Raspberries, Peaches, Sugar, Jello!

 This is what I did yesterday! 9.5 hours standing in my kitchen making raspberry peach jam!

 It's My families favorite. It is pretty yum! I got 4 boxes of peaches and 30 cups of raspberries for $70.00 and since I had all the empty jars from all the jam we ate over the last year. I picked up the jello for 5/$5 and the sugar 25lbs for $10.00. It allowed me 20 quarts and 35 pints! I had one quart break while in the pressure cooker. That was a bummer, but I am focusing on the good, the jam that did survive!

I only used 3 boxes of peaches so I still have 1 box left for peaches and cream, peach pie, peach cobbler, Peach whatever you want to do with it! I love Peaches! Peaches and Strawberries are my most favorite fruits! I will post the recipe soon!

A recipe a day!

Check out my blog the month of September. I will be posting a new recipe everyday!

Getting my craft on!

I had these burlap wreaths. I saw some flowers on sale at Joanns for 40% off. I gave these wreaths a little face lift!

"You're the friend everyone wishes they had!"

Today when I did my visiting teaching, one of my gals, gave me a cute little wooden block that said "You're the friend everyone wishes they had." Oh my goodness! Just what I needed to hear. Words of affirmation is my love language. That pretty much nailed it! Thanks Megs for making me feel so special. I hope people who have me in their life are glad!

Earlier that morning, I was at great harvest buying a loaf of pumpkin chocolate chip bread and a sandwich for my daughter Kelsey and the cute little sandwich maker put a smiley face on my sandwich wrapper and told me "you have the most beautiful smile! It is so big and happy!" I should say thanks to my dentist ha ha I love to smile! Especially at strangers.

Thank You kind people who made me feel happy today!

Boy crazy girls!

"Note to self the tall, handsome RM boys study on the 3rd floor In the library. I will definitely be revisiting."
This is the text message I got from my college student today! Bahahahahahaha ha! Beware of the wolves dressed in Sheeps clothing! But have fun :)

Cameron is driving!

Halelujah!! Cameron got his learner permit today! He is so cute! I can't wait to let him drive me around. I hate driving. Kels drove me around for about 2 years until the newness wore off. Now she makes me drive her. Lucky Me ---Cam is now my designated chauffeur :)
It is so fun to see these kids get big and independent. I'm excited for all this new stuff. Except Calvin......Calvin never gets to grow up. He has to stay little. He still thinks I am soft and cuddly and not as bossy and mean as the other 3 that live here.

I don't always work out, but when I do, I can't walk for a week

My kids are laughing at me. I was so excited that I could run so long on my treadmill this morning. Now, I am hobbling around like a little ol lady. I need some WD forty squirted into my hip joints! Wow!
So worth it! It's  just gonna be a very sore and tender week! I'm up for it.

A Fathers Heart

Last night Kelsey and I went to the late show. When I got home, Jeff was looking at my blog! Hahahahahaha he thinks I am crazy.
So, I told him to look at Kelseys blog. He did. After he read all her words and thoughts and feelings I think he got to see the side of Her I get to see. How often does a dad get to hear his daughters innermost feelings?
My husband got in big trouble one time from me. After years of me pouring out my heart to him about all sorts of matters, he would say "I don't know what to tell ya" ew! I was so mad. One day I said to him "when you say that, I feel like you are saying you don't care" his response "it's not that I don't care, I honestly don't know what to tell you! I am not like you. I don't think
That deep! You are like a lake, or the ocean! I am like a slight puddle on a sidewalk. Can you understand that? This is it, this is all there is. I don't have layers of feelings like you."
Hahahahahahahahaha
Now he says lots of "oh's" and "oh really's" safer answers I guess.
Jeff loves his kids. He gets to see different sides of them every once in a while and I know it means a lot. We are truly blessed!

A NEW DOO!

