Group Blog Thursday: Halloween Traditions

Often times I have such a hard time coming up with things to write about. So when other bloggy friends have day to day themes, I get excited to join. I enjoy participating in group blogs and I found a new one for Thursday. So here is my first post for Group Blog Thursday. If you would like to join in the fun just head on over to this blog for details.

This week's theme is Halloween Traditions.  Traditions we had when we were young and traditions we have now that we are older. 

To be honest I don't get into the whole Halloween thing anymore.  I haven't dressed up in a costume in years! The only thing I really enjoy is watching the scary movies.  I am always up for a good "boo-you" movie!  And we usually see many throughout the month of October. 

When I was young I loved to dress up and go trick or treating and carve pumpkins.  When my children were young we would get together with all their cousins one night before Halloween and carve really cool designs in the pumpkins.  On Halloween, we would take them around trick or treating. 

As my kids got older I put together a Halloween Party for my kids and their friends, rather than go trick or treating.  This was very fun!  They came dressed in costumes and we gave out awards for best costume, scariest costume etc.  I made my witches brew using dry ice for the drink and we had pizza made to look like a pumpkin and lots of treats and games etc.  They also got to watch a halloween movie of their choice. The 2 years I did this was the most fun Halloween memories I have.

In most recent years we participate in our Church (Ward) Trunk-N-Treat Party.  Usually there is a chili cook-off, awards given for best pumpkin carving,  the kids go around to the cars in the parking lot with trunks decorated for some trick or treating.   Once this is over we head home to watch a scary movie and give out candy to trick or treaters that stop by. 

What are your traditions?  You can comment here or join the group blog and create your own post. 

Happy Halloween Everyone!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

I Got Stuff On My Mind

Here are a few random things I have been thinking about lately....

