Boring

Does everyone understand that the reason this site constantly has a picture lag is because I am using an ancient laptop to post? I think the thing is going to give out on me soon. The fan never shuts off and often sounds like a car trying to get started. My camera won't upload on it. If you don't believe me, please come by and show me how. That's how Brent got involved in the blog in the first place, I NEEDED him, or at least his mac.

We didn't cancel

We aren't telling the kids, but you actually only have 24 hours to cancel a flight. So we are all going to WA including the brand new baby. As long as their trip is still in "jeopardy" though, we can hold it over them and keep them in line for the next three months.
To save some $$ we opted for the red eye on the way home, which will be interesting.

New Topic

How about Pregnancy then? Another favorite manly topic.
Just a quick update.

7 weeks left

Now weighing just over 160 (Brent keeps marveling at how dangerously close I am coming to his weight. Thanks, hun.)

Very bad Heartburn! -First time I have ever had this so I am blaming it on boys.

Carrying a very wild little guy judging from my sore right rib


Dead set on having a natural birth since the last birth did me in on epidurals. Brent agrees that me toughing it out is a way better option than him being Mr. Mom for 2 weeks while I recover from a spinal headache.

Can't decide on a boy name. I would rather name a girl and have so many ones left to use (help us out on our poll or leave a comment here, please. Additional ideas are encouraged, but please don't tell me you hate one that I've listed because you might wish you wouldn't have later when we name him that)

Have only visited the Dr. 4 times so far! That must be close to a record for the 21st century.

Never got the pregnancy glow. Been waiting for it for 5 pregnancies. Unless the glow refers to acne.

Finishing up the special BLUE baby quilt today.

Brent has 7 weeks to finish the nursery. Still got to knock out the false wall behind the new wall he built. If that makes any sense.

Now I have to find a flattering picture to show off the false glow on this 162 lb frame.

Recipes???

Is this what the family blog has come to? The last time I checked this was a family blog but somehow Kashann has taken over with her domestic duties. I figured since I'm the one to post the pictures and figure a good portion of this blog thing out, I should have a little say as to what goes on it but looks like that's not the case. I'll bet everyone can hardly wait for the next exciting index card to drop on here from Kashann's 3X5 recipe box. -Brent

Living across the county is tough

Does anyone else have a hard time making decisions? I am terrible. My latest agony is whether or not to fly all five (since it will be after March) of my kids and I home for a my sister's April wedding. I am going either way, but the kids ? ? ?

Alainna decided to be married right in the middle of Brent's spring finals, so not only can he not come along, but he also can't watch the kids. During finals I never see the man. But how do I ask my busy NY friends to watch my kids night and day when the father is still in town?

Well, we actually already made the decision and bought the tickets this afternoon. But no big deal. We bought 5 different tickets yesterday afternoon and canceled them all last night. So now I have another 12 hours or so to cancel the latest tickets. . . . . .

The kids were really putting on the pressure because they missed Candice's December wedding and I went without them. They are extremely close to their two youngest aunts Candice and Alainna and they hate missing flower girl opportunities.

I can't believe how fast and big my little family has grown. It really makes it hard when you want to drop by for an extended visit. We decided on two weeks, because it's the girls spring break the first week, and the second week is the wedding. Plus doesn't it make it worth the money to fly if you stay for a very long time? But the flip side is that it becomes very unworth the money because you are so tired of vacation by the time you come back that you wish you wouldn't have gone. Not to mention your WA relatives who can't wait to put you all back on the plane to get some order back in their own houses.

I don't think there would be any dilemna if my parents still lived in a humble doublewide rather than a new Bed and Breakfast Mansion. Sure the trailer was a little cramped, but at least they didn't have the bedrooms booked up at $250 a night.
Check it out at :

http://cameoheightsmansion.com/intro.aspx

And then my mother in law is living in her own small mansion in WA, but her nerves could probably handle a couple days max.

