visitors from Brazil!

Tonight was extra special. Where Jack is serving in Aracaju, Brazil there is a family who is very good to the missionaries. In fact, this sister has the missionaries to her house for dinner, or even takes them out to dinner on a regular basis. (she tells me all the families are good to the missionaries) Lucky for us, this sister & her husband came to the United States & Utah to visit her sister & cousin-- then visited with us! She called last week to say she was here & I invited her for dinner.
They couldn't come for dinner but did come to visit. They were such wonderful people! They have grown close to missionary Jack. What a thrill it was to visit & hear about how he is doing from someone who really knows. Jack helped them recently do some painting. He used to be in their congregation, but isn't now. He does meet in the same building though & they see him there.Marcus who also served a mission in Brazil & who just graduated with a bachelor's degree in Portuguese, came too- with Brittany & John. Yes- John is a charmer- he is such a good baby. It was fun to hear Marcus speak Portuguese & talk about Brazil with them.
She showed us pictures of Jack from a month ago when they went out to lunch. She told us how he & his companion would come & visit with her & her children. How she had invited other friends who also speak English over & the American missionaries & they all spoke English together. She said Jack is a very good missionary & easy to love... those were her words- "easy. "

funny- that's how I like to describe him myself.

I am so very excited to send these pictures to missionary Jack next week! He just wrote yesterday, but she called after he wrote so he has no idea they were here. She offered to take Jack something from home- so this afternoon I put together a little photo book for her to take. She will see him at church a week from Sunday. I can't wait for her to see him & give him the photo book!!

How fun is this!?

What a great blessing

it was a birthday dinner kind of sunday!

HOoray today is Brian's 23 Birthday!

Brian was born exactly one week late- It's okay... I won't hold it against him. He continues to be an absolute joy in our lives!

For dinner we had two types of pasta- an alfredo & marinara with homemade french bread & salad.

Last night Brian shared a birthday dinner with Brittany & Megan (the other Brittany's roommate whom we adore) Of course you could say- Megan & Brittany shared their birthday dinner with Brian?!

(I love this photo... so much is going on here- haha)

For dessert- chocolate cake with ice cream & homemade hot fudge! YUM

Brian blew out his candle, then Trent blew in Brian's face. I won't elaborate anymore on that.

It was so fun to have everyone together~ and the weather... perfect!

After dinner - Hailey played us one of her new original songs & a new cover.

ya- I loved it.

I love the setting sun behind her too.

It was a beautiful night.

John was pretty much the star of the show.

He had loads of smiles & plenty of love to go around.

Is he a doll or what?! I love those striped pj's.

Brian opened a couple of presents-

A subscription to the Reader's digest- he loves that magazine-

and a signed copy of a new book out on the LDS book circuit-

Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon, by Dennis Gaunt. A fun read for a Book of Mormon buff for sure.

I feel so blessed to have so many people I love & who love me in my life.

Birthday dinners- love them too.

I love you Brian- Happy Birthday sugar boy!

clubbing

Last night, Brett & I went on the very funnest date ever!We went to the Cookbook Club at Williams Sonoma. The Cookbook club is a class/dinner at Williams Sonoma where they clear off the cook top area- set it for dinner- then prepare dinner out of the featured cookbook for that month. It's always four courses - it's always Delicious & you always get to take the cookbook home afterwards!
This months featured Cookbook- Bobby Flay's Bar Americain- titled after one of his award winning restaurants. It was just released yesterday & guess what? OUR BOOK CAME WITH A SIGNED NAME PLATE! I am so thrilled to have it!! Oh My GOSH this was so fun!
Kelley was our chef/teacher- he was charming & delightful. He is such a great chef & the food was out of this world- it was so good! Did I tell you yet, how fun this was? Cause, sister Sue--- It was a blast!

This was the first course-

Warm Lentil Salad with Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese.

oh mama-

Let's be upfront here people: Brett does not like beets... frankly neither did I. (Brett even thought about not trying them - oh my?) But, as with most things- it's all how you cook them. These were prepared perfectly & we both LOVED it! mmmm good.

Well after that- the picture taking went down hill. I was taken away with the wonderful food & company... & that was my last picture. darn it.

Next up- Chicken Cutlets with Brie, Prosciutto & Arugula. This is Bobby's take on Chicken Cordon Blue. Now, I can bread chicken, but Kelley taught me something new here! It was breaded perfectly.

Served with the chicken: Creamed Kale with Crispy Shallots-- move over green bean casserole- who knew Kale was so good cooked?!

and for dessert: Thin Apple Tart with Cinnamon Creme Anglaise. oh gosh, golly, mercy me.
I just cannot express how fun it was to go to this class. It wasn't just a class- it was dinner, entertainment, & fun. I want to go back!!

*Have you ever done anything like this?