1. The most exciting thing is that the kids are going to be with us for Thanksgiving this year.  I have spent the last few months setting money aside for their plane tickets.  I got okay prices for it being a Holiday and everything.  However, they fly into Bozeman and fly back home out of Butte (about 1-1/2 hrs away). It's the only way I could keep the cost affordable. 
2. I am trying to find some things for all of us to do while they are here.  We will probably go to the Indoor Go Karts (if open), to the movies, bowling, ice skating (if ponds are frozen) and seeing some local nearby sites (weather permitting).  I also hope to be able to spend some time playing board and card games, Xbox games, as well as some crafty projects I have for them to make.  I hope that keeps the kiddos busy and happy and that they have some fun! I am so excited I can hardly stand it.  Do you have any suggestions on activities we can do with teenage kids?
3. I have been frustrated with the new camera.  The battery in the camera only lasted me a week.  After searching many stores, I found that I have to purchase the kind of battery it takes and charger through Kodak only at the small fortune of $90 +.  So I did some searching on Ebay and found a generic version that comes with 2 rechargable batteries and a charger for $16.00.  I decided to give this a shot and if it didn't work I wouldn't be out any great money.  I paid for the purchase on Oct 8th and I still have not received the package.  And after I got looking into it further, realized it was being sent directly from Hong Kong, China.  I usually am more careful when I make Ebay purchases to make sure I purchase items in USA only.  Needless to say, because it has to go through customs and all that it could take a while.  It's been 20 days isn't that long enough?   Now I am really kicking myself.  I should have just spent the money and got the Kodak brand from Kodak.  I would have had it long before now and I would have been able to use my camera!  Very frustrating!
4. Had to take the Rendevous in for transmission work today.  For the past few weeks its been trying to skip gears and has been really rough when it shifts into different gears.  We went for a drive, last weekend, up to the canyon.  We wanted to check out this lake that was at the top. The Rendevous kept having a real hard time shifting and so we ended up turning around and coming home before we reached our destination.  Can we ever go more than a couple months without car problems?  The transmission place is going to do a complete flush and filter change and said there is something they can do with the computer system that "tweaks" it or something like that.  This will set us back another $250 + and hope it fixes the problem. 
5. We have been to the movies more in two weeks than we have in probably 6 months or longer.  There just hasn't been any movies that have come out recently that even looked appealing.  Last week we saw Law Abiding Citizen with Jamie Foxx & Gerard Butler.  Revenge to the extreme! But I liked it even though it had some violent and gory scenes.  I really loved the clever plot turn finale.  And then yesterday we saw Paranormal Activity.  I am always up for a good "boo-you" type movie.  But this movie is probably the most scariest I've seen.  It is genuinely horrifying and it will make you jump out of your seat!  Its good and interesting but definately scary!  I couldn't sleep last night because of it.  So if you choose to see it, beware!
6. Shellise found out yesterday at the dentist why her teeth have been hurting her so bad.  All 4 of her wisdom teeth are coming in and impacting all of her other teeth.  The x-rays look a little scary.  So she has to have oral surgery ASAP.  Get this though... even though she is double covered under insurance that will cover this, the Oral Surgeon requires $600 up front before he will do the surgery.  And then I guess we try to get that reimbursed by insurance.  So now we have to scramble for the upfront cash so she can get this procedure done and hopefully feeling better soon. 
7. I am so worried about Jessie right now.  He is making some really bad choices and doing some things that is getting him into some trouble.  It all stems from his choice of friends and that instead of leading he wants to be a follower.  This doesn't even cover how poorly he is doing school and his "I know everything that will get me by in life" attitude.  He has so much potential and talent in so many things and he is so smart, but I am afraid he is going to blow it all.  This really scares me!  Please help me pray for him! 
8. Let's just say that an ex-wife is coming back to haunt us again by more fraud and identity theft. This is so difficult for Bill because its his credit that is being demolished.  And the feeling that we can never get ahead. I guess this time we have to file police reports and hope they will go after her for real this time. Ugh! Enough said about that right now!
9. And finally, Christmas is just around the corner and I am not ready.  The time since Memorial Day weekend has just blown by and I am afraid I just can't believe or am willing to accept its that time of year again.  Between Bill & I, we have 5 kids and 4 grandchildren.  I have a couple ideas and things in mind for a couple of them but I am really struggling to know what to do for the others.  I had hoped I would be able to do more crafty type things this year, but with the move it has made it next to impossible to do that.  I am working on an afghan but thats it so far.  I had hopes to make my own hand stamped Christmas Cards this year, but I don't think thats going to happen either.  But you know... thats ok I think.  Sometimes, less is more and I want to enjoy the season instead of being stressed over it.  Bill and I will be alone for Christmas this year.  However, I am hoping that if weather permits, Shellise & Jessie will be able to come up around the 26th and stay for the rest of the Holiday. 

I guess that just about wraps it up.  I was going to also go into the frustration I have had in finding a hair stylist I like to do my hair.  It's hard when you move to a new area to even know where to go, and the one place I tried when I first moved here ended up being a pricy nightmare.  But today, I found one that I will be happy going to.  So finally, after 10 weeks of frumpy hair that has driven me completely insane and into tears a couple times, I finally have a decent cut that I like and hair salon that is a block away with a hair stylist that actually has a lot of things in common with me.  Yeah!!!  I can finally check that off my list. 

Any comments, ideas, suggestions is appreciated! 

Homemade Bread Bowls with Wild Rice Soup

My house smelled divine today!  I made homemade bread bowls and my homemade Wild Rice Soup to be served with in them.  It was a really great dinner.  My husband kept telling me over and over again how delicious it was. 

I have made this soup recipe for many years and my family loves it, and I have received many compliments from others.   So I decided to share these recipe's with all of you.  The bread bowl recipe I just made for the first time today, and you can find this recipe on my Recipe blog that I co-author, Simple Meals for Busy Families.  The soup recipe will also be posted there later.  I wanted to share with all of you first. 

