SWEET! A Giveaway!

I have found some delicious food ideas on your blogs!

On the blog, Bakerella, there's a post for Cowgirl Cookies. I stole, I mean, took it and tweaked it a bit. (I didn't make mine as cute) Check it out and get the recipe there!
I gave the jars of the layered cookie mix to friends and made a double batch of the delectable morsels for me...and my family. This would be a great gift for any occasion but was thinking how cute it would be for a new mom. Put just the blue M&Ms in the jar for a baby boy and get the pink ones for a girl. Change the fabric on top a bit and there you have it! I like the fact that it's pretty and I don't have to turn on my oven and heat up the whole house!

Speaking of having something sweet and delicious without heating up your kitchen, head over to my daughter's blog, MakeItWorkMom, for a sweet giveaway to Sweet Tooth Fairy! You'll be glad you did!
Could someone please pass the milk?

Full Service!

The city is working on the sewer line.

You may remember the widow I posted about earlier. The sewer re-construction has been taking place in front of her house.

While taking care of "things" in her bathroom, she heard a deliberate knock on her door. She finished the best she could, got her walker, and shuffled as quickly as her legs would let her. There, on her porch, stood a city worker. He asked her if she could flush a "pill" down her toilet and another down the bathtub drain so the workers could observe when and where these pills would exit. She told him she would, but, asked if he could come in and turn on the water in her bathtub because it was hard for her to do since she was still recovering from a recent stroke.

He agreed.

After he flushed and turned on the bath water, he started to leave.
She asked, "Could you do something else for me while you're here?"
He said that he would.
"Could you pull up my pants?"
He did.
That's what I call service!

She was happy and I'm sure he has a story to tell!

A Little Bit of Chocolate!

What is it about chocolate?

It seems that if I have a stressful day, a good run, a full day of shopping, a good night's sleep, a fun activity with family or friends, three hours of church, or any time of the day; a little bit (or alot) of chocolate makes everything better!

Mars is having a chocolate giveaway!

If you go to this website https://secure.realchocolate.com/, on Fridays, you can enter to win a certificate for free chocolate. I've done it twice. I got a bag of Peanut M&Ms (my favorite) with my first certificate and I'm waiting for my second one to come in the mail!

Yes! A little bit of chocolate goes a long way!

Is it just me and Kelsey - or do others feel the same way?

Birthday Greetings!

Happy Birthday, Jill!

She's the 5th child of 8, so basically, she's the middle child.

She took dance for years and it paid off. Not only is SHE a good dancer, so is her 2 year old daughter!

She doesn't look too happy on this ride at Lagoon. Jill's mantra WAS, "I'm Jill Langston, I can do whatever I want!" Remember how she passed her dancing abilities to her daughter? The same goes for the mantra!

She loves animals, especially kittens. Even when Jill wasn't living at the house, we still had a stray cat she had adopted. One of the strays had babies in a box filled with winter sweaters. Jill's sister, who belonged to those sweaters, was NOT happy!

Jill has a great husband and two beautiful children! She's a massage therapist and is going back to school to get another degree! She's beautiful in every way, funny, with a great sense of humor and quick wit, smart, generous, and we're proud of her!

Blowing out the candles is a family affair.

Nothing more exciting than getting "trinkets" for a birthday.

It's hard to tell whose birthday it is with Jeanette wearing the crown!

Happy Birthday, Jill. We love you!

MAN...I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN!

A Wasatch Woman that is.

We did it and we had a great time!

Let's start with Diva Night. Not too cool. We waited for over an hour in a long, snakey line just to get our shirts (only had small and medium left...which is great for some, not the right size for others), timing chips and numbers. Next year they'll do better (just being a little optimistic here)

This was the best part of Diva Night. We went to the Olive Garden for a nice pasta, salad, and bread stick dinner! YUM!


Here we are, bright and early, before the race. Jill, Jeanette, me, Lindsay (Rachael's sister), Rachael and Camille. Don't we look happy and refreshed?

This is me crossing the finish line, just like I said I would. That ice cream sandwich was really refreshing.

(This picture may or may not have been staged)

Tired, sweaty, red-faced and happy it's over.

Just a few tidbits. Jeanette, the over achiever, who was way ahead of us, missed the turn off to the finish line and ended up running another mile and a half! Camille pushed both girls in a double stroller during the race. It looked very inviting.

