Spiritual Feast

I've been spiritually fed.  Looking forward to re-watching General Conference and nourishing even more.

Spring Break {2012}

We started off our break by moving.  Crazy, I know...but it was just downstairs....talk about WAY more work than just packing up our lives and moving across town or the country.  In short, I'm less stressed about the kids being kids, and I don't have wood paneling in my living room anymore...moving was totally worth it, even if it's just for a few months.  *wink*

After taking a grueling 4 days to move NOWHERE, I decided to get outta dodge and headed to my parent's house.

The boys had a blast, and it was fun to relax with my family and listen to the wonderful messages of our church leaders during the Saturday sessions of General Conference.

Things as They Really Are

Profound. Loved this.  It was on the Youth's part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' website, but I think it can apply to us all.

Watch it HERE. or click PLAY below.

a.maz.ing

if you're feeling down, or need some peace, I encourage you to listen to this.

boy, oh boy, did it ever lift me up!

October 2011 General Conference

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

you won't regret it.  

Bunny Buns

Another wonderful day full of love, instruction, and revelation from our church leaders!  I'm loving this Spiritual high that I'm on.  My kids are being good, and (knock on wood) I have stayed away for each session and am soaking it up!

Did you see the "Kitchen Crafts" section in the April Friend?

Tanner and Taylor did, so they showed me the recipe for a fun treat that we decided (last week) to make for Conference; Bunny Buns!

I'll admit, I was excited to try something new and fun, but wow.  These sure where more time consuming than I had bargained for, but they were worth it!!!  I intended them to be for breakfast, but we had them mid-session Sunday morning.

Can you see the bunnies?

I think I'll make them again, and make sure I have ALL ingredients, for Easter Sunday.  We had to fudge a little on what was REALLY in them this go around.

Recipe & Instructions for Bunny Buns:

 (This recipe was first printed in the  Friend in 1980.) 

1 package active dry yeast (I used 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast)
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup milk, warmed not quite to boiling
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp salt
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 orange juice (this is where I used pineapple juice, because I already had a can open, so I just drained some juice off the fruit...next time I'll use orange juice ;)  )
2 Tbsp grated orange peel (didn't have any...but sounded SO good!)
5 1/2 cups of flour, sifted (I didn't sift and it turned out okay.)
Glaze:  2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup hot water, 1 tsp butter (I did something like this...yeah.)

1.  Wash hands with soap and water.
2.  Sprinkle yeast in the warm water and set aside.
3.  In another bowl, blend milk, sugar, shortening, and salt.  Cool until lukewarm, then add eggs, water with yeast, orange juice, and orange peel.  (I found it was easier to use a wire whisk for this...up until the last two cups of flour, obviously.)
4.  Stir in flour a few cups at a time to make a soft dough.  Let stand for 10 minutes.
5.  Knead dough 5-10 minutes on a lightly floured surface until dough is smooth and elastic.  Place it in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface.  cover bowl with a clean towel and put it in a warm place.  Let dough rise for 2 hours, or until double in size.  (it took about 2 hours!!!) Punch dough down and let stand for 10 minutes.
6.  On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle 1/2 inch thick.  Cut dough (using a pizza cutter) into strips 1/2 inch wide and 14 inches long.  roll between hands into rounded snake shapes. (I skipped the rolling.) Cut one strip into pieces 1/2 inch long, and roll into balls.
7.  Place one long piece of dough on a greased cookie sheet.  Place one end of the stip over the other to make a loop; bring the end that is underneath up and cross it over the other end.  Place a ball of dough on top of the bottom loop.
8.  Cover bunnies and let rise in a wamr place for 45-60 minutes, until nearly double in size.  Bake at 357ºF for 12-15 minutes.
9.  For the glaze, stir powdered sugar, water, and butter together.  Frost bunnies with the glaze while they are still warm.

They were a hit!!!  Ryan even ate his.  We're taking the rest of the tray to Grandma & Grandma Poulsen's for Sunday Dinner after Conference.

