More pumpkin shooting

Yesterday, John took the children up the canyon to shoot the remaining pumpkins I had out for decoration. They all shot some bulls eyes and had a fun time.

We're going on a tree hunt we're going to find a big one..

....we're not scared.  Well actually I am always scared when John insists on going higher up the mountain on the snow covered road.  I think he has more faith in our suburban than I do.  Well we made it out safely and found a beautiful tree.  Even though our tree only cost us 10 dollars, it is not very economical if you consider the 1 hour drive both ways and stopping to eat on the way home, but the memories are priceless!!!

Corny Thanksgiving Post

I received an extra letter with a mp3 song from Johnny on Monday.  He did not send it with these pictures, but I did not know how to post just the song by itself so made it into a video with pictures.  My kids say it is corny with the pictures.  I love it and it is one of the best Mom "payday" I have had in a long time.  These are just some of the pictures he has sent home from his mission in Greece.

Dear Mom,
I heard this song this week from Elder Rimmel and I thought of you.  I hope you like it.  I love you.

What a wonderful Thanksgiving gift.

Wordfull Wednesdays--I am grateful

I am grateful that I am so busy today with my children, cooking, cleaning, and the holidays around the corner that I do not have much time to write this post.  This demonstrates to me how full my life is and the love that surrounds it. I am grateful to a loving Heavenly Father from which these blessings flow. As I reflect on my blessing a peaceful feeling of quiet joy permeates in my soul.  I like what Thorton Wilder said, 

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

I feel very "alive" with all the commotion and activity that surrounds me and is caused by my "treasures" and I am grateful for this.

Homemade yogurt with powder milk

My friend gave me this recipe who has been making her yogurt this way for years.  

2 quarts warm(not too hot) milk made from powder milk (use an extra 1/3 cup powder milk when mixing this)

1-2 Tbspn yogurt(make sure it has live cultures) or/and acidophilus culture added and gently mix

Put lids on jars and put in small cooler with two other mason jars with(very hot) water bottles next to them.  Let culture for 8-12 hours.  Put in refrigerator and enjoy!!!

***I usually just half this recipe.  I fill one mason jar with warm water up to where it starts to curve.  I pour into a blender and add a almost a cup of powder milk.  Pulse to mix and then add the 1 Tlb yogurt and gently pulse once.  I pour this into two jars.  It makes about 1 1/2 quarts.  I put my hottest tap water into 2 other mason jars (sometimes I may microwave the water if it doesn't feel hot enough) and put them in a box with the yogurt and wrap with a towel and blanket because I don't have a small cooler the right size.  This is great for fruit shakes.  You can experiment using different yogurt starts.  I may try some Greek yogurt from the health food store and see how it turns out.

Garage Sale

After reading Cathy's and Al's blogs on the great treasures they purchase recently at garage sales, I stopped by one and this is what I bought for 11 dollars:

cannon rebel film camera with a separate flash that works!

tripod

sweatshirt

star wars lego video game

2 boxes of Christmas lights

I am really excited about the flash because it fits my new digital cannon camera I just bought and I did not have a tripod.  The star wars game will be wrapped and put in Joseph's stocking. The camera was priced cheaper than a disposable camera.

Becca's BYU Football BASH

Yesterday Rebecca hosted a fun football party to watch BYU play their rivals University of Utah.  BYU flags, a BYU doormat, and other BYU paraphernalia decorated her house.  Everyone wore their blue shirts and were in good spirits during the first half.  As BYU began to turned the ball over and over again we flocked to the kitchen to be comforted by Becca's good food.  Becca made homemade krispy kreme donuts which disappeared as soon as she cooked them. Doug called dad and mom (both U of U grads)who were at the game a few times to tell them that these were evil times with U of U beating BYU. 

Why we love Sundays!!!

I love Sundays.  I love going to church with my family each week and especially happy when we make it on time (9:00 am) like we did this morning. Yeah!! I love the good people there and the spiritual boost it gives me each week.  I asked my children why they liked Sundays and these are there responses.

Josh--relaxing after church (notice his pjs he puts on right when we get home)

Natalie--Quiet time (Mandatory after lunch.  The one and only time I get a nap all week)

Jake-reading and no school

Caroline--Choir practice

Joseph--being home with the family (It is a no friend day--the one day I don't have to drive anywhere except church--Yeah)

The kids all said they like the big meal and dessert I make each week for lunch.  This week however they were all very disappointed because I served homemade butternut squash soup (I loved it). We also all love to read the comics in the Sunday paper, except lately the kids have been scouring the adds as they fine tune their Christmas wish list (notice Caroline).  Cousin game night and early evening walks with the family are loved by all too.

Wordfull Wednesdays--Service

                                                                    GRANDMA

 In Elder Holland's conference talk he said,

 "we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind." 

 My mother-in-law who passed away six years ago this month was one of those angelic persons who served not only her family, but all those around her while she was alive.  She served the young, old, wealthy and the poor.  It was inspiring to us when numerous people at her viewing recounted to us stories of how this sweet and spunky woman served them and touched their lives. She never asked what she could do to help, rather when she saw a need she would fill it. When I was first married, I remember being surprised when she grabbed my foot as we watched TV to give me a foot massage. She came and helped with almost all of my new babies (above picture).  Even when she visited for a vacation she never stopped working.  I remember once getting everything I could possibly think of done in the house so she could relax when she visited, yet when she arrived she decided John needed help in the yard clearing the rocks.  She truly found joy helping those around her. Though we miss her dearly, I know she is joyfully serving those around her in heaven and continues to watch out for us from above.  

      

Goal Charts

 I just made this bingo chart for Caroline because I wanted to motivate her to complete a few projects she has already started. I have made these in the past for my children during the summer and they get excited to mark the squares off. I give them monetary rewards for each row they finish and a bonus for blackout.  I also give them a deadline to complete it. I always put a few easy and fun items like baking cookies along with the more challenging items.                            

Reflection Winners!!!

Caroline and Joseph won in their school's reflections program.  Caroline composed and played a song and Joseph took a picture.  The theme was WOW.  Joseph called his picture Pumpkin Masterpiece and Caroline named her song China dance.  They had fun and I enjoyed watching their creativity, even-though Joseph slimed my LCD monitor on my new camera with his mouth while taking his pictures.

Pumpkin Masterpiece

Dress Your Best

For one of my value projects, I planned an activity for the young women and their mothers.  I asked Aunt Al (fashion expert) to come down and do a presentation on how to dress your best.  My favorite part of the presentation was when she told stories, gave tips on posture, and how to clean out your closet. I made handouts for everyone to hang in their closets to remind them of Al's points:

*Know who you are

*Know what will flatter your figure-good fit and posture

*What you wear underneath will matter

*Clean out your closet and keep it organized

*Take care of your clothes

*Have fun with accessories

*Be well groomed with your hair and make up

*Dress appropriately for events and activities

*Don't be a slave to fashion

*Never compromise your standard of modesty

It was really fun and I'm grateful for my aunt's help--Thanks Al!!

Natalie

Pumpkin Shooting

Yesterday Jake, Dad, and I went up the canyon to the shooting range to shoot our pumpkins.  We shot with a 22 and 30-30.  We shot the bulls eye target and then used the 30-30 at the pumpkins and one of mom's winter squash(pictured).  Jake and Dad also shot the golf balls with both guns.  It was fun to see the pumpkins explode.  Jake and Dad shot a few bulls eyes.  

Josh