no more black lung!!

So I've been feeling bad about my favorite bedtime snack because of all the new research into the chemicals they use.  Ug.  Poor lungs.  So I tried out this fun trick today - I made my own!  Just used a paper bag, a staple (no sparking... interesting...) a 1/4 cup popcorn and some olive oil and salt for flavoring.

It was perfect!!  I used the directions from instructables.

Part-ay!!

To celebrate Solei's 4th trip around the sun, we needed 12 rolls of streamers, about 75 pieces of paper, a mile or so of yarn, a glue stick and a roll of tape.  What a party!  I couldn't decide on a guest list and I didn't want anyone to feel left out, so Jared told me to invite everyone.  At one point he counted 41 people.  Yes, I'm insane and I always tend to bite off more than I can chew, but Solei had a ball and that was the point!

I wanted a theme but Solei kept changing her mind - by the end she was asking for a mermaid-and-unicorn-and-princess-and-fairies party, but I stuck with the original request of rainbows and the circus.  I didn't do very much, really, but I decided to do a few things as big as I could and it ended up feeling festive.

To greet our guests, I strung up some yarn with little colored paper flags along the walkway.  Paper and tape and yarn... not much, but it felt cool.

I couldn't find a stick to attach the string on, so Jared grabbed a microphone stand.  Voila!

 Cheesy yes, but I made this sign to hang out front:

 I used lots of streamers and tried to give it a circus tent-type atmosphere.  I also made lots of banners to hang about.

And what's a good circus without a trapeze act?

When the guests arrived, they decorated their own goodie bags.

Our first game was Lion Tamer - that was me.  All the kids got to jump through a "ring of fire", then it got higher and higher - like of like a reverse limbo with a hula hoop

Next we played musical chairs, which was not as successful.  Too many kids of too many ages meant little ones getting bored and wandering away from the game or back in, so we couldn't ever get the number of chairs right - there were too many or too few!  Lesson learned, and the chaos was kind of funny to watch!

Then we paused for lunch - hot dogs and brats.  It's the official party food of Wisconsin!

  

And then - oh then!!!  Cake time!!  And not just any cake.  We are blessed to know the most master of master cake masters and even though she was insanely busy this last weekend, she offered to make an extra special cake for Solei.  (Her name is Julie, and she has a blog of all her baking exploits.  Absolutely drool-worthy).  

She is an absolutely AMAZING decorator, but I wanted a very simple exterior and she complied, even though she wanted to do more.  When I went to pick it up, she insisted on adding a few flowers which were fabulous of course.

She got much better pictures with her camera - I'll post them later.  Isn't it lovely??  Solei was thrilled, especially because she is absolutely in love with Julie.

And then - BLAM-O!!!

Yes, my friends - THAT is a rainbow cake!!!  6 insanely delicious layers of super awesome magical rainbow cake!!!! 

It was insanely labor-intensive - she had to freeze up each layer before adding them so it would be structurally sound.    It was delicious and all around wonderful!

Another thing that made cake time super awesome was this idea I saw a while back in a magazine.  Instead of serving the ice cream right there, I scooped some up before-hand and put it in foil baking cups and left them in the freezer until they were needed.  

It made the whole serving process go much faster (since there was quite the hungry crowd) and another side benefit was that it didn't melt all over the plate and get the cake all soggy.

Then, presents!  Unfortunately, Solei going through that frustrating awkward stage where every time I try to take a picture, she gives me this awful fake grimace/painful smile and looks everywhere but at the camera, so I didn't get any really awesome pictures of the birthday girl.  But as she opened presents, I did manage to capture a genuine look of joy:

It was a ball and we all had a lovely time.  Today in Primary I abused my role as the music director and made everyone sing the birthday song to her twice.  She beamed and danced the entire time.  I'm amazed at how much she has learned in her short 4 years on this earth, and how wonderful our lives are because she is in it.  Happy birthday, sunshine!!!

