Church

We went to church for the first time in THREE weeks. It felt so good to be around our ward family and of course since it is Christmas there were lots of visitors and more cheer than normal. I am so thankful for melting snow and warmer tempatures.

One of our speakers touched on something I had never thought of before. He was talking about his father and how his father always said that being out in nature is as close to God as he needed. The speaker said he never knew what to say to him but over the years he has compiled some talks from the General Authorities, and one of the talks that he quoted from said that if we come to church and we partake of the sacrament without the right spirit that we are basicly offering up to our Heavenly Father the wrong offering (talking about Cain). We need to be in church on sunday and we need to partake of the sacrament in the right way, we shouldn't just eat a piece of bread and drink a little cup of water. We all of course know that but I had never thought of it as offering up the wrong sacrafice.

I am not good at getting the point across, I am writing this so that I will remember it and since I speak "Lora" I will know what I am talking about ;)

Merry stinking Christmas

THIS

AND THIS

PUT ME IN A BAD MOOD!!

BAH HUM BUG

Thankful Thursday crashes with Flashback Friday :)

(Jacki, Hope, Tayler and Emma in 2000)


I am so Thankful for my CHILDREN and LAUGHTER!

Funny things our kids have said:

On October 14th 1994

We went to Lehman's Cave for a family reunion. In the cave I mentioned to Hope that Heavenly Father made the cave. She wanted to know if he hung up the stalactites with a hammer and nails :) On our way home from this trip we passed by the McCollaums house, they had a witch and a ghost hanging in the window and Hope said "Bonnie has a witch and the Holy ghost hanging in her window" :)

December 2008

We were getting ready for prayer and we were talking and things and Jackie had been ripping a thread off of her shirt for about 10 minutes and decided to scare Hope with it. She rolled it into a ball and flicked it at Hope and yelled "SPIDER!", as it landed on Hopes leg. Hope yelled, jumped back, rolled on the floor kicking and screaming. Hope has arachnophobia, but we didn't realize how much. It was so shocking and surprising to us all we couldn't help but laugh.

Thanksgiving 1997

Jackie kept asking me if she could have cookies and desserts before we had eaten the Thanksgiving meal. I told her she had to eat something good first, she looked at me and said "Mom, cookies are good". :)

Another funny thing Jackie did around this time, she was playing go fish with my Mom. I was helping for a while and she asked for a certain card and Grandma didn't have it so Jackie had to go fish, well she got what she had asked for so I told her she got to go again because she got what she wanted. I had to leave for a second but I could hear the game and I noticed that Jackie kept saying "I got what I wanted" so I came and watched for a while and on Jackie's next turn she asked for a card and had to go fish, she drew a different card than she had asked for but she said she got what she wanted. I said no you didn't and she said "yes I want this card, it's what I wanted".

I had to be on my toes with Jackie :)

Year 1999

Tayler has always made me laugh. One time I spanked him and he looked up at me and said "You hurt Jackie's brother". :)

July 5th 1999

I was upstairs working on the computer, Tayler came upstairs picking his nose I said "Gross were did you come from" and he said "downstairs". :)

December 1999

Our Primary went caroling and we rode on a flat bed trailer of a Semi. When we got home later that evening Tayler ran in the house and said, "Guess what Dad we got to ride on a Sam I am". :)

One more from Tayler since it is Christmas.

December 24th 1999

Santa came to visit (Christmas tradition in Sutherland). Tayler and Emma were scared and didn't want Santa to come back that evening. I told them not to worry they would be asleep and wouldn't even hear Santa. Tayler looked at me and said,"I still have ears when I'm asleep". :)

September 5th, 1999

Heidi and Brian came to visit and we went to desert mountain to hike around and have fun. Brian sat in a hollowed out area on this rock and said he was King. Emma started calling him "Brian King" (Lion King) :)

I asked Emma how much food she wanted on her plate, she would say "too much". It took me some time but I finally figured out she wanted "Two much". :)

May 2002

I was eating breakfast with the kids and we were talking about the night before. They had all been in bed when I got home from taking Jackie to a skating party. I said that everyone was asleep when I got home and Emma said "I was asleep like this," and then she showed us how she was asleep and then said "and it was cute too". :)

December 2008

We went Christmas shopping and George and Emma were in the hat area. George put a hat on Emma and said "Emma, look it's you" (as in it looks nice on you, total sarcasm, it was an ugly hat) and Emma said "Of course it's me, under this ugly hat!"

