We had a great Thanksgiving this year. It started a few weeks ago when I was called to see if I would be attending the Wilks family gathering this year. After saying yes, and was it ok for my sister to come--I was assigned to make rolls. Ok, everyone raves about my rolls (actually they are my mom's recipe she got from a friend so they technically aren't MINE)and loves it when I make them for entertaining. Only after a while, I don't like making them anymore. My kids don't eat them-despite the homeade goodness because they are just "rolls again!". So when I was asked to make them for about 50 people I said yes. And then got off the phone and thought it couldn't be too bad. You know the scenario. After the first two double batches (I usually make them in double batches now because we eat them all), I didn't want to make more. I persisted however, not wanting to let anyone down. And made 3 more batches. I rolled them all and froze them. Wow, not bad work, and even getting done ahead of time. I was so NOT stressed...until I realized that I wasn't sure exactly how many I needed and that I didn't have anough cookie sheets to house them all when they were rising. And you can bet I didn't want to run to Walmart to get more cookie sheets! I made do with what I had and tried baking them one tray at a time. It took a little over an hour to get them all done; and because I only have one airbake pan-the others were well done on the bottom despite being in the middle of the oven. I even took my airbake pan with unbaked rolls to the gathering and let them finish rising and baked them there-just in case we didn't have enough. Well, we had plenty. And smart me forgot about the ones in the oven until about an hour later when I saw the black things sitting on the stovetop. Oops. I have messed up this recipe every way possible but never have I created hollow rolls. There's a first for everything I guess.
Our family had a great time socializing, the kids all played and watched movies, and we got to eat lots of food. I'm still trying to work it off! It was nice the boys actually got along, didn't do permanent damage to anything, and even ate some things. Sam didn't get a nap the entire day-and was quite cheerful despite being tired (unusual for my children who when they get a slight bit tired are GRUMPY). He did fall asleep in the car after Shawn put it into drive. Cameron had a great time swinging on the rope in the backyard that was over a stream. He was actually quite good at not getting wet. Kimball didn't fare so well and he ended up entering the water to land. I wouldn't let Trenton do it because we didn't bring a change of clothes and to even introduce Sam to water in the winter is asking for a swim. Cindy (my sis) and her family came and we had fun visiting with them, and introducing them around.
The boys had off from school this past weekend too. I asked where they wanted to go and what they wanted to do...and got the unanimous vote to stay home and kick their butts at Warcraft. (I was happy to do it-I always like beating a 6 and 8 year old)Only, when I played Cameron, because I always whomp him and he gets a tad bit angry (just a tad mind you--ha ha)we determined that I would be at 50% capacity and he at 100%. Now if you don't know the game Warcraft but you do know percentages, you know that the odds of me winning are NOT in my favor. And Cameron had a great time--and I mean wonderful, fun, laughing kind of great--seriously wiping me off the face of the map. I tried to build three different villages so I could keep alive-but with one hit he would wipe me out. I guess that was my service for the day--giving Cameron the euphoric win. Boy, my ego is dashed. Losing to an 8 year old! I suppose it won't be the last time. But it's always fun when you see your children enjoying themselves.
Lastly, we set up a few Christmas decorations around the bannisters, mantel and desk. I am not going to be putting up lots of stuff because I would like to have it intact and not play toys for Sam. (Who climbs on counters, tables, desks, etc. so nothing is out of reach anymore) We will be getting our tree soon and then pictures will follow. All in all, it was nice to have a few days where we got to stay put, do what we wanted, and just relax.
Now back to work...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Scrapbooking
Well the time has come. I have decided that I have time to scrapbook again. (And now since I have determined that the time will miraculously vanish). But for all you wonder scrappers...I don't know what it out there. I've been to a few card making activities where there are more gadgets than paper, and I've seen a few things in the store that look nice; but I would like to know what you totally can't live without. (Please don't reference paper though--I get you can't do without that!) Also are there any techniques that you find are easy and look impressive or that you use regularly?
I went through my old photos but have decided that I'm going to start with some themes (my sis gets credit for that). Lake Powell is going to be my first theme/vacation I'm going to do. I figure if I start with one, it should be easier to take it on a little at a time. So I ordered the pictures and am looking for paper, supplies and little things to enhance the pages. I really do need ideas of what is new to buy that's worth it. And I have seen some sites for digital scrapbooking but I don't know anything about them...do you?
Well this is my plea for help. Email me and let me know.
