CTR

On Sunday Charlie found this article in the Friend during Sacrament Meeting. He was so excited to come home and make them for our evening snack.

Remember to ask an adult for help when you make a Kitchen Crafts recipe!

This year in Primary you will be learning about the importance of choosing the right. As you make these pretzels, think about how you can choose the right every day.

CTR Pretzels

By Heather Brinkerhoff

1 teaspoon salt

2½–3 cups flour

1 tablespoon yeast

1 cup warm water

1 tablespoon sugar

melted butter

1. 1.

   Mix the first five ingredients until they form a ball. Then knead dough until smooth and elastic. Cover with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place for one hour.

2. 2.

   Pull off sections of the dough and roll into long ropes. Form the ropes into the letters “CTR” or make the shape of the CTR shield.

3. 3.

   Put the pretzels on a greased cookie sheet and bake 8–10 minutes at 450°F (232°C). Brush pretzels with melted butter.

4. 
   

I wish I knew what he learned about Choosing the Right. He's already blamed several bad choices on having lost his CTR ring. Maybe if he eats CTR he'll figure it out:)!!

We LOVE Katie!!

This is a big THANK YOU to RaeAnn and Paul for having Katie! She's so beautiful and wonderful and I'm just so glad she's part of the family. We had so much fun coming up to Boise and being part of the Katie celebration!

I tried to hold her as much as I could but with her cousins, Grandpa's, and other Aunts there I had to give her up once in a while.

Here's Shari with Jenna. They are such cute cousins. I think this is the night we had Aunt Mae's delicious spaghetti so that's why Jenna's lips are orange.
Here's Thomas avoiding my camera. He doesn't want us all to die from his cuteness so really, he's just thinking of us.
Here's gorgeous Gracie and her gorgeous Mama! Ashley, I can't wait to celebrate your baby too:)
It was so much fun to hang out with Aunt Mae, RaeAnn, and Ashley. I am never ready to say good-bye to these awesome women when we have to part so I'm thankful it's always "see you later." Also, I love Katie's face in this picture. She's so cute!

I kept sneaking in on the picture taking so everyone is looking at the other photographer except Katie! She knew I was taking a picture of her so she posed perfectly. What a little model.

Here's the whole gang. RaeAnn and Paul, you are awesome for letting us come be part of the fun. I hope it wasn't too much of a good thing:)

How gorgeous is this baby? I mean really! She's so sweet.

The Good Life

This is a song Shari has been working on out of her band book. I love watching her play. Last night she almost had Open Arms and I Can't Get No Satisfaction perfected! Maybe I'll have her record those too:)

New Year New Bathroom

Here is the before and after of our newly remodeled master bathroom.

Here's our before shower. There was water leaking out from under it into our fancy mint green carpet so we thought it was time to make a change.

This is our giant tub that could fit our entire family, however we could only fill it up about 6 inches because our water heater just doesn't heat enough water to fill a swimming pool. I wasn't sad to get rid of it, although the kids got some use out of it we never did. Plus, if I ever did put Jared in the tub I'd have to jump in after him to get him out because he would just high-tail it for the corner where I couldn't reach him.
Here's a wider shot so you can fully enjoy the green and moldy carpet.
We decided to put a tub where the big shower was and put a bigger shower where the huge tub was. It's worked out pretty well. Here's the new tub.
This is our lovely new set up. Our plumber/friend who did most of the work for us built a wall to frame in a new shower and then we had some cultured marble put in. We opted out of a door and so far I really like it because I hate cleaning shower doors and I think shower curtains can be so pretty.
Also, notice the lovely new floor. It's vinyl so I don't have to worry about grout or cracked tile and also its much warmer to walk on.

And this is the giant shower with 2 heads. The little boys love it. The downside to not having a door on the shower is that now when I can't find Jared I have to check the shower as well as the toilet room.
Dan and Scott did a brilliant job painting the bathroom a soothing beige color. I love it. Dan also put in a new light fixture which is way better then the old one.
It all worked out so well I am so relieved it's done. Our hall bathroom is in the finishing stages we just need to paint a little and get it all cleaned up. I forgot to take before pictures of that one but it's basically the same idea. Horrible old carpet in the bathroom! and gross old plastic tub surround. Now it's much better.

Pink Panther

Journey to the Past

Star Wars Theme