Happy Thanksgiving!

I have a lot to be thankful for!
I always have a lot to be grateful for, but during these especially stressful times I forget.
Today I am writing them down so I will have a place to remind me during my whinny times!

1. My FAMILY! husband, kids, brothers, sisters, parents, in-laws, (or out laws...::snicker::) nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. How can you not be thankful for that? I am thankful for FOREVER FAMILIES!
   
2. My Home! It isn't new or fancy and not always in order, but it is mine.
3. My college degree! It was a dream of mine as a small child. I am proud of myself for accomplishing this great task!
4. Technology. The GPS (although I still trust myself more), Atari (oops I mean WII), cell phones, and of course computers. I love, maybe too much, the Internet. Catching up on friends and family. Typing papers on programs that can catch a spelling error is amazing. Remember typewriters...UGGGH! Googling is a fun past time...agreed?
5. Reality T.V., need I say more? (hey, this is my list!)
6. Friends. They have been my family while I live a country away!
7. The Church. How thankful I am to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know my Father in Heaven loves me and takes care of me and my family.
   
8. Food. You cannot forget to add this one to the list on Thanksgiving! It is not just a source of nourishment to my body but nourishment to my memories, through smells, sounds and sights. A beautiful turkey, creamy potatoes, brilliant red cranberry sauce all add to the day.
   
9. Books! I love to read. I am in love with a great mystery. A fun children's book interests me as much as a love story. As always a great cookbook!!! I read them like regular books, if you have never tried it you should. You learn all kinds of interesting things.
10. Service. Given to me and sometimes by me. I am grateful for the kindness of strangers, family and friends. I am grateful to see kindness given to others. A simple gesture goes a long way. 'Blessed are those who give without remembering and receive without forgetting.'

Thank you Father for all I have been given and all I will be given. I know all things come from you, through others for me and my loved ones.

THANK YOU to all those who bless our lives! In case you didn't know I am Grateful!

Yummy 7 Layer Bean Dip!!

We love this dip! I received a recipe book

"The Mormon Family Cookbook"

22 1/2 years ago for our wedding. Funny how something can be a family favorite for so long. I am often asked to bring this to parties, family dinners etc.

It is very simple and easy to double, which I do as a rule! You can never have too much!

This is the doubled recipe.

• 2-cans (16 oz) refried beans (add 1/2 tsp Adobo or garlic powder)
• 1-16 oz tub sour cream
• 1-package (1 oz) taco seasoning mix
• 3-large ripe avocados, pitted, peeled and mashed
• 1-tsp lemon juice
• 1-tsp Crystal hot sauce (Tabasco works also)
• -pepper and salt to taste
• 2-cups shredded Cheddar or Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
• 1-can (2.25 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained (1/2 cup)
• 1-medium tomato, diced (3/4 cup)
• 4-green onions sliced
• Tortilla chips

1. Mix refried beans and adobo (or garlic powder). Spread on platter.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together sour cream and taco seasoning. Carefully spread over bean mixture, stopping 1" from edges.
3. Add lemon juice, Crystal hot sauce and salt and pepper to avocados, mix.
4. Carefully spread over sour cream mixture, leaving 1" from sides.
5. Layer cheese, tomatoes, olives and green onions.
6. Serve with tortilla chips

Hangin' Up

Not too long ago, while the girls were at Young Womens Rick and I decided to hang some pictures. In fact, the last time I had rearranged pictures was quite a while ago. We were going to sell our house and Stephanie Nielson still lived here. I loved her style so she came to lend a helping hand! (no comments from the peanut gallery...I know that has been forever ago!)

Lucky for us, our home didnt sell. See, I didn't want to sell, I liked being settled! And like it or not it was our little home!

Rick and I always had fun hanging pictures in our new homes.

We moved a lot, so it is weird we have lived here, in the same house for 10 years. Now instead of hanging pictures when we move we rehang them when we are tired of the look!

I love this...you can see it when you walk in our front door. It is a wonderful reminder of where our hearts and minds should be.

Living room. We now call it the Thorne wall. It has some favorites from when we were first married and a new addition from Lisa for my birthday! Thank Lisa for the Giant T!

Of course I have to have my Shrine! It is devoted to my mother. She loved Angels, and the picture of her and me and my sister is one of my favorites!

Quite often my house is a mess, and I can't blame it on the kids, darn! We are getting better but mostly I love that it is cozy and warm! I want people who visit to feel welcomed and at home!

The Cherished Coffee Set!

Grandma Jesse's Coffee set.

I had BEGGED my mom for this set for years! I love the daisies, and the colors are beautiful!
Christmas 2000 my mom and dad came out to visit us and spend Christmas with us in New Jersey.
I was so excited about having my parents with us for the holidays!
A few days into the visit and just before Christmas I happened to think about the cherished coffee set. I asked my dear sweet mother about it again, and when I might be able to 'inherit' it. My mother blew my mind when she told me she gave them away to one of my other sisters. I really can't remember which sister it was, but boy was I upset. I asked her WHY she would give it to someone else when she knew I wanted it so badly. (now you have to know that I was being nice...no yelling or screaming although I really, really wanted to) She said she didn't remember I had wanted them and she was SO sorry! Now being the great and beautiful daughter that I am said it was OK and held in the tears I so dearly wanted to shed at that very moment.

