Kolten's Farewell

Bitter-Sweet. Is what describes my feelings right now. I'm super excited for Kolt to go on his mission, and I know that's where he belongs, but knowing that I'm not going to see my baby brother for 2 years, is pretty dang sad.

Kolt's mission farewell was today, and it couldn't of turned out better. Seriously. He did such a good job. My brother's and my dad have never been one's to speak about feelings, or express there feelings. It's not a bad thing, it's just how they are.

Kris, and Kolten's farewell talks give a real feel for how they feel inside, and how they bare testimony of the gospel. It's amazing. It makes me so happy to know that my siblings love the gospel and want to serve the lord for 2 years of there life. I know that a mission is great for young men and it helps them become better people. Steve always tells me that he wouldn't of had it any other way. He's so happy that he was able to serve in Sweden. He loves the people, and he said the mission has made him a better person.

After Kolt's Farewell, everyone came to my parent's house and we had TONS of great food. It was a lot of fun spending time with family and close friends. I'm really excited for Kolt. I know he will be an amazing missionary.

Food For Thought Thursday

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cereal Bars

5 cups Chocolate Cheerios® cereal
3/4 cup raisins (I don't add the raisins since I don't like them!!)
3/4 cup salted peanuts
1 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, combine cereal, raisins and peanuts; set aside.
2. In 2-quart saucepan, combine corn syrup and sugars. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter.
3. Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal mixture; mix until thoroughly coated. Spread evenly in pan.
4. In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips on High 1 minute, stirring every 15 seconds, until melted and smooth. Drizzle over bars. Refrigerate 15 minutes or until chocolate is set.

These are DELISH!! I found this recipe at cheerios.com

Freezer Meals!

Kolten went through the temple on Thursday night, and we were able to support him as he got his endowments. I am still blown away that my baby brother is going on his mission in a little over a week. It was such a great experience to be with him and my family members.

Steve and I even came up with a potential boy name while we were there that we both agree on for a future child. :)
After the temple session we all went to Letherby's and had fries and ice cream! It was such a great night, and I'm super excited for Kolt! We sure love him!

Friday, was great. I was able to get a lot of stuff done, I love days' like this! I was able to get all the housework done and then I went over to my cousin Jen's house and visited with her. We looked at recipes, and shared recipes from our cookbooks. She also showed me her cute new baby's room that she painted and put together! When Steve came home from school we went bowling for our date night and ate at Costa Vida! It was so much fun bowling! I hit my highest score ever!! (97)! And Steve hit his high as well (123)! (We aren't pro's as you can tell) I'm so happy Steve and I have a date night every weekend.

Saturday I made my very first Freezer Meals. Mom Ford let me borrow her book (Dinner is Ready by Deanna Buxton) for the week, so I made 10 freezer meals! I'm so excited about this! Next weekend I'm going to make another 10. The meals are so easy, and with our busy week schedule these are perfect for us! I recommend making these meals to anyone!! They are really easy to make, and they taste great too! Here is one of my favorites:

Creamy Chicken and Pasta

3 c. pasta (any shape)

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 12 -oz. can evaporated milk

1/3 c. parmesan cheese

1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

2/3 c. French fried onions

3 c. cooked chopped chicken

Cook pasta in salted water for half the time recommended in package directions. Combine soup, milk and cheeses. Stir in onions, chicken and pasta. Place in galloon freezer. (This recipe is already doubled, i was able to make two full meals with this and some left overs) Write on you freezer ziploc bag-To Serve: Thaw. Place in greased baking dish. bake covered for 45 min at 350. Uncover and top with more French fried onions. Return to oven and bake another 5 min.

