{Movie Reviews}

I watched two movies this past week. One being based on the book by Sue Monk Kidd called "The Secret Life of Bees" - this is a great book and the movie follows the book very well. They did a great job meshing the book with the movie. I was really impressed.

The second movies being the third installment of the Underworld Series entitled "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans". It was full of action and if you have seen "Underworld" you know how this one is going to end as they told you why the Lycans and the Vampires now war with one another and this installment is about that time. I must warn you though that this one is full of bloody fight scenes.

{FInding Joy in the Journey}

Last week in Relief Society we were given this beautiful lesson based on President Thomas S. Monson's General Conference talk entitled "Finding Joy in the Journey".

She delivered it so eloquently and it really did touch my heart as I sometimes forget to enjoy what is happening now and instead worry and dwell on all the things that are going wrong.

Below is a quote from his talk that really hit home for me. His whole talk is AMAZING but this one phrase stuck out during the lesson.

"Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family."

I had a "light bulb moment", as Oprah would say, during that lesson. This time spent living here is fleeting and so short. We shouldn't spend our time hating, worrying, wondering, plotting, being spiteful, nasty and just plain scared!

We should be spending our time loving, caring, sharing, doing, showing those who mean the most how much we love and adore them, because this time is ever fleeting and can end at any moment.

You need to live each day as though it's your last. Being kind and compassionate to those who need it most and remembering what is most important in this life. We shouldn't spend our time bickering and fighting but enjoying what we are given and doing the best we can with it.

I know I need to find the joy in my journey, even though it may be hard, there is lots of joy and I need to seek it out and enjoy every day I have with my family and friends.

{My Find}

I went to one of the many "Youth Ranches" in Caldwell last week and found this adorable tea light holder in the shape of a OWL!!! I just love it!! It's rustic, adorable and lets me use up my tons of tea lights! and you know the best part - it was only $2!!

{I can't keep a secret}

{the Mundane}

Saturday, my Dad and Kitty came over for our, NOW, weekly game of Dungeons and Dragons. They came over in the afternoon and it was sooo much fun! We made cookies, the kids crawled and climbed all over their Grandpa Barry and Ruth loved curling up in Grandma Kitty's arms and sitting on Grandpa's shoulders. We started the game after dinner and boy was it fun! I am really enjoying spending time with everyone.

Sunday, aka Today, I went to church and took all three of the kids with me, seriously what was I thinking when I was just not feeling so well...actually the boys were great, it was Ruth who decided to throw a fit and not go to class! I missed out on Sunday school and almost missed out on Relief Society too, but my dear visit teacher came and got her and coaxed her into her seat with the sunbeams. (Thanks Jen!)

Once I got home I took a nap as I was becoming quite the bear w/an injured paw. Snarling at everyone. The nap helped a bit but not really. I decided I would go out and relieve some of my tension and take a few snaps of the new blooms in my neighbors yard. They have such a beautiful yard with lovely smelling blooms.

Ruth tagged along and we also snapped a few of her in her playhouse blowing bubbles. I feel more relaxed but still feel icky. I hope tomorrow is better and my mood isn't as sour. (Lord help me!)

BubbleShare: Share photos - Play some Online Games.

{White House FLICKR}

The white house now has a FLICKR photo stream of the images taken at the white house. Did you know the president also has a FACEBOOK page too? and did you know he TWITTERS too! and yes he even has a MYSPACE page as well! I wonder if he still has his blackberry too?

How amazing is it that now everyone can reach out via the internet to share their ideals, beliefs and politics all the while blogging about their personal lives (like me).

Just thought I would share my random findings today!

{bumper sticker}

I saw this bumper sticker and it just made me laugh today...what are your thoughts?

{Last day & the dog}

So yesterday was the last day of school for the kids - that's right it's MAY and they are out of school for the SUMMER!!!

I went to Sam's small graduation ceremony (just handed out certificates, HE got TWO, one for great attendance & the other for graduating from kindergarten). I took a quick video of him getting his certificate for graduating and wanted to share it with you all...(it's only 15 seconds & recorded on my cell phone).



After Aaron got out of school we took the kids for ice cream at DQ as a celebration to the start of SUMMER!! The kids all got dipped cones and as you can see got really dirty & sticky. (please know that the image below was taken on my cell phone, I don't lug my big camera around with me on a daily basis (I need a smaller camera for that)).



After having fun at DQ I took William, Sam & Ruth home and then took Aaron to the clinic because GUESS WHAT!!! he has ANOTHER ear infection! It took an hour in the waiting room and another 15 in the exam room for a doctor to take one look in his ear to see that I was right and hand me a prescription...Guess what the great thing about it was...the medication was only $3.00 because of our insurance!!!!

So now summer has officially started and life is going to be weekends all summer long! And do you know who else is excited about the kids being home all week long? PATTEN! just take a look at his debut in the video clip below....

{No Matter What}

Check out THIS story about a soldiers bravery and hear his MOM's view. I am so glad we have men & woman serving our country who jump out of sound sleep to help protect their fellow soldiers and help make the world a better place.

