ever thought about it quite this way but if you truly know me then the analogy to shoes isn't such a surprise.

As a new wife, the only form of garlic my kitchen knew was either in salt or powder form. I faked my way through recipes but the food always ended up tasteless and boring. Like a Croc. Bland. I'm not ripping on the resin-based footwear (I have a few pairs myself). But I grew out of that phase. The garlic powder and garlic salt are in the cupboard; on reserve for when a recipe actually calls for it. And the Crocs are at the back of the closet.

Ready-To-Use Minced Garlic was a new discovery for me. For years I've cooked with the monster jar from Costco. It's like a flip-flop. Comfortable. Easy. Convenient. I'm certainly not denouncing the use of this stuff. And I'll always own at least 5 different pairs of flip-flops but let's face it... do flip-flops make any of you feel very chic?

I've recently been trying out new recipes, many of which have called for fresh garlic. Since I've been trying to use fresher ingredients I decided to throw a few garlic bulbs in the grocery cart. I am so glad I did! Not only have the recipes tasted amazing.... I've felt more gourmet than ever before! Mature even. Just as a good high heel gives you a certain flair, fresh garlic makes you feel like you're cooking in style.

Here are two of my new favorite recipes {both using garlic and both very healthy}. Try 'em out. Wearing high heels while you cook is totally optional but if you're cooking with fresh garlic, I promise.... you won't need the heels.

P.S. My picky eaters loved both of these recipes.

Roasted Garlic & Sweet Potato Soup (EASY!)

6 large sweet potatoes

1 large onion, chopped

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 head roasted garlic {yay} ;)

6 cups chicken broth

1 or 2 cups water

Preheat oven to 350. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise. Rub cut surfaces with olive oil and place cut side down on a baking sheet. On the same baking sheet, place a whole bulb of garlic and drizzle with more olive oil. Bake uncovered in center of oven until the sweet potatoes are soft, about 45 minutes.

Meanwhile heat olive oil in a saute pan. Add chopped onion and saute until clear and soft. Place in food processor. Remove potato pulp from the sweet potatoes and place in food processor. Squeeze roaste garlic into the food processor. Run the food processor until a smooth puree forms. (Add some of the water if needed.) Place puree into a large saucepan. Add broth and water until desired consistency. Cook on mdium until thoroughly heated.

Makes 10 cups

I reserved some of the roasted garlic, mixed it with butter, then spread on bread and grilled it.

Grilled Chicken & Carrots

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tsp ground fennel seeds

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional if you don't like spicy)

16 small carrots, peeld (not baby carrots)

3 1/2 cups chicken broth

mushrooms

4 cloves fresh garlic, smashed

Cooking Spray

4 Tbsp plain yogurt

Mix spices in a bowl. Sprinkle over chicken and set aside. Place carrots in boiling water for about 4 minutes and remove. Dry on a paper towel. Set aside. Bring chicken broth to a low boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Smash garlic gloves using the side of a large knife (you want to release full flavors but keep cloves fairly intact). Add mushrooms and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer about 20 minutes. Discard garlic and set sauce aside. Coat grill with cooking spray and grill chicken 4 to 6 minutes per side until cooked through. Grill carrots about 5 minutes, rotating until charred. Return sauce to stove. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and whisk in yogurt. Serve.

I found the sauce to be very thin but also very yummy. We poured the sauce over the chicken and carrots but I think it would also taste good to chop up the chicken and carrots and serve as a soup.

Unplugged in the 8-3-1

Thursday was Back To School Night. I visited the kids' classes while they played on the playground. As I gathered my chickies (like a good Mother Hen does) I noticed a lot of noise in the air. Small planes and helicopters dotted the sky. A fire had broken out in some distant hills and water was being transported to douse the blaze.

As we were driving through town I noticed how dark everything seemed to be. Dusk was approaching and no streetlamps had yet come on. The insides of stores were dark and traffic lights were blinking, if they were even working at all.

