I must share

Today has been a very productive day.  4 loaves of PERFECT bread made.  Sliced & in bags ready to enter the freezer.  Then I decided to pull out a favorite recipe I have had for years and make it for Family Home Evening tonight.  So I thought I would share.

Glazed Cheese Croissants

Prep Time 30 minutes

Total Time 3 hours

Yield Makes 8         

Ingredients

•   1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
•   3/4 cup small-curd cottage cheese
•   1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for rolling dough
•   1/4 teaspoon salt
•   Sugar Glaze (see below)

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine butter, cottage cheese, flour, and salt. Shape into a disk, and wrap in plastic; refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 375  degrees. On a well-floured surface, roll dough out to a 14-inch circle. Cut circle evenly into 8 triangles. Roll each triangle up, from wide end to tip, turning ends of roll in to form a crescent shape. Place croissants 3 inches apart on a rimmed baking sheet (to catch any drips); bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.Transfer to wire rack. Cool 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, make Sugar Glaze: In a glass measuring cup, add 2 teaspoons milk by 1/2 teaspoonfuls to 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, stirring until glaze is of a drizzling consistency. It should be thin enough to pour while still thick enough to coat croissants. Drizzle over croissants. Serve warm, or let cool to room temperature. Store at room temperature in an airtight container, up to 2 days.

Happy Family Home Evening!

Spring Break Day 2

Well, yesterday's weather was much nicer and the kids enjoyed some outside play.  I sewed pillows all day.  This is a project I have been looking forward too.  They turned out better then I expected.  I am hoping they will add that soft, bright, happy feel I am looking for.

Jeremy's dad came and got Hunter so the two of them could plant his garden.  Hunter loves to work with his grandpa's and loves to work outside.  This was some special time to be one of one with Grandpa.

Carlee had Activity Day.  They are preparing for their Mini Triathlon.  Both girls will be participating and are so excited.  I can't wait.   I love to watch my kids do athletic things.

After a yummy dinner we went and spent the evening with Jeremy's dad.  His house is always relaxing to me.  So far Spring Break has been fabulous!

Spring Break Day 1

Today was our first day of Spring Break.  We celebrated by getting up at 6:30 and having breakfast with daddy.  We read an article from the new  Friend magazine we received in the mail yesterdayand then got right to work. We needed to really catch up on some cleaning from top to bottom. It feels so good to have it all done. Then we ventured to town for lots of errands and some shopping. Saturday was Pay Day for the kids and they had a little to spend.

We are getting the house ready for a visit from some of our favorite friends! The kids are counting down the days. We have so many things planned. Adults {dinner and a temple trip} the girls {shopping, a crocheting lesson, a yogurt lesson, a bridal
shower, lots of relaxing and eating} boys {fishing/outdoor stuff} kids { play,eat, play eat}. We LOVE when they come to see us!

Today has been super windy and yucky.  I am hoping for some rain tonight and some outdoor play tomorrow!

Surviving

{Being A Single Mother} this week anyway.  Jeremy went to a training in Tucson from Monday-Thursday night.  I am tired I will admit, but it was a great week.  I got a lot done.  I did lots of stuff with the kids.  We play a lot outside due to fabulous weather.  I got my  Mind Organization for MOMS all finished.  Love the system!  You can get the E-book free.  Click the link to find out how!  Read from lots of good books.  And Hunter and I played lots of baseball.  He is such a good little athlete.  He has loved sports since he could kick a ball.  I had lots of fun girl time after the kids went to bed with Carlee & Loralie.  They are becoming such sweet young ladies and really fun to spend time with.  We watched Flywheel we got from Netflicks.  Good movie.  Same people as Fireproof.  But most of all, by mind really got a detox.  I really tried to relax and clear my mind.  I stress a lot when it is time for Jeremy to come in the evening.  I was thing perfect for him, and with 6 kids, perfect is near impossible.  I am so happy he is coming home tonight!  Maybe we will even have time to plan some of our upcoming Utah trip!

p.s. This little guy has been the sweetest, most fun child this week.  I bought him Toy Story 1 & 3 and he is in heaven (notice his undies).  Now I justified it cause we will need more movies for our 14 hour drive to Utah next month!

letting the light shine on my feet

I bought a rug.

A bright Green HAPPY outdoor rug.

