Ouch!

About two weeks ago, I woke up with  canker sores on the bottom of my mouth.  They appeared out of nowhere and have continued to spread all over my mouth.  I just get a few of them healed and new ones appear.  I think I am on the last set.  (I hope!)  

I get canker sores when I eat oranges, strawberries, pineapple, tomatoes, nuts (including peanut m & m's!) and sugar.  I even get them when I go to the dentist.  (always around the tooth he works on.)

I have tried a number of things, and some of them help to shorten the duration of them, but does anyone know anything that will help PREVENT them?  Summer is coming and I am looking forward to all the fruits and vegetables in my garden, but these canker sores are a high price to pay for enjoying the bounties of the season.  Any suggestions?

Oatmeal Carmelites

Don't let the title fool you...I know they have "oatmeal" in them, but these are not really a healthy dessert.  They are however, a delicious treat and are easy to make!  (You can make it even easier by substituting the caramels and the cream with a 16 oz. bottle of "Mrs. Richardson's" Carmel Butterscotch topping or "Nestle's" Dulce de leche.)  They both work great!  These will keep in an air tight container for about three days and they freeze really well! 

I hope you like them. 

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups quick cooking rolled oats
• 1-1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 14 oz. pkg. light caramels, unwrapped
• 1/3 cup light cream
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips  (you can also use milk chocolate)
• 1 cup chopped pecans (my kids don't like nuts, so I omit these when I am making them for my family)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13x9-inch pan and set aside. In large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, soda and salt and blend. Add melted butter and mix until crumbly. Reserve half of crumb mixture (about 3 cups) for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture in bottom of greased pan.

In a small bowl, combine caramels and cream. Heat in microwave oven for 4-6 minutes on 50% power, stirring twice during cooking, until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth.

Sprinkle chocolate chips and pecans over reserved crust. Drizzle evenly with melted caramel mixture and sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. Cut into bars.

Senior Prom

I can hardly believe it, my "baby" just attended his Senior Prom! (He'll kill me for that one!)

Sean and all his friends gathered here before the big dance and I got to take a few pictures before they took off. They are such a great group of kids. Sean has been friends with most of them since elementary school. It's so hard for me to believe that they will all be graduating in a couple of months.

They had a great time. For their day activity they went to the local thrift store (DI) and purchased outfits for their dates which they HAD to wear to their activity, (ice skating followed by ice blocking!) Unfortunately, Sean didn't have a camera so I don't have pictures of everyone's outfit. But I did get one of Sean!

Then they came back and got ready for dinner and the dance. Following the dance they went to "Flips". (It's a local gymnastics gym.) They had a great time!
I think I am as sad as Sean that this is the LAST high school dance. We've been doing high school dances since 1994...I can't believe it's all coming to and end!

8 Years Ago..

Around this time 8 years ago, we were off to the airport to pick up Bryan, who was returning from his 2 year mission in Brazil. When I look at these pictures, it just doesn't seem that long ago. I remember this day so clearly! We were all so nervous and so excited! ( I think Bre might have been the most nervous!) Time flies! Now Bry and Bre have beautiful son, and Bryan will be graduating from NYU in May! They have accomplished a lot in the last 8 years and we are incredibly proud of them both!
Here are just a few of my favorite memories of that special day!
No explanation needed...

We took this picture the day Bryan left FOR BrazilCompare it to this one on the day he came home! Look at their faces! That says it all!
This is one of my favorite pictures of Bry and Bre. (Does she look a little flushed?)

I guess it won't be long until we do this again. Within a few months Sean will be old enough to leave on a mission. He's not sure when he will put his papers in. He might turn them in this summer, or he might go to school for a semester first. This just doesn't seem possible!
Time really does fly...unless you're the mother of a missionary!

Nick's Favorite Cookies!

If you are a chocolate lover, these cookies are for you. These have been my kids favorites since they were little...especially Nick! They are also one of my most requested recipes. I hope you like them too!

Chocolate Mint Chip Cookie

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup butter
1-1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. peppermint extract (less if you use peppermint oil)
2 1/2 cups flour (a little more if you are at a high altitude)
12 ounces chocolate chips (You can use semisweet or milk chocolate)

Cream butter butter, sugar and eggs together for 2 minutes. Add cocoa, salt, soda and mint and mix till blended. Gradually add flour. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for about 8-9 minutes. Be sure not to over bake these!

If you can't bake these right away, roll them into 8" to 10" long rolls. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze. Then when it's time to bake them just thaw (if frozen) slice and bake!(I'm going to blackmail Nick with this one!)

A Brave Man!

We've had 4 boys attend Bountiful High School and this is the first time we've ever heard of the "Mr. Braveman" Contest. It is Bountiful High School's version of a male beauty contest. Imagine our excitement when we heard that Sean was going to be a contestant this year! He entered on Monday and the contest was Friday. Needless to say, there wasn't a lot of time to get fitted for a tux and get his "talent" together...but he did it. Tonight was the big night and we all went to support him. It was a riot! I haven't laughed this hard in a very long time. For the opening number, all the contestants came out and danced to Britney Spears "Womanizer"! Then each contestant had to share a talent. (Sean danced to Beyonce's "Single Lady!") They finished by having to answer a thought provoking question.
I'm telling you...this was the most fun we have had in a long time! Unfortunately, Sean wasn't crowned "Mr. Braveman", BUT he was the second attendant! (He is currently trying to figure out how to disable the reigning Mr. Braveman and the 1st attendant, so he can "reign" in their steed!)
We'll have a link to some of the video a little later, but in the meantime, here are some pictures. We're so proud!?!Nick and Chelsea congratulating Sean!
Sean and his friends dancing to "Single Lady."
Tammy and Dave show their support!

Steele's Big Day!

Look at this face! Could he get any cuter?
Yesterday was Steele's blessing! Fortunately for us, Bry ,Bre and Steele decided to make the long journey from New York to Utah, to bless him here where many of his family and friends are. It was a perfect day. Baby Steele listened intently as his dad gave him an absolutely beautiful blessing! It really is one of those very tender moments for a mother to witness!
It doesn't seem that long ago that I watched Steele hold Bryan and bless him. I remember thinking how wonderful it was to see Steele become a father...he was so at ease with his newborn son, it seemed second nature to him. Now, to watch Bryan become a father is beyond words! It was one of those perfect moments in life. This is one lucky baby to have Bre and Bry for parents. They are wonderful parents! You ought to see baby Steele's face light up when he hears his mother's voice! He is also blessed to have adoring Aunts and Uncles! All these people came just for him! We are grateful for each of them!

Bry, Bre & Steele











Kristin and Dalton









Gracie and Steele







Grandma and Steele








Ellie and Jordan








Sonia and Cameron









Dana and Chase







Blake and Jenna









Aunt Chelsea and Steele









The Lechtenbergs







The Larson sisters







DJ and Sofie








Karen and Grace








Blake and Dalton