Some pictures

little love Katie

I have a little niece named Katie. She is a little love and warms my heart. If you ever visit my “POTD” blog, you see Katie now and then. Some of her recent gems really have me smiling. You have to know that she and I have the same little conversation each time we are together. It is always about my jewelry. First she checks to see if I am wearing my necklace. She used to ask me where I got it and I would tell her David gave it to me. Now I ask her where I got it and she says Dave gave it to me. She has since referred to my husband as Connie’s handsome Dave. She then likes to check out my earrings. I usually have to take them out for her to inspect. Sometimes she asks me where I got them.
With the recent Joseph play event in our life, I brought a tape of Jacobs’s dress rehearsal to my parents’ house so they could see what he was involved in. Four of Krista’s kids saw the movie that day, and then Krista rented the Donny Osmond version of the movie. When Katie (Krista, correct me if I get this wrong.) was watching the movie she saw Donny and said- “That a girl?” After a few seconds she said “That a boy. I like him” Whenever he was not in the scene she would say something like, “Where he go?”. The multi decade power of Donny Osmond…. All I have to say is wow.
I stopped by Krista’s house on Saturday to return a book,

Austen land which I very much enjoyed. Krista then passed on another book also by Shannon Hale called A Thousand Days- I read it all in one night.

Anyway while I was there Miss Katie showed me her parachute and sang me a song. “I look handsome I look smart….”
She is so good for the soul of this auntie/empting nest mama

Theater Ballet performance

Friday afternoon I was chugging along doin my thing, planning the big rocks in my weekend. Everything was going fine. I even had a date lined up for that night. Then David called me to tell me our Saturday night plans were really our Friday night plans and we'd have to call on our awesomeness to get it all switched.

let me back up a tiny bit. In December, we ordered tickets for the BYU Winter Fest. (it was called something like that) Each night a performing group from BYU would have a show at the Conference Center in SLC. Back in December we thought we would have Aub, Joseph and Jacob come with us. We had 5 tickets. We thought the show was on a Saturday, but nope, the show was that very Friday.

So with Saturday plans becoming Friday plans, I knew I'd have to check with A J & J and talk them into going on short notice. I also always like to get my hair done before a show like that so I don't look like the frumpy, (yet non-criminal) mother.

Aubrey had plans, Joseph had lacrosse and Jacob was not be the last man standing. It ended up that Dave and I attended the production alone. I did get my hair done, but had to pay more than I thought, whatever..

When we went in, we sat on the third row. A very cute family with 4 girls sat in front of us. I'd say they were between 10 and 3 years old. When I told them my daughter was one of the 'stepsisters' in the Cinderella dance, their eyes got really big and and happy. We became friends. The three year old did whisper to her mom, "they, (meaning the dancers) show their shoulders!" I KNOW! tell that to the BYU dance department. Maybe the outfits are kinda like swimming suits,... kinda....I was impressed with that cute mama. The girls also told we she had 'alot of young women' so I know she was an awesome mom to those four littles. They also devulged that baby Isaac was out walking around with their daddy named Jake.
After the show Dave found Kim and introduced her to our new friends. It was really cute.

The show was very fun and cute. I did think it was a little bit of "jenny and megan" show as the same two girls seemed to have all the spotlight parts. And the last piece was a million years long. it was called "lay sew feeds" well, that is how I say it. Its really a french word.

after the show both Dave and I were starving. We tried to find a place to grab a bite of non-fast-food. Using Dave's nifty gps was fun but didn't find us a satisfactory place to stop. when we were almost home, we stopped in Draper and found that Ruby Tuesdays was open till 12! yay! we were sooo hungry. Even though my taster is out of service, I was so thankful to get something warm into my tummy.

So here's a few pictures of the night. please notice the overly priced hair do- ahh it was tons more cool than can be photographed ;0

The beginning of the end

Yesterday I picked Jacob up from the jr high and took him to the high
school. He needed to sign up for a time to audition for musical
theater for next year. As I was waiting I thought about how many times
I'd waited outside those very doors over the last 8 or so years.
Encore, dance company, theater and a little bit of percussion have
made this *the door*. Last kid starts at the high school in the fall.

