Potato Soup

I got up this morning and went grocery shopping at Winco. It was just barely starting to snow when I went in and when I came out it was white. Of course it took me a long time to go down each aisle and get the stuff on my list. I found the chicken soup base my dad always used in the bulk section. I got some to use instead of  boullion cubes. It was a little harder without my Janna B. She always bags all the groceries for me. But I got it done.
I came home and made brownies for the kids and some Potato soup for dinner. I had some whipping cream I had bought for Thanksgiving and forgot to use so I put it in the soup instead of milk. Can I say it took the soup to a whole new level. So rich and creamy. So fattening.... Now, can I ever go back to milk. It was so delicious. Next time I just might have to get some half and half.
Grateful Statement: I am grateful for the time I have to stay home and cook and be a housewife. I have worked since Janna was in kindergarten. I took about 3 years off during that time. I feel so blessed to be able to stay home and do the things I love.

New Favorite Kitchen Gadget

I made a pork roast in the crock pot today and the directions said to bake it 6-7 hours. I got my Pampered Chef thermometer out and started checking at 4 hours. It was done at 5 hours. So good. It was done to perfection. I found this picture of a Taylor thermometer on line and it is exactly like my Pampered Chef one. It is my newest thing I love. You can put it in the oven attached to the meat and run the cable out side. What a fun tool. Can't wait to buy a beef roast and do it in the oven.
I took the kids to YW/Scouts. We take the neighborhood kids too. When I went to pick them up I took Molly with me. She wasn't sure what to do with herself. But she liked sitting on Bailee lap on the way home.
Now it's time to go to bed. My dishes are done so I'm off duty for the night. I finally got my Ensign. I ordered it in Utah and it never arrived so I went online and ordered it again. So it was a real spiritual high to be able to read the message of the first Presidency. "The Choice to be Grateful". I loved it. I'm glad I have been doing my grateful statement.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for the Ensign. I realized how wonderful it was to have after not having it for the last few months. What a blessing it is in my life. It always lifts my spirits and makes me think about what I need to do to improve.

That's My Day

Took John to the bus at 5am. He got to ride the big bus. We were so excited!! The Big BUS... Much better that the van.
Came home and had to take a nap. Sooooo tired.
Did laundry and dishes.
Made Turkey Enchiladas for dinner.
Made Ice Cream Sandwiches with a cake mix.
Watched the new season of the Closer. One of my all time favorite shows.
Getting ready to go to bed now and sleep all night.
That's been my day.
Grateful Statement: I am grateful for this wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday I enjoyed with all my kids. Heavenly Father knew I needed that.

My First Sunday Teaching My Primary Class

Janna, Maggie and Harley feeding this morning. Janna got Maggie to ride on Dean's four wheeler he loaned his sister. (What a great big brother.) How cute is this picture. Janna had a sheltie dog when she was a teenager that would ride on the front of our four wheeler and she would ride all over the place with her. Now she has Maggie.
Austin, Bailee and I went to church and I taught my first class. The kids were cute and very good.  The lesson in Relief Society was very good. It was the conference talk "Forget Not". Denise did a very good job and we are to remember that Heavenly Father knows us.
Grateful Statement: I am grateful for my primary class. I can tell I am going to learn lots of things as I prepare these lessons.

Day After Thanksgiving

When I got up at 6am this morning Amie, Hailey and Hannah had already left. Hailey had basketball practice at 11am. So I texted a goodbye to them. Then Dean, Harrison and Hayden left around 7am. My house was way too quiet. Janna and I went to Office Max so I could get a cartridge for my printer. I need to do some things for my Primary Class. Of course, it was the wrong one so we had to go back and get the right one. Then we went by her work on the way home so she could change the message on the phone system there. We went to Abbots and got elastic to fix Janna's insulated pants for working around the farm.
That was our shopping today. We came home and I worked on Christmas projects until dinner time. I made Black Bean Burritos for dinner. John really liked them. Then Janna made the best Chocolate Chip cookies. They were perfect. I'm using her recipe from now on. Now it's time for me to go to bed and get my rest.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for the wonderful Thanksgiving I have had. It's so good to be with my family.

