All the Doodah Day!

Meet Rosie

2011-07-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

We found a new puppy to add to our already hectic life. We named her Rosie for her disposition. We have discovered a few adjectives to go with the name.

R: Rowdy
O: Out of Control
S: Sweet
I: Ignorant (lacking in knowledge or training...need I say more)
E: Energetic (to the extreme)

But we love her anyway.

Beach Camping and Birthday Celebration

2011-06-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

We went to "our" beach and camped for five days to celebrate Lucy's sixth birthday. This has become our tradition and I hope we can always continue it. We had a blast despite the two nights of rain and the "mini bears" that kept trying to get to our food.

Lucy's favorite gift was a set of Flower Fairy books from Grandma.

The beach was awesome as usual and I sincerely could live in a cardboard box if it could be at the beach!

Jim enjoying a quiet moment in the sun.
The ponies came to the beach this year. So fun!

This is what I did most of the trip. Ahhhh, the good life includes a book, the beach and a campfire.....

More Creativity

2011-01-25T12:36:00.000-08:00

I made these Valentines for a card swap using my Cricut (I love that machine!)

Which one is your favorite?

Monday Mantra

2011-01-10T14:22:00.001-08:00

“The imagination imitates. It is the critical spirit that creates.” -Oscar Wilde

Okay, so I am just at the imitation stage...at least I am trying to be creative. There are some cupcake cards that I made for our card swap group. I used my Hello Kitty cartridge and the Cricut to make them. I wish they would have fit together better, but they were still cute.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-05T10:59:00.000-08:00

Monday Mantra

2011-01-03T12:12:00.000-08:00

“Getting an inch of snow is like winning 10 cents in the lottery.” Bill Watterson

2010 in Retrospect

2010-12-31T06:12:00.001-08:00

I did this a couple of years ago and found it fun, so I am going to do it again.

I RUINED or lost:
Our home
My beloved doggy, Clover (she was 14 years old)

25 pounds (but I've gained some (MOST) of that back...UGH!)

I EXPERIENCED for the first time:
Being there when a pet is put to sleep (don't want to do that again!)

I TRAVELED to:
Rexburg, Idaho

Preston, Idaho
Ventura, California

(it was a low-key year for travel)

I READ (and loved):
I actually read 60 books this year, but these are the only ones that earned my 5-star rating:
A Drowned Maiden's Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz
A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck
Captain Wentworth's Diary by Amanda Grange
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
In Trying Times, Just Keep Trying by Merrilee Boyack
Peculiar In A Good Way by Mar Ellen Edmunds
Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
Talking With God by Robert L Millett
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W Kimball
The Pearl of Great Price
The Remarkable Soul of a Woman by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I GAINED:
More books than I care to admit (this one hasn't changed)(Check out PaperBackSwap.com)
More perspective on depression
A new granddaughter, Eliza
A new niece, Grace

I SAW:
All three seasons of Lark Rise to Candleford (my new faves from the BBC)
Tangled...Rapunzel is my new favorite Disney princess!
Eclipse
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part I)
How to Train your Dragon

PLAYLIST:
Pandora Radio...created dozens of my own channels and I'm loving it!

I CREATED:
New friendships
Several cards for our card swap group
Order out of the chaos once known as our garage (there is actually one car in there now!)

I was TAUGHT/learned…
…that there are many lessons that I need to keep learning over till I get them right
…that 5 year olds are the sweetest, most creative, loving, exasperating creatures on earth
...that homeschooling is not for wimps!

My Christmas Wish

2010-12-14T15:06:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I wish we could just focus on this at Christmastime! I am sick to death with the worrying how we will afford gifts, who will we buy for, what everyone wants.

My wish...if it could really be...is to be able to focus ONLY on the true meaning of the holiday. But no, we go to ward parties to be greeted not by the Savior, but by Santa and a line of kids waiting to tell him what they want. We turn on the tv or the radio and it's all about what to buy, what great sale is going on, what we WANT/NEED. We are stressed by getting a good family photo and writing some pithy list of the things we did during the year to make everyone envious of us. Seriously, what is wrong with us???

I know I sound like the Grinch this year, but 2010 has not been the best year for this chick and the only thing that has gotten me to today is the Savior and His love for me. It's been a year of loss for us...we lost our home...we lost a sense of security...we lost the canine member of our family, one I had by my side for almost 15 years (longer than I have been with Jim or Lucy). I think these losses have helped us focus more on what really matters. It doesn't matter that we are renters instead of homeowners...we still have a roof over our heads every night. It doesn't matter that we don't have the money to shower our daughter with a bunch of STUFF that will just clutter her already cluttered room. We can give her good, balanced meals to eat every day. We can teach her about the Savior and our Heavenly Father and the treasures they have in store for us. It doesn't matter that we don't have the latest i-toy or the fanciest car, or a boat and a motorhome and a cabin in the woods. It matters that we have each other, we have wonderful family members and friends that we can always count on in times of need.

So, once again I am relying on the Savior to help me get through this crazy time of year. And you know what...He always delivers!

Love to you all and best wishes for the best Christmas ever.

I've Got Nothin'!

2010-12-14T09:31:00.001-08:00

I am in a serious slump these days. Don't know what it is, but I need some kind of inspiration. HELP!!!

How We Spent Our Thanksgiving Day

2010-11-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

Baking

Cooking

Watching

Merry Making

Photoing

Relaxing

What's for Breakfast?

2010-11-20T08:56:00.000-08:00

This morning we were all home, with nowhere to be, YAY! So I decided to make breakfast.

I tried a new recipe from my cousin, Jolinda, called German Puff Pancakes. What fun!

Here's the recipe...SO easy!
4 Tbsp butter
6 eggs
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Put the butter in a 9x13 inch pan and put in the oven while preheating.

Beat together the eggs, milk, flour and salt till light and fluffy. Pour into the pan and bake for 20 minutes. Make sure to put your rack down...this baby really puffs and you don't want it to hit the top rack or the top of your oven. We barely made it. Whew!
Serve it with warm syrup, or warm jam. Yummo!

This is the easiest and BEST way to cook bacon. Lay out your bacon strips on a stoneware sheet pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes (a little longer if you like it really crispy, like I do). Take it out and tilt the pan a little to let the grease drain away from the meat. Then take the strips and put on a platter covered with paper towel to soak any leftover grease. Easy peasy! No splatter all over the stove. No standing over the meat and turning it to make sure it doesn't burn. It comes out nice and flat. Love it!

That's what's for breakfast today!

Miracle of Forgiveness (Chapters 2 and 3)

2010-11-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

I've recently gotten some flak for not posting...so here goes. I haven't been posting and here is why:
1. Nothing exciting going on around here
2. Ever since having to put Clover down I haven't had much pep, and in fact, have been pretty depressed
3. Life gets busy sometimes
So, now that you have heard my excuses...

I said I would post more on what I learned in the Miracle of Forgiveness...so let's do that, shall we? Here are some of my notes, underlinings, and definitions from Chapter Two:

...our Father waits hopefully, anxious to greet his returning children.

To God who is perfection, cleanliness means moral and personal cleanliness.

...lust is not necessarily limited in its connotation to sexual desire. It can imply any fleshly or worldly appetite or urge carried to excess.

His (meaning Satan) desires to seal each of us his are no less ardent in wickedness than our Father's are in righteousness to attract us to his own eternal kingdom.

It is a smart person, young or old, who will accept advice and counsel from experienced people who know the pitfalls, the crumbling walls, and the cracking dams which bring on destruction.

Whoever else suffers, every sin is against God, for it tends to frustrate the program and purposes of the Almighty. Likewise, every sin is committed against the sinner, for it limits his progress and curtails his development.

Joseph Smith said: "If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which God possesses, for if we are not drawing towards God in principle, we are going from him and drawing towards the devil."

...self control, self-mastery, can be substituted for the dominion of sin, and the sinner can move by his own agency toward God rather than under the control of sin toward Satan.

And Chapter Three:

The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none. -Carlyle

There is never a day in any man's life when repentance is not essential to his well-being and eternal progress.

If we are humble and desirous of living the gospel we will come to think of repentance as applying to everything we do in life, whether it be spiritual or temporal in nature. Repentance is for every soul who has not yet reached perfection.

jarrings = bickering (D&C 101:6)

...victory over Satan is attained only by constant vigilance.

impugn=oppose or attack as false or lacking integrity

I MISS my doggie!

2010-10-28T21:10:00.001-07:00

Rest in Peace my sweet Clover
March 17, 1996 to October 18, 2010

I had her longer than Jim or Lucy. She was my tagalong...moving to whatever room I was in, pining away whenever I was away, always happy to see me when I returned, never judging me, always loving me. The only time in my life that I was without a dog was during my mission, but I have to say that Clover was the best pet I was ever owned by. I loved her dearly and it was the hardest decision I have ever had to make to have her put to sleep.

All three of us were with her as the doctor gave her a sedative and then the euthanizing drugs. She slipped peacefully to the other side. I don't know exactly where she is now, but I know she is happy to be free of the pain and illness she had been suffering with.

I have fond memories of my little black raisin...so wrinkly when I first brought her home. I would lay on the carpet and she would come over and chew on my hair and nuzzle in next to my ears.

She loved to run and if she got out of the fence in Castle Rock she would check out the whole neighborhood. The only way I could get her back home was to drive up next to her and ask her if she wanted to go for a ride. She loved to go in the car!

In her later years she never left my side. When I was outdoors she would be right there in sight of me, never wandering off or chasing other dogs that might pass by.

Lucy got a little frustrated with her because she didn't want to play. I had to keep explaining to Lucy that she was an old lady now and she was tired, her playing days were long past.

Lucy prays for her every night, hoping that she is safe with Heavenly Father and with Grandpa Hight. I'm praying for that too...

Gisele's Birthday Bash

2010-10-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

Gisele turned 25 this year and so they had a fun picnic at the park party to celebrate. It was the perfect day, the weather couldn't have been better and there was just enough wind to fly kites and have a great time.

