Yummy Munchies

This is the BEST snack I have had in awhile. It seriously is a slice of heaven with the sweet of the chocolate, the crunch of the popcorn and corn chips and the cereal, and then the salt from the popcorn and the corn chips. Try it and see if you agree! It's our new favorite snack! Here's the recipe: 1 bag microwave popcorn, popped; 4 cups Corn Pops Cereal; 4 cups Fritos corn chips; 1 bag white chocolate chips. Remove the unpopped kernels from the popcorn. Stir together popcorn, Corn Pops, and Fritos in a large bowl. Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave at half power. Stir it every 30-45 seconds to make sure it doesn't burn. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn mixture and stir to to coat. Let sit for a few minutes till the chocolate hardens. That's it!

Remodel Project--Georgia Style

While we were in Georgia, Amber had Dad remodel the kids bathroom tub surrround. It was a VERY messy project. It started with demolition, mess, dust, and several days without the shower. There ended up being a layer of white dust (from the sheetrock and old tile) EVERYWHERE in the house. On walls, floors, furniture, countertops, ceiling fans,........ He even recruited some Really unusual helpers! It was a messy project but a nice one when it was all said and done. Amber was left to repaint around the new tub surround! We love her--just not enough to do the painting for her!!! Ummm, hello!, we haven't finished MY painting projects -- which consists of most of my ENTIRE house! Sorry Amber. It does look nice, don't ya think?

Arrrrrgh! Ahoy Ye Mateys!

While in Georgia we went to dinner at the "Pirates House". What a fun place this was. It was a real historic place from the 1750's. No joke. The inside was really awesome with original ceiling beams and doorways. It reminded me of the belly of a ship with all the wood and the furnishings. They even had the most awesome old stove that I am still swooning over! I'd love to have one in my kitchen. When they took us to our table, they had lil' hats and all the trimmings for the kiddos to wear. Notice that even the biggest kiddos got in on the goods! They also had a male and a female pirate that wandered around during dinner. They kept harassing the kids. Paisley was not amused! She would rather be surrounded by a princess or two (who can blame the girl?!) but this was truly a piece of heaven for Easton and John. The pirates did magic tricks for us and gave the kids some gold coins (not the chocolate kind!). After a VERY delicious dinner, we went on a tour of the house guided by the female pirate. She did a really good job--although the kids didn't get most of her jokes--I thought she was hysterical. It was a really fun night. Glad they didn't hoodwink us to the kitchen for cleanup or make us mop the deck and most definetely glad we didn't have to walk the plank! If you're ever in Savannah, the Pirates House is a MUST see place to eat some REALLY great food and entertain the kiddos for a couple of hours. Just ask Easton and John--and try to hire a sitter for Paisley!

Santa Needed a Helper

Shortly (like several hours!) after arriving in Georgia, Amber told Dad that Santa needed some help delivering some Christmas gifts to a multi-generational family in their area. She asked if he was up to the task and he said he was. She took us to a friends house that had all the gifts wrapped and ready to go in cute large bags that had been decorated. This friend, Valerie, also had a spare Santa suit that Dad proceeded to put on. He had lots of help! There were no Santa black boots so Terry improvised with what he had--brown cowboy boots! We then drove over to where these people lived and waited in cars while Terry went with the bags (yes, there were several very large bags) and proceeded to knock and do his "HoHoHo"s. He was admitted in by a man that answered the door and I have to tell ya that I panicked just a little! This was not a family or an area known to us! Try that on and see if your reaction is just a little like mine. Anyway, I was in the car with Easton and Paisley and they had lots of questions about the events of the evening. It was fun teaching them about loving others and giving to those that aren't as fortunate as we are. I love the holidays for this reason. Mankind is always at its finest during this time of year. We put our needs and wants away and think of others and find ways to serve more humbly and lots more diligently. I'm grateful that Amber and her friends were inspired to serve this family and also grateful that we got to participate in the joy of the season in a small but satisfying way. After Christmas, we actually got to see the family and see them wearing and enjoying some of the gifts that had been given to them. It didn't take the man who had answered the door very long to fill in the blanks on who had played Santa that night but he had to ask LOTS of people and shake TONS of hands until he introduced himself to Terry....the rest just fell into place in this mans mind and he just kept shaking Terry's hand and thanking him for the gifts of Christmas for his family. True humility at it's best!