We were eating dinner and Jackie was being gross (eating like pig) and Emma said, " That's disgusting Jackie" and instantly burped like a.................Man. Totally had us ROFL!!

Snowed In

Apparently we are going to be snowed in this whole week before Christmas. It snowed on Sunday, church was canceled and the kids have been out of school for two days and it is supposed to snow tomorrow, Thursday and on the weekend.

What better to do on a cold winter day than make soup! Here are some of our favorites.

West African Chicken Peanut Soup.

2 cups diced cooked chicken

1 1/3 cup diced onion

3 tsp. minced garlic

4 T. dark sesame oil

3 tsp. curry powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp dried red pepper flakes

6 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup tomato paste

2 cups diced stewed tomatoes

6 T chunky peanut butter

In a large pot, saute the chicken, onion, and garlic in sesame oil for about 10 minutes until the onion is tender. Add the curry powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and saute 1 minute more.

Add the chicken broth, tomato past, stewed tomatoes, and peanut butter, stirring until well-combined. Heat until very hot but not boiling.

Cumin Flatbread (Morocco) (Eat with chicken peanut soup)

1 1/3 cup warm water (105-115 degrees F)

1 T dry yeast

3 T extra-virgin olive oil

2 1/4 t. course salt

2 t ground cumin

3 cups bread flour

Place warm water in bowl of mixer. Sprinkle yeast over and stir to combine. Let stand 10 minutes.

Add oil, salt, and ground cumin.

Using the dough hook, gradually beat in flour. Continue beating 5 minutes

Turn dough onto lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth-about 2 minutes. Dough will be very soft.

Place in plastic bag and let rise in the refrigerator overnight.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Brush 12X18 baking sheet with olive oil.

Place dough in pan. Using fingertips, press out dough. covering pan completely (dough will be very thin). Lightly oil the top of the bread.

Bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Remove from pan and serve warm or at room temperature.

(Very yummy together, the soup is spicey. Sorry this is double spacing?)

Another Favorite is Minestrone soup (Serves 16-20)

1/2 cup olive oil .................2 cups canned tomatoes...................2 lg. onions, chopped

2 T basil .................... 2 carrots,sliced ....................2 cloves garlic

2 stalks celery, sliced................1/2 head cabbage, chopped.....................2 lg potatoes, diced

1 can red beans (14 oz)..............1 can green beans.................... 1 cup shell macaroni

1 can garbanzo beans (14 oz)...........salt to taste .................12 cups vegetable broth (or chicken)

Heat oil in a stock pot, add onion and fry until soft but not brown. Add everything except cabbage and pasta. Simmer several hours until thick. Just before serving, add cabbage and past. Cook for additional 20 minutes or until cabbage and pasta are tender.

If you make this Minestrone you will never want to eat at Olive Garden again. Really it is that good! Enjoy and stay warm.

Lego Robotics III

(Our team is 914, they ran the program three times. The picture below is the team cheering because they were able to complete one of the harder tasks.)

WE ARE GOING TO STATE!!!!

The Banks Bots have struck again.

They got First place!

January 17th they will be going to state.

What a year, these kids and their coaches work very hard to get to this point. Hours and hours are put into this competition, they meet every Friday and Saturday evening for about two hours every time and then the closer we get to competition the more hours they put into it. They have to build a Robot, program it to complete tasks. They have to put together a presentation, present it to the community. They have to be drilled on how they built the robot, how they programmed it, what they learned, how they work as team and sooooo many more areas.

A Big Thank you to Uncle Sid, and Dan for all the hard work they put into this every year!!

Flashback Friday

(Hope and cousin Trevor)

I have been reading people's blogs about their children and the cute things they say (most have little kids). I really like these posts but since my kids aren't little anymore and the things they say are not quite so darling I thought I would share some of the things I wrote down when they were little.

I will share a story about Hope first. She is about 2 in this picture and at this stage in her life she liked to sing and dance. She would sing "Rock a baby" and another song I remember was the ABC song she would sing along with me, the cute part was when she would get to "LMNOP" she would sing "LMNgoPEE" :) Too cute!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am Thankful for a Father's love.

My Husband, Father of my children

My Heavenly Father

My Father

Christmas Party

Last night was our ward Christmas Party, it was very nice. Emma got the chance to be Mary, she was so pretty. I had fun dressing her up. The pictures are from the practice earlier in the day.

