Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. I think it is a perfect way to start off the holiday season, being thankful for what we have and realizing our many blessings. This year I started a Thanksgiving tradition with my girls, my mother-in-law has given me a bunch of FHE kits and one of them focused on Thanksgiving. You start this on Nov 1st and go through the 25th. It says to do it everyday, but I am crazy and couldn't keep up with it so I did it for FHE every week and just did a weeks worth. Anyways, each day you read a card and it tells you something to be thankful for and then you make an offering for that blessing into a jar. At the end you donate that money to someone in need. We decided to use it for a sub for Santa gift. The girls loved it. At the end of the month we had about $11. One of the sub for Santa we had picked was a toy for a 6 month old baby. So the day after Thanksgiving I took the girls shopping and let them pick out a toy for this baby.

It went so well and I am excited to do it next year again.

Day 1: Are you thankful for the blessing of electricity? Give 2 cents for each light bulb in your house

Day 2:Most of the world population lives beyond the reach of medical care. Give 10 cents for each box of band aids in your house.

Day 3: Are you thankful for a roof and doors to keep out the wind and rain? Give 10 cents for every exterior door on your house.

Day 4:Are you thankful for clothes? Give a nickle for every closet in your house.

Day 5: Are you thankful for indoor plumbing? How about toilet paper to go with it? Give 5 cents for every roll of toilet paper included all the ones stored away.

Day 6: To people in refugee camps even a thin sliver of soap is precious. How many bars of soap does your family have? Give 5 cents for each bar and 10 cents for each container of pump soap.

Day 7: Do you have to walk to town to get a bucket of water for washing, drinking, bathing and cooking? Or are you blessed with faucets that bring precious water to you? Give 10 cents for each faucet. Still thinking about water, how did you get clean today? Give 10 cents if you took a bath and 20 cents if you took a shower.

Day 8: Most of the world is starving while we are concerned about being overweight! Put 1 cent for each pound mom and dad think they are overweight.

Day 9: What a blessing it is to see. Put 10 cents for each pair of glasses (including sunglasses) your family members wear. Give 5 cents for each person in your house who wears contacts.

Day 10: Jesus loves the little children. Give thanks and 10 cents for each child in your family.

Day 11: How would you like to live in your car as some families have to do? Give 10 cents for each car in your family.

Day 12: Epidemics often follow natural disasters. Give thanks if no one in your house has been to sick to go to school/work and give 50 cents.

Day 13: The comfort of a clean bed is an undreamed of luxury for millions of people. Give 5 cents for each bed in your house. Did a cozy blanket keep you warm last night? Give 1 cent for each blanket in your house.

Day 14: Was it cold enough to wear a coat today? Were you thankful for your coat? Give a penny for every coat, raincoat and jacket in your house.

Day 15: Most people in the world cook over an open fire. Aren't you glad you didn't have to chop wood this morning? Give 5 cents for every n=burner on your stove, 10 cents for every stove and 25 cents for every microwave.

Day 16: Unfortunately, this time of year many people loose their homes to fires. Give 10 cents for every phone in your house you can call 911 from in case of an emergency.

Day 17: Many people in the world suffer excruciating pain from lack of dental care. Give 5 cents for each toothbrush in your house.

Day 18: Many children in the world barely get one meal a day. How many did you have? Give thanks and 5 cents for each meal.

Day 19: Would you like to walk to school, church or the store? Most people walk wherever they go. Give 10 cents for each bike, skate board, roller blades or anything else with wheels.

Day 20: Give us this day our daily bread. Thank Heavenly Father for the food you have and give 1 cents for every slice of bread your family ate today,

Day 21: Count all the cans in your cupboard or pantry. Give a penny for each one and thank God for the technology to can food.

Day 22: Count all the packages of frozen foods and meats in your freezer. Thank God for refrigeration and give a penny for each thing you counted.

Day 23: Make a list of all the fruits and vegetables God created that you can name and give a penny for each.

Day 24: Many children in the world do not have the opportunity to attend school. They barley learn to read or write. Give an penny for every pencil and pen in your house.

Day 25: Most people in the world have never touched a computer. Give 50 cents for each computer in your home.

We truly are a blessed people and I am grateful to live in such a wonderful place and have so much. I look forward to doing this every year and remembering all the many blessings I have.

