kinda feelin' homesick for MS

then I remembered the ants. I'm happy with the cold and snow for another day.

To whom it may concern...probably nobody

I learned while living in the South, that it is always appropriate to write a thank you note for something that has been given to you. So, here you go: one great big giant thank you note to as many things as I can think of that have been given to me because of Arctic Circle, in honor of your 35 birthday.
First, I guess I should thank Arctic Circle in general for providing my family with everything we have needed and some things that we have wanted for the last 35 years.
Then, I must thank my parents for providing me with the opportunity to work. Beginning at age (I don't even remember) We used to go down to AC and fill salt and pepper shakers, napkin holders, etc. I remember peeling cucumbers for the salad bar. And cleaning windows. I still flip out when my kids walk through a glass door and put a big old hand print right in the middle of the door. My dad used to always remind us of the time he found a five dollar bill out in the landscaping and then send us out into the bushes and greenery to pick up trash. So, thank you to all of you people who dropped your drink cups and sandwich wraps. I never found a $5, by the way.
Thanks to my mom and dad for giving me something to do every Saturday night. And Sunday night. And Monday night. My mom and dad were smart. I was so busy I never had time to get into trouble. Thanks.
And speaking of Sunday nights. I would like to thank of you people who didn't show up to work when you were scheduled. thanks so much. thanks for that spur of the moment opportunity to throw on my work clothes and head to Arctic Circle. I knew I always had to keep a clean pair of clothes handy because chances were at least once a week (and usually on the weekends) I would end up going to work to cover a shift that someone else failed to be responsible for. So, thanks to all of you who helped me learn to be prepared and to learn responsibility.
And I would like to personally give a giant thank you to the people who threw several dozen eggs at the Arctic Circle. On Christmas Eve. I don't remember exactly when, but it was about 15 years ago. It was a great experience. Yes. After breakfast on Christmas morning, we all bundled up and went down to the Arctic Circle and scraped dried egg yolk off the brick, sidewalk, windows, and every other surface. It was great. It only took about 5 hours. It was Christmas Day, so no biggie. We were all together down there as a family so that made it even more awesome. Family time at the AC.
I've met a lot of different people at AC over the years. The first "regular" customer that I can remember was this old lady named Rose (I think). she used to give my dad quarters to bring home to his kids. Thanks Rose.
Then there was Buck. He was a regular when I started working there in high school. Buck was an old cigarette smoking cowboy from Wyoming who drove a big old yellow Cadillac. He would sit and smoke and drink coffee 7 nights a week. But, he sure was nice. Thanks Buck.
And the Smiths. They were Friday Night regulars. They would come in for dinner after a shift at the temple. They were old when I first met them. They would pull up in their little blue car--always in the same parking stall. We would have their food ready for them before they could even get out of the car and into the store. Their order was always the same: "Two chicken fillets, tops together, bottoms together, tops minus white sauce" Every time. The buns had sesame seeds on the tops and he couldn't have sesame seeds. So, she would eat the top buns together and leave the 2 bottom buns for his sandwich. (I hope Rick will leave the bottom buns for me when I am too old and can't eat sesame seeds.) The Smiths came to my wedding reception. In Provo. In the snow. I still have the picture of the Salt Lake Temple that they gave me as a wedding gift. Brother Milton Smith died just a few years ago while I was living in MS and his wife, Marvel died exactly one year later. So, Thank You Smiths for being the best regular customers ever.
And Guy. Thanks for being the longest running regular customer. Nobody can can glare and swear better than you. That's all I can say about you. Thanks.
