Christmas Shopping Has Begun

 Rue 21

Janna, Bailee and I went shopping today. I wore the wrong shoes so I was pretty miserable. Lesson learned! Wear comfy shoes when shopping.
I got a start on my presents so I'm excited. Now to finish.
Janna got her glasses. She can't see very well at work so she needed them.
I came home and made Brownies for Harley. She was sad because Boyd took her two favorite goats to his place. She loves her goats.
Spent the night catching up on this here blog. Why oh why can't I remain organized.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my sweet daughter. She is so good to me. I am blessed to have her in my life.

Coming Home

We left at 7:30 from St George met John in Provo for lunch at KFC. It was good to see him. Then it was back in the car for a non-stop drive to Rigby. Tommy drove the whole way and I napped off and on and read scriptures and played games on my phone.
It is so good to be home. I love to go and then love to come home. I love that I can travel and have fun and see different things.
We are all tired and going to bed.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for a safe trip to and from. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who watches over me.

Thanksgiving Day

 Austin and Hayden

 Bailee and Harrison

 Chef Amie

 Dean and Tommy putting together a puzzle.

 Warren, Hailey and Amie chatting.

 Computer games keeps them busy.

 Hannah is glad to have Chloe back.

Whit and Hailey giving a pose.

Thanksgiving day we started cooking early. In the middle of all this I realized I hadn't seen Chloe all morning. She was no where to be found. Hannah had put her out and no one let her back in. She had scratched on the neighbors door but they didn't know where she belonged. So the search was on. Amie made a flyer so the kids could take them around. Warren printed them off on his computer at home and got flyers made. When the kids took it up to the Texaco station on the street by the freeway they said a man had come in and said he had found a dog and left his number. It was Chloe so Warren went with the girls to pick up the dog. What a relief. We were so worried. Prayer works. Yep it does, every time.

Amie cooked our turkey in a deep fryer and Hailey carved it. It was delicious. We had very good and I was stuffed by the time we were done.

With all the stress of looking for Chloe I hadn't taken a single picture of the wonderful food. So I will just have to imagine all the good stuff.

Grateful Statement: I am grateful for Thanksgiving. I am grateful for the time to reflect on my many blessing. I am so blessed with my wonderful life.

"Frozen"

 Dean going on a bike ride.

 We are going to "Jimmy John's" for lunch.

"Frozen"

We all went to "Frozen" this afternoon after lunch at "Jimmy John's". What a fun time. The movie was pretty good. The kids really liked it. I love spending time with everyone no matter what we do. We came home and had dinner. Dean bought a chicken pot pie from Costco for dinner. It was really good. I wish we had a Costco in Idaho Falls.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my Scriptures. I have been reading about Abraham and trying to remember all the things I am learning. So very grateful for the Gospel in my life.

St George Here We Come

The kids and I left Utah and headed for St George this morning. I drove through fog part of the way there. It's always a little scary but I just followed other cars and made it fine.
After we had lunch at Carl's Jr we went to the Condo and checked it out. I left the kids there and went with Kathy to Cosco for pies for Thanksgiving. We had a good time just being together. I just love my best friend.
After Cosco I went with Kathy to pick up her grandkids and she dropped me off at the condo. Amie and the kids are coming up tonight. Amie's kids had school so they couldn't come sooner.
We had a fun evening hanging out. I went with Bailee and Austin to the pool so they could swim while we were waiting for Amie to get there.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my best friend. I love her with all my heart. She gets me and I get her. The perfect pair.

Heather and Gracie

 Beautiful Gracie

I got up this morning and took the kids to pick up Heather and Gracie. We went to Walmart so I could get some things for this cute little thing. Bailee held her the whole time and Heather and I looked at cute things for Christmas. She really needed diapers so we got some of those and an outfit. We also found a fleece sack that went in the car seat so she will be really warm when Heather takes her on the bus to school with her. Now she will be warm and cozy.

Cafe Rio

After we finished at Walmart we met John at Cafe Rio for lunch. It was so delicious and fun to be together. Gracie had to sit in a high chair. She thinks she's big stuff.

 Bailee and Gracie

I think this mom loves her baby!

After lunch we went up to Amie's and hung out awhile. I just love spending time with my family. What a fun day we have had. Now it's off to Coldstone for an ice cream before taking Heather home. 

When we took her home I asked Tommie if she and Meagan wanted to come spend Christmas with me. She had tears in her eyes and said she would love to come up. I have always loved her because she is just a good hearted, down to earth person. She has had her struggles and made her mistakes but she has come through with a true love of people, all people. What's not to love! 

Came home and Amie made us Quesadillas for dinner. Delicious as usual. Amie is a good cooker as Bailee used to say when she was little. 

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for this little bundle of joy. She just makes my heart happy.