Thank you! (in advance)
I went through my old photos but have decided that I'm going to start with some themes (my sis gets credit for that). Lake Powell is going to be my first theme/vacation I'm going to do. I figure if I start with one, it should be easier to take it on a little at a time. So I ordered the pictures and am looking for paper, supplies and little things to enhance the pages. I really do need ideas of what is new to buy that's worth it. And I have seen some sites for digital scrapbooking but I don't know anything about them...do you?
Well this is my plea for help. Email me and let me know.
Thank you! (in advance)
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Getting Fit
As some of you may know, I've been working on my weight (losing it NOT gaining) for about a year in earnest(It's actually been a week at a time for a whole year). There are some things that I have learned in losing weight that I would like to share.
First off, there is more to losing weight than counting calories and exercising. If you don't feel good about yourself at a higher weight than you normally are, then you won't when you are at your personal ideal. I have a wonderful husband who kept telling me that he didn't care how much I weighed--I still looked fine to him. Of course, like all men, he didn't want his wife to turn into a hippo. So armed with the facts that he liked me no matter what, I turned into myself. I knew I could be better and I had to find a way that worked into my life and schedule. I started walking, riding my bike, lifting weights, and aerobics (not a favorite). I didn't lose any weight until I had stopped nursing (a whole year after Sam), and then the work I was doing started to pay off.
Next, you really have to watch what you eat. Not watch it go into your mouth as some would say. No seefood diet either! For me, snacking is what gets to me. And chocolate. I had to start choosing healthier snacks like granola bars (getting sick of them), fruit (I happen to love bananas which to my family explains a lot), veggies, and low cal stuff. Lots of people asked me if I fixed a separate meal for myself and then another for the kids. Are they crazy? Who has that kind of time? Nope, I ate what everyone ate, albeit less. So if we had pizza, I did too but I would include a salad on my plate. If we had hot dogs, I would have one and then lots of beans (Shawn wasn't always happy about that). And I had treats. I am a firm believer that you cannot deny yourself forever--or try to. You are going to break down and then eat all desserts in sight eventually. So why not try moderation?
The last thing, which really isn't the last thing because I had to do all these things at the same time to succeed, that I did was to commit to a regular studying of the scriptures. For me, this was the biggest helper. I found that (still find too) when I read daily, I had more energy to exercise, clean house, my attitude was better with all around me, and I got more things done. I can't really explain how that works but it did.
To me, it is better to be spiritually fit that a perfect size 2. As each year passes and my body gradually changes into an old person, I find that perfection as a physical thing is pretty fleeting. I won't have the body that I had when I was 18, 20 or even 24. So while I can keep myself healthy and in shape, I can keep my spirit growing and getting stronger and stronger.
In my mind, you can't be fit and in shape without looking inside. The body is a shell and only reflects outside what is inside. We spend so much time trying to "look" good that we forget to "feel" good about who we really are. We are children of God, created in His image. What is it they say about stained glass windows? They are beautiful but the real beauty only comes out when there is light from within.
So I think that losing weight is good, to keep your body healthy and strong so you can do what you have to in this life. But I don't think it's the end all. We've got to work out a balance in our lives of being spiritual and physical. Eating right could be reading the scriptures, serving others, magnifying your calling(s). Exercise can be putting your shoulder to the wheel. I feel that if we try to lose weight without changing our perspectives on who we are, it's just going to be another diet failure. And as you start to eat right and exercise and make that a part of your life (along with the spiritual part), it will become a part of you. I know it has really helped me. Now I still struggle with eating right, reading my scriptures daily, exercising sometimes becomes monotonous, but I'm trying daily (one day at a time but forgive me I'm being redundant).
What I tell people now is that its amazing what watching what you eat and exercising can do for you. It is possible to become better, and what's even more encouraging, is you only have to do it one day at a time.
First off, there is more to losing weight than counting calories and exercising. If you don't feel good about yourself at a higher weight than you normally are, then you won't when you are at your personal ideal. I have a wonderful husband who kept telling me that he didn't care how much I weighed--I still looked fine to him. Of course, like all men, he didn't want his wife to turn into a hippo. So armed with the facts that he liked me no matter what, I turned into myself. I knew I could be better and I had to find a way that worked into my life and schedule. I started walking, riding my bike, lifting weights, and aerobics (not a favorite). I didn't lose any weight until I had stopped nursing (a whole year after Sam), and then the work I was doing started to pay off.
