Siri's Testimony

Siri bore her testimony for the first time in Sacrament meeting today. Well, maybe not the first time ever, but definately the first since she's been old enough to understand what it's all about. She was really proud because she had written it in her Faith in God book and she wanted to read it for the ward. She ended up remembering what she said and not having to read so that was good. She said that she knows the Church is true. She knows Joseph Smith was the first prophet. She knows she is a Child of God. What more could I really ask for her to know. She was scared to go up because there were other people going and she had to sit on the stand for a couple minutes, but she did a fantastic job and I'm extremely proud.

Book List

I've been tagged to list my favorite books. It will be impossible. I love books. I'm sure when I finish this list I'll think of others and be bugged that I missed them but, oh well. Also, I tend to love a book and then forget details but I'll do the best I can.
In no particular order:

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough: This is the first adult book that I read and loved. I read it when I was about 19 and have read it several times since. My duct taped copy sits proudly on my bookshelf. It's about 3 generations a family living in New Zealand.If I read it for the first time now I might think it a little trashy but for some reason it holds a place in my heart.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry: A novel about the caste system in India. Set during their revolution in the 1970's.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini: About 2 boys growing up together in Afghanistan and the way their lives intertwine.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini: Same thing but this time it's women.

Atonement by Ian McEwan: I hated almost every minute of the first half of this book. It wasn't until then end when it all made sense that I realized it is brilliant.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells: If you liked the movie you'll love the book. Just a fun read.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See: I wonderful book set in China, I don't really remember when. It's about the life of women. The descriptions of foot binding are haunting.

The Life of Pi: This is currently being borrowed so I also don't have the author for this easily accessible. Push through the pain of the beginning and it's worth it. It's an imaginative story about a boy trying to survive on a life raft after being shipwrecked. Oh, did I mention there is a tiger on board?

The Book Thief: Also being borrowed. A holocaust book narrated by Death. Appropriate.

Where the Red Fern Grows: I can't remember the author off the top of my head but I remember my mom reading it to me and I have read it to my older kids. I love it. It's just a beautiful story that actually makes me care what happens to those darn dogs.

Holes by Louis Sachar: Love, love, love this book and reading it to my kids. I also love the movie.

Here is my partial list. I'm sure I'll kick myself later when I remember what I missed. Enjoy.

Siri's first piano recital

Due to ridiculously snowy weather last Sunday, Siri had her first Piano recital tonight. She really needed the extra week to practice but was ready and waiting when it was finally her turn. Great job Siri.

Oops, I kind of cut off MV. Here they are before the performance showing off their piano books.

Christmas 2008. It was a good one!

This year Christmas officially started when Rob came home from work at about noon on Christmas Eve. I love having him home for so many days during Christmas and New Year. He is off until Monday and then only works 2 1/2 days next week and is off until the next Monday. How cool is that? Grandpa sent Christmas money and had suggested that one good use for it might be dinner for the family. We opted for lunch at Red Robin. That was a fun treat. With the kids getting older and eating more we tend to take the kids out to eat on a more individual level so it was fun to go out all together. They had a good time.


After lunch Rob took all the kids that wanted to go sledding. That meant Siri. In this photo she is cold and wet and shivering like a little leaf. But look at the joy! There are no pictures of her actually sledding because I stayed home by the nice warm fire.

The Christmas tree in that magical hour. I love looking at the tree after Santa comes and the house is all quiet. I really try not to let my kids define happiness by material things but I love to anticipate how excited they will be.

Opening presents Christmas morning. Siri wore her new pajamas all day until time for bed. I know, gross. But it made her happy.

The most fought over, and first broken, toy? The slinky in the box from Devins grandma. At least the breaking led to the end of the fighting. Opening other gifts helped too. Devin has other shirts. I think this one's his favorite which is why every picture of him seems to be in it.

Rob, carving the roast beast. Yum!


I don't really have any pictures of Autumn doing anything specific but we had fun trying to do self portraits with her new camera. What a fun girl.

Christmas Caramels

My friend, Kristin, sent out a challenge to post a traditional recipe. I didn't really think this applied to me because every year I pour through cook books, magazines and web sites looking for new recipes to try. Tonight when I was making my caramels I realized that this is the one. I've had them every Christmas for as long as I can remember. I remember as a kid stirring for what felt like hours. Now that it's my turn to pass the stirring stick over to my kids I can't seem to do it. Stirring those darned caramels is just a part of Christmas. If you receive one, know that it was a labor of love. If you don't receive one, know that I ate them all.

Hostess Caramels

2 c. sugar
1/2 lb butter
1 1/3 c. corn syrup
1 can evaporated milk

Over med. heat, cook and stir to firm ball stage. Remove from heat and add 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla and 1 c. chopped nuts (I use pecans). Pour into a well buttered 9x13 pan and chill till firm.
Yum!

Doing dishes

Well, things have gotten busy enough for me that Rob has finally convinced me that it's okay to make the kids do more around here. For all my complaining that I'm the only one who does anything, I never seem to make them do anything. I have had this fear that my kids would grow up and talk about how their mom sat on her butt (oops, there's that word again) while they did everything. Well, now they are the lazy ones. So, last night Rob put his foot down. I was doing the dishes and discussing all the things I still had to do later and the kids were playing guitar hero. Rob about lost his cool and told them to do the dishes. I felt totally fine about it because I was clearly busy grading DOL for Siri's teacher. But right now I feel guilty as heck blogging while the kids do dishes. What's up with that? I was in the kitchen for 4 hours making Christmas treats and dinner. Before that I went to the grocery store. Before that I had a meeting to go to....etc. It's not like I don't do anything. The craziest part is that Autumn and Devin have so much fun together it only took them about 3 minutes to forget that they are oppressed and they laughed and joked the whole time.
What next? Do I dare get them to clean the bathrooms?

Just because I can. Shannon, this is for you.

BUTTWIPE