Thanksgiving #3 and the tree lighting

It seems like we find ourselves having three Thanksgiving and three Christmas's every year to accomadate all the families. But believe me, I don't mind that at all. Just more food and more happy moments for all.

This is Emery with her GG Lance

This is Brad and his girlfriend Kelly.
She hates me for always taking pictures of her

After dinner we went to Jeff's office for the tree lighting. I think everyone that wasn't watching the game was at the office for the lighting this year.

This is Brad and Kelly's little family. Oh yeah, and Jackson.

Did I mention that Ash came and spent the day with us while her mom and dad were at the game?

Ashlynn didn't like Santa until she saw the candy.

Em did not know what to think of Santa.

My kids and and Em is still trying to figure him out

Brad wanted Kelly and I to sit on Santa's lap so this one's for him

This is how we do it.

My Mom's pie

and the kids wating for some

The boys watching the Game

Papa fishy and Em

Grandma Janet

Amy and I were looking over the ads

GG McCumber after dinner

Emery was getting sleepy too

And after all of that, we went to the movies.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! May your stuffing be tasty May your turkey plump, May your potatoes and gravy Have never a lump. May your yams be delicious And your pies take the prize, And may your Thanksgiving dinner Stay off your thighs! Happy Thanksgiving !!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY DEAR !

I know that this is my mothers day post but its all still true.

Happy birthday Mom we hope you have a grate day. We love you.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

My Mom

I wish I had more time, but, as you know, we were camping all weekend and we had a lot of fun with you, Dad and Grandma. I can't wait for the next time we can all go camping together.

My mom is a "give them boundaries, but don't smother them" kind of mom. She was always there if we needed her, but never right on top of us. She's a let them work it out mom As long as no one is killing anyone else, they will work it out. A you do chores cause you live here mom. It's part of being a family, not something you get paid for. I'm so with her on that. Every time you leave the house, she would say, "Remember who you are" and the smart @$$ kid I was would say "I am Leanna Aileen. I live at --- -- ----- " and she would alway smile as if to say you know what I meant. She went back to school bought her own business and she was still always there. I would have never known she was gone if someone didn't tell me. I think she did it all at night. Even when money was tight, we always had food and we never had to move or sell the house. That was a wonderful thing they did for us and it created such a stable and secure home in an unstable time. I'm the one that got all your weird quirks so you know that I love you or I wouldn't love myself and we all know that's not a problem for me.
You are a wonderful mother and role model and we know how lucky we are to have you.
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING MOM!

Amy dared Me

I just have to start by saying there is no part of my house that looks like this on a regular basis. So, let me explain this picture.
I do this thing that my sisters and I like to call sorting the junk drawer. The definition of sorting the junk drawer is: Find the most time consuming task and working on that so I am rushed to do all the other thing that I need to do before company, holiday, birthday party, etc. This is how it goes. I have to get the house tidied, so where should I start?
I think I'll dump all the toys on the floor of the playroom so I can sort out the ones that the kids don't play with anymore. This is all after the kids are in bed so as not to disturb me or make the process more lengthy.
An hour and a half later and I have given up and put them all back in their boxes and gone downstairs to wash the dishes.
But here it was in all its messed-up glory.

Why Jackson......Why?

The culprit.

Yes he's cute and always a charmer but today he added stuck up to the list. Now I don't mean stuck up in the conventional sense of the word. I mean he has stuck some gum up in his hair. Yes that's right. HE stuck it in his own hair. Why you ask. For no other reason than "because it would look funny." His words, not mine. I just don't know what he is thinking sometimes.

I'm going to the Temple

For the last two weeks I have been attending Temple prep classes and learning a lot, kind of.
The things that I'm learning, much to my surprise, are all things I already know. But it's good to hear it all again and know that I have a knowledge of these thing already.
I use the fact that I was inactive for so many years as an excuse for so many things.
To be there, in that place, and have an intimate knowledge of all these thing makes me want to call every Sunday school and seminary Teacher I ever had and say THANK YOU.
THANK YOU for taking your time to share the gospel with me and so many other children.
THANK YOU for waking up early and leaving your homes and families every morning to give us a safe place to gather together and learn about God and his plan for us.
THANK YOU for the countless hours it took for you to prepare those wonderful heartfelt lessons that I only now appreciate. ( now that I am doing the same thing)
It was your love for our Savior and our Father in heaven that you shared with me and my heart retained.
I THANK YOU ALL for everything we saw you do for us and all the things that we never knew.


Get your plane ticket Becky. Just four more weeks to go.

Our Chistmas card pictures.

I know that you all will be getting your Christmas cards from us in about 3 weeks, but we had such a good time with Jennifer Lynn Photography this Saturday and all the pictures are so cute that I could not help myself from sharing them with you before the cards are sent. Thank you again Jennifer. We love them all.

Turkey and stuffing meatloaf with sour cream and onion potatoes, cider gravy

Ingredients

• 2 McIntosh or Gala apples, peeled and cut into small dice
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 pounds ground all-white turkey (or a mix of dark and white meat)
• 3 to 4 ribs of celery, finely chopped
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
• 1 large egg
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups stuffing mix
• 1 tablespoon EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil

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Yields: 4 servings

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Preparation

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

In a large bowl, add apples and lemon juice, and toss together. Add turkey, celery, onion, poultry seasoning, egg, salt and ground black pepper.

In a medium-size bowl, add the stock and the stuffing. Toss around, letting the stuffing soak up the liquid, then add it to the bowl with the turkey. Mix everything together well, then turn it out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and shape it into a loaf. Coat with EVOO, transfer to the oven and roast until brown and cooked through, about an hour.

Serve topped with Cider Gravy and Sour Cream and Onion Mashed Potatoes alongside.

Sour Cream and Onion Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients

• 3 pounds (about 6) potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 6 scallions, white and green parts finely chopped
• Salt and ground black pepper

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Yields: 4 servings

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Preparation

In a pot of cold water, add the potatoes and bring up to a bubble over high heat.

Cook until tender, about 15 minutes.

Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot they were cooked in to dry out. Mash them up then mix in the sour cream, scallions, salt and ground black pepper.

Cider Gravy

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups apple cider
• 2 cups chicken stock
• Salt and ground black pepper

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Yields: 4 servings

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Preparation

In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour, cook 1 minute then whisk in the cider and stock. Let thicken, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

Serve turkey and stuffing meatloaf with sour cream and onion potatoes, cider gravy and some roasted broccoli or green beans.

I Can Do Better

I know that I'm a good mother.

I know that I'm a good wife.

I know that I'm a good sister.

And I know That I'm a good daughter.

But I also know that I can do better and I'm going to start trying harder starting right now.

Just one more thing to love.

I Love This Man!

LL Cool J - Mr. President (Feat. Wyclef Jean) : VIDEO !! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwZXrYk4LJg

I DON'T THINK I LIKE THAT DOG!

Trick or Treat

First we stopped by Daddy's offices to see everyone he works with.Then we went to the Carter's to see Zack and Ashley



This one was taken by my friend and nextdoor neighbor Ron.

Grandma Cindy came out with us because Daddy was ejoying the birthday present we got him with Lorin.

Ainsley having a suger meltdown.
Just some of the Halloween display in the front yard.

Emery's pumpkin

Ainsley's Pumpkin

Jackson's pumpkin

My pumpkin

And a front yard that even my old neighbor Jonny would be proud of.