Recipe #2 Daddy Pancakes

Most of you probably have your own version of this and own name, but since I am focusing on James this week this is what I am sharing. I believe the most official name for these are German Pancakes, I have also heard them called rollar coasters. I grew up calling them pop-eye pancakes. The reason we called them pop-eye pancakes is beacuse when you take them out of the oven they have large bulges is them that resemble muscles. When Erin was 2 we made a batch and the muscles were the biggest I had ever seen, James jokeingly said those aren't pop-eye pancakes they are daddy pancakes. Ever since we have called them daddy pancakes. Even though they are a breakfast item we usually eat them for dinner. Oh well, we love them.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put 6 Tbsp of butter in 9x13 pan and place in preheating oven(watch it so it doesn't burn). In the mean time mix

7 eggs

1c flour

1c milk

dash of salt

in your blender. Scrap sides and mix again.

Pour batter over butter and bake for 20 min.

We like to top them with powder sugar and lemon juice. I have also heard of just regular syrup or a apple strussel type topping for them. But I like to stick with powder sugar and a little lemon juice.

More on James

James just sent me some pictures of him and Afghanistan. He went and visited some of his teams located in the mountains of Afghanistan.











These helicopters are called Chinooks. This is what they travel in.













Living conditions. The huts they
sleep in, their "bathrooms" and the
kitchen.

Some pictures of my handsome soldier

A village in the mountains.







I sure love you and miss you James!

Happy Birthday To My Wonderful Husband

Happy Birthday James. A little while ago Andrea posted a some Q&A about husbands on her blog and to celebrate you I am going to steal it from her and apply it to you.

How long did you date before you were married?
6 months
How long have you been married?
6 1/2 years

What does he do that surprises you?

He sends me flowers at the most random and wonderful times

What is your favorite quality of his?
His kind and tender heart. He really is so wonderful!

Does he have a Nickname for you?
Not that I can think of

What is his favorite color?
Red

What is his favorite food?
This is a hard one. I am going to say bread. Great Harvest is one of his favorite places. He also loves ice cream

What is his favorite sport?
For participation it's swimming for viewing its football

When and where was your first kiss?
Mid January in the common room of my dorm.

Favorite thing to do as a couple?
Play games

Do you have any children?
Two beautiful daughters

Does he have a hidden talent?
He plays the piano, better than he thinks he does

How old is he? 29

Who said I love you first?
I did (He is a little shy)

What is his favorite type of music?
80's

What do you admire most about him?
How hard of a worker he is. He believes in doing a job well and right.

Do you think he will read this?

Yes

I love you so much James and I thank you for everything you have done. I wish you were home so I could wrap my arms around you and give you a big kiss and hug.

This was the day James left for his deployment

Doesn't he look handsom as a soldier

On his last leave before going to Afganistan

we spent the day in park city and rode

the heber creeper. Erin loved it!

Lily's blessing day.

I love the 1st bath pictures

How sweet and tender they are!

side note

Just a quick side note: I am going to use the busylizzybows blog to post cute how to crafts. In a couple of days I will share tutus with you. So keep checking.

Chocolate Almond Cheesecake Bites

Yes they are as delicious and as naughty as they sound. Friday night I did a girls night out at which I had a blast. We pot lucked snacks and treats and I made these fabulous treats. Not that I am tooting my own horn, it is just a really good recipe. They are a bit of work, but worth every ounce of the work. So if you guys want a really good recipe for special occasions here it is:
Crust:1 c chocolate cookie crumbs
1/4c butter melted
Filling: 1 pkg cream cheese
¼ c sour cream
¼ c sugar
1 egg
¼ tsp almond extract
Coating: 2 ½ c semisweet choc chips ( I actually prefer milk chocolate in this recipe)
3 Tbsp shortening
2 oz white almod bark
1 tsp veggie oil
Preheat 300°. Line 8x8 pan with foil. Grease foil. Mix crust and press into bottom of pan. Mix cream cheese, sour cream and sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in egg and almond. Pour over crust. Bake 30-40 min (edges should be set and center should be soft). Cool 1 hr on cooling rack then 1 hour in fridge.
Cover 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper. Remove cheesecake from pan (just lift foil out). Cut 8x6 to make 48 bites.put half the bites in the fridge. Microwave chocolate chips and shortening at 50% power for 3 minutes, stir then microwave at 15 sec increments until melted and smooth (I prefer to melt on the stove with a double boiler method). Place 1 cheesecake bite of fork(I use my hands) and dip into chocolate covering it (works best when bites are cold). Place on waxed paper. Put in fridge and repeat with 2nd half.
Then microwave almond bark and oil on high 1 min, stir and microwave in 15 sec increments until melted and smooth. Drizzle over bites.