It's the beginning of the end Connie... Expected, yet weird to think
about.

The haircut

There are only a few good things about a play ending. The aftermath of
the show closing is usually different levels of discontent, sadness
and boredom on my students part. We lived through it with Aubrey and
now it's Jacobs turn. The good things are things like I get to see my
kid more often, and there is actual time for *chores* :)
One good thing that both jacob and I look forward to is getting his
hair cut. That happened today. I have been feeling lousy tiday so
decided to take him to walmart with me. That way he could get his
haircut while I shopped for some airborn and cold-ease. I gave him
the money and went to buy my stuff. He surprised me with his cut. He
had told the lady "#5 all over" and that's what she gave him. Just a
clipper cut. It's not even long enough to spike. Poor fella. Now he
knows he needs to say- "#5 on the sides and blended on the top"

live and learn my son.

He found a solution on his own.

A little too short

How it will look for awhile

Half way through

We were able to go to Jacobs play tonight. He did great. We are 1/2
through the shows. I love watching them all, but especially my Elvis-
Pharaoh.

His hand

Jacob said that once again he has been kissed by a few girls.
Thankfully just on the hand, and he has denied kissing any of them
"except on the head". Hummmm. Here are a few of the kiss marks.

A cat post

We have far too many kitties at my house. However, they have provided
much entertainment and laughs and even a little therapy during their
stay. To lighten up a bad mood all that has to be said is "imagine
stinky ( that's code for midnight the geezer cat) driving that truck
next to us". That usually cracks the huffiness. Then we usually carry
on in this manner till we are all laughing, thinking of stinky doing
all sorts of odd silly things.
Well we decided to get a kitty door put in. They all had figured out
how to push or pull the door open enough to snake in or out if it was
not completely closed, but that made the kitchen too cold, and the
house less secure. So the kitty door came. David put it in lickity
split. Shortly after that David had to go out of town. So for fhe the
boys and I did a little kitty training, (and a little Dave Ramsey talk
too) It has been a little slow going but we are determined. All
kitties have gone in and out on their own and I try to give them
treats when they do. The boys think it is so funny. Sweetie figured
it out first and will really do anything for some tuna. Stink can do
it but we are most surprised that oz has man-ed up and can do it too.
He was very nervous. It's not their favorite way to get in and out but
it works and it keeps the cold out.

The motivation

You can only imagine how funny my boys thought this was

a new friend, but I really don't know her

I think I make friends pretty easily. I am friends with the tellers at the drive thru bank. I am friends with my kids teachers and their friends. I make friends at the cooking classes I go to, and can be friendly with the checkers at the grocery stores, or the post office, and the fabric store. I can talk to almost anyone and given enough time, make them a friend. This past week I have made a new friend, but I haven't met her yet. Her name is Sarah. She is a young wife, and a mother of 3 boys. She lives in Provo. This is how it happened.

Last Saturday night we were meeting my siblings and parents at Tucanos for dinner. As we were gathering, Krista came over to tell me of a phone call she had just gotten. It was from her 8 yr old daughter reporting that a neighbor they know had had a very bad accident with their one year old in the bathtub. The baby had drowned. The ambulance had come. At that point, in Tucanos, we didn't know how accurate the report was but hurt at the possibility of the event. Later that next day, Krista sent out a text telling me that there was a blog written by the mama of the family and that the blog could keep us current with their family. So I started reading the blog. Her little Bronson is at Primary Childrens Hospital. Each time I read I thought how easily it could have been me, or someone I do know, with a child and a bath time tragedy. I worried for this little mama. I teared up at some of her thoughts and messages. I prayed for her and her family. Last night her blog posts ended with some really sad and dismal feelings. Things weren't looking as promising as they had thought. Today I kept checking the blog thinking that the longer it goes till the next entry, the worse things must be for Baby Bronson. Then I just checked the blog and there were several posts. I haven't read them all but was completely amazed and moved by her post on choosing faith. What an incredible strong spiritual woman she is.

http://stakerzxposed.blogspot.com/

Take a look at her blog and add your prayers and faith for this little family. What a difficult painful experience for them, no matter how it turns out.