There was plenty of yummy food too!

I Finally Finished It!

2010-10-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

We were challenged by our Stake President last October to each read The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W Kimball by this year's October Stake Conference. I didn't start for quite a while and then decided I was going to do it right with notes, highlighting, etc. President Kimball has a marvelous vocabulary that really stretched me as a reader. I sort of knew the meanings of most words, but I wanted to REALLY know...so every time I came across a word I didn't know for certain I looked it up and wrote the definition in the margins of the book. Let's just say that there are a lot of margin notes!

I thought I would share some of the thoughts that were most important to me and share some of the many definitions. (All quotes are from Spencer W Kimball unless noted otherwise. I have bolded items particularly important to me.)

The first quote I starred was: "...I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken." (2 Nephi 9:40).

Now, I know I have read the Book of Mormon upwards of 20 times and I do not remember reading that scripture. It just goes to show you that you really do need to keep reading it over and over again. There are new insights in it EVERY time!

omniscient: having infinite awareness, understanding and insight.
omnipotent: having virtually unlimited authority or influence.

Man will suffer or enjoy his future according to his life's works in mortality. Consequently, ...man should take great care that his present insures him joy and development and happiness for his eternal future.

One definite purpose of our spirits coming to this earth ... was to face the challenge to overcome self. Consider your origin, you were not formed to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge.

The Lord will not translate one's good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for himself.

Man chooses for himself, but he cannot control the penalties.

Speaking of the Holy Ghost: If heeded, this member of the Godhead will guide, inspire, and warn, and will neutralize the promptings of the evil one.

We cannot afford to take the changes of dying an enemy of God.

Repentance is always in order, even in the eleventh hour, for even that delayed action is better than none at all.

Oliver Wendell Holmes said: "Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out." Let us not die with our music still in us. Let us rather use this precious mortal probation to move confidently and gloriously upward toward the eternal life which God our Father gives to those who keep his commandments.

Okay...that was just Chapter 1. Have I inspired you to read it for yourself? I hope so. It is a MARVELOUS book. I am just sorry I have had it on a shelf for 30 years and never read it before.

More next Monday....

First Day of Dance Class

2010-10-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

We finally decided to sign up Twinkle Toes for ballet and she took to it like a duck to water.

General Conference October 2010

2010-10-05T14:22:00.000-07:00

As promised, just a day late...

1. Who were your three favorite speakers? President Uchtdorf, Sister Wixom and Elder Lawrence

2. Favorite talk? Sister Wixom's talk about holding onto our children.

3. Favorite hymn sung during Conference? Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

4. Who wore the best tie? I didn't pay attention to the ties.

5. Do you think conference had a “theme”? Listening to and following the current prophet.

6. Share a few of your favorite quotes (paraphrasing is fine).
Sister Wixom "The world will teach our children if we do not."
President Uchtdorf "Love is spelled T-I-M-E." and "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
Elder Andersen "Choose not to be offended or ashamed."
President Eyring "Trust in God can bless individuals, cities, and nations."
Presidet Packer "The Lord is voting for me, Lucifer is voting against me, it is MY vote that counts."
Sister Cook "We must not do anything we don't want to see our children do."
President Monson "Focus on blessings and not on what we lack."
Elder Lawrence "Parents are responsible for the protection of their children, their spiritual protection too!"

7. Something that made you smile during conference. President Monson always makes me smile. He is such a happy, cheerful man.

8. Any evidence that your children paid attention? She worked on her General Conference packet and was always excited when she saw President Monson.

9. If you had to give a talk in General Conference (don’t faint, this is hypothetical), what do you think you’d speak about? Staying strong in the faith. Not giving in to Satan's power.

10. What are some of your post-conference goals?
Start learning "For the Strenghth of Youth" now with Lucy.
Spending more time searching the scriptures for answers to my questions.
Having more meaningful personal prayers.

TAG, You are IT!

General Conference...almost here

2010-09-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

I found this on a blog called Diapers and Divinity and loved it so much that I had to copy it. LINK: http://diapersanddivinity.com

General Conference Blog-sharing Activity

It’s been a long time since I participated in a meme (don’t worry, I had to look it up once, too–it’s basically some kind of questionnaire that you can fill out and pass along to others). I thought it would be fun to have an extra reason to pay careful attention at Conference. Here are the meme questions:

General Conference Highlights, October 2010:

1. Who were your three favorite speakers?

2. Favorite talk?

3. Favorite hymn sung during Conference?

4. Who wore the best tie?

5. Do you think conference had a “theme”?

6. Share a few of your favorite quotes (paraphrasing is fine).

7. Something that made you smile during conference.

8. Any evidence that your children paid attention?

9. If you had to give a talk in General Conference (don’t faint, this is hypothetical), what do you think you’d speak about?

10. What are some of your post-conference goals?

On Monday morning, I’ll post my own answers here on this blog and you can post your answers on your blog. (You can cut and paste the questions and just fill in the blanks with your answers.) Then just leave a link to your post in the comments on Monday’s post here. That way I (and other readers) can check out what you had to say. And you can invite your readers to do the same thing so you can find out their conference highlights

I can't wait to read all your favorites next week!

A Very Special Day

2010-09-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

The librarians at our local library are just so wonderful! I have been going to this particular branch of the LA County Library since we moved here in 2003. Long before Miss Twinkle Toes was born. So they "knew" her in the womb and have been the greatest supporters ever since.
I think the library is one of the true genius ideas ever! It's the first place I go whenever I move to a new place (and you know how many times I have moved)! I wanted the day Lucy got her library card to be a very special day...so I waited until she was a little older so it would mean something to her. I asked my FAVORITE librarian, Kim, to make it an extra special event and she did! She had a special "signing" area, gave her a pink lanyard to hang her card on, and gave her a bag full of goodies to get her started as a card-carrying member.
One thing that I remember growing up is being able to go to the library and checking out as many items as I wanted to. My mom was great about it. So that has been my motto too. We have come home many times with not just one, but two library bags full to the rim with back-breaking weight, but we read every night and most days too, so the books get read and we read many over and over again.
I want to thank Kim and all the staff at the Quartz Hill Library for their awesome attention to their patrons. They know us by name, they know what is going on in our lives, they are friendly and fun to be around, they are FRIENDS! Thanks so much!

First Day of Kindergarten

2010-09-10T08:14:00.001-07:00

School Days
School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days
Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick
You were my queen in calico
I was your bashful barefoot beau
And you wrote on my slate
"I love you, so"
When we were a couple of kids
Nothing to do, Nellie Darling
Nothing to do you say
Let's take a trip on memory's ship
Back to the bygone days
Sail to the old village school house
Anchor outside the school door
Look in and see
There's you and there's me
A couple of kids once more

School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days
Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick
You were my queen in calico
I was your bashful barefoot beau
And you wrote on my slate
"I love you, so"
When we were a couple of kids

'Member the hill
Nellie Darling
And the oak tree
That grew on its brow
They've built forty storeys
Upon that old hill
And the oak's an old chestnut now
'Member the meadows
So green, dear
So fragrant with clover and maize
Into new city lots
And preferred business plots
They've cut them up
Since those days

School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days.
Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick
You were my queen in calico
I was your bashful barefoot beau
And you wrote on my slate
"I love you, so"
When we were a couple of kids

Will D. Cobb, 1907

I can't believe the day has actually arrived. It is bittersweet to see her growing up so fast. I miss my "little" girl with the chubby cheeks and the twinkling eyes. She is turning into a young lady before my eyes and I want to just stop time and savor more of this innocence and sense of wonder.

How do you other moms cope with these growing pains?

Summer Beach Fun

2010-08-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

Lucy, Sybil and I took a quick trip to the beach as a last fling before school started. It was the perfect day. The water was cold, the sky was blue, the sun was warm, and the beach was uncrowded.We always look for unusual rocks at the beach. Our particular beach doesn't have many shells, but there are an abundance of interesting rocks. We really should take a geology class or buy a rock book and figure out how some of these cool rocks are formed.

Lucy's First "Before School Starts for the Year" Daddy-Daughter Date

2010-08-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

My dad started a wonderful tradition with us kids. He would take each of us out on a daddy-daughter or daddy-son date before the start of each school year. He would talk to us about our goals for the year and give us incentives to do well. These dates bring back such strong, great memories for me that I really wanted Jim to do it for Lucy too. He was totally agreeable to the idea (of course)!

They ended up going to a pizza parlor and enjoying a meal together. Then he took her to our favorite bookstore and read some books to her...her choice. This brings back memories of our second date. After we went to dinner we had time before our movie was going to start so we went to the bookstore and sat together and would pick a magazine to read together...ahhhh....

The second part of the tradition was to get a father's blessing before school starts each year. Lucy and I both got blessings this year since I will be homeschooling her. The blessings are so obviously from Heavenly Father. I know this because several concerns I was having (which I had not expressed to Jim) were addressed and appeased by the blessing. I love my husband dearly. I am so happy that I found the "noble elder of Israel" that my patriarchal blessing told me I would find. Thanks sweetheart! I love you!

Upcoming Super Saturday

2010-08-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Here are the projects that we are doing for this year's Super Saturday:

Exploding Photo Box

Beginning Knitting

Dinner in a Jar: Pea and Lentil Soup

Introduction to Calligraphy

Fabric Covered Notebooks: Covering composition books with 100% cotton quilting fabric

Vinyl Lettered Tile

Sweatshirt Jacket: Can be made in any size you like!

Fabric Flowers: Can be sewn on clothing, purses, hats or glued on headbands, hair clips, etc...the possibilities are endless!

Thought for the day

2010-08-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

I found this quote on SparkPeople.com and loved it! I think I am finally into these "years" of my life. I hope so...enjoy!

