Six thumbs up or thumbs up all around

You may know already, but for the last several years we have
"Tex- Mex Tuesday" almost every week., for our dinner. We usually
have, in decending order- enchalada burritos, soft shell tacos or
crockpot salsa chicken.

I recently decided to have
" breakfast-for-dinner" on Mondays. Here's a recipe I saw and tasted
at a Maceys cooking class.
Stuffed french toast.
2 loaves of cheap squishy bread
8 oz cream cheese
1/4 c white sugar
A little vanilla
And
Your favorite mixture for french toast, like eggs milk and vanilla.

Combine cream cheese sugar and vanilla. Mix well.

Put a few tablespoons on the center of a few slices of bread. Top each
with another slice of bread. Use a cookie cutter or a little sandwich
maker to cut the crusts off the bread. You could use a fork to crimp
the edges if you want. You want to seal the edges of each little
packet. Dip each packetpocket in the french toast egg mixture, and
cook up in a skillet just as you do regulate french toast. I kept the
first few warm in the oven. I served them with warm maple syrup much
to the delight of the men in the family. Everyone votes I make these
again.

My warm heart from Megan

I recently got this text from my sister. While I struggle with a certain worry, this comment from Meggie did me a world of good. Their family was recently blessed with a second batch of baby kittens. I keep it here so I can read it over and over. You just have to read it once ; )

Sorry I missed your text earlier. I want to come next time! Tonight we were talking about why we can't keep all the kittens. Ang said we can't keep them all or we will end up with tons of cats like Connie. Meg said so ernestly I want to turn out like Connie! It was so sweet.

Connie

See what happens when you are casual about math

I'm trying to finish up this quilt top. I'm adding boarders to enlarge
the postage stamp size pieced part. I was about 8 inches short on my
calculations for the red fabric-- grr. Went to the nearby quilt store
and they had never seen that print. So I wentniver the the place in A
F where I had purchased it last week. The bolt was g o n e.. Couldn't
find it. Thankfully there was one. One! Fat quarter that I snagged. I
think it will work out just fine. One more boarder to add, then the
top will be done I didnt realize how much the two boarders are alike.
I guess I like that sort off look. Ahh well it's ok i guess.

What I'm working on

Here is my current project. I am making it from one of the jelly rolls
I got a christmas. It is turning out smaller than I thought it would,
but I figure by adding boarders, I can bump up the size. Because it
uses so many fabrics, I also thought I wouldn't end up with the
fabrics lining up next to each other. Ah well.. I've decided I'm gonna
like it anyway ;)

A little trick so I don't have to play the game

I have lost my car at Walmart far too many times. I hate not
remembering where I parked. I hate wandering around like a fool.
Especially walking back towards the store with my cart full of
groceries. I once downloaded an application that was supposed to help
a person remember where they parked but it did not work so well. So I
came up with an amazing trick. Thankfully my Walmart has each row
numbered. Why I can't just remember that number I don't know. After I
park I look to see what row I'm on. Then as I walk to the store I
count each parking space I pass on that row as I pass them. I then
figure some relation of the two numbers to help me remember them.
Today I was on row 4, car space 12. I remembered 4/12 by thinking
4x3=12. Really odd that this works but when I use this trick I find my
car really fast.

I wonder if this post makes me sound more like the old granny I am,
but this works for me

Wish I could believe this

I talked myself into going to the gym today. I snapped this picture
cause it was so unbelievable. 596 calories burned in 36 minutes on
the treadmill. Hummmm.... And I have no idea what mets (the middle
4.1) means. I think I lasted for 2 miles. I'll use a different machine
next time

An idea from Jess

I was about 11 or 12 yrs old when I became an Aunt for the first
time. I loved loved loved having nieces and nephews! I did my share
of babysitting and was certainly trained up in mothering abilities by
them, and by watching their mamas. One perk of having nieces and
nephews in my life is watching them grow up and start their own
families. That is how we were blessed with niece Jessica. She is a
love. She always treats her kids as the greatest treasure in her
life. I so admire that about her. She also adores that cute grown up
kid that has warmed my heart his while life, my nephew Greg. She is
also a *runner*-- enough said about that-- actually that's something I
wish I would do.

ANYWAY we were out to lunch recently to celebrate Jessicas birthday.
I just happened to be in the line by her and we were discussing the
menu. She told me a little tidbit I thought I'd share. Cafe Rio has a
tostada that can be made better by changing it up a bit! It is
smaller and a little less expensive than the regular salad, but
otherwise very similar. Ask for a flour tortilla instead of the
corn tortilla they usually use. I had the shredded beef cause the pork
is too sweet to me-- ahh sorry again--- Krista told us they also have
a salsa besides the -pico de guy oh- so I got the salsa instead of the
pico. The salsa is a little more spicy anyway. Get a side of salad
dressing if it doesn't come with one. Jess and I also share the
annoyance and dislike of cilantro, so we pass on that. So instead of
the ever favorite huge shredded beef burrito or even the beef taco, or
the safe chicken soup, try the tostada aka the smaller salad of cafe
rio. Then you can thank cute Jess for the info too. Jess? Did I leave
anythng out?

