2008 Year in Review

My friend Marie had the following questions on her blog and I liked the idea of answering them. I hope she doesn't mind if I steal them.

What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
I honestly can’t think of anything.

Did you keep your New Years Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t keep my resolutions, which I generally don’t even make. I seem to disappoint myself when I don’t stick with my goals.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister Tiffany had Rocky in February and our stepsister Daryl had Waylan the same day.

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More organization

What was the best thing that you bought?
Hubby bought me a new van and an iPod alarm clock

Where did most of your money go?
Everyday expenses, our home and savings.

What did you get really really really excited about?
Tickets to Wicked

What song will always remind you of 2008?
I honestly can't think of a song. I mainly listened to talk radio this year.

What is your favorite band/album of 2008?
The Wicked Soundtrack

Who was on your playlist for 2008?
Toby Keith, Josh Groban, Josh Turner, Brad Paisley

Compared to this time last year are you?
*happier or sadder* probably a little sadder
*thinner or fatter * the same
*richer or poorer * the same

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercising, camping, reading with my kids

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eating

What was your favorite TV show?
Bones and NCIS

What was you favorite reality TV show?
I don’t watch reality TV

What was your favorite guilty pleasure on TV?
Grey’s Anatomy

What was your favorite movie(s) of 2008?
Twilight

What was the best book/author you read?
I reread the entire Harry Potter series

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 38 and I spent the day with my family. We went out for an early dinner and then I took the kids trick or treating.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I had lost weight

What kept you sane in 2008?
My hubby and my family

What political issue stirred you the most?
The presidential election and Proposition 8

Who was the best new person you met?
I don't know if I met anyone new?

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year?
I learned that I need to make my marriage more of a priority.

What do you anticipate will be the biggest change in your life in 2009?
Who knows, ask me in a year.

Books I have read in 2008

Fablehaven
The Golden Compass
The Seventh Sinner
The Curse of the Pharaohs
The Broker
The Moroni Code
Vanishing Act
Shawdow Song
At Home In Mitford
Return to Red Castle
Mermaid's Purse
A Light In The Window
Death By Darjeeling
My Sister's Keeper
The Goose Girl
The Tenth Circle
By A Spider's Thread
Jayhawk
Death Of A Domestic Diva
Tippy Toe Murder
Nineteen Minutes
Blind Side
Gunpowder Green
The Great Gathering
Double Take
Knit One, Kill Two
The Celestial City
Arthurian Omen
Needled to Death
These High, Green Hills
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
A Girl of the Limberlost
Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star
Princess Academy
The Host: A Novel
City of Bones
The Great and the Terrible: From the End of Heaven, Book 5
Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague (Book 3)
A Modest Proposal
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Cherry Cheesecake Murder
The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate
City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments, Book 2)
Home Improvements: The Chapman Guide to Negotiating Change With Your Spouse (Marriage Saver)
The Great and Terrible, Volume 6: Clear As the Moon
Uglies (Uglies, Book 1)
The Deep End
Pillage

Weekly Menu

Monday: Quick Ziti with Swiss Cheese
Tuesday: Bean Soup with hot rolls
Wednesday: Beef Buns
Thursday: Ham Pan Sandwiches
Friday: Sloppy Joes
Saturday: Hawaiian Haystacks
Sunday: Cubed Beef in Gravy

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we went to the at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden. We took my two nephews and met my sister and her family there. It was a lot of fun. They had face painting, crafts, snacks and Santa came for a visit. The kids had a good time dressing up and playing with each other.

Day after Christmas

We had a good Christmas yesterday. I swore I wasn't going to get the kids a lot of stuff but they ended up with a lot anyway. I don't know where to put it all. I think they were happy with their gifts. I got them each bedspreads because we are going to redo their rooms Z got a Nerf Wii game and they got games for their DS, plus other toys and games. R had to go into work after we opened gifts so we spent the day opening, putting together and playing with things. There are still a few packages we didn't get put together.

Last night the snow storm finally hit our house and it snowed all night. We woke up to a buried van and steps. Two weeks ago when the storms started our snow shovels were buried in the yard thanks to the kids playing with them and never putting them back in the garage. Since that time I have been digging out our walk ways with a kids' small snow shovel. Our driveway is on a hill and I can never dig up the driveway without sliding down it so it has stayed covered in snow. Finally this morning the dog got out and I had to go up to the neighbors to get him so Z dug me out behind the van and I went to get the dog and I finally bought myself a snow shovel so I could at least dig out the walkway to the van so I'm not slipping and sliding.

I thought about going up to Logan yesterday since R was working but they kept predicting the big storm and I didn't want to drive the van in the storm. Also the kids were having fun playing with their gifts so it worked out fine. Today I thought I would call my sister and meet her somewhere so the girls could come spend a few days with us but she just called and told us we should come up to take the kids sledding behind the 4-wheelers. I'm not sure how long R has to work today but I think we will go up and sled and then maybe hit the movies with the kids.

