What happens when....

I try to get a picture of Ryanne's hairdo since it is a little bit different?

Savannah wants to get a picture taken too!

What happens when Jonah hears the adults talking about serious subjects?

He makes a survey and asks everyone for their vote or opinion

What happens when I try to get a picture of the kids after their primary activity and tell them to just "smile" normal?

They had a great time going on their "MTC" adventure. They received their mission call in the mail, earlier in the week and really had fun.

What happens when I tell Bana to go and get her shoes on?

She ends up throwing the shoes out of the basket, placing herself in the basket, eating shoes, and she gets totally distracted making funny noises and funny faces.

It doesn't matter- I think she is so cute anyway, I just take picture after picture and worry about the shoes later!

Thanksgiving Recipes

I know it probably isn't that big of a deal, but the last two nights Savannah hasn't woken up screaming in the middle of the night and has also slept past 6 am. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get to sleep for more than 3 hours at a time again, but the past 2 nights have been lovely. She has even fallen asleep in her bed and not on the floor right by the door! Yeah, Savannah! I am really excited about this development in her life.

I was also thinking that I would link up a few recipes that I have tried for Thanksgiving in the past, if anyone is having trouble finding things to fit into their menu or wants to try something different. I will try to keep it short. :)

Recipes I have tried through the years-
Roast Turkey with Sage and Orange Gravy- this a great recipe to use if you are cooking your turkey for the first time. It has a few shortcuts that makes it a little more flavorful and delicious
Broccoli with Lemon Crumbs- nice, different side
Vanilla Sweet Potatoes- twist on sweet potatoes
Apple-Sausage Stuffing- also has a few shortcuts
Rosemary Cornbread
Chocolate Harvest Cake- very chocolately, with a little pumpkin
Sourdough Stuffing with Pears and Sausage- nice twist on stuffing
Pumpkin Pie Cake- I have made this cake twice and it is delicious. Tastes just like pumpkin pie and is light
Blue Cheese and Bacon Twice-Baked Potatoes- delicious
Smoked Gouda Grits-wonderful
Red Velvet Peppermint Cake- really nice presentation
Cinnamon Struesel-Topped Pumpkin Pie- yum!
Triple-Chocolate Cheesecake-worth the trouble
Pomegranate Pound Cake- something a little different


Recipes I want to try this year-
Dorie's Thanksgiving Twofer Pie
Southern Corn Bread Dressing
Shredded Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Hazelnuts
Butternut Squash Soup
Butternut Squash Risotto (probably not, because it is so good, I don't want to share...evil laugh)
Cranberry-Strawberry Jicama Salad
Gingered Ambrosia
Spiced Pomegranate Sipper
Chocolate-Pumpkin Marble Cake
Pumpkin Cake with Whipped Cream and Pecan Praline

A really good movie

I love watching a really good movie. bella was wonderful. I picked it, not really knowing what it was about and it really moved me and Matt. It is absolutely clean. There is no vulgarity, no profanity, no drugs (1-2 scenes with someone who is smoking), no crass or crude remarks, absolutely no sex, and it just really makes you feel good about people. It is rated Pg-13, but the only reason I can think of, is because it really is for adults. Kids wouldn't understand the story.It is all about family and how much we need each other, and how we can help each other. I highly recommend it. I think it was wonderfully shot and portrays Latinos in a wonderful light, which is what the director and producers were trying to do. The music and cinematography were so beautiful. I won't go into too much detail about the story, but it shows how one moment in time can change your life forever and the effects of our decisions. Wow. This morning I am still really moved by this film.

Fun Photo Tag

This is a fun tag. I saw it over on Heidi's blog. You just put the answer to these statement on google and search images and pick a picture from the 4 pages (I chose from the first page that came up)

My name
My age

Place I'd like to visit-(again) Estonia

My grandmother's names

Olive

my first job

Pet's I've owned

not really a monkey, that was our cat's name

not really a cookie, that was our dog's name we found an orphaned baby lamb in the desert when I was little and took it home for a few weeks. My sisters and I, got up in the night and took turns giving her a bottle- Loni the Lamb.

Nickname of my best friend- Mattie

my Favorite Food

my Favorite Color

Things I have always loved

Our Second Utah Football Game Date

Of course, once again my pictures loaded up backwards. Anyway- Matt's friend wanted him to go to the Utah game last night and since we hardly ever see each other, I decided it was a good time for a date. If only I would have known how cold it was going to be! Freezing weather is definitely not for me. (Excuse the rhyme, it was an accident) I was feeling pretty cold until I saw these 3 guys who had painted themselves black and they had no shirts! It was below freezing people! Yes, that U on his chest, is painted on his bare chest. Yikes!

I am thinking I must be the lucky charm for the Utes. Both the Oregon State game and this game against TCU, looked like they were going to be losses. The Utes were down the entire game, in both games, and then, all of a sudden came back in the last 2 minutes to win. I will take credit for it all! :)

I was surprised at how much snow there was when we were walking to the game, since we hadn't really seen any out here. I thought the combination of the green, orange, and snow was pretty.

The best thing about having a hat and hood on was that it blocked out all the nasty yelling that the fans do. That part was quite pleasant. I couldn't feel my feet when we got up to leave, due to the thin socks and horrible shoes I was wearing, but the Utes won, which made my brother and dad very happy and it was a fun date. Thanks Matt, for taking me along!

Tips for applying makeup

Never use a mirror

Work in groups

Share brushes

Smile while applying

There is no such thing as overdoing it

Let others help you

Use as much makeup as possible in one sitting

Heather, the Halloween Girl

Our Astronaut, Unicorn Pegasus, and Fairy Princess

The other resident Fairy Princess- 2 sad facts- I put full makeup on my husband and he looks better in a dress than I do!

Heather has been one of my bestest friends for a really long time. I can remember so many things about the times we have spent together. Like the time we all went to Village Inn on her birthday in our pajamas. Or the time we stayed up all night talking in the bathroom (ok, that has probably happened a couple billion times in our friendship, but I remember specific times) When she was my official "baby holder". Taking red vines to the swim instructor she had a crush on. Being in the sign language club together. "Love is a River" um, nice package- ha

We have shared it all- good times, laughs, pain, tears, joy, happiness, hugs, first dances, kisses, dates, embarassment, through thick and thin, we have always been friends. There is something about a friend who accepts you no matter what and loves you exactly the way you are. They never ask you to change and don't ever attack you.

You feel you can tell them anything and everything.

Heather is part of our family. My kids love her and we all adore her.

Happy Birthday Heather! We love you! Hope you are having a great time in Brazil, living it up! We miss you!

Here are some of my fave recent pics of our times with Heather

WE LOVE HEATHER!!!!!