I got my hair cut and colored today. Not going to lie, I look pretty fabulous! Dang, I have great hair! I am so cute! It's great to be me. haha
It's okay that I know I am Beautiful, Right? I am not perfect and I am far from the worlds definition of Beautiful, but when I look in the mirror, I see a beautiful daughter of God. I am proud to say that! WE are all beautiful in our Heavenly Fathers eyes. We should be beautiful in our own.

Dare to stand alone. Heavenly Father always stands with you!

"Fancy! Huh mom?"

Calvins birthday was on August 11th. He told my mom he wanted a afghan. She crotchets the most amazing things. I wish I did. I love to sew and make cards. Well, Calvin loves orange and blue! she made this for him. He says to me, "fancy, huh mom?" my other kids afghans she made them are all different from each other. Calvin got the "fancy one! He was so darling "look at this square, its different than this square. Then there is this fancy ridge around all the squares. It's so fancy!"
Oh I love my mom! I love all her amazing qualities! I love her talents. She is one of my best friends. I am so lucky. I love her so!
That cute boy up there, I love him too! I love all these kids. I am so blessed! He just turned 10, it's been a great 10 years with him. What will our life be like in 10 years?
I better have some grandkids!!!
Thanks mom for sharing your love with my kids through your talents! I love you!

We do BLA&T at our house!

How do you like your BLT?

We like ours with ranch, lettuce, tomato, avocado, bacon and some salt and pepper for sure!

        That skinny kid, by the time he was done, had 5!! I had to make more bacon to feed Jeff    when he gets home from work tonight!

I only had 2 tomatoes our of my garden. I saved them for Jeff! He totally deserves them!

Jeff and Kelsey and Mt. Timpanogas!

Kelsey went to Heber Sunday and Monday morning her and Jeff and her uncle Jim Hiked Mt. Timpanogas!

 Aren't they so cute?

 SO pretty!

 Jeff said his knee is killing him............when did we get older?

 Jeff and Kelsey at the top!

 That is Jim! He is Jeff's twin brother!

 You Crazy GOAT!

What A VIEW!!

"What do you see when you look at me?"

Last night I asked Calvin when he was hugging me "do you still love me even though I am getting so chubby?"
He says "it's just more mom to love and snuggle"

Later he was laying on the couch, he says "what do you see when you look at me?"
I said "a darling boy that I love with all my heart"
He says "no, I mean do I look super buff to you? like really strong and muscley?"
Have you seen this kid? He is a bean pole!!
bahahahahahahahhaha
I said "yup! I see a buff kid! with the biggest heart there ever was in a 10 year old boy!"

I better get sweating! I want these kids to never be ashamed of me! I need to live long and healthy and be here for my kids!

OFF to a great start!

Everyone has come home from school each day with a big smile on their face! We are off to a great start! It's fun when they come home so happy. That has NOT always been the case. There have been years my kids came home very sad. NOT this year, so far!
Cameron is loving SUCCESS academy and high school! He loves to learn! He is so smart. All my kids are smart, he is the smartest. He is a combo of his dad and me. I am so happy for him, school was so hard for me. I was miserable and lost most of the time. He doesn't struggle. I am so glad.
Kenady, she is there for the social life and she is so outgoing and bubbly, she loves the relationships and interactions that school brings! She has Mrs. Dodds Honors Core this year! She already loves Mrs. Dodds. Cameron did too! I am so grateful for the wonderful teachers that have truly touched my kids lives! WE are so blessed! Oh that Kenady, she was so excited yesterday to tell me all the fun stuff she did on the ride home from school! I wish I could be so positive! LOVE her.
Calvin.................sigh*
He just melts my heart. He loves Mr. Garfield! LOVES him. He believes Mr. Garfield has his very own island in Mexico. I am just going to let him believe that. I love Mr. Garfield too! I have known him since I was 7. Calvin is my kid who tells me everyday as we snuggle in bed before bed what he learned that day. I am getting quite the education!
You teachers that don't know what a difference you can make in a childs life, YOU need to know! You can make a amazing difference, both good and bad.
Some of my favorite teachers were, Mrs. Imlay, South Elementary. Mrs. Matthews, Enoch Elementary. Mrs. Dial, Enoch Elementary. Mr. Robinson, Enoch Elementary. Mrs. Overson, Cedar High School. Mr. Steffenson, Cedar High School. We are so blessed!