We really should tackle our house and put Christmas gifts away, but I guess that can wait for another day. I also want to take the tree down and get it out of the way.

Merry Christmas

Monday Madness

We are almost ready for Christmas. I took the kids shopping today to get gifts for their dad. Of course they came right home and wrapped them. I need to grab a few stocking stuffers tomorrow and take in some work gifts and neighbor gifts. We've been so busy at work for the last week that R has had to work crazy, long hours so we have missed him around the house. I'm hoping he'll be able to spend Christmas Eve day with us and of course Christmas Day.

We are doing something with my sister and her family Christmas Eve day. Then we will come home and they will deep fry us a turkey. I've never had this and they say it's yummy so we'll see. I'm hoping tonight and tomorrow night that I can get the majority of the gifts wrapped so I won't be up all night like I generally am on Christmas Eve.

The kids both had friends over today to play. Their youngest sister follows them around and drives them crazy after a while. I just laugh because she especially drove S bananas today yelling "Rah" every second S wasn't in sight. She just loves to play with S and her friend and they eventually give her what she wants to keep her quiet.

I finally finsihed mailing out our Christmas cards this morning. We generally write a family letter (actually by "we" I mean R generally writes a fabulous family letter) but this year we didn't. After reading our letter from last year we realized that nothing much has changed, except the kids are one year older. So I just mailed the cards without a family update and hopefully that's okay and our life will be more exciting this year so next year we have something to say.

Well dinner is ready and I'm baking cookies and hope to make some fudge tonight. I also want to watch White Christmas while I'm knitting or wrapping gifts.

Weekly Menu

Monday: Meatloaf & baked potatoes
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes
Wednesday: Deep Fried Turkey
Thursday: Christmas Ham Dinner
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Bean Soup w/ hot rolls
Sunday: Beef Buns

Sledding

Yesterday we got a lot of snow so I took the kids up to Cheese Park above our house and they went sledding. I was far away, watching from the car so I didn't get any good pictures. When we came home they continued to play with the sleds in our front yard where I took some pictures. They are having so much fun.

Favorite Christmas Movies

I love holiday movies I love watching them especially on days like today when it is snowing. Some of my favorites are:

White Christmas
I secretly watch this movie all year long, I love it!


It's A Wonderful Life
It can't be Christmas without this movie.


The Family Stone
I watched this for the first time last year and really had a good laugh.


The Santa Clause 2
My daughter and I love to watch this together, even when it's not Christmas.


The Polar Express
I feel in love with this movie and book.


The Bishop's Wife
I'm a huge Cary Grant fan.


What are some of your favorite Christmas movies? Amy @ My Friend Amy is hosting an Oville Redenbacher Giveaway in which you can win a month's supply of Oville Redenbacher SmartPop!

Christmas Shopping

This morning after the kids left for school A and headed out to tackle our Christmas shopping. I have been such a slacker and have done minimmal shopping. Yesterday I shopped for my MIL and her hubby so I could send their gifts home with them today and I got my Mom and Dad something yesterday but that was about it. I've been torn on what to do for my kids. Last year I just felt like I walked up and down the toy isle and grabbed stuff but except for a few things I had no idea what to get them. I decided this year I don't want to just go grab stuff to give them what seems like a lot of gifts. Anyway today I found some cute bed comforter sets at Kohls and got them. We are working on painting and decorating their rooms so maybe it's not exciting gifts for them but I hope they like them. Z also wants a desk for his room and I am looking for a pink CD player for S. I did get Z the nerf Wii game and I picked out a DS game for S. I still have a little more shopping to do but I hope by the end of the weekend that I will be done so I can enjoy next week.

R is always a challenge to shop for because he will just go buy what he wants so I'm hoping he likes the gift I picked out for him. I need to find a fun gift for my sister's family and I also need to figure out neighbor gifts. I'm looking forward to the kids being home from school and enjoying a break from homework and getting them to bed in a timely manner.

A family R grew up with in Sunset invited us to their house either this weekend or sometime next week to visit. Their kids (that R grew up with) are all coming home for a visit so it would be nice to swing by and see them all. R considers Joyce a second mom and we don't see them ofter enough but everytime I do I have so much fun with their family. Joyce and Rob are my idea of a perfect grandparents. Whenever I am in their home it is just filled with love and laughter and they make us feel so welcome and at home. Their home is what I hope our home will be like for our grandkids when our family is grown. Their home is also what I imagine my own parent's home being like if they hadn't divorced, it's what we all what to come home to.

R's mom was visiting for the weekend and the kids enjoyed spending time with Grandma and their cousins in Ogden. We had a family dinner Saturday night and exchanged white elephant gifts and yesterday after school Grandma took all the kids to a movie.

Happy Transplant Anniversary Sammi!

This is a picture of Sammi last fall when she was 9 years old.

