The Original Christmas Train!

Blake got a great new camera so we had fun taking some video of the one and only "original" Christmas Train! It has been imitated many times in the 21 years we have had it, but Steele's is
the original! It was shortly after "motion lights" came out, that Steele got the idea to build a train using motion lights to make it look like the train was moving. It was genius! (He should have patented it.) It was so novel when we first put it up that people would stop and take pictures or ask us where we bought it.
Although it is over 20 years old and has been painted and "re-lit" many times, it is still one of my very favorite things about Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
(I wanted to put music with it, but I ran out of time....sorry.)

Thankful

I allow myself to start listening to Christmas music the week of Thanksgiving. So today I put on my first Christmas CD, Josh Groban's "Noel." ( If you haven't got it...do it now! ) Then put it on track 6. The song is beautiful and the lyrics are particularly meaningful, especially at this time. If you have a minute, read them! It is a great reminder of how blessed we truly are!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful

Somedays we forget to look around us.

Somedays we can’t see the joy that surrounds us.

So caught up inside ourselves

We take when we should give

So for tonight we pray for what we know can be.

And on this day we hope for what we still can’t see.

It’s up to us to be the change.

And even though we all can still do more

There’s so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves, there’s so much sorrow.

It’s way too late to say I’ll cry tomorrow.”

Each of us must find our truth

It’s so long overdue.

So tonight we pray for what we know can be.

And everyday we hope for what we still can’t see.

It’s up to us to be the change,

And even though we all can still do more.

There’s so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences,

There is a place we’re all connected

Each of us can find each other’s light.

So for tonight we pray for what we know can be.

And on this day we hope for what we still can’t see.

It’s up to us to be the change

And even though this world needs so much more

There’s so much to be thankful for!

Jack O Lanterns!

Although it was a little challenging, we were finally able to get everyone together for our annual Pumpkin Carving Night! It was a lot of fun and here are the results!From left to right: Chelsea's, Blake's , Jon's, Nick's (It's the Forza logo!)Mine (Oggie Boogie) Sean's (Chewbaca) Bry's (Mummy through window, Bre's (NY skyline!) Steele's.
See if you can spot any ghosts!
Booahhh! Happy Halloween!

The Tower!

Sue, Kristin, DJ and kids came over the other night and the boys decided to build a giant tower out of blocks! (This was a favorite past time for our boys when they were younger!)
Their favorite tower was the one that went all the way to the ceiling.
This is video of it crashing down! I wish you could see Dalton's face! He was so excted. (And as you can see...so was Nick!)

(Sorry, we had to turn the camera to get the tower.)

The 90!

In 1968 my dad bought a Honda 90. It was a little trail bike that he would strap on the back of the motor home whenever he went hunting. I have fond memories of riding it around the neighborhood, back in the day! (I was so cool!) Several years ago Dad brought it up here for the boys to ride in the hills above our house. They have all loved the 90! Every one of them has talked about fixing it up and making it "street legal." (Except Nick, who just decided to test his luck and ride it on the street anyway!) His luck ran out when he got pulled over, twice...by the same cop! A few hundred dollars, several hours of community service, and one attorney later, we picked it up from the impound lot and parked it in the garage, where it has remained for the last 5 years.
After Sean's graduation, he decided to get the 90 running and make it street legal. He researched everything on the internet, ordered countless parts off of eBay, got his motorcycle license, and spent countless hours working on it. If he got stumped, one of his brothers would come to his rescue. (Bryan was particularly helpful!) It's been a great summer project for him. Here's the final product! I am really proud of him for sticking with this. It's been a lot of work!
This picture has nothing to do with the 90...he's just too cute to leave out!

It's here!

Yes, it's here...Sean mission call came and he will be serving in the Mexico City West Mission! He leaves February 3rd. He is really excited and is really anxious to learn Spanish. (Most all of his cousins speak Spanish) Jared got his call on the same day and will be serving in Guatemala, he leaves Feb. 10th. He spent last summer in Guatemala and loved it, so he's very excited. We're thrilled for both of them and know they will be excellent missionaries!! Congratulations boys!

Where?

Today was a big day for Sean and his good friend Jared. They have been buddies since they were two years old. They have gone through pre-school, elementary school, Jr. High and High School together. They have kept each other out of trouble for 17 years...so it is only fitting that they should turn there mission papers in together!