So Sarah is my new friend. Maybe it's the bond of being a mother that connects us, or it's cause I've loved a bunch of one year old babies... I don't know.


Maybe someday I'll meet Sarah, until then she will be my friend I haven't met yet.

Why yes, I am totally Swedish

Why yes, I am totally Swedish

A true story that leads me to the recipe.

Somewhere about the year 1880, a young woman, named Charlotta left her
home land of Sweden and immigrated to America. She found work in Salt
Lake City as a housekeeper. Her employer introduced this twentyish yr
old single woman to Mr Solomon Joseph Despain. Though they didn't
speak each others language there was something that brought them
together. They courted for only a few weeks, through an interpreter,
and became engaged soon after. They are my great grandparents on the
Haws side. Charlotta was Solomons third plural wife.
I tell you this story for a few reasons.

1. Charlotta is obviously a very faithful woman to jump into a plural
marriage situation- something I'm still not sure about. I am sincerely
honored to have her as a foremother.
2. The quick engagement of Charlotta and Solomon shines a little light
on her gr gr granddaughter Lauras similarly quick engagement
3. I was totally obligated to make this
Swedish sticky chocolate cake kladdkaka from allrecipes.com

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 pinch salt
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter, melted
Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8-
inch pie plate.
Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt; set aside. Stir the
eggs into the sugar until smooth. Add the flour mixture, and stir just
until combined. Pour in the vanilla extract and butter; stir until
well combined. Pour into prepared pie plate.
Bake on the lower rack of the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until
the center has slightly set. Allow cake to cool for 1 hour in the pie
plate. Serve warm, or refrigerate overnight and serve cold.

Dave and I had a little bit last night. We warmed it up and had a
tiny bit of ice cream with it. It was kinda too sweet, but in small
quantities it was heavenly.

Connie

Kladdkaka

Take a look at rhis

Melboren.blogspot.com

you'll know it when you see it

My next trick

Jacob asked me today to help him with his hair for the photo shoot
tomorrow. He needs an "Elvis" look. We messed with lots of goo and
gel and still don't have a clue how get this look. Jacob hasn't cut
his hair since he found out he was in the play, as the teacher has
requested. We have lots of hair to work with yet I think Mr Presley
had more hair-- it's really a very tricky task. We actually went to a
nearby hair cut place to have them show me how to figure out this do-
not much help there. Another kicker is that the photo shoot is
tomorrow, but the show isn't until the middle of February. Will Jacobs
longer hair make this an easier task? Will I remember anything I did
today when it comes to do it for the performance? Will Jacobs hair
drive me crazy as it gets bushier?
More info (and updates) to come -I'm sure

Before

We had our 3rd out of 4 cake decorating class yesterday. I decided to
make cupcakes this time around. My cake last week was a cake extender
recipe that really did not go far in this house. I actually used the
low fat stuff, (applesauce and eggwhites) in a chocolate cake mix and
added chocolate chips to each cupcake this time. They were received
much better. I still think the decorator frosting is gross and
scraped off the stuff before I ate any cupcakes. Here's a shot of how
things transpired with the cupcakes.

After

A new recipe

Lots of times, if I can't sleep at night, I grab my phone and start
looking at recipes on the web. I have a lot of favorite sites. Some
time in the last few days, I came across an interesting recipe I
thought I'd try. Dave dubbed it a winner and asked that we have it
again. I decided to put the recipe on the blog so I don't loose it too
badly. So here it is
Turkey Brandy Melts- refers to a restaurant, if I remember right.

Deli rolls
Deli turkey
Green chilies- whole or chopped will work (I used I sm can of chopped)
Mayonnaise- about 1/2 cup for 2 sandwiches
Pesto- 1 tablespoon
I used my tasty stuff from pirate o's
Salt and pepper
1 Granny smith apple sliced thin

Mix the pesto with the mayo and spread on both sides of your rolls. Be
generous and slip under the broiler for 30 seconds or until it's nice
and bubbly. After pulling them out, layer on the turkey, green chilies
and apples, on one half of each roll. (I had thinly sliced the apple,
then chopped it up more after that). Put the cheese over it all and
slip it back under the broiler to melt the cheese. When all is nice
and warmed and melted, pull out and top with other half of roll- if
you want. Using one half is yummy too instead of both sides of the roll.

