Easter is just around the corner!

The Beatles

This was a writing exercise Jared recently did. Apparently, getting "Beatles Rock Band" for Christmas was more than entertaining, it was educational!

Translation:
The Beatles wrote "Boys". They lived in England. They wrote the "Yellow Submarine". Girls chased after them.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Citius, Altius, Fortius

Unless you live under a rock, or are one of those really strong-willed people that have banned TV from your homes, I'm sure you are well aware that the 2010 Winter Olympics are in full force.  Except for the downhill skiiers.....who seem to be having an issue with snow.

In honor of the Olympics, I dragged out our little stuffed mascots that we got way back in 2002 when little ole SLC hosted the games.  See, I knew that my packrat tendencies would come in handy one day!  Behold the decorated mantle:

If I feel so inclined, I'll dig through some old pictures and find some shots of our family enjoying the SLC Olympic festivities.....later.

But for now, my take on some of the things pertaining to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics:

• Sad for them that they've had such a mild winter....I'm sure it's caused a ton of stress for the organizers.
• Luge:  Saddest thing ever.  And thanks to the news media for showing that horrific accident, I don't want to watch the competition now at all.  Gives me a sick feeling in my stomach.
• Snowcross:  Loved it, and I don't typically enjoy watching snowboarding!  I really liked the demin pants they wore.  I want some.  Except that when I ski, I don't want to look like a snowboarder, so I won't be looking too hard!
• Hope to see some downhill and super G soon....as does everyone.
• Pairs ice skating:  I normally love it, but was bored to tears with it this time.
• Mens ice skating:  Almost as bad as the pairs, although I was a little more interested.
• Moguls course:  Loved it, but OUCH!  My knees hurt for them.  And the woman that has had 6 knee surgeries and is still competing, and winning?!  Good for her.  Does she have her knee replacements scheduled with her surgeon already?  Talk about tenacious.
• Is it Biathalon?  The X-country skiing and shooting?   Hmmmm.
• Curling:  Riveting, as always.  I WANT a pair of the Norwegian teams pants.

What are your thoughts, loves, hates?

Love, Me

Things Are Just "Off" Around Here

 What's wrong with this child picture?!

Happy Valentines Day!

Truthfully, not the day we planned around here, but that's the one constant isn't it? Change?

Earlier this week we got a call from Oklahoma informing us if the death of Riley's grandfather and my husband's 1st Father-in-law. So early this morning, early, they boarded a plane to take them to OK for Monday's memorial service. Thank goodness for Priceline, we were able to get incredibly good fares at the last minute, but the downside is you only get to choose flight dates, not times.  (Try out $200RT each instead of $500RT each!  If you ever need a quick flight and are flexible with times, bid on Priceline.)

Which meant they flew out of SLC at 6 am for a layover in Denver, then on to OKC.

Which left me and the kids home to brave church alone. It went pretty well. The kids were better behaved than usual - tender mercies! Nicole gave a talk in Primary. She did great. She spoke about the Bible story of the woman at the well and Christ being the "living water". Nursery for me was calmer than usual, which was a nice break.

Ron and I went out Friday for a VDay date since he was going to be gone today.  And because today was a Sunday.

Before we ate, we went to the AT&T store and got me and Riley new phones.  My old phone's battery was toast...if it was fully charged, I had about 5 minutes to talk before it would die.  Not so useful, and highly irritating!  Riley had gotten her's wet one too many times, so a few of the buttons weren't working. It was time for some new equipment, and thankfully our old contract obligation was fulfilled. Ron was a gem of a husband and got me an iPhone. I'm sure I will be addicted...yep, positive! Problem is, it's taken me all day to write this post since the kids keep stealing borrowing it to play games.  What possessed me to download games for them?!  It'll be a fun phone to have...but I'm paranoid about dropping it. Cross your fingers that I won't.  I'm scared of the shattered glass!

That's about it for today, just one more thing...for those of you that have an iPhone, will you share your favorite apps with me?  I'll share mine in a later post if you are interested.

I hope you all felt lots of love today, and that it spills over to every day.

Be Mine, Valentine!

Sending some love out from our family to yours.  Not that all of us are pictured here below...just half of the family that required valentines to give out at school.....but you can be certain that we ALL send our love!

