Finally, the Spirit of Christmas and more......

We had the opportunity to attend the Christmas Devotional at the Conference Center in Salt Lake a couple of weekends ago. It was just what I needed to get me into the holiday mood. The sweet spirit there helped me put my feelings in order and remember what the season is all about, Jesus Christ. This year, for no obvious reason, it has just been a stuggle to get excited about the holidays. We also had fun visiting with Becca and Devon. Their apartment is so cute.

The lights at Temple Square were gorgeous! We took alot of pictures! There was just enough fog to make things cold and beautiful.

Before the devotional I made the most amazing Butternut Squash and Corn Soup and..........

'Corn Stuff' I know the name doesn't sound very impressive, but trust me this is so tasty!

Don't be fooled by the picture below, it is seriously to die for! Recipes below:

Corn Stuff (a cross between cornbread and corn pudding)

1 - Cup Sour Cream

1 - 7 ounce box of Jiffy Corn Muffin mix

2 - Eggs

3 Tablespoons Sugar

1/2 Margarine or Butter

1 Can of Creamed Corn

8 inch square pan

Preheat oven to 375 and melt margarine or butter in pan. Mix all other ingredients and pour over melted margarine or butter, which will then surround the mixture. Bake for
approximately 40-45 minutes, until the top cracks and the side are golden brown.

Butternut Squash and Corn Soup

(from Taste of Home)

12 - Bacon Strips, diced

1 - Med. Onion, chopped

1 - Celery Rib, chopped

1 - Tablesppons All-Purpose Flour

1 - Can (14-1/2 ounces) Chicken Broth

6 - Cups Mashed Butternut Squash

2 - Cans (8-3/4 ounces each) Creamed Corn

2 - Cups Half and Half

1-1/2 - teaspoon salt

1/2 - teaspoon pepper

In a large saucepan, cook baconover medium heat until crisp, remove to paper towel and drain fat reserving 2 tablespoons drippings. In the drippings, saute onion and celery until tender. Stir in flour until blended, stir in both and bring to a boil, cook for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Reduce heat to medium. Stir in the squash, corn, cream, salt, pepper and bacon. Cook and stir until heated through. Makes 8 servings or 2 1/2 quarts.

Happy 21st Birthday Tyler!

Yes, I am old enough to have a 21 year old. In fact, I am old enough to have a 30 year old too. Oh my gosh, I am not in denial anymore. Below is Tyler, today is his birthday and he's 21. Everyone says he's my favorite, hmmm, it might be true. Happy Birthday!

I made him a chocolate cake with the most amazing chocolate frosting, the recipe is below this picture of the bowl before we licked it clean.

Amazing Chocolate Frosting

1/2 C butter
2/3 C Dutched Cocoa Powder (or regular cocoa powder)
3 C powder sugar
1/3 C half and half (or milk works fine)
1 teaspoon vanilla

I put everything into the bowl of my Kitchen Aid and mixed it with the wisk attachment till it's light and fluffy.

The Dutched Cocoa gives it a really rich chocolate taste. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Blessings!

Yep, that's what it's all about. Although we missed Becca and Devon, Thanksgiving was wonderful, with way too much of food. All four of the grandkids spent some time with "Great Grandpa" They climbed all over him and his bed, watched his TV and ate his delicious mini Milky Ways. I am so thankful for my grandchildren and their Great Grandpa. I am blessed.

This is a sampling of the pies Jaimie made. She asked everyone what their favorite was and made one of each, even fresh strawberry for Nikki and fresh peach for Craig, my choice was banana cream. Thanks Jaimie, you are awesome! Oh and my hips thank you as well ;)

SNOW! For Becca and Devon

A text from Becca this morning -

"Remember that snow storm that was supposed to happen? It happened last night...and now the whole Salt Lake Valley has no power."

Wouldn't it be fun to stuck in the dark with the man of your dreams?

He's BACK!

He's back! Craig loves soccer, it's his passion. He's had some health issues for the past few years and hasn't been able to participate. I've blogged about it before and some of you may know that in May 2003 Craig had 6 heart bypasses then, after 8 months of dialysis, in October 2003, our son Scott donated a kidney to his dad. Then 18 months later Craig had a pancreas transplant.

This year two of our grandkids started playing soccer. I think that being a spectator was too much for him. He volunteered to referee - HE'S BACK!

As a bonus Scott volunteered too.

I HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR!

These pictures aren't the best. Both Scott and Craig weren't in the posing mood.

Even though the picture above is blurry I love it. I don't care how old he is, he's Scooter Pie around here. I am sure he will love me for sharing that too!

Chocolate Faces and More Halloween Goodness!

On Halloween,

The witches fly,

Across the Sky,

The owls fly, "Who? Who?"

The black cats YOWL!

and green ghosts HOWL!

"Scary Halloween to you!"

My favorite people all ready to go trick or treating. A ladybug, Spidergirl (I think a relation of Spiderman), Kala - Tarzan's Ape Mom, and Optimus Prime. I love these little characters.

