Relief Society Broadcast

Thoughts that came to me during the broadcast that I want to put into practice....my newest attempt at daily scripture study was reading the scriptures listed for each hymn. I started at the beginning of the hymnbook....but I'm going to take it up a notch (in addition to getting back to it) and sing the hymn first, then read the scripture. This will replace my morning facebook & blog time. Then if I have more time after everything else that is more important is done....exercise...getting dressed, eating breakfast and making my lunch...then I get to spend time on facebook & my blog.

Other comments that "I heard" were being spiritually there for other sisters (i.e. or family etc)....I don't always feel that I can do things. Other good friends are more doers in service...actually getting in and doing something for someone else. I'm not very good at that. But I do truly love ferociously the sisters in our ward. I have become especially fond of our young mothers. I admire them so much. They are so much better equipped to raise their children now. So much better educated, spiritually leaps and bounds ahead of where I was in my day. I want to be their personal cheerleader and in their head everyday reassuring them that they are awesome and being such competent and perfect mothers for their children.

I like this new General RS Board....no funny hairdos or accents that are distracting...isn't that awful? Anyway, I am very grateful that I went and for my date and for the moments I had to connect with so many of my wonderful friends from other wards. I do love people...I forget my worries and woes when I engage with my friends. What a blessing friends are!

A pocket full of little boys

It's hard to believe that we have grandsons this BIG!

When did this all happen?

12/17/2003 it all began.

Little Buddy is growing up

Red hair glow and looking more like a baby to play with instead of just feed, burp and change.

I forgot to blog about my birthday

I'm 55 -

The events of my actual birthday celebrations were inspired by the events of this photo.

You ask how?

 On Sunday a friend suggested we get a group together to go out to eat for my birthday. I said that sounds great and I started "inviting" people to dinner the next day. I told Fred what was going on and he said "well then I guess we aren't doing anything?".....I said "oh"..... thinking that I have been to Las Vegas twice, Ross Lake, always spending money somewhere AND we go out to dinner all the time so what's the big deal about going out to eat one more time?" Well then I felt bad....and I think he did too. SO I changed the girl's night out to Tuesday.

This is when my story gets good. I called Fred on Monday morning at work and said "It's my birthday and I get whatever I want. I want to ride the ferris wheel in Seattle today". Fred said okay and arranged to take time off work.

 Here we are approaching the waterfront.

 Ferris Wheel - $13 per adult - maybe 10 minutes in line. Five revolutions. Total time 35 minutes.

 Here's my Fred. I love him.

 We weren't sure what to expect for waiting in line etc.... so we grabbed Ivars on the waterfront. These were our dinner companions. Very Very Noisy. They can sure catch fries mid air!

 Jumbo Prawns for me!

 This is looking up at the ferris wheel. It's white and shiny!

 The gondola holds six people. We were with a young couple from UW on a date and a guy all by himself ?....

 This is a photo of the umbrellas at the restaurant below.

 Water/ferry view.

 Bremerton out there somewhere....

The end.

Sirloin and Cremini Teriyaki

Not the greatest picture because it's from the magazine.....but I made this new recipe tonight. I looked up cremini in the dictionary (1999 edition) and could not find that word....it is the second time in the last couple of weeks that a new recipe has called for a cremini mushroom. I bought fresh mushrooms the last time and this time I used canned because I forgot to buy fresh.

Anyway - this is good. Fred liked it, but he weeds out the onions. He likes the smell and taste of onions, but they do not always agree with his little tummy.

7 oz stir-fry rice noodles

2 T vegetable oil

2 lbs boneless beef sirloin, cut against the grain into 1/4 inch slices

1/4 tsp salt

2 red oinion, sliced (I only used one)

2 sweet peppers, cored, seeded and sliced (I used red peppers)

8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced

2 cloves garlic, sliced (I used garlic from the jar)

1 T cornstarch

1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth

1/4 cup sesame teriyaki sauce

2 T rice vinegar

1. Place noodles in a bowl. Boil 8 cups water in a large nonstick skillet and pour over noodles. Soak 10 minutes and drain.

2. Heat 1 T of the oil in same skillet. Season beef with salt and saute' 2 minutes per side. Remove to a plate. Add remaining 1 T oil. Add onions, peppers, mushroom and garlic; stir-fry for 8 minutes.

3. Combine cornstarch and broth; add to skillet and simmer for 1 minute. Stir in beef, noodles, teriayki sauce and vinegar; simmer for 1 minute until heated through.

Speechless Grammie

I already posted a few of these photos on my facebook, but there are one or two of you that only see my blog. I really can't find the words to describe how these pictures of Little Buddy fill my heart. Have you ever seen any baby so beautiful? My heart is full!

Grammie's Vegas Adventures

I just got home from 10 days in Las Vegas with Shannon & Little Buddy (LB for short) & Brian too. I didn't take many pictures because LB from day to day looked pretty much the same. Asleep or nursing. I'm not into diaper changing pictures and he didn't like his sponge baths. I took this picutre the morning that I left.

Other than two nights (following Shannon eating Cafe Rio) LB wakes only once a night around 3 AM. Goes back to sleep until 6AMish....in time for Daddy Brian to change him and play while Shannon gets dressed.

Brian is an awesome Dad. He is studying for the DAT.....and his only break is food and coming to hold & feed LB when it's possible. Shannon is nursing & pumping so Brian gets to take his turn at feeding LB.

 I thought I was taking a video and LB was moving and looking around looking so sweet....ding dong Grammie.

I spent everyday watching TV, working on my stitchery kit, and failed at reading. The first two days I was pretty tired...not sure why I wasn't the one getting up. I did stay up late though. In the evenings I would go downstairs to my Grandma Suite and watch movies & TV on my I Pad. It was a sweet deal.

At Shannon's I always seem to eat a lot. They have fun food that I try not to have around home. Oreo cookies, ice cream and bags of chips...also Dyno chocolate krispies.....I did, however, make two casseroles, clean my bathroom, wash clothes, clean their oven, range & microwave. That was the day before I left. Once I got motivated to be productive then I really didn't want to leave.

When we were pulling out of the garage to head to the airport, I was crying a bit. Shannon & Brian have truly been blessed. First to have each other and now to welcome this sweet little baby to their lives.

I can hardly wait to see pictures of LB when he gets his baby fat. He has very large hands with LONG fingers.

So that is it until I get new pictures.