General Conference Weekend...

I have really learned to LOVE General Conference Weekend!

You can go HERE to learn more about General Conference in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I say "learned" because when I first joined the church, General Conference weekend meant I kind of got a break from some of my church responsibilities, because it is a Sunday that we don't participate in our normal regular meetings, and if you are lucky enough to receive the conference by broadcast through satellite at home, you can watch it in your pj's. 

Living the Gospel is not easy, it requires work, but it is worth it and blesses lives... I didn't fully understand that for years.  Hence the need for a "break" from my church responsibilities... now I listen to General Conference for help and guidance with those responsibilities.

 I have learned so much from listening and "participating" in General Conference.  I guess the scripture that we are taught line upon line and precept upon precept is very true.

It is such a beautiful time to hear messages from Apostles and Prophet to know what the Lord would have me know at this time for what I am living in my life and guidance if I would listen to the spirit of the Holy Ghost and receive personal revelation for answers to my prayers.

So now I plan and prepare for General Conference weekend!

It is a time I know my family will be home and together all weekend!

So I plan some meals, or at least some dishes that might be comforting food and try to have some family favorites.  This weekend I have hoagie fixin's and chips, mountain man breakfast stuff, and a couple of new recipes... cheesy gratin potatoes (which we tried and it was undercooked... flop) , and macaroni salad (which I don't know if I have the courage to make now after the potato flop).

But lucky for me I have wonderful home teachers who brought by some homemade bread last night.

 It smells sooooo good!!

 So I made some french toast for Saturday breakfast and there is nothing better with homemade bread... YUM!!!!

 And I got to snuggle under my favorite blanket that Patsy made for me.  Yep, that is the teenager almost conscious on the floor under the other blanket.

And our puppies LOVE General Conference weekend too!

It's really not all about napping...but that does seem to look like the trend. 

 I made this Conference frame this year that I found HERE to keep track of some of the topics spoken from the twelve apostles to hang on our wall for the next six months (until Oct General Conference) to help remind us what we hear so we can ponder, study and learn more about those principles and apply them into our everyday lives.  

Here is what we were able to fill in just from Saturday's sessions.

The summaries we put on our frame are what we gathered as the theme from the talk to focus on as a family... they are very personal and everyone that listens could draw something a little different or have their own focus.  These are ours.

You can listen or read the talks on HERE on lds.org

Elder L. Tom Perry - Pattern of the Sabbath and Sacrament

Elder Quentin L. Cook - A woman's role to be Faithful and Valiant

President Henry B. Eyring - Opportunities and Blessings of Service

President Boyd K. Packer - The Lords Church

Elder Russell M. Nelson - Obedience strengthens Faith

Elder Dallin H. Oaks - Desires>Priorities>Choices>Actions

Elder M. Russell Ballard - Small and Simple Acts of Kindness and Service (flecks of gold)

Juicy Jigglers...

I love jello eggs.

I have had the mold to make these forever.   I am not even sure you can buy them anymore... probably (the jello people are cool that way) but it's really old, maybe even vintage by now.

Anyway, it comes out with my Easter Decorations every year... and I get all giddy, like the first day I made them all over again!

There are several recipes for them... cream jigglers, juicy jigglers (made with juice instead of water, which is what I made), sparkling jigglers, and original jigglers, and you can hide gummy stuff in the middle or fruit, and you can mix colors and flavors... the possibilities are endless!

But it is so sad to have BLAH Big Boys at home that are all grown up (well I use that term very loosley) and don't have a real appreciate for jiggle eggs!  They don't eat them or want to make them with me.  I have totally failed as a wife and mother.

My brother is the only one who gets me and my jello jiggler obsession... they are just cool and so festive for Easter time and fun to make and they make you giggle when you eat them!

  Thanks Ralph for always being a kid and making really fun Easter memories with me.  I miss you!  You totally have to teach Lillian and Brooklynn how to make and eat jello jiggler eggs for Easter and carry on the tradition!!

Flippin' Stix...

It was so nice outside this afternoon and the teenager had been aching to go shoot his bow.

So we finally got to go out together to the local archer range to flip a few stix!

 It's a fairly new outdoor range and I hadn't seen it finished and the cool metal sculpture that had been added.

 Yes, the competitive drive came right out in the boys... but it wasn't super fair because the teenager had outgrown his bow, so he was having to short pull it so he didn't end up shooting himself in the hand.

I did better than I thought I would after not having even gotten mine out of the case for a really really long time, I was honing in after a shot or two.

 Of course my strong silent mysterious man has to show off his mad skills.

 We all had a really fun time and soaked up all the sun we could get!  It was so neat to get out of the house and do something together, I love family time :)

A good time was had by all.

Bowtie Lasagna...

I tried a new recipe for dinner tonight... Bowtie Lasagna.  It was super easy and only 15 minutes.  And it's stuff I have in the pantry all the time. The boys liked it and did I mention it was easy?  

I found it HERE the other day at random on the internet, and just saved the link thinking I wanted to try it out someday; and remembered it today when I was trying to come up with something to fix for dinner.

I love it when a plan comes together (and it's edible) Yay!  

A Monday with the teenager...

Saturday we had been out for a drive and stopped into a few pawn shops and thrift stores.

At one stop the boys were showing me some really cool basketball shoes for $10 brand new And1 Wyoming Cowboys... so cool, but they were size 18 and we just didn't know anyone with a size 18 foot or we would have bought them.

Then at another stop the teenager found the sunglasses he had been dreaming of owning for a few years now, but could never convince his parents to buy for him.  And even when he would save and put aside enough money to buy himself we always managed to talk him out of them (you will see why when you get a peak... the retail price on them is over $100).  He was soooo happy to find some in great condition for a very reasonable price, even we couldn't talk him past this purchase... he is now the proud owner of a pair of white Oakley sunglasses.  He is so funny, today we spent the day together today, and I had to witness allot of head bobbing and listen to some song he made up about his "♪ white sun ♫ glasses ♪".

This morning Jim called and a guy he works with has a nephew who recently lost his Dad that wears a size 18 and he really wished we would have bought the shoes!  So he sent me right back over to buy them and bring them to him at work.  They were still there when the store opened, and looked like they had never ever even been worn. It was so fun to get them and pass them along to someone who could use them.... what a score.  Just guessing it is not easy or cheap to keep a kid in size 18 shoes.

When we arrived it was time for lunch, so we were able to have a special treat and eat together at one of the teenagers favorite places... Subway!

 Then the teenager and I were off to the city to try and take care of one more thing on our list he needed to do before he goes off on his mission.  When he originally got his golf clubs there was a promotion that you could trade them in for a brand new set within a period of time, but it ends before he would get home from his mission... so he needed to get the necessary things done to get the new ones ordered so he could take advantage of the deal before he left.  So we went to try on the new style and swing a few.

As we were leaving, I spotted this restaurant... really?  We have Cafe Rio Mexican Grill in Boise??  I have heard only good things about their food, and have tried a few knock of recipes that are amazingly awesome!  I can't wait to get my strong silent mysterious man to take me here.

I tried a new recipe for a mandarin orange cake (because I too was dreaming of summer) for a family night treat.  It was really easy to put together... my layers of cake got stuck in the pan, so I was only able to put one layer together enough to turn out.  It was yummy and I was okay with it not being stacked.  Light and fluffy and great flavor... it made me think it would fit well for an Easter treat too.

It was a neat day with my teenager, and we got along so great, and I was able to keep my mouth shut and not fight with him about how he drives my shiny car and scares me to pieces!

A good time was had by all!!