We blessed Tori yesterday. It was a very special day! She looked beautiful and Adam did a great job. He told her she was brought to earth at this time to bring joy to her family, specifically because of the trials we are facing right now. (In case you did not know, Adam got laid off by IBM). She is to be a reminder to us of the great blessings that we already enjoy and to provide joy in place of the fear and anxiety that comes with this trial. The blessing said that she would play this kind of role throughout her life to others. He told her the spirit would be strong with her. And many more things. It was a sweet blessing that gives me comfort already. I know she was meant to come to our family and she is be a blessing to us all. 

I was able to escort Michelle at the temple today. It was so good to be there. It has been a long time.Too long. Tons of thanks to Marie for watching all the kids so Adam and I could both go! 

It was a great day!!

And my baby is ready!!! I am loving life!!!

There is a lot of hair in my house. My five girls have very different hair! One thick, two thin and one in the middle. They all have to do their hair or it's all in their face and dirty and drives me crazy! 

This blog http://www.shedoeshair.blogspot.comwas on my friend Tara's blog and I love it! I don't know the lady but she talks about how special her time with her girls is as she does their hair. That thought really struck me. I don't know how to do my hair so learning to do my girls' hair has been quite a process for me. Now I do their hair in cute, fun ways and I spend time bonding and talking to them. It is very nice!

So here is my current favorite do!

Ariana is moving up! She move into a toddler bed today. Adam thinks she is ready to be able to get in and out when she wants to. I like having her contained, but she is not had to put to bad so he may be right. We shall see. 

Thanksgiving Day was great! The day before Adam smoked a turkey then Thanksgiving day he deep fried one. Man! Two of the best ways to eat turkey!! We had the Troxel Family over to eat with us. We had lots of good food, great company and fun games.

and I love it!!

 

So I have to post one more recipe so I will be able to find it next year! Pumpkin pie is not my favorite, but I could eat this one all day. In fact I had it for breakfast the next morning! I know don't tell my kids!

Hazelnut Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons hazelnut creamer, divided
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

To make crust, mix graham crackers, sugar, 1 tablespoon of hazelnut creamer and butter until combined. Press into a 9 to 10-inch spring form pan or cake pan making sure to press mixture up the sides and bottom as well, set aside.

For filling, in a large bowl mix in order cream cheese, brown sugar, eggs 1 by 1 and pumpkin puree. In a small cup stir remaining 2 tablespoons of hazelnut creamer, allspice and salt into heavy cream. Pour heavy cream mixture into pumpkin mixture and blend until combined. Pour into crust and bake for 35 minutes or until the center sets. Allow to cool to room temperature before serving.

Sorry no pictures. I was so mad I forgot until everything was cleaned up and put away!

**Side note: Sorry about the lack of posts. It is all Kenny and Marci's fault! They talked 24 up so much we had to watch it. We borrowed the first few season and have been having 24 marathons! Its been fun! We love 24!!

My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is making our thankful turkeys. I trace each of the kids hands and they make it into a turkey. Each of the four fingers is a feather with something they are grateful for that year written on it. I love to see how much they have grown from year to year and what the year has meant to them. We did it early this year so Marci, Jordan and Michelle could do a turkey before they took off. (Sweet Michelle is in the kitchen cleaning.)

When we move to Utah and had family near and visiting for the holiday we included them and my fridge was loaded with thankful turkeys. This year we are missing Jaime, Jason, Joe, Sujin, Jeff, Mom and Dad. So my fridge isn't as full. I miss you all so much! I miss the rest of my fmaily too. Please leave a comment and tell me what would be on your feathers this year!.

This is what we area all thankful for this year!

Ariana: Milk, Bears, Uncles & Aunties, Moomies (movies)

Britain: My baby sister, My dresses, Mommy, Island Barbie

Kalixta: My family, My bed, My clothes, Dentist

Ammon: Friends, Jesus, Baby sister, Wii

Zoe: Doctor, Family, Lauren & Alexa, Mrs Beagles

Nik: Video games, TV, Family, Haylee (the girl he likes at school)

Adam: Exfuse, Temples, Our family, Dunder Mufflin

Me: Good health, My family, Gospel, Life

Marci: New house, Families, Gospel, Graduating

Marie: Free food, My health, Family nearby, Technology to talk to family far away

Michelle: My Fiance, School, My hands, Children, My friends, Gospel, Family, My eyes, My feet

Jordan: Michelle  & her family, Temples, Nephews & Nieces, Food

This is Tori's little tiny hand. We didn't put any thing on her feather. I just wanted her hand print.

This is Jordan and Michelle cuddling! Isn't that cute?!

So what would be on your feathers this year??

BYU played the University of Connecticut last night. Kids were free so we went! The score was quite lopsided (UCONN is the #1 ranked womens team) but it was tons of fun. We ate popcorn, hung out with the Johnson Family and sang the BYU fight song. We loved watching Marie. The kids had to remember that Marie was 31 instead of just finding her blond ponytail (there are lots of blonds on the team!).

 

Britain and Kalixta had their Thanksgiving feast this week in preschool. Each student brought a different item to put into their soup. Britain took a potato and Kalixta took a carrot. Before class this week they got to pick whether they wanted to be a Pilgrim or an Indian. They both picked perfectly.

So here is my cute Pilgrim and Indian!

We tried this recipe a few weeks ago. Marci made it with the kids after Sunday dinner. It was fantastic! We are definitely having it for Thanksgiving instead of pumpkin pie! It is worth it!

Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients:
1 yellow cake mix
1/2 cup margarine/butter, softened
1 egg
1 1/2 cup pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ginger
3 eggs
1/2 cup evaporated canned milk
1/2 cup regular milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup margarine
whipped cream

Directions:
Take yellow cake mix and set aside 1 cup. Mix remaining cake mix with margarine/butter and one egg. Press into bottom of a greased 9×13 cake pan. (It will be very sticky.)

Mix together pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger, 3 eggs, milks and vanilla. Pour into cake pan on top of cake mixture.

In a separate bowl, combine remaining 1 cup dry cake mix, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 cup margarine/butter (cut into small pieces). Sprinkle on top of pumpkin mixture. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Cool. Serve topped with whipped cream.