Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Thank you, Grandma

Dear Grandma Simper,

Yesterday I made rolls, last week I made rolls and a few weeks ago I made rolls and cinnamon rolls three days in a row. Yes we, they love them that much. I do not double the recipe I quadruple it. We use them for sandwiches, snacks, and soup dresser uppers.

I recently discovered that my wonderful children are using them as currency at school, their teachers love them and now I will be making them for the schools Thanksgiving feast. So 60 students and 12 teachers, aids, and me and the little ones will be celebrating turkey day with a little bit of you.

Did you know that you were right, if you make them when you are stressed, mad or just a little upset. Your dough kneads out very smooth and your rolls are very light. Why though did you always put your raisins in the dough instead of sprinkling them in with the cinnamon and sugar?

I will be truthful though I very seldom add those pesky raisins(and when I do I use very pretty golden ones) more than likely our cinnamon rolls have chocolate chips in, or sometimes toffee chips or bits of caramel for that added stickiness I mean sweetness. And lots of cream cheese icing.

Every summer the South Rim Helibase hosts H.T.A. (helitack training academy). They have crews of three or four firefighters, e.m.t.s, and rangers from around the country that that transfer in and out every two weeks. And most of them or the really goods ones anyway are treated to your cinnamon rolls after completion of Mikes lecture I mean lesson on how not to get killed by your helicopter. Trust me they all strive to be the really good ones.

During the winter when the crew has a busy week or just a stressful one i.e. body recoveries, they request them just to snack on with there coffee, or cocoa, and for me that brings back a little of the elk hunt memories of my childhood. Which in my weird stressful life I need. Those memories often times keep my other family memories from splintering, like my family.

So now I am off to finish Halloween costumes, pack for our little trip, and wipe little runny noses, so please know that a few recipies are safe and still used.(never shared I need a few selfish memories).

Monday, October 27, 2008

For the love of a boy

Our dearest Carsten, eight years ago at 1:37 p.m. you made your way into this world, quietly, and surprisingly calm. If we had only known.





HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE BEAR. Known to all as Carsten Morgan Brinkworth, you have made our lives so wonderful, rich and full. You with your bright smile, infectious giggle, and modest manner. How wonderful it was to have finally met heaven. You have a manner born of greatness, your soft spoken ways have brought you many blessings, just as we have been given you. I may never know why I was blessed with you as a son, but am ever grateful.


1; Carsten is loved as Charlie bear, Bear cub, Cubbie bear, and simply Char.


2; The day Carsten was born the power went out for 3 days.


3; Carsten has an amazing ability with animals, he can calm the most nervous of creatures.


4; Carsten is brilliant, but will never bring attention to himself.


5; Our funny Charlie was born growling, and rolling his eyes.


6; Carstens best friend is Runner Bunner, she is a most amzing tabby, who will ride his bike with him, and sleep on her back just like her boy.


7; Carsten would like to be a veterinarian or a pilot when he gets older.(I hope he never grows up).


8; Carsten is a great brother(I was just told that by his older brother).


Happy Birthday my little man.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

The one who started it all

Ten years ago today at 2:47 p.m. this baby boy turned this ordinary girl into a mommy.

Congratulations Braxton Michael Brinkworth today you are ten. I hope that you know how wonderful and amazing you are. You are such a great example to your younger brothers and sisters, and your mom and dad are so proud of you. Your strength and knowledge amaze me, who else would dress up as a ghost bat for Halloween at the age of six, (there really is such a bat). You have such a strong testimony of the Gospel, and your compassion and humility humbles me I am so proud to call you mine, and am in awe with wonder that our Heavenly Father has allowed me to be your mom.

1; Braxton is also called; Bug, B-boo, BB, and bug-a-boo.

2; Braxton has been a straight A student his entire school career.

3; Bug was recently named a Student of the month for September.

4; Braxtons best friend is named Green Bean, he is very soft and furry, and purrs only for Bug.(I promised not to tell you about his baby doll Ramie, he has had her since he was 18 months old, she is every bodies favorite doll).

5; Our Bug enjoys camping, hunting, drawing and reading, and is a great shot.

6; Braxton has a near perfect memory.

7; Bug wins practically every contest he has ever entered, including, a trip to the circus, a mountain bike, and a new quilt made be his teachers.

