Bay Center/Willapa Bay

Another summer adventure! I have to say I was really nervous to take the kids by myself for the first day and a half. But I have to say it was a lot of fun! While my idea of camping remains a cabin on the coast or in the mountains, fully furnished and stocked; a yurt was not that bad. The boys stayed in the tent site right next to my yurt so they roughed it a little more. Cooking every meal is not that different than being home but I appreciate my sink and gas stove so much more. 

Our accommodations :)

Our first day at camp. Shish kabobs and s'mores two of my favorite camping foods. 

The most fun we had was walking the bay and digging for clams and collecting shells. 

We'll definitely be going back!

Oregon Zoo

 

The Oregon zoo trip was awesome! But tiring. This was the first time we took our lunch and picnicked on the lawn. The kids loved it. Other than it was a tad bit too hot and sunny (wait did I really just say that?!?) I have been in Oregon too long!! lol! Also, it's fun going with a bigger group. We went with our besties the Cox's and then again on $4 Tuesdays with our scout Bear and Webelos dens. If you care here's some invaluable tips about the Oregon Zoo.

First, if you are brave enough to go on $4 Tuesdays (July and August summer specials) get there before 9am.  If you have an SUV and want to get in and out of your vehicle with more than a few inches, park in one of the end parking spots. The parking spots are pretty tight. And $4 Tuesdays are packed.

Some other general things...take comfortable shoes.  You'd think that's a given but I see a ton of ladies with heels and I'm just wondering "what the heck were you thinking?!?".  "Makes my feet ache just looking at you".

Also, bring your own lunch and drinks so you can splurge on snacks like elephant ears, pretzels and cotton candy. Bring old towels to sit down on if you're gonna picnic in the pavilion area that's next to the elephant exhibit. The grass is always damp.

Try to fit everything you'll need in a backpack instead of bringing a wagon. But if you have small kids you'll definitely need a jogger, stroller or wagon. You'll want to park your stroller off to the side, don't park or stop in the middle of the walkways because you'll just start a congestion.

Don't forget your sunscreen. Even on a somewhat cloudy day you'll get burn. Bring a hat for you and your little ones if it's a really sunny day. The nice thing is the zoo will turn on some mist sprinklers that are so refreshing.  

Lastly, hit the Larakeet exhibit first and splurge on the $1 nectar cups. If you are gentle the birds will climb on your hand and feed from your cup. It is by far the kids' favorite exhibit. 

Bread Making 102 - Easy 2,000 Year Old Bread

The other bread that Michelle taught me to make was this amazing bread called 2,000 Year Old Bread.  She got the recipe from Cha Cha Dave's 2,000 Year-Old Bread recipe. The video is a little annoying but he does a good job of illustrating how to make the recipe.

 

 

 

The problem that I have with Cha Cha Dave's recipe is that it's really for one loaf of bread.  Michelle didn't recommend me trying to double the recipe she said just make multiple batches.  I still didn't like this idea very well and that I had to wait 10 to 24 hours to use the dough.  I'm just not that patient.  SOOO, I found this awesome recipe at Lisa's Dinnertime Dish - Artisan Bread you can click on the link to get the recipe as well.

 

It's super easy I can make a batch for 2 big loaves or 4 smaller ones.  And I found that I could leave it on the counter for 45 minutes and then pop it in the fridge for another 45 minutes to an hour and I could use the dough to make my bread without waiting hours and hours before I could use the dough.  You can use the cornmeal to roll your dough in but I still prefer to use the whole wheat flour and oatmeal to roll my dough in.  See how pretty it looks? I do not use a pizza stone.  Save your money and use your cast iron pot.  I have the Martha Stewart enameled cast iron pot.  I only have the 8 qt. but the smaller pots work better because they cradle the bread while it bakes and helps keep it round and pretty.  Turn on the oven to 500 degrees pop in the enameled cast iron pot for 30 minutes to heat up then take it out, throw the bread dough in the middle, and pop it back in the 500 degree oven to bake for 35 minutes.  I like mine extra crispy on the outside.  If you don't, then just bake it for 25 to 30 minutes.

