My brother is coming home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just found out today that my brother gets to come home from Iraq, and he will be staying home for good!!!!!! I am so happy and relieved. He messed up his shoulder pretty bad a couple of weeks ago and they sent him to Germany for testing and he found out today he will be sent stateside tomorrow so they can do surgery. When he is finished with that, his new assignment will be to help the soldiers who come back from Iraq tansition back to civilian life. Ohhhh, I am so happy. This is his 2nd tour over there, and he just had a baby 2 months ago, so this will be so nice for him and his family to be back together again!!!! I am so happy :)

Cinnamon Roll Recipe

So one of our missionaries told us his mom had the best cinnamon roll recipe. So we decided to go ahead and email her to get it and then suprise this missionary on Christmas Day with his mom's cinnamon rolls. He was not kidding!!!!!!! These are the tastiest, softest, most melt-in-your mouthest cinnamon rolls I have EVER eaten!!!!!!!! They are too good to not pass on to everyone who reads this. So here it is. Enjoy

Cinnamon Rolls

1/2 C sugar
1/2 C powdered sugar
1/2 C potato flakes
2 t salt
4 C plus 3 C flour
2 T yeast
1 C butter
3 C water
2 eggs

Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Add butter mix slightly then hot water. Mix by hand or with mixer for 4-5 minutes. Dough will be sticky. Add eggs and 3 more cups of flour. Stir until all ingredients are incorporated. DO NOT ADD MORE FLOUR!! Dough will be very sticky.

Let dough raise until double. Dough will be sticky. Roll out onto floured surface into 1 largle rectangle, spread 1 stick of softened butter over dough, spread with 1 cup of granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon. (she uses brown sugar instead) Roll up dough and cut into 24 even slices. Put onto two greased cookie sheets, 12 per sheet. Let raise until double. Bake 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. When cool, frost with frosting.

We haven't ever measured when we make our frosting, so here is a VERY rough guesstimate of it, so please alter it to your tastes. 2 cubes of butter, melted. Approximately 2 cups of powdered sugar. 2 tablespoons of milk, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of almond extract. Mix it all together and taste. Add more of any of the above ingredients to make it to taste.

So we went out to dinner tonight with my grandparents and parents. It was a nice evening. I have noticed that both my grandparents are getting skinnier and more frail looking, but I haven't really admitted it to anyone, because if I did, then it would mean it were true.....So every time they invite us out, I really want to make it becuase I honestly don't know how much longer they will be around. But tonight as we were sitting there, I couldn't help but notice how skinny and frail my grandma is getting....It makes me sad. I am not looking forward to the inevitable....

Gingerbread Houses

OK, so we finally got to our gingerbread houses. Actually, it was a gingerbread village, but whatever. We got those from my parents probably the first or second week in December, and just did them tonight, haha. Here are the pics of what our creations made, kinda fun!!!

New Year's Eve Dance

So the youth had their New Year's Eve Dance the other day. Here are some cute pics from taht night. The highlight, for me anyway, would have to be human bowling... I was standing with a group of our youth, just talking, when the next thing I know, I am on the floor. This guy comes running in our direction and slipped on some water and his feet slid right into me from the side and I dropped faster than I could say STRIKE! After I picked myself up off the floor, I couldn't stop laughing!!! It was soooooo funny.

The other highlight for my night was when one of my young women got on the microphone and announced to all 500 youth plus leaders that it was my 40th birthday that day. I couldn't believe she did that, but apparently most of the youth were in on it. It wasn't my birthday, and I am not even close to 40! Gotta love the youth!!!!

Christmas Day

Christmas was a fun-filled day at our house. We had most of our family over in addition to the missionaries from our church and a new friend of ours. It was such a fun day having our house filled with lots of people and gifts. I really enjoyed watching my kids open their presents. I had to try and open my gifts really fast when all 3 of my kids were taking a break. It was really nice spending the day with my grandparents and aunt and uncle, becuase we don't see either of them as often as we would like. William is moving back to Utah tomorrow, so it was sure nice to have him around. And we just loved having the missionaries over! I hope we could fill the void of sadness and home-sickness on their part just a little...I know we can't duplicate what they are used to, but I hope they had a fun day.

Julie and Julia

So we watched Jule & Julia tonight. It was a cute movie. So I totally want to do what Julie did. I want to get this cook book and make the recipes. I will definately have to wait until we sell our house so that I have the money. I am sure it costs a bit to do all those things. So I am not sure when I will start, but for sure I will do it :) Now all I need to do is get my hands on the 2 volume set of Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Another Award

Sean just got another award at work. This company is so amazing, and we have been so blessed. We are amazed at how great the people are in the company. They really do build each other up and are team-minded. Anyway, here is the award he got. It is a pretty big deal, and we are so proud of him!

Family Home Evening

Last night was Benjamen's turn to teach FHE. He needed to teach the 1st Vision to pass off for his Faith in God book, so that is what he was planning on doing. The whole week prior to last night I would ask him if he needed any help planning or preparing and he kept saying no. I never once saw him doing any sort of preparation and so I was getting a little nervous come Sunday. But again, when I asked him if I could help him, he said he had it all ready. Last night we had the nice treat of having some cousins over and my parents to join us. We don't typically have guests, so it was nice to have a few extra people join us. I have to tell you I was sooooooooo impressed! I was having to hold back the tears as my 8 year old told of what happened to Joseph Smith. He had a video clip for us to watch, but before he played it, he asked if anyone had any questions. Of course all the little kids had 3 questions each, and I watched him answer each one with patience, kindness and accuracy:) Afterwards, he bore his testimony of the truthfulness of what happened so many years ago. It is so nice to have these moments every now and then to let us know we are doing okay:)

Stake Youth Service Project

Saturday our Stake had a service project cleaning up some land the church owns across the street from the Temple. It was really nice going, and I really enjoyed learning a few fun facts about our beautiful temple. It is situation on the highest ground in Bexar County. We also learned that all the grey granite on the exterior of the temple were shipped in from China. And finally, we learned that the pavers used for the walkways were excesses from the Nauvoo Temple.

