Saturday, December 7, 2013

2013 Code for Christmas has been released!!!

The code has been released!

For those of you wondering what I'm talking about, here's the scoop:

For the past 5+ years we have put a number on the gifts for the kids instead of their names.  They have to crack the code to figure out who receives the gift.

About a week before Christmas we give the kids one clue each day about the code.  It drives them crazy!

One year the code was how many teeth they lost.

The numbers this year (and in no particular order) - 98, 06, 13, 37, 14, 24, 46, 56.  FYI - this year John, Jared and I have been included in on the numbers.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Dec 1 - Advent Activity

Have dinner with our Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching families.

We invited the families we Home Teach and Visit Teach to our home for dinner.  It was wonderful to be together.  It was fun to have the home decorated - it was festive!

12 foot tree with the ornaments I have painted of the years
... I just got my sister, Cara, addicted to painting too!

Family Memory Tree - with our yearly memory ornaments

My Grandma's (Bama) favorite tree.
Each year she would give me a new ornament to hang on the tree

The tree in our eating area - sweets tree

I love the picture of Santa looking at the nativity

I love Christmas a little

My nephew-in-law was counting how many trees I had and got up to 44 and realized that
he forgot to count some trees in rooms he already counted.  I love trees.  I love nativities.
I love Christmas

Menu for tonight:
Soup.  Salad.  Rolls/Bread/Biscuits.  Dessert.

19 people total (We missed having 2 other families over - that would have been 10 more).

My favorite soups I made:
Beef Picante
1 cheap roast
1 lg jar of picante sauce (any brand)  - 16 oz - 24 oz
1 jar of water (the same amount of salsa you put in)
4-5 cans of chili beans (I pressure cook 3 cups dry kidney beans and add chili powder)
Onion - chopped (if you want)
Cook in crock pot until meat shreds (at least 4 hours on high).
I pressure cook this recipe (meat too).

Chicken Pot Pie Soup/Stew - from Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant ... homemade is even better!
This recipe may seem long, but you can combine steps (or cook items at same time in different pans) ... FYI - You don't want to overcook the potatoes.
Yields:  1 gallon

Ingredients:
8 cups water
1 1/4 lbs 3/4" cubed red potatoes
1 lb raw chicken breast cut into bite size pieces
2 tbsp canola oil (to sauté  veggies)
3/4 lb carrots - 1/4" sliced
1/2 lb celery - 1/4" sliced
1/2 lb pearl onions (remove skins according to instructions)
2 1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 lb margarine or butter
1 TBSP garlic - finely minced
3/4 cup flour
5 cups chicken broth
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 lb peas (frozen)

1.  In a large pot bring the water to a rapid boil.  Place potatoes in the water and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain potatoes (place in ice bath and set aside for later ... I just drained them and set them aside)
2.  Saute oil, carrots, celery, onions and thyme over medium heat for 10 min (or until tender).  Set aside for later.
3.  In 5 quart pot melt margarine/butter.  Add garlic and saute over medium heat for 2 min.
4.  Set heat to low and add in flour - stirring constantly.
5.  Whisk in broth, salt and white and black pepper.  Bring up the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes until mixture has thickened - stirring constantly.
6.  Slowly stir in milk and cream.  Simmer for 3 minutes.
7.  Add peas, parsley, cooked potatoes, cooked vegetable mixture and chicken. Stir and bring soup to desired temperature.
8. Enjoy with a side of Butter milk Biscuits!

Ollie returns! 2013 tour ....

Let the fun begin ... ?!?

Ollie returned today.  Kendall found him buckled in his seat in the car as we were heading off to our new cousin/nephew's blessing at church.


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Voice Recital - JULIA!

Julia is having her Senior Voice Recital next week!!!!  I can't wait to be there!!!


Tuesday, Nov 19 2013 7:30 p.m. at the Madsen Recital hall at BYU.

What a beautiful girl - and a voice to go along with it!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Accessories for Jenna

Jenna is working as a CNA at a really beautiful retirement home.

Here she is loving what she is doing ... and being normal - always willing to somehow make you smile.


I told her to stop borrowing the resident's accessories :)

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Be the Anchor

   We have been listening to some CD's that my sister-in-law, Brooke, made for our family reunion this year.  She asked that each person submit their favorite song.  As we drove to different events, we would listen and guess whose favorite song it was.

We have some new favorites!


Kerst was listening to Cara's favorite (Anchor by Mindy Gledhill) and said, "I want to be that person someday. The anchor."


I thought that was so sweet.


We all need an anchor.  I'm glad I have one too.


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

To Be Bold

When my 8 year old niece, Emma, stayed with me this summer for a couple of weeks, you would think she was quite bold.  She would ask Merrick, Jenna's boyfriend, why he wore certain things (tank tops), why he had hair under his arms.  He would just smile and answer her questions.  

She'd ask him to watch a Barbie movie with her.  "Of course!" he would say and would head to the theater in our basement and watch the movie with Jenna, Emma, Brooklynn and Jaley.  Emma and Brooklynn would ask Merrick to read a Disney Princess book to them.  "Of course!" was his reply with a smile on his face.  They'd all sit on the couch together as Merrick would read to them.

Emma nonchalantly asked Merrick one day if he would go to church with her.  "Of course!" he told her.

Sure enough he went to church with Emma (and us).

I teased my sister, Cara, that Emma should ask Merrick if he would be baptized.  He'd probably smile and say, "Of course!"

A week or so ago I asked Merrick if he wanted to take the missionary discussions.  "Of course!" he answered.

Tonight was the third discussion.  It was a neat experience - all of the lessons have been quite amazing.  The elders (Elder King and Elder Gentry) asked Merrick if he wanted to be baptized.  "Of course!" was his reply.

The date is set for Aug 25.  We have a time table to work out since Jenna is moving to UT on Aug 19.

We are thrilled!  He is a super sweet young man.  He knows our standards and is learning our beliefs.  As a Mom, I appreciate how he respects Jenna and follows our standards.

Thanks Emma for being bold.  For showing me that it is OK to come right out and ask questions.  To invite.  He was just politely waiting for the invitation so he could reply "Of course!"