So I am looking for some quick advice, and if not then some generous offers from friends and family in WA to host a family of 6 on the weeks of April 16-30.

So much for a funny book. Today has just not been a funny day. I have been tired, worried, and over stressed by children and decisions.

BTW, we have snow on the ground again! :) I love it. I will really miss the weather when we leave Buffalo. It's crazy, because that is what I dreaded the most before coming here.

So, Brent's back on the city bus. The PUCH needs some more UPS deliveries anyway. I honestly can't imagine what it would be like to own vehicles that don't need constant tinkering.

AM I GETTING A LITTLE CARRIED AWAY WITH the BLOGGING? TWO IN ONE DAY! That ought to get rid of my fans.

This is MY blog

Brent gets on, here and there, but basically this is Kashann's blog.

As a new blogger, I'm still trying to decide which direction my blog is going to take.
????

One time I heard about a family having a funny book. This book was a record of anything that happened that would be great to tease someone about later. What a great idea, I thought. So I started the funny book for each kid individually in their baby journal/scrapbook.

But for sometime now Brent and I have been concerned about our own funny book. We keep forgetting all those funny things that we want to preserve for our personal history.
So I decided that first and foremost my blog needs to double as a family journal (to be printed later of course in a book.)

And you won't find a lot of inspiration on this site, ie. great decorating ideas, political discourses, or qoutes of the day -All the things that I love about many of the other blogs I visit, but I personally couldn't carry that off very well, since I am not much of a expert in any of those areas.

I would like to include recipes, however, since cooking is one of the homemaking roles I really embrace.

My family won't eat anything that comes in the form of a 9 x 13 -all in one dish. I try to disguise the names of the dishes -__________ delight, __________ dinner, ___________ divine etc. - anything to avoid using the word CASSEROLE! But it never works, I always get upturned noses. (Soups are the exception. They do very well with those.) But NO CASSEROLES, not even enchiladas!

This is way more work for the cook and dishwasher, when you can't just put those all in one dinners on the table. Instead you have three or four side dishes to prepare, wash, and store after meals.

So, today I am posting one of our family's favorite side dish recipes. I want to remember those good ol' standby's that we served consistently because everyone liked them. Here is our family's favorite rice dish that Kennon always requests for her birthday dinner. This was my best attempt to put it in recipe form since I never use one for it.

Rice Pilaf
Serves 6

1 handful angel hair, broken up in pieces
melted butter, up to 1/2 cube
diced onions, optional

Saute in pan, stirring constantly until noodles are browned.
In Rice Cooker or same saucepan combine:

1 1/2 c. rice
3 3/4 c. water
3 tsps chicken base (from Costco) or 3 chicken bouillion cubes
browned noodles and onions
additional salt to taste

Bring to boil, then simmer with lid on for 20 min.

Serve as a side dish with chicken, pork or fish.

Let me know if you like it. It's super easy and obviously yummy or I wouldn't be telling you about it.

In Defense of the Buick!

First of all....Kashann -Come up with some new material. All the comments about me and this lovely piece of sentimental machinery on this blog are getting rather stale. Maybe if she remembered that this was one of the last gifts my good father gave me (It was actually my only payment for me managing his orchard for a year) she would have a little more respect. Kashann can only think of the bad with this car while I cherish some rather fond memories.

Like the time she ran it completely out of coolant and continued driving it another 5 miles when a radiator hose broke. Funny how a flashing, beeping, bright red, shut engine off light can be thought of as merely a suggestion. A new hose and a little water and it was good as new...(except for the minor shimmy at stop lights and the knocking noise when cold which both started on that dreadful day).
Then there was the time Kashann ran it completely out of transmission oil going up a hill when a line came off--TWICE. The first wasn't so bad cause she pulled over when it wouldn't go over 5 mph. After fixing the line(sort of) and adding several quarts of oil the car ran like a top.

But the problem was the caked-on oil that covered the engine from this mishap caught fire a few weeks later when a spark plug wire shorted out. Luckily a couple of men working on farm machinery close by ran over and threw dirt on it. The car would've burnt to the ground then and there.