Uncle Alex (kind of) catches a fish!

We had the absolute treat of going up to Minnesota to be with the Hachtmans and experiencing the glory it has to offer. Ikea, the Mall of America and....

(You have to try them. If you can find them. And afford them!)

Alex and his dad also treated us to the most Minnesota of experiences, boating and fishing.  It was awesome!!  I personally didn't believe people could actually catch fish (I've never seen it happen!) but Alex proved me wrong.  Kind of :)

Articles of Faith

Since we discovered that Solei has freakishly good memorizing skills, we figured we might as well put them to good use and have her memorize the Articles of Faith. We have the first 10 down so I made video documentation of our wonder 3 year old. We may have the next 3 learned before her birthday next month, we'll see!

Sibling Love

I was looking through the pictures of our summer yesterday - what a busy summer!  It makes no sense that when the weather gets absolutely gorgeous here we leave for half of it.  But, people got married,  families needed to play and pageants needed to be enjoyed so off we went.  One thing that struck me was that I do not have any frame-able pictures of of just Solei and Forster.  Forster is so photogenic it's ridiculous, and Solei is so fast it is also ridiculous, so it seems impossible that I'll ever have one of those cutesy pictures on my mantel of my offspring looking all noble and peaceful.

I do try, though.  At Dallin's wedding extravaganza, we has a picnic a few days beforehand in my parent's backyard, and I asked Solei to give Foster a kiss.  The results:

Maybe they do belong on the mantel.  They are pretty funny :)

Dallin and Alissa got hitched!!!!

In an attempt toexpedite getting this post done, I loaded all the pictures at once and they are a delightful choronological, mismatched mess.  I'm going to run with it, though.  I'm pooped.

So my very favorite younger brother Dallin got married 2 and a half weeks ago in the Denver Temple.  It was just about as perfect as the lovely couple who I am totally taking credit for setting up.  Oh, there were a few other players, such as it actually being a few other people's original idea, but I was the puppetmaster behind the scenes.  I may have gloated about it all day.  So without further ado, Dallin and Alissa's wedding in no particular order, as seen by his way cool older sister.

Aunt Sanny snapped this just as they went into the temple.  Isn't it the sweetest???

This was a shot someone took of Dallin and I at the reception - I love how we look so blasted related.

This was Father's day, Forster charming the heck out of my exhausted just-spent-3-weeks-sleeping-on-a-hospital-floor-while-tending-to-her-sick-brother. She was an absolute champ the entire weekend, but I hope she gets to spend the next 4 months in bed...


Uncle Quinn showing off his muscles on Solei and Teaq.

If you aren't going to cooperate when I try to take a picture, I'm using it anyway. This was outside the temple while we were all trying to not melt.

The reception was at my best friend Sabrina's parent's place. We've been thick as thieves since.. of geez.. for about 15 years? Ak! Best part about the venue? Zip slide!! There are pictures of the groom on it, but I didn't catch any. Waiting on those, Dallin..

The annual sibling reunion was hijacked due to a wedding for the 2nd year now, but we managed to sneak away to the Melting Pot for a fabulous dinner. Alissa got us to share the stories of how we all got engaged, it was sweet! Jared wasn't in town yet, so my date was the chocolate fondue. YES!

THe adorable couple, fonduing it up. She survived her first all-Kuzmich-kid experience and still married into the family anyway, so that's a plus!



Lucky lucky me...

Okay.. Solei is so desperate for attention she's banging her head into a tambourine.  I'm goingt o have to cut the commentary short, but enjoy the rest.  We're so happy to have Alissa in the family!!!

