gluten free tag-a-longs

This time of year kills me, literally. It seems every grocery store I go to, has the girls in green pushing their cookies. Of course, they don't have to push too hard, those are some great tasting cookies! Being a Celiac, I usually pass, but over the past few years my family has pressed, and we usually end up with a box or two of Thin Mints.

That got me wondering, if I could make a gluten-free version of these cookies. All of my attempts at Thins Mints have failed, but finally, last night I made a delicious batch of Tag-a-longs. You know the cookie, chocolate, peanut butter, and a shortbread. My official taste-testers said it tasted just like the original, so I thought I would post my results. They don't look exactly like them, but they did taste yummy! I think I'll go hide them in the nether-regions of my freezer!

Pho-tastic!

Tonight I made homemade Pho for the first time! I was introduced to this noodle-meat-veggie-broth-concoction several years ago by my friend Tanya. It is traditionally a Vietnamese dish topped with mint and basil. It is so delicious...and you don't feel like you've eaten a brick for dinner...lol.. I didn't have all the ingredients needed for it, so I made a scaled down version.

I basically put leftover shredded meat, noodles and veggies in bowls and ladled hot broth over it. As Rachel ray says Yum-o. If you like the sound of this, there are several recipes out there, or make it easy on yourself, and find your local Vietnamese restaurant and try it!

Life goes on

Been pretty tame here, not much to report- except running kids to school 3X a day(will be so glad for next year, only 2X a day) helping my brother with his yard sale, and keeping up with church stuff. I got a new calling at church, Enrichment Leader. I'm not sure why the asked me. I'm sure there are much more talented people who could do this, especially in the Valley. Anyhow have any good suggestions? lol..I'm in the process of getting my Committee together, and have 2 sisters called so far. I'm finally a visiting teacher, and my partner and I are heading out tomorrow morning to meet our sisters.

Still out house hunting, we did make an offer and it was accepted. Supposed to close next month. We will see how it all works out.

This week is the big DCWV sale(that's scrapbook speak) in Provo. Derek found this warehouse sale last year when he was out here for his Mission reunion.He came home with a ton of paper for me(he had to check and extra bag!) Derek's sister, Dara and I are planning on hitting it this week. I must keep myself in check! I haven't scrapped since Ferncliff(Nov 09) Wait! I did make a gift for someone involving my supplies. She might read this blog, so I can't say what!

Derek is working this week, so we wont see much of him. That's okay, I have a tendency to let the housework slide when he is home. It's so much more fun to go and "play" on his weeks off.
till next time....

Albion, Idaho

Last weekend we went to Idaho for a MTC reunion of sorts. These Elders all trained in the MTC, and served in the Okiyama Japan Mission 1989-91'. 5 Elders and thier families made it, and we had such a blast. Not only did we stay up too late talking, playing games, and looking at old mission photos, and cracking up, but even our children were kept busy.

There was so much to do. I was a little skeptical as we drove up, because Albion is in the middle of NOWHERE! The closest big town, is Burley, and it was 25 minutes away. We settled in our very nice room, complete with our own bathroom. The renovated building(Miller Hall) is just gorgeous. All the exposed brick and original hardwood floors, it was just beautiful . The Mortensens did a great job restoring it.

The Hall had a great room, with an updated kitchen, a nice laundry room, with front loading washers and dryers, and up on the third floor- the huge game room, complete with monster sacs, a ping-pong table, large screen TV, and Foosball.

Outside, the kids were kept busy riding the banana bikes(these were way fun, even I rode them quite a bit the 3rd day, playing outside among the many animals roaming free, Emu's, chickens, turkeys, guineas, and peacocks. We also went up to the Mortensens' house, and saw other animals, goats, another emu,(Jake even sat on the back of it) pigeons, and such. The kids gathered the eggs from the turkeys and chickens, and we made omelets out of them on Saturday morning. Those turkey eggs are tough to crack!

We also toured the rest of the campus, which contained 4 other buildings that will be renovated in the future. The former gym, will become a reception center, complete with Bride and Groom areas and a large gymnasium that will become the reception area. This building will also have a commercial kitchen that will cater also. During October, the 3 other vacant buildings become Haunted Houses. For 15$ you get to go though 3 houses. We were able to go through one that was still set up from last Halloween. Derek's former mission companion, Troy, even turned the lights and music on for us so we could get the full effect.He had fun hiding and jumping out and scaring us....lol..that is where I go the Renesmee' picture I posted on Facebook.

Our last evening we all piled into the car and drove about 25 minutes near Rock Springs, where there were hot springs. Wow, was that water hot! It was weird to be outside looking at snow covered mountains, and not be cold.

Sunday morning we got up and went to church. We did not bring clothes with us, so we had to borrow clothing and try to make do with what we had. Derek found a DI and bought a complete outfit, shoes even, for 20$. Some of our activities:
me on the little 110 dirt bike

playing horseshoes

Our accommodations:

the hallway to our room

the nice kitchen and part of the great room(I was standing in the middle of the great room)

This was the girls dormitory, when this was a college.

This is Miller Hall where we stayed.

This is the Auditorium. It was really cool inside. Great big stage, with an orchestra pit, balcony, and even the old chairs will still inside. Most of my pictures didn't turn out in this building because of low light.

Some of the architecture on the buildings were really cool. This was on one of the buildings they use as a Haunted House.

It was a great weekend. Made some new friends, and next year is already in the planning stages. Awesome!

spring nonsense

Here a few pics from today, April 6th, 2010.

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Easter

Woke up to 2 inches of snow this morning. It was nice to see everything covered in fresh white snow. I thought what a great metaphor for our lives.
I love Spring. It's my favorite season. I love how all the flowers and grass are coming back from the harsh winter weather. Mentally, I always feel better in the Spring.

Since we have moved, I have been battling some major depression. I thought it was because of the move and the change in my day-to-day routine . Now I realize that it was something more.
I seem to have lost my focus since I got here. I spent so much time trying to make everything right for my husband and kids, I kind of forgot the stuff I should be doing for myself.
I've have time to reflect and get to the root of the problem. My Scripture study has fallen off , and certainly I seem to be praying less. Good thing my children are on the ball, because more often that not, they remind me.
After watching 3 sessions of conference, Ive decided that I really can't be casual any longer. I don't want my spouse and children to suffer for my bad decisions.
Guess you could say my sins are sins of omission. Nevertheless, they are still sins.
So on the Easter morning, I feel the need of a re-birth. I know the Savior lives, he died for me, and can make all my sins forgiven, even the small ones. So I'm actively applying the Atonement in my life, which is a pretty personal thing, but I think others of you are having the same difficulties too. Hang in there, I know it will all be worth it someday.