Thanksgiving Blessing

We got up early Wednesday morning and drove home. We brought Harrison and Hayden with us. We arrived around 10am and the boys ate breakfast and went straight to the barn. They chased chickens and tried to catch the rooster. Finally on Thanksgiving Day they found a hen that would let them hold her.

Amie and the girls are picking on Dean. They ganged up on him to pick his blackheads. Too funny. We used to do this to my brother Larry.

Hailey is spooning up Mashed Potatoes. Lesson learned. Never us a boat motor blender to mash potatoes. They really look like wallpaper paste. Now I know!

Here is Hailey's very first pie. It's a pecan pie and so very good. This girl need to clone herself. One for the nursing program at BYU and one for cullinary school.
We had a fabulous Thanksgiving Day. Dean and his family, John, Janna, Boyd, Tommy and me. That's 11 of us and we fit in my little house pretty good. We had fold up tables all over the place but it was fun. And the food was delicious. And Amie did my dishes. What a sweetheart. Janna's kids were in Price with Ronnie at Nannie and Poppa's. They are bringing back the recipe for Pasta Keena that Janna has been raving about for 15 years.
Dean, Amie and the kids went to the movies and I'm going to go to bed. My feet are tired from all the standing I have done today.
Grateful Statement: I am so thankful this day for my wonderful family. To have all three of my kids with me was so fantastic. I am so blessed to have the family I have.

Pizza Night

Amie and Hailey made the most delicious pizzas tonight. Chicken Alfredo, Barbecued Chicken and Pepperoni. They were so good. I'm going home and make some. I wanted to take pictures but forgot. I'm getting feeble minded in my old age. Hailey did a good job.
Hannah painted Chloe pink with washable markers. She was so funny looking. She looked like a dog that lived in Hollywood. Too funny. Hannah said she was bored. I believe it!!
I worked on this page today and finished it. I've tried to get it to work forever. So I'm done with it. And on to the next. It's not my favorite but it's scrapped and that's what's important.
I need to go to bed because we are getting up at 5am and going home. I wanted to go tonight but John couldn't leave until 9pm and Tommy didn't want to drive at night or have me drive him.
Grateful Statement: Today I am grateful for scrapping. It kept me busy so I didn't get bored. That's what I love about hobbies. And I love scrapping because I can relive what the pictures are about. I remember taking John up to the top of Elk Ridge and dropping him and Molly off. He would walk for miles. It was a good time for him.

Lunch with my Friends

I went to lunch in Springville with Heather, Judy and Gerri. We went to the Trolley and the food was delicious. It was so good to be with old friends. I really miss them. But I'll be back in a couple of weeks and maybe we can get together and scrapbook.
I spent the afternoon doing nothing. I did work on my pictures and uploaded the rest of the pages I have done to Simply Scrapping. 117 pages and I still have more to scrapbook before I'm done with 2010. I must have fun in my life to take that many pictures. Of course with me anything is a Kodak moment. Just ask my grandkids.
Hailey did a shoot-a-thon (I think that's what you call it) and raised over a thousand dollars for her team. Wow!! She is a fabulous basketball player. People can pledge per shot or one flat amount. She makes about 75% of her shots so she really raked up the dough.
That's been my day and now it's time for me to go to bed and get some shut eye.
Grateful Statement: Today I am grateful for wonderful friends. Heavenly Father has blessed me with really good friends all my life and continues to do so. I am blessed.

Hannah Gave a Talk Today

 Hannah gave a talk in church today on gratitude. It was so good. What a beautiful young lady she is. We also had a returned missionary and a high councilman speak. The gave the best talks. I felt spiritually fed today. And I got tons of hugs from all my old friends. It felt like I came home for a visit. How I love these sisters.