Circus World

I took the kiddos to Circus World today - our first time of the season.  I got an annual pass last summer when we moved here and came a few times, though I wasn't thrilled about the show (a few risqué moments).  But because there aren't very many playmates around and very few activities for 3 year olds, I decided to try it again this summer.  And it was awesome!  The show was much more family-friendly and we all had a ball.  Last year I had to watch Solei like a hawk because her little 2 year-old legs would want to run away when she got bored, but she sat there like a trooper, cheering and laughing the whole hour-long show.  And Forster??  I don't know how on earth we got this lucky, but when a baby is mobile and knows it (and he's taken a few steps and keeps trying to take MORE) they don't sit in a mommy's arms very well for very long, but dear Forster loved all the attention.  He flirted with the people behind us, danced to the music, giggled at and babbled on to me the whole time, never getting cranky.

I wondered while I watched the show if I was spoiling my kids - taking them to the circus all summer whenever we wanted.  That just sounds extravagant, right?  (Although it's pretty dang cheap, kids 5 and under are free and my adult pass was $14.95, with an additional $10 for the annual pass, so our summer of fun costs a cool $25) But as we walked across the bridge over the Baraboo river - gorgeous view, by the way - it occurred to me that it's not very often a kid gets to live 3 minute drive from the Circus World museum.  And we won't live here forever - so might as well snag some awesome memories while we have the chance.

So if y'all come to visit, we're totally taking you.  Although there is one snag - the clown this year is a GIRL.  And Solei is head over heels for her - can't stop talking about her hero, Jessi the clown.  It's only a matter of time before she decides SHE could be a clown and tries to run off with the circus.  Not a far fetched notion either, what with the circus being just down the road...

A few random snaps

Oh, our kids.  Solei spends most of her time railing at the injustices of not enough snacks, and Forster spends his time giggling at everyone.

It's hysterical - he's within seconds of walking and he knows it.  He's just so perma-happy, he cruises around the furniture or climbs on people all day long, laughing hysterically.

The weather has turned humane the last few days, so we ventured outdoors for FHE tonight and took a walk in the scenic Wisconsin countryside.

Speaking of scenic, we live one house away from the edge of town.  This was the view that greeted us as we pulled into our driveway this evening - and no, we did not use the zoom:

We moved!

It was intense, I'm shocked no one came out of it with a hernia, and even more shocked at Alex - he missed his calling.  The man does not STOP.  He moved everything like a man possessed, and then asked if he could mow the lawn.  MAN.  But  we managed to have some fun along the way - we rocked virtually:

And literally:

I have to post more of those vids - that was a Cinco de Mayo party for the ward that we kind of hijacked in the name of getting to play with the coolest drummer ever.  Ignore the part where I forgot my mic is attached 3 inches from my mouth and yell anyway.

Moving was so much dang fun!!  We enjoyed every second of having so much family around, and we love the new digs!  I'll post some pics of the new house once it's not covered in boxes :)

A parting gift - the view of Baraboo from our chapel.  And some weirdos who were hanging out on the lawn.

Waffle heaven

We all know that Solei entered this world a picky eater.  There are very few things that I can get her to eat consistently, and I've jsut given up mostly.  Things get better when I'm not freaking out.  She won't eat dinner, but the next day she'll eat a whole place of carrots, and then refuse to eat carrots for another month.  So I've learned to pick my battles, and food isn't one of them.

But one thing I CAN get her to eat consistently every day is breakfast.  It's amazing, really.  Every day she wakes up and asks for the same thing, and then eats it.  A few months back we were visiting Sarah and Alex and they put green food coloring in the waffle batter.  Solei flipped.  So when we went back home, I'd let her choose the color of her waffle.  Woohoo.  Until one day she couldn't choose, and asked for all the colors.  And this monstrosity was born...

First, I take a box of waffle mix, dump a bunch in a bowl and add water.  I eyeball it.  And then I dump a few spoonfuls for milled flax seed in there for good measure.  She doesn't know it's in there, and it's chock full of Omega 3.  Whatever that is.  But my mom says it's good. (Sometimes I add an egg for protein too).

Then I divide the mix into 3 bowls and add food coloring.