So I was thinking since I really enjoy cooking, of sharing a recipe of the week. I would also be really happy to have any of you share a good recipe. Tell me what you think.

Quirky Me?

My friend Rachel tagged me 3 days ago to write some of my quirks. I have had a really hard time thinking of some. I asked my mother and James what some were but they had a hard time thinking as well (or they were to afraid to offend me). Anyway here is what I have come up with, with a little help as well.

1- Sippy cup lids. My lids have to match the cup, it doesn't matter if its the same type of cup I strive to keep the original lid with the cup. I don't know why I do this, but for some reason it drives me nuts when the lid doesn't match the cup.

2- Loading the dishwasher. Everything has it's own place and please don't mess with it. My mother-in-law has tried to help me load the dishwasher a few times and I have to unload and reload the dirty dishes to where I feel they belong. (I love my mother-in-law and I am grateful for her help, just don't touch my dishwasher)

3- Fidgety. My hands are super fidgety. I took sign language for a few years in high school, I don't remember to much but I remember the alphabet and I find myself spelling things with my hands all the time.

4- Sleeping. I have to sleep against something. In high school I slept against the wall, in college we had beds that doubled as a couch and I wouldn't pull mine out so I could sleep against the couch cushion part. After getting married I had to be next to James and with him gone I sleep with a body pillow. I blame this on my mother for letting me sleep with her when I was a young child :)

5-Driving. I hate it! I know this is really bad, but I can't stand to drive, so I usually talk on the phone while I am driving longer distances to help break up the monotony. Don't worry when it is bad weather or traffic conditions I do get off for safety.

6- Cooking. I am a messy cook. I mean this in more ways than one. While I enjoy cooking (and I believe that I am a half way decent cook) I can't help but use every dish in the kitchen. I also barley follow the recipe and I use a lot more spices then called for, so these end up all over my counter. I am really bad at putting something away when I am done using it, so my counter is cluttered with all the different ingredients I am using. I also am not a very accurate measurer, so dumping ingredients causes more mess. This really is something I need to work on.

Okay I am now suppose to tag 6 people to write 6 of their quirks, since I know most of you won't do it (your all bums) I am going to try 3 of you. Amy, Brittany and Ashley

Learning Something New Everyday

I have heard this old adage of "learning something new everyday" many times. I believe it to be true, even on the days we don't realize we have learned something. I have been stuck in a rut of feeling like I am not learning or growing, but this past week that changed. I learned so much, some of it was fun and some of it really helped me grow. All of it is wonderful.

Fun thing #1- Tutu making. No I haven't made it yet but I have ordered the stuff and I have learned how to do it, I am excited and can't wait. I will post it for you when I get it.

Fun thing #2- Ribbon board. My girls have so many bows I couldn't handle them all so I made a board to keep them on. I think it's super cute.

(I did take 1/2 the bows off for the picture)

Fun thing #3- Fancy hair do's. This is a fun thing that came from something I needed to learn.

So #4 is Erin needs me. Long story short, Erin has been getting naughtier all the time, making me more stressed making her more naughty etc. After 1 long hard night where we both cried a lot I realized/learned that she needs me to understand her, love her more and really be there for her. So we started mommy time. I wake her up early before Lily gets up and I do her hair fun. We talk about anything. Dreams, jokes, stories and we even sing. It has been so good for both of us.

If you are interested 2 of my fav websites to get these from are http://hair4myprincess.blogspot.com/ andhttp://babesinhairland.blogspot.com/. These will also link you to a bunch of other blogs.

#5- Be less stressed and laugh more. My stress is wearing on me, on my children, on close family and close friends. I remember a talk in conference that talked a lot about learning to laugh. So instead of letting things stress me, I am laughing more and enjoying life more. The amazing thing is that both girls are behaving better.

These girls really are princesses

#6- What a wonderful resource friends and family are. While everything I have learned has been an answer to a prayer, I wouldn't have learned any of this without

you. So many of you through your friendship and caring and sharing have taught me so much. Your blogs help me learn and grow as well. Thank you for support and love. I really would not be the mother I am today without the help of ALL of you.