Here the kids are modeling their new shirts. We spent Saturday out on the lake and at a little beach. We ate fresh fish and bannock for our meal.








Ah, yes...the perfect ending to a day of adventure...

Evan touched raw hamburger, so I had him wash his hands. He wondered why. When I told him that it could make him sick, he informed me of the following:

"Indians ate raw meat in the old times and they didn't die."

I asked him when that was.

"In the 60s."

10 Years on June 10, 2010

On June 10 Kendall and I celebrated 10 years of marriage. A 'decade' seems like a really long time. We're a perfect match and an imperfect match. The last decade has been precious and it's been hard. It's been surprising- It's surprising that we could be even closer than we were on our wedding day and we've been surprised at the differences we've discovered. We've never worked so hard on anything than we have on our marriage and that working together has brought us closer. Sometimes we forget that we're on the same team and start working against each other. But even when we're mad at each other, I know enough to be thankful for my husband. I'm amazed at everything Kendall and I have learned together over the past 10 years. When I look at that, I know we can keep on learning. Kendall really is my best friend. I'm thankful to be married to the man I admire.


The boys were both in school on Thursday. Kendall had Thursday off, but has been working a lot this week, so we decided to do our thing during the day instead of getting a babysitter. That way the boys could still have the afternoon/evening with Kendall. We went canoeing for a few hours. Then we came back and went to the new nicest restaurant in town for a late lunch.

Evan took this photo. He gave me the dandelion and told us what to do.



Evan wanted to be in a picture. He's trying hard to keep his eyes open, as he has inherited my tendency to close them for photos.

The anniversary bouquets we picked Thursday evening.
By the way, if I could have any song playing throughout this post, it would be 'Amazed' by Lonestar. (I was recently hit by a blast from the past when I delved back into my beloved country music from 10-15 years ago.) Kendall and I danced to it Thursday night while the boys wrestled at our feet. Ah, the romance...

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I want to spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby, I'm amazed by you

Anniversary Canoeing

As we were quietly paddling, I thought I heard something in the water and motioned to Kendall. I actually assumed I was hearing things, but it was fun to try to sneak up on something. Then Kendall told me he really did hear moose grunting. Then we saw a huge dark brown head and a little blond-colored head peak out of the brush. It was a mama and a very little baby! We didn't get a great look at them and they walked back into the bush. So we snuck around the point and paddled very quietly. (Well, I let Kendall do the quiet paddling. He's the expert.) We rounded the point and Kendall spotted them very well hidden in the trees. It took me awhile to see them, but their ears gave them away. They were lying down and seemed to be watching us. I don't know if I ever would have seen them, but their ears kept flicking the flies away every few seconds. It just makes me wonder about the all the well-camoflaged animals that must watch us amble by other times. Kind of neat, kind of creepy.
Unfortunately, these moose never stepped out where we could really see them, but it was still very...special, for lack of a better word.






So, I haven't said where we went because I like to try to make the Hochstedler's figure it out. Do you know? Here's a hint: Kendall has a memory of going there with Mom, Dad and LaRonda. He couldn't quite remember, but it included something about cold or rain.

Rhubarb Slaw

So I have all of this wonderful rhubarb right now. It's a weird vegetable/fruit/stalk/whatever it is. I've made my grandma's Rhubarb Butter Crunch, which is oh so yummy with ice cream. I've made rhubarb muffins. But most recipes I find for rhubarb are desserts. Then I came across a recipe in a Country Living magazine for Rhubarb Slaw. So I decided to try it and the recipe seemed so natural and artistic that I decided to do a blog post about it. (I just read the book, Julie and Julia, which is all about a food blog, so I was under the influence of wishful thinking.)

Here's the recipe:
1 lb. rhubarb, julienned
2 c. apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper
1 1/2 c. light-brown sugar
1 1/2 T. mustard seeds
1 1/2 T. red pepper flakes
1/2 c. peeled, sliced fresh ginger
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 small cabbage, thinly sliced
1 large carrot, coarsely grated
2 T. olive oil

Boil vinegar, 1 T. each salt and pepper, and next 5 ingredients. Pour over rhubarb and let cool. Refrigerate overnight.
Drain rhubarb, reserving 1/2 c. brine. Toss rhubarb with cabbage, carrot, brine, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until cabbage softens.

Here is my kitchen help. Any time he gets to use a knife, it's cause for celebration.

Not that you can tell here.

Here's my rhubarb soaking in the brine. Like the lilacs (in a Kendall-made pitcher) that I put in for an artistic element? sigh. Where are Phil and Katelyn when I need them?

And here's the finished product.
Okay, so it wasn't all I'd hoped and dreamed. It was good, but it was basically just very spicy coleslaw. It made good Hillbilly Hot Dogs though!

I also tried Rhubarb Iced Tea. Once again, the rhubarb didn't shine- basically just iced tea. Back to my muffins and butter crunch...

First Tooth Lost!

The tooth fairy left the mother lode for Eli tonight. (Before Kendall left for work, he suggested that I empty out our change jar under Eli's pillow.) Eli agreed to give it back and gratefully accepted his 2 quarters instead.

Mother's Day 2010

A happy Mother's Day for me...

I got Mother Day gifts from the boys after school on Thursday and Friday. Evan was so excited to give me a card he made at school and some small bean plants. Eli made a magnet and a card for me at school.

This morning I stayed in bed longer than everyone else, then we got up and had cinnamon rolls. (No, Kendall did not make the rolls. I made them a week or so ago and squirreled 6 away in the freezer so we could have some this weekend. Cinnamon rolls are a rare occurrence in this house and a whole batch hardly lasts longer than 3 days. So I have to be sneaky if I want to spread out the goodness.) But Kendall did mix up fresh icing for the rolls.

At breakfast, the men gave me their gift. It was a wonderful card with a list of coupons and things they appreciate about me. The coupons included each one reading a book to me (Evan's idea), A back rub from all three (at once?!), Eli & Evan clean the house (yes, yes, we'll see how that goes), Helping me pick an outdoor plant, The men deciding and making supper, Boys wash dishes and clean up, and Going to eat at a restaurant. I can't wait to redeem those coupons.

And here are a few things off the list of things they like about me: my perogies (frozen from a bag, I tell you), snuggling, and wrestling (I've taught them a few moves, such as "the butterball," which I invented, and "the baby hold," which includes pinning them like a baby and kissing them and pinching their cheeks).

Anyway, after church I sat on the couch and read my good ol' Brotherhood Beacon while the men worked on lunch. The boys were trying very hard to make the table special. This means as dark as possible, goblets to drink our lemonade from, and arranging the table nicely. Below is a photo of their centerpiece. I heard Evan saying that Mommy was the flower and we're the other things (mayo, mustard, etc.). We're celebrating her so we're all around her. Cute, huh? So he took a picture of me by his centerpiece. (Does Dad look at all resentful about being stuck with all the work?)


After lunch, I was again ordered to the couch. Kendall got the boys started on the dishes, then he ran to the Howey Bay for fancy dessert. Here are the boys, hardly fazed in spite of the large pile of dirty dishes.




And here we are with our cheesecake from the restaurant.
I'm feeling very loved and very blessed by my family.