Happy Halloween!

I promised the Young Women that I would dress up for Halloween. But, before I use that as an excuse, lets be honest, I really love to dress up! Halloween has been a favorite of mine for a long time for a couple reasons. #1, the dressing up and #2, the PUMPKIN carving. Tonight was our ward Halloween party and I went as the "Wicked" witch. But, I kept on reminding everyone that in the story "Wicked" the green witch was really the good one.

Here is my scary witch face and my happy pumpkin face.

Bryce has a mustache, he is mustache dude! (yes i have a weird smile, it is hard to smile with black lips and not get it all over my teeth)

Another weird smile! Happy HALLOWEEN ALL.

Sushi Night

Bryce has wanted Sushi all week. And, of course I thought that meant a nice evening out. I was excited to not have to worry about dinner and just relax and enjoy the time I had after I got home from work. But, he had very different plans. He wanted us to make the sushi. And, usually when he says he wants us to make it, that means me. Well . . . that isn't true because he helps a lot, but today he had studying to do so I made the sushi. He did help me cut it up in the end and that was just great. Here is what I concocted. It was very delicious and even more pretty. It was so pretty I didn't want to eat it. So, now it is here so I can enjoy its beauty any time I want.

Here is the masterpiece arranges nicely on my new plates. The plates are so wonderful because I got them at Marshals for $1.50 a piece. And they are gorgeous. You can see the detail a little better in the next picture I think.

The plates have a matte vine design on them. So the plate is a shiny, smooth white and the design is a soft matte. They are very pretty. I unfortunately was only able to get 4, and I searched and searched for more, but now I can get stuff to match. Someday.

Last note: Ingredients of the sushi-avacado, cucumber, carrots, imitation crab meat, rice, and seaweed wrappers. Served with soy sauce.

Race for the Cure

Today was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Des Moines. There were a number of races. They had a 5K run/walk, one mile run/walk, and a kids race. There were about 24,000 people who participated in the event. It was packed with people who came out to support this cause. And, what better way could you spend your Saturday morning. I walked with some freinds from my ward and I really enjoyed it. They had a lot of tents set up with little free trinkets, which I can't resist. But, the best part was seeing all of the people there for loved ones.

I wore this on my sweater during the race. It sure isn't much, but I wanted to remember my Aunt Shannon today. I hope this little tribute helps us get closer to a cure.

All my goodies from the race. Yes, my T-shirt is XL because this was all they had left when our T-shirts got picked up. Luckily, I will wear this shirt very often. Just ask my husband, I can't wear anything that is even close to my body for bed.

After the race waiting in the cold for the prize drawing. We ended up leaving because, despite the sunshine, it was freezing.

A view from the back.

All of us who "Raced for the Cure." Left to right: Jordan Hansen (the organizer and leader of the event, THANKS JORDAN) Natali, Kamala Sloan, And her sister Jessica? (oh I am so sorry I don't remember her name! Curses) Nathalie Beeston is taking the pic.

Halloween Memories

With Halloween quickly approaching, I wanted to write down some memories of Halloween's past. I remember them very well. What stands out the most is that we NEVER had a store bought costume. My mother sewed or put together all of our costumes. I remember wanting to get a store bought costume, but the searching for the costumes was SOO fun. It consisted of going through all my moms fabric, going through every siblings wardrobe, and going through my parents wardrobe. If we couldn't fashion a costume out of what we found in the house, my mother would go to it and sew our costumes.

One year my mom created a LOVELY Jasmine costume for me. She had an old pair of very puffy, very blue, sweat pants that looked just like Jasmines. Then we took an old swimming suit and sewed a little big of trim on it and some puffy sleeves and there was my top. Then, of course I had the perfect hair for Jasmine. When I was young I had long, very black, hair all the way down to my waist. So, no wig for me. It was the perfect costume. And the funniest thing was that same year my oldest brother Ben, who was a junior or senior in High School at this time, was also dressing up as Jasmine for Halloween. My Mom actually sewed him a wig out of black yarn. (at least I think she did)

I went to school in my perfect costume, sure that I was to be the best dressed and get so many compliments on my costume. However, when I got to school a girl named Lindsey Rerucha was also Jasmine. She was a little blonde girl who was quite popular. So, since she didn't have my long hair, she had on a plastic wig. That's not all, she had on the whole entire store bought Jasmine costume. She had the pants, the top, the puffy sleeves, the shoes, EVEN the jewelry. She was genuinely Jasmine. I was devastated. What hurt the most was that kids were actually asking me who I was. They didn't even know that I was Jasmine, but they all knew that Lindsey was. I put my coat on and wore it the rest of the day.