Sorry to say I don't remember where I saw this, if I figure it out
I'll let ya know. Sorry if I offend the origional poster. I'm sure
she or he will eventually stumble on my blog. 8)

The cakes

Laura asked me to take a cake decorating class with her in November.
After some confusion, that class was cancelled so we signed up for a
class this month. Today was class 2 of 4 and we had some fun. I took
this class when I was 17 with my married sister Holly, when she had 4
littles at home. We had fun then too. It's strange to think that now
I'm doing this again with my own daughter that has her own little tyke
at home.
Laura made a clever BYU cake and I got about 1/3 of my rainbow cake
finished. I thought I would finish it when I got home, but realized my
good husband was home already from a scout meeting, and adding more
frosting really didn't make the cake taste any better AND I still had
to finish a costume for the Jr high play- we just cut into that baby
and moved on with the day. So here ya go- I'm kind of torn with the
looking good vs. tasting good cake. The frosting we use to decorate
with (solid shortening and sugar) is really sickening to think of
putting in my mouth. I'll be working on that quandry when I can't
sleep at night ;)

The "y" cake

a lesson from Sister Hinckley- kinda personal

A few days ago something happened that left me agitated and fighting with negative thoughts. Those thoughts percolated and grew. I ended up thinking how sometimes, by my lack of being thin or fashionable or knowing what to do with my hair, I'm sure I disappoint my kids when we are in public. Compared to other women, I do not seem to shine. Please understand I don't tell you this in any way of fishing for compliments. It is what it is, and in such mindsets it won't matter what people say, the inner Connie is very stubborn with her opinions- I really am right all the time actually.

With that gray cloud over my shoulder, I started a new day, and as usual did a few batches of family search indexing. As I transcribed the information, I turned on a local radio program on the computer. I listened to the host with just half an ear as I did my morning hobby. He started talking about a gal in Orem who was in trouble with the law. She was a neighborhood favorite mom, but had been accused of misconduct with minors. When the host said her name, I knew who he was talking about. I knew this gal when she was a teenager, knew more of her then really knew her. I'd seen her at the store in the last couple of years and had chatted a bit. She has had her own heartaches and I am in no way convicting her of what she has been accused of, but knowing that she had this run in became a topic with my sisters while we were quilting. My parents and sisters know this gal too.

Then one of my sisters said something that turned the light on in my head and started to clear the gray cloud that had been hovering. She said how embarrassing this event, or suspicion of events, had embarrassed this lady's kids. My mind whispered to me, "there are a lot worse things then being frumpy".

I later had to download to my sister Krista all that I had been thinking. Like the University graduate that she is, a BYU graduate, she said "ya know, sister Hinckleys daughter said something like that'. The story was related to me, from Krista, that back in the day one of Sister Hinckleys girls was in high school, or jr high and some of the moms were coming to the school. As the daughter sat waiting for her mom she saw other moms walking in. Some of the moms were all dolled up, dressed up and had great hair. When Sister Hinckley walked in she was dressed nicely, but not overly fashionable. Her daughter remembers thinking that her mom was a real mom, not a mom trying to compete with the teenagers, or in anyway portray an image she was not.
Though I will still desire things as far as thinness and fashion that might not ever come to me, I was so comforted by Sister Hinckleys example and the in site of her good daughter, and the willingness of my own sisters to help me refocus.

