big huge awesome thanks.

Ode to Lori-

THANK YOU for helping me sew! (that means in Gabrielle speak: Thank you for sewing FOR me.)

Out of the goodness of her heart she spent 4 hours sewing panels for our photo booth! She gets nothing out of it- and it just sucked up her time!
Thank you thank you thank you!

Chicken Dinner

I bought these chicken breasts a few weeks ago for 1.79 a pound. I bought a bunch because the price was so good- and because with Jordan eating as much as Dave or I- a little does not go as far as before. Yesterday Ithrew them in for dinner at 3:40. At 7 the internal temp was still only 125! (they were on high in the crock pot- but STILL!!!) I finally had to put them into the oven if we had a prayer of eating. 145 came only 20 minutes of them being in the oven. Sheesh!

When I served dinner these chickens were just HUGE!!! I could not even eat half of it. I could not believe that a poor little chicken was walking around with that much breast up front! I can just imagine it now: cluck cluck THUMP ugh cluck cluck THUMP ugh. Poor little chicken!!! The poor guy probably had a thing of a life before becoming our dinner. I think of Foghorn Leghorn and Chicken Little. We ate Foghorn last night!!!

(Yes now insert my rant about why we have to fill our livestock with growth hormones.)

Well- now I have 4 more meals with all this yummy chicken- not the intended 2 more.
and yes- I realize this was the most snooze worthy post of all time- but this is waht was on my mind!

slightly rantish

I am feeling frustration- but have so many wonderful things in my life it makes me feel like a total ingrate! So for every frustration- I better make it up with happiness in my life. Is that a deal?

UGH! Can I just watch TV without swearing, sex, and Satan influencing the whole thing??? shows I like are still so tainted!

We have a fantastic TV by the way- and movies in the projector are so fantastic! Who wants to come over and watch Rope???

I am such a social girl! I am so not used to Tooele STILL! I miss friends and family dropping by unannounced. Stopping by to say- hey wanna watch a movie, eat a cookie, chat? Something!!! I feel lonely and miss friends! I mean I have friends here- but if I didn't leave my house from Sunday to Sunday- I would never talk to anyone who did not live with me! I am lonely like that!

I am grateful for my husband who gets the brunt of this. I am grateful that he loves me even when I am rantish. He is amazing and makes me laugh!

I want to stay in Tooele- another month has gone by where we have not been able to stay home all weekend. I want to have a party at my house- but who would come? I would like my family to think- HEY I would love to go visit David and Gabrielle! Not- well if we are driving home from Wendover we MIGHT stop by. ( sorry family- I really do wish this!!!)

BUt our family is ours and we love them. We are glad that we get to spend time with them when we drive thier way.

I FINALLY sent an email to Kira's school teacher. I am so fed up with her homework! They have my 7 year old for almost 7 hours a day- then to send her home with 4 worksheets and 400 math problems A WEEK (YES 400!!!!!!!) its ubsurd! She is SEVEN! She cries every time I pull out her homework packet. Then we read for 20 minutes THEN we practice her spelling! 2 hours for a seven year old??? Maybe I would be ok if we flunking out and needed the extra supplementation. Yah no- she is not.

I am grateful that this teacher has a brain tho. Last year Nicole had the most moronic teachers- made me want to puke. Kira's teacher is klind and smart. Not a yeller.

I love David. Even if he signs me up for things like homemade cheesecake to parties. I love every hair on his head. (which he had not lost once since I met him when he was 18 years old!) For every hair on his head- I could name something about him I adore. But I will spare you the cheesy details. Well how about 3 things! 1-he is generous. He would chop off his arm and hand it to you if you needed it more than he did. 2- He is never serious. He teases me all the time. Sometimes I pretend to be mad at him- which makes the jokes even funnier. 3- Rule at our house: if you are holding a light saber or a nerf gun, you are free game. I will never as long as I live- EVER be sick of darts flying around the house- when I can see the look of boyish glee on his face while a gun is in his hands!

Nicole- has decided she likes boys. YAY I get to harass her all the time! Usually until either one of us is laughing so hard a bladder is in jeopardy.

