Edible Turkeys

Happy almost Thanksgiving everyone!!! So, thought I would share this cute T. giving idea that my sis. in law, Ali shared w/our fam forever ago and made these for place settings. Seriously, I still can't get over how creative Ali is. I've now adopted making these w/the kids I work w/every year. It's hilarious! It cracks me up, how no matter the age Preschool to Jr. High, they all seem to have fun making them. This year, me and my friend Youmna, a speech therapist at one of my school's did a group w/some of our jr. high kids and made these.

Here's what you need:

Ingredients:
2 gingersnaps
2 chocolate Chips
1 red hot candy
3 candy corn
1 choc. covered cherry (or similar shaped candy, i buy these b/c they're really cheap and hold less than zero temptation for me :)
and choc. frosting

gobble! gobble!

Am, duh? why didn't i think of this before? :)

Twilight!!

So, I thought I would update everyone has to the content of my weekend....aside from reading about vampires, werewolves, etc..., not much. Let me backtrack, I was initially referred to these books by Kim Pee. She was reluctant to recommend it b/c of the whole vampire theme and since neither of us are big into sci fi, but after hearing her rave about it, I thought I would check it out. So, I read Twilight and liked it, but think I read it during a busy time, so didn't fully appreciate it. Well, after hearing about the movie out this weekend and being surrounded by huge Twilight fans in my roomies, decided to give it another read. Fortunately, my roommate Stacy has all the books, so no need to wait and go out and buy the next edition. So, I started Fri. night with the reading, 2 days later and midway through the 3rd book, I'm hooked and very sleep deprived! I still haven't seen the movie, am planning on seeing it tomorrow, so hope it lives up to my expectations, but according to Stacy and Erin, 2 of my roomies, it's definitely worth seeing. Here was the scene around my apt. today:

Happy Veteran's Day!!

So, I'll be honest while I am grateful for our veteran's, most of the time I just enjoy having the day off and don't take the time to really reflect about all of the sacrifices people in the military have made past and present. I love history and when I read stories about these men and women who risk everything for the well being of our country, it makes me so proud to be an American. Today I saw a story on T.V. of a really cute couple who had been married for 10 years, the husband was deployed to Iraq last year and while on the roof of a house guarding the street, was hit by a bomb, barely surviving, suffering a severe traumatic brain injury. He has just relearned to talk and when asked he said "he knew he was making a difference and felt it was right for him to be there". What a great example! In one of my favorite books, " The Greatest Generation", it tells the story of a man who lied about his age, enlisting at 16 years old! (one of many) and then went on to fight for several years, earning various medals of honor for his bravery, but never telling anyone of his remarkable past. I can't imagine anyone being so willing to serve and humble of his successes. Just wanted to say Thank You!! to all the people in the military for your courage and sacrifices!

School's in session

Wow! I am way overdue on posting. Scary how quick time flies! I just have to say if anyone ever has doubts about their worth, all you need to do is work w/kids, they are the instant confidence booster. Too funny, today I went into this Kinder class to do a group w/some kiddies on upper body strengthening and some exercises to prep them for positioning their pencils. So, I'm passing out play-doh to all of the kids when this one little girl says "I like you". So, I smile and was like "I like you too". Well, I love that age b/c the minute one gets attention they want it too. So next I hear "I love you", "I like your shoes", "I like your hair", etc.... I left thinking I was a million bucks. Seriously, I can see why they're the ones we should emulate. Every day when I'm walking across campus I see the things they do and say, even the ones i work with who may not have the cognition, but are amazing with how they just have this inherent sweetness and share everything they have. So, I've been racking my brain thinking of what I'm going to be for Halloween, any ideas? I'm looking for cheap, easy and comfortable? I say that I'm doing it for the kids, but it's really b/c I love Halloween, it seriously brings back so many fun memories. What was one Halloween that was most memorable to you guys and do you remember what you dressed up as?

Summertime!

Wow! Nothing like being midway through September to look back and remember how great Summer was and how much I miss it. So after coming home from N. Carolina, spent 3 great weeks at home. I can't remember the last time I had that much uninterrupted time just to spend time with family, friends and relaxing. What a great vacation! I was able to do a little bit of everything. Thanks to Mind's generous offer, Amber and I were able helped reaped the benefitsof her waverunner rental at Jordanelle, walked and talked with Kim Pee: always a fav!, went hiking a few times up Milcreek Canyon and had s'mores up there one night w/the whole fam, went to a concert at Brigham Park (for free, but then again I can see why, no offense but a man in his mid-50's trying to do Michael Buble covers just doesn't cut it: but lisa, of course the company was great!), went shopping, went back to the "Y" and got a great tour of campus and the ASB, (AKA Arnie Smumkin Bldg.....ask Ky about this one) from Ky who just started his MBA this fall there, went to the U of U Monet exhibit (so great!), went to visit my friend Brenda from the mission, such great memories! and even though it had been years was like no time had passed. All in all was such a great trip and made me really really miss being home!

In my mind I'm going to Carolina......

I've been meaning to post this since last week when we got back! Last week I got back from the greatest trip to N. Carolina to visit Mitch, Ali and the kids and for Klein's blessing. It ended up that my Mom, Dad, sister Mindy, nephew Brandon, brother Ky and his wife Haley and their baby Olivia, so that made it even more fun just all being together.

Mitch, Ali and the kids were great hosts as usual and showed us such a great time. Now, I'm in love w/a new place. Seriously, North Carolina is so incredibly beautiful, nothing but beautiful houses and green everywhere. We had so much fun seeing them again and I'm already going through withdrawals not seeing them and their kids. So, favorite quotable of the trip.....we were asking Cairo about all of their names and she said "I know how we got our names, I'm named after a city, Levi and Klein are named after pants and Cameron, well I can't remember where his came from". Do I have the cutest nieces and nephews or what?

Beijing 2008!

Well, the countdown is done and the Olympics are finally here!! I am so excited! My first memories of the Olympics were the ones in 1984 held in Los Angeles. I still remember our family hanging out and watching the fanfare and all the events. To me, the Olympics are the ideal of what people are capable of, no matter what their nationality, their age, their life circumstances. I just think it's amazing how hard so many of these athletes work in order to get here and I have such respect for their dedication.

So, we had a little Olympic Opening Ceremonies party last night and besides the S.L. Olympics, this was the only other one I've watched the entire program. The visual effects and just the sheer number of people involved in the ceremony were amazing, but have to say I keep coming back to my favorite, the parade of nations. I love it! Not only do the athletes look like they're having such a great time, makes me wish I could compete in anything just to be there. Seriously, there's gotta be a sport that is not too competitive and where they're lacking participants, I would even be willing to be a ball girl :) But, my all time fave is checking out the different Olympic fashions.

Here are my pics for best dressed this year: America (of course, loved the Ralph Lauren jackets and newsboy caps),Great Britain (take note of the beautiful man wearing the beautiful outfit), Brazil (loved how they used the green from their flag), Netherlands (so classic, but sporty with the orange ties) and Portugal (couldn't find any pics of this one, but was so cute and colorful). Which ones were your faves?