lunch brought to you by the Utah garden tomato...

She may not look that beautiful on the outside but we all know the lesson of
"don't judge a book by the cover".

And now all my peach and tomato boxes are empty.

Breakfast and lunch won't ever be the same.

Until next year at this time when I order again.

Here's to the anticipation of waiting for something spectacular for a whole year!!

32 hours later...

...we dined like kings!


fall apart tender, amazing flavor, kids cheered and called me queen, husband smothered me in kisses and best of all it will make a reappearance on the week's menu as a delish sandwich on a toasted crusty roll with creamy melted cheese over the top.
I can hardly wait for Friday!!

I have Vickie to thank for planting this brisket idea in my brain quite sometime ago.  As you might have guessed, I owe Vickie for many good things in my life : )

brisket baby!

I've never made it before but rumor has it that this recipe is not to be missed!

It's from my Pioneer Woman cookbook.
Yeah,  remember (or not) when I was going to cook something from her cookbook once a week.
Then I decided once a month.
Well never mind all that jibberish!

In 32 hours this is going to be heaven in my mouth.
Or so I hear.

Did I really just take a picture of the inside of my refrigerator and post for all to see??
What nut case does that?

between the scuffling and tussling and wrestling and tormenting...

...things like this happen.



It does a momma's heart good.

the benefits of having a scout in the house...

...merit badge requirements!!

For the Family Life merit badge one of the requirements is to
"decide on and carry out a project that you would do around the home that would benefit your family".
So washing the windows was the chosen project.
I can get use to this!

But the technique to really well washed, streak-free windows is not an easy thing.
It's not just a willy-nilly start at the top and pull the squeegee to the bottom of the window type of motion.

It's all in the S-shape motion without the squeegee leaving the surface of the window.

So Eagle Scout #1 taught our Eagle Scout hopeful just how it is done.

 

It's tricky and sometimes holding your tongue just right helps.

I've known this to be true since my childhood.

Because when my dad is focused and working, he holds his tongue just right too.

So I think the gene has been passed along.

 

And then there is our other Eagle Scout hopeful.

Well, he was busy doing some dance called the Sprinkler and found himself quite funny that he was actually holding a sprinkler.

Oh, the comedy never ends around here.

And I'm good with that : )

wanted to share...

I know I'll never forget where I was when the towers came down.
Brent and I were in Palm Springs at a work conference.
As we watched it all unfold on TV, more than anything I wanted to be home with my two babies in my arms.

Our ward choir will be singing a song in sacrament meeting tomorrow.
One thing about our ward choir director is she is gutsy.
I love that about her.
It will be beautiful and will give me goosebumps.
Music does that to me.

I brought Maddie home from practice and asked if she has ever heard the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing this particular song. 
Because no one performs it better.
She said "no" so I set to finding it.

And I did.  Along with this video which I thought was lovely.
Enjoy.
*please pause my playlist

learning to preserve

The crash was emotional for me.
A computer crash with no external hard drive backup.

The kindest of computer nerds I know tried to recover all he could.
Nearly everything gone. 

His wife, another sweet computer nerd and dear friend, said that it is like having a fire in a little corner of your home...
It consumes what is often the most meaningful.

Which was the case for me.
It is all I use the computer for...the pictures, the journaling, the endless documents I created as I served three years in primary music, another three years in young women's, ten years of sacrament meeting talks and lessons--all so I could retrieve them again.  And that doesn't include all the stuff from volunteering at our elementary school.

I found out the hard way that moments are fleeting and slip through your fingers if not preserved properly.  And it's a personal choice on how you care to do so.

For me, if I want this blog to be what it's meant to be, then I must be more diligent at preserving L I F E and securing it on paper.

This "paper" is my personal choice and I want to be better at it.

This online blog, thankfully, preserved for me some favorite moments in picture and word.

It also opened my eyes to the fact that what I missed posting...I missed.

Preserve.  Which by definition is explained as...
1: to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction : protect
2a : to keep alive, intact, or free from decay b : maintain
3a : to keep or save from decomposition b : to can, pickle, or similarly prepare for future use
4: to keep up and reserve for personal or special use

Such a great word; preserve.
It fits perfectly with what I'm feeling right now.