And crazy Mrs. J. Thanks for eating corn dogs every single day. And coming through the drive-up to get a balloon to take to the cemetery for your son. We really appreciate you taking those balloons every day and getting our name out there for everyone at the cemetery. And thanks for volunteering to host a lingerie shower for Brandi when she got married. I still can't believe that she didn't take you up on that one. Thanks anyways. I saw you in the AC just a few weeks ago. You didn't recognize me. It's OK. You provided us with years of entertainment.
Thanks to the Mailmen and UPS drivers. You guys are all so predictable. Thanks for being quick and easy.
And thanks to Nate's Grandpa you were so nice and grew the best tomatoes. Thanks for the tomatoes. And your brother, the mailman was so nice, too. He came in for a hamburger on his very last day as a mailman. We gave it to him for free. Thanks to both of you.
Thanks to the lady who ordered the fish sandwich and then tried to take a swing at me through the drive-thru window because you thought your sandwich would come with cheese. You missed me, but it's made some great story telling through the years. THANKS.
Thanks to all of the ornery people. And there are a lot of you. You make it so much easier to appreciate the nice people. And there aren't very many of them.
Thanks to the people who clean up their messes, especially the really messy people with a dozen kids.
Thanks to all of the 4 people who have ever left me a tip. I appreciate it so much. It went towards my college fund. Thanks again.
And thanks (I'm not proud to say it...) to all of the guys that I dated because of Arctic Circle. The first I can remember was Chance. He was a driver for Nicholas. He was a pro cowboy or something. He took me to the Strawberry days Rodeo to see him ride. I wore cute NineWest sandals. How embarassing. Thanks for that experience. Then there was the cute boy who drove the red truck and went to UVSC. He was a stalker. Thanks. And Discount Dave. He worked at Discount Tire. He wore a purple silk shirt on the date he took me on. Thanks for all of those experiences. It helped me to know what my standards were. THANKS.
Thanks to all of the friends I have made over the years. Thanks to Kim Stewart. She was one of my first good friends at AC. She set me up with her husband's brother--Ralph Stewart--who is also brothers with Steve Stewart of OHS Math fame and not nearly as handsome. It didn't work out, but it was fun. Thanks for remaining friends for all of these years.
Thanks also to Keri. You were a good employee for my dad for many years. People thought we were sisters for all of those years. Thanks for keeping that joke alive. That was funny. Thanks.
I really just want to tell my dad thanks for letting me work with him for 13 years. Thanks for teaching me how to count change, do the deposits, make the orders, take inventory, cook French Fries (my most favorite food in the world). And thanks for teaching me how to make sure the oil is at a high enough standard to cook fries. That is extremely important. Thanks for teaching me how to clean. (Sorry mom--you know what I mean) Thanks, dad, for teaching me the value of work, honesty, integrity, and responsibility. When Rick was a 4th year med student, we put everything in storage and came back to Utah for the Winter. Thanks dad for letting me come and work with you. I really appreciated the cash, but I would have done it for free if I had known how little time we would have left with you. Thanks for working around my schedule with my husband and my two little girls. I treasure that time. Thanks.
Thanks mom for putting up with this whole mess for 35 years. WOW. That's a lot of sacrifice, dedication, and patience. WOW.
Thanks to my sister and my brothers for the time we have all spent together at AC. It has shaped who we are in a way that nobody will understand but the 4 of us.
Thanks to Lanny for being at the right place at the right time when my dad died, that he could step in and take over the business for my mom. I really appreciate what you do for her. Thanks for carrying on the business that he spent 30 years building up. Thanks.
Thanks.

