Nine for Nine!

#1 ~ he's chatty

#2 ~ he's bright
#3 ~ he's busy

#4 ~ he's always thinking
#5 ~ he's a planner
#6~ he's a jokester

#7~ he's a sneak
#8 ~ he's a game nut

#9 ~he's a nine year old today!

Cub Scout Wednesday

Tonight we started a month long project of making Dinosaurs Hats.

Our project started with paper mache balloons. You would have thought I'd asked them to walk over hot coals. They (4 boys) didn't want to get their hands uey and gluey! It wasn't until I got my hands all gluey that they willing dug in! We only have an hour so it was tight working, and they aren't tight workers, they are mind wondering, mouth working, hands paralyzed workers!

This night is done .... Next week we get to paint!

I told my dry handed assistant (another mom) that she was going to be getting her hands yucky on the paint night while I stood and supervised!

Brrr

I'll post about tonight's track meet

(the first and appropriately named "the Snowball Relays")

when I've thawed out!

I stood outside for 3 3/4 hours. It was about 43 degrees with a strong wind. As I have learned once you're frozen, you might as well just be out side because you really can't feel it anymore! Or at least that's what I kept telling myself!

I got home just before 8 and it was around 2am before

I found myself warm enough to kick the blankets off!

OH, the track meet stuff.... you want to hear about THAT!?

Long Jump

This is a big track meet (people wise), basically everyone gets to go and their place/time at the end of the night places them on Varsity or Junior Varsity.

W was very anxious to jump. After working out all winter he
felt like he could do great things jumping this year.

He placed 4th in the Long Jump

(an event that he hasn't done in a couple of years andNEVER jumped that far or placed this high)

with a 19' 9"

Then had a disappointing triple jump with 36 something
(he scratched his first and last attempt so he only got one good jump)

He placed 7th

Not your typical Wedding!

Enjoy this article about my little cousin, Jennifer and her wedding!

Make sure you read the last line of the article! That's exciting!

waking Sunday morning

9:30am yesterday

it's was 32 degrees

freezing drizzle yesterday afternoon

9:30am this morning

sorry you're missing the beautiful sparkle of the ice on the trees!

it's 29 degrees

Oh, and no Sunday thoughts

church was cancelled

edited Sunday night to add:

the temperature got to mid 50s so we're back to Spring time green around here!

well .......

We're still watching weather. I didn't wake to a blanket of snow. I woke up to nothing! well, nothing except little G bouncing on the bed asking when I was going to wake up! an every Saturday occurrence.

It started to rain alittle bit around 9am but then by 10:30 it was really raining. By 11:30 it was sleeting, by noon the ice was sticking to the trees!

I would say that now ~ at 3:45pm we have maybe a fourth of an inch of ice on everything and the snow has started. They are now saying that we'll only get around 2 to 4 inches. Do they really know??

The wind is blowing so the wind chill is only around 15!

Flashback Friday

July 1971

This is from the bunch of pictures that Evelyn gave me.

She told me that this was the first time that Grandma had ever worn shorts, but I think we can safely say it's the first time Gr'pa's legs had seen the light of day!

for those who don't know, these are my grandparents. They traveled quite often all over the country with their friends, Evelyn and Justin. At my grandma's funeral Evelyn gave me a little packet of pictures of them on various vacations.

You've got to be kidding

8 to 12 inches?

Just how can this be?

I'll believe it when I see it!... Saturday Morning???

Website Wednesday

When this came up tonight I just had to Smile...

and share with you the sweetness and cuteness of Bakerella.

I just recently found Bakerella when she went to visit Pioneer Woman.

What fun that was to see what happened from here and here

I know there are some VERY creative people

lurking Along Plum Creek, I pass this along to you.

GO CREATE! and ENJOY!

Hump Day Updates

Well, things have been a whirl but I think it's just my life right now.

Tuesday, I dropped G off at school, and then head to a planning meeting at church, had Chinese for lunch, YUM YUM! Then off to play 'welcome wagon' to a new young lady (very young) in our congregation. She has the most beautiful little baby, Maggie who is just 10 mos old. As I chatted with Maggie's mom, I was remind of just how old I am (I SO wanted to head to aisle 5). Came home to rest for a few minutes before heading off to G's soccer practice.

Wednesday, I headed of to visit another lady from church. This was fun, we laughed, we talked, and we watched her make bread and homemade noodles! yes, from scratch. I'd never seen this, so it was fun. She works at the local YMCA as the program director and today was her day at home. So she was making a 'good' meal for her family!

As we (my friend Stephanie was along with me today) stopped by this great little BBQ place. It's at the airport. When we got there the car parking lot was full and the plane lot was full. We got the last table available. It was fun to see those around us leave in their planes. It made me wonder where they'd all came from. When you come to visit the prairie, I'll take you there for the experience.

tonight is a night of rest....and Laundry and all that other stuff that doesn't get done when I'm on the run!

Oh, for those of you who like to know.... G has not lost his glasses yet, but did lose his glasses case the first day he took/wore them to school!?! Just How can this be?

My new favorite hang out!

Today as I walked the grocery isles. I stopped in breakfast food isle to restock (after spring break all the cupboards are bare). As I was reaching for a box of Dinosaur egg oatmeal. An slightly older lady (with a baby in her cart) asked me "what do kids eat?" I said that mine liked these (dinosaur eggs) and showed her some other types they like. She motioned to the baby in her cart and said, "she has decided that she's done with baby food and gran'ma doesn't know what to feed her."

I mentioned some other things that my boys had liked (yogurt), but when she mentioned some 'baby yogurt' I said something like "when my boys were little they didn't have all that 'baby stuff'.

She turned to me, and stammered but finally said, "Can I ask how just how old you are?"

I said "45" (I didn't think it was too mature to say 44 2/3)

"OH, my you don't look it" Yay, I'll say that again ... "oh, my you don't look it" again ... "oh,my you don't look it" again.......

I'll be hangin' out right there in front of the Dinosaur Egg Oatmeal all week!