The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny. - Albert Ellis

Thoughts for My Day (and yours if you want them)

2010-08-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

I have been reading The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W Kimball for the past few months. Our Stake President challenged each member of the stake to read it before our next stake conference. It has been a wonderful book to read and it is FULL of great ideas and quotes that not only relate to forgiveness but to all other aspects of our lives.

Here are a couple of gems that I pulled out of my reading today:

The greatest battle of life is fought out within the silent chambers of the soul. A victory on the inside f a man's heart is worth a hundred conquests on the battlefields of life. To be master of yourself is the best guarantee that you will be master of the situation. Know thyself. The crown of character is self-control. (Authorship unknown)

The assurance of supreme happiness, the certainty of a successful life here and of exaltation and eternal life hereafter, come to those who plan to live their lives in complete harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ - and then consistently follow the course they have set. (Spencer W. Kimball)

The pictures is one my friend, August, took recently of Alaska (home of my heart). Enjoy!

The ABCs of Me

2010-08-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

A - Available or married?------Married to a WONDERFUL man!
B- Book? ----- Just one? I have at least 500 books waiting to be read right now!
C- Cake or Pie? ----- Pie (Pumpkin or Lemon Meringue)
D- Drink of Choice? ----- Water or Diet Cherry Limeade from SONIC
E- Essential Item? -----Laptop computer
F- Favorite Color? ----- Yellow
G- Game to play or watch?----- Banagrams
H- Hometown? --- Lancaster CA
I- Indulgence?----- Nothing right now...trying really hard to eat VERY well
J- Job? ----- Full-time wife, mom and homemaker
K- Kids and names?----- One, Lucy
L- Life is incomplete without?----- the Gospel of Jesus Christ
M- Music group or singer? -----The Eagles or Jimmy Buffett
N- Number of siblings?-----2 sisters, 4 brothers
O- Oranges or apples?-----Gala apples...I'm an apple snob. I won't any other type.
P- Phobias/Fears? ----- Snakes and bears
Q- Favorite Quote? ------ When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power. Ezra Taft Benson
R- Reason to Smile?----- I'm alive
S- Season?----- Spring
T- Tattoos? ----- No way!
U- Unknown fact about me?----- I would love to be a private eye!
V- Vegetable you love? ----- Cucumbers
W- Worst habit? ---- Procrastination
X- X-cited about? ----- Dropping some major poundage!
Y- Your favorite food? ----- Alaskan King crab legs with lemon juice and butter
Z- Zodiac? ----- Scorpio

TAG, you're it!

July Goings On

2010-08-04T14:16:00.000-07:00

So, we just returned from an 11 day trip to Utah and Idaho. We started our adventure visiting with our dear friends, the Krutschs and the Cox Family, who have moved from Lovely Lancaster to Spanish Fork. It was so good to see all of them and to be in their new home. They treated us like royalty and we had a wonderful night's sleep in a soft cushy bed. Mina and Jess fixed us a tasty 4 point breakfast so we could stay on track with our weight loss. I LOVE THEM! It was the 24th of July when we got there and let me tell you, there was some fantastic fireworks going on in that valley. Oh to live in Zion....

Then on the road again to get to Grandma's house in Preston, Idaho. We spent a few days there enjoying her and the cousins next door. Marcia's kids got a new puppy, a chocolate lab, that we had lots of fun playing with. We spent some time up on the hill one evening. We were going to roast marshmallows and make smore's but the wind was too bad so we just sat around on hay bales and chatted for a couple of hours while the kids played. It was so nice to have a cool breeze (something we don't see much of here in Lovely Lancaster).

Jim and I then headed up to Rexburg for BYUI Ed Week. It was AWESOME and I will do another post or two on all that I learned while I was there.

On our way we stopped in Pocy to see Sarah and her girls, and Aaron. I cannot believe how much that kid has grown! He is taller than his dad now!

Our oldest son, Ryan and his family live there, so we got treated to a delicious dinner Wednesday night. Constance is such a great cook! We ate more than we should have, but it was well worth it! We also got to meet our newest grandchild, Eliza. She is a cutie patootie and never stops smiling, just like her momma. Loved seeing the other kids too.Joshie
Emma
Constance with her mega, football shaped cheesecake!

On our way back from Rexburg we saw the most amazing rainbow. It ended up in a double rainbow and the colors were so vivid. I haven't seen one like that in a long, long time!

Back to Preston for another day and half. We finally made it to the reservoir to make those smore's. It was such a fun night. Grandma brought glow sticks for the kids and they had a blast. I think they enjoyed those more than roasting the marshmallows!

We also got to see one of our "Cupids" in Preston. Sheila was there with her son, Andrew and her mom for Rodeo and her aunt and uncle's 60th wedding anniversary party. It was so darn good to see her!!!

Monday we hit the road again for home. We were lucky to have a friend in Cedar City who welcomed us into her home for the night. We had a very restful evening with her and then on home yesterday.

I love to take trips, but it is ALWAYS good to come home!

Thursday Thirteen

2010-07-22T13:35:00.001-07:00

Thirteen things I am looking forward to by dropping these extra pounds!

1. My thighs not rubbing together
2. Being able to bend over and tie my shoes or paint my toenails without passing out from my oxygen being cut off
3. Being able to shop for clothes in normal sizes
4. Wearing CUTE clothes
5. Wearing high heels again
6. Being able to look in a mirror and not wanting to barf
7. Not having to take 5 different medications every day
8. Not having to check my blood sugars (not that I do it like I should)
9. Being able to do anything Lucy asks me to do from climbing a tree to racing with her around the park
10. Not feeling like a beached whale when I put on my swimsuit
11. Feeling comfortable in my own skin!

Missing In Action?

2010-07-12T08:46:00.001-07:00

I know, it has been a LONG time since I posted here. I have been going through a rough bout with depression and haven't really felt like doing much.

My dear friend and RS President has helped me a lot and I decided that I needed to start changing the things that I know I can and let the things that I can't change go. (Thank you Sybil!)

So, I have started a new weight loss program. (I know you have heard that many times from me...but I am willing to try again and succeed this time!)

I have started walking 3 miles a day for at least 5 days a week and I am following the Weight Watchers points program on my own. I am not going to meetings or paying the monthly dues. I think since I have my dear hubby and several dear friends that I can discuss this journey with I will be okay.

As of today, one week on the program, I have lost exactly 4 pounds. That is a great start. I hope I can report such good numbers every week.

Wish me luck!

Thirteen on Thursday

2010-06-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

Thirteen of My Favorite Things

1. The beach
2. Flip flops
3. Hydrangeas
4. Books
5. My Cricut
6. Camping
7. Pedicures
8. Dogs
9. Eating out
10. Magazines
11. Blogs
12. Sleeping in
13. My family

Thursday 13

2010-06-17T08:38:00.000-07:00

In commemoration of Father's Day:

Thirteen Things I Loved About My Dad (the 1st Man in my life)
1. His sense of humor
2. His love of family
3. He taught me how to work
4. He was always there when I needed him

5. He was a cowboy
6. His smile
7. He always kissed me goodnight
8. He wrote the nicest things in cards and letters to me
9. He never knew a stranger
10. He was an eternal optimist
11. He loved my mother
12. He loved to dance
13. He took us on great trips

Found: Old Photos

2010-06-14T13:35:00.001-07:00

I found these old photos and wanted to share.

Me and the lambies. I totally remember feeding one of the bum lambs with a bottle and having it almost jerk my arms off it was sucking so hard.
My cousin, Debbie, and I playing. Fancy toy box and stylin' stereo!
Me with my Christmas loot. Must have been 3 or 4 here.

Me and my cutie patootie brother, Curtis. Note the matching pjs. Awesome!

Now that's what you call a dress!

More later! Happy Monday.

Thirteen on Thursday

2010-06-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot to post this....

Thirteen Projects That Need Completing Around Here
1. Unpack the rest of the boxes
2. Figure out where to store my spices
3. Get the garden planted before it is too late
4. Get all our "extra" items listed on Craigslist
5. Go thru all our books and either post them on PaperbackSwap.com* or make a donation to the Friends of the Library
6. Plan a summer campout
7. Make curtains for the kitchen
8. Get the genealogy bins sorted and into the rolltop desk
9. Make slipcovers for the sunfaded, bird picked lawn furniture
10. Paint Lucy's Adirondack furniture for the patio
11. Hang the bird feeders and buy birdseed
12. Give Clover a bath
13. Run away!

*I love this site for swapping books (all books, not just paperbacks). If you go and decide to sign up, PLEASE mention that you heard about them from me so I will get a free credit. Thanks so very much!

Preschool Graduation

2010-06-08T10:36:00.001-07:00

Lucy graduated from Tiny Tots Academy on May 27th. Her teacher, Miss Kelly, did it up big for the three kids. She is such a wonderful lady!
The cake. Lucy was so excited that she got to eat her own face.
The programs, aren't they adorable...
The kitchen. Kelly had a barbecue following the ceremony.
This is a classic stance for the two of us.

Lucy, being her usual self.
Don't they look excited.Lucy receiving her diploma.
And, there was even a bounce house for the after dinner entertainment!

