A list for the last day of 2009

Ive been thinking about this past year and some of the things that have happened. They are things I didnt expect to happen at all-but did. Most are good and some are not so good, and some are both good and bad
2009 surprises
Two broken bones in the same kid at two different times
One of my best friend became single, and she's really much happier now
My man became a traveling husband, mostly to Texas but also to the
Bahamas.
I found a great teacher and have been taking guitar lessons since February
ALMOST THE BEST SURPRISE
A difficult decision we made a few years ago has paid off and now we
are as out of debt as ever.
THE BEST SURPRISE OF 2009
I got to see my grandbaby be born and my son in law and daughter
become parents.
So there it is. Makes me wonder what 2010 will bring. Happy New Year
to my faithful blog readers!!

A really good recipe

We received a cocoa latte for Christmas from the Wilsons. We do love
the hot chocolate in this house. I made up a batch today that was
particularly yummy. Despite all the Stephens hot cocoa we have in the
pantry, I tried this new recipe. 3 parts milk, 1 part cream a little
vanilla and the ground chocolate that is already sweetened, to taste.

David actually mentioned it was different and yummy. So try it if
you get the chance.

Notice the del taco sauce stash in the back of the picture- it's
how it rolls with my group- whatever.

A strange Tuesday assignment

David and I were asked if we'd like to help out at the multi stake dance that was tonight. Out shift was only one hour from 10-11. We had a different job every 15 minutes. First was check the empty rooms- all clear, the second task was to check the parking lot. We did find one steamy window car that Dave knocked on the window till the young man came out. Our second task was roam the dance area- no problems there, then our last zone was the kitchen. Dave caught a young man (not the steamy window fella) trying to make off with a huge bag of candy and he hunted him down. It was fun to tease that kid cause he kept coming back to the kitchen. When we were in with all the dancing I remembered many of the feelings I had at dances from long ago. Talking talking talking with friends, avoiding some guys while trying to catch the eye of other guys, wondering if I chose the right thing to wear etc. It was kinda weird to remember those things.
For the record, neither one of my teenage sons went to the dance. I think knowing we were going to be there scared them off- wimps.
It was awesome that some of our sons buddies talked to us and some of the young women from our ward were friendly to us too. That always makes me feel like an acceptable "adult" when that happens.
It really is neat that we have friends in each age group as our kids.

How's that for a strange Tuesday night activity for David and I?
Connie

The mints

As you know grandmas mints have haunted me for a long time. For
sisters day we web ahead and made some caramels and some mints.
Happily they all turned out really well. I think the secret is to have
Brig involved. Typically the candy is not perfect because they turn
out with some grainy texture. This batch turned out very well. There
was a bit of graininess that first day, but after a day everything was
soft and creamy- almost like biting into a tiny square of sweet minty
butter. So if you want to make pulled buttermints I suggest you call
Brigham.

A tradition is two years old

Aub was done with finals a few days ago. We decided to go Christmas
shopping and started with a stop at Mimi s. AJ is always good for a
laugh and a fun time. We finished at Mimi s then went to south Provo.
After a few stops we went saw a cupcake shoppe so we had to take a
look in there. Aub got a peanut butter chocolate cupcake, and I got an
eggnog flavored one. Mine is still in my fridge waiting for me to
remember to share it with Dave. I'm sure it tastes great now ;). We
also went by the quilted bear. We actually got a few things done and
had a great time laughing too.

She makes art out of het not wanted food. Odd

She says "who would buy one". Ahhh I did.

She has a problem with any type of moose

We stopped at a cupcake shoppe

A very good day

Today an official postcard came saying that all the paperwork has been
accepted and Jacob joins his brother in achieving the rank of Eagle
Scout. There is to be huge court of honor for 12 or so young men,
including both my boys, in January. All will receive the Eagle award.
I am happy for my boys. They worked hard and learned a lot. I worried
about the "mothers eagle pin" and at one time decided not to accept
the pins. I did nothing in my mind to deserve the honor- truely. Some
have said that if I simply encouraged my sons or just not discourage
them, I can accept the pins with out any guilt...if that is true I'm
okay with it. Really though, it's about the scout, not the mother.

A brand new distraction

While I was in Draper today, I decided to get some take out from a
near by place called pei wei- or pay way is how I say it. ?? It was
pretty good. I ordered the pei wai spicy, but ended up taking the
coconut curry home- that was okay and it was a lucky mistake since I
enjoyed that too. I did keep thinking the chicken needed salt, and
even though it was spicy, maybe even some pepper. It was very perky
with ginger, which I really loved. It was a good diversion that I will
remember for the next time I need one.

To entertain myself

David has been gone for 5 1/2 days. I usually do ok, but I don't sleep
well and it's a little easier to get sad while he's gone. I make a
little game of distracting myself while he is gone and today I headed
to Pirate O's in Draper. I found a few unusual treasures but took
pictures of some of the odd things I did not choose. That store must
do very well at Christmas because the parking lot was full at 11:30 on
Friday morning. Here's a little of what I found.

Honestly, who would I give these to?

This is the yummy pesto

The taster section

I found some awesome red pesto from sampling it here. I'm going to put
it in my grilled cheese sandwich next time I make them. Yummmm eeee!
maybe as good as zupas ultimate grilled cheese?

Every year about this time I make gingerbread. I have found a great recipe. There is a history as to why I make gingerbread, so I have to tell you about it. On December 5th or 6th many years ago, a sweet expectant mother to be decided to make a batch of gingerbread. While making the great smelling treat her baby decided it was time for him to come into the world. She went to the hospital and had that baby boy on December 6. She and her good husband named their first son David. (he was named after David O. McKay). Baby boy David grew up to be an awesome man and got completely whooped by a girl named Connie. Yep, that gingerbread seeking baby was my husband. So each year I make the symbolic and celebritory gingerbread.

Every year about this time I make gingerbread. I have found a great
recipe. There is a history as to why I make gingerbread, so I have to
tell you about it. On December 5th or 6th many years ago, a sweet
expectant mother to be decided to make a batch of gingerbread. While
making the great smelling treat her baby decided it was time for him
to come into the world. She went to the hospital and had that baby
boy on December 6. She and her good husband named their first son
David. (he was named after David O. McKay). Baby boy David grew up to
be an awesome man and got completely whooped by a girl named Connie.
Yep, that gingerbread seeking baby was my husband. So each year I make
the symbolic and celebritory gingerbread.

Here's the recipe. It origionally came from all recipes.com but I
changed a few things. It's much more perky this way.

1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup hot water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9
inch square pan. (Sometimes I use a loaf pan)
In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the egg,
and mix in the molasses.
In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon,
ginger, and cloves. Blend into the creamed mixture. Stir in the hot
water. Pour into the prepared pan.
Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted in the
center comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan before serving.

When David made this for me when we were dating, he served it topped
with applesauce on top. Delicious!!

Connie