I do hope my own kids are as deep thinkers as the Hinckley girl was 8)

Second generation high chair

We have saved this high chair for about 14 years. A few other people
have used it since we bought it for Jacob, but we hung on to it mostly
to have for the grandbabies. Today was the day that we had waited for.
Laura and Steve are in the market for a high chair but I talked them
in to using this one until they know what they want for themselves.
Another happy first for this granny

Sisters Day doing the humanitarian thing

until i figure out my camera

I got a new camera for Christmas, which is awesome! I was feeling lousy awhile after Christmas, so I didn't really have energy to mess with the camera, and spent January 1 all tucked in my bed. As my friend Edee taught me, I had planned on doing a "picture of the day" for 2010, but totally forgot when I was all tucked in. I remembered on the 2nd, and started to take pictures just with my phone. It works better that way anyway since its so simple to upload from my phone to a blog--- anyway I started a new blog called picture of the day or something, here's a link if ya ever want to check it out

http://conniesphotoof2010.blogspot.com/

go easy on me, I know Ill miss some days-





But this post is really about the Eagle Court Of Honor my boys were involved in this past Saturday. All my pi cures are on my nifty camera. I am figuring out how to get them on my computers, so until then I will share this picture taken that night. It is a picture that makes me really happy. It is me and my best girlfriends in the ward, well, Michelle moved out, but she was in the ward. We are all here with our grand baby boys. Jack was so sad and tired, and he talked Michelle's Damon into fussing, but Lisa's Kalvin was happy as a clam. I loved celebrating that night with my dear friends who also had boys being honored as Eagle scouts. It was a great night, much better than I has supposed. I'll post a whole thing on that night when I figure it all out-- wish me luck

One of my Christmas gifts

A few weeks ago Dave and I were talking about what we each wanted for Christmas. I was teasing Dave and told him I wanted a gift of a new author so I could get into a few new books. Then I pushed him a little further and told him about the little sets of fabric pieces that are available, mostly in serious fabric stores, or quilt shops. There is the 'Jelly roll', and the 'turnover' and a 'layer cake' and also 'charm pack'. The beauty of these babies is that they all include at least one piece of fabric from a certain line, so they all match yet are all different. When I'm doing some projects, theoretically, this is exactly what I want instead of going to a fabric store and buying small amounts of fabrics I try to match up. On Christmas morning I received so much fabric from my honey. It was amazing. He went into a quilt store and got them all by himself. I was so surprised, and even shocked. He was a very good husband to do that. So? what am I gonna do with these beauties- Ill tell you when I'm done with the projects.

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

Another funny thing about my Joseph

Joseph (Katie calls him Jo-fuff, and Jacob she calls Jo-cub). recently
found out about a deal at a nearby grocery store. If you go after 7pm,
you can buy all te donuts you can fit in a box for $3.00. He has
learned to be there right at 7 to get the best selection and volume.
Tonight he and his buddies fit 40, donuts into one box- including
some donut holes, wow. Good thing he is a runner. Good things he has
buddies. Funny kid

Look who I found!

David and Aubrey and I went into a new little store nearby. It's
called Then and Now and it carries antiques. It was fun to look around
and see what sort of things were there. The shop owner talked with us
for awhile and was very kind. All of the sudden I recognized something
*or someone* right behind the lady. I said- hey I had a doll like
that! The owner said "velvet?". Wow ya that was her name. And we had
Chrissy too, the redhead doll. I think Laurie was her owner but maybe
I'm confused. It was cool to see a friend from the past.

A good morning

This morning I was able to go see LHS production of Aida. Overall the show was fabulous. All the performers reminded me of how much talent is right here in little Lehi. The female lead was especially impressive. As with the only other time I have seen this play, the song "The Gods Love Nubia" was by far the most powerful and emotional part of the show. Right before this part, the captured Nubian slaves, including Aida, find out that their King has been captured by the Egyptians. It is also a part when my heart aches for Aida, because the King is her father. She sings this beautiful song to bring hope to her fellow Nubians. I couldn't keep the tears from coming down. The scene when a loyal Nubian gives her life to save Aida is great too. Wow! To have such a great leader that the followers would die for... amazing really.I was there with the jr high drama class, and I'm not sure if I'll go during it's regular run this weekend and into next week. It is sad- and mostly cause I've been too sensitive lately. (If David wants to go
I will too, but it really is heart wrenching.) The costumes were mostly good and the set was great too- not too much to up stage the story, so to speak. So if you've never seen this show or need a good weep make your way to LHS for a fine show. If you can't make it, YouTube "the Gods love Nubia" to get a feel for the power of that song.