Jeremy and I cleaned up the back porch and we made some sitting areas.  My favorite is the bright green rug with our two black outdoor rocking chairs.  This is where we sit together in the afternoons and relax.  He tells me about his long very task filled day.  It is where I take a deep relaxing breath and take in all my day was.  This is one of my favorite times of the year.  We sit outside a lot together in the rockers or our front porch double rocker.  We calls this time our "Date Time"  The moments are only small moments before one of the kids need something.  But they are wonderful.

For the past month I have really been struggling with happiness.  I have been overwhelmed, stressed, tired, sick and everything else.  I knew it was time to SLOW DOWN and regroup again.  Why is it I have to do this every so often??  I guess I let myself get off balance.  Well, it came to a breaking point.  One Saturday I told Loralie to put on her shoes we were going out alone together.  Jeremy was sweet to keep all the kids for me.  We went and had a late lunch and then went browsing at the LDS bookstore.  One of my favorite places.  I love books!  Well, I came across a book that was an answer to my prayers.

"Enjoying the Journey" Steps to Finding Joy Now.  It was the reminder I needed.  Enjoy each day!  I was letting all the small moments pass me by focusing on all the tomorrows.  It is a must read.

I spent some of yesterday planning out a daily schedule.  This way I could get all the important things done daily and not forget anything.  But also I scheduled time to spend doing NOTHING.  Just relaxing and enjoying my day. 

Today I went out to the porch with all three of the younger kids.  I sat Graham on the rug beside me.  The rug was half in the bright sunlight and half off.  So I lay on the rug with my feet in the sunlight.  Oh how I enjoyed the warmth of the sun.  It felt good.  It felt peaceful.  I even heard the birds singing outside.  I am sure they sing everyday, but I wouldn't have known it!  I was more relaxed then I have been in months!  I watched my children play, read a book, and watched Graham explore the outdoors.

I have realized we need to step out of our lives each day and enjoy moments in our lives.  If not we will have collected a whole lot of empty yesterdays.

We have our very first.....

{TOOTH!}

Monday I was sitting in the chair rocking Graham and he grabbed my finger and shoved it into his mouth and not expecting it, it hurt!  I pulled my finger out and looked at my cuticle and it was bleeding.  So I felt into his mouth, and sure enough, there was the cutest little tooth ever!  He is growing up too fast.  He is on the verge of crawling which makes me sad.  My last baby.  It seems crazy!  I sure love this little guy.

Our Foundation

{Family Home Evening}



We had a fun and successful Family Home Evening using an article from the Friend about Building a Spiritual Foundation.  As we built our house from graham crackers and frosting we talked about each part of the house and what they represented.  The kids love to make things, so this was our lesson,activity,and treat in one!  I love using the Friend magazine.  There are so many fun things and ways to teach and learn the gospel with our children.  Family Home Evening has been a blessing in our home.  Not always perfect, or easy. But we have been richly blessed by consistently following the council to hold them.

"We cannot afford to neglect this heaven-inspired program. It can bring spiritual growth to each member of the family, helping him or her to withstand the temptations which are everywhere. The lessons learned in the home are those that last the longest.”              -President Thomas S. Monson

Temple Night

{Our Date Night}

Last night Jeremy and I went to the temple for our weekly trip.  J.J. offered to keep the kids for us.  They love when he comes.  He has been going with us to our ward for the last month in a half or so.  I have really enjoyed it.  Jeremy and I performed initiatory work.  It was so wonderful to sit after a very stressful week {with so many sick kids} and hear those beautiful promises.  It helps you regain your eternal perspective so you can return home and start all over again with your family.  We are so very blessed to have a temple 5 minutes away.  I can still remember the day that we found out they had announced a temple for the Gila Valley.  Jeremy and I have just finished a session at the Mesa Temple, and were across the street at Deseret Book.  Jeremy's mom called him out in the car and said that President Bryce had sent his dad an email that told the announcement.  He came into the store and told me.  When I heard the words I just got such a warm feeling through my whole body.  I was overjoyed.  Watching the whole process was an amazing experience.  Such a blessing in our lives and our young children's lives.  Once day we were coming home from the store and we by chance were able to pull over and watch Moroni being lifted and put on the top of the spire.  I can't even imagine how the early saints must have felt as they were building these sacred temples with their own hands.  And now knowing that at any given minute I can drive 5 minutes and walk into those temple doors if I am in need of comfort, guidance, love, or peace.  The Love of my Heavenly Father and His peace is 5 minutes away.  To me, it is a miracle and a Tender Mercy from a loving Father in Heaven.