One of the pics is of me with 2 of my young women that went. Another one is of part of the group, and the last one is of a group of girls piling up some wood.

Matthew's Christmas Program

I was happy that Matthew's school still puts on a Christmas Program. So many schools now are shying away from Christmas anything to be more politically correct or something. Anyway, here are some cute pics from taht day. Matthew is such a great singer! He knew the words to all of the songs. One of the pics is Matthew with his wonderful teacher, Miss Rainey. Another one is him with his very best friend Noah, and the last one is his whole grade level singing the 12 Days of christmas.

Grace

Here are some funny and cute pics of Grace.

Ward Christmas Party

Last weekend we had our ward christmas party. It was a lot of fun! I really enjoy spending time with my ward family. We live in such a wonderful ward. The people are amazing. We love them so much! Here are a few pics from the night. Each auxillary had to do a skit or performance. I played a Christmas song with one of my young women. The funny pic is the Elder's Quorum skit, and then there is a pic of Benjamen playing Joseph, and then one of him with his cub scout group.

Handel's Messiah

I cannot believe I have finally picked my clarinet back up! It has been 10 years. I cannot believe it. I decided to pick it back up to participate in the performance of Handel's Messiah. Our stake sponsored this community event. It was amazing!!! I passed off a personal progress value experience for this:) The hardest thing for me was the fact that I know how good I was years ago, and I am currently not anywhere near that level of playing. But I will admit it was quite invigorating for me!!!

Thanksgiving

I am finally putting up some pics from Thanksgiving. We had most of our family over and the missionaries as well. We love hosting, and we finally have our own place, so we can do it:)

Girl's Night Out

We went to see New Moon and then went to dinner. Fun times!!!!

Benjamen

Here is a cute pic of Benjamen

Benjamen's 1st Pack Meeting

Benjamen joined cub scouts when he turned 8 in September. This is his first pack meeting and he is receiving an award. Part of the process of getting an award, is the boys will then pin a pin on their mom's as a show of gratitude for their help. It is a nice gesture.

Teacher's Night at McDonalds

Every year the elementary school works a night at the local McDonalds. It is a fun night when the children get to see their teachers working at McDonalds. Here is a pic of Benjamen with his teacher, one of his friends, and a cute pic of Daddy and Grace:)

The Numbers Are In.....

Ok. I think we have seen all the bills for Benjamen's broken arm. I know it is expensive to do medical things, but dang, this is expensive... so I tallied the numbers this morning, and the total cost for his broken arm is $10,027.47. DANG!!!! But I guess we have to keep in mind that he had to have surgery, so it wasn't a "typical" break, but still! Thank goodness for excellent insurance! Because of that, we only had to pay our ER co-pay, and our insurance paid everything else at 100%. Sometimes we complain about paying for insurance, but it sure has taken care of us!

Perfect Pic Opportunity.......passed

Dang. Yesterday I was having a presidency meeting at my house when Grace walks in the kitchen with mascara all over her forhead and eyes and lipstick surrounding her mouth. I was so stressed and frusterated that I didnt' even think to take a pic. How funny that would be to look at right now. Ughhhhh, I guess I should leave my makeup down again so she can get into it again, and then i can get a pic then:)

Be Happy

So I have been extremely busy lately, which tends to equal me being extremely stressed. I feel bad for my kids becuase they always seem to be the ones who suffer the most when i become busy/stressed. So every day I make my to-do list, and cleaning my house is always on there, but never marked off. Also, I forget to put on there "feed my family", so half the time these days they are fending for themselves. I am not sure why the sudden craziness, but it doesn't seem to be ending. Anyway, my kids were at the kitchen table eating some of their candy from our church's Trunk or Treat, when Benjamen hands me a 3 muskateers candy bar and said, "Mom, I saw on a commercial once that these are supposed to make you happy so you should eat one." I was laughing so hard inside, but I couldn't let him know that. He was being as sincere and honest as he possibly could. Leave it to the kids to keep it real for ya :)

The Thirteenth Tale

We just read this book last month for book club. This author is quite amazing! She probably is one of the better ones I have read, at least in a long time. The story line was somewhat disturbing, but if you can get past that, it really is a great book. I am excited to read it again. It is one of those books that the more times you read it, the more you pick up throughout. Let me know if you want to borrow it!

Benjamen's Surgery

My poor Benjamen has had a full couple of weeks! First on his birthday he got hit in the head with a golf club and ended up getting two staples put in his head. Then 2 weeks later he was baptised. THEN, this past Sunday, he fell off of a freezer(why he was up there, i do not know) and put his arm out to catch his fall--bad idea!!! His humurous bone(the bone between his shoulder and elbow) snapped in half and his arm twisted all the way around, also dislocating his shoulder. Poor guy! Anyway, we took him to the emergency room where they took the x-rays and informed us they would have to transfer us to a children's hospital so a pediatric ortho surgeon would have to operate that night. He had two pins put in his arm to hold his bone together and they will be there for 3 weeks. He cannot do PE or recess for 9 whole weeks. He is going to hate that! I documented his day from when we first got to the hospital to his ride in the ambulance to his post-surgery.