I freely admit, I am not ready for this...BUT Sean is!! So now the speculation begins. At dinner tonight we all submitted our guesses as to where he would go. We each got TWO choices. One inside the United States and one outside the United States. Here are the choices!

Sean:

1. The moon

2. Brazil

3. New York

Mom:

1. Germany

2. Boston

Dad:

1. West Virginia

2. Russia

Bryan:

1. Ivory Coast

2. Alabama

BreAnna:

1. New Orleans

2. Philippines

Blake:

1. Russia

2. New York

Nick:

1. Italy

2. Georgia

Chelsea:

1. Italy

2. Tennessee

So, what's your guess?

I'll keep you posted as soon as he gets his call!

Too Much Zucchini?

Do you have a garden? Do you have so much zucchini that you're seeing green? Are you afraid to answer you door for fear your neighbors will be leaving it on your doorstep?

Then you are in luck. This is a good way to use some of it up. This is one of my favorite zucchini recipes...my kids too! It is different than your basic zucchini bread because you add oranges to it. It's yummy! I hope you like it.

Zucchini Orange Bread

Mix together:

3 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Then blend in the following:

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

3 1/2 cups flour

Gradually add:

3/4 cup shredded orange peel

1 - 2 Tlb. orange extract

2 cups finely shredded zucchini

Place in 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Bake about 35 - 40 minutes. (You can also use small loaf pans. It will fill five of them. It will also make about 2 1/2 dozen muffins. They will bake about 20 - 25 minutes) When the bread has cooled about 10 minutes, remove from pans and poke holes in the top of the bread with a fork or toothpick. Cover with Orange Glaze and let cool. It freezes really well, just be sure to wrap it up tight!

Orange Glaze

2 Tlb melted butter

2 - 3 Tlb. orange juice

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Too Cute!

Every time I see baby Steele, I think, "He just can't get any cuter!" BUT THEN HE DOES!

Nobody Does It Better...

When you read the title...you may think "Bond, James Bond." But I am referring to another man of mystery...Larson, Steele Larson! He turned 60 this week and NOBODY does 60 better than Steele! He absolutely amazes even me! He barely looks 40. He bikes, sails, skis and... did he mention that he climbed the Grand Teton! So Happy 60th Steele...nobody does it better!

Happy Birthday Princess Tammy

If this date isn't on your calendar...it should be! Today is Tammy's birthday! (I won't mention which one.) Tammy moved here 17 years ago and brought new meaning to the sentence..."there goes the neighborhood!" It's true, our neighborhood hasn't been the same since her arrival... it's only gotten better! She has definitely brought a bright spot to Briggs Drive and we have learned many things from her... these are just a few of them!

-I've learned that "big hair" will NEVER die.
-I've learned that her "precious feet" aren't precious anymore.
-I've learned that Tammy can even make exercising fun (or at least "do-able")





-I've learned that she has special radar when it comes to finding a public restroom.
-I've learned that NO ONE is faster than Tammy when it comes to using that restroom!






-I've learned that she is always the first one to laugh at herself.
-I've learned that she absolutely adores my grand baby and is anxious to have one of her own. (Lindsey....)
-I've learned that she is the perfect person to pull off a practical joke!
-I've learned that I can tell her anything...
-I've learned that she is a lot less expensive than a psychiatrist!
-I've learned that no matter what is going on in my life, she can always make me smile!

-I've learned that NO ONE can sport a "fanny pack" like Tammy!
-I've learned that I can trust her with anything.
-I've learned that she always has a shoulder for me to cry on.
-I've learned that if she has knee surgery, I have sympathy pains!
-I've learned that there is no greater compliment than when people think we're sisters.
-I've learned that she is the sister I choose for myself!




HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS

Fabulous Fourth!

I love The Fourth of July! It really is a FABULOUS holiday...Yes, it's is a great time to get together with family and friends, have a BBQ and watch fireworks, but more importantly, it is a great reminder of how blessed we are live in this nation and to be able to enjoy the liberties we do. I love seeing the all flags displayed throughout the neighborhood. To me there is nothing more breathtaking than the the American Flag, blowing in the wind with the sun setting behind it. I am grateful to every man and woman who has served our country to defend and protect this precious land...starting with my dad! "Thank you" is NOT enough!

This year Nick and Chelsea had all of the family over to celebrate. It was so much fun! We barbecued, made smores and watched fireworks from their front yard. Thank you Chels and Nick! It was the perfect Fourth. Here are a few photos of the celebration.


