This day has "Nanaimo bar" written all over it

It was at Freddy's where I first saw a Nanaimo bar. Chocolate and coconut crust base, custard middle, chocolate top. Mmmmm.

Here's the recipe I use (from www.hiddenponies.com):

BASE: ¾ cup butter or margarine
¼ cup sugar
6 tbsp cocoa
1 egg
1 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (*see note for substitutions)
1 cup coconut
½ cup chopped walnuts (OPTIONAL)

MIDDLE LAYER:
½ cup butter or margarine, softened
6 tbsp milk
4 tbsp custard powder (I had to go to the import store for this, which was awesome, because I love the import store)
4 cups powdered sugar

TOP LAYER:
8 oz semisweet or dark chocolate
1 tbsp butter

Instructions
BASE: Combine first 6 ingredients in large saucepan. Heat and stir over medium-low heat until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in graham crumbs, coconut, and walnuts. Pack firmly into ungreased 9x13” pan. Chill while you prepare the middle layer.

MIDDLE LAYER: Beat all 4 ingredients together in medium bowl until smooth. Spread over first layer. Chill for 45 minutes.

TOP LAYER: Melt chocolate and butter in a small bowl at 50% power in microwave. Microwave for about 1½ minutes, stir and microwave another 30 seconds or longer if needed, stirring frequently. Spread fairly evenly over middle layer. Chill for 1 hour, then score chocolate with a sharp knife and return to fridge to chill completely before cutting into bars.

"STOP IT"

“To love a man enough to help him, you have to forfeit the warm, self-righteous glow that comes from judging."

Author Ron Hall

"Don't shoot blow darts in the car."

Things that come out of your mouth and you hear yourself say them and you're like, whaaaaaat....

LATER: We Young Women leaders went to a stake meeting tonight about girls' camp next year - instead of camp being put on by the stake, as usual, each ward will have its own camp. WHAT.

We're in charge of our own camps - planning, executing, budgeting... and each ward will have its own girls camp presidency with girls from our ward, like the stake girls camp presidency of the last two years (Bella and Savannah A. were the presidents! Woot!). To top it all off, we have almost no guidelines. WHAT. The most quoted line of the evening, in response to all our questions, was "YES." Infuriating! I love, want and NEED parameters!

This is unthinkable! But it will happen.

MAN DOWN. MAN DOWN.

We have our first "sick" of the school year. Poor lil snotlocker.

PAPERWORK

Can we just all agree that the person who misplaced our social security card file AND the person who misplaced our birth certificate file, are naughty and must be punished?

Later: We have found the SS card file. Everyone pray for birth certificate file finding enlightenment, please.

FINALLY

After doing some pretty major battle with a certain landlady, we have a new and functioning dishwasher (as opposed to the "recycled" one she bought in June that broke within ten days - yeah, it was a fun summer, doing dishes by hand for seven people). And while I'm, yes, a little bitter, I'm also extremely grateful that it finally happened.

"Darling, if we have a dishwasher,
we won't be the dishwasher anymore"

Isn't It Always

My nap will be my undoing.

Slow Your Roll, There

We have eight years before our youngest graduates from high school. Nine months left before she's done with elementary school. I can practically feel the earth spinning...

Later, this nugget:
Roz: What does "pourquoi" mean?
Me: Why.
Roz: Because I wanna know.

Linger Longer

Whence is that goodly fragrance flowing? From yonder oven, where baketh a divine Danish Puff. 

We had a Linger Longer with our ward today, since we're on the 1:00 schedule and the last ward to meet in the building. SWEET. The wonderful Relief Society president, Shanna B, decided that the ward should have this event on Fast Sundays for the rest of the year. It's quite lovely - the ward provides ham and rolls, and everyone else brings either a side dish, salad or dessert. I made Danish Puff, and brought home a big empty plate. 

I love my ward. 

First Day of School 2014

Harrison: 10th grade

Rosalind: 5th grade
Our last elementary school baby!

Carter: 7th grade

What a fun day! :)

Wrong Number

Just spoke with a lovely gentleman in Chicago, totally by mistake. 

Happy Labor Day!

...from the five H gorgeouses.

Shopping with boys and feeling STABBY*

• Grannie took Harrison and Carter school clothes shopping today. It was quite lovely of her. The boys were quite silly, but they did okay, once I got them to calm down and stop slapping each other ("Act like you've been out in public before").
• 
  *Arm vein stabby, with a nice tranquilizer, to clarify.

Precious Girl

My sweet 10-year-old made waffles with strawberries and whipped cream and brought me breakfast in bed for absolutely no reason at all. I love her and her sweet tender generous heart. 

Annoying the Children

Bella: So, can I have ten bucks?
Me: Sure, get on my back
Bella: Ugh
Me: That just never gets old.
Bella: Doesn't it?

(Thanks, Dad)

Two Things

1. My legs hurt
2. Moleskin!!!!!!!!!!

Dealing with the aftermath of walking 11-something miles in 24 hours, with about three days' warning. Youch. Going to church today was ... painful. 

Portland to Coast Relay

Top: Wendie, Amber, Eileen
Bottom: Me, Candice, Tera

Okay, so, I did this and I never need to do it again. It was fun and awesome and very, very tiring. My blisters are unbelievable. But I did it.

I spent last night half asleep (or sometimes all the way asleep) in Wendie's van, and around 4:30 am the other ladies woke me up to walk my second leg. I walked five miles through some of the most beautiful forested terrain, and it was cool and green and fresh - a far cry from yesterday, when I almost threw up after fast-walking through town in 80+ degree temperatures - probably closer to 90. It was gross.

When we reached Seaside, we stopped at the local pool and napped, then tried to fix ourselves up for the party at the beach. The beach was full of music, people and freebies - my favorite is the big black cowbell from Dick's Sporting Goods.

Now I'm home from the beach and sore as heck. Go figure, huh?

Tomorrow morning baby!!!

Candice and I are still in disbelief that we got dragged into this ... thing. (Thanks Tera G and Wendie E!) But tomorrow morning early, we're leaving to walk in the Portland to Coast race. Here's where we'll be walking:

Just. AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

So That's What Did It

At dinner at Candice and Matt's tonight, Harrison came forward with his idea that my screaming in pain when I broke my foot was actually me screaming out of anger because he and the other kids hadn't picked up the toys in the hallway (which caused me to break my foot). All this time he thought I was mad instead of in pain. Poor kid! I traumatized him!

Brian: "He had seizures for a YEAR because of that!"

Harrison busted up laughing. Oh, the looks on the S family's faces :)

I love summer.