Jordan- The smartest kid I know. The other day I was informed that if I by him more darts- he has enough nerf guns to supply every boy in the nieghborhood for a serious nerf war. But he wants to be on the team with Chris and Jordon. (The 14 year olds.) They are the only one skilled like him! (Scary Jordan having 14 year old boys in the yard now- did I mention Nicole likes boys too now- hopefully she does not think they are as cute as they are.)

Kira- If I did not get my daily snugglebug from Kira- I may not be able to funtion. She is our joy. Having her last was a blessing from Heaven. She has remained my loyal companion way longer than a mother deserves!

Gabrielle- Though I am hard on myself- I am grateful for my strength and ability to care for my family. Thankful I can cook something out of nothing, and most of all- that I was smart enough to see the good things in front of me! Sorry for the rants- but as long as I see more good than bad- I may make it through this life!

But- between you and me - sometimes I doubt it. Ah Love the self doubt. Working on that.

The LIST.

Being a mother is wonderful. Being the one who runs the house is satisfying and wonderful. I notice that I rarely do anything for myself. I dress like an orphan while everyone else looks great- but I don't mind- I want my children and husband to have nice things- what do I need them for? BUT- Don't you have a list of things you would LOVE to own- but never will. these things would be fantastic- but when you have money in your pocket- you see a million other things more important! Kids do not grow or anything! So here it is- things I would LOVE to buy- but probably never ever will!

a gorgeous Christmas wreath
china
a kitchen aid
a vanity table and bench
a black framed 11x17 Family Proclamation ( I have a smaller ugly framed one)
500 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets
Thanks giving dishes
Christmas dishes (Kelli gave me some once- I have one cup left :( )
Curtains for my living room
pearl earrings
a big fantastic map of the world
some big beautiful houseplants
rugs for my bathroom
a built in microwave
an electric tooth brush
some banana leaf baskets
25 matching frames for a fantastic wall collage
a cool giant black board
teeth whitening kits
A certain water color of the Salt Lake Temple- I have wanted it for 4 years
a massage
a pedicure
a Dyson

So. What is on your list? What would you buy FOR YOURSELF if you could?

Falling over dead tired and a headache!!!!

I have a headache! I have had it for ....47 hours. I have not known constant head pain since spring! I have (well had) a doctors appointment- and he wanted me to stop taking my medicine- thinking I was ready to come off- and have had a headache because of it. He wanted me off for 10 days before I came in. Well- that certainly is not going to happen now!!! I called this morning, and he told me to start them again- I must not be ready- so yay_ I will try again in January! He did say it was early, but I have been doing SO well- that he was optimistic! He has had me being weaned off the insulin pills for 3 weeks now- I he figures we will cut the dosage- but I am not ready for the lack of it. Darn- but Look at me! Its been 4 months and I am already to 1/4 of the the original prescription! I am hoping that I will do better next time! ( and I so do not miss these headaches! he said I may have one for another 2 days. CRY!!!)

On other topics- as an answer to prayers- a small little miracle. My job gave us EXTRA money as you all know. I have prayed and continue to pray- that when we need extra- opprotunities will arrive. You guessed it- extra was needed- and a way was provided! We worked like dogs this weekend (NOT my favorite way to listen to conference! Thank fully- it was fantastic!) doing repairs and cleaning for a rental property of Mom and Rex's. But it is now rent ready- and we are DEAD TIRED!!! There are a few lessons learned. I did not need most of these- but leassons for all the cyber lurkers.

• Renters suck - I never want to rent my home out. Ever- Remind me when we want to move. SELL this- not rent it!
• You can only eat so much yogurt. This single woman had more yogurt in the fridge than I buy in a year! (yes all expired!)
• Tile for the win- Carpet For the lose.
  
• 12 dogs. No you do not need 12 dogs.
• 12 dogs. No you don't even WANT 12 dogs.
• 12 dogs. If you have 12 dogs you get evicted. Duh.
• 12 dogs. You can't control them. They get loose and kill the USU sheep next door.
• 12 dogs. USU fines you. Refer to not needing/wanting 12 dogs.
• You can never buy too much bleach.
• A new Temple in Kansas City area! YAY Shelly!!!
• In laws who show up with lunch in the midst of cleaning- Priceless!
• Self cleaning ovens are fantastic! (oh man you should have seen this oven!!!)
• Young Ward had a ridiculous amount of mosquitos.
• Must reread Elder Cooks talk- I LOVED it!
• Nicole wants to climb to Ensign peak now. (the young womans president can be an influence in more ways than one! :D)
• Did I mention bleach?
• Every boy need a Nerf Machine gun! (The vulcan)
• Families are forever- and forever coming through for you!
• You can talk about, work on, or hold presents right in front of Dad's and they remain blissfully clueless!
• 12 dogs. gross. beastky. callous. cloddish. crude. egregious. foul. impure. indecent. obscene. offensive. outrageous. rank. repulsive. rude. scurrilous. sleazy. swinish. uncouth. unrefined. gross. 12 dogs.
  