8; Braxton is a hero to all his brothers and sisters. Dawson yells B.B. and does the happy dance whenever he sees him.

9; Bug is a very compassionate person and is always the first to reach out to others.

10;He wants to be a pilot, or work with the Game and Fish when he grows up.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAXTON WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Of bears and bones


Our weekend in review:

Friday; Carsten called sobbing from school to tell me that he had fallen at lunch recess and had hurt his hand, and please come and get him.

Wonder pets, wonder pets were on our way, to save a little bear and save the day.

I rushed to the fly boat(mini van) leaving a great nap, and good book home with Mike, and rushed to the school, and Safeway, and the pharmacy, and the beauty supply store, and the shell station for a coke. Yeah his arm hurt that bad.

Saturday; Mikes danmed alarm went off at 5a.m. so He, Braxton and Ardynn left the rest of us home(remember Carstens arm hurt) to go bear hunting. So while I played on the computer, Carsten, Kallison and Dawson played wii.(yep the arm still hurt).

Ring ring, hello, wonder pets wonder pets were on our way, can't save the bear or the rest of the day.

"Hey honey I got a bear, one shot with my pistol at 40 yards," "WELL SHIT" I mean that's great dear, see you when you get home, how are my kids doing?" "Umm kids oh yeah their great, don't you want to come see my bear?"

To the fly boat!

did I mention I was still in my p.j.s? "Nice bear babe" "Oh hi Bishop". "Can I go home now?", "to the fly boat wonder pets" "whatever stay with you dad, I don't care."

Sunday; "Yes we are going to church, as soon as I get Grizzly Adams out of bed, go eat breakfast" "Carsten take some Motrin if it still hurts, and quit running around swinging your arm!"
Wow we got there with time to spare, "now get a drink and go to the bathroom cause you will NOT be getting up after the opening prayer!" "Braxton give me that book I don't care if it is about a Mormon boy!" "give me that pistol, this is not show and tell, its Sacrament meeting".

Now I know why we Mormons don't drink, I would be in rehab already!!!

"Alright already Carsten, I remember saying that if it bruised we would go to the Dr's. lets go to the clinic."

To the fly boat!

"Oh, hi Dr. Motter, yes Ardynns leg is looking much better, no she still won't ride on the scooter, oh and yes Kallisons sinus infection is almost gone. By the way this is Carsten, he hurt his hand at school Friday.
X-rays sure we love pictures, WHAT it is BROKEN, crap I'm sorry Charlie Bear. Okay a splint today, see the orthopedic in the morning, can you Super Size that codeine prescription?"
"No we only have five kids, yes I will be sure to introduce you the other two. Yes we ought to have a exam room dedicated to us, and an isle at Safeway, Ha Ha."

So now my poor little bear has a broken paw, all casted hard in blue, and Mikes poor little bear is at the taxidermists. And I suck as a wonder pet.

To the fly boat wonder pets, mom needs a coke!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Alas' poor Duckie, I knew him well

So sad, the truth has finally been reveled our poor little curious kitty Duckie met with a fowl end. He met up with the neighbors two pit bulls(I say neighbors but that's two blocks down), early last winter and it has been kept from us all this time.

I don't know if I should be upset that they lied to me when I asked them about him or relieved that I don't have to tell the kids that Duckie is dead yet again, cause you see Duckie definitely used his "9" lives.

It all started in May of 2006 we were being overran with kittens. It seemed that every stray that wandered in was with kitten, and Mike was HOT, so after letting everyone here in ranching country know that due to budget and land size we were going into cat farming all extra cats and kittens quickly found new homes. Well all except Duckie, you see Kallison and I had fallen in love with that little "short bus" kitty, not that Duckie was stupid or anything he would come when called but he never could figure out who called him.

Oh, our little furry friend was great he played in the pool with the kids, burped when hugged just a little to tight and head bumped with reckless abandon, he also never met an open door he didn't like(sorry schwan's man, and ups dude, and poor neighbor Debbi who woke up with him on more than one occasion). Every family should have a cat like him.

Well come June of 07' I feared that Duckie was dead he hadn't come in one morning and no amount of "kitty, kitty, kitty" could cokes him home, and tragically on my way to the gas station I spied a furry, really furry black and white body on the side if the highway, after stopping I really felt that it was Duckie and called Mike crying that our Duckie was dead. I am sure that Mike never once did that excited Toyota jump upon learning that his enemy, err cute little kitty was road smear, and promised to bury him after work.

