A Father's Advice to His Son

I read this in my humanities textbook, and thought it was an interesting tribute to motherhood, both ancient and modern. It's translated from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, or so the book says...

(To explain... although Thomas, three of his siblings/siblings in-law, and I all walked for graduation in April, I'm finishing up my remaining required classes this Spring term... after a two year hiatus from school! I'm LOVING my classes so far, even though it's a lot of work. Thomas is being supportive, and learning and growing in his role as full-time stay-at-home dad for the next month and a half...)

A Father's Advice to His Son

Double the food which thou givest thy mother,

carry her as she carried thee. She had a heavy

load in thee, but she did not leave it to me.

After thou wert borne she was still burdened

with thee; her breast was in thy mouth for three

year, and though thy filth was disgusting, he

heart was not disgusted. When thou takest a

wife, remember how thy mother gave birth to

thee, and her raising thee as well; do not let thy

wife blame thee, nor cause that she raise her

hands to the god.

(I'm interpreting the last part to mean: don't make your wife angry with you, remember the example of your mother)

taken from Cunningham, Lawrence S., and John J. Reich, Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities, seventh edition. Australia: Wadsowrth Cengage Learning, 2010. 18. Originally excerpt from Mertz, Barbara, Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphics. 1978, 333.

Finally!

If you click on it, you can zoom in and actually read it...

18 months

Evan turned 18 months old today... yesterday Parker told me that Evan isn't a baby anymore. He's a big boy. He was right, although he still refers to Evan as "baby" sometimes. My baby isn't a baby anymore... and I'm glad he's growing up, and just hope I can raise him right! I've posted some pics to show just how much he's grown!

Nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby... er... little boy :) Evan loves to cuddle blankets, and calls both his blankets and his pacifiers "nuk!"
Evan discovered how to poke his tongue through the hole in the flower block, and thought it was the funniest thing ever for a few days.
Evan's growing up is intertwined with that of his brother. I LOVE this picture of the boys together. They'd both fallen asleep in the car, and had to be touching each other. No matter how they may fight sometimes, they do love each other, and get so excited to see each other each morning, or after naps.
Ah, the discovery of solids!
Evan's love of books started early... and he does love his books! He was so tiny! Now he's wearing the clothes Parker was then....


They were so excited to meet each other!

Bread Recipe

So, I think I've fixed the problem with the recipe for the bread dough... the one for the wheat rolls... but i'ts a pretty long post. Shoot me an email if you'd prefer I just send you the two page word doc! (theresanordquist@hotmail.com)

Handy Bread Recipe

**Disclaimer** this recipe is not mine, but was sent to me by a friend in our ward, and although I've only tried a few of the variations, but they've all been good. I doubled the soup bowl recipe and formed them into hot dog bun shape for the buns... just remember, the dough will increase in size, so make them a little smaller than you think... Enjoy! Oh... I like the "foccacia" variation for sandwiches... just cut the bread horizontally, make your sandwich, and enjoy! By the way, this IS NOT the recipe I use for my pizza and calzones... but if you try it for that, let me know how it turns out!

Handy Bread Dough

1 cup very warm water

1 Tbs. Dry active yeast

1 tsp. Sugar

1 tsp. Salt

1 Tbs. Oil

2+ cups flour (wheat, white, or mix)

1) Combine water and yeast in large mixing bowl. Add sugar, salt, oil, and flour (one cup at a time).

2) Knead into soft dough. Adding a little flour at a time, just to keep it from sticking.