Only make this for your family if you love them...

...really.  You don't want to send mixed signals.
This is gonna send mega amounts of love to yours truly, whomever they may be.



I found the recipe some time ago but I'm not the baker in the family.
With the exception of regular ol' chocolate chip cookies
and my mom's delightful cherry chocolate torte cake, I don't bake much.
There is no need.
Brent does it best and I luv him for it.

But I needed chocolate and this fit the bill.

And I sent L O A D S of L O V E signals to my family
and I received LO A D S of it right back!

It was such a win-win thing!

And before the night was over (while sneaking a second piece) Brent said that I may have stolen the
"baker of the family" title right from under his nose.
Nawwwwww.  But it felt good to hear it : )

this is not for the diet conscious.  only the indulgent!

Super Moist Chocolate Bundt Cake
submitted by Melanie at The Sisters Cafe

1 devils food cake mix (Dry--don't make it according to directions on the box)
1 -4 serving instant chocolate pudding mix
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
½ cup warm water
½ cup vegetable oil
1 ½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Place all ingredients except chocolate chips, in a large mixing bowl.
Blend with electric mixer 1 minute.
Stir down sides. Continue to mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Pour batter into prepared bundt pan. (my note: after non stick spray, I dusted with cocoa powder)

Bake 45-50 minutes at 350. Cool 20 minutes. Invert onto serving platter.

Frosting:
8 Tbsp butter (not margarine)
4 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 cup evaporated milk
4 cups sifted powdered sugar

Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat. Whisk in cocoa and milk. Bring mixture just to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar with electric mixer until thickened and smooth. Use more of the evap. milk to thin if needed.  Pour warm frosting over warm cake. This recipe makes a lot of frosting.

Oh! and don't forget to pour yourself a glass of cold creamy milk.
Go ahead and thank me now or later - whichever : )

Please Do Not Disturb (take 2)

...unless you are seven and need your mommy's attention.

When I'm reading something I'm super excited about, I really don't do much else.
My home, husband and children would shout a mighty AMEN about that.

Yesterday, being a half day, there was a lot of time to fill between lunch and dinner.
I did the bare minimum when it came to helping with their homework and then my nose was back in the book.

They let me.

Bless their hearts.

While the bedtime routine was in full swing for the kiddos, I was still curled up with my book.

Suddenly...

this came F L Y I N G over the couch and landed next to me.



There was a note attached to it.

This is what it said...

Then the seven year old culprit came out from behind the couch and with the ENORMOUS wing span of a wanting child, swooped in and enveloped me in the sweetest hug ever.

I put my book down.

We said his prayers together.
Talked about second grade wonders while I scratched his back.
Exchanged loves and kisses umpteen times.

He was a sweet little disruption : )

Please Do Not Disturb...

...I'm reading.

birthday girl

Somewhere between all the crazy comings and goings of our July, this sweetheart turned 15.

Maddison Joy,  you know that haiku poem you have to write by Thursday?
I have one for you...

metamorphosis.
emerging, stretching, becoming
so beautifully.

Love you 17, Mom

friends you can count on

My life long friend Carrie and three of her kids come and visit us every summer.  And it doesn't matter if the weather forecast is 115 degrees.

I think they might be a little bit nuts!  Afterall - NOBODY else comes to visit this time of year.












Nuts. Crazy. KooKoo.
It really doesn't matter 'cuz they fit right in and we love having them hang out with us.

he just walked through the door with a bouquet in his hands...

He's a keeper.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

The kids began another year of school looking darn adorable and not even understanding that every year on every first day of school, my heart breaks a little and they take it with them.


 Maddison Joy
sophomore, counting down the days till she can get her license

Davis
6th grade, big man on campus

Cooper
2nd grade, feelin' like the big man on campus

Utah: The final chapter

The trip to Evanston paid off on Saturday night when we held our very own firework show.
Although I didn't get a picture of it, the mortar shell finale was quite spectacular!  I even thought we might have the local police squad come screeching around the corner to eliminate the illegal activity.

As always our 4th of July in Utah is my favorite place to be this time of year.

The miracle of forgiveness

I am still learning about forgiveness and figuring out how to let it heal parts of me.
I am inspired by this man.

