One of our Favorite Places

Zion's National Park

Jane's Wholewheat Blender Waffles

We just had these waffles yesterday and they are quick and easy and scrumptious! A great way to use your food storage and get those wholegrains into your diet. I serve them with strawberry syrup - yum!

1 cup whole wheat kernels
1 teaspoon flax seed
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup oil (Olive oil is good)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Put milk, wheat and flax into the blender. Blend until mushy. Add remaining ingredients and blend 3-4 minutes. Preheat waffle iron & cook.


STRAWBERRY SYRUP
****
1 pint fresh strawberries, halved or 1 pint strawberry puree
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons corn syrup
1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon butter
Place strawberries in blender or food processor; cover and process until smooth. Transfer to a saucepan; add sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice and butter. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 1 minutes. Skim off foam. Strain seeds, if desired. Serve warm over waffles, pancakes or cool and serve over ice cream. I made ours from some strawberry puree that I purchased from the cannery and it was so quick and easy!

Buyers Beware

Okay, so am I the only one in the world that did not realize that curtains were now being sold as separate panels??? I ordered some curtains from the Penny's catalog for the condo and when the package arrived, I was a little surprised to find only one panel in the package . . . hmmmm . . . that looks a little lopsided. So, I re-read the catalog info and it talks about the curtains, then the rod and tiebacks, then says "Sold separately" . . . so I naturally presumed they were talking about the rod and tiebacks but Noooo that actually means the curtains are sold as separate panels!

So I had to order another panel and I must admit, it does look a little better with two! However, what I thought was a good price (I couldn't sew those for such a great price, right? - actually wasn't a very good deal and I could have sewn them for well under the total $$$ spent) I went to some local stores to see how they are selling their curtains and they, too are being sold as separate panels, but at least the photo on the package shows just one single panel hanging on the window - so it is very clear. JC Penny's had two panels in the photo and it was not clear at all to me . . . now I know! I will just sew them next time!

The cutest little Goblins in the World

Grant, The Frog Prince and Grace, the Fairy Princess
Ashton as Jumbo

Ally as Miss Lady Bug


Kourtni starring as Cinderella, Sydni as Hanah Montana and Jacob as Backward Bumblebee

Ally's 1st

Carefully contemplating that chocolate cake - - - now what should I do with this? Aaah . . . this is finger lickin' good!

Sharing

Kourtni and I have been going to Storytime at the Library. They sing songs, read stories, then have some sort of activity for the children. Thursday they learned about cowboys and made a cowboy vest from a brown paper bag - I wish I had a photo of Kourtni with the cute vest she made, but I couldn't get her to try it on. Anyway, we usually have lunch afterwards and play in the park, but Thursday was much too cold to be outside, so we went to a local place where we could sit down at a table and eat. When Kourtni received her children's meal, there were three wrapped candies with the chicken nuggets and fries. She asked me if I would unwrap the candy for her and I told her I would as soon as she had her chicken nuggets and fries because she needed to eat some good food to help her body be healthy before she had candy. She was alright with that and proceeded to eat lots of fries and pink sauce and a few chicken pieces. She then told me she was all finished. I suggested she could take home the rest to share with Jacob and Sydni (I was thinking of the remaining nuggets and fries, but she was way ahead of me). Kourtni pointed out that "Sydni doesn't like sour candy, but me and Jacob both do, so Sydni can have that one - pointing to the Banana Mamba and me and Jacob can eat the sour ones!" I was pretty impressed that this little three year old was so willing to share the good stuff - I am sure I would have just gobbled it all down myself when I was that age, oh who am I kidding - everyone knows I still don't share dessert!

Happy Halloween!

We have a traditional get to gether each year with a pumpkin carving contest, dinner and fun.

This year, Jacob and Sydni were our esteemed judges and awarded each deserving pumpkin a prize. And here are the winners . . . All the spooks with the lights out . . .

Ashton, singing Jumbo Elephant lives in the great big zoo!

We made twirly skirts at our Super Saturday and I had made a bunch for the granddaughters for Christmas . . . but the boys liked them too!

Cory, Ashton & Britt with Ashton's happy pumpkin.

Another little pumpkin, who lives too far away . . . Gracie gazing at the humongous pumpkins at Pondhill Farm.

Our Soccer Star at Rice-Eccles Stadium

Charlie had a soccer game at Rice-Eccles Stadium Thursday night . . . and Ray could hardly wait to tell the guys at work that his grandson is playing futbol at Rice-Eccles! So, anyway, we went up to watch him play . . . and he scored! They don't keep score at this age, but his team scored four goals during the game and Charlie put one of those in the goal. Uof U sponsored the event and we even had a lovely dinner of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, cookies and hot chocolate afterward. It was a fun evening - we enjoyed watching our children play sports and it even gets more fun as the grandchildren start playing.

A New Grandson

Ashton was quite taken with this new baby brother and whenever he sees him, whether it is first thing in the morning or after his nap mid-day, or after we were outside playing in the sandbox, he runs by everyone else and goes over to the baby and says, "Hi!"

Dad, Mom, baby Hunter and big brother Ashton

How beautiful and Precious life is!

Hunter is our 10th grandchild and what a lovely baby he is. A bonny eight pounds and 20 inches long, he seems to be a happy, contented little boy. I can never quite get over the miracle of birth - even though I have had six lovely children of my own, Did you know that with a baby's first breath over 800 chemical reactions take place in that little body so they can survive? That alone is miraculous! I am always overcome by the presence of these beautiful little spirits that have come so soon from Heavenly Father's presence. I just like to sit and hold them and bask in their light. They radiate joy and the spirit is so strong. I am ever grateful to be able to witness this and celebrate in their choice to come to earth and gain a physical body and become a part of our Father in Heaven's great plan for us. Hunter we welcome you and feel so blessed to have you a part of our amazing family.