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I have.  Such a pleasure to make your own bread and it's so delicious!!!

Oh I almost forgot!  I don't like to use my Kitchen Aid to mix the dough, I actually just use a fork.  Yes it hurts my arm after a few minutes but I like the consistency much better. 

Bread Making 101 - Easy to Make Homemade Bread

Okay it's been a while since I attempted to make bread again after the disastrous attempts back in 2012.  I had tried again a few months ago and it was still a disaster.  I started calling some friends for advice with no success.  Then finally my BFF Michelle came for a visit and Voilà!

Here's the recipe she gave to me and as a side note it really does make a difference what your weather is like where you live. Here in rainy Washington I did need to add a bit more flour when it's raining outside.  The other thing that really helped me was to have Michelle teach me what the consistency of the dough should be after you knead it and before you start rising the bread.  HUGE difference to the textures of my breads.  This recipe is for making rolls as well as bread.

2 cups of warm/hot water (not scalding hot though)
1 heaping tablespoon of yeast
1/4 cup of sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
4 tablespoons of vegetable or canola oil
4-6 cups of flour (depending on the humidity)

For the rolls I used all white flour but for the bread I did 1 cup of whole wheat flour that I use from my Deseret Industries food storage Hard Red Winter Wheat the ones from the #10 containers.  I ground up the wheat in my handy dandy Blendtec blender. I had forgotten that it has a grinder feature.  I do like to let the ground wheat rest overnight.  Maybe it's just me but the bread seems to work better if I let the wheat flour rest.

So I put 2 cups of warm/hot water in my Kitchen Aid bowl and add the yeast.  I like to use the small whisk to mix the yeast well and then add the 1/4 cup of sugar and whisk again. Then I let is sit somewhere warm for 5 to 10 minutes to activate the yeast.  When it's foamy, add the egg, salt and oil mix with the dough hook and start adding the flour.  I add 1 cup of wheat flour and 3 cups of white flour.  Then I start adding more flour as needed. 

 

The dough should be sticky but stretchy and it should come off the sides of the bowl.  Michelle told me to knead the dough for about 10 minutes or so.  Then take it out and put on the clean surface with a very SMALL amount of flour.  If you put too much you will see how the dough gets too hard and you will have a brick of bread instead of a soft moist bread.  Knead it with your hands for a few more minutes until you can make a ball like the picture above.  Place in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic around the dough not the bowl, see picture above.  Cover with a kitchen towel and put in a warm spot until it doubles in size or for approximately 45 minutes.

 

Punch the dough down with your fingers then cut the dough in half with a knife.  Roll into logs and place into a sprayed bread pan.  Let the dough rise again for another 45 minutes.  Cover only with the kitchen towel.  Once it doubles again, and what you won't see in the picture above was that, I cut a slit on the top of my bread.  Then I baked in a 350 degree oven for about 15 to 20 minutes.

 

If you're making rolls when you get to the part where you cut the bread in half you would just make golf or a little bit bigger than golf ball size and place on a sprayed cookie sheet and then let them rise 45 minutes.

 

The results are beautiful, healthy and delicious bread.  You will not want to buy bread or rolls ever again!

Easter/Spring Home Decor

Here's just a couple of really cute and easy crafts that I actually finished in time to set out before Easter comes and goes.  Enjoy!