We found out later that a helicopter hit some power lines causing outtages throughout many cities. Over 33,000 were left without power for several hours. I don't know how the other 32,995 people handled the situation but this family of 5 took advantange of our "unplugged" status.

While lighting the candles throughout the house we talked about how electricity has not always been right at our fingertips. We read books by candlelight and played with our flashlights. The kids loved it. The dog didn't. He was restless and acting very protective.

We decided to go outside, sit on the trampoline, and just look at the stars. We cuddled on blankets and enjoyed simple conversation. Some of our neighbors were playing basketball in the dark. Some were enjoying their outdoor firepits. And some were lighting off fireworks. (That's when the dog stopped being protective and tucked his tail between his legs and bolted inside... breaking the screen in the process. So much for being protective. Fireworks are his kryptonite)








We knew the kids were too amped up with this unordinary night to settle down and hit the sack so we decided to go somewhere. (Even though it was a school night.) We didn't have a plan, we just drove. It was very eerie outside. Everything was quiet and dark.









We drove back through town. Our headlights were the only thing slicing through the darkness. We were surprised to find that the city's "Movies Under the Stars" was still going on. It's a new thing this year where they show a family friendly show outdoors. Everyone brings their lawnchairs and blankets and watches the movie on a big blow-up screen. We hadn't attended a single one all summer so we parked the car then parked our family on the grass and enjoyed watching some of Hairspray. They were running it by generator and warned us that once the gas ran out then that was it, it would be time to go home. After about 20 minutes the streetlamps started humming and glowing to life. It was a bit disappointing really. It seemed as if the magic of the night was slowly lifting, evaporating away as the light disrupted the pure darkness. We ignored it for as long as we could. The restored light woke up the responsible parents in us and we decided to get our babies home and into their beds. A few of them didn't even make it that far. They fell asleep in the car during the short 10 minute ride home.

It might sound silly but there really was something magical about this night. It seemed that the lack of instant gratification via satellite television and internet access had brought us back to the basics. A feeling of hearth, home, and family replaced the everyday distractions. A sense of community was discovered as we groaned along with strangers as the electricy brought reality along with it. And it was a good mini-lesson for me about being prepared for the unexpected.

I'm sure that helicopter pilot felt pretty bad about knocking out entire grids of electricity but I would tell him (or her) not to worry about it too much. In fact, I would thank her (or him) for providing my family with an unforgettable evening.

No offense, but.......

You know you're a Californian if.......

.... your 6 year old wants you to watch him play Mexican jumprope.

(You're also a Californian if you wouldn't be caught dead wearing socks under Teva sandals)

Photo taken from internet. These are NOT my headless, poorly dressed children!!

Is there a pill for this?.....

This is a first for me. For the past 5 years I have looked forward to each and every first day of school. It's always been a relief to get back on a schedule -- a consistent bedtime, more homemade dinners, actual baths with shampoo & soap rather than counting on the cholorine of the pool to cleanse my dirty children. But this year I am experiencing some sadness over their return to school.

Maybe it's because my baby girl will be completing her last year of elementary school. Or maybe because I now have to go 6 1/2 hours straight without hearing Beau's giggles. And it's quite possible that I'm sharing some of Reef's separation anxiety from his two favoritest playmates... who are really two of my favoritest playmates, too.

But my kids were super stoked to head back to their institute of learning. Reef keeps asking about pre-school. When does it start? Why can't I go today? Why can't I just go to kindergarten now? This is his last school year home with me and I am very reluctant to send him to any pre-school at all!! He'll get sucked into the school system soon enough. Hot Wheels, Teck Decks, and skateboards will have to be traded in for days full of reading, writing, and playground bullies.

I'm jealous of my kids' teachers because they get to spend the entire day with my kids. I'm quite sad over this whole thing, actually. And although I'm not crying in a dark corner listening to depressing songs by The Cure, I'd be lying if I said that my inner child is not on the floor kicking, screaming, and chanting "Heck no, they can't go! Heck no, they can't go!"

And then the thought occurs to me. They don't have to go. You can keep them home! They can sleep in and snuggle with you all morning. You can continue going on daily outtings. You don't have to be on anyone's schedule but your own! It would be like an eternal summer. But you know what that's called?