The second loss of transmission oil, up the very same hill, didn't turn out quite so well. This time Kashann was determined to reach the top no matter how slow the going was. That was the last time the car went over 35mph for quite a while.

The Puch would have given it a run for its money on a couple of trips we took to church in it.

That was when we thought the Multi-Purpose Scouting vehicle (what my priests used to call it) was gone for good. But noooooo. There were plenty more trips to farmers markets and camp outs pulling trailers loaded with apples and cooking stoves left in her. All it took was an ad by the local junior college looking for guinea pigs in their automatic transmission course. I was first to knock on their door and a few months later with a junk yard transmission installed for free she was back in action.

Now here she is in New York of all places.....possibly only a few hundred feet from her birthplace (GM Engine Plant nextdoor to us) with only one minor mouse hole in her seat but with a working heater. She's made several trips across the country since CBC did their thing, with just a few components replaced along the way.(They all came from the junk yard too-luckily there's one only about a mile from us here)

She's just about to turn over 265,000 miles. . . And so with tears welling up in my eyes I ask, why would anyone want to replace a nostalgic piece of our lives and junk this wonderful automobile? -Brent

How we get from here to there

We retired the puch for the winter or so we thought, but now in January the roads are clear, and we have some crazy warm weather. So Brent rides again. Anything to stay off the city bus I guess. Last year he rode the bus faithfully all winter. But after riding in style all spring, summer, and fall on his 1970's moped he has declared the bus HOT, STINKY, and in other words quite beneath him.

When he first acquired the puch last spring he could only get it up to 17 mph, but after many hours tinkering, and numerous UPS packages it now tops off around 30 (It's actually over 40). He even started wearing a helmet . It is pretty hillarious to see him start off the puch in the morning, pedaling the first block or so, often past our kids (and their friends) at the bus stop. He usually gets a lot of stares and several laughs. I am sure that Kennon doesn't appreciate it.

Speaking of Kennon her family consistently humiliates her. A couple days ago I picked the girls up at their grade school, parking in the circular drive, directly beneath Kennon's 4th grade classroom. Last year she used to say to me, "Hey, Mom I saw you park and come in," like it was a good thing.

Now she said, "Mom, can you PLEASE not park in front anymore. Everyone sees you get out of your car!"

"Yeah, and So?"

"Well mom, Our Car! It's embarrassing. Park around the side and come in!"

Now this sentiment brought me back to recall the times when my own mother would pull up to the curb after junior high softball practice with everyone (including the baseball boys) milling about and I would not even want to claim her. She could have driven our brand new suburban but No! most of the time it was the UGLY chrysler cordoba (or is it cordova?) that Dad only bought because he said it was "so classy!"

Now that was embarrassing. But what is so embarrassing about a '93 Buick Park Avenue? I mean, except for a few minor irritations, like the the fact that I have to unplug the battery under the hood to shut off the lights, didn't have a heater all last buffalo winter, has a mousehole in the back seat, and have to keep it under 10 miles per hour the first couple miles, the car runs awesome. But according to our oldest child, it needs to be in the junk yard.

Kennon is going to get her wish soon though. Thanks to the new baby. Although I do still have my scheming husband desperately trying to come up with a legal plan to fit all 7 of us in the Buick. The latest -According to NY law adults don't have to wear a seatbelt if they sit in the Back Seat. So anytime we go on a family outing, I can ride in the back seated on the floor, with a homemade harness, of course (exhibited in the Casper Family WA trip 2007 in an earlier post) to keep me secure, and we are good to go.

This is so much fun (making fun of my great husband Brent)! I hope all of you know how near and dear he is to my heart. Maybe I haven't done it enough on here so you don't know what I am talking about. The thing is he can really be quite valuable when it comes to blogging or preparing a talk. Brent just doesn't think like most people. You see, I figured it out- He is just so much smarter than the rest of us and so some of his plans seem quite unique and even somewhat crazy by the general public, (ie. the double decker buick.)