Harrison thought just because he ran upstairs I wouldn't take a picture of him. Oh, he was so wrong. A zoom lens comes in handy for such an occasion.
Amie made delicious Lasagna for dinner and Cheese Cake for dessert. I must make a cheese cake next week. I even have the spring form pan. Hailey, Amie and I had a great time discussing cooking shows and recipes and all the kitchen gadgets we needed. We told Hailey to just take her dad shopping and he would get her anything she wanted. We all know Dean can spend the money. LOL!!
I am now going to bed and get my beauty sleep. I really need it.
Grateful Statement: Today I am grateful for my super cute and talented granddaughter Hannah. She is just a delight. I love her with all my heart.

Heather, John and I Out to Lunch

 

I took Heather and John to Wingers for lunch. I wasn't too crazy about the food but the company was excellent. I was able to see the house in Spanish Fork. It is absolutely adorable. Very, Very nice. Then Heather had forgotten her purse in my car so I took it back to Lehi to her. I just love that granddaughter of mine.

Hailey made "Chicken and Gnocchi Soup–Just Like Olive Garden " for dinner and it was delicious. Tommy had two bowls so I had to get the recipe so I can make it again. She is quite the chef.

Now I'm very tired because I didn't sleep very well last night so I'm going to go to bed and try to sleep all night through.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my Heather. There is just something about that first granddaughter. She is doing well.

In Utah for Grandparents Day

Tommy and I left early this morning to go to Utah. Hayden has grandparents day and it's the last one I'll ever go to so we were so glad it all worked out. Hayden sang so good. He just belted out the songs. After the program was over he took us to his classroom and gave Grandpa a huge paper cutout of grandpa and a storybook.

Harrison was showing me this catapault he made for a class in school. It shoots a long ways. He is so smart he figured out how to make this from the internet.
Tonight we went to dinner at Ruby River. It was so yummy. Dean knows how to treat his parent to a good meal. It has been a good day and now I'm tired and ready for bed.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Dean and Amie and the kids. What a wonderful family they are.

Canning With Denise

Denise is now a canner.

I honestly can't remember what I did on Monday. Tuesday I went visiting teaching, cleaned house and went to Evening of Excellence with Bailee. She took a picture she had drawn of the Rexburg Temple. Austin went to scouts and planned their over night camping trip. He really likes scouts.

Today Denise came over and I taught her how to can black beans. What an easy thing to do. She is a fast learner. We had a good time and my visiting teacher partner came over and we visited with Denise while we babysat the canners. So now another sister is visited and Denise knows how to can beans.

Grateful Statement: I am grateful for the wonderful sisters in my ward. I am getting to know so many of them and making friends. Heavenly Father blesses me where ever I live.

New Calling

Saturday I took Harley, Bailee and Marissa to the mall. Harley had bathed my dog and I bought her a new book from one of the series she is reading. Bailee and Marissa went to stores in the mall while Harley and I hung out in Barnes and Noble. It was fun. I also got my hair cut and Janna got hers colored. It took 3 hours and in the middle of it we had a snow storm.
On Sunday I was called to be the 11 year old primary teacher. 13 kids in the class. Janna was asked to team teach with me but felt she needed a little more time. She is so busy with her job that it's hard for her to take on anything new. So I get to do it and I'll have her help me when I need her.  When the 1st and 2nd councelors set me apart they gave me a blessing with my calling and also my grandkids. It was very special for me.
We had black bean burritos for dinner and I made the Applebee's blonde brownie with maple sauce. It was very yummy but the brownie wasn't like Applebee's. So I'll keep searching until I find the right one.
Janna and I finished the quilt that was on my frames. Now I have to bind it and it will be done. Janna found another quilt that she had started awhil ago so she worked on it until bedtime. That's was my Sunday.
Grateful Statement: I am grateful for a Heavenly Father that loves me and knows what I need. I am grateful for words of comfort and encouragement. I am grateful for visiting teachers who came to my door when I was inactive and never gave up on me. I am grateful for a Primary President that called me to be a primary teacher even though I was inactive. I am grateful for my testimony. I am grateful above all for my Savior.

