The Amaranth Enchantment

A Book Chat [Report] by Grace, age 7

Title: The Amaranth Enchantment

Author: Julie Berry

This story is about a girl named Lucinda who gets a magical gem from the Amaranth Witch. Then, a boy named Peter steals it from her. When she comes empty-handed to the witch's house she has a hard task to accomplish. Will she complete the task and get the gem back?

I liked it when Lucinda comes to the witch's house and sees that the house is familiar to her.

I would recommend this book to a friend because it is really awesome & it talks about friendship and not giving up.

Some days this is who I see in the mirror...

Last night I woke up Christina and Thomas at 10pm to clean their rooms which strangely looked worse than when I gave the 1st "clean your room" order at around 3pm.

Yep, I'm a mean mom, even witchy at times.

My mean mom lesson for the day...the HARD way is overrated.

Cutie's Self Portrait

I found the camera in the mini girls' room and I had a hunch

that there would be some gems on the memory card....

I think Cutie was able to document the only photographic

evidence (pic #2) we have that her eyes are 2 different colors.

Work & Play- boys' style

A.M.: Wayne and Thomas chopped wood for a friend & delivered it to another friend.

Next up for the boys: Pax East in Boston (THANKS, Neal!)

Thomas' take on the outing.....

I liked learning about all of the cool games and I liked the freebies.

Thomas got to meet Chewbacka. (I'm jealous!)

And played the Disney driving game, Split Second (will be released in May) with a cute Disney employee.

Thomas' review: It was awesome. I liked that you had to break at the turns or you'd fall of the hill and restart. One time I got stuck in the bushes & I had to restart.

PM: Hanging out at home while mom & Christina go to the YW Broadcast.

Good Times.

I'm having pantry envy!

I keep my pantry envy in check knowing this lovely pantry belongs to a couple not a family of 7. However, if I stocked my pantry like this I'm sure I'd be a few pounds lighter. Hmmm... I'm keeping this on file.

I love it!

Photo from Design Sponge.

Pantry belongs to the talented couple behind EmersonMade.

Their home oozes New England style. Lots to love!

My mission reunion is in less that 2 weeks and I'm happy to report that I've found a true Texas brisket recipe to serve as the main dish at the reunion! Although I didn't think to collect recipes of my favorite dishes while I was in TX, I'm glad I've got friends who've shared recipes for brisket & TX sheet cake that remind me of those unforgettable TX meals.

For now, here's the menu for our reunion:

Lubbock, TX Beef Brisket

Cut off most of the visible fat from the brisket then put in a pan. Using a meat fork, poke the meat, then cover both sides of the brisket with these spices, just sprinkle on to cover: Meat tenderizer, seasoned salt, celery salt, garlic salt, black pepper, worcester sauce and liquid smoke. Cover and marinate over night. Bake the brisket covered with foil at 250 degrees for about 5 hours.

I tried out Pioneer Woman's brisket recipe and it's very good, but not the TX taste I remember. One thing I will use is her suggestion of serving with BBQ sauce as an option.

Thanks, Charlene for the brisket recipe! It's a keeper.

Pioneer Woman's Crash Hot Potatoes

Go HERE for recipe

Green Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

Fill cruet with red wine vinegar to “W” line

Add: 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, ½-1 tsp. basil leaves, ½ tsp. salt(more or less)

¼-1/2 tsp. ground pepper, 3 cloves garlic, minced, ¼ tsp. oregano, & 1 tsp. sugar

Shake to mix then add Olive Oil to “o” line.

Thanks, Ann for the dressing recipe...it's one of our favorites!

Texas Sheet Cake a la mode

Cake:

Bring to boil: 2 sticks butter, 4 T cocoa, 1 cup water

Pour over: 2 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 tsp. baking soda, pinch of salt

Add: ½ cup buttermilk, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla

Mix together until well blended. Bake 20 minutes at 350°. Cool.

Frosting:

Bring to rapid boil: 1 stick butter 4 T cocoa, 6 T buttermilk

Then add: 1 box powdered sugar (approx. 2-3 cups), 1 tsp. vanilla

Pour over cooled cake. Cut in large squares and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Thanks, Ellen for the TX sheet cake recipe...it's just like I remember!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I'm so excited to throw my arms around my mission president and his wife.

We'll eat, visit, visit, and visit...CAN'T WAIT!

Skiing & Snowboarding at Ward Hill

One more February post...

Wayne has had fun this winter taking Christina and Thomas and a couple of their friends snowboarding and skiing at Ward Hill. These pics are from the time they went with Christina's friend, Mikell. They put in a full day on the hill and had smiles and sore muscles to show for it.

Thomas would rather get on with getting down the hill...

The Tree of Life

Recently we were reading the Book of Mormon, specifically Nephi 8 about Lehi's vision of the tree of life. We compared it to Nephi's vision in chapter 11. Wayne asked us to each share one thing that came to mind while we reading. {I was happy that all comments were on topic -- you never know!}

Thomas' insight was particularly thoughtful.... "I thought of the fruit as the gospel. I wondered if the people who left the tree after eating the fruit just didn't sink their teeth into it enough and didn't really take it in." {At this point Thomas was doing an impressive visual of devouring an imaginary apple and savoring it.} Wayne and I both sat there taking in this great analogy. I thought, "Do I really savor the gospel?" We both told Thomas that once again, we found new insight reading the Book of Mormon, even though we've read these chapters more times than we can count. In relating it to his life, Thomas said, "I want to live by the tree of life. I want to really take the fruit into my soul."

Me too.

I know that when I am casual in living the gospel, I miss out on the joy that comes from really digging in. There's sacrifice, heartbreak, difficult lessons, and a lot of humility involved, but nothing compares to the joy of deeply feeling the Lord's love in my life & witnessing that love in the lives of others as well.

Note: Both images are from the downloadable Gospel Art Book found HERE.

Remembering Presidents Weekend in New York...

Pac-Man at the Pub - Cross-country skiing - Hot cocoa galore

Snowball fights - Reading The Lightening Thief series by the fire

The INN - snuggling - Playing games - snowed in

Watching the winter Olympics - EXPLORING - Hugging

Sledding, sledding, and more sledding; brushing off a little battle wound

Making cards for Jim & Allison

{including Thomas' offer of up to $100 to replace the popcorn bowl he broke}

The Tale of the Candyland Cake

Our friend, Kayla made an incredible Candyland cake for the Young Women's girls' camp dessert auction fundraiser.

We bid and bid and bid, but lost. Grace and another little girl, A. were in tears. I invited A & her family and Kayla over for a Candyland cake making party, and then Wes' friend's mom who won the cake was so sweet to give it to us! Here's the cake & a couple guilty candy eaters the day after the auction...

We kept the cake party on the calendar.... A & her family couldn't make it, but Kayla & her husband came over for FHE & afterward Kayla helped the kids make a Candyland cake..... featuring the lollipop woods, licorice forest, peppermint forest, chocolate swamp, gumdrop mountains, candy castle, snowflake lake and the Candyland path.

We took this cake to A. & her family. A. was THRILLED to have her own Candyland cake. No more tears! Thank you, Kayla!

To: Mom, From: Caroline

{melt my lucky heart!}