Joseph (Trevor) was so bored we had to put the picture up so you could all enjoy it and Mary looks a little bored herself. I thought it was funny how Emma got herself ready for the part, she kind of resembled a ghost :) She was trying to hide the dress, she didn't like it and it didn't help that an older sibling (Jackie) laughed at it either.

Flashback Friday

Long ago our ward in Utah had a Christmas tradition, Santa would come to our homes on Christmas Eve. Here is one of our girls unhappy and if you look close Santa isn't very happy either :) Can any of you tell me which one of my girls this is?
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For those who chose Emma you are correct!

Sick

The last little while I have been sick with bronchitis, first time ever hhhhmmmm does that mean I am getting old? Jackie has also been sick, poor girl. So what should a couple of sick girls do?

How about watch hours and hours and hours of......... The Office. Thank you Netflix and Roku.

Jackie is definitely hooked, it's like her own personal heroine :) (Twilight)

I am trying hard to not be bugged by some of the people but I am intrigued by a couple of characters.

Pam and Jim

Why are these two not married? I mean come on, it is starting to bug me a little bit, but I like them the most.

Next is Dwight aka the weird guy

I am not sure what it is about him but his stuff usually makes me laugh. Him and the girl that likes him :)

Not sure why but Kevin is the next person that makes me laugh maybe it is because he laughs all the time, my favorite episode with him was when a new lady in the office thought that Kevin was mentally handicapped

Anybody else like these guys? Definitely not my favorite show but when you are sick and drugged up it is entertaining.

We Have a Winner!!

Thank you all for voting! It helped us out a lot! We started out with 400 pics, and so finding just one was quite a task, so thank you all for your votes!

HELP!!

Hope has to decide which of her senior pictures she wants in the year book. We have narrowed them down to 3 choices and would like you all to vote for your favorite, and the one with the most votes will be the one that we choose! They aren't in any particular order. Thank you all so much for the help! :)

Picture #1

Picture #2

Picture #3

It was the worst of times, it was the best of times

What does my title have to do with ET? Well on Sunday I was wishing for ET to touch my back and heal me.

I bent over to pick up a towel and my back decided that was it. I couldn't stand, sit or move all day long. It was very painful and it still is.

This is the worst of times.

Enter the best of times (well I should say better times). I went to a massage therapist today, can I just say AAAAHHHHHH! It was amazing! I went not really sure what to expect, not sure if anything could help me. So I went, I was massaged, I feel a lot better.

The End

Flashback Friday

I was looking through some stuff I have been carting all over, and I came across a book from an old ward we were in. I got a kick out of looking back and thought you might also. This one is for a certain friend that I have had forever, I thought you might like this one :)

What's been going on

I have been a little slow on blogging lately. So I am going to let you all know what has been happening. The number one thing that has slowed me down is the fact that we just moved, the slow economy has taken a toll. I will e-mail my new address to ya all later.

Hope went to Homecoming this year. She went with some friends and so it was a lot of fun for her. I think her dress is way cute!

The weekend after Homecoming was Halloween. This year we didn't go trick or treating! Tayler and Emma were invited to a party so it ended up being a very low key Halloween for us.

Emma won the funniest costume prize! Tayler won the best costume! They had a really good time.

On November first Dallin H. Oaks and Marcos A. Aidukaitis came to our area and had a special fireside for four stakes in our area. There were 971 YM/YW at this fireside. They didn't prepare anything they had the kids write down questions and then they answered them for them. Hope, Jackie and Tayler all came home very excited about what they heard and were happy they went. I am going to encourage them to write or blog about what they heard. Today in church the sacrament meeting was three of the youth that went and our Stake YW Pres. talking about what they heard and what they took away from the fireside.

President Oaks said that he had been talking to his Granddaughter about a young man and he said that he loves the youth today, he doesn't always understand them but he loves them. Example his granddaughter told him that who ever she likes has to be hot, and they kept talking and then she said that he also has to be cool, President Oaks said something along the lines, it doesn't matter if they are hot or cold, just don't be stupid. One of the youth said they loved the fact that an apostle told them to not be stupid. It was a great opportunity for our kids. I was only sad that they requested that the parents and youth leaders not go so that they would for sure have room for all the youth.

I voted this week. The outcome of the vote has consumed me this past week. Enough said.

Love Languages

I have heard about the five love languages for couples but had never heard of the five love languages for children. This book is amazing, for me as a mother and as a child. I think it is well worth reading.