Breadsticks
Topping: § ¼ - ½ cube butter melted (personal preference) § Parmesan cheese § Fresh crushed garlic § Italian seasoning (or herb of choice)	1) Double the dough recipe above to fill 11 x 17 jelly roll pan. Make dough as instructed above. Cover and allow to rest while preparing topping 2) Combine all topping ingredients 3) Roll out dough onto a greased 11x17 jelly roll pan. Spread top of dough with butter spread 4) Heat oven to 425º 5) Cut dough into sticks how you like. Allow to rise for 5-10 minutes 6) Bake for 12-15 minutes (baking time may vary)
Soup Bowls
	1) Make dough as instructed above except increase sugar to 1 Tbs. 2) Divide dough into 5 pieces. Roll each piece into a round ball with seam side down 3) Place bowls onto a greased baking sheet. Cover and rest for 20 minutes. 4) Bake for 15-20 minutes (may vary) at 375º 5) After baking allow to cool enough to handle; remove top with knife and scoop out center for soup.
Focaccia
Topping: § Olive oil § Course salt (or regular) § Optional: Italian herbs, fresh herbs, thinly sliced tomatoes (seeded), sliced onions, parmesan cheese, mozzarella	1) Make dough above, except use olive oil in recipe instead of other oil and add 1 tsp. Italian seasoning (or herb of choice). Cover dough and allow to rest while preparing other ingredients 2) Heat oven to 425º 3) Prepare topping 4) Roll dough out to ¾” thickness onto greased baking sheet. Dimple dough with fingers to keep from bubbling while baking 5) Brush dough with olive oil and sprinkle a pinch of salt. Top with other desired ingredients 6) Allow to rise for 10 minutes. Bake 12-15 minutes (may vary)
Pizza Dough/Calzones
Sauce: § 1 8oz can tomato sauce § 1 tsp. Olive oil § 1/8 tsp. Garlic powder § 1 tsp. Italian herbs Toppings: § The Sky’s the Limit	1) Heat oven to 425º 2) Make dough above. Cover and allow to rest while preparing toppings and sauce 3) Roll out dough onto greased baking sheet 4) Apply sauce and toppings 5) Bake 18-20 minutes (may vary) Variation: Parbake dough after rolling out for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven. Top with sauce and other toppings. Return to oven for 10-12 minutes
Stuffed Sandwich
Filling: Sliced Ham Grated mozzarella cheese Sliced apple Carmelized onion Italian herbs Spread (optional) ¼ c. mayo ¼ c. parmesan cheese	1) Make dough above. Cover and allow to rest while preparing filling 2) Prepare fillings 3) Heat oven to 425º 4) Roll dough into long rectangle on greased baking sheet 5) Layer filling ingredients on middle third of dough lengthwise 6) Pull each side of dough over the top of filling and bring together. Seal by pressing together with fingers 7) Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top 8) Bake 18-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown 9) Serving approximation: 2 slices per serving, serves 3 Filling Variations: 1) Roast Beef: sliced roast beef, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, 1 tsp. Oregano, Saute ½ onion and 1 green pepper 2) Taco: 1 lb ground beef, ½ chopped onion, 1 green pepper diced, taco seasoning packet. Brown beef with onion and pepper. Follow instructions on taco seasoning packet. 3) Reuben: sliced corned beef, grated swiss cheese, sauerkraut, 1000 Island dressing 4) Spinach and ham: Spread [1-8oz. crm cheese, 1 tsp. oregano, 1 Tbs. parmesan cheese, ½ c. chopped spinach (frozen or fresh)], sliced ham
Cheese Roll
Filling: Cheddar cheese Mozzarella cheese Parmesan cheese (any kind of cheese you like) ¼ tsp. Garlic powder 1 tsp. Italian herbs	1) Make dough above. Cover and allow to rest while preparing filling 2) Prepare filling 3) Heat oven to 325º 4) Roll dough into long rectangle. Cover with cheese filling. 5) Carefully roll dough lengthwise. Stretch last two inches over roll and press into roll to seal. 6) Slice rolls into 1” slices. Place on greased baking sheet and rise for 20 minutes covered 8) Bake for 15-20 minutes (may vary). To check for doneness, pull up on very center of the middle roll. Check to see if it is doughy. Variation: When making dough, knead 2 tsp. Finely chopped Jalapeno pepper into dough
Apple Roll
2 Tbs. Melted butter Apple Filling: 2 peeled, cored, thinly diced/shredded apples 2 Tbs. Flour 3 Tbs. Brown sugar 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon Dash nutmeg Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar 1 tsp soft butter 2 Tbs. milk	1) Heat oven to 325º 2) Make dough above, except increase sugar to 3 Tbs. Cover and allow to rest while preparing filling 3) Prepare filling 4) Roll dough into long rectangle. Spread melted butter onto dough 5) Cover with apple filling. 6) Carefully roll dough lengthwise. Stretch last two inches over roll and press into roll to seal. 7) Slice rolls into 1” slices. Place on greased baking sheet and rise for 20 minutes 8) Bake for 15-20 minutes (may vary). To check for doneness, pull up on very center of the middle roll. Check to see if it is doughy. 9) Drizzle with sugar glaze while still warm Variations: 1) Fruit roll filling: fill roll with your favorite jam (good for breakfast) 2) Cinnamon roll: 2 Tbs. Melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nuts, raisins 4) Healthy fruit roll: roll out dough into rectangle. Spread with apple sauce (in place of melted butter), sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon, top next with frozen raspberries or other desired fruit