Going to Utah

 Cute Bailee

Awesome Austin

Tommy and I packed up the car, grabbed Austin and Bailee and we were off to Dean's. The kids slept all the way. They were tired kids.
Tommy went to St George with Dean in the afternoon to play golf with a bunch of guys.

 Christmas City

 Stocking hung that I made for them.

Tall ladder and a brave lady.

Amie started decorating the house so Hailey can have an early Christmas. She is one brave lady to be so high up. I love looking at her decorations. We actually made some of them together. What fun it was. We started collecting houses for our sets years ago when we first moved up to Elk Ridge. Janna chose "Dickens Village" , I chose "New England Village" and Amie chose "Christmas in the City". We had so much fun giving each other houses. 

Bisquick Biscuits vs Scratch Biscuits

Amie made a delicious crock pot chicken with biscuits. Hailey decided to make biscuits from scratch using the recipe Amie's dad used to make them for Amie when she was a kid. We had a taste test and I must say that Hailey won. Hers were just a little bit better than the Bisquick ones. It was a delicious dinner.

Time for hugging of my pillow. Good night.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Amie and her willingness to let us stay with her all the time. I love this family. I am blessed with really good kids and grandkids.

Sunshine in the Neighborhood

Rosemary Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls

I woke up this morning and the sun was shining and it was beautiful outside. What a great and wonderful world we live in.
Washing table clothes, dishes, crock pots, etc from the funeral filled my day.
But I still found time to make these delicious rolls. I watched a video and made them just like it said. I am trying to be a better bread maker. My bread is not consistent so I'm working on it. I didn't put in the fresh rosemary because the grandkids wouldn't like it. But they were very good so I made another batch of cinnamon rolls with the same recipe. I really think I like Amie's rolls better so I'm going to work on her recipe.

Cinnamon Rolls

Now it's my time to go hug my pillow.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful Janna got a job today and has started her Bail Bond business. The blessing are raining down on our house. We are so blessed.

I'm a Slacker

I have been so busy with Relief Society. Planning a funeral takes time. Then there is presidency meeting and getting my hair done and cleaning house and cooking. It makes me tired just to type it. Hence I forget, don't have enough pazazz or am just plain too lazy to post. I will get better, I think.
Grateful Statement: I am grateful for a willing husband and daughter that will help me scrub my floors. They are the best and I am truly blessed.

Planning a Funeral

The Bishop called today to tell me a lady in our ward had passed away and we would be doing the funeral. So as soon as I know I will be having my compassionate person make phone calls. Oh, the joys of my calling. BUT, I am blessed and I am NOT complaining. So there, Satan.
Today was a pretty laid back day. It was so cold and snowy that I just stayed in my house and did genealogy. I wish these people would just come to me and tell me if they are the ones I am looking for.
Grateful Statement: I am grateful for my family. I think about how blessed  I am everyday to have them.

Roast Beef Dinner

Yesterday I went visiting teaching all afternoon and then had the neighborhood kids until 10pm. They are moving to Utah and Denise and Kevin had to go find housing. So the kids hung out with me all evening.
I made wheat bread yesterday and took loaves to all the sisters we visit. We visited with 3 of our 6 sisters and one sister that just had surgery. We are working on reactivation so Crystal and I took hard ones. We will see how it works.
Today I made wheat bread again for our house. I feel much healthier when I eat wheat bread. Then I thawed out a roast from our cow and made Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots and Gravy. It was delicious. But you certainly can't cook it as long as the recipe says.
Now it's time to do dishes and relax.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my cozy wonderful little house. I just feel so safe and comfortable when I am home. I am blessed!!

Logan Temple With Hailey

 Three Generations

 The Group

 Such beautiful people, inside and out.

 I would be the short one...

I

 My Beautiful Hailey

Logan Temple

I got up early and got ready to go to the Temple. It was so very special. To see my beautiful granddaughter and her dad in the Prayer Circle was awesome. These are the moments that make a difference for all eternity.

After the Temple we went to Cafe Rio for lunch and then we all headed home. I am tired and ready for bed.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for this day. To see my Hailey in the Temple was beyond awesome. So very grateful for the Gospel.

Logan, Utah

 Springhill Suite

 My hubby taking it easy.

 Comfy Beds

 Hailey taking a picture of her Salmon.

 Dean and Amie, How I love these two.

My dear hubby eating his salad.

Tommy and I left around noon and drove to Logan to meet Dean, Amie and Hailey. We went out to dinner to "Elements". It was yummy. I had Chicken Alfredo and it was delicious. 

Now it's time to go to bed with my iphone and I'm going to read my scriptures and the institute manual. I love the Gospel Library. I have no excuses to not be reading my scrptures everyday and pondering what I read. I am trying hard.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful to be a part of this special time in Hailey's life. I am grateful for the righteous choices she is making. 

Ward Council

Herding Goats

There was not one slice of bread in either house this morning so I made Lori's recipe. It took a little over an hour and I had 4 loaves of bread hot and ready to eat.

