Rebekah in Footloose

The family had a wonderful time seeing Rebekah in Footloose. It is a great show and she does a great job. These pictures show her in the prom dress for the last scene.

Katherine Entered a Pumpkin Carving Contest

Katherine is involved in the "Maters and Taters" 4H Club and they held a pumpkin carving contest for the whole community this past Friday. She had a great time. There were some really inventive pumpkin carvers there!

Matthew Got His Mission Call!!!!!!!!!!!

Matthew is going to Frankfurt, Germany!!! He came over on Friday with his unopened letter. He acted all nonchalant and then let us know he had the letter. He called his dad on the phone and opened it up. The screaming when he read where he was going was quite loud to say the least. I didn't expect what happened next. I sobbed and sobbed! It was the good kind though. It was the realization that 19 years of love and sweat and worry and teaching had all culminated to this moment. It was incredible. He leaves for the MTC on Dec 17 and should be leaving for Frankfurt Germany on Feb 10 or 11!

Fun New Game

Katherine loves playing games with me. Last night we played Othello (I won) and then we played Guess Who (she beat me over and over). Then I said that I had time for one more game, what would she like to play. She suggested fashion designer. She has a Crayola cutter, some fashion dolls, and some stencils for clothes. We set about designing and had a great time! She wanted it to be a contest with the following rules:

1. Modest 1 pt
2. Clothes matched in color and style 3pt
3. Design quality up 1 to 6 pt

In the end, we decided we were equal. Here is what we created - mine is the pink and gray and hers is the purple:

Happy Birthday to Me!

That's right everyone - I've officially turned 45. That lovely mid-point between 40 and 50. It's better than Keith who will turn 59 in November - you know, nearly 60!

Everyone was so sweet to me today. Keith got me a pair of antique pearl earrings; Katherine got me lip gloss; Rebekah made me a turquoise fleece pillow; and Kimberly got me a drawing pad with charcoal pencils. I even got a surprise visit from Matthew!

Tomorrow will be my celebration lunch - there were so many things going on today that it just wasn't going to work out. So, tomorrow, the girls are going to make me a homemade pizza. I can taste it already!

Reptile Day

Ok, this was not planned, but it became Reptile Day when Katherine first found a turtle hanging around the shed in the woods and then found a toad she put in her little aquarium for a few hours. Here are some pics - she took them herself, as well as her self portrait!

The County Fair

Katherine has entered three plants in the county fair. One is actually a pumpkin that she grew. Another is a Mother of Thousands she entered as the most unusual plant. And then her Coleus Ruffles that she entered as a potted plant. The pumpkin and Coleus are in the kids section and the unusual plant is in the "anybody can join" section.


Rebekah was going to enter the Mayor's Choice Chocolate Chip Cookie contest. However, she found out yesterday that she has a rehearsal today. She is sad about that. Here is her cookie recipe though - it is a winner!

Chocolate Chip Cookies at Their Best

1 cup butter, softened

½ cup solid vegetable shortening

1 1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

4 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 teaspoon lemon juice

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 ½ teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ cup rolled oats

24 ounces of semi sweet chocolate chips

2 cups chopped walnuts

In a large bowl, beat butter, shortening, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on high speed until very light and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and lemon juice.

In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and oats.

Gradually add to butter mixture, blending thoroughly. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.

Use a scant ¼ dough for each cookie. Drop dough onto lightly greased baking sheets, spacing cookies about 3 inches apart. For soft cookies, bake in a 325 degree oven for 17 to 19 minutes or until light golden brown; for crisp cookies, bake in a 350 degree oven for 16 to 18 minutes or until golden brown.

Transfer to racks and let cool. Store airtight. Makes about 3 dozen.

Kimberly is entering a cake on Tuesday (now today!).

Here is her recipe.

Lemon Almond Delight

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

4 eggs

¾ cup vegetable oil

¾ cup apricot nectar

3 teaspoons almond extract

Icing:

½ cup butter

4 cups confectioners’ sugar

2 teaspoons lemon extract

4 to 6 tablespoons milk

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and grease and light flour two pans: a rimmed 12-inch round pizza or cake pan and a 1 ½ quart metal or ovenproof baking bowl. Combine all ingredients (except the icing), then beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 4 minutes.

Divide the batter between the pan and the bowl.

Bake the pan for 20 to 25 minutes. Bake the bowl for 45 to 50 minutes. Both are ready when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cakes rest for 5 minutes before removing from the pans. Cool completely.

Make the icing while the cake is cooling. Cream the butter, then gradually beat in 1 cup of the sugar. Mix in the lemon extract and the salt. Add the remaining sugar and just enough milk to create a spreadable icing. (Makes three cups)

Once cool, center the bowl-shaped cake over the flat one. Ice the cake and finish with a hat ribbon and candy flowers. Serves 10 to 12.