Sad story, but there were many other not sad stories about my Halloween costumes. Like the time when I was Wednesday from the Adams family. That Halloween, everyone knew who I was and I looked just like her. I often used my hair and incorporated it into my costumes. The greatest thing about having such an ingenious mother was that we often had costume changes. I would be a vampire in the morning, and by the evening I was turned into a lovely witch. Or a princess in the morning and rageddy ann by that night.

Here's to you Mother. What a wonderful Halloween costume designer you were. I wish I had you to get me dressed this year, for I promised my Young Women that I would dress up this year. I am actually looking forward to it. But, you can guarantee that I won't be going to the store for my costume, I will be staying right here at home. Thanks for the fun memories Mom!

Those of you who read this post, I tag you! Post a halloween memory from your childhood on your blog. YEAH!

My Eights Lists

Not Sure the Point on this one, but fun:

Eights List

8 TV Shows I like to watch..

The Office
Regis and Kelly

Arrested Developement

Morning News Casts

Friends

QVC Christmas Shoppe
That's So Raven
What Not To Wear

8 Restaurants I like to eat at...

Texas Roadhouse

Red Robin
Burger King
Papa Johns

Subway
Flemmings (once every 10 years)

New York Buritto (or any place similar)

Golden Corral (I admit this proudly)

8 Things that happened today...

Went to work

Called my mom

Ate

took a therapeutic shower (let it all out)

put on my silky PJ's my Mom gave me

bought a rotisserie chicken from Wal-Mart

Listened to Hey Jude from Across the Universe Soundtrack around 10 times (in a row)
Cried a little

8 Things I am looking forward to...

Bubber coming for Thanksgiving

Christmas!

My hair being long again

Being done with Med School

Having my own kids someday, and not taking care of someone elses

Dressing up for Halloween

Sleeping in tomorrow

Bryce getting home

8 Things on my wish list...

A Yorkie dong

Warm fuzzy boots

Warm Fuzzy socks

A volleyball

A computer of my own

New Shoes

For everyone to get along and be happy (my Mom used to say that always, and now I say it)
A New Wardrobe (hey, I can dream)

8 People I tag...(8 because I doubt anyone will do it)
You first eight who read this . . . even though eight people seldom read my blog.

Coke and Toasto

I didn't think to take a pic until I had scarffed it all down. So here is a picture of my empty mug and my toast crumbs.

Growing up, we had a favorite treat the whole family enjoyed. It was not only a treat, but a staple for breakfast and especially cold, wintery, Wyoming days. A good old cup of hot cocoa and buttered toast to dip in it. Yes, you just dip that toast right into that steaming cup of cocoa and love the soggy, sweet bread running down your throat. My Dad used to make this for breakfast often. He would heat up and big, really big, pot of hot milk or water and then we would either add our own cocoa mix or use my Dad's special homemade cocoa syrup. Then he would butter a mountain of toast and we would all dig in. Oh, the memories that brings back to me. That big pot and that mountain would be gone in minutes. We would very often go into the kitchen after all of the toast was gone and make a couple more slices to top of the rest of our cocoa. And, to chase it all down, a nice cold glass of milk. This treat was especially wonderful when it was cold. Now, those of you who know Wyoming, know that our winters definitely aren't mild or short. So after a good day of snowfort making, we would come in and enjoy toast and cocoa. The wonder of it all was that we could make it ourselves.

Today, I came home from Mutual quite cold. We went Trick or Treating for cans for the food pantry. It is not really that cold out, but my body is not used to it anymore. I think it was around 49 or so, but I was cold when I got home. So, I got into my sweats and treated my self to some toast and cocoa.

Last funny story, one time during my childhood we were enjoying this classic treat altogether as a family. It was actually my whole family and my Aunt and Uncle and all my cousins, the Walkers. Whitney, my little sister, was reaching for some refills and said: "Can I have some more coke and toasto please?" She jumbled the words, and ever since that day, we have called it coke and toasto. Enjoy the memories Family!

A Little Digger

Myles at the Park digging with this little . . . digger.

I am back to my nanny job again now for the third year. I have been with Myah since she was 4 and she is now 7. I have been with Myles since he was 2 and he will be 5 at the beginning of next year. Since Myah is now in first grade and in school all day, I get Myles all to myself most of the time. He really is a funny, entertaining, and great kid. He sure is active and he loves the park. But, without his sister to play with him, he really expects me to fill in. I can't just sit on the park bench and watch anymore because he NEEDS me to play everything with him. He wants me to climb all over the equipment too, and I have gotten a lot of funny looks from Moms when I climb all over the playground equipment and their children also look at me funny. So, I try my hardest to let him do this on his own. It's getting better.

Of course, the sound effects that go along are essential.

Gordmans Steal

I bought two new purses at Gordmans this weekend. They were 50% off clearance. So the clearance price was $40.00 and it was 50% off of that price. So I got a $90.00 handbag for $20.00. I love Gordmans! Those of you who know me, know that I am a walking Gordmans advertizement. I go there for almost everything. I had to buy one of these for myself and one of them for my Mom who is an avid Kathy Van Zeeland fan. GO TO GORDMANS. The sale is actually over now, but they usually do it again sometime this fall. I hope they do.