{Salmon Enchilada's}

My mom gave me a recipe for Salmon Enchilada's and I thought I would make it tonight. YUMM-O! They were sooo goood and the kids even ate it, except Sam who has become my picky eater. I made rice w/chopped red pepper & green onion as the side and we had watermelon for desert. So yummy and the enchilada's were so big that even just 1/2 of one would make a great meal too. Below is the recipe and picture of the Enchilada's as well as the recipe for my rice.



SALMON ENCHILADA's

Ingredients:

* 14.75 oz can of pink or red salmon (drained)
* 4 oz can diced green chilies (drained)
* 3/4 cup green onions (chopped)
* 1/2 cup cilantro (chopped)
* 16 oz container of Sour Cream (1 1/2 cup)
* 2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
* 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
* 8 - 8 in tortillas
* 8 tbsp cream cheese
* 1 - 19oz can of enchilada sauce (1 3/4 cup)

Directions:

PREHEAT OVEN to 350 degrees F.

To make enchilada filling please combine the salmon, chilies, green onions, cilantro, cumin, sour cream and 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese. Place approxamately 1/2 cup of filling into the center of each tortilla and top with 1 tbsp cream cheese.

Roll tortilla like a fruit roll up. Then place seam side down into an oiled 9x13 baking dish. Pour the enchalada sauce over the top of all the enchiladas. Then Cover w/ tin foil and place in oven for aprox 45 min until sauce is bubbling and enchaladas are slightly browned.

Remove the tin foil and sprinkle on the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese then cook for another 15 min until cheese has melted. Each enchilada is a serving. Makes 8 servings for adults or 16 servings for kids.

Special notes:

You can change the salmon to any other type of cooked meat you want or prefer. You can make up the enchilada's (before cooking) and freeze making your own TV dinner. It's super fast and easy and extreamly tasty. I hope you all enjoy!!

-------------------

VEGETABLE RICE

Ingredients:

* 1 cup dry white rice
* 2 cups water
* 2 - red peppers
* 6 - green onions
* 3 tbsp oil/butter
* salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

pour the water into a saucepan and boil. Add the dry rice. Bring to a boil then cover and turn down heat to low and let cook for 15-20 min (until all water is gone)

chop up both the red peppers & green onions then add a little bit of oil or butter into a skillet and cook until tender. Add salt & pepper to taste.

when rice is done add to skillet and mix together, slightly browning rice. Place into a serving bowl and serve.

Notes:

Super easy and no fuss side dish. you can add any vegetable or not add anything. white rice is such a nice addition to any dish. I love it with broccoli or summer squash w/ zucchini during the winter months. Enjoy!

{I'll be happy when...}

I was listening to Dave Ramsey on our local talk radio station while going to pick up Aaron from school, (only one more day left til they are out of school for the summer!!), and Dave was talking about those people who make the excuse for not being happy because they will only be happy when/if "_______" (fill in the blank). He talked about the number one financial tip is to be content with your life and not let "stuff" consume your life. Because if you had all the money in the world you still would not be happy.

He is so right and not only does it apply to your financial life but to your personal life as well. "Stuff" is not going to make you happy but the life experiences you have with those around you. Do you think that you'll only be happy if you go on that cruise around the world, the trip to the Bahama's, see the Eiffel tower? Do you think you will be happy when you get that new car, go to the fancy restaurant or get a bigger RV then "The Jone's"?

Do you have "stuff-itis"? I know when I first got married my hubby and I got stuff-itis really bad and had to have everything we saw. We got into debt buying things that I don't even have anymore. But that was short lived and we hit bottom fast. Now we don't care what "The Jone's" have and we don't care where they go or how much money they spend. We learned that if we don't have the money in hand for it, it's not really that important and can wait until we do have the money. We are happier now that we are not being bonded by our debt. Yes, it's hard to pull out of it but we are doing it and it really has been a great blessing and comfort to know that within the next year or so we will be out of debt. We don't need to go and spend tons of money to have a good time. There are so many things that don't cost a dime and can be just as fun as going to disney land.

During the LDS April 2009 Conference Elder Robert D. Hales gave a talk entitled "Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually" in which he talks about debt and how we can over come when we "covet".

...When faced with the choice to buy, consume, or engage in worldly things and activities, we all need to learn to say to one another, “We can’t afford it, even though we want it!” or “We can afford it, but we don’t need it—and we really don’t even want it!”

It really is a good talk (all the talks are exelent but this one just stood out to me). Not only did I hear it at conference but I also was reminded about it when my home teachers came over and spoke about this talk as their lesson.

I hope that this helps shed light during this "economic crisis". I know there are lots out there who are struggling and I understand, I have been there and know that "this too shall pass" and the Lord won't give you anything that you can't handle. Have faith and do what you can to get out of financial bondage and be free.

{Playhouse}

We have been wanting to build a playhouse for the kids for the summer but knowing me it just wouldn't get done before school started so I have been looking and looking and finally found one in the price range we wanted to pay and found someone who would deliver it to us. I also wanted one that would be easy to move when we buy a home. This one was just perfect and would fit the kids needs this summer.