Hapy to you

Cole

I'm just going to let the pictures speak for themselves on this one...

I've been Tagged

4 people who email me regularly:
Gap
Old Navy
Overstock
Parent Center.com

4 Places I'd like to visit:
Antelope Island
Top of Mount Timpanogoos
Any National Park in Utah
a cruise (that's not really a place, I know)

4 favorite restaurants:
Arctic Circle (I'm under strict contract to list that one first, but I have to admit, I've eaten that food for so long, I don't think I can live without it :)
La Frontera (anything Mexican, really)
Lenitos for fish Tacos (not in business anymore)
Stamps Super Burgers in Jackson, MS

4 Things I look forward to in 2008:
warmer weather
yardwork
running
family get togethers that include lots of yummy food

4 things I am NOT looking forward to in 2008:
cleaning the house
paying bills
balancing the checkbook
laundry
(not much different than 2007)

Now, I tag...anyone who doesn't have a tag list on their blog yet and has absolutely nothing better to do with their time.

Caroline

This is the little apron that I made for Caroline. Isn't she adorable? Caroline was our next door neighbor in Mississippi. I always used to say that Caroline and Cole would get married some day, but after some of posts about Cole and his little trouble making activities, I better not say it so much until Cole learns to obey.

Mississippi Family

OK, as promised I have posted some pictures of my cute MS friends. This was our Easter Egg Hunt. So fun.


Easter 2006

"Friends" vs. Southern Friends

FRIENDS: Never ask for food.

SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Always bring the food. And lots of it.

FRIENDS: Will say "hello".

SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss. More than one.

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.

SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Call your parents Mom and Dad, and often.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.

SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Cry with you. And for you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.

SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.

Then do the dishes before leaving.

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.

SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you. And most of the time know you better than you do yourself.

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.

SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds' back-ends that left you.

Then walk beside you in the front of the crowd.

FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.

SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!" If you are not home they will wait.

FRIENDS: Are for a while.

SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Are for life. And then some.

This came from my "Southern Friend" Shaun. For some fun reason we were invited to their most impressive Halloween Party just a few months after we moved to Mississippi. Shaun had a son, Noah, who was in Summer's first grade class. Noah has a twin named Graham. Even though they're boys, They have been great friends with my girls. We spent many a day at the Avalon Pool. Last spring when we planned our trip to MS, I let the Joyners know we were coming to MS and what do you know? They planned a regular old flashlight Easter Egg Hunt just because we were going to be there. I get teary just remembering ALL of my old MS friends. I'll post some pictures of last year's Easter Egg Hunt.

Amazingly Simple Home Remedies

---

1. When choking on an ice cube, simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. Presto! The blockage will instantly remove itself.
   
2. Avoid cutting yourself slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold while you chop.
   
3. Avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.
   
4. To treat high blood pressure: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.
   
5. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
   
6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you will be afraid to cough.
   
7. You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. ...If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. - If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
   
8. Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

Ketchup

I just had a thought about ketchup. I buy ketchup in super huge bulk and then pour it into the small, cute squeeze bottle that rests on it's lid so that when you go to use it, all of the ketchup is at the squeeze end. So, I was refilling the squeeze bottle and I started thinking about ketcup. We use a lot of ketchup at our house.
My kids are dippers. Right now I am trying to get Cole to get new foods, particularly veggies. I thought that by teaching him how fun it is to dip, that he would be more willing to eat veggies. Mostly he just dips the carrot or whatever he is dipping and then sucks the dip off. Sometimes the dip is ranch, sometimes the dip is ketchup. But he always calls it "chetchup". It makes me think of my dad. He used to tell me stories of when he was a kid. He ate ketchup on everything. I remember asking, "Everything?" and he answered, "EVERYTHING". He ate in on eggs, potatoes, meat, veggies, and anything else you eat when you live on a farm. He said he outgrew it slightly as he became an adult. I think it had to do with the introduction of fry sauce into his life, but I'll save that for another day.
I remember once in my early married days I made tacos and I served them with ketchup (and salsa--I'm not that dumb). Rick looked at me like I was completely nuts (I am sometimes). He couldn't believe that anyone would eat ketchup on tacos. I guess it's a genetic thing. I got it from my dad and I believe I have passed it on to my children. Or maybe they just picked up on it because I put ketchup on the table with all of our meals just out of habit.
That reminds me-- I need to go add ketchup to the grocery list.

