General Relief Society Meeting

I had not planned on attending the General Relief Society Meeting last night. I didn't know if R would be home from work in time and I didn't make arrangements for a babysitter. I planned on watching it on TV later in the evening like I did last year. Our stake was having a dinner at 5:00pm before the broadcast. R got home about 4:35pm. At 4:40pm a friend in the ward called to see if I was going and we could go together, I decided to go with her. I cleaned up in 10 minutes and she came and picked me up.

I am so glad I went to the broadcast instead of watched in on TV. I think I got more from the live session than if I had watched in at home. I felt the spirit and loved the message of the meeting.

Sister Beck spoke on being strong and immovable in faith, family and relief. I liked her quote from President Hinckley, "do the best you can, but do your very best."

Sister Allred spoke on visiting teaching. She reminded us that the Relief Soceity was created for 2 reasons, to relieve the poor and save souls. I didn't think to invite my visiting teaching sisters but I'm happy that I ran into one at the dinner and sat with her.

Sister Thompson spoke on families and about what is happening to our families today and things we could do to help our families.

President Monson gave us three guidelines for help: Sudy diligently, Pray earnestly and serve willingly.

I am excited to hear general conference next week.

Taco Soup

Taco Soup

1 pound hamburger
2 cans mexican style stewed tomatoes
2 cans kidney beans
2 cans pinto beans
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 small package frozen corn
1 small onion, chopped

1. Cook and drain hamburger.
2. Put everything in the crockpot and simmer several hours.
3. When serving, place sour cream, grated cheese adn frito chips on top of the soup.

My sweet baby

This morning when A woke up we were laying on my cuddling. She is always so sweet in the morning and I love to snuggle with her when she wakes up. S came in to hug her sister and cuddle but A would have none of it. She kept crying and pushing S away from us. A wanted to me and she didn't want to share me with her sister. It was funny and cute, although S didn't really understand.

Weekly Menu

Weekly Menu

Monday:
Taco Soup
Fresh Rolls

Tuesday:
Navajo Tacos

Wednesday:
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Brocoli
Salad

Thursday:
Wedding Dinner

Friday:
Visiting my sister

Saturday:
Japanese Curry

Sunday:
Manacotti
Salad
Garlic Bread

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

1 package yellow cake mix

1 can pumpkin (15 ounces)

1 egg

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Crumb Topping:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/8 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 Tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all the muffin ingredients together and pour into a greased muffin tin. Combine brown sugar, flour, ground cinnamon, and butter to make the topping. Cut the topping together with a fork until it resembles a coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping on the top of the muffins before baking. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Grandma

Grandma was here for a visit this week. She went home yesterday and we miss her. Not only is she a huge help to me but the kids love having her around. She reads to them and they play games together. We keep trying to talk her into moving up here from St. George. She lives rent free in St. George so if she moved closer she would probably need to live with us and I think she wants to stay where she is while she can. She'll be back up in December for Z's baptism.

Z in Soccer

Wednesday night I finally took my camera to Z's soccer game. My pictures aren't great so I'll take my camera again and hopefully I can get better pictures. He is having so much fun in soccer and is more agressive this year. This is their first year with goalies and I loves to play goalie.

Tuesday Things

I woke up early to work for a few hours from home this morning. After I got the kids off to school I worked while A took her nap. I have so much to do at home and work that some days it's crazy for me.

Mom decided to go stay with Tiff in Logan so when I picked S up from school I was going to take her up and be back to pick Z up from school by 3:25pm. Just as we were leaving Tiff called and said they wanted to come watch S's soccer game and they would just take Mom back with them. This was nice because I was able to come home and get other stuff done. Mom helped me with my laundry (thanks Mom!) and I baked Sinderdoodle Cupcakes and made dinner for us for after the soccer game.

After the game everyhome came back and we ate and visited. The kids rode bikes outside in the cold. Ever since S has learned to ride her bike without training wheels she loves to ride her bike even more than before. Tiff's kids have also learned to ride without training wheels so they were all having a lot of fun. Of course they didn't want their play time to end but they all have school tomorrow. Luckily we got homework done before the soccer game.

I just got everyone in bed and I am up working on my employee schedule but I am so tired.

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

1 package White cake mix
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Frosting:
stick butter
3 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
3-4 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and flour & grease 2 9" pans (for cakes) or line your cupcake tin. Place cake mix, milk, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Blend for three minutes.

Pour into pans and bake for 27-29 minutes (for cake) or 22-25 minutes (for cupcakes).

Allow the cakes to cool completely.

