Final Pics from Texas Trip: Part X

These are the last of the Texas trip pics. We had a great time and enjoyed every bit of it. Brian was able to fly down a couple of days before we left so he could help drive back. There was no way I was going to be able to do it on my own. Two hours in to the trip and Delaney screaming 98% of that time, Brian asked if this is how it was on the way to Texas. I could tell he was not looking forward to what was to come. Avery did pretty well, Delaney was a different story. She hated every minute of it and nothing we could do would help.

Only in K-town will you find a sign like this! Mom took us to dinner here the night before we left for some good Country Fried Steaks. The dinner was great, the service...ahh, not so much. While we were waiting for our food to come out we asked our waitress if we could get some crackers for the girls to snack on b/c they were getting a little impatient waiting. The waitress had the nerve to respond with, "Why, they are just going to end up all over the floor. Your food will be out in a moment." We were shocked. Yah, they might end up on the floor, but we are paying customers. I guess that doesn't count for much anymore.

Thank you Papa and Gramma for all the fun! Avery still says that Gramma is sad because we left Texas. I am glad my girls were able to make special memories and spend quality time with their grandparents.

Inspired

Sunday, Avery and Delaney, were both sick with colds and I needed to be at church to take care of Enrichment duties, so Brian stayed home with them. I sat by a friend whose husband travels a lot and I was able to actually LISTEN to the talks and feel of the Spirit. It also happened to be Ward Conference and we had the privilege to hear from the Bishop.

He told a story about when his children were a lot younger there was a mission president that just returned and he really wanted to be able to listen to their talks but their youngest son was just very disruptive. He had to take him out in the hall way at least 4 times and Bishop had said that he didn't have the opportunity to hear anything that was said and was disappointed. He said that he felt he would of gotten more out of staying at home and reading his scriptures than fighting with his son all during sacrament. He asked himself why he even bothered coming.

The bishop goes on to talk about how he talked to an older man in the ward and told him about how hard it was dealing with young kids and feeling of the Spirit. The man responded with this:

"I have eaten thousands of meals that my wife has cooked in the many years we have been married. I know I was present for those meals, but I couldn't tell you the menu of meals that I ate. I know I ate them and I was strengthened because of those meals or I would be dead."



I NEEDED to hear that talk. I know that our Bishop was inspired to share that story for me. I am sure many of you have heard me say, "Why do I even bother?" I spend the majority of my meetings in the hallway trying to keep my child quiet or doing laps in the over heated building. I realize now that, I might not remember anything that I heard from that meeting, but it is important to just be present! I WILL be strengthened for being there.


Also, I loved our lesson in Relief Society Sunday on "How Glorious Are Faithful, Just, and True Friends."

There was something that I just loved in that lesson that I haven't been able to get out of my head since. I thought I would share it and maybe you will love it too.

Joseph Smith was quoted as saying the following about Emma after she visited him in jail, "undaunted, firm, and unwavering—unchangeable, affectionate Emma! "

I love that quote and hope that one day my husband can say the same about me.

I also wanted to share a few quotes that I loved about being a friend:

“I don’t care what a man’s character is; if he’s my friend—a true friend, I will be a friend to him, ...... helping him out of his difficulties."

“Friendship is one of the grand fundamental principles of ‘Mormonism’; [it is designed] to revolutionize and civilize the world, and cause wars and contentions to cease and men to become friends and brothers. …

“… Friendship is like Brother [Theodore] Turley in his blacksmith shop welding iron to iron; it unites the human family with its happy influence.”

“That friendship which intelligent beings would accept as sincere must arise from love, and that love grow out of virtue, ........ Hence the saying of Jesus, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’

Slap Yo Momma Good!

*picture from Pioneer Woman

Pioneer Woman's Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce

1 c. flour

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. butter, cut into bits

5-6 c. peeled, sliced fresh peaches

Juice and grated zest of 1/2 lemon

2 Tbs. maple syrup (the real stuff)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in medium bowl. Cut in butter with a fork until mixture is the consistency of coarse meal. Place peaches in 9-inch square baking pan. Gently mix in lemon juice, rind and maple syrup. Top with crumb mixture. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake 20-30 minutes more or until top is crisp and brown. You might want to broil for a couple minutes to ensure good color. Serve warm with maple cream sauce.

Maple Cream Sauce

1 1/2 c. whipping cream

5 Tbs. maple sugar

3 Tbs. light corn syrup

Combine all ingredients in heavy sauce pan; cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly until thickened and reduced by 1/3, approximately 20 minutes. Chill. Drizzle generously over peach crisp.

Texas Trip: Part IX

Grandma H. took us to a wonderful little place in Ingram, Texas called Queen B's English Tea Room. It was such a fun girly day. You get to pick out a antiquish hat, gloves, or fur to wear while you enjoy High Tea. The little girls got a little princess platter with a sandwich cut in the shape of a crown and apple juice in a little tea set. Holly, Mom and I enjoyed yummy sandwiches and pastries. Thank you for taking us Mom, it was a great day!

Texas Trip: Part VIII

Included are some pictures of Avery's 3rd birthday party at her Grandma and Grandpa's. My battery died at the beginning, so I only have a few pictures. There is also a really cute video of the cousins performing at my parent's ward talent show. Avery loved it!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I'm not a witch, I'm your wife!

I Love my husband because...

I woke up yesterday with a horrible, sickening migraine
the kind you just want to sleep in a cold dark room with the lights off and sleep,
Of course my girls didn't get the memo
and screamed in high-pitched whiny tones..
ALL morning long.
I finally popped some pills, of the legal form
which I hardly ever take medicine
and of course Tylenol was not helping my head from wanting to blow up
I felt like I was going to either faint or die.
I finally sucked it up and called Brian, mainly to get sympathy for the fact the girls just.wern't.getting.it, that mommy
needed Delaney to stop climbing on top of the table for the 100th time that morning
needed Avery to stop wanting to watch a different movie every 5 minutes
and stop trying on every article of clothing she owned!
Brian, of course, being the loving husband and daddy that he is,
or for his own selfish reasons....??
said he would be home at lunch time.
He stopped and bought me some Ibuprofen, because let's face it. Tylenol doesn't do anything for migraines or any pain for that matter
and lunch
and found me in bed, still in my pajamas
with a WHOLE box of Fruity Cheerios on the floor per my lovely 18 month old.
Super daddy had arrived!
He brought me in some ibuprofen with a caffeinated beverage, to help with the headache of course.
He fed the girls, cleaned them up, put them to bed.
Vaccuumed up said box of cheerios!
Made a grocery list and went to the grocery store..gasp, I know!
Carried in 170 dollars worth of groceries and put them ALL away.
Changed diapers and entertained the girls, while
I stayed in bed.
Pulled Delaney off of the table, chairs and couches for a total of 1,456 times
Cleaned up the kitchen and did the dishes
He cooked dinner and didn't burn it, in fact it tasted great
Fed the girls and served me dinner in bed
Got the girls cleaned up and did the dinner dishes
Got the girls in their pajamas and tucked into bed
Tucked me into bed and rubbed my back until I fell asleep.
This is one of the many reasons I love my husband!