Alternative Sunday School

so, it's 2:22 on Sunday afternoon and for me that means that Sunday School should have started 2 minutes ago. But, clearly I'm not sitting in Sunday School because I am at home sitting on the computer trying to figure out what I did wrong. Rick had to work today so I was on my own with the three kiddies at Church. Well, Cole has been relatively good all week and I have attributed it to getting enough sleep at the right time. And what exactly is the right time for a nap, you ask. 1:00 to 1:30 which happens to be just the same exact time that we are at church. I tried to go early enough to get a bench seat because that always seemed to help with the girls. I think the only thing that would have helped with Cole today was a bench seat with seat belts and a "beep, beep, beep" like a tractor every time he tried to move. I spent 30 minutes before church preparing his "Keep Cole Occupied for 70 minutes bag". Which, by the way didn't even last through the opening prayer. He has this constant impulse to harass Sierra. I tried to keep the separated, but what do you do with one adult and 3 kids. I don't have that many "sides" to sit on. Once when Cole was tormenting Sierra, he tripped over her shoe and went flying down the isle--with his bag of animal cracker, raisin, cereal mix. then, he was afraid someone might eat his cereal so he started grabbing and yelling and as a result smashing his cereal. Every time I tried to hold him or tell him to be quiet or leave Sierra or alone or ask if he wanted to color he would seriously YELL, "NOOOOOOOO". We ended up in the hall-twice. I don't believe that when I take him out of the meeting because he is naughty that it is OK to let him run around and yell at the top of his lungs and get his own way. so, I made him sit in the chair next to me. He slowly makes his way to the end table and starts climbing it. I say no and he screams. He ends up back on the chair, screaming. He ends up in the little breezeway between the two sets of doors which I let him do for a minute because at least it is quiet for the other people sitting int he foyer trying to listen. Then he spies the snow shovels and tries to make an escape for the outside door with a snow shovel. I seriously consider letting him to do it but there are too many cars coming and going and plus I didn't have a spare change of clothes for him. So, I bring him back in and in the nicest, sweetest voice I can manage I ask him to come sit by me and listen to the beautiful music of the choir. NOOOOOOO. The kid across the foyer sitting on his mom's lap has his hands over his ears. So does his mom. I figured that since I was getting absolutely nothing/zero/zip/nada from this lovely day at church, I would go home. I leave Cole sitting on the chair screaming at the top of his lungs--still. I went back in the chapel, told Summer to clean up Cole's mess and that I would be back later to pick them up. Poor kids of mine. I trust the girls that they will behave and go to class. I brought Cole home and put him down for a nap. It only took about 2.3 minutes and he was sleeping like a dog. I might have to find a ward that starts at 9:00 am for the next 10 months. I don't know what else to do. He has lasted through his nursery class all of once in 2008.
I guess I'll go read the Sunday School lesson now. At least this way I get to do it with a Diet Coke nearby. It's not so bad after all.

Cole and the Crabs

After posting the cute picture of Cole and his dumpdump, I realized that I hadn't ever posted this event from last week. We have kept the crabs upstairs the past few weeks because the furnace was out downstairs and it was too cold for the crabs. Rick had just commented the day before that Cole had been so obedient and had not bothered the crabs at all. I was making dinner one evening and I didn't realize that Cole had gotten into the crabs. He really didn't care so much about the crabs, it was the sand that he wanted. He was loading it into his truck and hauling it acroos the family room floor. I was sooo irritated when I saw this mess. I tried not to be too irritated, he just needed some sand for his darn trucks. WOW, we really need to get outside and get this boy a sandbox.
BTW, the crabs all survived--darn.

Cole and his DumpDump

It has been so cold and snowy and hard on this poor family. On Tuesday it was slightly warm. When I went to excersize on Tuesday morning I could see the front lawn on the South side of the house. I was seriously so excited I had tears in my eyes. When I got home I put Cole's jacket on and got out some of his trucks so he could play outside. He had the entire driveway and some of the sidewalk and walk up to the front porch to drive the DumpDump. But, NOOO, he had to use his DumpDump in the snow. He won't wear gloves. This poor kid's fingers were frozen. When I finally drug him into the house, his pants were wet up to his knees, his shoes were soaked and he cried when he tried to bend his fingers. I'm glad we enjoyed it while we could--on Wednesday Utah received a HUGE snowstorm and we spent Thursday morning shoveling the driveway and the sidewalks.
Cole had a major meltdown at his Music Class on Monday morning and we had to leave early, but besides that he has been a little angel this week. I would like to attribute it to my good mommy parenting but I think it really had to do with getting enough sleep.

Happy To You

Road to Reading

Help the school librarian just called and asked me to decorate the door to the library for the book fair next month. The theme is "road to reading". Help. Any ideas or in you can refer me to a website with pictures...I would appreciate it.