A short review of it: It says that we all hear the words "I love you" from our parents and those around us, and we might even know it but do we "feel" loved. We each have a love language and if we are not being "talked to" in that language we won't feel loved.

The Languages are: Quality time, Words of affirmation, Gifts, Acts of service, Physical touch.
If those around us are not talking to us the way we need then our bucket may be empty, so it makes life harder. Which in children makes them withdraw from family or act out in ways that we as parents don't understand and don't like. It does say that just because you talk a child's language does not mean they won't ever rebel, but that they will feel loved and most likely not rebel as much as they will if they don't feel loved. Any way I really enjoyed this book and will be trying harder to realize each of my children's love languages, and thought some of you might like this book and find it helpful also.

Favorites

I saw this tag and I thought it sounded fun. I am not sure if there are any rules, so I am just winging it.

I have alway wanted to travel. I actually have a long list of places I would love to see, but today it is Scotland. Doesn't that just sound cool. I love this picture.

I of course love food, who doesn't? Any who today I think Pad Thai sounds sooo yummy. I grew up in a little town called Fairview, I love the aspen trees. So pretty.
My favorite color is Blue, I love shoes too. Hey that rhymes :) Love Cats and Dogs, kittens and puppies are good too. So cute. I spent hours and hours playing barbies. One of my favorite things to do with my cousin was to send them floating down the ditch, it really is fun trust me. So I have a hard name to find. So according to google, this is my name in chinese.

Life

A good friend of mine sent me a little story: A grandfather was talking to his grandson. The Grandfather let the little boy know that he alway felt like he had two wolves fighting inside of him. One fighting for good and one fighting for bad. The little boy got big eyes and asked which one will win. The grandpa said, whichever one I feed.


Sometimes in life, we all like to be a little hard on ourselves. Who am I kidding I am my worst critic. Well lately I have decided that I am done with picking on myself. It won't be easy, my bad wolf is fat and healthy but I am going to start today to make my good wolf the pretty one.

100 % for McCain

I have never been politically correct, probably never will be, that is just who I am so here I go. There are a few things that I will not vote for, I don't care who they are and I don't care what other issues are on their platform, I can not and I will not condone, vote for or shrug my shoulder at abortion or gay marriage.

When we die all we will care about is our family and whether or not we stood up for the teachings of Jesus Christ, in the end that is all that matters (I am not Catholic, but I like this message)

TMI

*WARNING* That really does stand for "To Much Information" so if you read further do so at your own mental risk!

At a very young age I succumbed to what I consider one of our societies craziest rituals.

For years I have wondered why I must do this and have hated doing it. I started doing it because of peer pressure, I didn't like being laughed at so I caved. I have considered stopping but because everyone is doing it, I do it also. I feel the need to do this hated, detested ritual three or four times a week. Sometimes said ritual causes me actual pain, but once again everyone is doing it so I must also. I have also found that said ritual doesn't stay in one area, I have had to do this ritual in far to many places.

Some of you may be wondering what is this ritual? Do I do it also? It sounds horrible (it is!). What can I do to help Lora with this horrible thing she must do (sadly there is no help). Why has she kept this a secret (I haven't you all know I do it, and you all do it too)?

I am wrong there is hope, if everyone stops, right now and refuses to do this hated thing then there is hope. How about it America, would anyone want to join me in the fight to stop the removal of unwanted hair. I mean really if Heavenly Father wanted it gone it would be gone, so there must be a reason for it.

So there you have it, I feel much better. I would of course feel better if everyone would agree to my request, but alas I know it will only happen in a dream.

Things Mom's need to know

1) How to tell if your child needs to go to the doctor

2)How to handle a child who is crying in pain

3)What chicken pox really look like

Who am I kidding the list is never ending. I was going to say there needs to be a book or a seminar to learn these things but if there was a book or a seminar on all the millions of things we need to know how to deal with, no one would have children :) I have learned a lot of things and I actually did learn some of them before I had children but in all my years as a mother I have never handled a grease fire until the other day, not to toot my own horn but I think I handled it well and I actually remembered what to do.

Whistle while you work

Do you remember how much fun it is to wash dishes by hand? All of those hours with the whole family pitching in and singing songs like "whistle while you work". Happy times :)

Well our dishwasher decided to take some time off, so we are doing our dishes by hand. I am not sure why it can't be a happy moment for everyone, we all enjoy dirtying the dishes. I guess I need a chart so the following comments aren't made after every meal.

