Good Friends

All through high school I had great friends. Not just fun people to hang out with but down right good people. We were all pretty respectable kids, the worst things we ever did was "fork"(we would take a ginormous box of plastic forks and stab them all over or friends front lawn) our friend Karla's lawn, over and over again or the occasional Chinese fire drill at a red light. To say we were straight lace would be an understatement... Jared, John, Gary 1992
I have been lucky to keep in contact with most of them. Last night we had the opportunity to have Gary(out on VI for business) over for dinner. I don't think I have a High School memory that Gary wasn't apart of...seminary, first dates(We watched "The Little Mermaid), stake dances, Star Trek... "live long and prosper" ...As adults we had university classes together and were even next door neighbours to Gary and his awesome wife Dawn. Dawn was our day care provider when H,B & M were toddlers... they loved her.

Gary then....sorry Gary(love the watch)...We were total geeks in high school but none of us seemed to notice.

Gary now. Friends for more than 20 years. Who'd a thought?? ....thanks again dropping by...Good Times!

Stormy Weather

Stormy Weather....its the second day of fall and we are under a wind/rainfall warning. I love it, the stormier the better. That is one of the major differences between Courtenay & Port Alberni, in Courtenay the wind blows hard in the winter (60-100 km/hr is common). Umbrellas are pointless here, your only hope is full body rain gear with a good hood. The only thing I worry about is losing power but that only happened twice last year and it was blowing twice as hard then so we should be fine (fingers crossed) The only annoying thing is my next door neighbour loves wind chimes. Wind chimes sound very pretty up to about 40 km/hr gusts. Beyond that they sound like my kids are dumping my silverware drawer into my stainless steal sink over and over again, which is even more annoying at 4 am. But I still love the stormy weather.

Today....

Grant had a unique, humbling experience today. Because he is part of our Ward's Bishopric he had been asked to officiate at a memorial service . The service was for a 90 year old, long time member of our ward, that we had never had an opportunity to meet. During the memorial service we learned much about the life of this dear Sister. She was humble & honest. Loved the children in Primary and raised a great family. We even discovered that this Sister and Grant where both born in the same small Alberta town. It really is a small world sometimes. It was a beautiful service and a privilege to be there today.
Grant shared a few thoughts at the end of the service...." even when a death is expected there are those who are left behind to mourn ...we can turn to the Saviour in our grief"...This is one of the scriptures Grant shared...

Matthew 11:

28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

How to Feed 140 Men, Cheap!

A couple of weeks ago my friend Maggie & I were asked to coordinate the meal for the Stake Priesthood Dinner. We were told it was for about 100 people and given a budget. Instead of asking a bunch of other RS Sisters to help, we "volun-told" our kids.

We settled on Pulled Pork on a Bun, Tossed Salad, & Baked Potatoes with all the fixings & Pumpkin Sheet Cake for dessert & Ice water with either lemons or cucumber to drink. We found two simple, inexpensive recipes for the Pulled Pork & Pumpkin Sheet Cake online. We came in way under budget, when I am given a budget in is always a sport to see how far under I can be, this was my best score yet. With our 9 "overly willing" kids to help, prep work was actually a breeze.

We used 3 large pug in turkey roasters (Buy one they are worth every penny!, I have two and use them for everything) one for the Pulled Pork( The big pork loin at Costco was the cheapest.) and the other two to bake the potatoes. We tossed the salad in a giant Zip Loc Bag, worked awesome and made storage super simple. The pumpkin sheet cakes were iced on the pan, pre- scored, and frozen, we top each piece with a pumpkin candy because we were worried about possible nut allergies (I like the cake better with the toasted nuts on top) I then used my dough cutter(my favourite kitchen tool) to slice the cakes will still slightly frozen. We planned for 100 but fed more than 140 with salad and potatoes left over.