Beat butter until fluffy for frosting. Add all other ingredients.

Monday Evening

After I picked Z up from school we did a little homework and then decided to take my mom downtown for dinner. We parked at Temple Square and walked all around and up the street to Brigham Young's Cemetery. It was a chilly evening but so nice and the walk was great. There is so much to see and do around Temple Square and next time my mom comes we are going to spend the day there. She commented that she hadn't visited many of the sights for many years and I think my kids would have fun. We had fun tonight. After walking all over we took Trax to the Gateway Mall for dinner We had dinner at McGrath's and walked around a bit and even ran into a friend then took the Trax back to Temple Square to our car. I'm glad R suggested we go do something with my mom tonight espeically since she tended the girls for me today so I could catch up at work.

We missed gymnastics so I need to get S in a make-up class this week. Luckily we did Z's reading this morning so we didn't have as much homework as we would have. I didn't make him write out all his spelling words like I normally do on Monday but hopefully we can get back on track tomorrow.

Sunday is our Primary Program and the two kids have been practicing their parts for two weeks and they have them memorized. I love to listen to them say their parts. We listen to the Primary songs whenever we can so the kids will learn them more and S sings them all the time. Her favorite right now is Give Said the Little Stream and she sings is at the top of her voice, I love it! Z doesn't sing very much, it's just so challenging for him to keep up so I have loved to listen to S sing and make up songs. I wish I could video record the Primary Program.

Sunday Sayings

This kids and I made it to church on time this morning which is a miracle. We left an hour early so we could pick up my mom in Midvale on the shuttle. She is visiting for a few days and then I am taking her to Logan to my sister's house. I'm happy to have her here and the kids are excited to spend time with her. I'm terrible but I am taking advantage of her watching the baby for a few hours to I can go into work child-free for a few hours and I know I'll be able to get a ton done. Maybe we'll try to do something fun on Tuesday but it's kind of hard when the kids are in school and I have to pick S up for kindergarten in the middle of the day and Z a few hours later. I got dinner for tomorrow started tonight so I don't have as much to do after work tomorrow. I use the spare bedroom for the folded laundry and since Mom came I actually put all the laundry away!

Weekly Menu

Weekly Menu

Monday:
Bean & Ham Soup

Rolls

Tuesday:
BLT
Potato Salad
Watermelon

Wednesday: (This is the 3rd week I've planned Sloppy Joes because we have never had them)
Sloppy Joes
Carrot Sticks with Ranch
Coleslaw

Thursday:
Chicken Catalina

Rice

Veggies

Friday:
Leftovers

Saturday:
Turkey Craisin Puffs
Salad

Sunday:
Sweet & Sour Pork Roast
RoastRanch Potaotes

Father and Son Outing

R and Z had their father and son campout tonight with our ward. S was so upset that she couldn't go but she finally setteled down with the idea that just the girls would be home. It would have been fun to do some "girl things" (like getting our nails done or going to a bead place to make jewerly) but with the baby it made it hard. R and Z got a later start than they had hoped so we didn't have much time this evening anyway. We rented some fairy movies and I painted her nails. I'm sure the guys are having fun, this is Z's first time sleeping in a tent. We've always camped in our trailer so it was hard packing for tent camping. I'm sure I forgot a ton of stuff but they're only going for one night so it can't be to bad.

In the morning S had a cartwheel clinic and a birthday party and she can hardly wait. It's fun to see how excited she gets.

The two girls are asleep and I should join them so the baby didn't want me to sleep last night.

Reading

Last night was busy and we didn't get to homework until after 7:00pm when we got home from the soccer game. I dread doing homework this late and Z didn't have the play incentative so he fought me more than normal. After about 45 minutes he wanted to be done but we still had our 20 minutes of reading to do and it got ugly.

The past week and a half I've tried to do some reading in the morning with the kids so we don't have as much to do during homework time. Some mornings this works and some it doesn't. This morning when Z woke up I was letting him watch cartoons for about 10 minutes before he had to get ready for school and he asked if we could do our reading instead of watching cartoons. Of course I was excited by this and he read two books to me. Z stated that he wanted to read in the mornings so he could get done faster with homework and play.

While Z was at school S and I went to the library and checked out a bunch of books, especially Halloween books. Z had speech theray after school and when he got home he wanted to eat before he started homework. During his snack time I started reading one of our library books Horrible Harry at Halloween and Z loved it. When we finished homework he wanted me to read more to him and I'm sure before bed we'll read some more. I will get more of the Horrible Harry series and I hope Z keeps enjoying them. I just loved that he was excited to listen to a book instead of watch TV.

