gratitude still

With Thanksgiving day over, I am still trying to live in Thanksgiving daily.

For those who have fought and still fight to keep this land the home of the free.

Especially when it was Grandpa Morris. Thanks Gramps for the laughter you brought into my life and especially to Justin's. Thank you for the good traits you passed along to him. Your selflessness, humility, no speaking evil of others, and contagious sense of humor will still live on.

I got lucky when I married Justin, I also got two sets of incredilbe grandparents. Since mine had all passed away it was so nice to know that I had these guys to enjoy learning from. Thanks to Gramps and Grams Gerhauser...I love playing card games with you two.

Four, adorable, silly boys that keep me laughing all the time.

The fact that this little guy loves to do fun little crafts and will actually play with them instead of just tossing them to the side.

That this guy is loving 2nd grade and is growing into such a delightful young man

and keeps me laughing all the time.

Fun ways to remember simple things to be thankful for. (meet Rudger...one day if Justin has his way, we may have a boy with this name.)

creativity.

Projects. Grateful for the fun they add to our home.

Family feast. Even if the turkey wasn't done until 7:30 at night. (Levi is thankful that we didn't practice good manners that night)

This spunky, energetic, big squeeshy.

For the next month!!!

Fall is in the air - 3

Halloween. The climax of the fall season for the kids. For me, I'm burned out of costumes, parties, and yes even candy, but I am glad that we can look back on the fun that we had this year.
Our 2nd annual Packer cousin party.
Donuts on a string



Mummy Wrap





Someone's taking advantage of all that extra toilet paper. My super oldest brother.

Decorating cookies.

Trunk or Treat

I know no one can figure it out, I am a mummy. I only had about 5 seconds to come up with something. Not the greatest, I know, but the boys were happy that mommy and daddy actually got dressed up!

Another party with Jen and Ryan's ward

We didn't even get pictures of Halloween day and night. But it did include a great visit with Grandma and Grandpa Packer and some great cousins!! As I said before, we had a lot of Halloween this year, but at least we have some good memories.

Is anyone else listening to Christmas music now? (I promise you Justin that I will not be sick of Christmas even though I am sneaking in lots of it. And don't worry Thanksgiving is very much on our minds right now.)

Fall is in the air - 2

Nature. Can it get any better than this time of year?

This was on our 100 mile drive through Immigration Canyon, East Canyon, and Morgan. Ahh, I just love this drive. We got out at the top and enjoyed the scenery for a few minutes. I'm so glad we did. It was worth the freezing hands and nose.

Levi was so excited that he booked it down the trail. Above, Justin is chasing him (along with Corbin and Taylor). Below, after a few falls he was still jumping with excitement. Why did I keep him in his Sunday clothes when we left for the drive?

Taylor was okay with his fall too.

Levi was so excited to get a taste of what is to come in just a few weeks.

Snow. But I want to enjoy the fall leaves just a little longer.

Would you like to taste a little more fall? Here is my most favorite Molasses cookie ever! They are so soft and crispy and delicious.

Molasses cookies

3/4 C Butter flavored Crisco

1 C sugar, plus more for rolling

1 large egg

1/4 C molasses

2 C flour

2 t baking soda

1 t ground cinnamon

1 t ground ginger

1/2 t ground cloves

1/2 t salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silpat.
With an electric mixer, combine shortening and sugar and cream until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add the egg and the molasses and beat until completely incorporated.
Sift or whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt and then add to the mixture. Stir until combined. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar. Place on cookie sheets.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until just set around the edges and you start to see crackling on the top.
They’ll puff up while they’re baking and as they cool they’ll flatten. Enjoy.

Fall is in the air - 1

I absolutely love this time of year. Everything about it is just about perfect. First the crisp weather, then the incredible smells, then the delicious food, then the cozy sweaters, and then the breathtaking scenery.

I have to admitt, one of the first things that I fell in love with when we first walked through our home was the double oven. I love to bake, and when I pictured us in this home, this was the time of year I pictured us in. I could see myself standing in the kitchen with my hair up, my apron on and our boys so lovingly standing around (or sitting on) the island helping me bake cookies, breads, pies, and rolls. Now here we are doing almost that exact same thing I imagined (maybe minus the lovingly part) but at least they are loving it. Taylor loves to convince me to bake anything and I'm almost always convinced.
It is tradition on my side of the family that on the first real chilly day of the season we have Chili, mom's potato rolls, and pumpkin pie. I love a good tradition and I love the fact that just about everyone in the family was doing the same thing on the same day.






If this isn't comfort food for me, I don't know what is.


Another bonus is the fireplace. Such a comfortable night for us.


Would you like some recipes? They are all from my mom's recipe stash (although most things she makes is all stored in her brain). Please don't blame me if it doesn't come out perfect. Although I can taste home when I make these, it never EVER comes out like my moms.

Mom's Famous Chili
1 or 2 celery stalks
1 green pepper
1 onion
1 Tbs. butter
Saute together until caramelized. Brown 1 lb. hamburger and add to vegetables.
Add:
2/3 cup catsup
½ cup water
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1 Tbs. brown sugar
Dash of salt and pepper
1 tsp. vinegar
¼ tsp. dry mustard
Cook altogether and add 2 large cans of kidney beans, 1 large can tomato juice, and 1-2 Tbs. chili powder.


You must make the rolls to dip in the chili...they just go together.


Mom's Potato Rolls
2 1/4 - 2 1/2 cups water
3 small potatoes
Cook in saucepan until potatoes are soft (10-15 minutes) Then blend in blender until smooth.
2 cups scalded milk (cook in microwave for 5 minutes, then add butter and crisco to cool)
1 stick butter
1/2 c. crisco
Add milk mixture to the mixer. Then add:
1/3 c. canned milk
1 rounded Tbs. salt
1 rounded cup sugar
Potato mixture
Take your blender and add:
1/2 cup water
3 Tbs. yeast
1 Tbs. sugar
Blend and add to mixer. Add:
4 eggs
2 cups flour
Mix on medium for several minutes. Then add 3 cups at a time until you have a really soft (slightly sticky) dough. Approximatly 11 cups of flour total.
Put dough in a really good and buttered bowl and coat the surface. Cover and let rise for about 1 to 1 - 1/2 hours.
Have a bowl of melted butter and your baking sheet ready.
Roll out half the dough on a floured surface to about 1/2 thick. Cut with a good sized round circle (my mom would use a canning jar round lid, I use one of my cups). Grab a circle and dip your hands in the butter and spread it on one side of the circle. Fold in half and rub more butter on the top surface and place in your pan. Yes, butter is a key ingredient. Place the rolls right next to each other (there is no need to space them).
Let the rolls rise for another hour. Then bake in a 350 degree oven for around 15 minutes. (pull it out maybe sooner, maybe later)

Mom’s Pumpkin Pie
3 eggs
1 large can Libby’s Pumpkin
1 c brown sugar
1 c sugar
2 T flour
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon
½ t allspice
¼ t nutmeg
1 can evaporated milk
¼ c water

Beat eggs thoroughly. Add pumpkin and mix well. Add sugars, flour, salt, and spices. Stir until blended. Add milk and water stirring well. Make crust. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce heat and bake at 325 degrees until firm (about and hour).

Family Pictures

Sometimes it's the inbetween shots that I love the most. A million thanks to my amazing sister (in law) Cami! Sit back and enjoy.

And a million thanks to my boys, who don't love family picture time, but are patient enough to do them for me!