Especially around April 25 when my oldest baby turns 18.... yep, that's where I'll be! If you need me I think it's Isle 5.

AND NO she wasn't blind! I know some of you are thinking that. I'm sure she had PERFECT vision!

#20

Unfortunately one of our banks became #20

in the nation of fail this past weekend. (of 2009)

Fortunately it was purchased by another bank immediately.

Lengthily but informative

Watch CBS Videos Online
from 60 minutes

"What Happens when a Bank fails"

Sunday thoughts

We were all sent to this earth with a Special Mission.
**We promised we would do all that was set before us in this Special Mission

be an example of the Savior
Christ Centered Home
**how do we know our parental responsibilities? read the scriptures

What kind of person are you rising?
Kind vs rude
selfless vs selfish
service vs self centered

Righteous parenting comes one step at a time

WORK is the first order of Heaven
Teach our children to WORK no one else will teach them
We must do more than talk we must do!

You've got Mail LaShawnda!

Thursday afternoon, I was feeling springing so I changed my computer wall paper to pretty sping flowers. I stumbled on to the the ~ customize "You've got mail" message. So I changed it to a very nice "You've got mail, Shelly".

Well, when I return from running errands Friday afternoon, I come inside, settle in my comfy desk chair, sign on to the Internet, waiting to hear my lovely, "you've got mail, Shelly" message when I heard...... "you've got mail LaShawnda"

SAY WHAT?! Just How can this be? Things are just not right, LaShawnda?? who is LaShawnda?

then I hear giggling, no I hear snickering. W has been home alone all morning, using his time ever so wisely trying to find the most ethic name he could to change my lovely custom"you've got mail". I have to admit that I did bust up laughing (laughed hard enough to cry at the message).

Then it was priceless again when this morning I signed on hubby was in the room and the look on his face and his comment "Who in the world is LaShawnda"

Flashback Friday

(l to r) Me, My dad, cousin BJ, Uncle Jim,

cousin Heidi, cousin Corey, Aunt Marie, cousin Michelle

late 70's

Goodness it's Good, What's for supper?

A few weeks I found this website on how to make $5 Dollar Dinners.

Then I found this recipe. Well, in reality I thought this recipe sounded good, but it was a little over the top for my family. OK, the truth, I forgot the recipe when I went to the grocery store, so I got what I could remember which just were the highlights of the dish for me.

I really LOVE what turned out ~

Boneless, skinless chicken breast
wrap with enough bacon to have one layer (mine used 2 strips of bacon)
BBQ sauce ~ whatever you have is fine, but I watered mine down so it wasn't so thick.
salt and pepper to taste.

Bake in a 375 oven for about 35 to 40 minutes

Maybe could have used a bit more BBQ sauce or maybe to brush more on half way through. Not too late 'cuz then it won't get all glazey.... that's the best part.

I served this with a version of this recipe, this time I sliced the potatoes.

Piano Man

"Animal Band" by G

The Reader

Heavy Sigh!

I thought this book was OK. I really, really wanted to like this book but I don't think I ever really ever got connected to these characters. I think that was the purpose of Hanna to remain unconnected. I don't think I was suppose to get connected to her, she was there in a major way, she was illusive and she seemed distant to me.

Only in the very end (and I don't want to ruin by giving the end away) did I feel a connection and understanding of her. Once again, I wonder if that's what the author wanted.

I'm a very visual person and a book has to draw a picture for me and this book just didn't do that for me. It's short; 218 pages, so that didn't give it much time to pull me in and help me see them.

Let me know ~ who wants to read it next?

Sunday Thoughts

Unity
taken from these talks
"Come to Zion" and "Our Hearts Knit as One"
City of Enoch
*one heart
*one mind
*no poor among them

*Be one or you're not mine
*Joy comes from unity

Unity with ourselves ~
*unity with our true selves
"This above all: To thine own self be true." Wm Shakespeare
We should be more than good, we should be Holy

Unity in Marriage ~
Do we really listen to each other?

Unity in families ~
*our homes can work in harmony, but our homes need to have the melody to be truly beautiful.
Let each other live together in unity.

Angry people are more likely to bend to temptation
We are not to be doormats to those around us, but we should pick our battles.

Unity in Church ~
Greatest downfall is Pride, gossip (it's never idle, it moves) and contention.
contention ~ Satan stirs up contention
contention quickly moves to from WHAT is right to WHO is right

things that are just not right!

We are a Star Wars family! The last Christmas we lived in the apartment (13 years ago) I got Hubby the 3video set as a gift! We were moving so they were quickly put into a box. When we moved in and still had so much work to do. I searched them out, set up a tv and a chair for W to watch. AND did he WATCH? He watched and fell in love with the original Star War movies.

I can remember seeing the first Star Wars movie in the movie theatre, I vividly remember that first opening scene with the words floating up the screen. Being mesmerized at everything, in that first movie. Being in love with Luke Skywalker. Hoping that Luke and Lea would get together but then learned they were brother and sister! GASP!

How could they trust Landau? How could he be good and then freeze Han in Carbon? then the bomb.... "Luke I'm your father" WHAT, how could that be? I always knew the end before I ever even thought about the beginning. I was left for years with questions, how were they brother and sister?, does Han survive the Carbonite?, How did Anakin turn to the dark side? and Why did Jobba the Hutt want Han (guess we still don't know that)...

The youngest Star War's fan, "G" ~ the day we set up our big screen tv, the first movie was Star Wars! episode III

Little G doesn't have any of the same memories that I have ~ he's always know Luke and Leah were brother and sister....he's always known that Darth Vador was their father, he's always known how Anakin turned to the dark side, he's always known why he wears the 'vador suit'. He's always known who the 'chosen one' was, the one that would bring balance the force. He's known the beginning, middle and end!

This just doesn't make sense.... Little G's (and his generation) Star War's experience is so very different than the rest of our families (the older generation).

miracles do happen!

W went off on a little last minute trip the past couple of days!

