Like Father Like Daughter

In March our family was asked to speak in sacrament meeting. Alex was in California visiting her dad so she got lucky. The night before we delivered our talks, Seth and Rachel were putting on the finishing touches and I couldn't resist capturing this Kodak moment!

Alex & Cooking,101

I wish I had gotten a picture of this. You’ll have to use your imagination on this one. Alex and her friend Chloe were going to make no-bake fudge cookies for their Young Women bake sale. I asked the girls if they knew what to do and if they needed my help. They said they knew what to do and no, they did not need my help. A little later something told me I needed to check in with them. I walked into the kitchen and they had put the sugar, milk and butter in a pot and were getting ready to put the remainder of the ingredients in the pan. I reminded them they needed to boil the first three ingredients for one minute before adding the remaining ingredients. Alex said, “We did. We let it boil for one minute.” I was puzzled because the butter and sugar had not melted down and the pot was not hot. Here’s what they had done: they put the first three ingredients in the pot, turned on the stovetop burner, and set the timer for one minute. When I finally could stop laughing I had to show them what boiling means!

Such A goof Ball

Alex and Rachel have a very funny side to them. Often one of them will say or do something that will makes us laugh. I was in the office the other day when I heard Rachel running down the stairs, saying in a high pitch voice, “Jeremy’s home!” She ran into the office wearing his suit and tie. How cute is she!

Valentines Day

This year for our Valentines dinner I made a tostada pizza with some heart shaped individual pizza’s on the side, not too exciting. The real treat was Seth who made a Red Velvet cake using the original Waldorf-Astoria Red Velvet Cake recipe from the 1920’s. He did an amazing job and it was so good even with beets, yes beets that’s where the color red comes from. The cake was so moist and I loved the frosting it was made with cream, cream cheese and mascarpone.

Alex’s D.A.R.E. Graduation

This time last year I was blogging about Rachel’s DARE graduation I can’t believe how fast a year has gone by. I wish I could slow down the clock!

The best part about DARE graduation was watching Alex prepare for this day. About a week before graduation she went to the mall with some friends (and a parent chaperone) to buy a dress with her own money. She sent me a text from the mall to tell me she found a dress but it was strapless and wanted to know if she wore a jacket over it could she buy it. I gave her the ok! I’m happy that so far when it comes to modesty she has no problems with it.  I really hope she takes this attitude into her teen years.

The BIG day came and she even wanted me to curl her hair and put a flower clip in her hair. These kinds of requests are so not my daughter I was happy to comply. Doesn't she look so grown up? Can you tell that these girls went shopping together?

Playing Catch Up

I have not posted anything since November. This blog is our family journal of sorts and well…I’ve failed posting the memories! Please stay tuned for LOTS of posts over the next couple of days!

Giving Thanks

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family. This year I decided that I did not want to cook dinner; the time I would normally spend in the kitchen cooking I wanted to spend visiting with friends and family. I’m thankful for a husband who suggested we order our Thanksgiving dinner from AJ’s. With a few added sides, appetizers and desserts brought by family and friends we had a feast.
The girls and I started off the morning by running in the first annual Gobble Wobble & Pumpkin Plod. These girls were such good sports about getting up to go running at 7:30 am on a no-school day. The bribe of Mexican hot chocolate helped! We ran in the Pumpkin Plod – 2 mile race. After the race Rachel said, “I’m glad we did this, I feel accomplished,” and so did I. I was reminded that I’m totally out of shape and still feeling it a few days later.

I’m very grateful for my family. We’ve had a trial or two to deal with this year but through those trials we can still find a lot to be thankful for.


I’m thankful that we have family locally that we can share the holidays with.

I’m grateful in a selfish way that the blizzard in Utah kept Seth’s brother and his family home this year for Thanksgiving! Sorry Utah family!!


I’m grateful for friends who have been like family that we can share the holidays with.


I’m grateful that these boys did not burn down my house! (They were building rockets and lighting them at my kitchen table.)


I’m grateful that Alex & Rachel have cousins that live locally and get to see and hang out with.


I’m grateful for this picture, it represents the fabulous day we had and all the love that was shared in our home.


A few other families were missing on this day Dave, Jenn and their kids who will be moving to Utah and all my family in California. You all were missed!