A New Routine!

Every year when my kids go back to school, I find myself slipping into a new routine. This year I have some lofty goals! My mom retired in May and her and I are going to become family history buddies! Every Tuesday! That's the day....No excuses!
Thursday is going to by my temple day. That's my goal, every week a trip to the temple!
I am going to go into town a day each week and take my handsome freshman out to lunch! Seems like a good idea. I am trying to dig deep and find that self motivation I seem to have lost somewhere over the last couple years and get recommitted to a serious exercise program. That's going to have to happen M-F! NO excuses. It's always funner with a friend. I am short on those these days. Everyone is working! No problem, I need to be self motivated. I need to be my own best friend!
I have some good plans. I just need to get going. Calvin leaves for school at 8:40 each morning. I better shoot to turn this place into a sweat factory at 9 A.M. I better stay away from the bathtub. It's so tempting when everyone is gone but me to lay in that hot tub!

I think they called her on a mission..............

My daughter Kelsey has been fasting and praying for almost a year now. Ever since they announced the younger age for girls to serve a  mission last October, it has been a pretty big deal to her to make the right decision. She keeps getting the same answer....."Not now"
What does that mean? Not now? When? a year? 40 years? She decided to start school and take it a semester at a time and hope that when and if the time came, she would hear the answer. Well, she could be putting her papers in the end of this month, she isn't. Two weeks ago it was fast Sunday and she bore her testimony in the college ward. Right after Sacrament meeting the bishop asked to speak to her in his office. SCARY!! He asked her to be a ward missionary!! WOW! She is serving a mission right here in Cedar City in the University 8th ward. Good thing I got her Preach My Gospel a few years ago. She is re-reading it and met with the ward mission leader last night. She has to go into the Elders Quorum each Sunday and try to get those Brothers to share a missionary experience. I laughed when she told me the Ward Mission Leader, Elder Lewis, does the Relief Society and she does the Elders! "Flirt to Covert" I teased. She is a cute girl, and super nice. haha
The first week she went in, she was so nervous as they sang the opening song. A room full of BOYS! Yikes! She said she said a quick prayer, then got up and the spirit took over! She couldn't even tell me what she said afterward! Super inspiring. I hope she has fun, makes friends, learns about the Love Her Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ have for all their children. I hope she learns and grows from the experience. I hope some souls embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ through her hard work and service.
Now, that 15 year old Boy I have, just started freshman year of high school..............we better get busy getting him ready! I might tackle the nagging of the Eagle Scout first! NO drivers license until he has it. He is so close!
I am so grateful for all the growing and learning and progressing the church offers us through our service, as well as the service that others bless us with!

The sound of silence!

That sound you hear......it's the sound of kids back in school! pretty quiet aye?
Halefreakinlujah!!! I will miss them, but they need to be busy in school! So much talent and brains! Keep those brains working! See your friends! Have fun! Phew---

Cheddar Squash Bake..........YUMMY

Here is a recipe for all that squash you have right now in your garden!

Cheddar Squash Bake

2 lbs yellow squash

2 beaten egg yolks

1 cup sour cream

2 TBLs flour

2 stiff beaten egg whites

2 cups shredded cheddar

6 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled

1/3 cup bread crumbs

 Slice squash and steam with salt. Drain and season with salt and pepper

Mix together egg yolks, sour cream and flour. Fold in egg whites. Layer half the squash, egg mixture, and cheese in casserole dish Repeat layers. Top with bread crumbs and bacon as garnish. Cover and bake @350 for 25 minutes.