I got him a room and gave him $100 cash, (for food and just in case he needed it)
but I requested to get some cash back.....

I got $60 back!

I just about fell over!

G~G~G

G Got Glasses......

No, No not those glasses........

These.....

I proudly say "Not Wasted Here!"

Kid's Say the Darnest things!

A bucket of Golf Balls?

We have just replaced a toilet in our home. When we built our house they had just placed restrictions on toilets. Toilets needed to conserve water! We had to buy on of the water conserving water toilets. They may conserve water in the first flush but many times it takes more than one flush to get a clean bowl.

So we've been replacing the toilets in our house with the newer high power flushers! (insert a Tim the toolman laugh)

I got the toilet last week. When hubby inquired about the flushing force, I said with great pride, "the box says it can flush a bucket of Golf balls."

W was listening to this short conversation and add, "Wow Mom, I don't think I could even supply a bucket of golf balls."

Say What?

#400

WOW! This is my 400th Post!

What's on my Ipod?

Tomorrow I'll be going to the Dentist for my lovely morning of 'spa treatment' .... I know, I know it's not a spa treatment but that's what I'm calling it so let me be in my 'happy place'!

I've filled my Ipod tonight ..... so what's on my Ipod, you ask?

Muddy Water ~ Trace Atkins
God Love Her ~ Toby Keith
Roll with Me ~ Montgomery Gentry
Tune to a twenty dollar bill ~ Joey and Rory
It Happens ~ Sugarland
Steve Earle ~ Sugarland
Tu compania ~ Keith Urban
I Run to You ~ Lady Antebellum
Slow down Sister ~ Lady Antebellum
Love's Look'n Good on You ~ Lady Antebellum
Things People say ~ Lady Antebellum
One Day You Will ~ Lady Antebellum
Put Your Records on ~ Corrine Bailey Rae
Papa Loved Mama ~ Garth Brooks
Let It Be ~ Beatles
Heart of the Wood ~ Joey and Rory
Me and Mrs Jones ~ Michael Buble
Play the Song ~ Joey and Rory
Callin' Baton rouge ~ Garth Brooks
Steve Earle ~ Sugarland
You belong to Me ~ Taylor Swift
Sin Wagon ~ Dixie Chicks
Sweet Emmylou ~ Joey and Rory
Clumsy ~ Fergie

Never have those minutes back.....

I've spent the last two days reading a terribly boring and predictable book. I kept thinking all day yesterday "I could put this book down and never think about it again!" but did I, NO! I just kept going thinking that it would either get better OR I'd finish it. Well, I finished it.

Oh, how I wished that I'd read the next book in the Sarah Prine series or "The Reader"

By the way it was Danielle Steele's "ImPossible" don't bother.

Tomorrow is a new day and a new book!

Sunday thoughts

I found little nuggets of "trials" in the talks today.

*Our purpose in life is be tested
*if we pass the test we gain blessings
*Heavenly Father doesn't create challenges or trials but he allows them occur
*our challenge is how we react to trial
**Trials are like getting a shot, we all prefer not to get it but if we can handle a small amount of pain then the result is life long safety (or blessings)

*We should be thankful for our trials
*We should be thankful for everything "are we thankful for the ability to Blink?" we should be.

*through the atonement we never bear our burdens (trials) alone.

As the Closing Hymn we sang "Rock of Ages" talk about haven't heard in ages, and it transporting me back ages! I can remember singing this standing between my grandparents when I was little!

Spring Forward

Our Saturday in Pictures

With all this talk about the time change I thought I'd give you an hour by hour account of my/our day.


AT 7am ~ folding laundry

8am ~ playing basketball
This was G's last Basketball game.
G's team hasn't won a game all season, but this game was close.
GASP! They went into overtime 12 to 12. it was a sudden death and the other team got a basket first! It was all good.



9am Driving home...
These fertilizer tanks are everywhere on the Prairie this weekend!

10am ~ Recycling and Friend time
First Recycling and then pick up G's friend for some fun time!

11am ~ playing and wrapping
I believe the building is a Star War's fortress! and in the foreground the present for the wedding reception tonight!

12 Noon ~ got this text
W went off to a Power lifting tournament today. He's been lifting all winter. I really didn't know what to expect other than I was sending a VERY excited boy this morning! I texted him all morning without any response, but finally at Noon his girlfriend sends this.......


1pm ~ Stephanie's flowers
I was getting these flowers to ready to take to my friend, Stephanie. When she called. Back up a couple of days, Stephanie and I (and others) were at the church on Thursday morning when she got a phone call that her sister had unexpectedly died. It was heartbreaking to watch Stephanie come to grips with this news. Just I was getting the card ready to go with these tulips, she called to give me an update on how her parents were doing! I'll sneak these into her house tomorrow so she can find them when she gets home.

2pm ~ choice
I really want to go curl up and read some on a book I've been reading (any book for that matter) but there are still things to pick up, sweep up, dust off, wipe off.......I chose to clean up!
3pm ~ finally talked to W
below is the note I made when I was talking with him..... can you read it?
OK, I didn't really know what I was sending him off to do this morning, or how well he'd do. Back up... this boy has a great "I can do this" spirit! years ago when he was 8 we went ice skating, he'd never been ice skating but we'd just watched the Olympics. All the way to the rink he told me all about the jumps and spins he was going to do....??? well, when we got there reality set in and I'm sure you can figure the rest out.

Then last year he goes to an off season indoor track meet. You pay your entrance fee and you can sign up for any events you want (one might think that you'd only sign up those you knew how to do, but you could sign up anything!) W sign up for his long jump, triple jump and then thought he'd try the High jump. I'll just stop this by saying when reality set in he can't high jump!

So I wondered about this morning. He had trained all winter, but what would he go up against.
As you can tell, in reality he was ready! He tried to tie the State Record but didn't make it! He ended up 2nd overall in his weight class! (note translation: he took 1st in the Clean, 2nd in the squat, and 4th in the bench. He tried for the state record but didn't get it.)
I'm so shocked and proud of him! No more asking him if he can lift this or that ...I'll just tell him to move it!
4pm ~ I'm blogging!
OK, I'm done with the pictures....I have to get ready for this reception and you don't need pictures of that!