Wanted: Valentine's Date

This is my cute, single brother who is looking for a date for Valentine's Day.

The apron thief

Every time my mom comes to my house she steals an apron. I have the reputation of sneaking things out when I go to my mom's house. If anything is ever missing, my siblings and my mom always say, "Call Kelli, she probably stole it." Now, here is the proof, my mom is a thief. I get my sticky fingers from her. It's ok that she took my aprons, I don't really need them all anyways.

my cute apron models

Sierra is wearing my favorite little lemon apron. I love it. Summer is wearing the apron that mom made. The size is a little big for Summer, but it turned out cute and mom was proud that she still had the touch from 7th grade home ec.

1 pattern, 4 aprons

Here are some of our Saturday Sewing apron creations. I don't know which is my favortie. Let me know what you think. If any of them are ugly, tell me so that I can give those ones away.

update: the green one has been taken.
update, update: the yellow and the blue one are taken.

7th grade home ec

So, my mom came down to sew aprons on Saturday. She told me that she went through her cedar chest because she thought she had saved an apron that she had made in 7th grade. She pulled this cute little pink gingham apron out of her bag. Guess what? it is the very same apron pattern that I got from ebay a few weeks ago. So, we spend the afternoon teaching mom how to make the same apron that she had made a few decades ago. It went well. Kind of.
I don't know if mom knows that she left it at my house, but I'm going to keep it for the Kelli apron museum.

step 1

my SIL, Kristine implied that I am a little obsessed with making aprons and that I might need a 12-step program. Well, I guess I can agree so this morning I took step 1. I put away the sewing machine and all of the fabric, scissors, patterns, thread, and mess. I guess if I need to actually cook something and I need to wear an apron I will just have to choose from one of the 35,000 aprons that I already have and hope for the best. I still need to post a bunch of apron photos, but for now the apron phase is over. I am currently in search of a new obsession.

for dinner tonight...

Martha Meatloaf

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 4 slices bread, torn into small pieces
• 2 carrots, chopped fine
• 2 celery ribs, chopped fine
• 2 onions, chopped fine
• 1/2 cup parsley, chopped fine
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pepper
• 1 egg, slightly beaten

Directions

• Mix all ingredients by hand.
• Shape the mixture in a 9-inch by 6-inch pan
• Brush with a glaze made up of:
  1. 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  2. 1/2 cup ketchup
  3. 1 teaspoon dry mustard

Bake in oven at 375 degrees for about 1 hour or until done.

more fabric

This is another piece of cute fabric that I found last week. I think it will make a cute apron. Most of the samples that I put up here are Alexander Henry fabric. I found most of it at Joann's. Either it was purchased on sale, or I had a coupon because you know how cheap I tend to be! Every once in a while there is a piece of cute fabric in the remnant bin at Walmart.
I made a couple more aprons this week and mom is coming down to my house sometime today to make aprons. So, when all of the apron creating is done I will certainly post the results.
Rick asked me yesterday when I was going to stop making aprons and I answered that when the sun finally comes out and it gets above freezing I will put away the sewing machine and fabric. I plan on being outside all day every day until next winter! I'm getting a little burned out of sewing or maybe I'm just burned out of winter!
Sierra asked me what I was going to do with all of my aprons. She thought that I should make them and sell them. I told her I couldn't do that because once I make a cute apron, I fall in love with it and I can't part with it. I become like Summer and want to wear them everywhere--even to bed. So, Sierra suggested that I start making ugly aprons and then it would be easier to part with them when they are finished. Now, that's an idea!

The Lord does not leave us to find our own way...

It is not surprising that in the face of tremendous evil and temptation the Lord does not leave us to find our way on our own... you have received the Gift of the Holy Ghost to direct and inspire you. You have the scriptures, parents, church leaders, and teachers. You also have the words of the prophets, seers, revelators who live in our day. There is so much guidance and direction available that you won't make major mistakes in your life unless you consciously ignore the guidance you receive. Paul V. Johnson CR Nov. 2005

Summer's Apron

I had made an apron like this a few days ago and Summer fell in love with it. So, I helped her make an apron for herself last night. She was so excited and wore it all around the house. She even put it on over her PJ's when she got ready for bed. I had to remind her to take it off when she got ready to sleep.