Shopping at Winco

Janna and I went to Winco today grocery shopping. I love that store. My favorite part is the bulk section. They have everything. I got 50 lbs of flour for $15.00. That's even cheaper than the cannery. And I put it in a bucket and use it right up. Keeping cookies in the cookie jar is a hard thing. Harley sat down beside me yesterday and told me she would never get tired of grandma's cookies. Ahhhh, how sweet is that.
Bailee is babysitting for her young woman leader tonight with her best friend Marissa. Their very first time babysitting. They were so excited.
Tommy finished the trim on the front of my house. It looks so nice. Now I just have to caulk it and paint it white. So many small little things left to do.
Wednesday I canned more black beans and they came out perfect. I knew if I kept at it I'd figure it out. I want to can some more bean and bacon soup. Kaylyn and I canned it and it was so good. I ate it all up. Time to bottle some more. After the holidays.
Last night I taught my children's class at homemaking and Bailee and Marissa came to help me. We only had one little girl so it was pretty easy. They are good helpers.
That's what has been up in my life.
Grateful Statement: Today I am grateful for my sweet grandkids. All nine of them. They all have a piece of grandma's heart.

Going To Church Makes Me Happy

What did I do all week you ask. Well, I canned Black Beans and learned a lesson on canning. Don't fill Black Beans 2/3 of the way full if you haven't soaked them overnight. They tend to fill the whole jar to the very top and more. The jars were packed tight. But I learned something else. If you add a can of Chicken Broth when you heat the beans up it becomes the most perfect Black Beans for Burritos, which is what I made for dinner tonight. Harley ate 3 of them, Austin ate 3 of them and Bailee ate 2. They loved them.. When I soaked my beans overnight they were too mushy but if I put the in the bottles without soaking them they were perfect. So tomorrow I will be canning another batch using 1 1/4 cup of dry beans per quart.
Janna and I went to church today. It was so wonderful. I also met with the Bishop after and will tell this journal what it is all about in a couple of days. Nothing big but it could be wonderful... The kids where with their dad for the weekend.
It has been snowy and cloudy for the past two days so I've stayed snuggled in my house.

I didn't get this posted on Sunday so I'm adding Monday to it. I canned Strawberry Jam from some strawberries that I had put in the freezer this summer. Scott had gotten a flat of strawberries from some guy on the side of the road. They were huge and beautiful so I thawed them out and had enough to make two batches of Jam. So good.
Grateful Statement: I am grateful for the gospel and the power of prayer. I am grateful that I know Heavenly Father knows me by name and loves me even when I am so imperfect.

Canning Beans

My pretty canners working away.

 13 quarts of Kidney Beans

 13 quarts of Pinto Beans

I guess it's time to get my butt in gear and start journaling again. I canned Kidney Beans on Monday and Pinto Beans today. It takes a long time to get it done. I spent lots of time babysitting the canner trying to keep it at the right pressure. My stove in Elk Ridge was easy. I knew exactly where to keep the knob at. But I'm finally figuring it out. By the time I get done with my beans I'll have it down. Tomorrow it's Black Beans in the bottles. Then I'll be ready for Taco Soup quick and easy.
I stubbed my toe today and it is so sore I can hardly walk. So I spent the evening on the couch with my foot up. I really need to learn to walk. LOL!! Bailee is watching TV with me. It's nice to have such sweet company.
Janna went to Salt Lake yesterday for a Mental Health conference for work and came back today. I think she's a little tired. Traveling always makes me tired. But she got to hang out with Ann so that was a fun thing for her.
Grateful Statement: Today I am grateful for my canners and how easy it makes canning for me. How did they do it in the pioneer days. I am blessed to have modern conveniences.