Ready for March To Be OVER

As you can probably tell by the title of this post and the lack of posting over the last week, March has not been a very fun month for my family. However, we DO have one truly FABULOUS adventure on the horizon...

We leave this week to spend two weeks in sunny Florida and hope to spend some time with Tony while we are there. It is a much needed break and we look forward to being together as a family for a little while before Tony's 6-month deployment is over late next month. I made these little notebooks for the kids to gather autographs throughout the park during our Disney World visit. I love that the cards inside are blank so I can scrap them later with the pictures I took with the characters and the kids. But if I know my kid at all, Josh's will still be empty at the end of the trip. Although he is convinced that Pluto will be on our plane. Whatever.

Because we'll be getting back near the middle of April, I wanted to have our visiting teaching gifts done before we left. April is such a wonderful time with the beginnings of Spring and the chance to remember and appreciate the gift of our Savior. Here is the quote we used:

“Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, ‘I will not leave you comfortless. [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].’ ” ~Jeffrey R. Holland

I attached it to a box of our very favorite Easter candy (ha ha!) and added "Happy Easter to one of our favorite "peeps."

As I've said before, this month has been a challenge for our family. We found out this week that my father is very ill. It would be inappropriate for me to say anything more...he is such a wonderful man and is fiercely private. But the thought of losing my father has brought our family to it's knees pleading for hope and strength. It has made us even more grateful for the loving Atonement of our Savior. 

Daddy...we love you to infinity and beyond.

Derby Night

Ah, the night that strikes fear into every mom that doesn't have a husband home. Thank goodness, our kind neighbor helped Sam cut out his car and weighted it before he left for his OWN 6-month deployment. Then all we had to do was paint it. Not so easy when your son wants a tiger. Last year's cheetah didn't do so hot, so we weren't expecting much.

You should have seen the look on Sam's face when he won his first race. And his second. And his third! He finally lost in the last heat, but had a great time cheering with his friends and was delighted with the overall experience.

The night got a little long for Josh and Anna so we took off right after the last race of the evening.

So we had no idea until this morning when our friends dropped off this little surprise!!

Aw yeah, mommy managing Pinewood Derby?? Check!

"The Pacific"

Tony and I really enjoy learning about the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our liberty and the freedom of others. We loved watching Band of Brothers and have really anticipated the start of The Pacific, which starts tomorrow night. For the last 6 weeks, I have been reading the three books that the mini-series will be based on: With the Old Breed by E.B. Sledge (fantastic book!), Helmet for my Pillow by Robert Leckie and I'm Staying with My Boys by Jim Proser. In fact, the copy of the book by Jim Proser was sent to me by a man who grew up in the same hometown as John Basilone (Raritan, New Jersey) and he wrote a short note on a post-it on the inside cover of the book expressing his belief that John Basilone was a true hero. If you have ANY interest in the Pacific front of WWII, read E.B. Sledge's book.

Here is the trailer for The Pacific. (the link is back up)

I am so grateful for these young boys who risked it all so that our country could remain free. You know where I'll be tomorrow night. On my couch. With a box of tissues.

Imagination

It's a wonderful thing.

Cutie Fruity!

It's been a rough week around here. And that's about all I have to say about that.

But I did want to share a couple fruity things.

This is my child that refuses to eat anything. He has suddenly decided that he likes blueberries. Lots and lots of blueberries. I guess there are worse things for him to eat...

And several weeks ago my cousin Michelle posted this delicious recipe. I had to try it and boy, was I not disappointed.

Upside Down Apple Pie

4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans
2 ready made refrigerated pie crusts
5 large tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon ginger
dash of salt
2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a large pie plate (mine is 10-inches in diameter) with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper, the edges sticking up just past the pie plate rim. Coat the paper with a bit of the cooking spray also.  Combine the melted butter, brown sugar and pecans. Mix well and spread in the bottom of the dish over the parchment. Place one of the crusts in the dish over the nut mixture, pushing all around to get the crust securely in the dish and up the sides.  Combine apples, lemon juice, sugar, flour, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and salt. Mix well. Spoon into the pie crust and cut the remaining two tablespoons of butter over the top. Place the second crust over the apple mixture. Seal edges as best you can and cut vents in the top of the crust for steam to escape. Bake 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until crust is golden. Let pie cool for 5 minutes. Invert hot pie onto a larger plate. Remove the pie plate and gently lift the paper.

Here's to a week better than last week!!

Luck 'O the Irish

I just finished putting together our visiting teaching gifts for the month of March. It is always a tricky one for me...St. Patrick's Day isn't very glamorous. And green? Not at all flattering. But I saw these cute shamrock socks at Target (2 pairs for $5) and thought they'd be a fun way for our ladies to wear green on St. Patrick's Day.

The Old Irish Blessing reads:

"May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."

Top 'o the morning, Lassies!