Thirteen on Thursday (Friday)

2010-06-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

Twelve Things I Love About Our New Home + One Thing I Don't
1. The rose garden
2. The gorgeous back yard
3. The swamp cooler
4. A separate living room and family room
5. The lovely neighborhood
6. It's three blocks from the church
7. It's three blocks from Lucy's school
8. My neighbors
9. The garden spot
10. The trees all around it
11. The birds singing in the trees all around it
12. The mailbox is next to the house
and...the one thing I HATE about this home
13. The kitchen...or should I say lack of kitchen (it is tiny compared to our old one. Of course, every kitchen is tiny compared to our old one)

Thirteen on Thursday

2010-05-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

Thirteen of My Favorite Kid's Storybooks

1. Catalina Magdalena Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name by Tedd Arnold
2. Green Wilma by Tedd Arnold
3. Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long
4. Sing Sophie by Dayle Ann Dodds
5. Parts by Tedd Arnold
6. Huggly Takes a Bath by Tedd Arnold
7. How I Became A Pirate by Melinda Long
8. Backbeard: Pirate for Hire by Matthew McElligott
9. Axel Annie by Robin Pulver
10. Axel Annie and the Speed Grump by Robin Pulver
11. I Wear My TuTu Everywhere by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
12. Armadilly Chili by Helen Ketteman and Will Terry
13. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Thursday 13

2010-05-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things I Love About Lucy

1. That she is mine!
2. Her laugh
3. Her funny sense of humor

4. Her artistic ability
5. That she tells me she loves me about 100 times a day
6. Her cute little body
7. Listening to her playing with her dolls
8. She shows gratitude
9. She loves her Heavenly Father and Jesus and tells me she misses them all the time
10. Her made up songs
11. How she gives names to EVERYTHING
12. Her grouchy face (even though it embarrasses me when she uses it on strangers)
13. Her sense of wonder

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Thursday Thirteen

2010-05-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things I Hate About Moving

1. This is my 47th move!
2. Cleaning other peoples dirt before moving in
3. The sound of packing tape coming off the roll (worse than fingernails on the blackboard)
4. Discovering how disorganized I am
5. Trying to fit things into boxes
6. Finding people that will help move the big stuff and still treat it gently
7. How tired and dirty I am at the end of each day
8. Trying to keep a 4 year old occupied while boxing, loading, unloading, unboxing, etc.
9. Not being able to find the thing that I need right now because it is in some unmarked box in a big pile
10. Getting rid of stuff
11. Trying to make our furniture fit in someone else's home
12. Being too tired to cook and too poor to go out at the end of each day
13. Knowing this won't be the last time we do this (unless we die that is)

Thirteen on Thursday

2010-05-06T09:12:00.001-07:00

Thirteen Things I Love About My Mom

1. She is such a good Grandma to Lucy (she even lets Lucy do this to her)
2. She remembers special days
3. She always sends thank you cards
4. She is a fabulous baker
5. She always had nice dinners for us
6. She can get any stain out of laundry
7. Her smile
8. She didn't give up on her desire to become a mom
9. She let me check out as many library books as I wanted when I was a kid
10. Her gardening skills
11. Her cleaning skills
12. That she served an honorable mission
13. She adopted me

May's I Am

2010-05-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

Reading:
The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball (hopefully will finish this month)
The Forgotten Garden

Watching:
Not much, we shut off the DirectTV plus with packing and moving there is no time to watch much.

Looking forward to:
Getting moved
Lucy's Annual Beach Birthday Party
Last Year's Party

Cooking:
Not much, we are moving this month...pizza or lasagna from a box maybe.
Some yummy breakfast food for Recipe Pioneers...if you have a good recipe email it to me right away!

Asking for:
Your prayers that this move goes well. Thanks!

Thursday 13

2010-04-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things I Wish I Could Go Back and Tell My Teen-aged Self

1. At 133 pounds you are NOT fat!
2. Quit worrying about what other people think and just have fun.
3. Don't date that non-member guy, he's trouble.
4. It is NOT better to get forgiveness...it's better to get permission.
5. Stop driving so fast.
6. Turn down your music, you are going to be hard of hearing before you turn 50!
7. Be patient, you are going to find and marry a wonderful man.
8. Join some clubs or other school activities.
9. You are going to fight your hair for the rest of your life, get used to it.
10. Missions are not just for sisters that can't find a husband.
11. Push yourself.
12. Don't give up so easily.
13. Life is good!

We Love Our Sister Missionaries

2010-04-23T12:18:00.001-07:00

We have had Sisters in our ward for quite a while now and we are loving it. Being a sister missionary myself makes me even more partial to them. It was hard to tell Sister Harris goodbye when she headed home a couple of days after Easter. Here she is with Sister Haga and Lucy on Easter Sunday.

Making Yummies with Grans

2010-04-22T09:45:00.001-07:00

Yes, Lucy calls my mom Grans. I don't know where she got it. I call her Grannie. The other cousins call her Grandma Rae. But Lucy came up with Grans. So Grans it is. Anyway, here is a photo essay on some of their doings together the past few days. Enjoy!

Mom's famous baking powder biscuits

Cupcakes

Froot Loops Treats

Still on the agenda: Chocolate dipped pretzels

Thursday Thirteen

2010-04-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Books I Highly Recommend
1. The Book of Mormon
2. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
5. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
6. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
7. A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck
8. Teaching Your Children To Fly by Merilee Boyack
9. To Him That Believeth by Frederick W Babbel
10. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
11. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
12. Two from Galilee by Marjorie Holmes
13. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

More Poppies

2010-04-17T04:36:00.000-07:00

You saw the poppies a few weeks ago when my sis was here. Now that Grandma is here we had to take her out to see them and they were even better!

Thursday Thirteen...a day late and several dollars short!

2010-04-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things I Would Rather Spend My Tax Money on than Taxes
1. Down payment on a new CAMARO
2. Plane tickets to Hawaii
3. Some new clothing
4. New shoes
5. Cricut cartridges
6. Dinner at PF Changs with my sweetie
7. Boat trip to Catalina Island
8. Books, any books
9. A spa day complete with mani/pedi, facial, massage, spa food
10. A new hairdo
11. Liposuction (tee hee)
12. A gym membership with trainer
13. A lobotomy...

I Don't Want Them To Cut Me Bald

2010-04-09T16:52:00.000-07:00

We have been having lots of tears every morning when we brush the long hair, so I have been talking about getting it cut. She cries that it will hurt and that she doesn't want them the "cut her bald." I finally talked her into it today...and it looks so cute!

Thirteen Things I Love About Spring

2010-04-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

1. Popcorn popping on the apricot trees
2. Shorts and flip flops
3. Going to the beach
4. Birds singing (not just Crows cawing)
5. The smell of fresh cut grass
6. My hydrangeas budding
7. Planting new plants the my dear hubby always buys for me
8. Lucy's birthday trip to the beach
9. Flowers, flowers, flowers
10. Easter
11. The Poppy Festival
12. Planning the vegetable garden
13. Spring cleaning (when it is done)

Got Peeps?

2010-04-05T14:51:00.000-07:00

Check out something really fun to do with them here:
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/03/peeps-recipes-how-to-make-peepshi-sushi-rice-krispies-treats-easter.html

A Trip to the Beach

2010-04-05T12:38:00.001-07:00

We had to take my sister and her family to the beach while they were here. We just HAD to!
Emily taking a break from boogie boarding.
Tyler burying himself in the sand
Lucy and I were racing down the beach when she did a faceplant. This is what she looked like when she came up...Hitler mustache and all. I died laughing...she didn't think it was too funny.
Matthew scaling the rocks
Lucy showing off her new swimsuit
Rachel and Lucy playing in the sand.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T12:18:00.001-07:00

The tradition in our house is for Lucy and Daddy to dye and decorate the eggs. They have so much fun together and I don't have to deal with the mess. Love it!
We go from this:
to this:

APRIL I AM

2010-04-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

Reading:
The Old Testament
The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
Good Wives by Louise May Alcott
Now and Then by Jacqueline Sheehan

Watching:
Survivor Heroes vs Villians (Come on Heroes, whatcher problem?!)
General Conference (YAY)

Listening To:
Groove Shark
BOB FM

Cooking:
Easter dinner
Something foreign for Recipe Pioneers this month

Looking Forward To:
Mom's visit
The Poppy Festival

What are YOU doing this month???

Thirteen on Thursday

2010-04-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

Thirteen places that I would like to visit:

1. Australia - There was an elder in my MTC district, Elder Puric, who was from Canberra. He was so fun and talked all about home. It really made me want to go for a visit.

2. Ireland - Another of my MTC elders was from Ireland. I was the only one in our group who could understand his thick accent. I would love to visit the Emerald Isle and enjoy their rain...yes, I said enjoy rain.

3. Scotland - Jim has Scottish ancestry and I have always been intrigued by the old castles that I read about. So we could do genealogy while we were there.

4. Key West - We went the Florida Keys on our honeymoon, but never made it all the way to Key West. I could live in the Keys with no problem whatsoever! Just call me Parrothead...sing it Jimmy!

5. New Orleans - I love Cajun food. Need I say more?

6. Italy - It just seems like such a beautiful place.

7. The Smithsonian

8. Nauvoo and other church historical sites

9. Kauai - I have been to Oahu and Maui a few times so it is time to check out another island.

10. Africa - I would love to go on a photo safari in Kenya.

11. Vancouver, British Columbia - I fell in love with it while watching the Olympics.

12. Savannah, Georgia - My sister and parents went there years ago and have raved about all the beautiful homes and flowers there. I would love to see them.

13. Prince Edward Island - I am a huge Anne of Green Gables fan and would love to see the setting for the books.

So there you have it. Where would you like to go???

Poppies

2010-03-31T16:42:00.000-07:00

One of the few beauties of the Mojave Desert is the California Poppy Reserve. Whenever there is a good winter (aka one with lots of rain) we get these incredible fields of poppies that just burst with color. It looks like the hills are on fire.

My sister and her family were here for a visit this week so we decided to check out the fields and see if the poppies were out yet. Here they are in all their splendor!

Placemat Craft Challenge

2010-03-25T08:52:00.000-07:00

I am participating in a craft challenge. Here is the link to the website: http://dollarstorecrafts.com/challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-7968

Here are two scripture totes that I made with placemats and ribbon. So fun and easy!

1. Lay the placemat out flat.
2. Lay your ribbon on the placemat and when you have it where you want it tape it down with double stick tape.
3. Sew the ribbon down.
4. Fold the placemat in half with right sides together.
5. Pin edges and sew up each side. Be sure to use a heavy duty sewing machine needle.
6. While still inside out, fold each point to the seam and decide how wide you want the flat bottom to be. Sew across the fold and cut the excess fabric away.
7. Turn right side out and embellish with ribbons, buttons, flowers, etc.

