Happy Halloween!!!

We love Halloween at our house. We gear up for it every year and throw a huge family Halloween Par-tay!!! It is the best time of the year; the leaves are falling and the weather is cooler and hot cider is so yummy!!!! This year I opened my mouth and volunteered for the Trunk-or-Treat. I hope we have a great turn out and I hope I printed sufficient invitations...I printed over 150. I am excited to dress-up and the boys are excited to get candy! You'll have to see what my costume is...tomorrow!!!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Cake class catastrophe

I learned one thing in cake class tonight over all: always tie your hair back while standing over an electric mixer. Our teacher, Amy, (note: very rarely is her hair unbraided) was whipping up a batch of meringue powder when her two-foot-long-hair got wrapped around the beaters. One lady unplugged the mixer and we quickly released the beaters. Her hand got caught in the beaters while it was still going and got banged up really badly. Fortunately she was okay and did not get hurt as badly as she could have. Unfortunately, she lost the diamonds out of her wedding ring when her hand got caught. She is a trooper. We still had class, but it started an hour and a half later than scheduled. Poor girl!! I have always heard of things like that happening, but I have never seen someone actually experience it!!!! So, next time you are making something with your electric mixer/Kitchen Aid, remember: Scrunchies are wonderful things!!!!

Super Saturday: Success

Today was our Super Saturday. It went really well, and I think we all had a great time. I was up til midnight last night cutting letters and up again at 6 this morning finishing, but I can now say that it is pretty much over. I have one sister who is coming over later to do her birthday boards, but I can now hang my signs and start using them. It was a lot of fun. We had great food, and fun times. There were several things to choose: marshmallow guns, birthday/fhe boards, holiday plaques, hair bows, vinyl picture frames, JOY blocks, and we had a few great humanitarian projects on board. Thank you to everyone who contributed. It was well worth everyone's time and efforts!!! Until next year...

Beginners cake class: Graduated

I finished the beginning cake class
Monday night. I have taken them
the last six weeks. It has been a lot
fun, and Troy has been so good to
help with dinner and the kids.
Thank you!!!




Each week we learned a new skill.

We learned flowers, writing, borders,
frosting techniques, sugar molds and
egg white painting, and many more things.





I just signed up for the next class...so for
the next 6 weeks, I will be doing more classes!!


Here is one of the two butterflies
I made out of royal frosting.






The top view
I used a lot of my flowers, some of them melted
because I didn't know they could not
be frozen. So, this is what made it.




The side view...basket weave is SOO
easy! Who would have thought???

I loved taking this class, and I know I will
love the next 6. Then the next 6 we learn
fondant. Maybe one day I really can open
my catering business!!!

Canning: Done!

I finished late Friday night with the canning. I have one jar that didn't get used. I got 13 quarts of beef stew...I was hoping for 14. But it is all done and I now have to find room in the storage room for it. I am still dehydrating apples and that will be done tomorrow. I have a few apples left. Thanks, Becky for the yummy pineapple juice/lemon juice mixture recipe!!! They are sooo tasty!

I am not sure why I have had such an urgency to get my food storage together, but I am grateful for the urge. I still have milk, rice, pancake mix, and some freeze-dried fruits and veggies to purchase, but I am getting there. I could also use some more canned meats, but that can wait until I find a great deal. Or, if one of my brothers sells me some of their deer they just got!!! :) I am thankful that Troy lets me have my way with food storage. I think he might think I am off my rocker, but he supports me and for that I love him. I know that if and when times get tough, I will be able to provide meals for my family. Not just ramen noodles, but real meals. For years and years we have been admonished to have a food supply and I am grateful for a mom who taught me that. She has been a great example to me. Thanks, Mom!! I love ya bunches!!! Troy didn't want me to post our storage...something about people wanting to rob us...but I am so excited about it. Like I said, it might not be complete yet, but I am working fervently on it!!!

