Our Family

Our Family
Liberty, Heather, Glade, Ryan, Kim

Saturday, November 29, 2008

On This Thanksgiving, We are Thankful For . . .

Birthdays! Happy Birthday Ryan!

The greatest guy around! Here is at Yellowstone last summer.



Ryan's birthday was the day before Thanksgiving and we had a good time. I found this recipe I really wanted to try for a cake, and it turned out yummy. You have to understand, Ryan usually asks for pumpkin pie for his birthday (a true November-born man :)). Last year he changed it up by asked for pecan pie. This cake was kind of a mixture of the two. It is called Praline Pumpkin Torte and I thought I would share since it was so good. By the way, I didn't make any other desserts!


Praline Pumpkin Torte (Taste of Home)

3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/3 c. butter
3 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream
3/4 c. chopped pecans

Cake:
4 eggs
1-2/3 c. sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
2 c. canned pumpkin
1/4 tsp vanilla
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Topping:
1-3/4 c. heavy whipping cream
1/4 c. confectioner's sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
Additional chopped pecans

1. In a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter and cream. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour into two well-greased 9-inch round pans. Sprinkle with nuts; cool.
2. For cake, in a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar and oil. Add pumpkin and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, pie spice, baking soda and salt. Add to pumpkin mixture and beat just until blended. Carefully spoon batter over brown sugar mixture.
3. Bake at 350* for 30-35 minutes of until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool complete.
4. For topping, in a small mixing bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form.
5. Place one cake layer praline side up on a serving plate. SPread with two-thirds of the whipped cream mixture over cake.
6. Top with second cake layer and remaining whipped cream. Sprinkle with additional pecans if desired. Store in the regrigerator.

Ryan is a great husband. He is fun to be with and I really appreciate his love and friendship.


Ryan at dental school graduation last June with Peter and Austin. We're so proud of you!


Ryan climbing Mt. Ellinor. He loves to hike and bike. He is a good motivator for me to stay in shape.


With his medal after the Mud Run on Ft. Lewis in July.


Ryan is a great Dad. He sometimes has more patience with the kids than I do. Here they are at the beach this last summer.


Other than that, we just had a nice, quiet Thanksgiving here at home.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Sweet Angel from Heaven


Welcome, Stephanie Dawn!



Born at 1:08 am on
November 18, 2008
7 lbs 13 oz
20 in


Out of the NICU and ready to go!

We are excited for my sister Mindy and her husband Scott. They welcomed their first daughter into the world this week. I may be biased as an aunt, but I think she is pretty cute and can't wait to meet her in person.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Thanksgiving

I found this activity on a blog and thought I would share it. We did it for FHE tonight and really enjoyed it. It is a good way to get the family thinking about things they are thankful for, also to think about giving and what we can do to serve.

Enjoy!

Thanks and Giving Trees

Sunday, November 9, 2008

8 Things Tag

8 THINGS

TV shows I watch (Hmmm, don't think I consistently watch any, but I enjoy. . .)
1. Wheel of Fortune
2. Jeopardy
3. Price is Right (Do you see a trend here?)
4. Magnum P.I.
5. Deal or No Deal
6. Cosby Show
7. Reba
8. Masterpiece (PBS)

Things that happened yesterday
1. Went to a craft show
2. Splurged on a new bag there (my friend makes them, check her out she makes cute things)
3. Bought a few Christmas gifts at said show
4. Made dinner
5. Bathed the kids
6. Read stories
7. Sewed a little on a Thanksgiving project
8. Crocheted a little on a Christmas gift

8 Favorite Places to Eat
1. Puerto Vallarta (new favorite in our new hometown)
2. El Charro in good old Safford
3. Cafe Rio
4. Hunan Lion (Columbus)
5. Subway
6. Taco Bell
7. Pizza Hut
8. At my table with my family

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To
1. Trip to AZ for Christmas
2. Long weekend with my honey (he gets the next two days off)
3. Going to the temple this weekend
4. Watching a good movie on said long weekend
5. Bedtime tonight (always look forward to that, even though I love my kids)
6. Completion of my many projects
7. Visiting with siblings on the phone today
8. The possibility of going somewhere interesting on our next PCS (Permanent Change of Station) with the Army

8 Things on my Wish List
1. New iron and ironing board cover
2. The rest of the Work and the Glory (I've got 1-5)
3. More time to craft (never seem to have enough)
4. Easter Parade
5. Thicker drapes for the sliding glass doors
6. Shelving for our movies (they're not very organized right now)
7. Good rain jacket
8. To know where we're moving next summer

People I Tag
1. Jessie
2. Terra Jo
3. Megan
4. Kerilee
5. Leah
6. Becca
7. Mindy (since you don't have anything to do but lay in bed til that baby comes! :))
8. Brooke

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Recycled Candy

It's not what you think. I just had this great idea (at least in my opinion). I took about half of the kids trick-or-treat candy to use for Christmas stocking. That will save me from having to buy candy at Christmas time and I don't think they will even miss it, since they don't have free reign on the candy anyway. Just thought I'd share.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Heart Breaker

Well, Jeremy Pye, I am sorry to inform you that Kim has moved on. When we lived in Ohio, Kimberly informed me that Jeremy was her boyfriend and that she was going to marry him. I told her we were moving away and that she might not see him again. She promptly replied that she would go back and marry him when she grew up. I realistically told her he would probably have met someone else by then, but she didn't believe it.

Sorry to say now, Jeremy, Kim has forgotten all about you. The new love of her life is Henry. (By the way, I did tell her she was too young to have a boyfriend, but it didn't have much of an affect.) I hope you recover quickly from the heartache, Jeremy, and move on as quickly as Kimberly did. :)