Patty's Gift

Last year for my birthday Patty gave me this quilted table runner. Isn't it beautiful? I love it and have it sitting on top of my piano. I actually got out my fall decorations about a week and a half ago (I love the fall!) so I could enjoy the decorations. Thanks Patty!

Twilight

I just finished Twilight. There were so many people talking about Stephenie Meyer's series that I thought I better read it. I have the other two books on hold at the library.

I have to admitt, I did get sucked into Bella Swan's story. Once she figured out Edward was a vampire I kept thinking how long before Bella becomes a vampire. I don't normally like vampire stories but I thought this one was okay and I am looking forward to reading the next two books.

Weekly Menu

Weekly Menu

Monday:

Leftovers Pizza and Chicken

Tuesday:

Chicken Tortelini with Alfredo Sauce

Salad

Garlic Bread

Wednesday:

Sloppy Joes

Carrot Sticks with Ranch

Coleslaw

Thursday:

Cornbread Chicken Pot Pie

Broccoli

Friday:

Take out (Father & Sons Outing)

Saturday:

BBQ Hamburgers

Grilled Veggies

Sunday:

Sweet & Sour Pork

RoastRanch Potaotes

Tuesday Things

This morning for breakfast I made Pumpkin Streusel Muffins and they smelled so good. They also tasted yummy, although Patty, I know you won't make them because they are just like making cake for breakfast for your kids :). S and R liked them but I couldn't get Z to even try the muffins, the little stinker.

I just picked S up from school and I am amazed at how much she loves it. She loves to come home and do homework and practice writting her ABC's and numbers. She loves to color and is so excited to color all her school work. As soon as we come home she shows me everything in her backpack and we read her Letter Book. We then finish any work she didn't finish in class and read her weekly book. They have started the kindergarteners reading 20 minutes a day so I count her reading her Letter Book, her weekly book and we started reading the BOB Books. Then I am reading the Rainbow Magic series with her and then Z, S and I are reading Charlotte's Web.

The school sent home the Scholastic Book Order and I went through it last night and ordered a few books, some of their prices are amazing. I bought an Usborne 1001 Things to Spot on a Pirate Ship for half the price I can find it at Usborne and the 1001 Things to Spot are great church and car books for my kids, they love them. The books I didn't order but wanted to read with the kids I put on hold at the library and made lists of series I thought Z and S would enjoy reading together. I put many of the Halloween stories on hold so we could read them in the next month. I love that we go to the library so much and I don't have to buy all the books I want to read with the kids.

S has a soccer game tonight and she is excited. Her team doesn't have practices so they don't know a lot of the rules and just run wherever the ball goes. I think there wasn't a coach so the day before our first game the asked one of the parents for a 2nd time to be the coach and he agreed but didn't really want to do it so I don't think we'll have any extra practices but S is having fun anyway. Last night she had gymnastics and I signed her up for a cartwheel clinic this Saturday. She has been practicing cartwheels for 2 months and tries really hard but can't do a full cartwheel. I hope this clinic helps her because she really wants to be able to do one. S also has a birthday party for a classmate on Saturday and she can hardly wait. She has wanted friends her own age but there are not any in our ward so I'm happy she's making friends at school.

Z has his soccer game on Wednesday night along with team pictures. His spelling words this week are kind of difficult for him and I worry that he won't be able to spell them by the end of the week. He still struggles with the word WAS and wants to spell it with an I or U. We work really hard on spelling but it's just so hard for him. I'm glad math comes easier for him. I just keep hoping that the more we read and practice the better he will do with spelling.

I off to get A down for a nap and I need to prepare my visiting teaching lesson. I am going to one sister this afternon and I will visit the other two tomorrow.

Monday Musings

I haven't posted in a week, I guess last week just wasn't very exciting. It really wasn't, it was just normal; school, work, soccer, gymnastics, homework and laundry,

Thursday of last week was Grandparents Day for the 2nd graders so my dad came for the program with Z. The sang songs and had refreshments. I never even thought about going since I'm not a grandparent but I wish I had gone. It would have been good to get some pictures of Dad and Z. It was really great of my dad to drive 2 hours up and 2 hours back to attend the program. I wish we had grandparents that were closer (although we are blessed they are this close).

Sunday I gave the lesson in Young Womens and it was on Procreation. I'm just glad it's over. I was stressed every time I thought about it. The lesson went okay but it could have gone better. I just don't know if I'm cut out to teach the YW. I feel like they think I am old but I don't feel as old as they think I am. I'm not sure I am good at relating to them. I'll just keep praying that I can be a better teacher.