I got both these placemats at Anna's Linens. The ribbon was from Michaels.

Two Great Books

2010-03-24T08:32:00.001-07:00

I have just finished two books that I give a 5 out of 5 to. That doesn't happen very often. I highly recommend both. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Clover!

2010-03-17T08:46:00.001-07:00

She and Lucy March 2007

Do you like them Sam I Am?

2010-03-02T16:12:00.000-08:00

It was Dr. Seuss Day at Lucy's preschool today. She ate green eggs and ham. She has talked of nothing else since. She wanted green eggs for lunch. She has ordered green eggs for breakfast tomorrow. Thank you Miss Kelly!

MARCH I AM

2010-03-01T12:37:00.001-08:00

Reading:
The Old Testament
The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Good Wives by Louise May Alcott

Watching:
Survivor Heroes vs Villians (Go Heroes!)
Victoria and Albert
The Forsyte Saga
Captains and the Kings
Band of Brothers

Listening To:
Pandora radio
BOB FM

Cooking:
Trying some food storage recipes this month

Looking Forward To:
Spring
Our 11th Anniversary

Looking at:
Homeschooling Lucy
http://www.latter-dayhomeschooling.com/
Cooking/baking
http://mykitchencafe.blogspot.com/

Sign Me Up

2010-03-01T12:21:00.000-08:00

I just found this great blog about books...whodathunk? And I am going to join one of the reading challenges. Here are the details:

18th and 19th Women Writers Reading Challenge
Hosted by Becky of Becky's Book Reviews
Minimum 2 books;
All of 2010

Sign up by leaving a comment.

Read books written by women authors that were written and/or published between 1700 and 1900. Contemporary historical books set in this time period do not count towards this challenge! The challenge is to encourage you to read some classics.
The website is: blbooks.blogspot.com if you would like to check it out.

I bet you can't guess who my first author is going to be.....

New Granddaughter

2010-02-28T17:34:00.000-08:00

Go see my newest granddaughter, Eliza, at: http://www.northrockies.com/new-arrival/

Can't wait to go for a visit and hold her in my arms.

Sandwich Thins House Party

2010-02-28T14:17:00.001-08:00

Have you heard of Houseparty.com? If not so, check it out. Companies that want to spread the news on their products invite you to host parties in your home. They send you great stuff and all you have to do is have the party, give out the good stuff, and take photos or videos and share them on the House Party site.

I hosted my first one yesterday. It was for Oroweat Sandwich Thins and it was a blast!

Here are some recipes that I found online and used at the party. Loved all four of them!

Feta Sun-Dried Tomato Turkey Burgers

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 Cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 Cup sun-dried tomatoes, jarred in olive oil
1/2 Cup fresh baby spinach leaves, chopped
Pinch of Kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper and Lawry’s Garlic Salt with Parsley
Sun-Dried Tomato Mayonnaise
1 Cup mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, packed in olive oil, drained
Baby hamburger buns or dinner rolls, split and warmed (I used the Sandwich Thins)
2 Cups fresh baby spinach leaves

1. Heat oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Place turkey, feta, sun dried tomato, spinach and seasonings into a mixing bowl. Mix until just combined. Form 1/4 Cup little patty’s and place onto a cookie sheet. Once all are formed, place batches in hot skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through.
2. Place mayonnaise and tomatoes into a bowl; mix to combine. Spread over insides of warm rolls. Layer bottom roll with spinach and the burger. Close with top roll and eat
Makes 5 burgers

Chicken Pesto Melts

1 loaf French bread (I used Sandwich Thins instead)
2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 cup basil pesto spread
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 roma tomatoes, sliced

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, combine chicken, basil pesto, mozzarella. Mix throughly.
Spread the mixture on loaf of french bread and sprinkle with additional cheese if desired.

Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 10- 12 minutes. Slice into sections and enjoy warm!

Curried Egg Sandwiches

4 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon curry powder
salt and pepper to taste
8 slices bread (used Sandwich Thins)

Mix together mayonnaise and curry powder in a bowl. Gently stir in eggs, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Evenly divide between 4 slices of bread, top with remaining 4 slices.

Trail Mix Sandwiches

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 carrot, peeled and grated
1/2 cup raisins
1/3 cup coarsely chopped trail mix

Place cream cheese in a bowl. Add lemon juice and zest, raisins, shredded carrot, and chopped trail mix; stir until well blended and creamy. Spread between 2 slices of bread, and wrap up for the trail.

Of course I forgot to take pictures before we dove into the food....

Beeeee ootiful??? I think not.

2010-02-28T14:11:00.000-08:00

We had our VT Conference a couple of weeks ago and somehow....I got roped into making the cake using a giant muffin cake pan. First, let me say that the RS President had tried to make this cake twice and it just wasn't working out....so who opened her big mouth and said she would give it a try??? You guester Chester. Moi! Stupid girl.

Anyway, after much weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth...I got the cake made. Then came the fun part. Decorating it to look like a beehive. Did I mention that the theme of the meeting was "What's All The Buzz About"?

So, here it is in all its UNGLORY! I was so embarrased...but we used it anyway.

Feel free to submit it to Cake Wrecks...I won't be offended....

2010-02-23T14:20:00.000-08:00

Just finished reading a fantastic book for book club called Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith. It's a must read about the WASP program. Check it out!

100 things about me

2010-02-18T17:20:00.001-08:00

My bud, DeAnn Hansen, did this on her blog and inspired me to do it too.

1. I love to read.
2. There are 43 books on my nightstand right now, waiting to be read.
3. Jim gave me a LightWedge for Valentine's Day so I can read late into the night without disturbing him....smart man!
4. I love the beach and could seriously become a beach bum and live there in a tent or even a cardboard box!
5. Being a mom is the best and hardest job I have ever had.
6. I'm not a very good housekeeper.
7. I don't think that will keep me out of heaven (I hope).
8. I'm obsessed with reading blogs.
9. If I would spend half the time I do reading blogs with actually doing some of the cool stuff I find on them I would be so accomplished.
10. I have become addicted to all things English: movies, writers, etc.
11. I would love to meet Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.

12. I am so confused by people who go inactive from the church.
13. I couldn't make it without the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.
14. I've moved 46 times.
15. I would love to live on a homestead and raise of what we eat.
16. I'm sick of the way California government is making it so miserable to live here.
17. I miss living in Alaska most of all (except for the snow, don't miss that!).
18. Camping with my husband is pure delight.
19. I don't want my little girl to grow up.
20. I wish I had kept a journal.
21. I have a love/hate relationship with my hair.
22. I have a hate/hate relationship with my body.
23. I am smart but often don't apply what I know (so that really makes me dumb).
24. I am very hard on myself and wish I could treat myself the way I treat my friends.
25. I absolutely HATE talking on the phone...except...
26. My sister is my best girlfriend and I love talking on the phone with her.
27. I like to cook, but have to be in the mood.
28. I am terrible with money.
29. I would like to write children's books someday.
30. I still love Nancy Drew.
31. If I had to work outside the home I would love to be a homicide detective or a Private Eye.
32. I can keep secrets.
33. When I worked outside the home I was very organized, wish I could say so of my life now.
34. I love serving in Relief Society and Primary, but am petrified of Young Womens callings.
35. I am adopted and would someday like to find out about my biological parents.
36. I think the computer is one of the greatest inventions known to man.
37. I love my hubby's facial hair.
38. Can't believe I am only at 38...
39. I would love to learn to fly a helicopter.
40. I WANT/NEED one of the new Camaros!!!
41. If I got one I would be in serious T.R.O.U.B.L.E.
42. There are so many things that I want to learn that there will never be the time and/or money for.
43. I am a Survivor fanatic.
44. I think Jim and I would be great on The Amazing Race (if we both lost 100 pounds first).
45. I have a great eye for color.
46. I am very sensitive to the plight of animals and cannot bear to see any of them hurt or neglected.
47. I'm a county girl at heart.
48. My favorite restaurant is P.F. Changs. I could seriously eat there every day.
49. I love a good salad but hate making them...must have been those 40 hours a week as a Sizzler salad bar girl the summer I was 16.
50. I lost my license for drag racing when I was 17.
51. I have a mortal fear of bears.
52. I collect quotes and wish I had them all in one place.
53. Hydrangeas and peonies are my favorite flowers.
54. I will only buy candles and scents that are food related.
55. When I am in the temple I feel like an angel.
56. Wish I felt like that all the time!
57. If I had to choose between having a secretary, a maid, a chef, or a personal trainer, I would choose the maid every time.
58. I wish I could turn back time but still know what I know now.
59. I would love to live closer to my other family members.
60. I can't believe I still have 40 to go...
61. Nothing is better than a new box of crayons to cheer you up.
62. I color with Lucy in church.
63. Scrapbook paper is another of my addictions.
64. Along with fine pointed felt tip pens in every color of the rainbow.
65. I love the Cricut machine and wish to kiss the person who invented it.
66. I waste a lot of time on Facebook, but love seeing all my old friend there.
67. I take lots of photos but only like about 10 percent of them.
68. I hate having my photo taken because I am so fat.
69. I have the greatest hubby in the world and am so lucky I had friends who introduced him to me.
70. I wish I still had my Grand Prix and not this POC Buick Rendezvous!!! (POC=Piece of Crap)
71. I love rain.
72. I adore thunderstorms.
73. I got a Shetland Pony for my 2nd birthday. His name was Brownie.
74. My dad and grandpa were real cowboys.
75. I like most types of music, but am partial to DISCO. It makes me H.A.P.P.Y.
76. I have way too many book bags, but have discovered they make great grocery bags so I can justify them now.
77. I have been very blessed in my life, even when I wasn't doing the things I should have been. I am eternally grateful for that.
78. Jimmy Buffet music makes me happy. I dream about virgin Margaritas in Margaritaville.
79. I try not to be judgemental...but it doesn't always work.
80. If it is any consolation, I am harder on myself than anyone else.
81. I have lived in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, California, Nevada, West Virginia, and Utah.
82. I met people on my mission that I KNOW I knew in the pre-existence.
83. The only other countries I have visited are Canada and Mexico.
84. Would love to go to Scotland, Australia, Italy, and any island in the Pacific.
85. I hate shoes and I could go barefoot or wear flip flops every day of my life.
86. I love mechanical pencils.
87. I'm not big on decorating for holidays.
88. I love having company over for dinner.
89. Especially right now since we have four sister missionaries in our ward. Love them!
90. I have hundreds of photos that need to be put in scrapbooks.
91. And hundreds more that are languishing in the computer waiting to be printed out.
92. Wish I could find a money tree somewhere.
93. I love our night-time ritual of jammies, brushing teeth, scriptures, stories and then family prayer.
94. Having a child really does change everything.
95. I love watching my plants come back to life in the spring. Watching them bud out just makes me want to dance. I wonder if Heavenly Father feels like that too.
96. I need to have a garage sale and get rid of a bunch of junk.
97. I think about family members that have passed away a lot. I wonder if they have time to think of us.
98. Two of my favorite artists: Mary Engelbreit and Charles Wysocki.