Flashback Friday

This is Big Bro (almost 2) Christmas of 1960

My Aunt Marie

(you haven't seen her yet in Flashback Fridays)

got this 'walking doll' for Christmas

Doodle

Doodles

Doodles by W is on hold. W has been reading my blog and wants to have say in which Doodles get presented. I was just going to wherever I could find Doodles (which in reality is everywhere in our house) and picking which one I liked. Well, that wasn't working, "Mom, you can't pick just any doodle, and certainly not a church doodle!" So now he has creative input on the Doodles, that also means that I can't post whenever I want... I must wait for the master to pick on out!
Hopefully tonight!?!

Cub Scout Wednesday

OK, tonight I didn't plan enough. I have a mixture of boys, half are typical rowdy boys. The other half are more quiet, serious and more studious.

Well the latter half wasn't there tonight!

The Theme for tonight was "When I grow up" I started by pulling different types of job tools out of my box (ie: stethoscope, dental mirror, hammer, calculator, etc) we discussed all the type of jobs you could have with these tools. It got quite silly ....remember the more serious boys weren't there!

Then we moved to doing a word search with different jobs... G loves doing word searches! Well, the other boys weren't into being quiet so we finally had to make this a competition by separating the boys and telling them that the first one done got a prize next week. The element of competition was the trick! This quieted the silliness down and they got to work. Little G came out the winner very quickly ( I saw this coming... I'm telling you he loves a good word search).

We were able to stretch it out a few more minutes but it was clearly too short for these boys!

Adventures is Subbing #15

Today I subbed and it was

Wacky Wednesday!

A celebration of Dr Seuss!

I'm just sure there is double pay or at least a perk of a spa day included in todays deal!
I've never been so glad to be home in my life!

Not a Waste anymore

Winter Wasted NOT!

Sunday thoughts

I think the over message I got from today's talks was,

"Live your life so people know
what you stand for without saying a word"

BUT then there was this disappointing thing of church today...
This other lady and I have prayed and worked and prayed and worked
on a project/assignments for weeks. These assignments were to be
handed out today. We knew some people would not be happy but I don't think we realized just how upset some women would get at the changes. Some ladies just got so upset
at being moved out of their comfort zone. DISAPPOINTING.

Saturday Scorebroad

Little G lost his first game 22 to 8
Little G lost his second game 20 to 0

W's team played their toughest competitor, "the Orange" team (you know they aren't really orange they're more rust... who picked out that color?) I don't like it when they play this rusty/orange team because the other team plays nasty. It was tough they lost. I don't know the ending score because W got elbowed in the nose and left the game. I spend the rest of the game (a couple of minutes) watching the door for W come back in. OK after I told you how nasty the other team is W was elbowed by his own teammate!

W loves this picture...

W is #5 and the other boy is about 4 or 5 inches taller than W.

Tanslation the other boy is VERY tall!

This picture was taken by the other boy's grandpa!

Leadership notes

This morning I had a church leadership meeting. It was good and refreshing. As I drove home I thought about the notes I'd taken and how they were good for my general life also.

How to stay encouraged.....
1) Seek the Holy Spirit to help guide you
2) do what you can do on your own (personalize your plan)
3)Set personal priorities
4)Just do your very best
*What 'clamours' for your attention that isn't getting your Eternal Life?
5)Find joy

Flashback Friday

May 1972

time for a little Ketchup?

Boy this week has been busy, so it's time for a little Ketch up!

* Monday
*I straighten up the house in the morning

*wroted letters to Missionaries

*Met some friends for lunch ...Applebees! Had some Cheese burger sliders and a salad. The
salad was WAY better than the sliders. I'll go with another choice next time.

*I went to a Dentist appointment. Man that Hygienist is wicked with the scrapper!

* W picked up G after school and met me at the dentist office.

*They went in for they'll cleaning and I walked to the county Treasure's office (across the square) Why didn't someone stop me and say ..."hey it's the last week of the month, you realize that you won't be alone?" The lines a fairly short considering. Once I got to the clerk, it took 2 minutes. I walked back and the boys were finished.

*I had 3 cavities (GASP!) and they had none! But I (and only I) get the joy of going back next week and sitting for 80 minutes. reminder to load Ipod with new stuff!

*Then G and went to Piano lessons. They've recently renovated the local community center and it just opened a couple of weeks ago. G's piano lesson switched to there, and the piano is in the beautiful auditorium. Also G likes to play all of his songs fast, I suppose he thinks that it means he knows them!?! His instructor was having to slow him down all night!

*Then rush off to G's make up basketball game. Which started at the same time as the lesson was finished, but we were already in town to it was just a drive across town.'

*going to the dentist always makes me have a headache (from all the scrubbing and scrapping) so when Hubby showed up in the 3rd quarter I left for home and the bottle of tylenol!

*Tuesday
*what a lovely day... I stayed home as much as I could ... I cleaned, I did laundry, I cleaned bathrooms, ....ah it was good! To be home and the sun shining! My favorite.

*Wait I couldn't stay home all day, I had books overdue at the library and money to deposit in the bank! I ran to the town with the library and swung by the bank on my way to get G from school.

*went to the Grocery store, had to pick up some items for a family in the area that were just arriving home from a funeral.

*made it home.. fixed supper, tosadoes! Loved them!