I actually don't do it, it's one of Solei's favorite parts of the day.  She mixes it up and loves to find out what colors make what and experiment every day.

Then I drip the 3 different colors all over the iron so it looks all Sydney Pollack.  The messier the better.  (I know it looks gross and neon, but to a 3 year old it's AWESOME)

That's it.  And then to mix things up, she asks me to cut them up in different shapes, letters or numbers.  Sometimes I don't have time and they all end up in triangles, but sometimes I get a little creative:

Every day I can't believe she just ate it all, but she does.  She loves it.  And I love that I KNOW she'll get at least one meal in her and I snuck something healthy in it.  Woot woot.

Solei's First Post

I love Gamma Gamma Very much. This is a picture of Gamma Gamma and me at the airport hugging gamma gamma.

I like my new haircut because I like the way it feels and the way it looks. Mommy and Gamma Gamma gave me beauty salon. Daddy helped cutted my hair.

I love my haircut. I like this picture because I love going outside with mommy and daddy.

I like buddy buddy (Forster's nick name). I love when I hug him and hold him. I love when I play with him at Easter.

Rocketgirl's Fondue Recipes

I’ve gotten a trillion requests for my awesome fondue recipes. So instead of e.mailing everyone I know, I’m going to post it everywhere. For you, for Valentine's Day, because I’m just that awesome. You’re welcome.



This first one is my all-time favorite, friends from college will remember this at my many Fondue/Sushi parties. Husband doesn’t like it so much because he says I smell like onions for days afterwards, but it’s so tasty, I take the hit and forgo smooching for a few days. Since it has french onion dip in it, it tastes awesome with any bread, and any veggie.


Sharp Cheddar and French Onion Fondue
(I usually double this, but this is the singular version)

1 can cheddar cheese soup

1 cup sharp cheddar (I usually use more, just throw a bunch in a see how the consistency is)

8 oz french onion dip (since I usually double this, I use 16 oz sour cream and a packet of onion soup mix since it tastes way better than premade french onion dip, but if you do the singular, I’d use 8 oz sour cream and half a packet of onion soup mix, though I will add more for uber flavor)

a squirt of mustard

I suggest green peppers (and the red and yellow and orange ones), cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and sourdough bread, but anything goes, seriously.



Tomato Cheddar Fondue

1 can Italian Tomato soup ( or any Campbells tomato soup that is all flavored and yummy)

cheddar cheese - I don’t know how much, I just add until the consistency is nice and not too thick)

Super easy, super delicious, great with veggies and breads, I like fancy focaccia breads with cheese all over the top.



Easy Swiss

1 can chicken broth

Swiss shredded, tossed with flour

(optional, add some pressed garlic to the chicken broth before the swiss)
This is really easy get the chicken broth boiling first then add the cheese, but I have to do it slowly and make sure I don’t add too much or too little swiss because it gets too thick or too runny. But it’s so simple and delicious.


Then there’s this new aMAzing Fancy Gouda/Fontina Fondue Jane posted a few weeks ago here: http://isnowagoodtime.blogspot.com/2010/01/in-spirit.html - she’s been trying for years to perfect a fondue that does the Melting Pot justice, and it TOTALLY does!! I skipped the green onions and used a squirt of mustard instead of powdered and it was still awesome. I won’t repost it so you have to go and check her out, but rest assured, with Gouda and Fontina, it tastes so decadent and fancy, and I’ve made it twice now without screwing up up. That means it’s TOTALLY foolproof!!

Easiest Chocolate Fondue EVER
1 jar Nutella
3/4 cup milk
dash cinnamon
Yeah, that’s it. So easy, has that Nutella hazelnut goodness, and goes with anything you’d put with chocolate fondue. I love rice krispie treats, brownies, any fruit, and angel food or white cake.
So if you don’t have fancy plans or anything else, nothing make sa normal meal a party like fondue. Take my word for it, I may not be a cooking expert, but I know how to throw a par-tay :)