99. My favorite candy is Candy Cane Roca.
100. This was fun but exhausting.

TAG YOU ARE IT!

Sweets for My Sweetie

2010-02-13T09:02:00.000-08:00

I saw this cute idea and have been wanting to make one for My Sweetie ever since.

Start with this:

So lucky My Sweetie's name starts with a J. Didn't even have to decorate the lids!

I filled them with 1)mini peanut butter cups from Trader Joes, 2)mini gummy bears from Walmart, 3)honey roasted peanuts, and 4)peanut M&Ms.

A Valentine Package from Grandma

2010-02-11T17:00:00.000-08:00

Mom loves to send little packages to Lucy in the mail and of course, Lucy loves receiving them. When she sends them like this even the Mail Lady has to know how and from who...

February I AM

2010-02-01T16:30:00.000-08:00

Reading:
The Old Testament
The Miracle of Forgiveness
Flygirl
Practically Perfect

Watching:
Emma (Masterpiece Classics)

Listening To:
Pandora radio

Cooking:
Something sweet for my Valentine sweeties

Looking Forward To:
Change
Survivor: Heroes and Villains (Go Rupert!)

A Wonderful Gift

2010-01-28T11:34:00.001-08:00

My darling missionary companion, DeAnn, didn't come empty-handed. She has been a long-time employee of Deseret Book (my favorite) and brought me a stack of books and cds, and this wonderful plaque. She knows how I adore reading! Just had to share. Thanks DeAnn!!!!!

Disney On Ice

2010-01-26T12:31:00.000-08:00

Lucy won four tickets to Disney on Ice from our wonderful library. We were so excited. We chose to attend the show on New Year's Eve. It was a blast! Here are a few pix of the show...(Note: I was not the photographer). We took her buddy, Aiden with us and they were so cute together.

My Birthday/Christmas Gift

2010-01-26T11:41:00.000-08:00

It has been two months since my birthday and I still haven't posted about the wonderful birthday/Christmas gift that Jim and Lucy got for me. So, here she is, the QC1000.I love her!
Here is one of the first projects I made on her: a pillowcase for my niece, Rachel's, birthday. Notice the name is monogrammed on the case??? I'm in HEAVEN!

DeAnn, DeeAnn and Lucy

2010-01-26T11:38:00.000-08:00

Sunday was DeAnn's last day here so we had Jim take a photo for posterity...tee hee.

I WON!

2010-01-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

Did you know you can sign up to win free books on Goodreads? I didn't either until the other day when I was browsing their site and signed up for a bunch of chances to win. And...I won!

It's called the Wee Musketeers by Robert Bresloff and illustrated by Daniel Ziembo. The description reads: It was the 1960s and there wasn't much else for three eleven year old boys to do in the small town where they lived. Playing with wooden swords they would act out the novel, Bobby pretending to be Athos, Fritz, Porthos and Keith, Aramis. But since there was only three they had no D'Artagnan. How the boys longed for a D'Artagnan to complete their games. Little did they know that the book Grandpa Max read to them was magic. given to him by a mysterious old woman at a book sale, Bobby's grandfather quickly discovered he could transport himslef into the stories. Grandpa Max realized that he had interfered with the story enough to change the book, unwittingly getting Athos, Porthos and Aramis captyured by the Cardinal guards to keep them from helping D'Artagnan, he summoned Bobby and his friends to join him and help repair the damage. If they failed every copy of The Three Musketeers would change forever.

I can't wait to read it! I'll let you know how I like it.

Buca di Beppo

2010-01-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

My baby brother, Marcus, was in Anaheim for the NAMM Convention and brought his family for a quick couple of days at Disney. We drove down and had dinner with them at Buca di Beppo. This was our first time there and I can't believe I didn't think to take pix of the food. It was outrageous. Never order the large item...we ate on it for DAYS!
Lucy waiting to see Uncle Marcus, Aunt Lily and the kids.
Uncle Marcus, Aunt Lily and Ashlyn
SpencerSidney and Ellie
Uncle Marcus and baby Charlie.

January Beach Trip

2010-01-26T10:19:00.000-08:00

My dearest and best missionary companion, DeAnn Hansen, came for a visit and I had promised her a trip to "our" beach before she headed home. Many of you know that the weather here in Southern California has been less than wonderful and it rained cats and dogs and even snowed a little the week she was here. BUT, the weather.com was correct and we had sunny skies and a little warmer weather on Saturday, so we headed to the beach! Yay!
It was a bit chilly, but the water was the same temperature as the air, so we got in the water and enjoyed it. It was the getting out that was BRRRRRR!
Kite Flying with Dad and playing in the seafoam

Who needs SNOW when you have SAND???

Stake/Regional Conference

2010-01-20T11:20:00.000-08:00

We had our Stake/Regional Conference this past weekend and it was a wonderful, spiritual, inpirational experience for me. Here are a few of the notes I took:

Saturday Night Adult Session of Stake Conference

President Swindlehurst spoke about forgiveness. He asked a very profound question that really got me thinking: Will we give away ALL of our sins to know our Heavenly Father? Are there sins that we love that we are "almost" ready to give up? Now is the time to do it. They divide us from our celestial possibilities. The atonement can only be in effect when we leave our sins behind.

Sister Brimhall of the Los Angeles Temple taught us that we can do hard things. One of the comments she made really stuck with me: Heavenly Father delegated many things to the Savior, but He has never and will never delegate our personal prayers to anyone. He wants to hear from us.

President Brimhall, the LA Temple President taught us that there isn't anything the Lord can't do with us if we are willing and LET Him do it. He suggested that every time we put on the temple garment that we let it remind us of our Savior's love. As a boy, Jesus was found teaching in the temple...He still does!!!

President Porter spoke to us about how we can get our children ready to attend the temple. We need to do the following:
Be regular church attenders
Hold Family Home Evenings
Have family prayer daily
Bear our testimonies often to our children
Show consistency in living the principles of the gospel
Participate in all the saving ordinances of the gospel: baptism, confirmation, Melchizedek priesthood, the endowment, and the new and everlasting covenant of marriage
Look to the Savior always
He taught that having a testimony equals knowing and feeling; being converted means doing and becoming. I LOVED THAT!
Teach chastity and moral cleanliness
Teach about the Savior and the atonement
Continue to stay worthy (endure to the end)
One of his final comments: God cannot break the covenants of the temple or he would cease to be God, only we can.

Sunday Morning Session of Regional Conference. This was a conference attended by 88 Southern California Stakes via satellite.

Bishop Richard Edgely spoke about adversity. We should never blame God when trials come, never ask why. We should thank Him for making it okay, for helping us get through the trials. How do we meet the challenges of life? This life was meant to be a schoolmaster, we should be learning. Adversity can bring us closer to God, and because of our own adversity we can become more compassionate to others when they are going thru their own adversities.

Sister Vicki Matsumori talked about this life being the time to set ETERNAL resolutions. We are here temporarily. This is not our permanent home. We need to:
Live what we believe
Always be willing to attend the temple
Leave a lasting legacy of faith
As Elder Holland has challenged us...we need to live the gospel conspicuously.

Elder Jeffrey Holland spoke about resolving. We should resolve some of the issues in our life and that will help in ALL aspects of our lives. We need to:
Forgive ourselves for something that needs forgiving.
Not be so hard on ourselves while we are trying to become better.
God is happy if we are trying to do what is right and move in the right direction.
Unload some of that excess baggage that we have been carrying around.
Move on, move up!

Forgive someone else. We need to bear one another's burdens and thus fulfill the plan of happiness. A true Latter-day Saint needs to be pleasant and forgiving EVERY DAY. You cannot expect to receive what you are not willing to give. It is spiritual murder to hate and to brood. Get some things resolved that need resolving.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf started out by telling us that this conference was being translated into 14 languages other than English. "You are truly the United Nations" of the church." In the church we are never alone.
He gave a quote and I did not catch who it was by: "Conquer the angry man by love, the miser by generosity, the liar with truth." I loved that!

We need to help and encourage young people to serve the Lord. Now is the time for them to make the commitment to serve the Lord. Don't underestimate your potential as a missionary.

Satan keeps us from using our time wisely...from reaching our goals. HAVE INTENTIONS. Have financial and temporal goals but don't forgot the spiritual goals. Evaluate where you are in the journey back to Heavenly Father. Make course corrections where necessary. Remember: "Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I comand."

Make use of the help that is always available to you. Increase your faith by living the gospel. Follow three plain but proven principles:
1. Have and keep a current temple recommend. Guard it as a precious asset.
2. Study the word of God daily. Ponder the things that need to be resolved in your life.
3. Speak with your Father in Heaven daily. President Ezra Taft Benson said, "Nothign can take the place of prayer."