Wednesday .....
*Drop G off at school,
*go get my hair cut and colored. It's cute and the color is just about the same. I thought we were going a little blonder? oh well....
*decorating for the Blue and Gold Round #1 (fix tables), Butcher paper and little flag center pieces. But they need something more....
*come home call about getting some balloons ($1 for each if I get High Flyers! or 50 cents for regular ones.... went with 15 regular balloons)
*eat lunch (can't remember what it was!)
*pay bills
*update computer check book
*shower
*go to G's spelling bee ~ once again he didn't study and makes the spelling bee, but gets out in the first round on the word .... autograph.
*take G with me to the pick up the balloons
*realize that it's our family's week to clean the church and boy does it need it!
*decorate for Blue and Gold round #2 add the balloons, looks good enough.
*G and I run the vacuum in the chapel and take out the bathroom trash before coming home. We'll get the rest later.
*go home and relax for a an hour or two
*pick up some clutter
*go back to the church early so I can get the blank map copies made for the busy work for Blue and Gold (round #3)
*Blue and Gold dinner and ceremony (we have a new cub master and he's not really organized... it showed) the night lasted WAY too late, should have been over 45 minutes earlier! Who knew the balloons would cause such a riot at the end of the night?!?
*got home just in time to read with G
*cleaned up the kitchen
*fall asleep (before hitting the pillow I think)
Thursday ......
*had a meeting at church at 8:15 am until 1pm (at least it didn't last until time to pick up G after school!) finished up that project ... or at least until someone wants things changed!
*I'm here doing Catch up with you!

What's for dinner

It was house full of boys, my boys, the missionaries, then a couple of other boys.

I served Breakfast Casserole

(I'll post that recipe some other time) with this.....

Baked French Toast with Pralines
Ingredients
1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash salt
Directions
Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.
Praline Topping:
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well.

Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

VERY GOOD!

4 degrees from an Oscar!

Just how close are you to an Oscar?

As I was watching tonight's academy awards show I realized that I'm only 4 degrees from one!

Back up to a couple of years ago.....

I was chatting with a lady at church and we were discussing computers (she is a big computer whiz for her age 70+), Jean likes to talk (and talk and talk) so her story was taking all sorts of twist when it finally came around to her nephew "little Eddie" (what she called him) and his computer knowledge! "Little Eddie had worked with computers and video games for years and finally had gotten a job with Pixar. Actually, her words were, "oh, you know that company that makes all those kid movies, like Toy Story?" My ears perked up now but I was thinking that Little Eddie was probably pushing some mail cart around the Pixar offices. She chatted some more when she said that she and her husband had gone to see Toy Story 2 and waited and waited for the end credits to see Eddie's name. Well, it wasn't there and what a surprise that was to them. So now I'm thinking that little Eddie must have been a computer artist that worked on the movie. My interested was now peaked even more.

A couple of weeks later this same lady came back up to me and said she'd called her brother about why "little Eddie's" name wasn't in the ending credits of Toy Story 2, her brother informed her that Little Eddie's name was at the beginning of the film. Wow my interested was at the highest!

Just How Can this be?

As I sat through the rest of church I was absorbed with this conversation......I got to figuring this all out.... the 70ish lady at church is the youngest of many children, so her "little Eddie was probably not a teenager or a twenty something (like I'd pictured him), he was most likely a grown man older than I, and then I got to thinking of her maiden name (remember she likes to talk so I've heard it many, many times).......

CATMULL

Little Eddie is .......

Ed Catmull

and tonight he won another Oscar!

SO....

Me, Jean (lady at church), Little Eddie (as we call him here on the prairie), Oscar

that makes 4 .... you know me so that gives you 5

AND I'll have to tell you my Steven Spielberg connection someother time!

Sunday thoughts

Hope ~

the importance of Hope ~
*"Hope is one leg of a three legged stool (with faith and charity)"
*Hope is a gift of the Spirit
*we have Hope that we'll be resurrected (through the atonement)
*We have the responsibility to make it an active part of our lives to have Hope/ not lose Hope

*Hope is not knowledge but is a trust in the Lord

Hope leads to Good works ~
*The things we'll Hope for lead us to faith
*The things we have Hope in lead us to charity
*All three (Hope, faith and charity) lead us to good works

*Never surrender Hope
*Never allow despair to overcome your spirit

The lesson comes from this"TALK"

a Series of Unfortunate Events

You know those books for kids "A Series of Unfortunate Events"? Where the kids are just repeatedly hit with tragic or well..... Unfortunate Events?

I'm beginning to think I'm a child in those books this week. Fortunately for me, none of the events this week have been tragic, but they have been ..... let's just say annoying!

Sunday W and I jumped in the Yukon and started out of the drive, down the gravel road and then set off on the Highway only to find that they transmission was gone.... well... going. We turned around and headed back home.

Monday I spent all day telling W that he needed to drive the 'kon in to the Mechanic and ride home with hubby. W fussed all day that he didn't think he could drive it just 30 mph! I replied to this "I don't think that'll be a problem, since 30 mph was all it was going to go!" When he and his buddy LT left home, the rest of the gears continued to go, including reverse. They quickly (attempted) to turn around (finally using a large portion of prairie) and headed back home in Neutral! yea, we still don't understand that! Just How Can This Be?

The Yukon is home sitting safely in the driveway! We're still scratching our heads at this one! Do you think I could plant flowers around it?!

Then this morning the kitties appear for their morning affirmation (lovin') at the back window. Only Sophie's left eye was shut.... this goes on for hours. I let her in to watch her, she's just lost (she is usually the prowler and she just sits still), can't get her eye open, won't wash it (she will once, but then quickly stops) ~ it hurts! I finally call the vet (you know I was convinced that our money loving animal days were over). Take her in....by the time we're ready to leave, it's open alittle bit and she's more active (will now purr a little) but not much more. By the time I'm sitting in the Vet's reception area (is that what you call it?) her eye is completely open but looks bad, BUT she's peed in her box (she does this when she gets nervous)!

I'm sitting there trying of comfort her (talking to her through the box) when she decides to clean off her paws so she flicks her paw and sprays me with pee! Shirt, arm, glasses, face......(Heavy sigh) NASTY. Now usually I don't care (about the over whelming animal presence of the the vet's office) because I don't EVER shower before going to the vet, well....today I was freshly showered but now covered with cat pee! JUST HOW CAN THIS BE? OK I'll stop but will add that she purred when she got out of the box on the vet's table! Rotten cat! to shorten this story.... she scratched her cornea (I don't think she'd had popcorn) and maybe deeper.

