Random thoughts from Home!

I thought you might like to see a picture of Dad and all his family. Aren't they cute? It was so fun to see all of them visiting and remembering and laughing together. Grandma Jean had so much fun and loved every minute of her 90th birthday celebration!

Random Thoughts from Home

Dad and I had a great time at the reunion/90th birthday party for Grandma Jean. It was held in Bothell, Wa and we stayed at the Quality Inn with many other members of the family. All ten of the Mitchell kids were there and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We got in Friday afternoon and met at the nearby lds chapel for dinner and visiting and five crowns and more visiting. Dad and I both made it into the next round of five crowns where I played a horrible game and went out. Dad made it into the 3rd round but went out. So Dad and I both played in the losers bracket and of course lost there as well! But it was so much fun. On Saturday we met at a nearby park and had lunch and Trinette had a lot of games and we took many photos. It was just so much fun to visit and catch up. Hard to believe but Aunt Connie is now a great grandma which of course makes Grandma Jean a great-great grandma! We went back to the hotel to rest up and then we all met back at the church for a birthday celebration. Uncle Rick and Aunt Lisa had asked their favorite greek restaurant to cater dinner and it was excellent. There was also birthday cake and probably a bazillion photos were taken including the one here. Back at the hotel we met family at the pool and in the lounge for more visiting. I would not have missed this for anything. We left Sunday morning around 9am and on the way home stopped to check out Leavenworth. What a fun place. We picniced along the river and just visited all the shops. They have a great Christmas shop that makes you yearn for the holidays even in 90 degree weather. We plan to return when we can actually buy stuff. We also sat and listened to a polka band and watched a cute little elderly couple polka on the dance floor. We had a blast the whole weekend and hope next time all of you can come to the next Mitchell reunion! We belong to a great family and are truly blessed.

Random Thoughts From Home

So much time has passed since I last posted. Who knew time could fly by so fast! We've been so busy with work, soccer games, a trip to St. Anthony's, hosting Easter dinner, seminary and young men's. Wow! Now we have been called to be a Ma and Pa for the youth Trek this July! We are excited and eager for this new experience. It is going to be a very busy summer. We have the Trek, a trip to Utah, a Mitchell family reunion and the high adventure.
Well it is getting late and I'm tired and it's Sunday tomorrow and we have the missionaries coming to dinner. But we look forward to the best part of Sunday which is the chance to talk to all of you. We love visiting and catching up and hope we chat with all of you.

In case you haven't received my roll recipe that is absolutely the best!
Naomi's Rolls
1/2 c. sugar
1 Tbls shortening
1 egg
1 tsp salt
4 1/2-5 cups flour
1 Tbls yeast softened in 1/2 cup warm water
Beat the sugar and egg. Scald milk, cool. Add yeast to sugar and egg mixture. Stir in shortening, yeast, salt, flour. Let rise about 2-2 1/2 hrs. Shape, cut, rise again about 1/2-1 hour. Bake at 400 degrees about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 16-20 rolls. If you want to see how to shape these rolls perfectly go to http://www.everydayfoodstorage.net and in the search box put in rolls. She has a great video that shows you how to shape them so that they look professional. You will love them and never buy store bought again.
I also want to share a new food storage tip that will come in handy. You have probably all noticed that egg prices have shot up! I read in the newspaper that egg prices have increased 30% this year. Yikes! I read in Better Homes and Gardens that you can freeze eggs. When I find eggs on sale I break the eggs into ice trays that I purchased at D.I. for 50 cents each and freeze them. I separate the whites and the yokes and place them into empty peanut butter containers that go in the freezer. When I need an egg for baking I just pop it into the microwave for a few seconds and use them in my baking.
Love to you all!

Random Thoughts from Home!

I always thought that when the children began to leave the home that life would get slower and less stressful. I'm here to tell each of you that that is a crock. And thank heavens it is. How boring it would be if there wasn't something to do, some project to start, work on, finish, some last minute thing to do for one's calling, some service to perform! I love it.

Right now I'm cutting old jeans up to make small quilts. These jeans are old ones from when each of you were very young. I did not throw them away because I knew I would one day have time to cut and patch them together. They are being cut into 4x4 inch squares. I have already cut about 100 6x6 inch squares for twin sized quilts for whomever is lucky enough to need them. I am also working on a quilt for Emmi. There is also a pattern pinned to material for matching dresses for Maran and Courtney. I have also set up an area for scrapbooking. Not the fancy-shmancy kind, just the 'let's get these pictures on a page before I lose them' kind! I am also reading the Scarlet Pimpernel for bookclub in March and I've watched the movie so I think I'm going to like the book! I'm also involved in a personal progress kind of program for Relief Society. One of my goals is to memorize the Proclamation to the Family. I have the first two paragraphs memorized already! I continue to teach seminary and I hope that I have this calling for many more years. I love it! The students are so great and what I learn from studying is priceless. I am heading up the Activities Committee for the Youth Trek this summer and that's going to be something! I get to spend a lot of time with them as well this summer. When I think about it, I'm one of the fortunate ones who enjoys her life and where it has lead me. Not a lot of people are happy about where life has taken them but I'm not one of them! Lucky, lucky me!!