Sunday's Inspiration

2010-01-12T14:24:00.000-08:00

One of the things I have decided to do this year is keep a journal. Part of that plan is to take it to church and write down the things that I learn each week. Often I get great inspiration and just know that I am going to remember it, but by the time the block of meetings is over, the 4-year old is collected, we have driven home and gotten dinner over with, it is gone....but no more!

Therefore, here are my notes from this Sunday's meetings.

The bishop and his wife spoke and they were both great talks. She started out by mentioning that as she listened to the latest General Conference talks she heard the message that we should get and keep a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit over and over again. She felt that this was the underlying message for that Conference. We need a personal relationship with the Spirit to help us survive the times. When trials come we should ask, "What am I to learn from this?"

One comment that she made that really hit home for me what that if all our prayers were answered right away there would be no opposition, no faith, no death, etc. We are told to pray with real intent, but what is real intent? She said that real intent means that we really intend to follow the direction that we are given....hmmm...I never thought of it that way before, but such a profound statement.

She also said that all beings who have bodies have power over those who do not. So, we have more power than Satan and his angels and always will have. We need to exercise our faith.

One of the best comments she made was that God will not require more than our best...but he does expect us to do our very best.

Then the Bishop started out his talk by reminding us of the challenges that our Stake President gave each of us at our last Stake Conference. They were:
1. Be a more honest people.
2. Get out of debt.
3. Be faithful in paying tithes and generous offerings.
4. Be a more repentant people.
5. Read "The Miracle of Forgiveness" by Spencer W. Kimball as a family before our October 2010 Stake Conference.

Then he went on to talk about why adversity is required in our lives. We are given adversity so that we can learn by the choices that we make when adversity comes into our lives. A lot of our adversities are created by the choices that we make. Hopefully we will learn by the choices that we make.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said that we will either choose Christ's manner of living or his manner of suffering. That really made me think!

In Sunday School we discussed the Counsel in Heaven and how Jesus was chosen to become the Savior of the world. It was a really good discussion, and then Sunday evening there was a segment of the series Messiah, Behold the Lamb of God on BYU-TV. One of the comments made was that when we were there in the counsel we put our complete faith that Jesus would be able to do what he said he would do. He had not done it yet, therefore, those of us who chose His plan chose it by faith and not by a knowledge that he would be able to atone for our sins. That should give us great hope that if we had that kind of faith then, then we surely can have the faith to make it through our time on earth.

I was truly inspired a motivated by the whole day!

Books I Read in 2009

2010-01-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

I did this in 2008 and didn't have the sense to keep the list when I changed to the new year...so now I do. Enjoy! P.S. There aren't too many "Didn't Like or Hated It" because if I start it and it stinks...I don't finish it.

Books Read in 2009
**** Loved it *** Liked it ** Didn't care for it * Hated it
9 Dragons by Michael Connelly ****
A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist ****
A Case of Bad Taste by Lori Copeland ***
A Fool and His Honey by Charlaine Harris ***
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray **
A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck ****
A Vision of Murder by Victoria Laurie ***
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck ****
Abby Cooper Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie ****
An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris ***
Bake Sale Murder by Leslie Meier ***
Better Read Than Dead by Victoria Laurie ***
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins ****
Christmas Jars Reunion by Jason Wright ***
Courting Trouble by Deeanne Gist **
Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Gaskell ***
Dead Over Heals by Charlaine Harris ***
Death by Pantyhose by Laura Levine ***
Fire and Ice by J.A. Jance ***
Gilda Joyce Psychic Investigator by Jennifer Allison ***
Gilda Joyce The Ladies of the Lake by Jennifer Allison ***
Goodbye, Earl by Jo-Ann Mapson ***
Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris ***
Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris ****
In the Woods by Tana French ***
Lemon Tart by Josi S. Kilpack ***
Life's A Beach by Claire Cook ***
Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne ****
Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan ****
Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst **
Love Mercy by Earlene Fowler ****
Mad River Road by Joy Fielding **
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear ****
Me and Mr Darcy by Alexandra Potter ***
Mum's The Word by Kate Collins ***
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult ****
Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard ***
Real Murders by Charlaine Harris ***
Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris ***
Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris ***
Shakespeare's Landord by Charlaine Harris ***
Shakespeare's Trollop by Charlaine Harris ***
Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber ***
Sweet and Deadly by Charlaine Harris ****
Teaching Your Children to Fly by Merrilee Boyack ****
The Appeal by John Grisham **
The Art of Healing by Elizabeth Berg ***
The Associate by John Grisham ****
The Book of Mormom *****
The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly ****
The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck ***
The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells ***
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan ***
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer ***** BEST BOOK THIS YEAR!
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ****
The Julius House by Charlaine Harris ***
The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne ****
The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World by E.L. Konisburg ***
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by A.M. Smith ***
The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber ***
The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly ****
The Sister Pact by Cami Checketts **
The Summit by Kat Martin ***
Three Bedrooms One Corpse by Charlaine Harris ***
Unlocking the Book of Mormon ****
Whale Song by Cheryl Kay Tardif ***

First of the Month: I AM

2010-01-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

Reading:
The Old Testament
The Pearl of Great Price
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Dead Before Dark
Poppy Done To Death

Watching:
Little Dorrit

Listening To:
Nothing in particular

Cooking:
Up a plan to have a better 2010 than I had a 2009

Looking Forward To:
Spring

Happy Happy Christmas to All We Hold Dear

2009-12-25T22:15:00.000-08:00

Another year, another Christmas, another chance to reflect on the love of our Heavenly Father and His wonderful son, Jesus Christ. And...to remember all those that we love so very much.

Hope you all had a very MERRY day!

Calaveras County

2009-12-22T08:06:00.000-08:00

We took a quick trip up north to Calaveras County, just to get out of town and enjoy a week of relaxation. Many of you many know that Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens wrote a famous short story about a jumping frog from this area. They have taken this story to heart in Angels Camp, California, as seen by the decor in our condo.

We decided to do some spelunking while in the area and ended up a Moaning Caverns. The pre-tour info was exciting and then we headed over the entrance to the cave. After taking about 10 steps into the cavern I felt like I was having a panic attack and could not breathe...this has never happened before and was very scary to me. So I backed out and set outside reading travel brochures while Lucy and Jim explored the caves without me. Who knew I was claustrophobic???

Here are some views from our balcony. It was beautiful, when it wasn't raining. It is sad that I pray all year for some rain and then the week we take vacation it rains both at home and where we have traveled too....ugh.

Catching Up

2009-12-11T16:14:00.000-08:00

Better late than never? Here was Lucy after her fun Thanksgiving "dinner" at preschool. Miss Kelly just makes it so fun!

Trip to See Santa

2009-12-11T16:11:00.000-08:00

Lucy's prechool had a Mommy and Me trip to the mall to see Santa and have lunch together. Here are a couple of fun pix from the occasion.

First of the Month: I Am

2009-12-01T15:28:00.000-08:00

Reading: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Watching: Find My Family

Listening To: Christmas music

Cooking: White Hot Chocolate for the RS Christmas Gathering

Looking Forward To: Our trip to Napa Valley and watching Lucy on Christmas morning

Tag...you're it!

Orange Oreos and the Broncos Game

2009-11-13T12:04:00.000-08:00

We were invited to the Bateman's home for dinner and to watch the Broncos/Steelers game on Monday Night Football. Lucy and I were in charge of making dessert to take. We decided to make Homemade Oreo Cookies. My sister (who is a huge Steelers fan) told me to be sure and make the frosting yellow...which promptly gave me the idea to make it orange for the Broncos.

The meal was delicious. We had Avocado Burgers with all the fixin's and the cookies were yummy. Unfortunately, they did not help the Broncos to pull out a win. Maybe next time I will leave the frosting white...

Here's the recipe in case you feel the need:
Homemade Oreo Cookies

2 boxes devil’s food cake mix
1-1/4 cup margarine, softened
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Mix together and put in fridge to chill to a stiff dough*.
2. Roll into small balls and put on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-13 minutes at 350 degrees.
3. *Put dough in fridge between pans to keep it chilled.
4. Cool completely before frosting.

Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-1/2 cups powdered sugar

Mix together. Match up pairs of cookies for size. Frost and put together. Enjoy!

Incredible Stake Women's Conference

2009-11-08T18:59:00.000-08:00

This weekend was our Stake's annual Women's Conference and it was incredible. Friday night was the Humanitarian Aid project. Each ward was asked to sew 100 school bags before the Conference and donate the school supplies to fill them. Then at the Conference we did assembly line filling of the bags. Since I think there are eight wards in the stake that means we filled 800 of them...and we did it in 45 minutes. We were like a well oiled machine.

Then three wonderful ladies did a concert for us called Womanhood...Enjoy to the End! I was laughing one minute and crying the next. I am so happy to have been there. They really touched my heart.

Saturday was the main event. As we entered we were given a rock and asked to write on it about a time that the Lord had helped us. After breakfast we were told the story of Eleazer and the 12 stones that he asked to be carried then then built as an alter to their thankfulness to the Lord. Some of the sisters had created a HUGE silhouette of the L.A. Temple on the back wall of the Cultural Hall. It was beautiful and even had a gold Moroni pointed to the east on top. After we had written on our stones we were asked to enter the temple and as we passed the alter to leave our stones on it. Very cool.

The choir was incredible and even had three violins, a cello, a harp and gorgeous organ music accompaniment. They sounded so good!

The key not speaker was Sister Sydney Reynolds, form General Primary First Counselor. Some of her comments that I wrote down:
-The tender mercies of the Lord are over you.
-We need to turn to the Lord with our burdens.
-Righteous women will be denied no blessings.
-We have a part to do but we don't have to do it all.
-Listen to the prophets.
-Learn to listen and follow the promptings of the Spirit.