You know I could have named this post .... watching $ flow out the door!

Flashback Friday

Christmas 1966/7?

Me and my Aunt Valli Gayle

OH, but we've seen Val in a flashback before

Just a fun concert!

Tonight was G's choir concert! Enjoy.... this is his favorite song.

Looks like I have another sway-er!

Cub Scout Wednesday

Tonight was a getting ready for the Blue and Gold Banquet next week night.

We made invitations, then we played a states game (ie: name a state that starts with an A, name a state that has a river running through it) this was a simple game, BUT I forgot the map of the United States! Oops, but you know these boys put their thinking caps on and did great.

We then worked on a little funny (aren't they all) skit for the Banquet.

The boys then did the "Scramble States of America" puzzle.

This is a favorite puzzle of G's and he was so excited when it got pulled out of my bag to put together. I try not to let G know what we're going to be doing so he can be surprised with everyone else.

While the boys were putting the puzzle together the assistant and I tried to work on center pieces for the tables next week.

I'm so not creative ... so they will be simple! We were really hoping to get something figured out so the boys could put them together for us,

but time was running out and they were so enjoying their puzzle!

Doodles by W

oh my goodness.......

I've been wrapped up this book all day!

I have laughed with them, I've stressed over them, I've worried for them, I've cried about them, I've cried with them..... Goodness this books is Good!

I highly suggest you get it! RUN don't walk........

happy President's Day!

Sunday Thoughts

Forewarning this is going to be long... today was

Ward Council and the speakers were just wonderful!

Stake President ~ Kendal Ross

*sometimes we don't see what is most important right in front of us.

Patriarchal Blessings

For more information about Patriarchal Blessing click here .

*revelations from God

*God has tremendous expectations for our youth

*Patriarchal Blessings are chapters from your book of life

*Heavenly Father gave us all a blessing before we left heaven to come to earth. Even though we don't remember this blessing it still effects our lives. Some of that Blessing can be revealed in our Patriarchal Blessing.

*How can I become the person I read about in my Patriarchal Blessing? or our Spirit personalities?

**use our Patriarchal Blessing to understand

**Read it often

**pray about understanding your Patriarchal Blessing

**compare your life today to your Patriarchal Blessing then set goals to move your life in that direction

**consult your Patriarchal Blessing when making life changing decisions

~~~~~~~~

Keeping balance in our lives, how and what can we do to help keep our lives balanced

*knowledge of God's love for us ~ plan of salvation

*knowledge of Jesus Christ and the atonement

*Agency ~ learn to control elements around us and that our surroundings don't control us.

*Knowledge that we will not be tempted beyond our ability to resist temptation

"The Lord gives us more that we can handle without Him" He wants us to turn to He for help

*Holy Ghost

*prayer ~ be proactive

~~~~

Sister Leslie Anderson (RS President)

We were challenged to get out of our comfort zone.

Challenged to ......

*make time and space for those outside of our age group (or any other group we're in)

*search out a sister that made us feel bad and befriend her

*know every sister and YW in our ward by name & speak to them

*write words of appreciation to each other

*Pray for one another by name (use a note card to remember if needed)

*try new service opportunities

*serve in different ways this year. Make your service more personal and meaningful

*Love on another ~ better yet say it

*find what is hard for us and accomplish it

*be truly a Sister in Zion (read/sing the song and live the words)

I am a list person and I love that the last sister gave us a challenge and then specific items to work on!

Happy Blogoversary!

Today my little Blog is 1!

Thanks for Visiting Along Plum Creek,

I really appreciate it!

Saturday Scoreboard

Little G's basketball game looked more evened out today, size wise.
They still lost BUT G made a great assist on the only 2 points they scored!

W travel a couple of hour south for an indoor track meet. Hubby and I both thought it was not worth him going but let him make the decision. He as been working out all winter and even though he hasn't been jumping or even working out his 'steps' he wanted to see what he could jump! He jumped a 39'9 and missed making the finals by an half an inch!

Hubby's team (without W) won their game.

Valentine's Day Tradition lives on!

We have a Valentine Tradition of a Valentine treasure hunt. In past years I have given clues to prizes around the house. Where the young Valentine would have to figure out the clue to find the Valentine treasure. This year I took pictures of places around the house where once figured out the young Valentine would find his gift.

This still proved to be a challenge for him and he needed clues!

I took the pictures, but when I ran them off (on my little photo printer) the dark ink was out so I got PINK pictures (I couldn't have tried for something more perfect for Valentines Day).

guide to Picture collage.....

#1 G reading his Valentine's day card

#2 what G gave as Valentine's to his class ~ fun dips that said "I'm a dip for you"

#3 the PINK picture clues

#4 his Garfield card

#5 little star wars people that were his 'treasure'

#6 G's Valentine box...er' Jar! decorated it with Star War's stickers!

Happy Valentine's Day

Hey guess you get a bonus Flashback today!

This is my Aunt Valerie!

Flashback Friday the 13th

Happy Birthday Big Bro!

Big Bro in 1959

Remember when I used to wish that I was older than you ......

Well, not anymore!

Big Bro turns 50 today!

What could be more scarier for the Friday the 13?
OH, sorry mom, I guess having your oldest baby turn 50!

Book Nook

A couple of weeks ago I just longed for a weekend that I could snuggle up with a good book. I don't think I've had one since giving birth! (yep, that long ago) It didn't happen that weekend either but I got the book from the Library anyway.

I had heard such good things about this book, "These is My Words" by Nancy E Turner. If you'd like to read more about this book & the other books in the series, go here.

I'll let you know what my final thoughts are!

doodles by W

Cub Scout Wednesday!

Cub Scout Wednesday was cancelled due to scattered brain syndrome(mine)!

what mom learns from a campus visit!

#1 Our student Ambassador walked backwards (?), facing us through the campus while naming every building, giving little tidbits of information and answering questions.