Wild Rice Soup

1 medium onion, chopped

2 celery ribs, diced

2 medium carrots, diced

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

4 cups chicken or turkey broth

2 cups cooked wild rice

2 cups half & half cream

2 cups diced chicken or turkey (I use canned chicken breast. I have also used 1 cup chicken, 1 cup chopped ham to change it up a little)

1 tsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

In dutch oven or soup kettle over medium heat saute' onion, celery and carrots in butter until onion is transparent.  Reduce heat. Blend in flour; cook and stir for 2 min.  Gradually add broth, stirring constantly.  Bring to boil; cook for 1 min.  Reduce heat.  Add remaining ingredients; simmer for 20 min. 

Like I said, this soup served in those bread bowls made for a wonderful dinner.  Try it out! Enjoy it!  And then tell me what you think. 

It's a contest.....Cowboy's Excellent Adventure FRIDAY!

If you want to join in on a really fun contest hop on over to "Duet Diva's" blog at When a Duet Becomes a Trio.  You could win a really awesome, inspiring book, In Faithfulness, He Afflicted Me, written by another blogger friend Lynette over at Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground.    Good Luck!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Harvest of Friends BLOG PARTY

My friend Lynette started this blog party and I was really excited to join in. This party started this morning, and I had full intentions of having this blog post all ready to go long before Monday arrived, but alas I did not make it.  We finally had a nice Fall weekend and we took advantage of it and spent most of the time away from the house and away from the computer.  My friend Rae thought she was late in getting her blog party started, but NO, that spot is saved for me. Sorry Rae!  Anyway... lets get this party started.....here are a few things about me that maybe you just didn't know. 


1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while you're blogging?   Usually ritz crackers with cheddar cheese slices and a Coke Zero or Water.  Sometimes, if its cold outside, hot chocolate and streusel cake.  Nothing good for me thats for sure.


2. What is one thing you wouldn't want to live without?  My husband and children.  I never want to experience life without them.

3. Beach, Mountains or Farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?  While I love visiting the beach, I am a Mountain type of girl.  In Utah we we had mountains all around us and it only took 20-30 minutes until you were in the Mountains.  Also why I live in Montana.  Mountains surround us.  In a matter of minutes I can be up in the mountains, hiking, fishing camping, exploring.  All the things I love. 

4. What's your least favorite chore/household duty?  Cleaning the Bathrooms, specifically the toilet.  I put it off until it can't be put off any longer.  It's always the last thing on the list of chores and if it doesn't get done one day, then I just put it on the list for the next time.  I really need to do better at this.

5. Who do people say you remind them of?  I get told all the time by many people that I look like my mother.   

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying at home with the fam?   There is no place like home and nobody I'd rather be with than those I love. 

7. What's your all time favorite movie?  I don't think I have one favorite.  There are several that I like and will watch over and over again... such as You've Got Mail, Notting Hill, The Sound of Music, Little Women, to name a few.

8. Do you sleep in your make up or remove it like a good girl every night?  Remove it every night.  Can't stand to wake up with eyelashes all stuck together and grit on my face.   

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you've never had a chance to learn? What is it?  I am very interested in photography and want to learn more about it.  Want to take some classes very soon.

10. What's one strange thing you're really good at?  I don't know how strange this is, but I have always been good at navigation.  I am great with directions, don't usually get lost and can remember locations most of the time.  I have even dreamed about roads and places even if I have never been there. 

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?  His kindness and gentlemanly ways.

12. What is something you love to smell?  Fresh baked bread.

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.  Hyper-Sensitivity.... yes I can get very emotional!!

14. When you have extra money (HA!) what's the first thing you think to do with it?  Take a vacation!

15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest? Both, depending on the situation.  Other people's laughter, especially small children, makes me laugh the hardest.

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?  That's easy!  I hate to shop!  Honestly.  I spend as little time as possible in stores.  When I do shop its usually at Walmart... but I really hate that store.  I only shop there because you can't beat most of their prices. 

17. What's one thing you'd do more often if you had more time?  I would love to travel more.  Hubby's work schedule limits us on that and since we used up all his vacation time to move here, we won't be going anywhere very soon. 

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?  I am somewhere in the middle.  I don't like to shop so I don't spend a lot of money, but when I do I don't settle for the cheapest either. 