"I always do the dishes." (I love this one, we have only been washing for a week)

"I have to go to the bathroom." (Thank goodness for chores or my children would never have to go)

"I did them last time." (This one may be true, but if you are the only child home you get to do more, sad but true)

"You never do them Mom." (Just so you all know I have been taking my turn)

Those are just a few of the wonderful, fun things being said on a daily basis. So I guess I better go, I have a new chore chart to make.

Pajama Day

My parents went home today, the kids are at school, George is at work...............Pajama Day!!!

SURPRISE!

Last night at around 8 I got a call from my Dad. We start talking and he says that they would like to come visit us.

Ok when?

"We are thinking we will leave at 5 in the morning and head your way". So right at this moment my parents are about here!

Just to let you all know, my Dad must really love me because the 65 mph speed limit in Oregon drives him CRAZY, so the fact that he is coming and driving should tell you all something. We are all excited, we love visits :)

Walking

Every year we all get really excited for school to end and summer to start. We party all summer and get things done that we don't get done all year and then by the end of summer vacation we are very ready for school to start.

School starts and I feel like everything is total chaos. Homework....... someone needs to be somewhere at the least convenient time possible.......... we have to get up really early........ so we are all in a stupor of not enough sleep and lots of demands on our time.

It is at this time when I decide that I need to get myself in shape, I don't worry about it all summer, but when things get crazy then I decide to add that one more thing to my schedule.

So today I went with Hope and Jackie to the church for seminary and headed to my friends house, thinking it wouldn't take me long, I mean I did hike 70 miles all spring and summer, surely that has helped me right. "WRONG" I can't believe how out of shape I am, so I walked by my friends and headed for home, I have to walk up a pretty steep hill to get home, I was practically wheezing when I got to the top.

I have come to the conclusion that my diet just might be the problem. I have been excercising for a long time now and I really think I should feel like it isn't kicking my behind every single day. I am doing way better than when I started, I would just like to feel better. When I did my half marathon, there were lots of older ladies (like in their 70's) passing me and I was amazed so I need to find some great way to change my diet without my family protesting to much and getting myself into better shape, I was also thinking that if I wrote down everything I eat in one day maybe I would be less likely to eat so much, what do you all think. Any good ideas, any great web sites with helps? Any blogs with practical helps for a Mom who doesn't have tons of time or money?

Yay me!

In the words of London Tipton (suite life of zack and cody), Yay me! School starts today! One down, three to go!

Memories

My sister just did this on her blog so I thought I would too :)

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember--it can be funny, weird, awkward, random, etc.!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

King of his Castle

Home rules:
1) The remote is Dads
2) If the other occupants of the house want to watch a movie that Dad doesn't want to see, a) watch when he is not home or (b) hurry and start movie when Dad is not in the room and hope he is ok with it or (c) Start movie and get Mom on your side OR (d) Don't watch the movie
3) If Mom wants to watch a movie she can

Last night Mom ruled and watched P.S I love you. Very much so a chick flick, there were tears galore and so George being the gentleman that he is put on his headphones so he wouldn't have to hear and see above mentioned tears, kicked back and........ slept!

Saturday

Saturday we took the younger two kids to a remote control airshow. We had heard about it at a hobby store and so George wanted to go. They had RC airplanes, boats and cars. It was fun, as the day went on they announced that they were going to have some bigger planes that are 40% fly(that is 40% of a passenger airplane), so we hung around until the end for those. It was fun watching the little planes swoop and roll and dive and all those things but the big ones stole the show. For some reason we didn't have a camera :( So the shots below are from a cell phone.

In all the day was fun, Tayler liked the flying lawnmower, and the big ones. He thought the boats were cool and they had a ramp they were driving the cars off of.

Emma liked the big airplanes the best and thought when the little ones were doing a fight trying to cut other planes ribbons that was fun too.

I think we will definitely go to this again. The best part for me was it cost $4 per car, that is a bargain, and they had a nice big Oak tree that we sat under the whole day so in all even though it was 104 degrees it wasn't as bad as I was thinking it would be. I like it when things aren't as bad as I thought they would be :)

Emma and Tayler sitting by one of the 40% planes.

Anniversary

Nineteen years ago, George and I strapped ourselves into a Roller Coaster. After heart wrenching drops, big bumps, scary twists and turns, we are still strapped in tight and ready for more.

Happy Anniversary Honey! Thanks for being my best friend.