Please pause my playlist.

Utah: Saturday morning/afternoon - 4th of July celebrations

We walked down to the parade and on our way passed my elementary school.
For memory's sake, I had to take a picture.
And here's a shout out to elementary school back when kindergarten was all about learning to play with friends and not about knowing how to add, subtract, multiply, divide and calculus too!



After a fun and taffy filled parade we went to a park in Layton to meet up with a wonderful bunch of people...
MY FAMILY!!
We had a little reunion (almost 50 of us) for my dad and his two sisters and all the family that comes with it.  We had a great time and it was wonderful to catch up, share hugs, laughter and yummy food.
You'd think I would have thought to take some pictures of us all together but I didn't. That makes me sad.
But I was taking pictures of my darling niece's darling daughters...

Maeci

 

Sophie

Utah: Friday

Friday dawned clear, bright and beautiful.

Today Brent and I put flowers on graves of two of the most wonderful women we knew...
our mothers.

It is hard to believe that we lost them only two years apart.
It is hard to believe we lost them to difficult and ugly diseases.
It is hard to believe that Maddison, Davis and Cooper will not have their physical love to grow up with.

But it is a beautiful thing to know that they are whole again and that Heavenly Father's plan is true and eternal.

Brent's mom is buried in Clinton, Utah.  My mom is buried up Logan Canyon in Mendon, along with her parents and other family.  It is a truly beautiful spot and sits right at the foot of the mountain.  Won't Resurrection morning be glorious for my mom!
Also in that cemetery is James G. Willie, Captain of the Willie Handcart Co.  If I go three generations past my Grandpa Stauffer's name (my mom's dad) on the pedigree chart, there is James G.  It is very humbling to know my ancestors paved a very brave and selfless path for me and my children.  We are lucky to have faith building pioneer heritage on Brent's side as well.  As a matter of fact, just a few generations down Joyce's line is the name Thomas Steed.  We have his journal entries of when he was asked by the prophet Brigham Young to go out and rescue the exhausted and desperate people in the Willie Handcart Co.
It makes my heart very happy to know that Brent and I have a story that connects one hundred and thirty five years before our marriage in 1991.
I'm sure that since their meeting in heaven eight months ago, mom and Joyce have chatted and laughed and hugged about it too.

And it's all bound together forever because of these beautiful edifices that dot the earth.
We sat in the cool shade of the Logan temple today and felt gratitude for many, many blessings.

We enjoyed an ice cream on Utah State's campus.  I ordered a Carmel Cashew, just like I said I would so that I could make a fair and completely unbiased judgement. 

Both had large pieces of yummy cashews and a good amount to boot. This is VERY important to me.  If you claim to have something in your ice cream, I want to see it and sink my teeth into it.  Often ice cream will say they have chucks of this or that or swirled with this or the other, only to discover that it's just tiny flakes or fragments of whatever they are claiming and you taste it once or twice in a scoop.  Such disappointment!!  Anyway, I digress...
The pieces were often whole or complete halves of this creamy nut.  A hint of salt was perfect.
That is where the similarities end.
The ice cream itself at the Aggie parlor was carmel flavor.  It was okay but the texture was not real smooth and a bit icy.  The ice cream under the Y was vanilla with gobs of carmel-ly (I'm making up words here) goodness mixed in.
Gobs of goodness!  I like the way I said that.
And the texture was smooth and creamy.  No icy bits.  And the generous amount of chunky cashews put it over the top.  And now excuse me while I get in the car and make a quick drive to the Creamery on Ninth for a scrumptious scoop of Carmel Cashew ice cream.  Back in a flash...
I wish.

We ended the day with a stop for dinner at Maddox.  I've posted about this lovely place before.  After all, it is the home of the world's finest beef.  That's gotta put a smile on your face.

This time we took the kids.  It was a first for them.  It was so fun to see them enjoy REALLY good food.  The fluffy, dreamy rolls kept everyone happy while we waited for our dinner.  Maddie surprised me by diving into a bowl of creamy, dreamy clam chowder.  And I had their spicy, dreamy fresh shrimp and crab appetizer.  Mmm.  Mmm.  Mmm.  My mouth is watering thinking of that horseradish cocktail sauce.
Succulent, dreamy prime rib for Brent and my Dad.
Juicy, dreamy hamburger for Davis.
Crunchy, dreamy fried chicken for Cooper.
Melt in your mouth, dreamy filet mignon for Maddie and myself.