Last fall I spoke in Stake Conference, and was all pumped looking forward to it with the humorous talk I had written. The night before, our stake president gave a speech about marraige and said we should never disparrage our spouse in public! Whoa! Well, there went all my good jokes.

But don't worry. He is my Sunday School teacher and gets me back Frequently. But keep in mind everything we say is told with great love and admiration. :)

By the way, Brent will be on here soon, because his computer has all the pictures I need for this post. DARN! So he will read . . . and probably tell you how I got it all wrong. Whatever!

Just a little something I picked up on the way to church this morning!

We may be the 2nd poorest city in the nation but apparently our streets are paved with $ cash$. (Brent found a $100 bill last spring, and now I also had my own lucky day)
Here's the story:
Once upon a time Brent and Kashann moved to the city. They lived a happy comfortable life until the sad day came that Kashann was called as the Relief Society President of Buffalo.

Now every other Sunday morning she was compelled (by her wicked husband) to set off on her bicycle, tucking her skirt up behind her, to travel the 6 miles downtown to her early sunday meetings. Now Kashann was slow to grumble at first but after several months of pregnancy she was happy to see the snow cover the roads so she could easily justify paying $1.50 bus fare to go downtown.

The morning of Jan 6 started off like any other Sunday. Kashann left her home at precisely 7 a.m and walked the 2 blocks to catch the bus. Forty five minutes later she jumped off at the city mission-that was her stop. She would've been across the street and safely into the church in 5 minutes, were it not for a pink sign written on the sidewalk below her that caught her attention . It read, "Trust Jesus". Right on top was lying a a $1 dollar bill, which she quickly picked up and stuffed in her pocket. Three steps later, more religious graphiti and again another $dollar bill$.

This story is getting a little long, so I will get to the happily ever after part. The first two one dollar bills were just the beginning. By the time Kashann made it to church she had found 30 single one dollar bills spread over half the block, in the mud, bushes and on the street. The only thing that made her abandon her search was a single dark man pulling over, rolling down his window and calling to this mistress in distress. She ran off at this point but brought the whole family back after church where we found 7 more $1 dollars$. (Kennon stayed in the car fuming humiliated that her family was scrounging in the bushes)

$37 dollars ! Not bad for a sunday morning. The End.

Brent is seen here trying out his new Christmas present at the "Rainbow Rink." (Brent swears its called that because of a couple of fellows that were skating with the grade school kids at 4pm) Kennon, Savannah and him got rollerblades from Santa. He keeps trying to convince me to put his on and go get some exercize. I think he has a hard time remembering that I am 7 months pregnant. I tried ice skating last week, but only was on the ice for a second before deciding it was a bad idea.

Our Christmas Morning 2007

We love just having a holiday all to ourselves. I didn't personally open any presents except for one's from the kids, but hardly noticed. The best present of all was coming home from WA the night before to a spotlessly clean house. Thank you, Thank you, Brent.

Christmas Piano Recital
Savannah and Kennon waiting their turn to perform at a piano recital at Majeroni's. Kennon is a student of Krystal King.
Savannah studies with Britta Bennion
(seen in the background with her husband Jason).
After 3 years of fighting me, Kennon recently admitted she now loves piano and is playing constantly. Savannah begs me to let her quit and put her in a "different sport". Sorry, Not gonna happen.

Missing Washington

Here's the card we sent back to friends and family in WA so they would know what a "blue christmas" we would have without them. Easiest christmas picture to take ever! No need to get everyone smiling at once. Just catch them doing what they do best.

It took a day and a half to get a genuine "blue" picture of each of them after coming up with the idea. For Camille and Caroline all it took was announcing it was bedtime. Savannah had her finger slammed in the door and Kennon tripped and fell landing with her back smashed on a tree ornament. From experience I can tell you -Kids get MAD when they run to momma for sympathy and she whips out her camera. Finally when we got the final shot, I apologized and explained why the camera kept coming out.
"It's OK kids, we aren't mean parents, it's just for the Christmas Card!"