This is Sammi in January 2003 a month and a half after the transplant.

December 15, 2002 my neice Sammi had a liver transplant. Today is her 6 year anniversary. Yay for Sammi. We were supposed to get together over the weekend to celebrate but the bad weather prevented it. This evening they are coming down from Logan and we are going out to eat.

The following is an article publised in our local paper in Emery County after the transplant:

Giving the Gift of Life

By PATSY STODDARD

Orangeville resident Shaun Bell recently gave the gift of life to his young niece, Samrah Bears, age 4, by donating a portion of his liver. Kris Bell said, "Sammy belongs to my sister Tiffany and they live in St. George. Sammy was born with a rare liver disease which is similar to cirrhosis of the liver and results in kidney failure. She has had to live with an ostomy bag. She has been a very sick little girl her whole life. She has also had three surgeries.
"She always looked jaundiced and her skin had a yellow or orange tint to it all of the time. Sammy needed a liver transplant and my husband Shaun had told me a long time ago that he thought he was a match for Sammy. This was a long time ago even before any testing was done to see if a match could be found.
"Shaun has been attending the police academy in Salt Lake since August and we were told originally that Sammy's transplant would take place after the first of the year. Sammy got sick again and we received a call on Dec. 11 to bring Shaun in for testing. The blood work and an angiogram was done and everything checked out fine and Shaun was a perfect match. His surgery was scheduled for Dec. 15 at 7:30 a.m.
"Shaun was getting ready for surgery and he called me in there and I had to put on the scrub clothes and I went in, he said, 'Are you OK' and I just started crying and he said you just have to be tough like me and he started flexing his muscles, he was really great about the whole thing," said Kris.
Shaun said, "I have been taking the 17 week course at the police academy and stayed at the dorms in Salt Lake and would come home on the weekends. I didn't think that I would be able to finish the course and would have to take the part I missed over again and finish it another time. The drill instructor, Sergeant Kyle Bushnell said that they would do everything they could to help me get through the course. He came and gave me the last three tests of my police officers standard training in the hospital. Kris and I worked on the questions for the tests for hours. She would read me the questions and I would write down the answers.
"I have worked for the sheriff's office for about six and a half years now, I've worked as a jailer and in dispatch. I had an interest in attending the academy and learning more about it.
"It was some time during the pheasant hunt when we learned that Sammy wasn't doing good. I didn't know what blood type I was, but I thought I would be a match. One of the side effects from the operation was they told me not to be too active in sports, but there wasn't anything too bad. I didn't really think about the side effects. There won't be anything that I can't overcome. I had already passed and completed the physical training at the police academy. We ran for a mile and a half and did pushups and situps and a lot of stretching. We tested three times for fitness throughout the training. The school said I had done enough by midterm so the operation didn't effect that.

"I really enjoyed the training at the police academy. We had to be up and ready by 7 a.m. It was just like the military. We had to be clean shaven and have a short haircut every morning. We even marched. When we entered a building we had to have our hats off and in our left hand and when we left the building we had to have our hats on. If we forgot then we had to do pushups. All these rules helped us to develop discipline.
"Giving Sammy part of my liver was just the right thing to do and anybody would of done the same thing. I knew I had to do it and I didn't think twice about it. I didn't consider the side effects...none of that was important.
"Sammy is doing really good. She is still in the hospital and has one IV left in her. She will have to stay in Salt Lake for a while to make sure that there aren't any complications. She will be on anti-rejection drugs for the rest of her life. The doctors said there weren't any complications and that it was a perfect match. The blood started flowing through her new liver immediately and her coloring started to return to normal within a day. She did have really dark yellow urine and within a day it had returned to a normal color.
"They gave Sammy the left lobe of my liver. We have two lobes in our livers and it was about one-third of my liver that they gave to Sammy. Sometimes they have to leave the recipient open for a few days for the liver to grow to fit the space or to shrink to fit the space . . . sometimes this could take up to a month, but in Sammy's case my liver fit in her perfectly and they were able to sew her up right after the operation. I had 41 staples closing the incision in my stomach.
"I was in surgery for six and a half hours and went into surgery an hour before Sammy. They were worried about scar tissue being present from Sammy's previous surgeries and her surgery started an hour later. The doctors were just amazed with how smoothly things went," said Shaun.
Kris said, "It was interesting during the surgeries to hear the updates. They would let us know how both Shaun and Sammy were doing throughout the operations. They said that they have a lot of success with living donors and the liver can go straight into the recipient. They hope to do a lot more with living donors in the future. Sammy's family is so relieved. Tiffany is looking forward to having a normal little girl. Sammy has required 24 hour care and she has had to take tons of medicine. It's lucky that Sammy has been sick her whole life because she doesn't know any different kind of life. Everything is going smoothly now. Everything was a match....it was just meant to be.
"Family and friends have been really great to help out while Sammy has been in the hospital and Tiffany has been living at the hospital," said Kris.
Shaun said, "I will be able to go back to work in about two months. I hope I can go back sooner. They told me to do a lot of walking and not to lift anything. The sheriff's office and the police academy were great to do everything they could to get me through the academy so I could pass my course. They were really good to me. The people at Primary Children's hospital were really great. They said I was a good patient because I was so big and could tell them what I needed. The nurses said I was the biggest patient they ever had.