And the greatest reason for my happiness has to be your Dad. He is truly my special valentine all the year long! I have long believed that if each of our sons could be even half the man their father is then they would be outstanding men. And if our daughters could marry someone who was even half the man their father is, they would be happy. Your dad is the kindest, most tender husband, father and person ever created. He is truly without guile and is truly like Nephi of old who remained steadfast and immovable in his faith no matter what. I have posted in my seminary room two posters. One is for the young men and says, 'strive to always be a Nephi kind of guy' and the one for the girls says, 'settle for nothing less than a Nephi kind of guy.' Well, I was blessed and got a Nephi kind of guy. How many people can say after 30 years of marraige that their spouse still makes them laugh, still brings them joy, still makes them want to pinch themselves to be sure this eternal happiness is real! Life is good, especially when you are married to someone like your Dad!!!

Love you all

Mom

Random Thoughts from Home!

Thought I'd put this picture up of the cutie-patooties in dresses Grandma Mitchell bought. No, I did not make them! But are'nt they adorable? Having these girls in our home was such fun and could only have been improved if they had been joined by Nolan and Gerret! We missed you boys but we know you had a great New York Christmas.

This is our second Christmas where we took all the Christmas money we were given and added Christmas bonuses and any other cash we could come up with and got a big gift. Last year we bought the laptop which has been wonderful to use. This year we bought a 42-inch plasma TV. And yes it's great! Dad and I watched the last Indiana Jones movie Friday night and we loved it. We also watched football playoffs on Saturday and I was overwhelmed with joy. (shedding of tears will commence shortly!) Dad researched plasma vs lcd and size and everything else one should know. So when we were at Costco he was impressed with their models, sizes and the two year warranty. I don't like movie theatres anyway so now I have absolutely no reason to go to one now!

Not much is currently going on at home. I still love teaching seminary, Dad still loves being Young Mens president and Brady loves being a junior. He did drop yearbook and entered a regular AP English class and will be a teacher's assistant for Mr. Schatz. He also got a 32 on his first try of the ACT. He will be taking it again in order to qualify for a full ride scholarship at BYU-Provo. He needs a 34 for that and he also knows that Zach's 35 set the bar high.

We are leaving for church now so have a great Sabbath and week. Love you all.

Mom

Random Thoughts from Home

I've put these two cutie-patooties up because as you all know (check family calendar) they are celebrating birthdays in january! Both are way too cute and I love them to pieces. Happy birthday guys!!!

If you haven't checked family blogs be sure to check Lindsays year of pictures and Maran's very, very creative sled for her beautiful daughter. Great job Maran and Lindsay!

So the holidays are over and now begins the new year 2010. I thought when I was younger that we'd all be using jetpacks for transportation by now! But I look forward to so many things this year. I hope for continued health for each family member. Aren't we blessed when it comes right down to it? I hope that Jordan, Devin, Maran and Zach will continue to find success in their schooling. I hope that Patrick, Becky and Dad continue to have employment! And I hope that our grandchildren stay as absolutely adorable as they are now. I hope that we all stay close to the Lord and that in times of trials and tests that He is the first one we turn to. I am looking forward to getting together with the other Mitchell's this summer as we gather on the west side of Washington. I'll let you know details when we get them. I hope that we can pay off our van and get closer to being debt-free. Yay, Dave Ramsey!(thanks Jordan and Ginanne for the new book) I hope that each of us appreciates what a gift our family is and that we never take one another for granted. I hope that my mom continues to get better and that my sister Patty gets better. I have so much to be thankful for!

In regards to my last post when I was trying a new recipe, it was the oreo bonbons but they weren't as good as they looked. I think they were too rich. It was just cream cheese and a package of oreos mixed in the mixer and then rolled into one inch balls. They were then put in the freezer for about an hour and then dipped in white chocolate. Good but not great!

So for those of you who have my no-fail bread recipe I made it yesterday and learned something new. I had to go to work after I had put them into the bread pans so instead of rising for one hour they rose for almost two hours and they were beautiful! I just set them on the stove and without additional heat just the regular temperature, they were perfect looking loaves of bread.

So I hope each of you have a great day, week, month!

Love you all

Mom