Zane Cracks Me Up

I just wanted to write a couple of funny things Zane has said lately.

The other day Greg caught him picking his nose. He asked Zane, "What ARE YOU DOING?" Zane said, "Digging for Treasure."

Yesterday I took Zane to the dentist for his first official cleaning. Mendy Barnes was his hygienist. He decided to play shy and didn't say much to her during the check-up. When Greg got home last night, I told Zane to tell daddy about his visit to the dentist. Zane said, "Vat Wady said I was so stinkin' cute."
Greg asked, "Are you sure she didn't say you were just 'stinkin'?"
"No, she said I was so stinkin' cute!"

The other night we were driving home from my parents house. Olivia started naming off things that she and her siblings could be for Halloween. She said, "I can be Velma, and mom can be Daphne, Dad can be Fred, Noah can be Shaggy and Zane can be Scooby- Doo, then if we have another baby, the baby can be Scrappy." I explained to her that mommy can't have a baby before this Halloween. She asked why, and I started to say, "Because if mommy was going to have a baby it...." and Zane interrupted and said "Will DIE." I know it's not funny, but I started to laugh. I guess you just reach a point when you just have to laugh about life. It doesn't do much good to get sad and bitter about it. So anyway, after my little chuckle I went on to explain that a baby has to be in mommy's tummy for 9 months and Halloween is less than 9 months away. I guess Zane will be in shock if I ever do have a baby that DOESN'T die.

He is just full of...."it". I'm not sure what "it" is, but he is just bursting at the seams with "it" whatever "it" is. Today he was really pushing my buttons, but I guess I still love him anyway. He sure makes life interesting.

Valentine Cookies

Tonight is our Relief Society Activity that was supposed to be on February 9th but was postponed due to the weather. It was a Valentine Theme, Getting-To-Know-You Activity. I found this idea on a blog (see, I'm not that good at coming up with stuff on my own-well, sometimes I can, but I get my inspiration from others). Anyway, these are super simple to decorate. You just dip them in melted chocolate chips, then sprinkle on some toffee chips. After that has had time to set up, drizzle with melted white chocolate chips. Easy Peasey Lemony Squeezy!

MY Lasagna

I have received many compliments on my lasagna. Everybody knows how to make lasagna, but my recipe is surprisingly quick and easy (as lasagna goes). Some people may not realize that you don't actually have to BOIL the noodles. Even if you buy the regular noodles (there are some that say 'No Boil'-you don't even have to buy those!) Plus, my lasagna doesn't have meat, so there is no actually cooking, just assembling before baking.

I place my noodles in a pitcher of water while I prepare the cheesy filling. Half way through prepping my cheesy filling, I flip the noodles over in the water so the other end can get soaked (since my noodles don't all submerge in the pitcher).

I use lots of sauce (the equivalent of about 2 jars for one package of lasagna noodles). This helps make up for the lack-of-boiling.

Pour a generous amount of sauce in the bottom of a greased pan. My package of noodles contained 18, so I made 6 stacks of 3 noodles each.

For the filling I use one container of cottage cheese, about 2 cups of Italian Cheese blend, and 2 eggs. I spread 1/2 of the cheese mixture on the first layer, then drizzle with a little sauce, being sure to get the edges of the noodles so they don't dry out during baking. Then 6 more noodles, the other half of the cheese mixture and a little more sauce. Then the final layer of 6 noodles and the remainder of the sauce. Apply a generous helping of Italian Cheese and I like to also put Sharp Cheddar on top of that. Cover with foil, and bake at 375 for about 45 minutes, remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to sit for about 5-10 minutes. Dish Up and Serve!

And the Oscar goes to....

Olivia!

Last Wednesday was "Red Carpet" Day at Olivia's School. Noah didn't want to participate (I guess he wasn't keen on wearing a tux to school-not that we have one). But Olivia was ALL OVER this one. She had P.E. that day, so we couldn't go to crazy, but we decided on this foofy little number and dolled it up with some chunky jewelry. I think she looks pretty Dah-Ling.

Banana Right-Side Up Cake

I don't know what to name this little creation of mine, but it is worth sharing. Maybe you can help me come up with a better title for this recipe:
This cake has a sort of pineapple upside down cake base, minus the pineapple (and the upside-down part). Then a hint of banana in the batter. The frosting is THE
BOMB-DIGGITY, and to top it all off: TOASTED COCONUT!!!!