More canning...sigh

I am so tired right now...I have been in the kitchen since 10:30 this morning CANNING!!! What else is there left to can????? Yesterday I did 9 quarts spaghetti meat sauce and today I am dehydrating bananas and apples and canning apple pie filling. I have 14 bottles left, and I am going to can them with beef stew. Then I will be finished for a while. Or atleast until I have emptied a few jars, then I will find soemthing else to do. I am really hoping everything turns out. I have really enjoyed canning this year...I have tried more things this year than I ever have. I am no longer scared of my pressure cooker!!! I love that thing! Who knows what else I will decide to do!

Missionary Daeson

This conversation is going on right now:
Daeson is teaching Tevan about Jesus while holding the Book of Mormon. Please remember this is not Gospel Doctrine and Daeson is only FOUR...if you don't know about the LDS curch, please do not take all of this to heart!!!

Number one: He wants you to obey and be nice
Nuber two: He wants you to obey your mom
Number three: He wants you to be nice to your brothers and sisters and cousins and aunts
Number four: This is really good and Jesus really wants you to do this: He wants you to obedient Him rules.
Nuber five: He wants you to listen to His commandments and to your mom and dad.
Number six: He wants you to come to Him again and He love you berry much and Him love you way too good!
Number seven: He wants you to follow His rules and Him commandments.
Number eight: This is a berry good one you know: It is all about Jesus. When I was alive He told me all the things to remember about Him. He gave ME the scriptures.
Number nine: He want you to obedient and be good to everyone.
Number ten: We have all of those and now we will look at the pictures. Jesus told me about Joseph Smith. He was the very first prophet. Nuber two: He wants us to obey Jesus rules. He really wants me to be a good boy. And Joseph he went outside and met Jesus. He was the very first Prophet. And that is all I can remember about him.
Are you ready for this page? This is really good. Number one about these people: They all...He is grumpy I think. (this is referring to the picture of Laman). They went far far away. That is all I can tell about he.
Now I will tell you about a really good page. Oh, yeah. I will tell you about Lehi on the boat. He is looking really tough. And now it is time for the last one. It has a song. Never forget this song. But first I am going to teach you about him. (Moroni). He hidded them in a very very special mountain. And Jesus never said it to anyone. He was very obedient and he prays when ever he needs Jesus' help. Now for the song:

The golden plates was hidden in the deep mountain
They were far ago They have said
The lord want him to be good at last
He wanted to obedient Jesus said to him
Jesus said to hide the Golden Plates at once
And he prayed And he was so obedient
And he was a good He prayed a long time ago
And he was good enough and he was the Prophet and he was strong and tough
Just look at him. He could need Jesus help sometime
That is why he prayed yeah, that is why he prayed a long time ago.
And he was the very first one that knew that Jesus wanted him to do ...see Tevan,
you have to be like that guy. He is very good and never bites but he has a sword and the Golden Plates.

Pledge of Allegiance

This was our conversation when Troy got home from work, about 2 minutes ago:

Mom: Daeson, Did you tell Dad you know the Pleadge of Allegiance?
Dad: You know the Pledge of Allegiance!?
Daeson: What's the Pleadge of Allegiance?
Mom: I pleadge allegiance to the...
Daeson: (Making the little motions he learned in Preschool) I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AFRICA!

?????
I guess we live in Africa!

Craft boards: DONE

This is a bad pic, but I don't want to
hang them up until after they have
been displayed at the church for
sign ups. I decided to do an FHE board, too
I think they turned out okay for not knowing
what I was doing!!! I need to work on the spacing
of the letters, but it will do.

Here is the BIRTHDAYS board. I put our parents and

their fam on the board, but the cousin's would not fit.

With Troy's cousins and mine, we have over 150!!! So,

I limited the board names. Our nieces and nephews are

on it and bro and sis, grandparent, and parent and

their bro and sis bdays and anniversaries are also on it.