Below are pictures of the kids after they had been sugared up a bit. I just love those chocolate faces.

Kayla

Kylie
Hanna
Tanner
I have been blessed with the most amazing daughter in laws! Here is Tammy and Kylie and my soon to be new grandson. I love Tammy's shirt, she made it herself, so creative!

DINOMITE!

I was able to go to Tanner's soccer game today. The name of his team is The Dinomite's. His age group doesn't keep score, but trust me, I know who kicked the ball into the net and made 2 of the 4 goals. That's right, it was Tanner. He is quite the little soccer player, he just seems to get it. Shall I just say he's a natural? Okay then, he is a natural. I am a proud Grandma. Craig and I arrived a little before half-time and the first thing he said to me was "Grandma I kicked a goal for you!" Thank you Tanner, give me some more at your next game! I am the luckiest Grandma ever.

Had to include these pretty shots of Hanna. She is such a doll and fun to be around.
Love this girl!

It was a wonderful day, can't think of any better way to spend it!

Going Home for a Bike Ride!

My friend Debbie and I took a roadtrip with our bikes to Newport Beach, California. We had been planning this trip for months. Our goal for the trip was to ride our bikes at the beach. Ride we did, lots. Saturday we rode the Back Bay trail about 20 miles. Sunday was a cool, fogging, drizzly ride from Newport Pier to The Wedge. It was extra fun for me since that is where I grew up. It's funny how as a kid I took the ocean for granted. I had no idea it was home or one of my best friends and how I'd miss it so much. I wonder if that's how my kids will feel about mountains or red dirt someday. Below are some pictures I took while visiting my home!

The waves were huge at The Wedge! These pictures don't show any comparison to their size. There is something awesome about the sound of a huge wave pounding on the ground. I was in heaven just sitting there watching them. These pictures do however show how foggy it was.

The Back Bay trail

Debbie enjoying the view.

We woke up to this, my car is the red one with the bikes. I have no idea how this guy got out of his truck. Seriously, his mirror was an inch from mine, I had to take a picture of it and share.

GO Red Flash!

Doesn't Kylie look awesome in her soccer uniform? The name of her team is The Red Flash. When Nikki asked Kylie what the name of her team was she simply said, "The Red Team." She is adorable, in fact so adorable that we'll forgive her for not wanting to play in the game. She was a little sick and was content to sit on her Mommy and her Grandma's (that would be me) lap and watch her team play and WIN! Although at this age there is no score, everyone is a winner, yea right. Can't wait for the next game, to see her run around and kick the ball.

For years my entire world revolved around soccer. All five of my kids played, and were of course very good. I rarely had a Saturday free of frantically looking for a missing cleat or shinguard. We'd hurry out the door and drive to the field just in time. Craig was always a coach or referee. I was the team Mom and had my oranges all sliced and ready.

I can't recall how many times I have driven past the local soccer fields and felt an overwhelming feeling of envy as I'd see the Moms sitting in their chairs watching their cuties wearing over sized shirts and matching shorts run around the field fighting for the ball. I miss watching my own cuties, not so sure they'd want to be called cuties (sorry kids, I'm having a Mom moment here.) I never understood the Mom's that would come to the game, set up their chair and whip out a book to read. Didn't they know what they were missing? I did, I'd watch every step my kids made and delight in every connection they would make with the ball and yell and scream the most embarrassing things. That's right, I'm a screamer, I was one of those parents. The kind that get so caught up in the moment that they lose all self control, like this is their chance to just scream their head off and it will be perfectly acceptable. Then on the way home try to recount if they'd offended anyone or made anyone feel bad. Awe, the joy of it. The point is that I miss those soccer days! I am so thankful for grandchildren and a second chance to enjoy what I love the most, watching my kids play. For the grand kids I will try to be quiet and watch.

Hanna is beautiful, her soccer days are coming in a couple of years.

Tanner is playing this year as well. I'll post on him next.

Beautiful skies, fishing and camping!

I love a beautiful sunset with pink and orange clouds. I took these pictures on a recent fishing trip with friends. Linda and Bob followed us to Enterprise Reservoir on a Saturday a few weeks ago. It was a perfectly wonderful day, except for a little wind, the weather was perfect, we grilled

hot dogs, visited and I caught 4 fish!

Linda and Bob

We've been camping a couple of times recently. On one occasion Scott, Jaimie and the kids followed us up and had dinner, played and best of all made smores with us. Tanner and Hannah are the masters of smores or as Hannah would call them "snores". Roasting marshmallows just to watch them burn like a torch was fun too.

Oh, dear little marshmallow

How I love you

You're soft, you're so sweet

And so sugary too!

All white as snow

Chewy and soft as fluff

However I try

I can't get enough!

Look at that dirty face, awww the joy and fun of having dirt and ash on your cute face.

Below is one of my very best friends in the entire world. She is my caboose or baby, whatever. I don't know what I'd do without this girl.

This is another one of my very best friends in the entire world. My BIKE! Mine has the basket and gears, the other cool one is Nikki's.