Honey moon in Venice?

hahahahaha! Kelsey told me tonight she wants to go on a honey moon to Venice Italy! I said "psh! right! No one you marry will be able to afford a honey moon in Venice!"
She gave me her grouchy face and said "what's that suppose to mean? I am going to marry some loser?"
I said "no silly! You are going to marry some 22-23 year old return missionary who spent his entire life savings on your wedding ring and has no money left to take you to Venice!"
She laughed and agreed! I reminded her the most important thing about your wedding, will be the temple and the choice in groom!
The simple life is good!
I personally am waiting to go to Venice after the second coming when we are all living the law of consecration................JUST SAYIN'

Whenever I get sad, I stop being sad, and start being AWESOME!

This summer has been really hard. It has been a summer that has affected me physically, spiritually and mentally. People in my life have made choices this summer that have hurt me and burdened me. I have thought so many times as I have prayed......"How can I bear it? How can I fix it? How can I forgive?"
I feel with my whole heart that I CAN forgive. I know that with the strength I am given, I can bear it. I have accepted that I can NOT fix it. The choices we make, the things that we do, the words that we say, most assuredly affect others. I am grateful for priesthood blessings. I am grateful for GRACE. I am grateful for the comfort that comes from the Holy Ghost. I am ready to move forward. I am saddened at the loss, So much has been lost. I am saddened at the strain that now looms in a place that once felt so comfortable and good. I am saddened that no matter how much we love and serve and work for others good, we still face rejection. I find so much comfort in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ. I admire and love Joseph Smith. Weren't both of these amazing Men rejected for doing so much good? I can put my trust in my Heavenly Father. I can find strength in the scriptures. Let me share one with you that brings me so much clarity
D&C 122 verses 7-9.... "The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?......Fear Not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."
Not everyone wants what I have to offer, what I have to give. Some do, I will focus on those that do. Don't we all have our free agency? I am a Daughter of God. A Daughter of a Heavenly Father who LOVES ME! I will stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places. I will not let others pull me down. I will be my amazing self, prepare a great lesson, bake the best treats, and walk in there with a prayer in my soul and a heart full of love. That love is what I was sent here to share.

And the Dix have it!

My family~

We are TRULY blessed!

A New Season

We have a new season coming up at our house. It's almost school time again. This year I will have a college student, a freshman in high school, a 8th grader and a 4th grader. For the first time in my whole life, I feel so happy that school is starting. It must be the 3 teenagers I live with that are putting me over the edge! haha
We have had a fun summer. Cameron is in the Marching band this year for CVHS. I am super excited to hear him play at the games. He is so handsome. He got his braces off and he has the cutest smile to go with is very dreamy sea blue eyes! He is almost 15. I can't wait for him to drive me all over town! I love it when they can drive!
Kenady..........what a kid! She has lost almost all her blonde hair and is very sad. I said...."You are still unique!"
Calvin is going to be in 4th grade and just turned 10. I am glad we have one kid around here who doesn't know everything, YET!

Another year ahead of us. Where does the time go? I hope we all have a great year and we all love and support each other through our trials and rejoice with each other through our triumphs!
Here's to the 2013-2014 school year!

Of Women And Mothers.....

Of women and mothers, President Gordon B. Hinckley once said:

“We must never lose sight of the strength of the women. … It is mothers who most directly affect the lives of their children. … It is mothers who nurture them and bring them up in the ways of the Lord. Their influence is paramount. …

“… They are the creators of life. They are the nurturers of children. They are the teachers of young women. They are our indispensable companions. They are our co-workers in building the kingdom of God. How great is their role, how marvelous their contribution.”

Oh how I love President Hinckley......What a blessing his tender words are in my life!
<3
 

 

 

What a Year!

 

I put this out to start this post because, this cute doll face graduated this year! We are so proud of her. She graduated high school as a sophomore in college with a cumulative 3.97 GPA for high school! She is a smartie!

The next big thing, we went to Hawaii for our 20 year anniversary! There just aren't words to describe that experience!