"I'm really kind of sad my police training is over....it was good training and it was all worth it," said Shaun.
Shaun was in the hospital for five days and went straight from his hospital bed to his graduation ceremony at the police academy.
Sheriff Lamar Guymon said, "I'm really proud of Shaun and the sacrifice he made so his young niece will have a chance at a normal life.
At Christmas time, people feel more giving and I wish these feelings could last all year long.
"I think Shaun has given the ultimate Christmas gift and he has demonstrated the true spirit of Christmas which is to give of yourself to others. We wish Shaun the best in his recovery and look forward to having him back at the sheriff's office," said Sheriff Guymon.

Weekly Menu

Monday: Bacon Cheeseburger Roll Up
Tuesday: Taco Bake
Wednesday: One Dish Chicken & Stuffing Bake
Thursday: Spaghetti
Friday: Chicken Club Ring
Saturday: Cornbread Chicken Pot Pie
Sunday: Crockpot Roast with veggies

Fun Anniversry

Last night R left for work about 9:00pm and never came home. It turned out he spent the night at Capital Theatre to get us tickets to Wicked. The box office opened at 7:00am and he was home by 8:00am this morning. What a wonderful anniversary present. I'm so excited to go in the spring. I'm not sure I would have been able to sit up all night out in the cold so it was so nice of him to do this. It makes it an even better gift.

Tonight we had a date and went out to the Mandarin for a yummy dinner and then we went to Rogers Memorial Theatre and saw Plaid Tidings. It was so good to have a night out together without the kids, we don't do it often enough and we need to. I have made it my goal to plan a monthly date night. The play was so funny, I really had a lot of good laughs and I'm glad we went. I tried to late to get tickets to the Forgotten Carols but waited until this past week and the seats were all crummy so next year we are for sure getting tickets to see it.

Tomorrow morning is our ward Christmas Breakfast and I'm on the activity committee so I have an early morning of cooking. It's also Sammi's 5 year liver transplant anniversary so we are spending the day with my sister's family.

Happy 10th Anniversary!

Today is our 10th anniversary. Yay for us! Ten years ago today we were married in the church and 2 years ago today R took our family to the temple where we became a forever family. I was wondering this past week if I love him as much as I did the day I married him and I realized that I love him more. We've had babies, losses, changes and discoveries together so it's a deeper love.

Ten Things I love about my hubby:

1. He is still as handsome as when we got married. I love him with and without his beard.



2. He is a wonderful father to our kids and they love him to death.



3. I love his strong arms.



4. I love how he teases me in front of the kids.



5. I love the many wonderful gifts he has given me; a trip to Hawaii, 3 surprise vehicles, my iPod, and my surprise birthday present last year which were tickets to Wicked which I LOVED! and many many other gifts.



6. I love that he is the voice of calm and reason when I start getting stressed.



7. I love how he will do anything for our family and friends.



8. He encourages me to do anything.



9. I love the time we spend together as a family doing fun family things.



10. I love how he knows what I like, he knows me. For example when he orders my drink with extra ice when we eat out or an appetizer I love.

Well Checks

The two older kids had their well checks yesterday afternoon and they both got their flu shots.

9 year old Z
Weight: 47.8lbs (2% percentile)
Height: 50.0 in (13% percentile)

6 year old S
Weight:43.4lbs (33% percentile)
Height: 46.0in (50% percentile)

A had 2 shots at her Monday appointment and last night she started getting a fever. She has had a fever all night and I can tell she just doesn't feel good. I think she may be having a reaction to the flu shot.

Whatever Wednesday

The kids ran into our room messing around this morning and S begins to tell us, "Z popped my nipples!" R and I look at each other trying to decide who gets to tackle this when she said it again. Z is laughing and S is tattling and holding up her hands. Finally R and I laugh because we realize that S is trying to say that Z popped her knuckles. It was so funny and luckily the kids didn't know why we were laughing so hard but it gave us a good chuckle this morning.

Monday night we R and the kids put the tree up and last night the kids and I decorated it. I've decided it takes us two nights to get our tree up and it's a lot of work. Last year was the first year I just let the idea of a perfect tree go and I let the kids put the decorations wherever they wanted. It was a little easier this year and many of the decorations are clustered in the same place but they had fun and that's what counts. My goal next year is to put our tree up the week of Thanksgiving.

