A little something...

These last few weeks have been nutso crazy...and I'm kind of having a really hard time trying to figure out what all to tell you about, and then how to tie it together.  So I guess I'll start with past stuff..and jump around to the present.  Or something.  This post may end up being like, twenty paragraphs long, and given my penchant for adding like six more sentences to my paragraphs than necessary anyway, it's just going to be a really long read.  Good luck.  
Anyhoo, while Lora was still here, we decided to have a campfire and roast marshmallows and hot dogs, and just enjoy the evening with my siblings.  (Minus Jessey and Gabby, because they were in San Diego vacationing).  Rough life, you know?

Syd and Jeff did their regular backyard ritual.  She sits on his lap and snuggles with him while he enjoys all her attention and lets her be the biggest brat in the world simply because she loves him best.  Whatever.  I'm not bitter about their relationship. 

And all of us just hung out, some of us, (Lora), jumped on the trampoline, and Lora and Muff talked the fundamentals of photography.  I basically roasted and ate marshmallows the whole time.  It was a good night. 

Muff and Chris supplied the hot dogs and buns and all was delicious.  I'm usually not a fan of the hot dog--as I still suffer from massive burnout from my childhood.  But, these were really good; they hooked us up.  

I took a bazillion pictures that night.  And these were the only ones that turned out.  Perhaps I should have taken part of Muff and Lora's photography conversation...but I didn't.  And I only got four semi-okay pictures. Ahhh...my sweet girls.  Sometimes sisters are happiest when they're together...and I think my mom captured that when she took this of us:  

Onto more recent happenings:

I painted Cole's room.  That was kind of a nightmare.  After three different trips to the paint place, (because the second time I went they got the wrong color and I had to re-paint all the walls), it was done.  Yet again, a two day job that turned into a four day job.  And it's like, half the size of Riley's room.  The thing is, Cole wanted his room orange, AGAIN.  And after some deliberation, we couldn't go through with it.  So we decided instead to go with blue.  Because he's Cole, he LOVED it, and was really excited.  This is why he's my favorite. ;)

I'm pretty sure Jeff wants to do something artsy with Cole's room as well, but he needs time first.  So it may be a while before he gets to it.  And the finished pictures were taken almost two weeks after his room was done.  That's how clean he keeps it.  I kid you not, every night he tidies up and then goes to bed...Riley's room was a disaster like, ten minutes after Lora left.  


And lastly, my little secret.  As you all know, I love food.  And it's been my fantasy to say that I can cook...that maybe the reason my figure is perpetually rotund is because I'm a fantastic cook.  Or I make excellent cookies, or I can whip up a cake to die for.  But, the truth is?  I suck.  As all the Andersons can attest, I'm VERY far from being an even passable cook.  Or baker...or anything food preparation related.  I guess that last part would be my shameful un-secret.  
I always said that if I ever had a kitchen I could cook in, I'd learn how to cook.  And I've been thinking about that since we've moved.  I honestly love my kitchen.  It's like something from the show "Leave it to Beaver".  Except for more modern and better colors, and better appliances.  Okay, so maybe not exactly like Leave it to Beaver, but it's a place that inspires me...makes me wish I could make stuff.  Good stuff.  And to be truthful?  I'm tired of being that lady that isn't good at anything.  Seriously.  I don't do crafts, I'm not an excellent teacher of children, I can't sew or knit or grow a garden, or any of that stuff.  But I am surrounded by people that do..I'm related to people that do.  They had to have started somewhere, right?  Had to have acted on their interest.  (right?)
So, I bought some cook books.  I've been trying to make HOMEMADE stuff everyday for the last week.  It's been kind of relaxing and Riley is my assistant, and she at least TRIES stuff even when she knows what's in it, if she can help make it.  I'm learning stuff...I'm beginning to tweak recipes and add stuff or take stuff away.  Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't...but it's honestly been my desire to eat more healthy--better, natural ingredients and such.  And it's been fun.  

Almond and Raspberry Cream cheese bars.  These I liked...but they were too rich.  I had to give a lot away.  The kids weren't happy about the almonds, and so it was mainly me that ate it, but I enjoy anything with cream cheese and almonds, AND raspberries.  So I ate a few and enjoyed them. 

A lot of what Riley and I are trying to do is make natural fruit and vegetable purees and put them in different foods.  We are inspired by the Deceptively Delicious idea.  But it's been fun finding out HOW to cook vegetables and such...Don't scoff.  I know that for a lot of people, this is common knowledge.  But I'm honestly starting at step one.  I told myself that if I go with babysteps, I won't put too much pressure on myself.  We want to make good stuff, but add more nutritional value into it.  Above are "brown sugar muffins" but I tweaked the recipe to add some zucchini puree and make them less sugary.  (Okay, stop laughing at me...I know this is lame, but this is how I've been spending my time). 

And the kids are enjoying it.  Maybe they're taking a lot of the nutrition that we put in back out, but at least they're trying new foods...and eating. And this is actually "homemade" macaroni and cheese.  (Don't feed it to the Coplen children, as it is NOT a hit).  But my best Wyoming bud Moriah made it for us when she was here like, seven years ago, and we occasionally still make it. This dish reminds me of when I'd go with her to her grandparents' ranch during docking season of their sheep.  After the entire process, Moriah's grandmother would make a HUGE delicious dinner and the macaroni and cheese she'd make was my most favorite part.  I'd eat like three plate fulls.  I never had it anywhere else, and then I found out it's so easy it's something I even felt comfortable making.  And because I know that she knows how hopeless I am in the kitchen, I'm thinking that's why Moriah taught me the recipe.   (We have added to it a bit, but it's a hit).    

And Syd digs it, too.  Big time.  Lately we've made homemade spinach pizza and tomorrow I'm trying my luck with making something with the eggplant I bought.  It's not an exciting fantasy, but it's mine.  And I'm making good use of my lovely kitchen.  

So that's a little something of our last two weeks. fyi:  I've replaced the white flour with wheat...and it's not gone over as well, but we're working on it.  Wish me luck, I need it.