We got it yesterday and the kids just loved it and had tons of fun with it. Ruth calls it her "club house". It has a puppet theater w/curtains, a BBQ area, a wash area and a real doorbell. The kids will have fun with it this summer.

We even put out my grandparents antique portable (folds up into a suitcase) pick nick table. I can't wait for summer to start!!



















Clay come home and checked it out with me while I taking these pictures and I snapped this one of him real quick...he really is just too funny.

{Making Friends}

I have decided to make a huge effort to get to know more people at church and become friends. Last Thursday I went to "the taste of homes" for a Relief Society activity (you take a dish that compliments the theme and bring copies of the recipe for those who come). It was a ton of fun and I got to meet some really nice gals. Afterwards I went to DQ with a few of the gals from church to celebrate one of their birthdays. It was such a nice experience.

While writing this I was invited to go to the park to join the "mommies and me" group by one of the mom's in the ward. I think it will be super fun and the kids would love to get out and get to know others in the ward too.

I really am trying to put myself out there and start having "adult" contact to help keep my sanity. I am thinking about doing a BBQ for a few of the families in my ward so that I can get to know them outside of church activities. I just need to figure out which month I want to do it in.

The push came when I got a no show/no call for Aaron's party and I realized I just needed healthy relationships with people who are not out to use me or get something from me for free. I need friends who will follow thru on their word and if they can't, they call to say so and not ignore my phone calls about what's up. I am soooo tired of being ignored and ALWAYS having to be the one to call & make plans and then have NO SHOWS or NO CALLS. It really has been frustrating. I am just so tired of excuses and I have had enough!!

I know I sound needy and DARN IT I am! I want friends I can count on and who don't find it a hardship to come and visit me once in a while and who actually call me just to say hi and I want a friend who wants to spend time with me not just because I can take their pictures for free!

I have a great friend that we played Dungeons and Dragons with back in Portland (they would drive an hour both ways just to see us and we would do the same for them) and I am looking forward to spending time with her and her hubby when we go down there for vacation but I really need some friends who live here. I NEED the contact of Grown-ups. I love my kids and enjoy being a mother but sometimes it's just nice to talk about grown-up stuff instead of about cartoons & crayons.

Have I mentioned that I have been crying at the drop of a hat lately? And over stupid nonsensical stuff, like writing this post I am already getting weepy. It's annoying because I don't cry at the drop of a hat! I even cried while watching "The Avatar" with the kids. The particular episode wasn't even sad...(Yes, I am going to go get a test and see if I am preggers...fingers crossed)

I have been uber moody lately too, even hubby has commented on it - I really need to get the hormones under control. Sometimes I wish I could just control my emotions like "Spock" does and be all vulcan like or even android like "Data". :-)

Anywho, need to get lunches figured out for the kids. Thanks for listening to me ramble on about something that is not really important, but really it is, at least to me.

{Aaron's B-day Party}

Yesterday we had Aaron's birthday party. I rented a bounce castle w/slide from Bouncin Bins in Nampa/Meridian. Aaron had a blast even though none of his friends from school came, but that's ok we invited the neighbors across from us and she came over with her two little kids and I really enjoyed getting to know her. (I saw her kids playing and thought they should come have fun too, instead of just watching ours have all the fun.)

My dad and step-mom came and the kids just loved playing with "Grandpa Barry". Not only did he wrestle and play with them but he cuddled and loved on them too. It really was a great party!

I know why most of the kids from school didn't come (I gave the invites to Aaron & not his teacher to pass out. So I am sure most ended up on the playground). Those who said they could come didn't show up but I did receive a phone call letting me know why one couldn't make it (car broke down), but didn't hear anything from the other and believe me I tried contacting and got ignored instead. (sorry for the rant but I am tired of planning and having it not go the way I intended due to NO SHOWS!!)

Either way Aaron and the rest of us had a blast!! I guess I could have just done it in June when his birthday really is due to the lack of guest. I have sooo many burgers & hotdogs along with their buns left over and now they are in the freezer for our next BBQ, or dinner tonight...lol

BubbleShare: Share photos - Find great Clip Art Images.


After the party we got everything all set up for our Dungeons and Dragons game with my Dad, Kitty & Clay that we will be playing every Saturday from now on. It was so fun. I even snapped a few pictures of our "Game Night".

As you can see we all got a bit of sun (my neck & chest are so sore to the touch!!). Over all I think we all had a so much fun and the kids were so wore out that the boys didn't even finish their movie, they just fell asleep while Ruth cuddled with either Grandpa Barry or Grandma Kitty. It really was a great ending to a great day!

{New Slideshow program}

This is a free slideshow program that I found today! Below are just my latest Nature images captured around the house. Mostly flowers and such. Enjoy!!

BubbleShare: Share photos - Play some Online Games.

{Pictures from today}

I went out this evening and snapped a few images of the flowers around my place and of our new neighbors...(a cow and horse in the pasture by our back fence)...Enjoy!