This year starting last night I started a new tradition. We will read a Christmas story every night in December until Christmas Eve, and then read from the Bible the story of the Savior's birth. Last night we started with The Miracle of the Wooden Shoes which is a touching story. We don't have a ton of Christmas books yet and we are slowly working on that, but there are Chrsitmas stories in the Friend and I will get some other books from the library. About five years ago I started to buy a nice Christmas book every year so I could grow our holiday book collection. A friend told me another cute idea along the same line as reading a holiday book everyday in December, she wraps 24 books and each night the family opens a book and they read it.

Today the two older kids have doctor appointments after school and they will get the flu shot which will not make them happy. I don't worry about getting a flu shot and I'm not sure if R will get one. The only time I had the flu shot when I was pregnant with A, I swear it made me sick so I don't like it and I honestly have never had the flu.

Maybe today when I finish up work, I can get some holiday baking going, the kids would love to come home to cookies.

2 Year Well Check

A had her 2 year well check visit today. Poor thing had two shots and you would think she was being tortured when the doctor was trying to examine her because she was screaming so loud.

Weight: 26 lb 12 oz (47% percentile)
Length: 35 in (73% percentile)

Sunday Musings

• Wondering if we will get our Christmas tree up tonight, the kids are going crazy because it's still not up.
• Wondering when I will find time this week to hand deliver all the Ward Christmas party reminders to every family in the ward.
• Doctor's appointments for all three kids this week.
• I still haven't started my Christmas shopping.
• We celebrate our 10th anniversary this week.
• The kids are begging me to make cookies.
• I don't think the Peanut Butter Fudge I made tonight is going to set up (I wonder if it's because I used fat-free evaporated milk since it was all I had).
• I want to sit down and read Shades of Earl Grey.
• I can't seem to keep up with my recorded shows on Tivo so I need to start deleting some of the shows I used to think were so important.
• I still need to order our Christmas Cards, write the Christmas letter (or delegate that to R) then address and mail our family Christmas cards.
• Is it bed time yet?

Finally Friday

Yay, it's almost the weekend. Although I feel like I will have a busy weekend at least we don't have school stuff to worry about.

Tiff and her family are coming down this morning since her girls are performing a dance recital at the Festival of Trees. They perform between 12:55pm-1:25pm which is during my kids school hours. I've been debating for 2 days if I should pull my kids out of school to attend. R finally suggested I ask them what they want to do. I think Z would like to be pulled from school but then he would also miss Cub Scouts and he doesn't want to miss scouts. S of course wants to see her cousins but then I think she will miss tumbling. So it looks like I will keep S with me today while Z is in school and scouts and we'll go see the girls perform and look at all the trees.

We still don't have our Christmas tree up so I am really hoping we can put it up tonight. It's on a high shelf in the garage so it's a challenge to get to but the kids are getting excited to put it up and I was hoping it would already be down by now.

My mom called me yesterday and she ran my best friend from my 10th and 11th grade years in high school. We were friends when I lived in California and were glued at the hip and did everything together. Of course we lost touch several years after I moved away but Mom ran into her in St. George. I was just in St. George last week so I'm bummed I didn't know she was there so I could go visit her. Hopefully I will be able to go see her before she moves in the spring.

Thankful Tuesday

It was so hard to go back to work and get the kids ready for school yesterday morning after having 5 days off. I can't wait for Christmas Break when the kids will be home more.

My sister Kris is in town for work stuff so we met her for dinner at the Gateway Mall and had California Pizza Kitchen (one of our favorites). My sister how would have only order pepparoni pizza was brave and order half of a BBQ Chicken Salad and thought it was good. I was to full from my pizza to share with her but R helped her finsh the yummy (my favorite) salad. After dinner we rode Trax to Temple Square to see the lights. Kris said she hadn't seen this lights since she was in Young Women many years ago. It was a perfect night since it really wasn't very cold. The lights were beautiful. I don't remember the Nativity scene on the reflection pool last year when we visited but it was so pretty along with the floating lights. And of course the Navitity scene by the visitors center was amazing as we listened to the Christmas Story. Even A kept pointing at the manager saying "Baby". It was the perfect start to the holiday season for me and a reminder of what Christmas is about. I can't help but feel the spirit when Christmas story is read.

Tonight we have our Relief Society Chirstmas dinner for couples. Luckily the YW are in the nursery to watch our little ones. I'm sure it will be fun and a good little mini date night.

I have been wanting to put our tree and Christmas decorations up for over a week now but it hasn't happened. I am hoping in the next day or two I can finally do it. Yesterday I finally removed our Fall decorations. S suggested we make Christmas cookies yesterday so maybe tomorrow we can start off our Christmas baking.

Cheddar-Potato Soup

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced celery
6 cups reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups mashed potatoes
8 ounces shredded Cheddar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
Hot sauce, optional

Add oil to a large pot set over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery and saute for 2 to 3 minutes, or until they start to soften. Add stock and mashed potatoes and bring to a simmer.
Using a hand blender or regular blender, puree soup until smooth (when using a regular blender, work in batches to prevent messy cleanups!). Add Cheddar, salt, white pepper, dry mustard and hot sauce. Stir to combine and allow the cheese to melt.