Here's to new traditions!

Getting out the Wiggles

I throughly enjoyed General Conference today.  Ryan requested today and tomorrow off, and I was well prepared with activities for the kids; including stickers next to those who spoke (thank you Ensign insert), code words (specific words were assigned to specific colors of M&M's, which prompted Tanner and Taylor to listen pretty quietly!), Legos, and naps & Blokus during the afternoon session.

In between the morning and afternoon session, we had a picnic at the park, and got some wiggles out by walking, running, swinging, sliding, and playing!!!

Here's a picture overload, and I promise I won't post a million or even 10 pictures of every park outing...but these were too cute to pass up.  :)  Playing with the camera, getting comfortable with Manual, and falling in love all over again.

Putting shoes back on, that won't stay on.  

Walking home through the dried canal.
Ryan isn't far behind.  

These two are such good buddies.  I hope they will always be the best of friends, helping each other, making each other laugh, and watching out for the other.

My new favorite picture:

{to do}

I am actually excited by my {to-do} list this week.  I've been in a sort of down-n-out funk for the last few weeks, but I am determined to not be a downer for everyone who has to be around me.

This week I get to:

...have a few kids over to play most the day because their mom is on bed-rest.  I'm very excited to have them come, because my kids will usually do better with someone else to play with.  Plus, I usually feel better by serving...it's like a sweet elixir to raise my spirits in a most wholesome way.

...get to make my first funeral potato casserole for a funeral!  I know this sounds silly, but I am excited to be able to help with this!  The 'regular help' is all gone for spring break, so now's my chance! I just have to make it and drop it off...but I'm so thankful that I CAN help, and am ABLE to.

...organize and de-clutter.  Hopefully in preparation for a move! (nothing in the works other than numerous applications, but if I'm ready for 'that day', then it'll be less stressful, right???)  There are seven large totes full of seasonal clothing in our garage, all belonging to children who live in this household.  There is NO reason that three little boys under the age of five should have seven totes of clothes.  So, it is my BEST intention to go through them THIS WEEK!  And either sell or donate that which was rarely worn and probably won't be worn.  If anything, group them into the correct sizes and seasons.

...prepare to be spiritually fed and uplifted.  A friend linked to THIS SITE in preparation for this weekend.  WHAT is this weekend???  It's the 181st General Conference for our Church, where we get to hear the inspired words of our Prophet, leaders and those who have been asked to talk to anyone who will listen.  You don't have to be a member to hear what is said, or feel of the wonderful Spirit of Christ and His teachings.  It's held in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, but is broadcast throughout the world via internet and satellite.  If we can't get it on the tv, we'll watch and listen to it at byutv.org or at lds.org.  Join us! (Need a little something to keep kiddos both young and old occupied?  Check THIS out.  :)  )

...love on my husband, who is rarely home anymore.  He's working so hard for his little family; we are SO  excited that he gets to have both Saturday AND Sunday off this weekend!  I plan to make some delicious gluten free meals so he can enjoy himself as much as we will.  I also plan to let him have some daddy-son time.  *giggle*  And maybe a nap each day.

...get in some needle & thread therapy with some freshly dyed muslin.  It's been hanging on a kitchen chair for a week now, and I can't wait to sink my hands into some quick stitching!!!

...and maybe even clean my kitchen.  Like the kind of clean I did the day before Kortlen finally came...the kind that results in cupboards being emptied, wiped clean, and reorganized, complete with some new food storage!  It shouldn't be too bad, where I just did it eight months ago, but still, that was eight months ago and it desperately needs to be done again!

"If there is a task to do, do it with a smile!  Do more than you are asked to do and go the second mile."  A song my mother would frequently sing when we were dragging our feet at anything...so I hope to be able to do my tasks with a smile and go a second mile to boot!

{well said}

So true. 

Listen to the talk here.
Read the talk here (to be updated on Thursday, when the print version is available.)