I went to Ward Council and attended the Gospel Essentials class and conducted Relief Society. It was a long day.

I made this page a couple of days ago and finally remembered to put it on my blog. Harley really loves her silly goats.

I had to go over to the church at 7:45 to do the Visiting Teaching report with Ashley. My keys suddenly didn't work so we had to go to Brother Neville and get his keys. But we got it done for the month. And.... the sisters did a great job visiting each other.

Grateful Statement: I am grateful for Jesus Christ and what He has done for me. I am glad for His redeeming grace.

Additional Meeting Success!!

 Making cute snowmen out of paper bags from the market.

 Vinyl nativity scene put on recycled cupboard doors.

Gina and her delicious chocolates. 

We had our additional meeting "Super Saturday" today but it was totally free for the sisters. We bought the few things we needed out of the budget and most of the other stuff was donated. The sisters had a fabulous time making Christmas things. My favorite thing was watching Gina demonstrate how to dip chocolates.
It was a lot of work for our committee and they really did an excellent job.
We started at 9 and we were all cleaned up by 1:30. I came home and took a nap. I was tired.
Made spaghetti with the hamburger from our cow. It was wonderful meat.
Now it's my bed time....
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for all the sisters that work so tirelessly for Relief Society. I am blessed to be a part of this wonderful organization.

A Miracle Happened in Rigby Today

 Here's the miracle.

 Harley's toes.

Harley and Janna's Toes

Yep, the miracle is that Harley, the child who hates anything girlie, went with Janna and got her toes done. I was sick and couldn't go so Janna and Harley took the appointments. What Harley will do for her mommy.

I had the 12 hour or less flu, I guess. I spent most of the day in bed. I was supposed to go visit Leanna Poole but I had to have my councilors do it. 

But tonight I am feeling really good, I think it's all over with. 

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my dear daughter. She is the light of my life. I hate that she is having such a hard time. I am blessed to have my kids.

Temple with my Buddies

 I love that Tommy made this room for me.

My mason jars. Too bad they are too tall for the can shelves.

Ila, Sue and I went to the Rexburg Temple this morning. I was so tired I had a hard time being alert and attentive but I managed to stay awake, but just barely.
I woke up at 3am thinking about getting someone for the Assisted Living Care Center to do a talk and prayer in their Sacrament and then someone to do a family home evening on Monday night. It is the Relief Society's turn to get people and I had spaced it until I got the email. Panic time. But I have arranged for the Sacrament Meeting and just waiting on a call from a family for the Family Home Evening on Monday. I bet I sleep very good tonight.
Spent the day doing not much of anything. I did make brownies for Austin and Apple Betty for Tommy. For dinner Tommy and I had celery sticks and ranch dressing. It's a free for all tonight because I just didn't have it in me to cook. So our free for all was celery. Yummy!!! (And I really mean it.)
Grateful Statement: I am grateful for this wonderful food storage room I have. I love organization and I am so blessed to have a hubby who wants to make me happy. I am blessed!

Pop, Pop, Pop

Canning More

Went to the cannery again today and got more pinto beans and oats. I got them all canned and Janna helped me get the Oxy packs in and the lids on. Then I vacuumed sealed the Oxy's I had left over with my Food Saver in packs of 12 so I just have to open a package and I can seal 2 cases of food. It was so good to hear the pop of the jars as they sealed. I had two that didn't seal because the corner of the Oxy was under the lid. So I fixed it and if it doesn't seal by tomorrow I'll do it again. I am so glad this all worked. Now I can reuse these jars over and over.

Made turkey noodle soup for dinner with turkey from some time this year. It was very good and all the family ate it.

Tonight Crytal, Peggy and I went to the Stake Leadership meeting. It was very insightful. It gave us much to think about. Now it's time for me to go to bed.

Grateful Statement: I am grateful for the stake Relief Society presidency. They are amazing women who have our best interested at heart. I am blessed to be apart of the inspired organization.

Harley's First Wreck in "Moe"

 Janna took this pic at the scene of the accident.

Now much damage for being on top of the guardrail.

There's where she went up on top of the guardrail.

More than anything, Harley needed was a hug from mom.

Documentation in pictures of Harley's first accident. We are so grateful that she wasn't hurt and only "Moe's" bumper needs fixing. Scary time for this girl. Slick roads will do this to you. But she was off to work and school today driving grandpa's truck. 

Janna, Harley and I went to the cannery to pick up Oxy packs to seal my jars and I got 25 lbs of Pinto Beans. I took this picture of the guardrail on our way home. 

We picked up our cow today. It was a ton of meat and now my freezer is stuffed full. We have decided we need to raise another one. 

Then I had my presidency meeting and went over everything. It is so good to work with the wonderful ladies I work with. They are the very best.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful today for Heavenly Fathers protective hand to keep Harley safe. I pray everyday for all my grandkids. I am blessed to know that prayer works.