Tantalizing reads

I am a girl with many love affairs. ...of course number one is my husband. ...then there are Sunday afternoons, perfect rainstorms and flip flops in the summer, just to name a few. And right there at the top of the list are delectable books. You know the kind I mean... the ones that you can't quite put down, even though there are a million more important things that you need to be doing at that exact moment. These are the ones I have a "love affair" with. When I read a good book it's like something fills up inside me and I melt away with the words, leaving behind any unimportant, stressful or mundane thing that would usually tempt my time. These are the books that I finally put down at night because I absolutely MUST go to bed... but after twenty minutes of thinking about it I have to sneak out to the couch so I don't wake Ben, just to catch a few more pages. Lately I have found a few of these treasures. Be careful not to mistake me. I'm not talking classics like The Catcher in the Rye or Lord of the Flies, literature whose purpose undoubtedly is to start your mind wheels turning in an effort to make you a more intellectual and aware person. No, these books are simply to sit back, relax and enjoy yourself for a moment. So if you're like me and absolutely can't pass up a good book, try one of these out. I hope they're as delightful for you as they were for me!

The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins. Definitely an easy read, but the plot is amazing! It's the future of North America, where children's names are drawn annually and the winners are forced to participate in the Hunger Games. The sole objective of the games is to be the last one alive. This one actually does get those little thinking wheels turning... and if you have teenage siblings they're going to love it too.

Catching Fire is the sequel to The Hunger Games. The third one is due out next summer and I'm anxiously waiting!

Perhaps you've recently seen the previews for the movie The Lightning Thief? Well here's the origins, the first in a five book series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. Also easy, humorous, and a really fun story. It's Greek mythology in present day as the mortal children of the gods are on a quest to save the world. Narrator for the story? None other than the son of Poseidon, Lord of the Sea.

Book 2 is The Sea of Monsters; 3 is The Titan's Curse followed by 4: The Battle of the Labyrinth. And my favorite? Book 5: The Last Olympian. Definitely loved this whole series.

Of course all those fun fictional works have to be grounded with a historical fiction intermission from one of my favorite authors of all time. Gerald N. Lund's newest book The Undaunted is wonderful. Not quite as good as The Kingdom and the Crown or The Work and the Glory, but still really good, and I learned a ton about a set of pioneers that I knew nothing about! It tells about the story of the Hole in the Rock pioneers and their amazing journey to the San Juan.

College Graduate!

May I present to you my sweet husband who is, as of December 11, 2009, a graduate of Weber State University! I'm so proud of him and we're so excited he is done! Plans for his MBA are in the near future, but we'll enjoy the break while it's here! Just before graduation, his boss came to him about an opening doing something a little different in the company. We were so excited; when a similar position had been open a few months earlier we'd considered him applying for it, but just didn't feel that it was time since he was still working part time while in school. The timing this time around couldn't have been more perfect and we feel certain that the Lord is watching over and blessing us. It's a new and exciting opportunity for him and he's doing great. He now sells signs for businesses, yes that's right... signs, billboards, you got it. It's a job full of opportunity and hard work and although we were a little nervous we are excited that the door was open for him. And now, a view of Ben the graduate:

Congrats, Babe!

Then of course I haven't posted ANY of our Holiday happenings around here, but they were busy, and they were the most MAGICAL and WONDERFUL time of year! This year our families ate their Thanksgiving feasts about three hours apart, so we were able to eat turkey dinner in Layton with much of my in-laws and then we made the drive down to Cedar Hills where we arrived in time to eat pie at my parents' house. It worked out perfectly and was so much fun. Christmas time is our favorite... the decorations were up well before Thanksgiving even arrived, and the Christmas music and cinnamon scents filled the house, making it deliciously magical. We spent Christmas Eve making candy and treats with my family... my twelve year old nephew Brayden even donned an apron and made the divinity with my mom! We got back by ten and then it was sweet dreams for me, since I had to work on Christmas morning. I worked from 5 til 11, and consoled myself with the thought that Ben would stay in bed til at least 830 and then he'd only have to spend a few waking hours alone on Christmas! But bright and early, 530 am to be exact, our DARLING nieces called and wished him Christmas cheer! Luckily work was slow enough that I got to receive my Christmas call as well. After that, Ben decided to go watch his nieces and nephew in Farmington open their presents and have a big breakfast with them. Once I got home we opened gifts and spent the rest of the day with family. Of course it was wonderful and full of goodness and cheer. We were so sad when it was all over! But of course there was the New Year celebrations with family and now we have a whole year to work on all of our resolutions! I will say I have actually made some, which is really a new experience for me! Let's hope I'm not a statistic that gives up by February 1st!

Ben's cooking fiasco

My sweet husband saw a picture on a blog I was looking at of some cookies and said "oooh those look good, let's make them!"

I reply "I've got to go to a meeting; if you go to the store and grab what we need I'll make them when I get back." He agrees.

I return from the meeting 40 minutes overdue, feeling bad. I open the door, and am assaulted by the delicious smell...

...of something burning and lots and lots of melting wax... as if there are twenty burning candles in the house...

He looks at me and says, with the most darling and slightly frantic face, "I've made so many mistakes!"