19. Who is your favorite character of all time (from a movie or book)? (Can't be real)  I don't really have one.

20. Would you want to be famous?  No I don't like to be in the lime light.  I don't need or want fame or recognition. 


This party will be going on all week so if you are interested in joining in, just hop on over to Lynette's blog for all the details.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

TAKING A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

I am going to tribute today's post to my cousin, Dustin Wright, who passed away almost 2 years ago on December 13, 2007 at the age of 15 years old, in an automobile accident.  Today is his Birthday. 

Happy Birthday Dustin.  We love and miss you so much. 

And to his mother, Heather, we are thinking about you on this most difficult day.  We are sending all our love in our thoughts and prayers to you this day in hopes that it may lighten your spirit if only just a tiny bit.  We love you! 

LAZY IN BAD WEATHER - NOT ME! MONDAY

I am sure you have heard me complain about the snow and the cold weather (sub zero temperatures) we have been getting hit with over the past week or so.  Well when it's snowing and cold outside I think I become really lazy.  Did I just say that?  Not Me!  So it was Not Me! who with a list of to-do's such as cleaning bathrooms, laundry and vacuuming did not instead grab her book and a cup of hot cocoa and sit on the couch for most of the day Saturday doing just that, reading and sipping hot cocoa.  No, that definately was Not Me!  I would never do that.  I always look forward to house work and would never choose reading a book over chores.  Nope, I say it was Not Me! 

And it was definately Not Me!  Who chose to stay in doors rather than go anywhere over the weekend, including church!  Nope that was Not Me!  I would never choose to stay home in my warm house, snuggling up with my husband over shopping, going to a movie and even church!  No that was Not Me! 

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

THE TOP TEN REASONS WHY I ENJOYED CONFERENCE WEEKEND

10. Watching it on BYU channel in the comfort of my own home.

 9.  Staying in PJ's until afternoon session on both Saturday and Sunday.

 8.  Several rows crocheted on the aphgan I am making.

 7.  Me, Bill, and our dogs piled on the couch in front of the TV.

 6.  Yummy pork roast cooking in the slow cooker all day Sunday.

 5.  Listening to the music being sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

 4.  The spirit that was in our home.

 3.  The spirit that burned inside of me bearing witness to the truthfulness of what was being said.

 2.  Pres. Uchdorf's talk on Saturday, in particular these parts..... "Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk." 

President Uchtdorf said he believes God does not care if people are wealthy, handsome or famous. "Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely," he said. "Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely. "God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant and the wicked."  That means there is hope, no matter one's current state, he said.

AND THE #1 REASON.....

 1.  I got to see and hear a true and living Prophet of God speak to me directly.  What a wonderful man President Thomas S. Monson is.  What a beautiful spirit he has.  I loved the part where he told about receiving the jar of warm fuzzies from some primary children and what he said....."I don't even know what a warm fuzzy is!"  And for being asked, "What have you done for someone today?"  And reminded to get out there and find ways to serve others. 
 

 
What did you enjoy about the weekend and about conference?
 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

HEY THERE DELILAH (I'M AT THE MTC)

If you are LDS you will think this is pretty darn funny!  If not, you will still enjoy.  I loved it and had to share.  Just click on this link.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1157595773724&ref=nf

WINTERY WONDERLAND

This is what it looks like here today in Bozeman, MT after is snowed yesterday.  The valley snow has melted but the mountains are still a beautiful wintery wonderland. 

In these pictures you will notice below the snow levels, fields of wheat.  There are literally wheat fields every where.  Thousands of acres of wheat fields. 

Anyway, I thought these pictures were beautiful as it shows the contrast from snow to wheat fields to green trees that still have not changed colors. 

I am not real excited to see snow this early in the year even though it does make nice pictures.  Come on!  September 30th?  What happened to fall?  Two days ago we were at 86 degrees, yesterday we didn't get above 45, and today we are not much over 50 degrees.  Tonight its supposed to drop down to 26 degrees!!!   You think I would be used to it by now after living in Utah all my life, but I will be honest, winter is not my favorite season except for Christmas.   And lets not even go there yet!