Thanksgiving

Although our thanksgiving was quite hectic, it was fun to spend time with our families. My parents had their dinner at 1:00 and Michael's parents had dinner at 2:00! I think we've decided to trade off with the families every other year; I don't think I'll be able to eat that much every year! This photo was taken by Jessica at the Muhlesteins. Thanks Jessi, I stole it from your blog... hope you don't mind. :) After our second dinner, we decided to go home and be with our boy; plus, he hadn't been let out for five plus hours. Michael and I played speed for a little bit and then watched a movie on "Netflix," one of Michael's early Christmas presents.

We have really enjoyed relaxing and spending time with each other on this LONG holiday weekend. It's been absolutely wonderful.

Thankful

I have been thinking about thanksgiving and what I really am thankful for. There are so many things to be thankful for, but I would be here for days trying to list them all. Right now, I am most thankful for children. I don't know what life would be like without them. They have such a bright little spirit about them and you cannot help but smile when being around them.

The other day, we stopped by Wes and Jess's house. I've had a few little things sitting around my house that I got at YW camp this summer, one being a little cross stitch kit. I gave it to my nephew Morgan, because he loves to create things and has such an imagination. The kit came with a Winnie the Pooh pattern, but he wanted to make a "robot." (He is really into robots and tells me that he wants to grow up and run a factory that makes robots.)

So, I started teaching him how to stitch, and before I knew it he had the entire square head done. I had to leave right after, but Jess emailed me this picture the next day. I thought for sure that he would move on to something else and forget about even finishing it, but not Morgan. He is so dedicated and when he has something he wants to do, he gets it done. I'm so proud of him, it looks awesome! This is the work of a 6 year-old!

My friend Courtney makes these cute headbands. I got one for Malia and it looked so adorable on her, but what wouldn't? I ask Wes and Jess if I can take her home with me every time I am with her. Jess always says, "Just have your own, they're easy to make." Michael and I just laugh, we're not quite ready for that yet. Although, if I knew my baby would be as cute as her... it might speed things up a bit!

And last, but not least I can't forget Carson! I never got a picture of him, but he was really funny that day. We were out in their backyard and Carson was pushing around a little wheelbarrow and falling over. He reminded me of the little boy on "Christmas Story" who wears the big snow suit. Carson had on big snow boots and a puffy coat, it was hilarious to watch him get around. Carson is definitely the comedian in the family.

A Little Treat

I love baking, especially during this time of year. As the oven warms my home and sweet aromas fill the air, I can't help but get into the spirit of the coming holidays. I found this delicious recipe in the December issue of "realsimple" magazine and thought I'd share. :)

What I like about this recipe? It's simple! Fast, easy, hardly any clean up and it's unique! What more could you ask for? Below you will find the instructions for these delectable little morsels.

Lace Cookies

Ingredients: 4 T. unsalted butter (I used salted and they turned out just fine)

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 T. heavy cream

1/3 c. very finely chopped pecans

1/4 c all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled

1/4 t. kosher salt

Directions: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the butter, sugars and cream into a saucepan. Bring to boil and stir until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the pecans, flour, and salt.

Drop level teaspoons of the warm batter, spacing them 4 inches apart, onto parchment-lined baking sheets. If the batter cools between batches and can't be scooped, rewarm it slightly. (Instead of rewarming, I just rolled about a teaspoon of batter in my hands and pressed onto the baking sheets, forming a circle.) Bake, rotating the sheets halfway through, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on the sheets until firm, about 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack (a glass plate works just fine) to cool completely.

Enjoy! I thought these would be great to make for hors d oeuvrers at a christmas party :)

Crave to Race

Michael started a "race blog" about a month ago. He is finally getting into the blogging world! I know, I gave him a pat on the back. {Here} is where he blogs about all the races he competes in... so I don't have to. Just kidding, I love to blog and brag about my boy. He made a blog mainly because he needed something to show his "potential" sponsors. He has done a good job with it, I am quite impressed. So, check it out when you get a chance. Just click on "mikeys.races" under my family list.

My Grandma Weston

My sweet grandma passed away in August of this year. She was such a beautiful person and everyone that knew her said she had a light about her. I so admire her for her musical abilities she possessed as well as her great accomplishments. She was a concert pianist and taught piano all her life. Her personality was humble, giving and full of life. She always made me feel like I was so special to her, whenever I was around her.

Below is her obituary and pictures taken the day of her funeral. It was such a warm and sunny day. The funeral service was beautiful and endearing. It completely captured the goodness of my grandma’s life and her great love for music. She is greatly missed, but I am happy to know I will see her again someday.