Now I know I sound amazingly selfish and snotty, and part of me is sorry I was so upset. But you have to know how much that meant to me.
We got busy with Christmas preparations. Wrapping, school plays, shopping trips in the newly fallen snow. Rick worried so much about my mom not having a coat (she hated them, she was from Arizona for heaven sakes! he INSISTED on her wearing his grandmothers fur coat! If you know my mom that isn't her and she only wore it in the car and then promptly took it off before we entered the mall.
Finally, Christmas day came. WE were all so excited to be together and enjoy our morning. As we opened the presents each one seemed to be special and fun in its own way.
Mom had me open a HUGE box. Now I know what your thinking "yeah, Lorri got the Coffee Set! What a great mom she has!"
Surprise! I had a beautiful new quilt my mom had carefully worked on for me! In fact she made one for each of her children from an old quilt my grandma Jesse had made. As children we often fought over who was going to get the quilt when the time came! Each of us had a good reason for wanting it. My mother played King Solomon that year and cut the quilt up in several pieces and added them to her own creation so we could each have part of Grandma Jesse's quilt!
Imagine my surprise! I loved it and tears filled my eyes!
More presents, more laughter, more surprises!
My mother pulled out another box.
"OPEN IT!" Yelled the kids!
I unwrapped the package...
looked inside, and carefully pulled back the padding inside.
THE CHERISHED COFFEE SET!
I Shouted with joy, jumped up and hugged my dear sweet mother!
"thank you, thank you thank you!" I yelled and

" you stink, you totally got me!"

Thanks again mom! I love it!

What The Heck?

100 Points!

100 points to anyone who can tell me what is wrong with this picture!

Maybe BYU should require drawing a duck to determine if you should get accepted or not!

New Job!

Look at me! I am a babysitter!
So this is my New Job.
I am babysitting Whitney Rockwell's 4 (YES I SAID 4) kids! They are all 5 and under!
It really doesn't feel like a job!
I like to be home and run errands or go out when I need to, I like to be able to get on the computer...
(when the kids are sleeping of course!)
Plus, being home gives me more time to work on the wedding!

I only work 1/2 a day on Wed. so I head into John's office and work there. I think there are two reasons I stay with John,

1. I still owe him for my car (only $850 left YEAH FOR ME!) so each week my 'pay' goes straight to my car payment.

2. He can't do it without me! No really! This is the biggest reason I stay. He calls a couple times a week to find out how to do this or where is that? When I come in I get quite a bit done in the short time I am there. We have a lot of fun... believe it or not! Lol!

I have had 4 kids before. They are still ALIVE, so I can do this part time no problem (I hope!).

OK, on to the best part

And the LUCKY kids are...

Ashleigh

Ash is in Kindergarten so I don't see her until noon, but what a doll! One girl surrounded by 3 brothers, but she LOVES it! She said she likes it because then she gets all the attention...lol

Matthew Matty is almost 4.
He was born on Taylor's Birthday! He is a happy little boy, and full of spunk!
(who by the way just woke up his baby brother Garrett so we could go and get a treat. I told him earlier we would have to wait until the baby woke up to go and so he helped things along by waking him. Obviously we are not running out to get a treat, I put the baby down again where Matt can't get him! Your little scheme didn't work Sir Matty!)

Ben
Ben is 2. Need I say more?
He is a funny little guy who is discovering his language every day! Sometimes I am lowi, sometimes I am Arli, sometimes I am Taylor and sometimes (ok only once) I was mommy **After he said it he looked at me and realized I wasn't mommy, sorry Ben!**

Garrett


Garrett is 7 weeks old! He is a sweet baby and I really enjoy him! He isn't difficult at this stage.
Now if I can keep the boys from attacking him all the time, it is a constant battle. "he needs his Binky" "he wants a toy" (yeah sure he does) "he wants to go and get a treat"
(Really, is that right?)
The best one is when Ben wants to stick his finger in poor Garrett's eye or up his nose or in his mouth!

So...I begin my adventure! I know now why women have children at a younger age. I don't know if I could have children at this age! Holy cow! It is so easy to leave with my girls, everyone can buckle their own seat belts. The bottles, binkys and diapers stay home. Best of all, my girls come when I call (just kidding, I am trying to fool ya, did it work?)

My Deepest Apologies...?

I have to admit I was WRONG?

I can hear you now...Lorri was Wrong? How did that happen, Lorri is NEVER wrong! But I was and I owe my Hubby an apology!

So the wires to my camera were NOT at his office...I searched!

Sorry Rick!

see post Bubble Blowin' Gal

(write this one down...it may not happen again!)

I Voted!

I am proud! I voted!

Now this isn't anything new for me, each year, at each election I vote.

It makes me happy to know I did something to contribute to this Great Country.

I can...so I do!

How exciting...

I have always taken my children to "help"

and now 2 of my 4 vote!

I am proud! WE voted!

Bubble Blowin' Gal

As luck would have it I left the cord to my camera at Rick's office...and downloading pictures is IMPOSIBLE without it, so my CUTE pictures of Six Flags and Halloween will have to wait. ( I did ask Rick to check for it and bring it home...HE ASSURED ME it was attached to our home computer! It is not here. I will gladly apologize for being grumpy about it if he can produce it here! UGH!)

Miss Taylor Loves Pictures of Herself!

Each time I get on the computer I find new pictures of Taylor.

They are all cute...

However, these really tickled my fancy! Yep, fancy words for I loved them!



Remember the joy of a big bubble?

Remember hoping it wouldn't get in your hair when it went....

POP?

(Wish it had popped...it would have been priceless! sigh)