Sunday Stuff

I woke up in the middle of the night with little A puking. Poor baby. I'm not sure what caused this, we haven't been around anyone who is sick the last few days. I'm not feeling very good either so I think I have a touch of what she has. I'm doing tons of laundry since the puking never happens just once so I have lots of yucky bedding.

We got up early yesterday evening from St. George. We had a fun visit with Grandmas and everytime I drive away from my family I resolve to visit more often. Thanksgiving dinner was at Grandma C's house and dinner was yummy. My mom was invited along with her husband's daughter and two grandkids and then some family friends so we had a good size group. A kept me busy through dinner and insisted on my plate so I had to eat of her tiny plate which turned out to be good because I didn't overdo it on food. Grandma took the kids to see Bolt and they all loved it and we took the kids to see Santa twice and did a little shopping. I am glad to be home and I'm glad A didn't get sick while we were visiting.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Seeds of Kindness

Last night we had Pack Meeting for Z. We were asked to bring a bunch of bananas to make fruite baskets. The boys all put together a fruit basket with fruit, bread and nuts to deliver to either new families in the ward, lonely or single and sick people as well. While the boys were delivering their baskets the family put together a basket and we are to deilver the family basket to someone we feel is in need of an act of kindness. The kindness theme went along with our FHE lesson a week and a half ago on kindness. The kids have been working on finding opportunites to be kind to others so I really appreciated the pack meeting continuing what we were already working on.

Family Pictures

Cherry Cheesecake Murder

Hannah Swensen and her bakery, The Cookie Jar, bask in the glow of Hollywood glamour when Main Street becomes a movie set. And although tensions simmer as the cameras roll, no one expects the action to turn deadly...until it's too late...
There's no such thing as privacy in Lake Eden, but Hannah never thought things would go this far. Everyone has been telling her what to do ever since she got not one but two marriage proposals. Movie mania soon shoves Hannah's marriage dilemma into the background and even gives her cat a shot at stardom. The Cookie Jar serves as snack central with Main Street rented out for the week. She stirs lots of fresh gossip, whipping up treats for cast and crew, including demanding director Dean Lawrence's favorite--cherry cheesecake.
Everything's on schedule until Dean demonstrates a suicide scene with a prop gun that turns out to be all too real. As filming continues, Hannah sifts through the clues, hoping against hope that the person responsible for Dean's death is half-baked enough to have made a mistake. When it happens, Hannah intends be there--ready to rewrite a killer's lethal script with the kind of quirky ending that can only happen in Lake Eden...

I have really enjoyed this series. I have fallen in love with cozy mysteries and this series is the first cozy mystery I read. The story is predictable and everytime I read a Joann Fluke book I bake and eat tons of cookies. She has some great recipes.

I started this book in June and got sidetracked with a bunch of other books. It's not that I didn't like the book, I just get a little bored with Hannah at times. I wish she would just pick a guy and not keep dragging out the dating of 2 guys. I want to finish the series but I need a break.

Whatever Wednesday

Yesterday afternoon the carbon monoxide detectors started beeping and wouldn't stop. We were unsure what to do so R called the city who told us to call the fire department. I told R that they will respond in a fire truck so be better think it's something before we call them because they will have to respond. We had no way of knowing if there was a problem so we called them and they pulled up in a fire truck (luckily they didn't arrive in full code, that would have been more embarrassing). After testing the house, it turns out that there was a spider next in one of the detectors and all three are tied together so they all went off. So after explaining to several neighbors that everything was fine I finished cooking dinner.

Four out of five of us have colds. I think Z may be getting one, but he's fighting it. I'm afraid we will keep passing it around to each other so I keep telling the kids to wash with soap and use the bug germ around the house. Let's hope it goes away soon.

R drove up to Billings, Montana today to deliver a vehicle for work. On his way back he will stop in Rexburg to pick up a jeep for my sister and her husband. He has been sick for a few days and not getting very much sleep so I worry when he drives (I'll have to share his awful accident story another time). I just hope he stops tonight for some sleep when he starts getting tired. He is trying to make it back early tomorrow so it's a quick trip, I just praying for a safe one. By the way he loves doing stuff like this, I'm not sure why, but he loves driving.

I finally started reading Breaking Dawn last night. Some work friends invited me to go see Twlight with them on Friday. I have enjoyed this series, but it's not my favorite and I'm not obsessed with it. At first I thought I might see the movie but I didn't care very much and then I thought that I should go with them just to see a grown up movie and get away from the kids for a few hours. As Friday approaches, I'm getting excited to see the movie, maybe I'll finish the book by then but I'm not sure that's possible and still do my mom and work stuff.

