Before...

Five years ago, I was nervous in front of a judge, but I wasn't on trial; I took some pretty pictures; redefined OPP; wrote about irritating phrases and awkward closings; I made a joke; Jacob was so cute eating a lemon; I created a word puzzle; and I posted my February 365 Days of Deece.

Four years ago, I juxtaposed my ability to be a jerk with the most beautiful flower in the world; I wrote a haiku; and James finally wore green.

Three years ago, my kids took our family pictures at the park, granted, Jacob was three; I reflected on not doing the job I thought I would; and, clearly, I was going through something.

Two years ago, after years of our long distance friendship, I finally saw Mona (I looked like that because I was pregnant!); I made some yummy french toast; I made some fancy water; and I realized the task ahead.

One year ago, my husband brought us some loot; I had a terrible toothache, but what I didn't tell you because I found out later, was that the toothache was caused by sinus trouble, crazy right; and I almost sat on a stranger in her own car.

So, of course, beginning the day after my last post about the beautiful weather, all we have seen are gray skies and rain.

I have so much that I have to get done around the house that it's been tough for me to sit down at the computer. That, and also, the computer has been tied up as James and I have been hooking it up to the TV to re-watch Arrested Development. Thank you Amazon Prime Instant Video for reminding me that Arrested Development is funniest TV show ever created.

Winter, I like you, but it's time to go.

I naively thought that, in the lower forty-eight, north of some unknown-to-me latitude, winter was winter. And that meant cold and snow, with highs in the 20s and low 30s. Since I now live, essentially, within the northern most latitudes of the country, I assumed we were well above that line of demarcation, so I was bracing for the winter of my mind. What I didn't know was how vastly different a west coast winter is from, say, Home Alone winters or Christmas song winters.

We've had two snow days this whole winter. This was our second.

After seeing my east coast friends' snow pictures and the different noreaster storm news stories, I'm more thankful than normal that we live where we do. We aren't cold weather people. And while it wasn't the east coast, it certainly was cold.

The sun is out today, warming the ground, lifting spirits. A pair of stellar jays returned and are dancing up a barren tree outside my living room window. The leafless trunk and crooked branches surrounded by grass and pine trees, the tallest one entangled with bright, waxy ivy, still green and alive. I enjoyed the winter. I was thankful to experience it. I am glad that tomorrow is the first of March.

Banana Muffins

We had some extra bananas that I didn't want to go to waste, so I decided to make some banana muffins. Would you believe that I had never made banana muffins before? It's true. My sister is the banana cake baker of the family and I just never really had a need or desire to make them before. I looked at some recipes online and chose one that I thought would make a decent muffin and I modified it to make it even more moist and flavorful.

These were really tasty. They had a lovely light crunch to the tops, but were really moist and soft inside. They weren't too dense, but they had a very nice texture, especially because I left my mashed bananas somewhat lumpy. Baking these made the house smell so good too.

Banana Muffins - makes 12

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• pumpkin pie spice
• 3 large bananas, mashed, I left mine somewhat lumpy
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin tins or use paper liners (I used butter). 

Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside. I didn't measure the pumpkin pie spice, I just threw in how much I thought would taste good.

Combine bananas, granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Fold in the flour mixture and mix until fully combined. Scoop into greased muffin pans.

Bake for 25 minutes.

Before.