Homeschool

And suddenly I'm not so blue anymore. As Mercedes' 5th grade teacher so wisely stated yesterday, "Honesty is the best policy..... insanity is a better defense." I do honestly miss my kids but I think I'm just suffering from a bout of temporary insanity. Sorry for dragging you along.

Is it 3:05, yet?

DO's and DONT's

Some helpful DO's and DON'Ts of vactioning

1) DON'T expect a welcome full of ceremonious fanfare. You might have to descend a flight of stairs directly off of the plane straight into sweltering heat and heavy air. No gradual acclamation to the climate here, people. Those pseudo-smiling flight attendants rush you off that jet faster than you can say "BUH-BYE"

2) DON'T avoid daily visits to the gym just because you're on vacation....

........ especially when you're eatting delectable dishes such as this every night.

(Stone Bowl at Guacamaya's)

3)DO make sure the dusty, dirt road to your surf destination truly is deserted before blanket-shielding your friend on the side of the road while she goes to the bathroom.

Note the truck in the background. It came outta nowhere!!

4) DO bribe the locals. They are very particular about who visits their beaches and surfs their breaks. Payoffs accepted in the form of Chile Cheetos, Spicy Nacho Doritos, and littered cardboard boxes.

And beware of the super friendly ones. They always have a hidden agenda. They may seem harmless enough......
..... but they'll end up taking you for a ride.

5)DO utilize the pool as often as possible. Just be prepared to save a drunk old lady who comes to do water aerobics and ends up drowning. (Yes, this really happened. No, she didn't die.)

(This is the pool at Las Olas and is not the location of the drowning drama.)

6) DO vacation with goofy friends. DON'T pay attention to crazy looks from strangers. DO milk inside jokes for all they're worth.


7) DO body surf. DON'T worry about all the sand. All body parts need to be exfoliated at least once in your lifetime.
8) DO enjoy a week off of your Mommy & Daddy duties.

9) DON'T forget to blog about about your vacation.

10) DO repeat annually.

You only turn 4 once...... or do you?????

So far, Reef has had 3 birthdays this year. The first one was actually Brandon's birthday but the Chevy's waitress was confused and sang to Reef instead. As I was giggling over the whole sombrero saga Reef ran around the table, threw his arms around my neck and said, "Are you excited because it's my birthday?"

Wednesday was his real birthday. We celebrated by taking the kids to Gilroy Gardens where Reef got to help out in the bird show and go on both roller coasters for the first time ever!! Turning 4 has it's perks, people.

Reef chose Chili's for his birthday dinner (with a little bit of subliminal messaging from mom & dad.) I have to hand it to Chili's. They used to give the birthday person a chocolate milkshake but have now stepped it up to Chocolate Molten Lava Cake.

After all the fun and food Reef just couldn't keep his 4 year old eyeballs open any longer. He fell asleep in the car and didn't even have the chance to open his presents.

That's how the third 4th birthday was born.... that next morning Reef was finally able to open his presents. Everybody knows that a birthday isn't complete unless you blow out the candles & make a wish. So we had another night of birthday dessert complete with off key singing of the birthday song. Nothing too major.... choclate muffins from Costco & some vanilla ice cream. I mean, we don't want to spoil the kid or anything.

Four things we adore about our Reefy

1) His humor. This kid keeps us (and others) laughing for days. He's a total ham and will do or say anything to entertain those around him. Hmmmm.... sounds a lot like his Daddy.

2) His heart. Under that funny and independent exterior he is a total sweety. He wears his heart on his sleeve and all it takes is a little empathy and TLC then all his cares are quickly forgotten.

3) His enthusiasm. He's game for anything. He has such a zest for life and loves trying new things.

4) His cuddles. Ever since he was a baby he would literally "melt" into you. We've always felt a certain 'soothingness' (is that a word?) when we cuddle with him. And he still lets us kiss all over his warm, soft cheeks.

Happy Birthday, Reef (again). We love you!