Talents, Tongue, and Stone

Yes, "talents, tongue, and stone."  That pretty much sums up the past two weeks.  It seems that in this post, the rest of my family is having all of the fun.  Au contraire!!  I am so excited to see my daughter, son, and husband develop their talents.  What are these "talents"?  Well, Claire has begun a dance class and is thriving in it.  She loves to dance and loves the class.  Of course, she also loves to perform.  She wouldn't be our kid if she didn't :).   Jacob has started piano lessons (taken from me) and gymnastics. Jacob is definitely gaining some coordination.  He is catching on well with piano and so far he loves it.  In fact, he sometimes is caught humming the 2 and 3 note songs. Lastly, Jonathan was just elected as class president for his class at the medical school.  I couldn't be more proud of my family.

Now, what is with the tongue?  Jonathan and I had our second real date since we have been here.  Ok, that came out wrong.  Let me start over.  So, Jonathan and I went out to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant, Taqueria Dos Arbolitos.  By the way, it was delicious...we will return.  We are grateful to our friends, the Earlys, for watching our children (for free!).  While at dinner we had the opportunity to try some "lengua" (cow tongue).  Jonathan scarfed it, while I threatened to not kiss him again that night.  Finally though, he talked me into it.  I tried a bite.  The taste and texture wasn't bad.  The thought though....let's just say, I have tried it and feel no need to try it again. 

Now, the stone....I was blessed to experience my first (and hopefully last) kidney stone.  After an exhausting day (and well, exhausting past few months for that matter), the pain set in.  I really feel I had a bit of a tender mercy earlier that evening.  I had been attending a general broadcast for the woman in our church and later enjoying a dinner with some friends.  During dinner, a friend asked if she could hold Olivia.  I got Olivia out of her car seat and noticed that, although happy and talkative, she had poop up her backside and down one leg.  Fun.  That was my cue to go home.  I snagged a dessert on the way out and left early from the get together.  Within ten minutes of arriving home I started to get severe pain in my lower left abdomen and back.  SEVERE PAIN.  Within the last few months I have experienced childbirth without pain relief and now a kidney stone!  I will say, labor and kidney stones are comparable!  I was vomiting and brought to tears because of the pain.  I am so grateful that I didn't experience this pain while at dinner, 15 minutes from my home.  Jonathan took care of me and gave me a Priesthood blessing.  Within about 10 minutes of the blessing, the pain finally subsided.  I am now especially grateful for my pain free body.

Well, there it is.  Talents, tongue, and stone.  Here are some videos of Claire dancing:

La Bandera

La Bandera 

In the Dominican Republic, "La Bandera" (translated as "the flag") is "habichuelas, arroz, y carne" (beans, rice, and meat).  When I started dating this really hot guy that was a missionary there, he spoke of craving this authentic dish.  I attempted to make this dish numerous times, but it was never quite right.  After 3 1/2 years of marriage, we finally took a trip to the Dominican Republic and I got to taste the real deal!  Not only that, but a friend of Jonathan's had us over for lunch while we were in the DR, and taught me how to make this wonderful dish.  It is definitely a family favorite!  Here is how I prepare "La Bandera":

For the rice, I use Jasmine rice.  I love Jasmine rice.  For the meat, I cook a whole chicken in the crockpot.  Make sure to buy a chicken that will fit in your crockpot :).  Place the chicken, thawed (you can thaw it in your fridge), in your crockpot and add some salt and pepper.  Don't even add water.  Cook on high for about 8 hours or so.  So yummy.  Here is a picture of my chicken:

Now, for Las Habicheulas!  Here is my recipe:

Habichuelas (Dominican Beans) 

*This recipe makes about 7 1/2 cups!!! You might want to at least halve the recipe for a smaller crowd.  I like to make a big batch and eat them for the next few days.