Last night I went to a meeting for my YW calling. We just got a new presidency a month or two ago so there are a lot of changes. I have been a Mia Maid Advisor for about a year and my understanding was I taught Sunday lessons and came to activities to show support and get to know the girls. The new presidency is making lots of changes and the advisers will be more involved with the girls and with planning activities and helping out. I'm nervous to meet their expectations but I think overall it's great for the girls and getting to know them better. The previous presidency was great and the new presidency will continue where they left off and try new things that will continue to help teach the girls leadership skills and help them continue to develop their testimonies. I'm excited.

Oh, and tonight Tammy brought over the disk of our family pictures. She had to work hard for our pictures and schedule a re shoot because the kids just didn't cooperate very well the first time. The pictures are great. Thanks Tammy! She even made us a cute Christmas Card and I'm excited to get pictures ordered.

Tuesday Things

Yesterday S woke up with a bit of a barky cough. As the day progressed I could tell I was starting to get something and also A started coughing. It looks like our family is getting a yucky cold. S didn't go to school today so I am trying to get my work done while the girls watch cartoons so we can all take a nap in a little while. At least we won't be sick for Thanksgiving next week (I hope).

Dad is still up at the VA Hospital. He has some tests scheduled today and I think he is hoping to go today or tomorrow depending what he finds out from the tests. I haven't been able to go see him since Saturday and I feel awful. It's just really difficult when I can't take any kids. The floor he is on does not allow kids. I was hoping to visit today while the older kids were is school and A was at a sitter but the sickies have prevented that. Maybe if R can come home early today, but I have 2 church meetings tonight so I don't know.

Even though I don't feel great I need to tackle my house. There are still a bunch of toys all over the living room from Z's birthday party. We need to find a place for everything, I just didn't feel up to it last night. So my small goal for today is to clean off the kitchen counter and get the living room picked up.

Next week we are actually going out of town for Thanksgiving. We never go out of town for Thanksgiving or Christmas, we are just to busy at work. I also like being home for the holidays and doing my cooking and enjoying my house. We are going to St. George to see our moms. Wednesday afternnon when work starts to slow down we will leave and then Saturday morning we will come home before the big Thanksgiving return starts for Saturday night and all day Sunday. The kids won't be around cousins or other kids but they'll have fun seeing both grandmas.

Weekly Menu

Monday: Baked Chicken & Corn

Tuesday: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Wednesday: Shredded Beef & Rolls, Carrots

Thursday: Spaghetti w/ salad and garlic bread

Friday: Salmon w/ baked potato

Saturday: Pizza

Sunday: Crockpot Pork Ribs

Family Saturday

My sister and her family spent the night last night. Of course my kids are thrilled to spend time with their cousins. I'm going to go make us all some homemade buttermilk pancakes for breakfast since it's the only thing all the kids seem to eat.

My Dad aslo came back up again from Price yesterday to be admitted back into the hospital. Monday he had problems and now he's back. It sounds like he will be for the weekend so they can get on top of whatever is wrong. I didn't go see him last night because I was watching the kids and didn't want to atempt to go visit with 5 kids by myself.

Today is Z's birthday party. His party is at Kangaroo Zoo and he is so excited to have his party. He will have good friends from church and school and his cousins. I'm sure the kids will love the bouncy toys and have a ton of fun. I just hope I can take a lot of good pictures. We may also try to go see Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Over the years it's become a tradition to go see a movie after Z's birthday party. I think my sister and her family will go home tonight and my kids will beg that they stay one more night. We also need to find some time to go visit Dad at the hospital. I know this will be a day we will need more time to do everything we want to do.

Oh and it's my brother's birthday, he turns 36. We don't seem to have to have a lot of contact with him and his family. I hope he has a great birthday!

Parent Teacher Conferences

This afternoon I had parent teacher conferences with Z and S's teachers. I pretty much knew what to expect with Z's teacher. He is doing pretty good in most subjects and his biggest struggle right now is spelling. Z still struggles a lot with reading which ties into his past speech problems and I think this is also why he has a hard time with spelling. He studies spelling every night and last week he got 4 out of 16 words correct. I need to evaluate how he studies and see what we can do to help him more. His teacher also said he can get easily sidetracked in school so he needs to work on staying focused on what the teacher is teaching.

I knew S was struggling somewhat but I didn't know it was as bad it was. Her teacher first expressed that S seemed to lack confidence and was always unsure of herself. S is having a difficult time with her math facts and is way below in her reading. She hasn't been passing everything off that she needs to. She has a very organized, on the ball and dedicated teacher who teaches a little high and has high expectations of the students. S really likes her teacher and I also think she is wonderful at what she does. I was a little intimidated by her and I think S might be as well. By the time I left I was in tears at how much S is struggling. (I don't think I ever felt this bad when Z was struggling early on with his speech) I just felt like the worst parent and like I should be doing more to help her. Her teacher did suggest math flash cards so tonight we started on them and I am hoping this will help her. We work on reading everyday so I'm not sure what else to do other than continue to encourage and praise her. I have never felt like S lacked confidence but maybe I'm wrong. I'm going to watch this closely and see if I can find any parenting books on confidence to help me. Maybe I just overreacted because I am PMSing but I think that was only just a small part.