#2 in the introduction (propaganda) video they said, (paraphrasing) even though we are a major (huge) university we work hard to have a small college feel. You'll not walk across our campus without running into someone you know.

#3 This university is built on a hills and in valleys! (making #1 even more amazing)

#4 they close the campus to cars (except professors and employees and buses) during the day.

#6 this university only (but did) used a few seconds (maybe 60 seconds) using they're sports accomplishments in their introduction (propaganda) video. This made this mom roll her eyes!

#7 the bus drivers were very helpful

#8 W met with a specialist in his area of interest. She was extremely helpful and gave us more information than I could have ever expected. We now know W is in for a 7 year educational experience!

#9 While starting out tour with our ambassador (See #1) we hear someone yelling W's name! We finally found the girl behind the yell, and it was someone that had played soccer with W a couple of years ago! this amazed this mom (see #2) and amazed at what great eye sight this girl must have!

#10 We learned to ride the buses (see #3, #4 and #7)

#11 The college scholarship dead line has passed!?!

#12 W came home even more set on going to this university

#13 Glad we went today (it was 70 degrees in February).

#14 W has a variety of friends. His friend LT went with us, but we met his MB there. I spent an afternoon with all 3 of them. They are all so different and so funny together.

#15 He's going to be fine, get an good education, and he's going to have fun!

Bonus ~ when we got home we were chatting about his area of interest. He was more certain that that IS what he wants to do. The 7 years didn't scare him, but he did make the comment, "you know Mom it's going to be like, like all College classes." HUH?

Just how can this be? ......

" it's like, like all college classes?" what did he think this was going to be?

After a couple of moments of just plain staring at him..... I busted out laughing and he quickly joined in! We had a conversation about how not every college class so intense, there will be some fluff mixed in there!

Sweets for your sweets Recipe!

Years ago I made a bazillion of these as Christmas gifts! I nibbled and nibbled as I made them so by the time I was finished I swore I'd NEVER eat one again. This year a friend of mine made these and gave them out for Valentine's! I was so blessed to get a bag! They are scrumptious!

Wait, what about a picture? you say!
I say.... OH, that's funny they're already gone!

Here is the recipe anyway.....

Candied Pecans
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg white
1 tablespoon cold water
1 pound pecan halves

Mix sugar, cinnamon and salt until well blended.
Beat egg white and water with fork until frothy.
Pour over pecans and stir well until all pecans are covered.
Pour sugar mixture over pecans and stir until all the sugar
has coated the pecans.
Spread on a cookie sheet and bake at 225 for one hour, stirring occasionally.
Makes one pound.

Wait is that PEE-can or pee-KON? I once heard a cooking instructor say.... a PEE-can is something you pee in so we should always say pee-KON! Well, if that didn't teach you something it certainly gave you a visual when you hear someone say PEE-can!

Enjoy!

Sunday thoughts....

I should preface this by telling you that we don't have any paid clergy. Our church "calls" people (through prayer and revelation) to do all the positions (teaching, overseeing, cleaning, etc). We do have a man in the position of "Bishop" but he isn't paid, he's 'called' or asked to volunteer his time (usually for 2 years). Then everyone else has a job (or two) to do within the church's organizations.

I have 3 positions within the organizations,
#1 I work with the cub scouts
#2 I am the secretary for the women's organization
#3 I am asked to go into the homes of 5 women every month to make sure their needs are being met (or just to make sure they have a friend)
these are in no particular order!

Our Sunday talks are given by members of our congregation. They are generally given a subject and about a week to prepare. It's a growing experience for all involved.
Notes from today's talks.....
daily scripture reading.. "is the Lord trying to speak to us OR is he trying to change us"
going to Heavenly Father for help ... "Pride vs humility"
teaching our children ... "we are teaching even when we don't realize that we're teaching"
"we should not do anything we wouldn't want to see our children do"

In one of our classes the lesson was from the parable of the Wheat and Tares
(found in the book of Matthew)

the instructor explained to us what a Tare was. I'd never known what an actual tare was, but I do now. It's a toxic plant that looks just like wheat until it reaches maturity then they show themselves in different ways. The wheat's bloom is heavier and will bow whereas the Tare's bloom has purple berries and is light and will stand straight up.

some of my thoughts from this lesson....
*are we strong enough to bow (to be the wheat)
*The plants aren't weeded until they mature (or when the Savior comes). So we have time to make ourselves Wheat. Given the chance to become what Heavenly Father expects of us.

Seating update... hubby is out of town so we got to adventure up into the pews! Hubby sits up higher than everyone else so he MUST sit in the back, when he's not there it's a heyday on where we will sit! Oh, the opportunities were endless...... we bubbled over with excitement!

Saturday's Scoreboard

Remember this picture from the soccer season? Well, that's what G's basketball game looked like this morning. Only not as round, but just as tall, if not taller! In G's league they must be 3rd and 4th graders. G's team is made up of all 3rd graders, and this other team must have been all (towering, long legged and long armed) 4th graders. G (who is not the shortest player on his team) only came up to the just below a couple of the opposing teams players shoulder. It was an impossible game to guard in and an impossible situation to be guarded in! The opposing 4th graders were aggressive. There were about a million turn overs .... OK maybe not a million but it's safe to say that 3/4's of the passes were intercepted (is that a basketball term?). The end score was 54 to 2 (those precious 2 points were made in the last 2 minutes).

Hubby is out of town and W's team went up against their toughest team! It was difficult and it got nasty (they are all so competitive and believe it or not some even come with hot heads!). W's team couldn't pull it out. They lost. I think W wanted an undefeated season. They meet up with this team again, and hopefully hubby will be in town.

Conversations with G

this week I have 2 very interesting conversations with G........