Joyce F. Weston

Joyce F. Weston (1927 - 2010)

Saturday evening, Aug. 7, 2010, Joyce Fornoff Weston finished her wonderful journey in beautiful Cache Valley, where she lived her entire life.
She was born on July 8, 1927, in Ogden, Utah, to Harold Leonard Fornoff and Ruth Pingree Fornoff. Living her youth in Logan, she fell in love with Todd G. Weston. They married Oct. 16, 1946. Their marriage was solemnized in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. Their love and devotion brought to Earth five wonderful children.
Grandma Joyce's life could be described as a life with a fierce loyalty and deep and everlasting love for her husband. She supported him in his business ventures and his political endeavors locally and statewide. She took care of him as he took care of her. Joyce and Todd loved their children and were pleased with their accomplishments and deeply and emotionally involved in the trials that came from time to time. Joyce is known throughout Cache Valley for her love of music and her incredible talent playing the piano - she mastered it. She taught hundreds of students, including students from Utah State University while she was associated there with the Music Department. Many times she expressed her desire to play for anyone at any time. Joyce served faithfully in all she was called to do, serving in particular for many years in the Relief Society including a time as president. She accompanied the ward choir for what seemed like decades. Joyce Weston is one of those people who make you feel like your life is better just by knowing her. Her smile and laughter were contagious. When one thinks back on her life she can truthfully be described with these words: loving, without guile, innocent, desirous to do good, unwilling to do wrong, giving but also appreciative to receive, thrifty and as she would say sometimes Scotch. She could not stand to throw away anything, especially wrapping paper on her presents. Grandma was always happy to see us. Gathering her family at Christmas seemed to be her favorite time during the year, and she could make it seem to last until Valentine's Day. When you went to Grandma's house, you could never eat enough. She always wanted to give more. This was symbolic of her life as she served and lifted many people for many years. Her tired and worn body finally gave up, but her tremendous Spirit and incredible love will never fatigue in the hearts and minds of her family and all those who knew her.
Grandma Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Todd G. Weston, her parents and her little baby sister Carol, who was born on Christmas Eve and died at the age of 4. She leaves her children and their spouses, Bart and Judy Weston, Randy and Debi Weston, Joyce and Greg Oman, Julie and Jim Ridd, and Sam and Judy Weston. Joyce and Todd enjoyed 18 grandchildren from these unions. These grandchildren have given Joyce 24 great-grandchildren, with at least 4 more coming in the near future. Joyce is survived by her brother Louis Fornoff and his wife Shirley.
The family is grateful for all those who have cared for Grandma Joyce these past three years, especially the staff at Legacy House in Logan. We will remember Joyce with a viewing Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St. in Logan, Utah. Funeral services are planned for noon on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010, at the River Heights Stake Center, 800 S. 600 East, River Heights, Utah, with a viewing prior to the funeral from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Providence Cemetery.

Florida Trip

I seriously have so much to get caught up on with this newer blog. I missed posting a lot of pictures due to procrastination and just pure laziness.

Michael and I went on a vacation with my family back in September. We flew to Florida, where Minnie and Mickey live. :) The kids were so fun to watch as they could not wait to go to DisneyWorld (especially Morgan) and Carson wanted to go to Animal Kingdom more than anything! We had a blast spending more than enough time at the parks and playing on the beach (which was my favorite part of the trip). Here are a few pictures taken from my camera as well as my phone. I bought a sweet app while there in Florida, called Hipstomatic.. love it!

The pictures are a little random, since I wasn't faithful in bringing my camera everywhere.

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Yes, this is how I feel right now about homework. I am turning my nose up at it! Unfortunately, I have to keep on keepin on though... that is, if I ever want to get a degree.

Notice the lovely zit that has formed ever so slightly in the MIDDLE of my forehead? That, my friends, is due to a lack of sleep and a whole lot of stress.

I will gladly welcome this weekend, and can't wait to wake up Saturday morning with absolutely "no" obligations. :)

Brrrr!

I have been freezing up on campus today, as I walked to and from my classes. I am currently sitting in my night class, and have not yet taken my coat off because the building is so old that the temperature is never regulated correctly. So here I freeze, while trying to focus on the information I need to write a mile long paper about "behavior in the classroom." I'm taking 17 credits this semester and it really hasn't been too bad until now. This last week, {all} of my teachers have laid on the final projects, as well as several other (time-consuming) assignments that they decide to spring on me during the last three weeks of class.

I don't mean to seem negative; I really am happy and enjoying life right now. I have so much to look forward to in the next little while, such as: Thanksgiving, Christmas, my student teaching next fall and training for a marathon, (which I plan to do in the Spring sometime). Michael has been mapping out his race schedule for the coming year. He is hoping to get sponsored by a few companies; it sure would help to have a few races paid for this summer!

Ziggy is doing well. He is recovering from a slight set back; he was playing fetch the other day and scraped both of his "thumbs" (i know thumbs sounds funny, but that's what they are!) on the pavement. We wrapped his legs for a few days, but he seems to be healing quite nicely. Honest, that child is happy no matter what happens to him; I can learn a lot from him.