Weekly Menu

Monday: Birthday Dinner - Denny's

Tuesday: Honey Dijon Salmon & spaghetti squash

Wednesday: Hamburger Soup w/rolls

Thursday: Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders & Potato Wedges

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday: Lasagna

Sunday: Steak, baked potato, green beans

Monday Madness

Well, I think Z has been happy with his birthday. We woke him up with a little chocolate cake singing "Happy Birthday". I also went to his class this morning and took treats and shared pictures and stories about him. He loved it. Tonight we let him pick his favorite restaurant to go out to eat at and guess what he picked? Can you believe Denny's! This boys loves Denny's. Ever since this time last year when we spent a week in California and every night after we left Disneyland we stopped at the Denny's accross the street and ate dinner, he has loved Denny's. We tired to get him to pick a different place to eat, but he really wanted Denny's. Z was also happy with Mariocart for the Wii.

My dad came up from Price tonight with an infection in his leg from his surgery. He has spent most of the late afternoon and evening in the ER at the VA Hospital. They may admitt him but we are not sure what is going on yet. I was going to go see him after dinner but since he had not been admitted yet and didn't want to take the kids to run around the ER and drive everyone crazy and pick up a million germs so we just came home. He had so many complications after his surgery last year, I hope it's not as bad this time.

Happy 9th Birthday Z!!

Sunday Stuff

I shouldn't be on my blog. I am in the middle of preparing my YW lesson and thought I would take a break. The other advisor has a sick child so I was called last night to see if I could take over the lesson. So I am trying to prepare while I make breakfast and help the kids with a few projects. I will be happy after church to sit and relax and maybe work on some laundry.

I can't believe Z turns 9 tomorrow. Although all the grandmas at church tell me to enjoy my kids now while they are young because they grow up so fast in the mist of little kids I keep thinking these grandmas don't know what they are talking about, I want them to grow up! But with my oldest having a birthday tomorrow I realize the grandmas are right and they do grow up faster than I realize. His birthday party will be Saturday. I'm having a difficult time finding a gift that he has requested so I'm hoping while he is in school tomorrow I can continue my search.

This week is parent teacher conferences at school so everyday is early out at 1:25pm. The kids will love this and maybe one or two of the days we can do something fun. I meet with my kids teachers Wednesday afternoon.

My dad had knee replacement surgery Wednesday afternoon. I have visited him everday at the hospital. Yesterday morning we took the kids up to say goodbye to Grandpa since he was being released to go home. After our hospital visit we went to lunch at the top of the Joesph Smith Memorial Building and then watched the Joseph Smith movie. A was a stinker and didn't take a nap in the movie like I had hoped so I missed the last 30 minutes of the movie which I was bummed about. Not the end of the world, I will buy it on DVD when it is released. We then went home to tackle some house projects and R was finallly able to winterize the trailer and I scrubbed the floors.

Back to working on my lesson!

Sunday Sayings

"Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again. It makes the thought of being a basher repulsive.

Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other."
-Marvin J. Ashton, "The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword", Ensign, May 1992

What a beautiful thought on charity. I could reread this everyday for the rest of my life and still find things to work on.

Happy 2nd Birthday Sweet Doddle!

She voted for the D guy!

Last week my kids had an election at school. They had picures of the canidates in the halls and discussed them in class. We didn't really discuss it Thursday after school but today when I was watching election coverage on TV my little S asked if I voted for the D person or the R person. She than informed that she voted for the D guy. I just thought it was so funny that she couldn't remember Obama or McCain but she knew she voted for the D.

I voted!

Monday Musings

I have to admit I don't want it to be Monday. I wanted to sleep in and I don't want to rush around this morning getting the kids ready for school and then going to work with Doodle. I don't want to worry about homework after school and fight with my kids about it. I want another free day. It is Monday, my free days are over until the next weekend. I have lots to get done and I'm making a list so I can remember everything.

My dad is coming up to stay with us tonight. He is having surgery on his knee for a knee replacement on Wedensday and he has doctor appointments tomorrow. I can't remember how long he was in the hospital last year when he had his other knee done. Hopefully his recovery is better for this knee surgery, last year he had so many complications after he had gone home.

A turns 2 on Thursday this week and Z turns 9 next Monday. I have no idea what to get them and we have enough toys and junk around here. I won't do a party for A, just our family but I need to plan Z's birthday party and deliver inviations.

Today my goal at home is to clean up the spare bedroom. Scrub my kitchen and living room floors and put clean laundry away. It would be nice to get my meals planned for the week and go grocery shopping if I find time.

Happy Birthday Sauna!

Curtis Family Halloween 2008