I composed myself and went into tell our poor heart broken children that Duckie was dead. I over estimate the sorrow "can we see him?, is his head smashed?, so when is he coming home? what!!!!

Oh S@&T, Braxton had baseball practice, how do I hide that sad furry body from them on the way into town and back, "Hey kids look at that cow, tree, illegal alien, fish, whatever" "Mom where is Duckie?" "GET OVER IT, there is no way in hell I am going to let you gawk at our poor dead cat".

As I pulled into the driveway my cell phone rang, and as luck would have it just as Mike was letting me know in no uncertain terms that there was NO WAY IN H@LL THAT THIS DEAD SMELLY CAT IS YOUR DARLING PAIN IN THE $SS DUCKIE, Duckie came over crying to me that he had in fact been locked in the neighbors house all day.

So while the rest of us morn just a little for a cat that we had convinced ourselves had found a new home Mike is rejoicing.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Donkeys and Elephants

Many years ago, I registered as a donkey, well after getting married and becoming a mother I became a elephant, and now after realizing that I am not ready for floral print dresses and my own book bag for church I have registered as an independent.

Now before many of you get offended, I understand your need for floral print(just kidding). I just want to vote my conscience not my party. And while my parties have changed one thing hasn't I am still a mommy and I want what is best, not only for my children but also for everyone elses, even the ones I don't like.

Now maybe what I want isn't the most politically correct stance it is my honest stance, so here goes,

1. We Do Not need socialized health care (just look at Canada there is no leval one trama centers in the entire country), we need affordable health care. I have seen some pretty hefty medical bills in the last 18 months(480,000.00+) and while we did not have to pay all, only about 30,000.00(really) it hurt our little family. So dear government STOP paying medical bills for all the illegals and start using the savings on legal Americans no matter their color.

2. Admit you can do very little about the economy, and stop talking to us like we are stupid. I don't live on Wall St. or Main St.(its barely even a street) but I do know that the House and Legislature control your checkbook.

3. Help us educate our children in English. History has shown over and over again a divided country falls and it will fall fast. It is a wonderful thing to preserve your history and culture after all it is what has made America great, but please embrace and celebrate the culture we already have here.

While there are many more, I'll stop my rants here.

But friends and family it really comes down to this on just which way you vote, follow your heart, and after much research, I will follow My beliefs on Babies, Guns, and God.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Thursdays Thoughts

Okay so I am a little anal, some of you subscribe to People, or Better Homes and Gardens, not me, I get Time and Newsweek, yes this stay at home mom is a world news junkie. I know whose governments are toppling, who is fighting who(I am a silent supporter of Palestine), and just where my dollars(we are currently gaining against the Euro) stack up in the global economy. My kids are on a first name basis with all of CNN(don't worry they don't see or hear to much cause can you say flu pandemic?).

So you can imagine my panic when Albertsons suddenly put a limit on power buys I mean really how can one buy 40 cans of black olives if the limit is ten(I made 4 trips in a half hour). In my paranoid mind that screams food shortage and today it was confirmed, okay its in Ethiopia and they always have shortages, but also that's usually where famine and descent have historically started and with our weakened dollar(down .40 since 2002) and dependence on credit, it really does make me nervous. I know trust in the Lord, and prepare but it still worries a girl.

My latest canning order is huge but it usually is(trust me I KNOW how to grind wheat), I am pre buying winter propane, and our savings account has never looked better, but with five kids I still wake up in a cold sweat thinking about Christmas. I worry most about some of our neighbors and friends, who either live with the grasshopper mentality or in our economically challenged region never seem to have enough? Will I see my friends have to tell their children that there is not enough food, and how do you know when you have spread your "oil" to thin? Is my "ant" life style to smug or are we just striving to do whats right?

And now the Feds want us to part with close to 900 billion dollars, say what, how is that going to help? Better yet who is it going to help, not me I can already tell as I don't work on Wall Street or thankfully other than Mikes 401k no longer own stock.

Some days I feel like maybe I should reread "The Grapes of Wrath", buy my kids overalls and just stay home and watch "The Walton's" reruns while eating black olives I just don't know, but one thing I do know is I really can't wait for General Conference.