Fat Tuesday

Here are the king cakes before they went into the oven. The dough was really stiff and I didn't even come close to adding all of the flour. Hum, I must have done something wrong...











This is what they looked like when they came out of the oven. I skipped the traditional cinnamon roll type of filling and I went for the yummy cream cheese and fruit filling. The top one has blue berries and the bottom one that is oozing all over the pan is a blackberry filling. Oh, it's yummy.
Cole helped me decorate the poor pathetic king cakes this morning. This is EXACTLY how they are supposed to look. (don't comment if you're from MS, please)
You can see little Cole in the back ground with his plastic baby. He was a little bit confused why we were shoving plastic babies into the cakes. The girls are so excited to dig and see who gets the baby.

I just realized that I forgot to order the plastic beads. We used to get so many of those darn things from school and parties. I had bags of them up on the shelf in the toy closet. I got rid of them all when we moved. I'd be hard pressed to find one single strand of beads in this house today. I'm kind of glad that they are not accumulating here like they did in MS.

Happy to you, Fat Tuesday!!

when it gets warm...

I swear I hate going to the zoo. It stinks and it's always hot when I go. But, the first day that the temp goes above the freezing mark, I am loading up the Honda and heading to the zoo. OK, maybe it needs to get above 50, but still, I'm going to the zoo. Oh, I think I'll take the kids with me.

I can't believe it

I went to Walmart this morning to pick up a few things and guess what I couldn't find? a king cake. Are you serious Walmart? No king cakes. What's a girl supposed to do? I went to the bakery and was overwhelmed with pink cookies, red frosted cupcakes, and balloons. But no king cakes. It was like Halloween all over again. You go to the store to buy the Halloween candy right before the big day and all of the isles are filled with Christmas items. That's how I felt today. Let's get one holiday over with before we start celebrating the next one.
So, I came home and dug through my old recipes that I've torn out of my Southern Living Magazines and I found this:

• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1/2 cup warm water (100 to 110 degrees)
• 2 eggs
• 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
• Colored Frostings (see below)
• Colored Sugars (see below)
• 
  
• Colored Frosting:
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 drops green food color
• 2 drops yellow food coloring
• 2 drops blue food coloring
• 2 drops red food color
• 
  
• Colored sugars:
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 drops green food color
• 2 drops yellow food coloring
• 2 drops red food color
• 2 drops blue food coloring

DIRECTIONS

1. COOK first 4 ingredients in a saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until butter melts. Cool mixture to 100 degrees to 110 degrees.
2. DISSOLVE yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1/2 cup warm water in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Add butter mixture, eggs, and 2 cups flour; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until smooth. Gradually stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.
3. TURN dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.
4. STIR together 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon; set aside.
5. PUNCH dough down; divide in half. Turn 1 portion out onto a lightly floured surface; roll to a 28- x 10-inch rectangle. Spread half each of cinnamon mixture and softened butter on dough. Roll dough, jellyroll fashion, starting at long side. Place dough roll, seam side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bring ends together to form an oval ring, moistening and pinching edges together to seal. Repeat with remaining dough, cinnamon mixture, and butter.
6. COVER and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 20 minutes or until doubled in bulk.
7. BAKE at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden. Decorate with bands of Colored Frostings, and sprinkle with Colored Sugars.
8. COLORED FROSTINGS: Stir together powdered sugar and melted butter. Add milk to reach desired consistency for drizzling; stir in vanilla. Divide frosting into 3 batches, tinting 1 green, 1 yellow, and combining red and blue food coloring for purple frosting.
9. COLORED SUGARS: Place 1/2 cup sugar and drop of green food coloring in a jar or zip-top plastic bag; seal. Shake vigorously to evenly mix color with sugar. Repeat procedure with 1/2 cup sugar and yellow food coloring. For purple, combine 1 drop red and 1 drop blue food coloring before adding to remaining 1/2 cup sugar.