(Reasons for unique posing was for candy placement...cut a slit in the picture and slip a sucker stick in...viola!  Vday card with a treat!)

**The cupid idea was all Jared's.  That's my boy!  His sense of humor is ahead of his time.  Since it was 1st grade, I figured the kids were too little to tease him about it, so let him do it.  If we do picture cards again, fairy wings will not be involved until he's old enough to put any teasers in their place! ;)  His looked awesome finished, like he was shooting the sucker from his bow.

Roadkill Possom...Opossum?!

Here's my funny for the day:

While checking out at Costco, the cashier and her helper loading my cart up were talking.  The cashier was telling her that ever since she was little, she can't eat fish because when she was young, her older brother would feed her odd things (like squirrel) and tell her it was fish.  (Aren't older brothers great?!)

Then the lady loading the cart started telling us that when she was on her mission, the people there would eat all sorts of weird things, like roadkill possum....I asked her, "Where did you go, West Virginia?"

She looked at me surprised, and answered, "Yes!"

I had to laugh....it pays to know where the hillbillies live. ;)

*photo credit: allfunpix.com

Mmmm, mmmm....good! ;)

Chili and Cornbread

I don't think I have a style of cooking.....maybe comfort food would be a good category fit.  I like easy.  I like stuff my kids will eat.  I like mexican type spicy.  I like soup.  Ron doesn't.  But he likes this!  But really, does chili count as soup?

I don't do a traditional Sundee dinner around here....no pot roast, or chicken, or meatloaf every Sabbath.  I like to mix it up sometimes.  This week....Chili and Cornbread:

Excuse the blurriness....there is a small section of the chili that isn't...but it was dark, I had my 50mm on wide open so I didn't have to use a flash, therefore...bokeh, and lot's of it!

Rotel Chili (recipe found a long time ago on internet, and altered by me)

Brown 1# ground beef and 1 chopped onion
Combine with:
1 can Rotel tomatoes & green chilis
1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
1 can diced tomatoes (15 oz)
1 can each pinto, black, & kidney beans (I use 2 pinto and 1 black...we don't like kidney)
chili powder and cumin to taste (I use 1 T & 1 t respectively, I also add a pinch of chipotle chili powder)
salt to taste (I use about 3/4 t of Johnny's Seasoning Salt)

Simmer on stove top until flavors blend, or prepare in crockpot and cook on low 1 hour.  Top with cheese and sour cream if desired.


Cornbread - Creekside Cookery (my ward cookbook)  recipe by Melanie Ashby

2 eggs
1/2 c butter, melted
1 c milk
2 c Bisquick
1/2 t baking soda
3 T cornmeal
3/4 c sugar
1/3 c white flour

Mix together all ingredients and pour into greased 9X13 pan.  Bake at 350° until done, about 20-25 minutes until lightly browned.  I always just check it with a toothpick. :)


My kids loved me for this dinner.  Jared adores chili and taco soup, and who doesn't want to eat a big slab of cake cornbread drizzled with honey for dinner?!

Thank you!

To all of you that commented with some post ideas and suggestions in the previous post, Thank You!!!  And thanks for making yourself known. :)  Just in case you are wondering, I think I had 32 reads of that post, and 6 comments.  So......you lurkers and non-commenters (you know who you are, and I wish I did too)....anyone else that wants to add an idea that didn't previously, feel free!

I'm taking all your ideas under consideration, and over the next few weeks, you'll see it!  I'm realistic enough to know that there's no way I'll get them done over the next few days.

Especially the photography ones.....if there is something I have discovered about myself, it is that I don't take pictures in the winter.  It must be my manifestation of the Seasonal Affective Disorder. ;)  I just don't pick my camera up much.  But we'll see, maybe it'll help the sun shine in my brain.

I want to blog.....

I really do...but I have (obviously) been a SLACK lately and now I just don't have any material that I can come up with.  So, let's try this.  Maybe it will help some of you lurkers comment....because I know you are there...I have a sitemeter!

Leave me a comment, let me know you are there, then give me some material for a post.  Ask a question, request a recipe, story, whatever......within reason.

Who knows, maybe it'll be fun, maybe it'll flop...And by all means, even if I don't know you, comment.  I love meeting new people.  Unless you are mean or a stalker, then go away! ;)

I'm here waiting.....and doing laundry.....