#1 ~
G ~ "Mom, what games did you play with when you were little."
Me ~"we didn't have video games, or computers. I watched TV." "But our TV was only 3 channels"...."and not cartoon channels."
G ~ looking quite serious didn't reply right away but finally said, "I'm so sorry, Mom."
Me ~ not sure that we were still on the same subject "what are you sorry for."
G ~ "that you had such a bad time when you were little."
We then had a little conversation about how I didn't know any better, because I'd ever had anything else. I could tell by the look on his face he still felt so sorry for me!

#2
Tonight after we left the HS we drove through town. We commented on how there were so many cars at the local Applebees.
G~"well, alot of people go out to eat on Friday nights, because that's the day everyone gets paid."
Mom ~ "Everyone gets paid on Friday?"
G~ "yea, everyone gets paid on Friday and then they go spend it."
Mom ~ "Dad doesn't get paid on Friday and I don't get paid on Friday."
G~ "Really when do you get paid?
Mom ~ "Dad gets paid once a month and I get paid once a month."
G ~ "really? Well, that would mean that Dad gets paid alot of money, since it's just once a month. Dad would have to get paid at least $100 if it's only once a month. Because $100 is alot more than $50"
Mom ~ ??????

Evolution of Dance

Remember the 'dance practice' comment from earlier this week?

Well this the result!

At homecoming every year the dance team invite

boys to help them dance.....W was invited by his friend, Baily!

Flashback Friday

What a FLASHBACK in fashion......

Mother, Daughter and a Goat!

Bush Gardens in St Louis, MO 1973.

As I was going through pictures last night I witnessed

my mother's hair grow higher and higher!

I love the polyester pant suit (pure 70's)

I just image wearing polyester in St Louis in the summer heat!

How did she do it?

This Winter is Wasted!

About mid January G proclaimed, "This winter is a Waste!", when I asked what that meant. He explained, NO SNOW! and that makes this winter a waste!".

Just how can this be... A winter without snow?

I tried to build winter up by saying that February can very snowy! He really wasn't buying it, but it did give him alittle hope.

Now that February is here...... I'm wondering if "This Winter is a Waste"

Cub Scout Wednesday

This month is the Birthday of Cub Scouts so we'll be getting ready

(a little every week)for our Blue and Gold Banquet at the end of the month.

This month's theme is "ABC America"

So to start this out we're going to write a little note to #43 (a Thank you) and #44 (Welcome to your new home). Talk about the being the President of the United States, I found these at the Creative Conversations going on at 2cleverblog. (Those girls are just amazingly 2 clever!) We'll move into chatting about maps by talking/showing where the cards will be mailed to.

Then we'll learn about a map of the US, naming the States

Then we'll discuss our skit (!) for the Blue and Gold Banquet.

It's always a fun time at cub scouts!

Say What?

conversation from this morning.....

Me ~ "W, make sure that you get the trash out of the yard when you get home from school"
W~ "OK, oh wait I have dance practice after school so it won't be right after."

Say WHAT?

It's a Non Van

When is a Van not a van? when it's 'van door' (you know the back door) doesn't open? Our van door was closed on this day. When I got to the place to unload the back door didn't open and hasn't opened since! Just how can this be?

This situation which rendered my van a non van! Frustration hit several times, like the day I went to Home Depot to get these long mental thingys (for hubby) and NO, the van door doesn't open, NO, they don't want to go in the side door, NO, NO, NO...... a non van that's what it was!

This is only one event of life with the non van....... Last week I'd had enough! I took it in to be fixed..... $90 later, it opened! They had to take the back panel off, found it full of dust. They cleaned it out, lubed it up and sent me on my way.

I now know what it's like to drive around inside a can of WD-40. The smell was awful BUT the VAN is back!

Make'em Laugh

Last week our local PBS station ran a series of shows called Make 'em Laugh. It was so funny, it showed the laughter throughout the years, from Buster Keeton all the way to our current day Jon Stewart.

A couple of weeks ago W and I were discussing Steven Cobert's comments of Kanye West and his attempt to have his album out sell Kanye's on Itunes. Very funny stuff!

W and I tried to pick our favorite funny people, we both agreed on Steven Colbert, Steve Carell (did you see the hour long "The Office" last night after the super bowl?), and Tina Fey, but then we were stuck for our 4th person (where we got the idea we needed 4 people I don't know). I like Seth Meyers from SNL weekend report, but is he really the best guy for our foursome?

Who would be your 4some of funny people?

Hmmm, not so easy is it?

Go ahead comment with your favorite funny people!

Sunday Thoughts

Be Grateful is the message that I heard throughout the services today!
I'm not sure that's what everyone else heard but that was the message for me today.

When I hear this message it reminds me of going to church with my Grandparents. I would stand between them and sing the hymn "Count your many Blessing, name them one by one, Count you many Blessing see what God hath done."

For those of you that have tuned in to hear if I got 'our' seats ..... No, I didn't.

I even plotted and planned, only slightly thinking that hubby and little G would be under the weather just enough that they'd stay home..... No, luck there. Knowing that W was tired I only went to wake him once, and then thought I'd just let him sleep today. Well, that one didn't work either. Just as I was walking out of the bedroom dress and ready, I heard him brushing his teeth, Heavy sigh, he was up and getting ready! Hubby and G left while I waited for W. Heavy sigh, I was going to be late again!

Geez! do you see why I got the message to count my blessings today? My entire family was in church! What a blessing! and yes, an even greater blessing than me sitting in "my seat"!

Saturday's score board.....

As a typical Winter Saturday, the balls were flying!

The morning started early with W and I headed to the city for his indoor soccer game. I had gotten up, showered and was about half way there when I realized that I was probably not well enough to survive this trip! Too late now! As we stepped out of the truck W mentioned that he had the same thoughts! WOW and this kid was going to play a sport, it was all I could do to just sit there with out falling over!

W and I made it back home and into bed a few minutes before hubby and little G made it back home from his game. Getting a game report from G is an experience, you get action replays of what everyone else did.

When I finished my 2 hour nap we had some lunch and then we were off to W's game. He looked much better this afternoon.

Oh, yeah the score board ~
indoor soccer ~ lost
G basketball ~ lost
W basketball ~ won