So, I will put on one of my cute little aprons and spend the afternoon in the kitchen mixing flour and yeast, sugar and food coloring, and hope my creation turns out as good as the ones we used to buy from the Blackstock's at Aunt V's Candies in Flowood, MS. I'll post a picture if it tuns out.

Sunday School

So, I'm sitting in Sunday School and it's near the end of the lesson and my mind is wandering a bit (I'll tell you where in a minute) when the teacher asks a questions and then calls on me. I'm on the back row and I look up with a totally blank stare. Sister Carter says, "C'mon Sister Herlevi (how does she know my name--she must be the only one in the ward who knows it), you know the answer." I'm thinking, "are you kidding, I don't even know the question." She says, "here's a clue, it's one of the pictures on the board." There are 4 pictures on the board. Since we are studying 1Nephi and there are 3 pictures on the board from that book, I figure I've got a 1 out of 3 chance. My friend sitting next to me gives me the elbow and whispers, "Joseph Smith". Sooo, I take a wild guess and mumble, "Joseph Smith" which was not one of three that I would have guessed. Bingo! Good thing the girl sitting next to me was paying attention. I owe ya one, Rebekah. My neighbor from across the road is sitting on the row in front of me and he turns around and says, "Good thing that was you and not me, I was totally asleep!" Serves me right for day dreaming during Sunday School. I promise I will come home and study the lesson before I go to sleep tonight.
But, this is what I was thinking about... how grateful I am for prayer and the 17 prayers that I have said throughout the day tonight to help me and Cole to make it through church since his track record for going to Nursery is 0 for 4 for 2008. I was remembering taking Cole out into the hall at the end of the Sacrament Meeting and saying a little prayer with him that he would obey his teacher. I was thinking how nicely he went into his classroom and sat quietly at the little table before he grabbed the truck out of McCade's hands. So, even though my mind was wandering during Sunday School at least I wasn't thinking about the icy cold diet Coke that was sitting out in the Honda waiting for me.
oh, and when I went to the Nursery room at the end of our meetings, Cole didn't want to leave. Maybe we said one too many prayers!

Play Dough

Cole has been pretty good about keeping his play dough in one spot and sitting up to the counter to play with play dough while I make dinner. For now, I will let him play with it.

Here is the recipe:

PLAY DOUGH

1 C. flour
1 C. warm water
2 t. cream of tartar
1 t. oil
1/4 c. salt
food coloring
Mix. Add food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from heat and knead until smooth. Store in a secure container in fridge. Will last until someone eats it or leaves it out to dry.

2 for 1

I picked this up the other day hoping that it would solve the craving for chocolate AND caffeine at the same time. I'm a little disappointed. Mostly it just makes me realize that I am certainly NOT enjoying anything chocolate. So, if you haven't tried this yet, probably you don't need to because it's not that great. just a little FYI.

Cowboy Small

The kids were getting ready for bed last night and I realized that Cole's hair was long enough in the back to put in a pony tail. Now, I can't have a boy with hair longer than his sisters. Soooo, we got out the clippers. It was so sad seeing all of that white hair in the garbage. I will never cut his blonde hair again. Now Rick is the only who needs a hair cut at this house.

Happy to me

I did something wild and crazy today. I went to Old Navy. I bought a shirt. It wasn't on sale. It was a medium. I almost didn't buy it. I was certain that when I got home it would decide not to fit me. I like Old Navy.

Happy Valentines!

Since February is finally here I thought I would post a photo of one of my January projects. Mom came down a few weeks ago and we bought these little precut squares of fabric. It was a race to see who could make something cute the fastest. I haven't seen mom's creation yet, but I'm quite pleased with my results. The squares almost matched up perfectly and I read a little tutorial on how to do the binding (which I have never known how to do). I think it came out great. I can see a couple of improvements that I can make and I will try again soon so that I learn how to do it correctly. The colors in the photo came out a little bit dark, but I really love the color combination of pinks, reds, and brown. I'm a brown kinda gal these days. I sewed some tabs on the top and I have it hanging on a rod on my wall. Happy to you. xoxo