I learned one valuable lesson too. The difference between Relief Society Sisters & Priesthood Brethren....TABLECLOTHS! I said to my dear, sweet Grant as we were heading to the church, "First thing we need to do is get the tablecloths on the tables." To which Grant replied "What for?" Me: "So it looks nice!" Grant "The Men don't care." Me: "Well I do!" Grant: "You're just making more laundry" (he almost had me there) Me:" I don't care" Grant: "Fine....What about table centerpieces?" Me: "Funny Grant! Funny"


PUMPKIN SHEET CAKE
Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
FROSTING:
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
5 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
3 teaspoons milk
Chopped nuts
Directions
In a mixing bowl, beat pumpkin, sugar and oil. Add eggs; mix well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; add to pumpkin mixture and beat until well blended. Pour into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool.
For frosting, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth. Gradually add sugar; mix well. Add milk until frosting reaches desired spreading consistency. Frost cake. Sprinkle with nuts.

**I buy the big 28 oz can of pumpkin and double the recipe to make two cakes; always grease and flour the pan to avoid sticking**


ROOT BEER PULLED PORK
Ingredients
1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle root beer
1 (18 ounce) bottle your favorite barbecue sauce
8 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted
Directions
Place the pork tenderloin in a slow cooker; pour the root beer over the meat. Cover and cook on low until well cooked and the pork shreds easily, 6 to 7 hours. Note: the actual length of time may vary according to individual slow cooker. Drain well. Stir in barbecue sauce. Serve over hamburger buns.

**we did not drain completely and added the bbq sauce to the dripping which worked just fine**

After I posted this the bill for this meal came to just over $220 nearly $80 under budget...pretty awesome

Super Busy Weekend

We played DRESS-UP

Watched a BEAUTIFUL SUNSET

Made five PUMPKIN SHEET CAKES for the Stake Priesthood Dinner

WAITED UP for our teenagers to get home from the Duncan Dance

Had a SLEEP-OVER....there is a kid under there...they were actually sleeping, shocking

Typed up & printed the BAPTISM PROGRAM

CLEANED the Church

STACKED WOOD with friends

SCRUBBED POTATOES for the Stake Priesthood Dinner

Had a BBQ...thanks Hodacseks, How did you know we were starving?!

Put on our SUNDAY BEST...Dallyn actually fell asleep on the 7 minute ride to the Church

Attended Carrie & Gary's BAPTISM....So neat...Carrie's Baptism was done in Chinese.

Made BAG LUNCHES for Sunday

Attended CHURCH

FEED 140 men at the Stake Priesthood Dinner (Pulled Pork on a Bun, Baked Potatoes, Tossed Salad, & Pumpkin Sheet Cake for dessert) Thanks Hodacsek's for all your help :)

Came HOME

SLEPT like a baby.

Up With The Chickens

Holly, Bailey, & Madison started Seminary (Early Morning scripture study class for kids in Grades 9-12) this week. When we were teenagers we lovingly referred to it as "Cemetery", although I was lucky, I only had one year of early morning and the rest of the years I had class during my spares.

Here because we have a very small ward and have four different High Schools the only option is Early Morning (hehe). But honestly my kids don't seem to mind. The alarm goes off at 5:30am and with very little grumbling they are up and moving. As a parent it didn't take me long to realize what a blessing Seminary is. Our teenagers live in a world I could have never imagined. They are exposed to things that I never even knew existed until I was in my adulthood. Seminary reminds them daily of who they are, that they are loved and they have purpose. Who wouldn't be thankful for that. So even though we are up with the chickens. I wouldn't change a thing. Plus having teenagers in bed and asleep by 9 pm is downright, heavenly :)

Kidney Stones...."Say 8!, Say 8! "

Today was one of those days around here. We had planned on doing something fun (hiking in Strathcona Park), Grant had the day off and all the kids were in school but Grant decided to have a kidney stone attack... so we took an educational field trip to the ER instead. My favourite place in the whole world....First the DR waves at Grant as we walk in, apparently the same one that saw him when he fell down the stairs...When the nurse asks what his pain level is, it took everything in me not to scream "Say 8! Say 8!" (Watch the You Tube Clip)....After four hours I can't feel my behind and wondering where my Morphine drip is...They figure out that Grant was extremely dehydrated which probably caused the stones (working 82 hours in the last 7 days I don't think helped) Other than dopey, Grant seems to be through the worst of it. And I am trying to remain, as always, the overly kind, super patient, mommy, I mean wife ;)