Once they are hung, I will trade the pics out.

Soccer game #3

This is soccer game #3. he was pooped!

Tevan kept us all up the night before. I don't

have pics of game #2...my batteries were dead.

Thanks for coming Papa and Gramma Blue! And Kaden,

Adalyn and Mieley!!! It was sure nice of you!!!

Yummy That! and Priorities

I know I need to be better at recording the cute things my kids say. Tevan has started saying, "Yummy That!" when he thinks something is good. It is the cutest thing ever! I love how many new things he is learning and how much he knows. Troy and I just look at both the boys and are amazed at what sweet boys they are. Don't get me wrong...they have their moments of terror, but at the end of the day, they are sleeping quietly and are the sweetest boys ever. I love both these boys so much and I am saddened by how quickly they are growing up. Soon Daeson will be to embarrassed to give me kisses in public and Tevan will be too sassy to tell me 100 times a day that he loves me.

In General Conference, it was mentioned that we need to tell those that we love that we do in fact love them. We need to let our priorities be very straight and put our families first. I think of how many times I shove my kids aside to do the things I want to do...not the things that I need to do. I loved how much focus was on love and family. I loved that we were able to listen to the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was so refreshing and uplifting. We are so lucky to have a living Prophet on the Earth today who walks and talks with God. It is amazing how much direction we have in our lives. I am so grateful for the gospel and the wonderful ideas and knowledge it brings into my life. I know that without a shadow of a doubt that this church is true. I know that we go through trials so that we can become more perfect and return to live with God. I also know that our families can be together forever because of the very selfless act of Jesus Christ.

I have friends who struggle with the concept of returning to Heavenly Father and someone once told me that is was selfish of us to believe that we can. Why wouldn't God want His children to return to Him? Why would He watch us suffer and go through all that we do on earth just for the sake of watching us? I know He wants us back. He wants us back like we want the best for our children. I love the hope I have for the future. I am not prepared the way I should be. I lack in so many areas, but I know that I get to repent and keep trying. That is the beauty of it!!! I know of some people who ask about the gospel and do not fully understand it. And I have no idea how many people read my blog who don't know about the gospel, so for you I am posting what I believe. I am posting what our church believes.

These are the Articles of Faith given to Joseph Smith by revelation.

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely apostles, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healings, interpretations of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the new Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the Earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Our New Addition

This is our newest addition to our house. Troy and Cal spent 4 days building this "from scratch" shed. I am very proud of Troy for fnishing it and for doing it from ground level with no instructions. It is 10x10 and it almost fits everything!!! Good Job, Troy!!! Now we can use the garage for cars :). LOVE YOU!

I NEED HELP FROM ALL YOU CRAFTY PEOPLE!!!!

Okay, so I got myself into a pickle! Last night I was trying to help the Relief Society member who is in charge of the activities not on Sunday (formerly known as Enrichment) try to come up with one more craft for Super Saturday. I told her that I have seen some very cute birthday boards...you know the big board that has the months and you hang the stars/hearts on them with dates and names? Well, I got put in charge of teaching and making one...by Sunday next. The only problem is that I have never actually SEEN on up close and I have NO IDEA how to do this. She brought me over a 1x4 and some modge podge? I have never modge podged anything. I went tonight and bought some vinyl for the Cricut to make the letters for the months. But I have no idea what to do next. I also have no idea where to get the hooks for the little wooden pieces. Soooooo.....I need some help. If anyone has this type of board, please email me. Also, please give me any ideas that you may have. If I can do ribbons instead of the hooks and figure out how to attach them, I think it would lessen the cost. We have to keep this resonable cheap so that people will sign up for it. THanks in advance for the help!!!!! Wish me luck!

Happy Day

Right this very second, my children are getting along famously! It might only last for a minute...but I will take it!!! They are sitting with each other with some "magnetix" and having fun all the while!!!! Happy Day!