~You can find the class information here p.s. it says all classes are $75 but that's not the case. It depends on the class & the book so check your local store.~p.p.s. Depending on the book- the class can only hold 8-10 people. There were only 4 of us last night- so nice. I think a date to a class like this would be such a fun Christmas gift!

upside down ice cream & a new favorite

I have changed- I have turned a corner. I have become a new person when it comes to

ice cream

I have been making a 2 qt. batch 2-3 times a week since July now. And... there is no end in sight. My whole life I have been lactose intolerant. Now-- not so bad, I just have to watch my portions. I can't help but wonder what really caused the problems.... the dairy or all the chemicals in the ice cream that's been making me miserable? Do you know how many crappy chemicals are in ice cream? Honestly I just quit eating it or only ate it a little bit at a time. Until now. {blogger- why won't you let me turn this photo?}

This is one of my favorite stand by quick recipes but there are others!
My partner in ice cream making

Working away

It's really wholesome & pure & beautiful.

Just milk, cream, sugar & vanilla - oh & a little vanilla bean powder for specks. Oh Yes the specks of vanilla bean- I LOVE them.

My favorite ice cream & ice book- you can find it here!

Thanks to Megan sending me a link: my new favorite main dish OH MY GOSH I've made these twice in the last week!

family night- sometimes it just plain hard

Tonight we had a special family night. We drove up to the temple (maybe 8 minutes away?) and talked about what the temple is & what we do there. We talked about the temple & how important it is. We talked about the temple & how much we love it -- why? Because someone just got his first temple recommend! It's exciting! We are setting a date & going all together.It's tough to have family night sometimes - we were all tired, had homework to do & someone was slightly (over the top) uncooperative. Somebody was told he could not have a cold chicken sausage out of the fridge (the big ones they sell at Costco with lots of garlic, spinach & cheese in them, fully cooked) until we were done with family night. Why he asked-- 1. that is gross & 2. family night is special & we had just barely finished dinner- it was getting late - Chloe had homework- this is important- get your rear in the car! Are we having fun yet?
We calmly & nicely talked about the temple etc. on our way up. When we got there it was closed & the gates were locked, of course- it's Monday. But--- someone could squeeze inside the fence. Someones sister told him he was being disrespectful squeezing inside the fence. That did not make that same someone stop. Instead someone went in & out of the fence drawing attention to that sister to hurry, "look I'm in the fence again?"


It was beautiful there.

I'm glad we went.



The view of the temple & the sun setting was amazing.

The smell of the chicken sausage someone had pulled out of his pocket because family night was over- was not.

Sometimes don't you wish you were here?

freedom

Another exciting event that needs to be documented: This month- Miss Hailey Jane got a car!

Not just any car... kind of a clunker- I mean that in a good way. It's perfect for driving to school & around town. It's perfect because it's a stick shift & she quickly picked that up. It's perfect because Chloe is getting her permit any day here & she can soon drive it too. It's perfect because it's hers to use & gain some much deserved freedom.

Hailey is doing so GREAT! She has had a rough couple of years but is on her way now. She is working really hard in school right now- with all A's this far into the school year- and not one seizure for nearly 8 months!!!
Hailey is easy to love.

Now-- what should she & Chloe name this car?

any suggestions?

catching up on what's been going on

Last week & the week before I had a hard time posting & now I am behind! I was having a hard time because I caught a cold with a miserable cough, then before I got better the weather cooled down & I had the not-so-brilliant idea to open all the windows for multiple days in a row. It felt GREAT until my allergies came in & kicked my butt back into bed. When will I ever learn? I was thinking-- my allergies have been so good this year-- we don't need air conditioning. Then- why does my head feels like a brick & my nose is running off my face? blah.While sick- I got up one Sunday morning from a benedryl induced, fitful sleep to find this on my bedroom door. Okay- I have the kindest daughter in the world. Thanks Hailey. I'm much better thanks to consistent allergy meds & shutting the windows.


I found these shoes at Costco for little boys & keep forgetting to send the photo to Megan- are these adorable or what?I sent Megan a letter last month & Trent's friend Ella helped me decorate the envelope. Is this the cutest little doggy or what?Brett's parents came to visit- we had a REally great time & ate outside nearly every night! Everyone except for Trent who is plagued by severe bee phobia.They took us out to dinner one night- so fun.Trent could care less about the food- but chose dozens of free songs on the jukebox.

Aren't the cute!!ya-- us too and the girls- love them.It baffles me how Halloween can be out in stores not too far from Christmas items? These Halloween candies- sick, really people!?

did you know Christmas is 99 days away!?

Hailey was asked to Homecoming!!

HOORAY!

and yes... he is my favorite teenage boy!!

Chloe found this in the Gold Fish box- cool.

Bearded Brian & friends sang in Sacrament meeting on September 11th. It was so special & I loved it.

Great young men.

Okay now I'm mostly caught up!