Friday was a FABULOUS day in Utah.

I interrupt my Utah updates with this great commercial...

remember to pause my playlist music!!

Utah: Wednesday and Thursday

Brent loaded up the truck for a boy's road trip.

Grandpa Brown, Davis, Cooper and our nephew Burk took a drive up to Evanston.

Contraband was all they had on their minds.

I honestly feel that Porter's should rethink their sign...

Those two headliners are bad enough on their own but together???  Come on people!

Soon bags were filled and smiles couldn't get any bigger so they headed back.
My boys were very excited to do a quick show and tell.
And I heard something in all the hubb-bubb about getting a mystery firework for free because they spent X amount of money.
Oh wow!  I could hardly wait for that.

The boys were set and counting down the days until the firework show.

I was dealing with a kidney stone. 
Dang kidney filled with stones!!

Utah: Tuesday 10:30 p.m. to Wednesday 3:00 a.m. AKA: The Eclipse premiere

It's fun to pretend that I'm young and giddy with excitment like these two darling girls.
Afterall it was nearly midnight and we were standing in line to see Eclipse!

Back up 43 years.

I was born.

Six weeks later Carrie was born.

We lived next door to one another and grew up best friends.

And as the story goes,

Carrie got married.

I got married.

And seven weeks apart Maddison and Hannah were born.



And although Carrie and I were standing in line for different reasons than Maddison and Hannah...

...it was lots of fun to share it with our girls!

Utah: Monday (part 2)

Our next destination...Howard Manor.



Why is it that part of Heavenly Father's plan is to meet a wonderful family, become great friends, celebrate holidays and BYU victories together, borrow sugar or eggs, lend paper, tape, markers, glue sticks, doorbell ditch Valentine cards, hang out on the driveway letting the children play for hours and even joining one of their children throwing up in the kitchen sink...just to have them move away and take a piece of your heart with them???

Oh yeah, I think it has something to do with totally understanding the principle of tasting the bitter to savor the sweet.
And savor we do!

You might remember this beautiful sobbing child.  Well, now he is a handsome little man and this "i-wanna-munch-those-chubby-cheeks-and-fall-into-those-pools-of-chocolate-you-call-eyes"  bundle has taken the spot of baby of the family.  Goodness.  They make 'em gorgeous, don't they!

We lingered over dinner and of course we fought over who got to buy.  That's what good friends do.
Brent won out this time but next time, because there will be one, it's on the Howards.

We drove away waving and shouting our good-byes until we could see them no more.  And my heart was stinging with the bitter but so grateful for the sweet.

Utah: Monday (part 1)

I think the gorgeous skies were welcoming us.

First stop...BYU.  This included lunch at Legends Grille. Please treat yourself to the San Francisco Melt with tender beef brisket and chipotle mayo. Oh! My!  And we stopped at Legacy Hall to touch Brent's plaque. It's good luck you know! A visit to the bookstore to stock up on new "GO COUGARS!" paraphernalia is something we all look forward to. Even when Brent walks out with his pockets turned inside out, he's positive it was money well spent : )

Davis is working on a handful of merit badges this summer so to fulfill a requirement for the Art Merit Badge we stopped at the BYU Art Museum.  It was beautiful.  Although we all agreed we had no idea what the artist of the huge piece at the entrance of the display was trying to say.  Oh well!  That is bound to happen at most art museums.  I did take pictures of the sculptures made from farm sprinkler equipment.  I guess my dad being a QA Engineer for a sprinkler company "spoke" to me.  Cool stuff!

 We made sure we left enough room for a treat at the one and only...

I had the Carmel Cashew on a yummy crunchy sugar cone with the intent of conducting a taste test with the same flavor at the Aggies Ice Creamery.

Results to follow on my "Friday" post : )

I have two favorite holidays...this is one of them!

Jet fly overs and fireworks just make my heart happy.