Next, you really have to watch what you eat. Not watch it go into your mouth as some would say. No seefood diet either! For me, snacking is what gets to me. And chocolate. I had to start choosing healthier snacks like granola bars (getting sick of them), fruit (I happen to love bananas which to my family explains a lot), veggies, and low cal stuff. Lots of people asked me if I fixed a separate meal for myself and then another for the kids. Are they crazy? Who has that kind of time? Nope, I ate what everyone ate, albeit less. So if we had pizza, I did too but I would include a salad on my plate. If we had hot dogs, I would have one and then lots of beans (Shawn wasn't always happy about that). And I had treats. I am a firm believer that you cannot deny yourself forever--or try to. You are going to break down and then eat all desserts in sight eventually. So why not try moderation?
The last thing, which really isn't the last thing because I had to do all these things at the same time to succeed, that I did was to commit to a regular studying of the scriptures. For me, this was the biggest helper. I found that (still find too) when I read daily, I had more energy to exercise, clean house, my attitude was better with all around me, and I got more things done. I can't really explain how that works but it did.
To me, it is better to be spiritually fit that a perfect size 2. As each year passes and my body gradually changes into an old person, I find that perfection as a physical thing is pretty fleeting. I won't have the body that I had when I was 18, 20 or even 24. So while I can keep myself healthy and in shape, I can keep my spirit growing and getting stronger and stronger.
In my mind, you can't be fit and in shape without looking inside. The body is a shell and only reflects outside what is inside. We spend so much time trying to "look" good that we forget to "feel" good about who we really are. We are children of God, created in His image. What is it they say about stained glass windows? They are beautiful but the real beauty only comes out when there is light from within.
So I think that losing weight is good, to keep your body healthy and strong so you can do what you have to in this life. But I don't think it's the end all. We've got to work out a balance in our lives of being spiritual and physical. Eating right could be reading the scriptures, serving others, magnifying your calling(s). Exercise can be putting your shoulder to the wheel. I feel that if we try to lose weight without changing our perspectives on who we are, it's just going to be another diet failure. And as you start to eat right and exercise and make that a part of your life (along with the spiritual part), it will become a part of you. I know it has really helped me. Now I still struggle with eating right, reading my scriptures daily, exercising sometimes becomes monotonous, but I'm trying daily (one day at a time but forgive me I'm being redundant).
What I tell people now is that its amazing what watching what you eat and exercising can do for you. It is possible to become better, and what's even more encouraging, is you only have to do it one day at a time.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Everyday lives
I would love to write about all these wonderful events that my family goes to, does and has fun at but we are a bunch of homebodies in this household. One of our favorite pastimes lately is playing Warcraft against each other, or with each other as allies. And as a side note, we have found that Cameron and Kimball work better together when they are allies just getting gold and building up as much as they want, rather than trying to annihilate each other. Shawn and I have really enjoyed beating each other--I must brag here that I did wipe him out about 13 times in a row until I told him it wasn't fun to play him anymore, and well, that stoked his ego and I have won very little since then. Now though, we enjoy trying to work together to beat the computer. It is funny to think of our boys as playing warcraft-but Kimball really likes it because he can build and build. Cameron likes to get gold. Both have their priorities...
Shawn and I have also been working on countless puzzles. The ones we have finished have been mostly Thomas Kinkade paintings that we really like. Currently, we are working on a train puzzle that supposily glows in the dark. I can't stand this one! Oh, it looks nice and all but it's a royal pain to put together. All the pieces could go any number of places and it has black, and a few trees here and there and some clouds. We have already gotten the train part done a LONG time ago and now are slowly working on the rest. This is where the doctrine line upon line comes in. It is seriously one piece at a time because you have to analyze where each ones goes and where could the best fit be. Thomas Kinkade puzzles were hard but NOT this frustrating. And besides, TK's are very pretty too. Hopefully we will finish this one by Christmas and mount and frame it. I'm not sure I'll want to look at it again after we finish though!
I've gone through my scrapbook stuff last night and I think I'll start scrapbooking again. Although I really don't know where to start. Fortunately, I organized my pictures a few years ago into envelopes and dated and put what the events were on the outside, so I do have a start. But there are literally thousands of pictures on my computer to do. It's a little overwhelming. Not to mention (why do people say that when they DO mention it?) I would like to start researching my family history. But with a brother, mom and dad who have done until Adam, I'm not sure where to start. I'm wondering if there's a way I can intertwine my scrapbooking with my family history...(this is a hint, if you have suggestions I'm open).