____________________________________________________________
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup pecan halves, toasted
1/4 cup brown sugar

Place the melted butter in a 9X13 pan, then sprinkle the pecans and brown sugar on top of the butter.

1 Yellow Cake Mix
1 tsp. each of baking soda and cinnamon
3 Eggs
1-1/3 cups of milk
1/3 cup oil
3 ripe bananas, mashed

Mix the above ingredients until very well blended. Pour into Pecan/Butter/Sugared Pan. Bake at 325 degrees for about 35-40 minutes or until middle is set and toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool Completely

Toast about 1-1/2 cups of coconut and set aside.

For Frosting:
1- 8 oz. pkg. of cream or Neufchatel cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
1 cup Caramel Flavored Coffee-mate creamer
1 cup powdered sugar

After the cake has cooled, apply a generous portion of frosting (there will probably be extra frosting...I'm using mine for cinnamon rolls in the next couple of days). Then coat with the toasted coconut. Serve. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Leave a comment if you have a clever name for my cake or if you try it, tell me if you like it or hate it.

I Stand All Amazed

I love to See the Temple....

My blog is a place for me to share the silliness of my days, sometimes a place to "vent", a journal of my journey through this life, and a place to express my beliefs.

Yesterday I very much enjoyed my church meetings. The Spirit was very strong as I listened to the speakers, music and lessons.

One talk was by my friend Knial Grant who spoke much about the temple. I admit I do not go to the temple as much as I should, nor as much as I would like to. As he spoke I got a distinct impression: My Temple Recommend is not only a card that says I am worthy to enter The House of the Lord, it is also an INVITATION for me to do so. Who am I to allow my personal invitation to God's house simply sit in my wallet and not be used?

In the early morning of January 8th when Willa had her stroke, Carl carried her to their van to be rushed to the hospital. She asked, "Where are we going? Are you taking me to the temple?" He responded, "Honey, as soon as you get better, I will take you to the temple." SHE understood how important the temple is.

In our Sunday School lesson, the teacher mentioned that in Biblical times, the Lord took His Prophets "up to the mountain" to speak to them. Moses spoke with the Lord through the "Burning Bush" and also received the 10 commandments on mountains. Other Prophets of old have conversed with God upon a mountain. In our day, the Mountain of the Lord is the Holy Temple.

My heart is so full, I am finding it hard to put my thoughts and words in order. I am so grateful to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I wandered around lost and confused for 19 years of my life and I am so glad the missionaries found and taught me. I am thrilled to have the opportunity of raising my children in truth and righteousness... not only that, but to be sealed to them and my dear husband for time and eternity.
Following are some quotes I have found about the importance of the temple:

"When you come to the temple you will love your family with a deeper love than you have ever felt before. The temple is about families."- Richard H. Winkel

"The temple is concerned with things of immortality. It is a bridge between this life and the next. All of the ordinances that take place in the house of the Lord are expressions of our belief in the immortality of the human soul."—Gordon B. Hinckley

"Each holy temple stands as a symbol of our membership in the Church, as a sign of our faith in life after death, and a as a sacred step toward eternal glory for us and our families."—Russell M. Nelson

"Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. The answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways."
—Ezra Taft Benson

"Everything that occurs in the temple is uplifting and ennobling. It speaks of life here and life beyond the grave. It speaks of the importance of the individual as a child of God. It speaks of the importance of the family and the eternity of the marriage relationship."—Gordon B. Hinckley

"One thing have I desired of the Lord…that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple."
—Psalms 27:4

I really like this one:
"At the temple the dust of distraction seems to settle out, the fog and the haze seem to lift, and we can 'see' things that we were not able to see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not previously known."—Boyd K. Packer

"The temple was a place of learning for the Savior when He was on the earth; it was very much a part of His life. Temple blessings are available once again in our day."
—James E. Faust

My good friend Tiffany Hart sang a lovely version of "I Stand All Amazed" during our sacrament meeting as well.

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me;
I tremble to know that for me He was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, He suffered, He bled and died.

I marvel that He would descend from His throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine;
That He should extend His great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

I think of His hands, pierced and bleeding to pay the debt,
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no! I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.
Chorus:
O it is wonderful that He should care for me
Enough to die for me!
O it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I looked around the congregation and observed many wiping tears away. I DO stand all amazed. I am truly blessed. I cannot put into words my gratitude to my Savior for giving His life for me, and I hope I can become better at expressing and showing my love for Him, by living His gospel and helping others come unto Him.