Jordan

-"The buddy"
-"Elmer"
-"Jordy"
-"I like pie."
-Sushi-lover
- "Can we get chips and salsa?"
-"Dad- can we get a treat?"
-Hysterical
-"no, it was Kira."
-Peacemaker
-Nerf lover
-Soccer playin'
-Wonderful, fantastic, lovable, friend.

eleven year old Jordan

The perfect cake

Jordan- my in home food critic- the only child alive who say such things as:

"Mom- do I taste a hint of nutmeg?"
"The only ranch dressing worth eating has a hint of garlic."
"Ew- this fish does not taste fresh at all!" (at a restaurant)
"I was afraid to taste the mussel- it looked gross!" ( He ate at least 20 of them)
"For my birthday was we go out for sushi? not the pansy no fish kind!"
"This isn't lemon extract (in a lemon cookie recipe) I taste oranges!"


What 10 year old boy notices this kind of stuff? Jordan. Jordan is a taster. Like me- he can identify ingredients, and even sometimes techniques. He has announced at the Ogden Pizzeria that the dough was NOT in fact hand tossed. He could tell. ( He was right- I could tell too- every one else at the table just looked at him like he had no idea what he was saying.) Jordan is clever like that.

I have been tweaking a recipe on paper for about 3 days to make him the PERFECT Chocolate cake. I realize Grandpa Swaner is making his German chocolate cake for Jordan on Sunday- I certainly have to make my son a yummey cake for his day. (Do you know my issues with store bought cake?! Ok- here it is- I always know my cakes are better than one ordered from the store- I only have ever served one to a beloved family member in the last 14 years! Sorry Dave- you are fortunate to have received a cake at all that year! the only reason you did is because I was told my Dr. Naisbitt that I would no longer be pregnant in 4 short days- and a brief moment of happiness had appeared in my pregnancy induced depression!)

But for my Jordan- it is not- "Honey what kind of cake do you want?" Dave: I think carrot cake is becoming my favorite- but whatever you want to make. Nicole: mmmm. The kind you made last time. (!!! I can't remember!) Kira: Pink cake. No- with Jordan its- "Mom make that kind of cake that everyone will be talking about the next day!" /sigh Thanks son- no pressure!

So here is what I have come up with: Those of you foodies out there- give it the once over and tell me if that sounds good- I have been concocting it in my head.

Chocolate cake with chocolate cheesecake layer

• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

  

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• Sliced almonds, for garnish
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  

Cheesecake:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. 9-inch round baking pan with aluminum foil, letting edges of foil extend over sides of pan. Lightly grease the foil.

In large bowl, beat cream cheese until creamy. Add sugar, beating until smooth. Add cocoa powder. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in sour cream . Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 45 minutes then turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in oven with door closed for another hour. Let the cheesecake cool completely in its pan on a wire rack then cover and chill for 4 hours. Using edges of foil as handles, remove cheesecake from pan and peel away foil.

Spread a layer of frosting on top of chocolate cake. Next, layer cheesecake and top with chocolate icing. Place second chocolate cake and ice with frosting on top and on the sides. Sprinkle almonds on sides or top.

• favorite chocolate cake recipie ( one I recieved from Jaynie 13 years ago)
  
• shot of almond extract
  
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round cake pans.

In large bowl, combine cake mix, extract, water, oil and eggs. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Divide batter evenly between the 2 prepared pans. Bake 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks and let cool completely.

Chocolate Fosting:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 block cream cheese
  
• 1/8 cup cocoa powder
  
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• a shot of almond extract
  

In a large bowl, beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add chocolate, beating until combined. Beat in almond extract and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy.

Did I go over board? Will he be talking about it the next day? Oh man!