A compliment I want to remember

In relief society yesterday, the teacher asked us to break up into
small groups of 3 or 4. The four ladies closest to me became a
"group". It was Kathleen, Jenny, Erica, and myself. Good thing Jenny
listened to the assignment for our group cause Erica and I were
whisper/talking. After the groups were all made, all four of us
instantly started gabbing. A comment was made about why men do things
a certain way, when Jenny S said to the others, "uh ho! don't say
anything negative about your husband around Connie!". I laughed and
then quickly used my stern teacher voice and pointy finger and said
"now each of you go home and tell your husband 10 reasons you love
him.". Erica said "why would i do that?" then she understood i had a
reputation for being a non- man basher and we all laughed at the whole
thing. I took it as a great compliment. One I don't want to forget.
We for sure were the funnest "group" in relief society.

Connie

My sick boy

The situation- Joseph went snow boarding on Friday night. He was content to stay home 
and do homework most of Saturday. He did go out with some buddies 
Saturday night. When he got home at midnight he complained of bad body 
aches and having the chills. He felt feverish.  Sunday morning he 
reported not sleeping well due to his body aches. He only got minimal 
relief from Tylenol. Joseph stayed home from church. After church 
joseph came and laid down with David and I for the afternoon nap. He 
kept flinching in pain and moaning. His pain was under his ribs up 
high on the right side, about the size of his hand is the size of the 
area of pain. He still felt warm. Dave and I decide to take him into 
the ER.

The dr examined the teenager and orders a few tests including a chest 
xray and a throat culture. (Did he have a sore throat? Oh ya just a 
little one when he swollows)

The diagnosis-Strep throat and extra intense body aches especially 
where he fell when snow boarding.

The treatment- amoxicillin, tylenol, and ibuprofen, plenty of 
liquids, no school tomorrow. Lacrosse only as tolerated, after Monday.

Weird unexpected diagnosis but so thankful it was simple. After we got 
home I diagnosed and medicated myself with excedrin. Strange how the 
mama-ness can give me a headache. Hope my boy sleeps soundly 
tonight. It's been a rough day.

Connie

God made a symbol of rainbows long before anyone else

Yesterday I went to the activity day meeting. We had all the girls 8-11 there and it was a little trying. But we got through ok. I guess I feel kind of drained in a couple areas of my life to feel 100% all the time... (if you've spent any amount of time with me I'm sure I've whined about it to you). Anyway, my partner Sister Taylor and I are helping the girls prepare for an activity day recognition night. The parents will be invited to attend and it's kinda a big deal. Our theme is March leprechauns, magic, and gold at the end of a rainbow. We got most things rolling but wondered about refreshments. We thought cupcakes are kinda in their glory so we could go with that. I called the local grocery store and frosted cupcakes are $4.00 for 9. I know... Not for a dozen.... Weird. Ok we have about 25 girls, two parents each- 3x25= 75 cupcakes. Quick math tells me I could get 90 cupcakes for $40.00. I figured I could make up a couple or 5 batches of cupcakes for the recognition night, at a fraction of the cost. They would also fit the theme better if I made them awesome. So I tried my idea. Make up one white cakemix, divide equally. I figured about 3/4 c of mix per color. I colored each part and put each color into a Ziplock bag. I cut off the tiny corner of the blue bag and squiggled some blue batter into the cupcake liners. Then I layered on some green cake batter, then some yellow, orange and ended with the red batter. I baked these babies and here is the result. I topped each one with some whipped cream with almond flavoring. The boys couldnt keep their little mits off these. It was pretty cool

Another new recipe

I saw this recipe on a website called the sisters cafe. It looked
kinda fun and really different, so I put it on the list for dinner
this week.
The ingredients are
3 cooked chicken breast halves
1 can of corn, drained
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 container mango peach salsa from costco
Jasmine rice prepared with 1/2 coconut milk, 1/2 water

Shread or cut up the cooked chicken. Add the corn beans and salsa and
warm on low in the crockpots for a couple hours, or on high for not as
long. Or even heat up in the microwave if you want to eat right away.
Actually add as much salsa as you think looks good. I ended up using
the whole thing. Serve over the coconut jasmine rice. Wish I had Jim
and Kyle over to finish the pot ful, none the less now we have left
overs. Dave and Jacob liked it more than Joseph, though he got off on
the rice.
I was right. Kinda fun

Davids dinner

A happy feeling in my dinner

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.