I've Gotta Crow....

I am so excited! I made a great dinner tonight and just had to share. Cooking has never been my forte. I wasn't interested when I was growing up, and I could always get by feeding Tarren noodles with butter and parmesan cheese, or tuna melts, or chicken and rice (in the same style every time). Well, now that I am married, that stuff doesn't fly anymore. I actually have to try and make something everyone will enjoy, and that actually tastes good. The first several months were not so good. Dan and Tarren actually banned me from preparing the meat because it was dry and tasteless. I've gotten into the habit of asking during the meal, after, and mostly at every bite, "how is it? does it taste good? is something you'd like me to fix again?" Most of my responses are polite, "yes it tastes good, but no, don't make it again."

I've been excited for fall and to start making some comfort foods. They are inexpensive, easy and usually include the crockpot, my favorite cooking device. I decided to make Split Pea Soup with Rolls. I found the Crescent Roll recipe in the Taste of Home magazine, and the Soup recipe online. You can find the recipes for both at: http://ourfavoritefoods.blogspot.com/

The dinner turned out beautifully, and I got rave reviews from the boys!! And thats what counts the most, right?

A Tribute to Parley...

My dear friend, Parley Hamblin passed away this last week. His battle with Cancer has ended. The memorial service was today, and I witnessed the love of so many friends and members of his family who gathered and filled the church to overflowing capacity. I listened to the beautiful words of love and remembrance told in the stories of the speakers. His children and grandchildren performed beautiful music together. There was not a dry eye in the house. I will miss him dearly and will always kick myself for not visiting more often or as recently as I would've liked. Let me tell you about Parley.

I have known Parley Hamblin for 12 years now. From the moment I met him, I loved him. I met the Hamblins because I dated their son for a brief time. The relationship ended quickly, but I made forever friends in Parley and his wife, Katherine. Parley is the kind of man who leaves you a better person than you were before you came into his presence. He treats as if you are the most important person in the world to him. He is genuinely interested in you and your life and wants to learn all about you. He has a very witty, dry sense of humor, and you never can tell if his stories are real or just stories. He is a wonderful storyteller, and I find myself hanging on his every word, hoping the story never ends.

Parley was a great man. He was a giant in every sense of the word. He was large in stature, he had a loud, booming, powerful voice. He was a spritual giant as well. He is probably the most faithful man I have ever met. He knows exactly where he came from, and knows exactly where he is going. He believes the Gospel is true with every fiber of his being. Hearing him speak of God is like hearing one speak of his best friend. He had a very personal relationship with the Savior.

After spending time with Parley always made me want to be a better person. He was always positive, always smiling, and always had something nice to say about me and everyone else we were speaking of. He never gossipped, never complained, and never spoke poorly of any person.

I am a better person today for having known this great man. I'll try to always keep my memories of Parley fresh in my mind by telling stories about him and by living as he did-like each day is my last. I'll try to be more positive, complain less, and only speak positive things. I will make sure my family and friends know how much I love them. I will not waste one more day on the petty things of life. I will put my energies in people, not things. And I will live a better life.

Thank you, Parley for being the example you are, and for loving me. I love you and miss you.

My Boys

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Rain is falling all around.....And "Ba Ba" caught on tape!

Summer is finally over and the rain has begun. It has been a nice change. I love the smell of the first rain ~ that dirty water scent mixed with humidity, and the smell of the green leaves and trees. My friend, Kathlene and I went walking this afternoon. We had only gone about a block when it started raining. It stopped for about half of our walk, but really started coming down on our way home. By this point, the baby was no longer happy in the stroller, so we had to stop while I put him in the front pack. We were soaked! It was fun though.

Tonight, we went to a hockey game. We let each of the kids bring a friend. It made it more fun for both of them. The girls weren't too in to the game until a fight broke right in front of us! They were cheering, and then got into the game, which went into a "sudden death" overtime. It was entertaining, but so noisy. Luckily the baby slept through it all!

The baby talk we tried to get on tape last night, I was finally able to record this afternoon. You can't miss this video. It's too cute! I'm sure it won't be too long before we're wishing he didn't learn to talk!

Dinnertime at our house last night.

Dinner time can be so entertaining with a baby. Last week I went out to dinner with my friends, Kathlene and Christy. The baby was so fussy that I had to go outside to rock him to sleep, as I could feel the evil stares of the other patrons. The older he gets, meals out become quite a pain unless I bring food for him as well. But even then, I am focusing on the baby and not the company I am with. This too shall pass, right? Anyway, last night during dinner, Caden learned to say this "Ba ba ba" thing that was so cute. So Tarren started taping him while I was feeding him to get these new words on tape. He didn't perform on cue, but has a laugh attack that is so cute. You've got to watch this, it's so funny!