Easter Egg Hunt

I'll confess, we did the Easter egg hunt Sunday in between LDS general conference sessions instead of Saturday. We did it inside since there was snow on the ground outside... craziness! Thomas hid all of the eggs around the living room (even in his shoes) while the boys and I finished up lunch in the kitchen.
Evan is soaked because he dumped a cup of water in his lap, and it's on his bum because he sat in the puddle it left on his booster chair. Cute shirts on the boys, right Grandma and Grandpa Nordquist? Thanks!
We'd dyed eggs Saturday, some hard boiled, and some not. We tried to limit the secular things to Saturday, although we've enjoyed using the pretty eggs throughout the week. Parker had so much fun looking for the eggs. Evan just kept trying to open them all. But, then he got the hang of putting them in his bucket, but he'd put the ones we'd already found in the bucket.
Parker kept trying to help Evan with it :)
Mommy helping with some of the hard to reach places!
Twelve of the eggs were numbered, and those we'd put aside into a basket for our Easter activity...
Gotta love the basket ball "eggs" thanks Mom! The boys loved the basketballs too!


You can see the numbered eggs in the basket, and Evan trying to take them all and put them in his bucket. He's been saying "back" lately whenever he cleans something up, or puts it... "back." Guess he's heard us tell him "Put it back!" too many times :) He loves cleaning up now, and putting his dishes in the sink... sometimes!
He also loves the candy! I like chocolate better than jellybeans, so we just got peanut butter cups, m&ms and kit kats to put in the eggs. We had to be careful which candy Evan got a hold of though, since he's allergic to peanuts, poor bud :*(

The twelve numbered eggs each had symbols of the Easter story in them, so we had a little family devotional after the egg hunt to talk about the Easter story with the eggs. You can see Parker holding a picture of the Savior praying in Gethsemane, and I have a little picture of the sacrament being passed. Some eggs had pictures, some physical objects, depending on what I could find. I posted the list at the end of this entry, if anyone's interested.
Ah, more chocolate :)

I love Christmas, and being able to focus on the Savior at that time, and it's easy since the whole Christian world is helping out with it! Easter has such an incredible story and message, but it seems to get overlooked so much. Thomas and I really want to be able to teach our children about the Savior, so that they can come to know, love, and trust Him. We had been talking about what we could do to include the Savior more in our Easter activities, and then a sister in the Primary Presidency did this activity in Sharing Time. It was an answer to our prayers. It was a small thing, but it was so nice to know that even our small, not as important or life shattering, wants can be met. We'd decided against doing an egg hunt at all, cause what does an egg-laying, secretive bunny have to do with the Savior? But, they are fun. This gave us the opportunity to do both. And really, the hunt to find items about the end of the Savior's mortal life can remind us of the need to seek Him out everywhere in our lives. Sometimes His hand is hidden, sometimes in plain sight, and sometimes we need other people to help us find it, but He's always there. We had a good Sunday, and were so grateful to hear the counsel and teaching of modern prophets and apostles as they too testified of Christ.

Easter story egg hunt: (it's actually from a non-denominational Christian website; I can't take the credit!)

1. Item: Small cup or sacrament cup. Scripture: Matthew 26: 39-44 Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray. He asked Heavenly Father to bless Him. He did not want to suffer. He said to Heavenly Father "if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." But Jesus wanted to obey Heavenly Father. He would suffer for all people who repent of their sins.

2. Item: 3 dimes. Scripture: Matthew 26: 14 - 49 One of Jesus's twelve apostles, Judas, made a deal with some wicked men. He would show them where Jesus was in exchange for thirty pieces of silver.

3. Item: Knotted twine. Scripture: Matthew 27: 1-2 When morning came, the chief priests and elders of the people decided to put Jesus to death. They bound Him, led Him away, and delivered Him to the governor, Pontius Pilate.

4. Item: Piece of soap. Scripture: Luke 23: 13-24 and John 19:6. Pilate asked Jesus many questions and then told the Pharisees that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the Pharisees wanted to crucify Him instead. Pilate washed his hands in front of all the people, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then he let them crucify Jesus.

5. Item: Square of purple cloth. Scripture: Matthew 27: 28-30 and Mark 15: 15-19. The people stripped Jesus, put a purple robe and a crown of thorns on Him. They mocked Him, saying "Hail, King of the Jews!" The spit on Him and whipped him with a reed.

6. Item: Nails. Scripture: Mark 15: 15-19 and Luke 23: 26-27, 33. After they mocked Jesus, they took the robe off Him and led Him away to be crucified. The soldiers nailed His hands and feet to a cross.