 

My Nephew, David Sanchez

So nice to finally slow down after such a busy day but the tears come and the sleeplessness. My heart is breaking for my family and for my nephew David. So Many emotions. Sadness for what my family is having to endure. Gratitude for having David in our family. Regret for living so far away and having to miss special days like graduations, birthdays, weddings, and just making memories. Blessed to have such a wonderful family. Struggling to understand why my little nephew has to go through this pain and this trial. Amazed at how brave and strong he has been through so many years of battling with cancer. This will be the hardest trip I'm gonna have to take. I imagine David embracing his Grandma Sanchez. I imagine him being pain free and I imagine him being able to serve a mission on the other side of the veil. I love you David, you are my hero. You have taught me so much through your actions and your example. I want to be a better person and to focus more on the things of eternity. Families can be forever and I know that we will be together again. I want to say don't forget us but I know you won't. We will never forget you and you will leave a huge whole in our family that will never be filled. You have set the bar very high for all the other cousins. I want you to know how special you are. Your dedication to your family. Your sense of humor and always wanting to make others laugh. Your quick wit and even when you lost your temper and got so angry that you had to go for long walks you could never cover up that huge tender heart. You are handsome, funny, kind and very loyal. I admire how obedient you are to your parents. I know that I don't know you the way I would have wanted because of the distance that separates us but I know the things that matter the most in life and those things are what you have. I know that you go to prepare a mansion for our family you are pioneering into the other side of the veil. Never lose your faith, never lose your hope. Stand like a rock to the truth. They say that it will be harder to learn and grow in the spirit world but I don't believe that. If you know what is true and you have faith then I believe you will be able to continue to grow and learn and you will be able to understand the mysteries of God better. So don't stop growing, continue to learn the gospel and you will make a difference there and here. The place where you go to is only a little veil away and that veil can be very thin at times. I know you will be our guardian angel. And when any of us are struggling and in the midst of our trials you will be there for us. My dear nephew I have a testimony that God lives. I hope that even through your significant trials you have been able to see the Lord's hand in all of this. I pray that in these last moments of your life you will be blessed to see mighty miracles. Not in the way that others would want but in God's own way. Reach out to your guardian angels who are waiting to lift and sustain you. I don't know who my guardian angels were during my times of trial a few years ago but I know without a doubt that they were there. They lifted me, I felt them like I feel the wind or the way you feel the sunshine on your face. Don't be afraid, don't be scared. Everything will be ok. Your mom and dad and brother and sister and your wife will all be ok. I love you.

 

 

A Quick Update from back in September of 2012 Haha!

So I've been neglectful.  I know!  I know!  Too many things going on at once, not a good idea.

So here's what we've been up to since March 2012:

Dylan is back performing with the Fox Pack Swingin' Ukes this school year.  He started October 2011 and he's been lovin' it.  Mr. Hunley is an awesome music teacher and we're so blessed to have him in our school. Dylan says he wants to learn to play all the instruments like Mr. Hunley.  It's cute. I know how important teachers like that are in the life of a kid. I remember Mr. Mendoza at Cooper Upper Cycle School in Chicago. He was our art teacher and I loved it and have always loved art because of him. We painted Aztec murals in the school.  And my Dad made some wall exhibit things for us.  So it was awesome when Mr. Hunley asked someone to help make the uke racks and Harvey volunteered.  Dylan and Harvey worked on those racks for many months and finally got them done earlier this year.  They look amazing!  I can't find the picture I took of the racks but I'll keep looking.

Dylan at the Uke Performance April 2012

Anna is now 9 months old. Where has the time gone? And can you say Adorable! She has been sleeping through the night since she was 2 months old and only now has her bad nights because of her teeth.  But all in all I am a happy Momma. And Juju is turning out to be an awesome big sister. She is enjoying all the perks and privaledges like teasing, taking things away and making baby cry, and all sorts of things like that.  Juju carried Anna up to my room one day.  I about fainted.  But she didn't drop her down the stairs so all is good I suppose. LOL!

Hood to Coast 2012

Well I tried my best but I couldn't race this year. I got injured and had to go to physical therapy but I'm good to go now.  So I wasn't able to find a replacement but guess who filled in for me?  My wonderful hubby!!! And he survived! What a trooper and I guess he really loves me :-) I asked him if he would do it again and there was no reply so I guess that means no. lol!