Master chef....Nick!
Catlin, Sean, Blake, Jenna

Jenna, Catlin, Chelsea, Grandma and Bre
Bre and baby Steele
Blake and Steele

I know Bry and Bre missed watching the fireworks off the East River from their NYC apartment, but I hope watching fireworks with their families helped some. (It helped us!)
Happy 233 Birthday America!!!

Dino Disaster!

Dalton celebrated is 4th birthday on Friday and the theme of the party was "Dinosaurs!" Kristin did a great job putting everything together and the kids loved it. I attempted to make a Dinosaur cake, and despite my best efforts...it was a disaster!
Let me start by saying I looked all over the internet for a cute but easy dinosaur cake idea. I finally found the perfect one at a sight called "Easycakes.com" So what could be easier?First, you bake a cake in two 6" bowls and one 8" round. Cool the cakes. Cut the 8" round into tail and head.
Level the top of the bowl cakes and split into two layers. Frost between the layers. Stack the first bowl on your plate or board, right side up. Frost and stack the second bowl and place upside down on top of the other bowl cake.

Attach the tail and frost with a thin white icing to hold in place. (So far...so good)
Take the leg section and slice it in half creating 2 pieces. Attach one piece on either side of the body with frosting. Take the smaller head section and spit horizontally. Secure a smaller head shape on either side of the larger one, creating a half football shape.
NOW THIS IS THE STEP I MISSED!
Push a cake decorating skewer through the body vertically about 3" extending from the top of the body. Push the head on to the skewer to finish your dinosaur.
When you miss this step...this is what happens!
( I left it for an hour or two while I ran errands and this is what I came back to! A decapitated dinosaur!)
I replaced the head, using LOTS of frosting, and then covered it with green butter cream frosting.
The original recipe had you make the eyes, teeth and back fins out of colored molding chocolate. Instead, I used "Runts" for the claws, and the teeth. (Candy corn would have made better teeth) I found "Sour watermelon" triangles and used them for the fins on the back. I frosted two lady fingers cookies and placed them on the sides for the arms.
This takes a ton of frosting!! That was part of the problem. I used so much frosting to hold it all together, that as we traveled to the party on the bumpy road, it just started to fall apart! By the time we got to Kristin's it was a pretty sorry dinosaur! As the structure fell and the frosting squished out the sides, he became more of a "squatty body" and looked more like a blow fish!
Tania had the perfect explanation. She said, "Let's just tell the kids that it got into a fight with Tyrannosaurus Rex!" (That works for me!)

Grateful for Grads!

We've had a busy, but memorable month...four graduations and a trip to New York!
Up first...Chelsea! She graduated from the University of Utah on May 7th! What a GREAT accomplishment and a great day! We're very proud of her determination and hard work! She's amazing. Doesn't she look beautiful and smart! (No "small brain" here! ;) Congratulations Chelsea!!

Next up... On May 26th Bryan received his doctorate in dentistry from NYU! (Not to mention he graduated WITH HONORS in aesthetic dentistry! Can I just say "WOW!" This is something I can't even imagine doing. I couldn't be more proud of him and his beautiful wife BreAnna! Luckily, all his family was there to help him celebrate! Congratulations! And...if anyone needs a fabulous dentist, I just happen to know one!
Then, on June 5th, Sean graduated from Bountiful High School. This is our last child to graduate from high school! (I can't stand it!) I still remember my mother at my high school graduation...she cried a lot harder than I did, and now I understand why. No more high school plays, musicals, dances, basketball and football games. Life changes dramatically after high school. Sean seems to handling it just fine...I'm the one who's struggling! He has worked incredibility hard since he started school 12 years ago and it shows! We're proud of him and his many accomplishments!


And last, BUT not least...Sean graduated with his four year degree from Seminary! I'm as proud of him for this accomplishment as I am for all his school accomplishments.
As I told all my kids, (and I include Bre and Chels) we are very blessed, and I am so proud of each of them! They are all so different...each with different talents and different challenges, but they get along so well and they love and support each other through everything! As a mother, there is no greater pay off!!

Only in New York...

Can you find someone playing bagpipes in the park.


Can you find a lake THIS big...in a park!

(...big enough to row boats on!)

Only in New York can you find traffic lights...in a park
eat the BEST Artichoke Pizza!!

Sink the "Titanic!"
watch my son officially become a "DOCTOR"
hug my FAVORITE baby!...and spend time with my favorite people!
Congratulations Bryan and Bre!!
...And WELCOME HOME!