I enter the house as he asks "Isn't parchment paper the same as wax paper?"

"No, they're different," I reply.

"Oh, I figured they were the same." Hence the smell of twenty candles as the wax paper melts in the oven.

"What can I do to help?" I say. He suggests that I load the dishwasher. I begin, and a moment later he calls out.

"I just sprayed canola oil in my face!" He's very stressed at this point, but taking it all in stride. Neither of us can stop laughing.

I continue with the dishes as he begins to frost the cookies. He turns around after just a moment, with frosting spilling down his face.

He smiles pathetically and says "I need to go take a shower."

He was perfectly clean before he began baking.

Before he headed off to the bathroom to clean up, we each took a cookie. In spite of it all, they tasted amazing!

What a wonderful man. I laughed so hard. Thanks Babe!

Uplifting thought for you!!

In our young women class on Sunday the teacher read this poem and I thought it was so sweet. Definitely some good reminders, I hope you like it as much as I did!

Beauty Tips

By Audrey Hepburn

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be

restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;

never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,

you will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have

two hands, one for helping yourself, and the other

for helping others.

Welcome to Hogwarts!!

First things first, Halloween is over and it's officially time to be ringing in the Christmas cheer! Decorations for the blessed season will be going up at our house withing the next two weeks so it's starting out here!

Secondly, I chopped my hair... in August, but the camera broke on our backpacking trip, so here is the hairdo debut!

And last the best of all the game, we experienced a most splendid Halloween celebration that I must share with all of you! Any Harry Potter fans here? If so, you may be rightly envious. The evening started when Tyrel and his fam and another couple drove to our house for some delicious dinner.Then we loaded up in the cars (leaving the darling trick-or-treaters to ring at an empty house. Sorry children!) and headed off to Hogwarts! One of the OB's at my work turns his property into the most magical experience, complete with Dumbledore, doe-shaped Patronus', and the Three Broomsticks! It's like Christmas morning for Harry's devoted fans, and kindest gesture of all? It's completely free!

The girls and Ben, entering Platform 9 and 3/4.

Enjoying a pumpkin juice at the Three Broomsticks

Luna Lovegood, Rita Skeeter, Prof. Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy and Fleur Delacour posing with us. They were fabulous. Luna showed me how to get the nargles out of my head!

The sorting hat... Sadly I was put in Hufflepuff, which I'm sorry to say could be the worst one!

It's alright though because Mahala, dressed as a darling cow, joined me there!

Dobby. He was handing out golden snitches to all of Harry's admirers :)

Basically, if you are near O-town next Halloween, it's well worth the drive!

Try this bad boy out

Once a month Ben and Kelli go on their grocery shopping excursion. All is going well, they are happy and laughing and the cart is filling up with food. Ben gets his junk food while Kelli has to remind him that they also need to purchase "real" food. Nothing wrong there. Then the inevitable happens: the laundry aisle. Somehow, this most obnoxious and expensive purchase usually sours the mood. Kelli is a cheap-o and wants the cheapest detergent, while Ben is very, very particular about smells. So after a few minutes of debate, they continue on their way with their ten dollars of laundry detergent. However, one day Kelli made a most remarkable find: homemade laundry detergent!! (As blogged by her delightsome cousin Amy). So they gave it a try, and it was a huge hit. Now the whole family is making their own, and saving big bucks while they do so. Try it, they promise you'll love it!

You will need:

1 Bar of Fels Naptha
1 Cup of Arm and Hammer Laundry Soda
1/2 Cup of Borax

All of these can be found in the laundry aisle, however Walmart doesn't carry the Fels Naptha or Laundry Soda. I purchased mine instead at Macey's grocery store. They should total altogether about $7.

Instructions:

Grate the Fels Naptha and add to a saucepan with 4 cups of hot water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until the soap dissolves and melts. Fill a 5-gallon bucket half full of very hot tap water. Add the melted soap/water mixture, the laundry soda and the Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill the bucket to the top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken. It will look like Egg Drop Soup when it's ready- don't worry, this is normal!!

Stir before using. Use 1/2 cup for top loading machines, or 1/4 cup for front loading. One bucket makes about 200-400 loads, depending on the washing machine.

The price on this bad boy equals about $2 per 5 gallons. Not too shabby, eh?!

Fairview camping

Over the 24th of July we went camping to Fairview with my family. I know it was a month ago, but hey... we don't have internet quite yet. However, it should finally be hooked up within the next week-ish, plus our tv, which means one thing to me: English. We for some reason have just three channels, all Spanish speaking. Ben rather enjoys watching them, because he understands it all, but I get maybe a fourth of what they're saying, so see ya later. ...Okay off that tangent. We went camping and it was way fun. We went canoeing and float tubing and fishing (which I don't enjoy but I make great company!) So here are some pics. EnJOy!!

Anyone who knows my mom will appreciate this picture. She might not, seeing as how now it's online, but she's hilarious.

Ethan and Mahala. Stinking cute.

Ben and I preparing to go float tubing. I LOVE this!!

One of many pictures of Maddox pretending to sleep on the rocks.

Ben and the girls. Avie is trying to make a peace sign... couldn't quite get that pinky finger to stay down though!

Us and my sister's adorable kids