Now with two children in school, it gets quite busy after school and through dinner and bedtime. But I have a little bit of time during the day and at night when I can do something that I want to do. Now those of you who don't have that, you will. Because I haven't had this time in so long, I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. (At this point, as my youngest children have all turned two, I've been pregnant. We are NOT NOT planning on doing that again this time so hence I have some free time). And I don't want to waste it on computer games, or television or dumb things like that. (the exception is blogging because it's sort of like journal writing and it's communicating with family members which is definitely a good thing).
Shawn and I have also been working on countless puzzles. The ones we have finished have been mostly Thomas Kinkade paintings that we really like. Currently, we are working on a train puzzle that supposily glows in the dark. I can't stand this one! Oh, it looks nice and all but it's a royal pain to put together. All the pieces could go any number of places and it has black, and a few trees here and there and some clouds. We have already gotten the train part done a LONG time ago and now are slowly working on the rest. This is where the doctrine line upon line comes in. It is seriously one piece at a time because you have to analyze where each ones goes and where could the best fit be. Thomas Kinkade puzzles were hard but NOT this frustrating. And besides, TK's are very pretty too. Hopefully we will finish this one by Christmas and mount and frame it. I'm not sure I'll want to look at it again after we finish though!
I've gone through my scrapbook stuff last night and I think I'll start scrapbooking again. Although I really don't know where to start. Fortunately, I organized my pictures a few years ago into envelopes and dated and put what the events were on the outside, so I do have a start. But there are literally thousands of pictures on my computer to do. It's a little overwhelming. Not to mention (why do people say that when they DO mention it?) I would like to start researching my family history. But with a brother, mom and dad who have done until Adam, I'm not sure where to start. I'm wondering if there's a way I can intertwine my scrapbooking with my family history...(this is a hint, if you have suggestions I'm open).
Now with two children in school, it gets quite busy after school and through dinner and bedtime. But I have a little bit of time during the day and at night when I can do something that I want to do. Now those of you who don't have that, you will. Because I haven't had this time in so long, I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. (At this point, as my youngest children have all turned two, I've been pregnant. We are NOT NOT planning on doing that again this time so hence I have some free time). And I don't want to waste it on computer games, or television or dumb things like that. (the exception is blogging because it's sort of like journal writing and it's communicating with family members which is definitely a good thing).
So onto other things...
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Halloween Activities
I think Halloween might be a favorite of the boys. Could be the pumpkins, the candy, the candy, the candy...I don't know. Anyway, we had a good time carving pumpkins (including Shawn's enormous one), trunk or treating and then trick or treating. Which basically means we got TONS of candy. I'm sure the dentist will appreciate us.
Kimball sprinkled some pumpkin seeds in the back corner of the yard in the spring and lo and behold a HUGE pumpkin grew. We cut off the other little ones growing on it so the plant could focus. We did have a few others growing too but somehow they ended up as a grass smoothie. We gave the large one to Shawn to dispel any fighting (which they were doing over whose it was going to be of course) and then we got them their own pumpkins. At a local nursery they offer free hayrides and free pumpkins for children so we took advantage of free. The rule was you could have any pumpkin as long as you could carry it. I just couldn't see myself carrying four enormous pumpkins and watching four children at the same time. Shawn, being the resourceful man he is, used a jigsaw to open Cameron's and his pumpkins. He had to use just a basic knife to do the rest--I know, it's old fashioned but. Everyone had a good time I think--yes and Mom was the scoop the slime out of course. We saved some of the huge-o seeds and we'll see if they grow next year.
Then we went with Stacey (Shawn's sister) and her family trunk or treating. Then it was wait another day and hit the houses up for candy. Sam especially loved just holding up his bucket and having people drop candy in it. Cameron loved it so much that he and I went out alone for another hour after we had dropped Kimball and Trent off at home. And Cameron got TONS. Lots of my favorite too and I have been trying to convince him to share with me. (It's not working though)Although I have been snitching from the others (they haven't noticed) and actually gave Sam's to Trenton when he misplaced his.
I'm trying to think of ways to "lose" the candy or get them to hand it over quietly. I'm still thinking. We had a fun time-and just so you can tell, Cameron is the ninja, Kimball the green dinoaur, Trent the red dragon and Sam is a hippo.
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