Like that helps. Camille asked me to please send a princess picture of her next year.

Getting high

I think that must be what caused us both to simultaneously sit down at our laptops and start blogging-(After a couple months) ! Brent just glued on our counter top and it is really strong in here. Yesterday he cut the countertops and it was so stinky from the grinder that I had to shut myself away in the upstairs bedroom most the day.
Anway I am sitting at the computer and decided that I finally felt like checking on my blog. I sent the address out with our christmas card this year, with plans to keep it up, but then have had no interest in it. So I checked and some of you have been dropping by. Ooops! , but thanks so much. What a great way to keep in touch.
So our christmas vacation is still going on. We have spent almost the entire two weeks(I flew to my sister Candice's wedding just before Christmas in WA) holed up in our 1,100 square foot home here in freezing buffalo. Lots of lazy time, but Brent has also been quite the handy man here and there. He built a baby room -that was my christmas eve suprise that I found upon my return to our home. Not only had he taken 2 finals in my absence, took care of our four kids, but also built the nursery.

I had no idea. You probably have no idea where another bedroom magically can materialize out of 1,100 square feet. (My walk in closet was expanded and my room got shrunk.)

I am so happy to have a nursery! I had already overzealously repainted Kennon and Savannah's room from pink to blue and planned on making them share with their baby brother. It's ok though because one of my favorite activities is painting. I can be 6 months pregnant, decide to paint a fully furnished room, move it all, paint, move it all back by the time the kids and Dad get home. This is the only way to do it -MYSELF, because if I tell anyone they will try to talk me out of it. I am actually the brilliance behind the closet extension but Brent had said no way- he was totally through knocking down and building walls. I guess he really does love me.

Other christmas presents included a DISHWASHER!, DISPOSAL! and new countertops -(the glue making us high right now- I do have a window open and sure hope that is enough for my little guy). Welcome to the 21st Century Kashann! After enjoying it for 2 days I have determined to never go with out again.
So as I mentioned we are simulateously blogging here. I think I will post and see what he has come up with.

We made it through the holidays! And it wasn't easy with Kashann leaving two days before finals ended and not returning till Christmas eve. Taking care of four little women is not my idea of a Christmas BREAK. I even babysat an extra girl on Sunday. You should have seen me fixing the crew lunch......a waffle iron in the dining room, eggs on the stove, and water boiling for hot chocolate. The idea was to cook the eggs and then make the waffles while we sat at the table. I kind of kept getting ahead of myself by waffling up the iron and throwing the eggs on at the same time. By the time I ran to turn one or take it off, the other had burned. I charred the first three batches of waffles as well as both batches of eggs. Then when I turned the stove on to heat the water I lit the wrong burner. Unfortunately the foam egg carton was sitting there and ignited instantly, sending flaming eggs rolling everywhere.

Needless to say I was very happy to have the woman of the house return to her kingdom. I now feel like I've been in this house more in the last two weeks than the previous 4 months combined. Many projects were started but with only two days left of vacation I have yet to finish a single one. I started an upstairs remodel to make way for the baby which included building a wall and door, taking about 4 feet off of our bedroom, and knocking out a false wall to give us a 7X10 foot closet/nursery. I'll make sure I sound-proof well. That along with a good set of earplugs will guarantee a good night sleep for me at least.

Guess who never has to do dishes again. That's right....I made a deal with the ladies that if I got the dishwasher installed, my name would permanently be removed from dish duty. It turned out to be a bigger job than anticipated though since my plan changed from making a portable dishwasher to just ripping out a few drawers to moving the sink cause it wouldn't fit to finally replacing the counter tops cause they weren't wide enough. I even went the extra mile and put in a disposal. Don't let Kashann complain about not getting any presents cause it would have been much easier and cheaper to just go to Macy's. -Brent