Dad's Christmas Present

For Christmas this year I decided to honor Dad's 20 years in the Air Force with a shadow box of the medals that he earned while serving on active duty. My motives were twofold: one, to honor his accomplishments and two, to get the large (but VERY nice) shadowbox that was given to him at his retirement ceremony OUT of the bedroom and above his desk. In the process I learned how very little I knew about military medals and how wonderfully impressive his accomplishments truly are. I spent many hours fussing over how to place things in the shadowbox and made numerous trips to the military clothing sales store (where you go to purchase medals and devices and all things foreign to retired military spouses!) to glean some new info or have old info repeated back to me so I could run home and once again get the medals in their correct order of importance and get the medal devices correct with the right colors. I also went into this thinking that it would take a small amount of time to put it all together and not a significant amount of money to finish it. Neither proved to be true but I REALLY enjoyed this project as it helped me to recall many opportunities, experiences, places, and people that were apart of our military lives. It was a difficult 20 years of sacrifice but it was well worth the rewards and blessings that were piled upon us. I loved learning more about the medals and awards that were presented to him along his military path. I always knew he was an outstanding guy and above average in the things that he did and does today but....Wow! this man ROCKS!! Give him an "atta boy" for all that he accomplished in his 20 years--he certainly deserves at least a billion. Can I hear a "Whoop! Whoop!" Way to go, hon.

A Few of My Favorite Things in Georgia....

As you know, we were lucky enough to spend the Christmas and New Year Holidays in Georgia this year with Amber, Easton and Paisley. We had a FABULOUS time and loved every minute of our time there. Georgia is a pretty state with LOTS of charming and cute homes. The weather is mild during the wintertime too. The accents (from the various southern states) are interesting.....(enough said!) The food was good at every place we went. Amber burned our palates up on Christmas Eve with a delicious and wonderful meal of Beef Wellington! Yummo! I love all the green that surrounds the roadways. The waterways are beautiful and unpredictably different from Utah scenery. But most of all, my favorite things about Georgia are these.......Ben, Amber, Easton, and Paisley. Without a doubt, hands down, for sure, absolutely, guaranteed.....my favorites!! (I'd add Bella to the favs list but one of my New Years Resolution is to ALWAYS speak the truth!! Just kidding. She is a sweet dog if you can get past her massive underbite! Wink! Wink!) Thanks for a wonderful time Amber. It was just the break and change of scenery and escape from my mundane life that I needed. Can't wait to see you all again!

Happy Anniversary, Babe!

I know, I know this is late. The story of my life the past 7 months or so. Seems like I can barely get the daily things done let alone important things like this! Sorry hon, that this is late by a day but hopefully you know that I love you with every breath that I breathe, every blink of my eye, every minute of every day, every second of every minute, every day of every year that we have spent together, and I love you enough to want to spend ALL of eternity with you. You are the BEST thing that ever happened to me (next to our kids and grandkids!) and I have loved our life together. There have been some tough times during this 31 years of life but I wouldn't change them because they have made us who and what we are. We are being and have been refined by the fires of life!! I love how you bring me flowers unexpectedly, always open my car door, help me take my coat off, give me the first piece of cheesecake, allow me to be served first at dinner, call me during your busy and crazy work day to say hello, take care of me when I don't feel well--that's been A LOT this past 6 months--it doesn't go unnoticed, hon. I love how you listen to me when I'm excited about something with one of the kids or grandkids or some dumb thing with Relief Society--you even pretend that you are interested!! I love how you love our kids even when we would like to strangle them! I love how crazy you are about our grandkids--they are the truly sweet rewards of parenthood! I love how you run errands with me--even when I know you have TONS of other things that you want to get done. I love how picky you are about our home and property (or should I say PROPERTIES)and always want them to reflect good care and near perfection. I love how patriotic you are--you have a definete love for our country and those that sacrifice so much to defend her. I love how you fly an American flag in our yard 365days a year--no matter what! I love how you love the Lord and are always willing to serve and NEVER complain about it or what time a meeting forces you out of a warm bed. I love how diligent you are in doing your Home Teaching--you have never been given EASY families-but I'm sure there's a reason and know that it's because you truly care about others. I love how you go to "chick flicks" with me and never complain about them. I love how tender you are with Bailey even when you think I'm not looking. I love how you love your parents--they're great people and did a great job raising their son. I love how you tinker--most of the time! ;) I love how you never complain about my cooking--especially the last few months when I haven't done much of it! I love going on date night with you each week--it is the highlight of my week! I absolutely adore you, Terry! I don't know what I did in my life that made me lucky enough to have you in it but I am soooooooooo very grateful that you are my partner in life and for eternity. I love you for all these reasons and MANY MANY more, hon! Here's to 31 more wonderful years with you......