January, in our house, was rife with illness, pain, and prayers. We were sick. For weeks. All of us - my husband, a kid, same kid, another kid, my husband, another kid, same kid, and finally me. We battled the flu and ear infections. We are still battling them. Things didn't work out for us to get flu shots in time, so, yay, we all got sick. It got pretty bad. I was in tears praying on more than one occasion. Watching your children suffer is like a slow stabbing at your heart. But the Lord heard our prayers and healed the children. God is good.

~~~

I was quite surprised to find that I haven't done a Before post for February yet. So here goes....

I started this blog in November of 2005, but my first February posts didn't come until 2007, when I wrote bits about my pregnancy with Jacob, life with Katelyn, 100 things about myself, and the time when my sister and I placed first in the ribs competition at The Taste of the Marianas.

Six years ago, I decided to knit in the optometrist's waiting room,my niece thought she smelled her brother's axe, my nephew surprised me, our daughter surprised us with her song that was not about pakalolo, and we strolled down Chalan Memorias.

Five years ago, I had so much to do that I didn't do anything at all, I shared a travel story, I questioned the sudden retro-popularity of the 1980's, and I recapped my January 365 Days of Deece.

Four years ago, I shared my organizational methods, I made imitation blueberry pancakes, Katelyn had her first visit to the dentist, I had needs - real needs, I implemented Katelyn's teacher's sharing strategy, and SNL was stuck in my head all day.

Three years ago, I wrote three uninteresting posts. But that first post reminds me of exactly where I was, and why I needed to leave.

Two years ago, I made a massive baked s'mores, I was very expectant, and a tragedy rocked our community.

One year ago, I nearly chopped off the tip of my finger.

Gas Game

We had a tiny family adventure tonight. By adventure, I mean I drove the kids a few cities over and back.

Why does my husband drive his car to the very last drop of gas before filing up? Does your husband do this? Play gas tank chicken?

At 5:15 p.m., my husband called me to tell me his gas light was on and he didn't have enough gas to take him home, and he had no money because I had his card.

I threw jackets on all the kids, including my poor, sick son, and loaded them into my car. I had only a slight idea of where I was going. James called me when I pulled onto to the road to tell me where he'd be. Not Safeway anymore, he wouldn't make it that far. Too bad, I knew how to get to that Safeway, it's only in the next city over. He said he'd pull in at a different gas station, if he could make it that far. Please God, let him make it that far. He called me back to let me know he made it, and knowing I don't have the same freakishly accurate sense of direction that he does, he talked me very carefully through the directions to that gas station. Thank the Lord it was basically as simple as stay on the same road until you pass this other street and then pull into the Chevron after the Starbucks.

The kids did well. My poor son just hung out in the back with a blanket and a plastic bag in case his stomach decided to protest. My girls kept each other company in the middle seats and I just stared at the road. Boy, do the roads look different at night.

All I can say is, God is good.

The Evolution of a Snowball

On December 20, 2013, the kids' school was delayed two hours due to SNOW! We took full advantage of it and bundled everyone up to go out and play. We walked through powdery white fields and caught snowflakes on our tongues. The kids made snow angels and had a nice little snowball fight with their dad. They tried to pull me into it - read: my husband threw a bunch of snowballs at me - but because I was taking care of the baby, I had a good excuse to not continue getting snow lobbed at my face.

Before we called it a morning, Katelyn took a tiny snowball (the size that she started with is shown in the last picture) and turned it into something massive. We give you the evolution of a snow ball:

Take a tiny snowball and pack on more snow,


roll it,


roll it some more,
'

then get your brother to help out because now it's too heavy to roll alone.


Admire your work, you have now created a snowball that is half as tall as you!

Christmas Quiche

I don't know exactly when it happened, but eating quiche on Christmas morning has become a tradition. Either I or my sister or both of us have baked quiches for the family for Christmas morning for the past nearly ten years. I wanted to continue it out here, so I made a ham and zucchini quiche for Christmas morning.



It was really good. Katelyn ate it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And breakfast again the next day. And now I know that my husband only likes quiches with spinach. How did I not know this until now?!

German Chocolate Frosting

I made a simple one-layer German chocolate cake for my husband's birthday this month. Normally, I don't like nuts or coconut in my frosting. In anything, really. I do like coconuts, but I like them fresh off the tree and I like the younger coconuts with the softer meat. Yes, meat. That is what we call it. Also, the clear liquid inside? Not water. It's juice. Coconut juice.

I have never enjoyed German chocolate cake before. But I enjoyed this one. I'd love to attribute it to my mad baking skillz, but the truth is, I used boxed cake mix and I think my tastes are changing. I actually really liked the pecans and the coconut in the frosting.

I basically used this Pillsbury recipe, but with a few small changes. Here's what I did:

1/2 C + approx 2 Tbs Sugar

1/2 C Packed Brown Sugar

1 C Evaporated Milk

1/2 C Butter (1 stick)

3 Eggs Beaten

1 1/3 C Flaked Coconut

1 C Chopped Pecans

1 tsp Vanilla

Cook the sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and eggs over medium to medium low heat, stirring slowly but constantly, until mixture begins to bubble. This may take a little time. The original recipe says to cook over medium heat, but from my experience with this frosting and with pastry creams, I think it's too easy to create small curds of scrambled eggs if the heat is too high. Stir constantly once the mixture begins to bubble/boil. Cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from heat. At this point, if I had a sieve, I would have pushed the mixture through it to strain out any curds. Stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans. Cool completely before spreading on cake. 

A Little Night Reading

I'm reading Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. A much better book than the last one I finished, The Night Circus - save yourself the disappointment and skip it.

I started several books over the past few months, but I haven't had the desire to finish any of them, including Me Before You. But I liked what I read, so I decided to give it another go. It's a nice and easy read. And funny. I love when books make me laugh out loud.

I haven't had much of a heart for reading lately, or writing, or doing much of anything. Except for bingeing on The Good Wife and Parenthood during the baby's naps. But now that I'm all caught up with those shows, I feel like I should do something with myself. Step one: read a book.

Read it at night with a cup of tea and pumpkin pie spice toast. That's right. Move over, cinnamon.

Before...

Five years ago, I thought I'd have the perseverance to do a 365 photo challenge, I showed you my horrible mug, I gave a thumbs up, my son became the new boxing champion of our house, and I shared my 25. January 2009.

Four years ago, we spent a lovely New Year's/Birthday dinner at restaurant 360 on Saipan, I was evacuated because of a fake bomb threat, and I shared my high school TV bedtime routine. January 2010.

Three years ago, I fell in love with Twilight and with Frederick. January 2011.

Two year ago, I almost got what I wanted for Christmas, I (sort of) documented the great (mostly digital) divide, I made Oreo pies, and we had fun with breakfast food. January 2012.

One year ago, I did not write to you.

Before...