I came in 7th in my age group! Woo-hoo! It's great to be old!

The Definition of Insanity is...

..."Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

A few months ago, I thought it would be a great idea to sign up for the Wasatch Woman Love Your Body 5K run in Sugarhouse Park. It's a big event, with 1300 participants, a Diva Night the night before at the Hilton, breakfast after the race, prizes, and giveaways! What could be more exciting than to participate in such an event with daughters? I felt in my heart that this race would be my best ever! I have 2 months to prepare! I'll get in shape, eat right, exercise daily, and get to the point that I would run the whole race without walking! What a goal! What a vision! What a crock!

The race is tomorrow. Here I am, after consuming anything and everything that is filled with sugar, fat, and salt while lying on the couch watching reruns of Matlock, and for some strange reason not feeling ready for this race!

Are any of you going? If so, say Hi to me. I'll be the last one across the finish line, carrying an extra 15 pounds, (that's not in hand weights) and eating an ice cream sandwich.

I must be insane!

A New Year and an Award!

I started back to work on Monday! This is my 9th year in the school district.
I have always worked in transitional kindergarten (TK) full time, but because of changes in the school and district, I will be in TK in the afternoon only. I am fortunate enough to have another assignment in the mornings. This room is the speech office. This will be my digs every morning until noon. It's fun to learn something new (that's what I keep telling myself). I hope I do it right.

Question: (hypothetically speaking, of course) Is it OK if a tongue thruster is a speech therapist?

Here is the TK room. It's big and bright and, next week, it will be filled with life! There will be 12 little students, who need an added boost to help with their school career, come to learn, have fun, be loved, and make friends!

It's hard to express the blessings that are mine because I get to work with 2 wonderful, patient, energetic, beautiful, women, who I have come to respect and appreciate more everyday! It's amazing to work in an environment where even the smallest accomplishments are applauded!

Not to change the subject, Ok, I am changing the subject. I got this blog award from Victoria at Whimsy by Victoria. I appreciate her thoughtfulness. This award is called "Fantsy Pants." It's an award for "dedicated bloggers who love to blog and encourage friendships through blogging." State why you love blogging and pass it on.

I first started a blog for both of my missionaries, two years ago, so that all family members could read their letters and see the pictures that were sent to me through email. I got daring and started my OWN blog but because I wasn't as daring as I thought, I kept it private and only invited myself. My other children caught wind of it and encouraged me to invite them. I decided to just let it all hang out and opened it up to everyone. I enjoy it because it's a chance for me to express myself. I have made many friends in blogland and enjoy reading all your blogs!

I'm passing this award to:

Gigi - Afterthoughts
Camille - Make It Work Mom
AnnMarie - Old Fashioned Girl

Thanks again, Victoria!

Homecoming

Jordan and Jeanette spoke in church today.

Afterwards we met in our back yard for visiting and eating.

It's good to share these occasions with family...

...and good friends...

...and good eaters!

What a fun week we've had. Thanks for all your well wishes!

(Not everyone's picture is here - sometimes pictures don't turn out)

The Weary Traveler is HOME!!

Elder Langston left Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday, at 1:00 p.m. and arrived in SLC at 9:30 p.m. on Friday!

With bleary eyes and mixed emotions, he greets each member of the family.

A (partial) group shot.

The guys!
(Jordan must have remembered what happens during photo shoots with his brothers)

Our two missionaries back together again!

Yes! He did return with Batman!

Elder Langston, Elder Merrill, Elder Brereton.

They stood together two years ago at this airport, wide-eyed and nervous for the unknown. They return; tired, wiser, stronger, and ready to take on the unknown!

Returned with Honor!

WELCOME HOME, JORDAN!

SHE'S HOME!!!!

She arrived Tuesday night at 6:45!

There were a wide range of emotions! Here she looks happy and a little nervous!

Are these tears of joy or the realization that her crazy family was there?

On the floor laughing when she sees her brother's "outfit"

There were nieces and nephews to be held. Some she has never seen before!

Hugs all around - with a few more tears!

Here is the family at the airport. There are 3 missing but we'll all be together on Saturday!

The girls.

The hole in her shoes say it all!

Jeanette and Alex Burke started their mission together as MTC companions and end it together at the airport!

Well done, Jeanette! Welcome Home!