Ingredients:

1 lb. Dry Pinto Beans
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil (you can use vegetable or canola oil as well)
1 cup chopped yellow or white onion
1 cup chopped bell pepper
2 Tbsp. (don't be shy :) ) minced garlic
15 oz. can of tomato sauce (or smaller, I usually don't use the whole can and save the rest for later)
1 Tbsp. white vinegar
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 packet of Sazon Goya con culantro y anhoite (found in latin food section of your store)
1 tsp. dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Toppings:
cilantro
avocado
lime (can't eat Latin food without this, or Thai food, in my opinion...oh, I love lime)

Directions:
Soak beans overnight or use the "quick method" (on the package).

"Quick" Cooking Method

Drain and rinse beans and leave in colander (for now).  In the same pan use used for your beans, heat up oil over medium high heat for about 1 min.  Add onion and pepper and saute for about 8 minutes.  Add garlic.  Mmm...it smells so good.....  Saute garlic for about 2 minutes.  I like my peppers and onion to be just a little bit browned.  Add 3 cups of hot water to the pan, as well as your beans, tomato sauce, vinegar, and spices (don't add any cilantro yet).  Bring to a boil.  Turn heat to low and simmer for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, taking the lid off after about 45 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in the 1/2 cup of cilantro. Put the beans on the rice.  Top with more cilantro, lime juice, and avocado.   Eat with the chicken.  Enjoy!!!!!

From the Left:  Isa, Jonathan, Me (while pregnant with Claire), Marisol's daughter, Marisol, Marisol's friend.

Thank you Marisol for teaching me how to make this delicious dish!!!

Yes, I calculated the nutrition facts.  

Nutrition Facts (250 g or 1 cup serving)

Calories: 264

Fat:  4 g

Carbs: 43 g

Protein: 13 g

Iron: 21 g

Labor Day Weekend and First Day of Kindergarten!

On the Friday night before Labor Day, we decided to venture out and go camping for a night.  We all had a great time.  Olivia LOVED her first time camping.  She is like our other kids in that she loves to be outdoors and camping was just perfect for that (with some pretty obvious reasons).  We loved building fires (well, Jonathan built the fires) and eating smores (Mommy was the only one truly excited about this.  My kids prefer not to get sticky and, therefore, ate each part of the smore separately, including an uncooked marshmallow, or seven uncooked marshmallows...basically as many as they could sneak before we noticed).  We also did some hiking, picking flowers, picnicking, and more picking of flowers.  Claire thinks the "daddy lions" are so pretty.  We spent Saturday at Silver Falls State park and LOVED it.  There are ten gorgeous waterfalls in this temperate rainforest, including two that you can walk behind.

The kids enjoyed all of the fun rocks and caves.

Jacob was a little bit nervous about crawling back into some caves.  

So brave. :)

Jonathan and Olivia.  She looks so cute, even in that carrier.

On Labor Day we went to a pool with some friends.  Claire has made some fun friends already!  They are just as obsessed with princesses and dancing as Claire is.  It is perfect.  She just got invited to a princess birthday party and has been carrying the invitation with her throughout the day.

Now....for the FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!!!!

My little boy has grown up so fast!  Jacob LOVES school.  Of course the first thing he talks about every day is recess and lunch.  He seems to be making friends pretty easily and likes his teacher, Mrs. Yee.  Claire does miss Jacob.  As soon as he leaves for school, Claire says, "well, it is time to go get Jacob."  I loved the conversation in the cafeteria when I dropped him off.  "You're 5?!  I am 5 too!  And you're 5 too!  Wow, we are all 5!"

He was thrilled to discover at the end of his first day that he gets to go back to school the next day.  Little does he realize it has only just begun...

Jacob with one of his favorite buddies.  He is a neighbor of ours and they just really have hit it off.  They are together all morning at school and then, as soon as school is over, they want to get together and play.

I whipped out my "fall box" and the kids had some fun with our wigs.

P.S.  For all of you moms out there I feel a need to share this blog with you.  It is hilarious.  I have found myself tearing up (in laughter) on numerous occasions while reading it.  Here is the link:

Eating Over the Sink