7. Item: Dice. Scripture: Luke 23: 24-34. When Jesus was on the cross, he asked Heavenly Father to forgive the people who crucified Him because they didn't know He was the Savior. The soldiers took Jesus' clothes and cast lots for them.

8. Item: Small rocks. Scripture: Matthew 27: 57-60. When Jesus finally died, His spirit left His body and the sky was dark. There was a big earthquake, and the ground and rocks broke into pieces.

9. Item: Strip of white cloth. Scripture: Matthew 27: 57-60. One of Jesus' disciples, Joseph, took His body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb.

10. Item: Stone. Scripture: Matthew 27:60, 65-66. After Joseph had laid Jesus' body in the tomb, he rolled a big stone in front of the tomb so Jesus' body would be safe.

11. Item: Spices tied in a small piece of cloth. Scripture: Matthew 28:2 and Mark 16: 1-9. Jesus' body was in the tomb for three days. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome had brought spices to use to anoint Jesus' body.

12. Item: Leave egg empty. Scripture: Matthew 28:6. When the women got to the tomb, the stone was rolled away from the door and it was empty. They saw an angel there, who said to them, "Jesus is not here, for He is risen." Jesus was resurrected.

Weenie Roast

Thomas met me and the boys at the MTC on Wednesday to volunteer in the French TRC, and then he ended up beating me home. Instead of starting what we'd planned on for dinner, he decided to clean up some of the dead wood in our yard. That worked out fantastically, since we had hot dogs in the fridge, and the make shift fire pit in the yard! So, Thomas and the boys played outside while I made some pasta salad (from a box unfortunately...), homemade fresh ground whole wheat hot dog buns, and a yummy salad. The boys LOVED it!

Evan loves fires... a little too much... Thomas had the hardest time getting it started, because it had snowed earlier in the week, and because Evan kept poking the kindling with a bigger stick
Parker had fun too... He came inside after and said, "That was fun eating something outside!"
Of course Grandpa joined us, and showed us up by making a tin foil dinner. But we'd eaten, cleaned up, and put the kids in bed by the time his dinner was done...
Thomas cooking the hot dogs. I love the fact that he's in his dress shirt and pants... I don't think he even came inside before getting started!
The now-famous hot dog buns. Now I know that we never have to buy buns again... Give me 40 minutes, and I'll give you healthier, yummier hot dog buns! I'll just have to remember next time that the dough will just about double in size... so the buns need to start out smaller :)

Easter Reflections

As I was washing one of my pots today, I noticed the distinctive pattern on the bottom caused by careful scouring. All of my pots were a gift from my grandmother, and were ones that she used herself. She was a fantastic cook, and a wonderful woman. I could imagine her meticulously cleaning that pot, and her others, with careful attention and love. She was that kind of woman, and I can learn a lot from her! I can be more attentive and careful in my work at home.

This weekend is also Easter weekend, when we celebrate, and hopefully think about, the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for the experiences I've had throughout my life that have helped me better appreciate the resurrection.

The basic function of the resurrection is to allow us all the chance to live again, to take up our mortal bodies again, forever. This basic fact means that we'll be able to see our loved ones again. I know we've all lost people close to us, as death is an inevitability of life. My Grandma Golebiowski died over two years ago, now, but I still think of her often, and am grateful for the promise of the resurrection on her behalf!

I love this picture of my grandma, my younger brother, Michael, and me. One of the reasons I like it is that it shows why I don't look like the rest of my siblings and gorgeous blond cousins! (My hair was highlighted in this pic...) We also look happy.
I am so glad my grandma came to our wedding reception, having her there meant so much to us!
Another blessing of the resurrection is that it will allow us to have perfect physical bodies. I'll admit that when I was younger, that aspect of the resurrection didn't mean much to me! But, when my little brother broke his neck at fifteen and became a quadriplegic, I gained yet another reason to be grateful for the resurrection. He is undaunted in facing his current trials because he knows that they are temporary, and that he will indeed walk again. And, on a less profound note, as I do get older, I'm starting to appreciate the idea of not having some certain aches and pains, although I'm sure grateful for the body I do have, and for how well it works. (this pic is of Parker and Uncle Mikey Christmas 2007, Parker's first! Mike was not thrilled about my putting a baby on his lap, since he was afraid of Parker wiggling off, but they both did great!)

I'm also grateful for the promise that we can be together forever as families! (this is one of our FAVORITE pics from our wedding... totally unplanned... it rained three inches that day, and our umbrellas just happened to coordinate!)