Next we heard from Sister Lani Reynolds.
She spoke about the three gardens that the Lord has given us. The Garden of Eden, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Garden Tomb. She gave us a list of some of the garden tools that we have all been given.
-Fasting (not just from food, but from negative thoughts, getting angry, etc.)
-Self Talk (self rejection is the greatest enemy to a righteous life)
-Our divine role as a woman
-Prayer (it can be our armour)
-Extending ourselves
-Giving up our favorite sins (I really liked that phrase!)
-Scriptures (the more you read the more delicious they become) SO TRUE! She challenged us to always have a scripture in our heart to be pondering.
-Counsel from the Brethren
-Being virtuous and true

President DeLewis Porter, our Stake President then spoke. Some of his comments:
-Think well of yourself. He said that over and over.
-Those negative feelings you have come not from the Savior, but from Satan.
-Everything about the temple points towards the Savior.
-Attend the temple.
-We choose...the devil is impotent, he cannot make us do anything we don't want to do.
-Make correct choices in your life.
-Take control.
-Do your best...make sure it is your very best.

Our final speaker was Elder William F. Reynolds, an Area Seventy. He spoke about building Zion. He said:
-The Lord is concerned with the kind of people we are not what we do for a living.
-He said that the purpose of manhood is to protect and support mother's raising their children.
-When we make a change in our lives it goes right down the line to our children and grandchildren.
-The great unknown power in this church is fasting. Not just from food, but from anything that takes our focus off the Lord.
-Fasting can break every yoke.
-Fast anything and everything you struggle with will get better.
-This world is the illusion, God is the reality.
-We need to choose to build our lives around the Savior.

I came away mentally and spiritually uplifted beyond measure! Thanks to our great Stake Relief Society Presidency for putting it together for us.

Preschool Party

2009-11-05T16:41:00.000-08:00

Here's Lucy with her wonderful teacher Miss Kelly. They had a very fun costume party at school. I'm not sure if she is trying to be Snow White or Popeye with that face!!!

My Little Poser

2009-10-29T10:32:00.001-07:00

Here's Lucy as we are ready to head out to the ward Halloween party. She sure knows how to work a camera!

I can't believe I didn't take a photo of the back of her hair. It was really cute. Oh well...there is always next year.

CREAMY PUMPKIN PASTA

2009-10-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

I am entering this in the Ultimate Recipe Swap at LifeAsMom.com

This is a scrumptious recipe. Everyone loved it, including my 4 year old. Enjoy!

CREAMY PUMPKIN PASTA from MomAdvice.com

2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp olive oil
1 pound package of Sweet Italian Sausage (removed from its casing)
2/3 cup to 2 cups pumpkin puree (depending on your personal taste)(I used 2 cups)
1 can chicken broth
¼ cup half & half
½ cup sour cream
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp white pepper
1 tsp sage
2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced
¼ cup Romano Cheese, shredded
1 pound penne or rotini pasta

In a large skillet sauté the garlic in the olive oil on medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until no longer pink, breaking the meat up with your spoon as you cook it. Remove sausage and garlic from the skillet. Pour the chicken broth into the skillet and deglaze the pan using a wire whisk, to bring up all of the flavors stuck to the pan. Whisk in the half and half, sour cream, pumpkin, and seasonings. Simmer for ten minutes. Meanwhile, boil the pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain pasta and stir into the pumpkin mixture along with the turkey sausage, simmering for another three minutes or until the sauce thickens and hugs the pasta. Stir in parsley and garnish with Romano and more parsley.

Side Note- If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a little addition of chicken broth until you get it to the right consistency.

Super Saturday!

2009-10-13T11:28:00.001-07:00

Here are the projects we are doing at our Super Saturday this year.
Crayon Rolls taught by Lori Arntz

Decorative Snowman Plate taught by DeeAnn Haworth

Post-it Note Holder taught by DeeAnn Haworth

Placemat Scripture Totes taught by Cei Kratz

Joy Blocks taught by Mina Krutsch

We will also have a Humanitarian Aid Station set up so the sisters can work on small projects while waiting for their classes to begin. There will be tables set up so they can also bring their own projects to work on.

There will be a Taster's Table of Christmas Food Gifts to make, along with recipes to take home.

AND
a Taco Bar for lunch.

I'm so excited. Our ward has not had a Super Saturday since the year we moved in, 2005! It's been a long time coming. Pray for me that all goes well so we can do it again next year!

Field Trip to the Punkin' Patch

2009-10-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

Today was Lucy's first field trip. We had a blast!

All kinds of punkins and squash and gourds.

Farmer John telling the kids a story

Lucy and her preschool gang

Goats at the Petting Zoo

Bunny at the Petting Zoo (Don't you love Lucy's braid bun!)

Twirling with Ryan

Swinging!

Sliding (1,000 times)

A pumpkin that looks like my butt!

Labor Day Fun???

2009-09-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

We decided to check out the L.A. County Fair this year since we missed the Antelope Valley Fair in our area.

Results: Lucy loved it, Jim could take it or leave it, me....NEVER AGAIN!

It could be that we went on Labor Day, or get in a for $1 day, or it could be that L.A. is just a huge place with a ton of people so it is always that crazy...but NEVER AGAIN!

Lucy meeting Barbie at the dress up area. I didn't photograph the skanky fishnet stockings or miniskirt she was wearing. She didn't look like any Barbie in this household!

The petting zoo was fun for Lucy. She especially loved the goats.

There were some fun cutouts for cute photo ops...

Some of the fun rides

Trouble at Preschool

2009-09-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

Ms Kelly stopped me on my way into preschool the other day to tell me a story about my darling girl.

Apparently she and a little guy were having a tiff over something and he called her a bad girl. She looked at him and said "I'm not a bad girl, I'm a cutie pie!"

Maybe we have been a little heavy on the praise?????

A Trip up the Coast

2009-09-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

We got a wild hair and decided to drive north and check out Hearst Castle in San Simeon. We stayed at the Sand Pebbles Inn in Cambria. I highly recommend it!

The Cambria boardwalk on Moonstone Beach Road

These are a few of the flowers that were growing at the Sand Pebbles Inn

Waiting for the tour bus to take us up the hill to the castle.

Our first view of the castle.

The outdoor pool...I wanted to jump in so bad!!!

The indoor pool...more than 2 million tiles...took over 6 years to complete!

A fireplace big enough for a family of 10 to stand in!

Cutie pie looking at one of the many lion statues.

The Ward Campout

2009-09-06T23:16:00.000-07:00

I love camping...at the beach, in the mountains, anywhere that has cool breezes, shade and some form of water.

The ward campout was held at Silverwood Lake...but we weren't at the lake. No no, we were past it in a campground with a dry creekbed and bees....lots and lots of bees. Hungry bees. Oh and did I mention it was 104 degrees (in the shade). Just think what it felt like the next morning when the sun was actually shining on our tent...more like 194 degrees.

Oh, and lets not forget the 11-year old boys that decided that 6am was late enough to sleep and who decided that taking sticks and whacking their way through a small stand of brush to make a fort for the 11-year old girls "who will love us for this" was a great idea. Where were their parents you ask? In tents on the far side of the camp away from where they left their little nerds to have a slumber party!!! I'm not bitter.

But I digress. Of all the kiddos there, and there were a lot of them, guess whose kid ended up with the tiny headwound that bled like a stuck pig and screamed like a banshee??? Yup..you guesster Chester...Mine!

Did I mention that I really do love camping (just not this time)!

A Trip to Grandma's House

2009-09-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

We took a quick trip to Grandma's in August so Jim could get some fishin' in and Lucy could get some face time with her namesake. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable trip.

Here she is enjoying a "tea" party with Grandma. She had one in Grandma's home and one at the mexican restaraunt in town. It was a big hit.

Here she is feeding Uncle David's horses and helping Em feed her calves.

Here was our S'mores cookout at the reservoir.

First Day of Preschool

2009-09-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

I'm a month late getting these photos posted...story of my life.

This was Lucy's first day of preschool at Tiny Tots Academy.

Miss Kelly is her teacher and she loves her.

The first words out of her mouth when I picked her up were "I want to live there Mom."

Conversation with a 4 year old

2009-08-26T14:48:00.000-07:00

Today as we were driving home from preschool Miss Lucy asked me if it was fall. I said "no, why?" She said that she saw some leaves falling off the trees and some were turning yellow. I explained that here in the desert the trees get too hot and lose their leaves sometimes. Then she wanted to know if they grow new leaves, so I explained that after the leaves fall off then they stay off during the winter and then in the spring they grow brand new leaves. "And other things," she said. I told her yes that some trees grow flowers and some grow fruit and some even grow feathery types of things. (We have bottle brush trees all over). "And apricot trees grow popcorn!!!" she reminded me.

I'm so proud.

Comment on my Sunday Musings post

2009-08-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

I received this comment from my FAVORITE missionary companion, DeAnn Hansen, and it really made me start thinking.

I LOVE this post. Some days I WANT to be the little girl too. Being the grown up girl is hard. Wouldn't it be nice to go to church and just lay on the bench and fall asleep? Or color and look at picture books? I will pass on putting my nose in the corner - although I'm sure it would make me be more reverent in Church.

Wouldn't it be great to be able to go back and be the little kid again? Being a grown-up is very hard at times.

What was your favorite thing about being "little"? What is your favorite thing about being a grown-up?

Be sure and check out DeAnn's blog. I really think she should write a book! http://soulhappy.wordpress.com/

Always, Sometimes, Never

2009-08-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

I ALWAYS:
-stay up late
-kiss Jim and Lucy goodbye and hello
-find something I want to watch on TV
-enjoy a road trip
-love to play games

I SOMETIMES:
-wear makeup
-set my alarm
-wait to shower till all my household chores are done
-wish I had done things differently

I NEVER:
-like being late
-eat liver
-enjoy going to the dentist
-like losing (maybe that's why I can't lose weight?!?!?!?!)