Happy Anniversary

Seeing as how yesterday was my nine year wedding anniversary, I thought it might be nice to tell you 9 wonderful things about my husband. (I'm just hoping this makes up for the fact that we did nothing to celebrate.)

1. He works hard to support our family. He really has an ambitious streak that drives him to do his best, and as a result, I always feel that we are provided for.

2. He is the most generous person I know. No really. He is always the one of the two of us to suggest when we ought to donate some time or money to a worthy cause.

3. He is funny. While I may have my funny moments, he does win in the funny contest.

4. He puts up with my annoying quirks. And I know I'm not easy to live with.

5. He doesn't complain when I do or get the things I want. (At least not too much.) And this is after being raised in a home where dad always questioned every penny out the door.

6. We are a team. I love that we work together in our marriage, in terms of parenting, spending money, and running our household.

7. He is quick to say "I'm sorry." This one is huge. I am the one that carries around a grudge forever, and Dan is always the first to apologize. Always.

8. He is a great dad. I love watching him and Tyler interact.

9. He has a strong testimony and lives his beliefs. This was really the thing that sealed the deal for me when we were dating. I have always been impressed by his strength of character and integrity in his actions.

I love you Dan! Happy Anniversary.

Medical News

What medical news? Well, last weekend started off with a visit to the ER, and not for Tyler. No, Dan was the one playing on the playground equipment, and when he tried to fit through a space made for someone a wee bit smaller than himself, the metal pole just didn't give. Here he is with his 6 stitches:

The other news, I actually had a miscarriage this weekend. After three years of trying to GET pregnant, we faced the problem of STAYING pregnant. Right now, I feel surprisingly calm about things. I had really kept my guard up for the 2 weeks I knew I was pregnant. I have suffered many disappointments over the last couple years, and I was really trying to protect myself. There also were some indications from the beginning that this pregnancy might not make it to term, so I was kind of expecting the worst. I have been sore for three days, and let out all my tears today, and feel ready to move forward. Just before we found out that I was pregnant, we had completed an application for a private adoption agency, and we feel good about going back to that option and moving forward with it. I really feel that Heavenly Father is guiding us and is in charge. I sure don't understand what he is doing all the time, but I have learned to trust Him.

Book Club

Okay, I have finally got my act together enough to select a date. So all you readers out there, mark your calendars:

Thursday, December 4
7:00
My house

If you are interested in joining said book club, show up that night with a book choice or two. We are going to select times and books for 2009.

Please pass this information along to anyone who you think might be interested.

Scrapbooks

So I was cleaning off my memory card and found these shots of pages that I did about month or two ago. One of these days, I really ought to learn how to scan and stitch. It would really make for better pictures on my blog. Oh, well.

Tagged

This is actually the first time I have ever been tagged. Thanks Brenda!

I am: a wife and mother
I want: a baby
I have: all my needs met
I dislike: cigarette butt litterers
I miss: my family
I fear: losing what is most precious
I feel: happy (at least right now)
I hear: Tyler playing with a friend
I crave: candy from the Halloween bowl
I cry: all too often
I usually: stick to routine
I search: for more time
I wonder: if my life will go as planned
I regret: not getting more education
I love: Dan and Tyler
I care: about becoming a better person
I worry: about the future world for my son
I am not: athletic
I remember: my awesome childhood
I believe: I am doing the best with what I have
I dance: only if Tyler makes me
I sing: the hymns in sacrament meeting; no more, no less
I don't always: live up to my own standards
I argue: with a four-year-old (I know, I really shouldn't. I'll never win)
I write: not as much as I wish I did
I win: an occasional game of Candy Land
I lose: most of the games of Candy Land
I wish: every day to add to our family
I listen: to my husband. all. the. time.
I don't understand: why we don't always get the desires of our hearts
I can usually be found: at the computer or in my car
I need: nothing, well maybe a Diet Coke
I forget: to show my gratitude
I am happy: when the ones I love are happy

So I tag: Amanda, Kelsey, Camilla, and Jenn

Candy Cane Kisses

So I discovered these last Christmas, and decided that they are my new favorite Christmas candy. I have been eating them on and off all day. If you haven't tried them, you have to! When I went back to get some more last year, being seasonal, they were gone. I was so sad to have found them and lost them basically all at once. Imagine my delight to see them in the store this year. I think I am going to stock up so I can have Candy Cane Hershey Kisses all year.

Flat Dylan

So, are you familiar with the story of Flat Stanley? My 6-year-old nephew read this in his school class and had a pretty cool project with us involved. You see, in the book, Stanley gets flattened by a bulletin board, and since he is only 1/2 inch thick, he sticks himself in an envelope and mails himself off. So we got Flat Dylan in the mail about 2 weeks ago. We took him lots of places when he came to visit:

Gymnastics


Old MacDonald's Farm


The Library


The Children's Museum


And more. Today we stuck Flat Dylan in an envelope and sent him back to Utah. We hope he had a fun stay with us.

My Temple Workout

So yesterday I filled an assignment to go over to the Temple and work on the grounds outside. It was nice weather, a little warm, but overall enjoyable. There were five of us, so we got to visit while we worked. We spent our assignment picking up branches and pine cones across the temple grounds. It was kind of neat to realize just how much work goes on in keeping the Temple so beautiful and clean. After a while, I started to feel a little tired, and wimpy because, hey it wasn't that hard of work. But this morning when I woke up, and could barely get out of bed, I realized that I spent over 2 hours yesterday doing squats. How's that for a workout?

World's Best Sugar Cookies

Okay, I highly doubt that they are the world's greatest, but I love them. I have had a few requests for the recipe, so here it is:

Holiday Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup sour cream

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Sift dry ingredients and add to sugar mixture alternately with sour cream. Chill. Roll and cut into shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. When cooled, frost and decorate.

(My notes on the recipe: When it says chill, you really have to chill. I always do it overnight. Also, when you go to roll out the dough, you will have to add flour. Just keep adding a little at a time until you are able to roll easily. Finally, the main trick is to never overcook them. The bottom really should be the same color as the top. I cook mine for 9 minutes in my oven and then let them cool on the cookie sheet before I transfer them to a wire rack.)

You can use any frosting, but I do a basic buttercream:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1-2 Tblsp. milk

Mix powdered sugar and butter. Stir in vanilla and one tablespoon of the milk. Gradually beat in just enough milk to make the frosting smooth and spreadable.

And finally, please do not judge the yumminess of the cookies on my photography ability. I just happened to have this pic on my computer from last Valentine's Day.

Enjoy!