Fudge Chewies........

Oh my heck....I love these yummy bars of goodness.....so much in fact I am sharing the recipe....we should share good things right?

Melt: 2 cubes of butter or margarine (don't worry about calories...you'll miss out"
add:  1 cup brown sugar, and 1 cup sugar (no prejudice here)
stir in: 2 tsp vanilla, 2 beaten eggs (I beat them as I stir them in)
add:  2 tsp baking soda....stir then add, 2 cups flour and 3 cups oatmeal. (I believe that qualifies these as healthy)
keep this bowl close by but get out another one that will be ok in the microwave.

In the other bowl....melt in the microwave for about 3 minutes
1 cube of butter or margarine (quit counting), 1 can sweet & condensed milk, 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (sometimes I just use the whole bag) and 1 TBL vanilla.  Stir until creamy.  (I call licking this spoon)

Pat 1/2 of the oatmeal mixture into a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Pour the fudge on top and then drop the rest of the oatmeal mixture on top of that.  (I clean my hands and pat it and lay it on top).

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes (when the top is "lightly" browned)  ENJOY!!!

(My recipe card has 3 dancing skeletons on it....haha☻ I guess so we think skinny and not worry about the calories)

Mud....the kids & hubs love it......me~not so much!

For Young Men/Young Women's tonight they played in the mud.  Jaydan also loves the mud and since it was in our field he asked if he could join.  My kids were so excited to play in the mud.

They "geared" up with clothes that they didn't mind saying good bye to.  Jared borrowed his clothes from Jaydan...so I guess Jaydan was ok with saying good bye to a few things.  Actually....I am pretty good at laundry and so I go everything pretty clean except the white shirt.

The kids had so much fun Kimi invited more kids to come over the next night and do it again.  Jared had such a blast that he declined the invite to play water volleyball with Julie and Kevin.  

 There is a reason I don't play in the mud.  It's because I am the one that has to clean it up...so I just say "NO".  I guess even if my family cleaned their own clothes they would still play in the mud because they wouldn't care if they had to wash things a few times which happened by the way.

I just avoid more work for me if possible.  I could have played in the mud with everyone since I had clean up duties anyway but I still prefer to just stay clean.

When I was younger I didn't like messing up my make-up or hair once it was done.....I still tend to be that way just not to the extreme that I use to be.

I am probably missing out....or so some say.  I don't necessarily agree.  I don't feel like I have to experience  everything in my life to know if I would like it or not.  Heck....there are some things I am pretty sure I would like but know better than to try....mud has nothing to do with those things.

My family had fun and for that I am glad.  I love hearing them express themselves with enthusiasm and I really enjoy the muddy pictures that some of the leaders took.  That alone without me being in the mud makes me smile.

Who knows maybe when I turn 60 I will invite my friends for a game of mud football....or duck, duck, goose in the mud.  Makes me laugh just thinking about it....so maybe just maybe that will be how I celebrate turning 60.....I just might even include a few cans of "shaving cream"! (I reacted badly to shaving cream once....not a bad reaction....acted bad)

Registered and Ready for School

Yesterday Kimi registered for School but I didn't get a picture of her. (I was in SLC) Today Jared registered for School and since I went with him I did get a picture.  Actually he was in and out of registering so fast that we went to breakfast and that's were I got a picture.  We needed to pass a little time before we headed down to SLC for testing.  Jared and I have been going to SLC the last few days and spending about 3 hours while he is tested.  I have always felt that Jared has ADD or ADHD. Jared's mind is always so busy and I remember saying when he was just a toddler that I didn't believe it stopped until he fell asleep at night....who knows about then.