Saturday several members of the EQ came to help R with the roof. It is closer to being done, I think they just have the shingles left. I will do a happy dance when the roof is completed and we no longer have to stress every time it rains.

The kids and I started reading Charlotte's Web last night before bed. We've read some of the Magic Treehouse books I want to find some Halloween and Fall stories to read together.

Weekly Menu

Weekly Menu:

Monday:
Creamy Ranch Pork Chops
Parmesan Buttered Rice

Tuesday:
Sloppy Joes
Corn on the Cob

Wednesday:
Spaghetti
Salad
Garlic Bread

Thursday:
Chicken Bundles
Green Beans

Friday:
Pizza Night

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Sweet & Sour Pork Roast
Ranch Potaotes

The Bishop's Bride

Today I finished listening to The Bishop's Bride. I really enjoyed this lighthearted book. It was an easy read and very funny and enjoyable. I think I must be hormonal or something because it made me get a little teary eyed in a few places because I was happy. The following is a description from Deseret Book:

Andrew McCammon, a widower, knows that he shouldn’t be nervous going in for an interview with the stake president. They are friends, after all, and have worked together closely over the past few years. But something is still niggling at the back of his mind . . .
In one sentence, his stake president deals Andrew two of the biggest shocks of his life: First, he is called to be the new bishop of his ward. The second is even more alarming — he has three weeks to meet a woman, fall in love, and get engaged.
What follows is a sweet, hilarious, and thoroughly enjoyable story of one man’s faith and obedience, intertwined with a series of delightfully bizarre events that guide the right woman to him. Readers of all ages will love this rollicking, exciting novel.

Check In

It's finally Saturday but I didn't use this day to sleep in. I have so much to do and I do better when I get up early and tackle it first thing before the family is up.

R is working on the roof again today and I just want it done so I hope today is the day but since I know nothing about this kind of stuff I have no idea. The storm this past week was so bad and so stressful that I just want the roof done! I hope he doesn't get called into work.

This was Z's first full week back at school and S went back on Thursday. We had a good homework week so I hope we can keep with our current homework schedule. I make them do it when they get home from school so they have an insentive to play and so far so good. Generally Z has a snack and watches about 10 minutes of TV before we start, then I take the phone off the hook so friends can't bother us and we spend anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour on homework. It seems like a long time but that's including his 20 minutes of reading everyday. Last year it was such a fight during dinner time or after soccer and it just made for a not so fun evening so I'm hoping this helps. The friend he plays with the most is also doing homework first thing so he doesn't start calling right away.

We have soccer through the end of October. The kids are having fun. This is S's first time playing so she isn't very agressive with the ball and just seems to run up and down the field with the other kids. This year is Z's first year with a goalie and he was excited to be the first goalie the other night. I didn't get to see how he did since I had to leave for YW but he said he liked it.

This week is Grandparent's Day for Z at school so we are trying to get one of his grandparents to come for the program. I'm hoping my dad will be able to come for the day because that is who Z picked.

Tuesday Things

Z has school this morning after having a long weekend. Each day before he could play, I made him read and do some workbook pages. We had a fight each time so I am not looking forward to all the homework battles that have already started. I would prefer that he do homework right when he gets home from school and then he can play with friends as a reward, but I don't know if that will work. He will want a break plus he has a friend who likes to play right after school and I don't know if I'll be able to hold this friend off.

S goes back to school on Thursday and she is so excited. She is so sad she isn't going today. I'm not sure I like how the kindergarten class goes for day and then while the teacher does testing they don't go back for a week. It's like teasing the kids. Since her gymnastics class was cancelled last night because of the holiday I rescheduled it for this morning. This makes her happy to have something to go to while Z is going to school. S also has a soccer game tonight.

I need to run an errand or two and then do housework. I have lots of laundry to fold and I need to go through all the kids summer and winter clothes and see what fits.

Kisses

Yesterday A started giving us kisses on demand. Of course they are open-mouthed but it's so much fun to get a kiss from her. She's just so stinkin' cute, loveable, huggable and kissable. We are so blessed she is in our family.

Today I am hoping to catch up around my house. With school and soccer starting this past week, I got a little behind. Yesterday I cheated and took a nap with the girls and then I help R shuttle a van to the dealer and he took us out for pizza and Firehouse Pizza (which our family loves and it's new in Centerville). R is working on the roof with my brother-in-law and I need to run to the store for sandwich stuff to keep them fed. I also have the lesson in YW tomorrow and I need to finish up preperations.