After I made the meals, I went over to my mamasitas and worked on my valentine craft. It's taken me FOREVER to make. It really isn't even a hard project, I've been just dragging my feet doing it. There just isn't enough time in a day. I worked on the project for an hour or so (it's still not finished!) Midge reminded that she had her Jr. Jazz basketball game and wanted me to go and watch her. So, I went and watched her play! Midge is SO good at basketball, I wish she would of tried out for the high school team. (I know she would have made the team, and I'm not being biased either)

Steve bought us a new computer, and so most of the day Saturday Steve stayed home transferring all of the stuff from our laptop to the new computer. I know he enjoyed just being home and playing on it! :) He also working on some homework and grading for his professor.

I didn't get home until later, so after we had dinner we just relaxed and hung out at our place. It was a great weekend! I'm happy that we were able to relax and get so much done!

OUR Mini GETAWAY

Steve and I had such a long--------------------------------week! We decided at the spur of the moment we needed a getaway!

We started our venture to Salt Lake City, and went to Trolley Square to see if they had anything good to eat for dinner. We found the Italian restaurant "Tucci's". Which is dang nice. I've never been there, and the food was delicious! I would love to go there again. Steve and I had a good time talking, and enjoying the meal.

After dinner, we went to Anniversary Inn. The room was themed "Wild West" which we LOVED!! I still can't believe how creative these rooms are. It was are first time going to Anniversary Inn, and we were completley impressed by everything.

Our Bed

Awesome Paintings!

Our bed was a chuck wagon, our bathroom was in a saloon and everything around us was western themed. They also gave us cheesecake and apple cider! Steve and I had such a fun time, being able to spend time with one another. We even watched "My Girl". he he. I love Steve. He let me choose any movie I wanted, and I picked that. He never saw the show and I told him it was a classic so we had to watch it.

The entry way to our bathroom, I just LOVED the saloon doors!

Our Chuck wagon bed

We slept great, and to start the morning, they bring you breakfast in bed!!

How great is that?

We had a giant Cinnamon bun, a giant Crescent filled with ham and cheese, juices and Yogurt


Steve and I had such a great time, and we didn't have to travel very far.

I'm so grateful for him and that we can do everything together. Thanks for the awesome get away!

Great Grandpa Joe

Oh how I love this man!!! This last weekend, was a special one.

Steve, Whit and I were able to first spend the afternoon with Grandpa and Grandma Ford. We all went to Robintino's for lunch, and then we all went back to their house and played the domino game-Mexican Train. It was so much fun!! Grandpa even played! We of course loved every minute of it, and left with packed bellies! I swear I gain a couple pounds by the time I'm done eating there! :)

Once we left Grandpa and Grandma Ford's, we went and visited my Great Grandpa Joe. I haven't seen him since July. Grandpa moved to "The Coventry" a month ago, so he's a lot closer to us now. Which is awesome!! I'm so happy. I want to try and visit him once a week.

It was so nice to just sit and visit with him, and then we even sat and talked while he had dinner. Great Grandpa Joe has always had a special place in my heart. He's always been there to talk with me, and make me laugh. And no matter what, I always get a hug from him. It's hard to see my Grandpa get older. It's even harder to see him without my Great Grandma. They celebrated 68 years, on earth and then Grandma died in 2006, and I know that's its taken a toll on Grandpa. Grandpa and Grandma even won the Sweethearts award by Gov Leavitt in 2003. They are the perfect example of how a couple should be and how you should treat your spouse.

It was such a nice time to visit him, I've missed him a lot. It gets hard to go and see him though, I don't like that he's getting older. I sure love him, and I'm so happy that he's still here with us. I still can't believe that's he's 93!

My mom let me borrow the Biography of Great Grandma. My cousin and great aunt video recorded my grandma talking about her life and she had a ton of stories! I'm so grateful to them for doing that. Steve and I watched the video together, and I felt like Grandma was actually there talking to us. It made me laugh, and made me cry. I'm so very grateful for my great grandparents, and for my grandparents. They have taught, and are still teaching me so much. They make me laugh, and make me so happy. Grandparents always have unconditional love.

This was a really great weekend, I'm so happy that we were able to spend so much time with our Grandparents. :)