Top Ten Reasons I Love General Conference

So, to all of you out there who thoroughly enjoy General Conference weekend, this post is for you. I look forward to this weekend so, and for some good reasons and probably for some not so wholesome reasons. Here they are:

10: I don't have to shave my legs and put on a dress. As much as I love getting dolled up on Sundays, sometimes I just don't want to shave my legs. And for me, wearing a skirt requires shaving of the legs. I am not blessed with minimal, light colored hair on my legs. Nooooo! So, today I put a pair of pants on and I didn't even think about that little pink razor calling to me from my shower. Quiet You!!

9: I get to sleep in. Since I often have meetings to attend or lessons to prepare or just YW stuff to worry about, I get up fairly early Sunday mornings. Getting up today at 9:12 was so refreshing. I admit that I felt a little guilty, but deep down I loved it immensely.

8: BREAKFAST! I love making breakfast. Isn't breakfast food the yummiest and the most fun to prepare? I sure think so. We are always in too much of a rush or doing completely different things on Sunday that we seldom get to eat breakfast together. Not only that, but if we do eat breakfast it is usually cold cereal or instant oatmeal. Now, I LOVE both of those things with all my heart. But I DEARLY LOVE to make pancakes, crepes, french toast, german pancakes, buiscuts and gravy, and the list just goes on. Today we had german pancakes with syrup and Vitiman D Milk. (Someone told me that it helps you get preggo, so I said what the hay!)

7: DINNER! Yes, it is true, another food reason. I don't often get to cook more that one meal a day, and I really do enjoy cooking. We are running skimpy on our food items, (for I hate the grocery store, another story in and of itself) but I have been craving Stroganoff. It has been a favorite of mine since childhood and we have had those egg noodles in our cupboard for so long, they have just been calling my name. So, since I had time to make several meals today I opted to make my stroganoff today. It is so fast and easy, but yummy yummy. We ate it with steamed zuchinni and yellow squash.

6: Lots of couch time. So I have to admit, I am not one of those people who gets into their Sunday best and sits straight and proper on the edge of my seat during conference. I am a lounger. I position myself in the most comfortable place on the couch, curl up in a blanket and soak it all in baby. I commented to Bryce last conference that I wonder why I get so sleepy during the talks. I really want to listen and learn but my eyes drift closed after about an hour and half. He commented, "Well, you are laying down on the couch, with your PJ's on, and with a blanket. HMMMM . . . when else do we do those things all together. Oh yes, when we go to bed!" Clever boy huh. I tried my utmost to stay awake this weekend and I even tried to sit up and leave the blanket folded in the corner, but the second session today I found my self dozing.

5: Memories. I remember growing up and listening to conference. If we weren't out of bed yet, my Mom would insist we crawl to the family room and listen. She tried to make us listen to every session. Bless her heart, I can only imagine how hard it was to get 6 kids to pay attention an listen to 8 hours of conference in one weekend. I remember when my siblings were in seminary they had to take notes during conference and I thought they were so grown up. I really thought that was the most adult thing anyone could do. Probably because my Dad always has a pen and paper in his hands during conference. So many more memories I could share, but here are a few that stick out.

4: Quiet. It is truely inspired that the local wards hold no meetings over conference weekend. These men and women that serve so willingly in their callings get this weekend to just listen and ponder and pray. I am sure Bishops, and others who hold time consuming callings, all around are grateful for a little break to reflect. I am.

3: Listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I could listen to them sing all day and night. I love the way they bring the spirit in such abundance to the conference. I love their voices all in unison singing the hymns of worship. When I was little I was sure that my Mom was a member of the Tabernacle Choir. I somehow got it into my head that because my mom was such a phenomenal singer then she had to be a part of that beautiful choir. I told my friends and teachers that she was with assurity. She wasn't. It was a harsh realization for me.

2: President Monson's stories. I love that he often refers to old classic movies, musicals, and books. Anytime he speaks of a book or a movie that portrays a certain message, I clammer to read or watch it. I love that today he talked about Professor Harold Hill from the Music Man. One of my all time favorite musicals. I can always remember what he is speakng on because I can always remember his stories.

1: Realizing anew that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ speak to prophets and apostles today. The church has been restored in its fullness to the earth and God speaks to man again. I heard a story once that changed to way I feel about conference. Shortly, it talks about a young women who was astonished to hear that the church believes that it has a living prophet on the earth today who communicates with God. She excitedly asks the one who told her of the modern day prophets, "What was the last thing he said?!" The other could not reply, for she didn't know. It is severely significant that we have a living prophet today, I hope I can always feast on his words.