I talked to the school about it when Jared was in 2nd grade but his teacher was sure that since Jared is well behaved and her son who is very different from Jared had ADD that Jared didn't.   I filled out a bunch of papers but I guess his teacher didn't.  So....we just dealt with him struggling a little more than I think he should have in school.  I believe Jared just gets distracted and has a harder time concentrating than the average kid.  He's a smart boy but has struggled off and on.  Junior High has been a real struggle....the teachers no longer have the time for individual care and attention.  Jared's grades proved that and it was affecting him in a negative way.  The good thing about his struggles though is it forced me to get help.  I didn't know where to go for the help.  I thought the school did those kind of testing....they do but to really get the individual help Jared needed his school required professional testing.  YeeHaw....that kind of testing is expensive....really expensive and our wonderful insurance pays for none of it. (I'm no fond of insurance)  But....we were blessed and through many steps and tender mercies we were led to the U of U were students do the testing for a small price of $175.  Jared was even bumped up the list so his testing was done about 6 months earlier than it should have been.  

I know this is happening for a reason....I hope it will help Jared to feel better about himself.  Just saying that makes me think of the saying: "If only others could see themselves as we do...or better yet as Jesus does".  Grades are important but not nearly as important as Jared's self worth.  I wish society didn't put so much pressure on these things.  We are all so different and very smart kids and people sometimes just learn different than the stereo type.  

The good thing is that Jared went to testing each day with a great attitude and he left with a great attitude too.  I am very pleased with him for toughing this out.  I hope that there will be help for him when the tests results come back....if not at least he will know he is capable of doing whatever it is he is expected to do.    

Cheers!  I'm hoping for and expecting a better school year than last.  I learned from all that we experienced but I do not want to experience any of it again.  I wish it on no one!

A Day to be Celebrated and Remembered

It was on this day two years ago that Jared was found alive and well....it was also on this day eight years ago that a young lady lost her life.  We never know when it is our time or the time of someone we love to return to our Heavenly Parents.  So because of this day and the feelings that I experienced while Jared was missing I Celebrate Life.  Some things aren't as important as I once thought....other things are much more important.

Our whole family experienced so much love and care those two days.  I will never forget all the prayers in our behalf.  I will never forget the people that came to my house to comfort and support and to bless me.  I will never forget Larry saying that when he was ready to give up from exhaustion he would "magically" receive a text of encouragement and love. I will never forget all the people that showed up to search for Jared....many of whom we did not know.  I will never forget seeing trucks stocked with food and water just in case it took longer than it did.  I will never forget the love shown to Jared and our family when we returned home.  I will never forget the personal experience I had with God just hours before I saw Jared again.  I will never forget knowing that Julia (the gal that lost her life 8 years ago) was there among many other unseen "Angels".  I didn't even know Julia in this life but I do now.....she's close by at times and I know it.

I learned many lessons about life on this day....for that I will always be thankful that the experience happened to us. (I notice that is true with all the unpleasant experiences I have had...after they are over I am grateful for what  I have learned)

A Chocolate Memory of Mine............

Larry knows that I love Chocolate...and giving it to me is a good thing to do.  One year for Mother's Day I was pleasantly surprised with Chocolate all throughout the day.  Larry had all different kinds of Chocolate strategically hidden for me to find as I went about my business.  It was so much fun and exciting every time I came across more chocolate.  By the end of the day I had enough to last for me for a month or more.  What a Guy.....What a Memory!

My Buddy

Luke is my little birthday buddy.....we share the same birthday!  This year we were camping when Luke had his party and we didn't make it to his party.  We had got him a water coloring pad and paints and some cute colored pencils.  I finally took them to him last night and this morning I had received a text with this cute picture that Luke had done! Dang I love this kid and I think his picture is fabulous! The best part of the night was when Luke came out to my car with his arms wide open for a hug.....I sure do love hugs and love getting them from my little grands and my little friends.  Made my Night!

It's been a while!

I haven't held a little one this small in my arms for quite some time.  Oh how I have missed it.  I am so excited for Justin and Natalie's little one to fill my arms in January.  Babies are such blessings...this little one Kim's grand.  Precious!