Jenna: Southwest Dance, Parent Night

 

Josh Salt Lake Madrigal Trip

Josh went on the Madrigal Salt Lake Trip this weekend! This is what the director wrote about it: 

The Madrigals have returned from a successful tour.

This Year we:

Toured the Capitol
Caroled at Gardner Village
Skated at the Rec Center.
Sang at the Mall Did a concert in the Assembly Hall at Temple Square
Sang for South Point Senior Assisted Living
Ate too much food. 
Sang the National Anthem before a Stars Game. 
Made up a third of their audience with Gabe Layton being a lunatic on courtside.
Saw the lights, heard the sounds, and felt REAL cold. 

Thanks for sharing your kids with us. They did amazing.

Jase and Ellen brought Evan and Eli to surprise Josh at the Gardner Village. It was the first time Josh had seen Evan walking/running. Unfortunately Evan took a little fall! So sad! 

Janika and Brandon Cruise to Ensenada

Janika and Brandon went on a cruise to Ensenada in December while Everett stayed with Brandon's parents. They were there over her birthday, like last year. Janika wrote this in her history: 

We had the opportunity to go on a cruise with Brandon’s work in December. Everett stayed with Grammy and Bud. We were pretty nervous for our first time away from him (for more than one night) but it ended up going really well and he hardly even missed us! I can’t say the same haha. But we had fun, and it was a nice little getaway. 

Jenna's Room

Jenna covered the entire walls of her window seat with photos of her and her friends! I think it was about 200 photos! It turned out really cute! 

Rice Krispie Treats!

 Here are the recipes for some of our recent gluten free treats! (Just so I can find them when I need it!)

Mary Dawn's Cousin's Candy

(Krispie Marshmallow Peanut Butter Treats)

1 1/2 pounds (24 oz) almond bark type white chocolate (or white choc chips)

1 1/3 cup peanut butter

4 cups mini marshmallows

3-4 cups rice krispies

1-2 cups peanuts (optional)

 Directions:

Melt white chocolate in microwave. Stir in peanut butter. Pour in marshmallows. Stir and then pour in rice krispies and place spoonfuls of the mix on a cookie sheet to harden. (I keep in fridge).  

 Rice Krispie Treats

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 package (10 oz., about 40) JET-PUFFED Marshmallows OR
• 5-1/2 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal\

Directions:

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

Note
- For best results, use fresh marshmallows.
- Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
- Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container.
- To freeze, place in layers separated by wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

 

Chocolate Scotcheroos

• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Cocoa Krispies® cereal OR
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal
• 1 package (6 oz., 1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

 Directions:

1. Place corn syrup and sugar into 3-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter. Mix well. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated. Press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Spread evenly over cereal mixture. Let stand until firm. Cut into 2 x 1-inch bars when cool.

Note: Before measuring the corn syrup, coat your measuring cup with cooking spray--the syrup will pour easily out of the cup.

 

 

Black Friday and Rudolph

Months ago I ordered six tickets for Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Tuacahn for Thanksgiving weekend, thinking that the married kids would be in town and we could all go together as a family. I thought Jenna might be interested since she had been in the Jr. version of the show at Lava Ridge last year. But Janika and Brandon weren't able to come for Thanksgiving and Jase and Ellen weren't able to either. So it ended up just being me, Rick, Jaiden, and Jenna (Josh had other plans) and so I told Jaiden and Jenna that they could invite a friend. Jaiden brought her boyfriend, Maddox, and Jenna invited Bria (Maddox's little sister). The show was darling! We really enjoyed it! Afterwards Jenna and Bria went to a friend's house and Jaiden and Maddox came over to decorate gingerbread houses! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a really nice Thanksgiving -- it was very chill! There were just six of us -- Rick, Wendy, Jared, Jaiden, Josh, and Jenna. Janika, Brandon, and Everett were in Bear Lake with Brandon's family, and Jase and Ellen were with Ellen's family. Baby Eli was finally able to leave the NICU and come home on Tuesday, so that was a nice Thanksgiving blessing for them! 

Jenna was a HUGE help with the Thanksgiving dinner this year! Wednesday our whole family put up the Christmas decorations in the house along with the outside lights. Jaiden's boyfriend, Maddox, came over to help and he and I did the outside lights. Putting up the Christmas decorations is always such a big job and took most of the day. Jenna started on the Pre-Thanksgiving cooking for tomorrow. She made the pretzel-jello and some pumpkin spice bread. Later that night I took Josh Christmas shopping (Fashion Runway and Ross) and Jenna continued cooking, making the gluten free stuffing and candied yams all by herself without even being asked. She did an awesome job on everything too -- everything turned out perfectly!  

Thursday morning I prepped the turkey and started the turkey cooking (turkey bag) in the oven and the kids started peeling and cutting the potatoes. Jared came over early to help. The kids set the table and then played video games (Mario, Boomerang Fu, and Smash Bros). The turkey finished right on time, but I still had several things that needed cooking. So I took out the turkey and left it in the bag and covered it with foil and put a couple of towels over that to keep it warm. That worked well and I was able to finish cooking the yams, the gluten free stuffing, and rolls in the oven while we cooked the regular stove, gravy, and vegies on the stove. I had cooked the turkey neck and giblets and used those juices for the gravy, so we didn't have to carve the turkey too early. 

I didn't have Rick carve the turkey until everything else was pretty much finished. That worked out well because then the turkey didn't get cold (like it sometimes does) before everything was ready. The turkey was very moist and delicious and just fell off the bone! Jenna had done a great job with her cooking -- everything turned out just right! We had a very nice meal. Rick was feeling a bit off this morning and was starting to feel dizzy, and so he went to take a long nap while we all cleaned up. 

After everything was cleaned up, everyone took a nap and then I went for a walk in the sunshine. Then the kids played more video games and then we all watched a Hallmark movie. It was a lovely day! 

And putting up Christmas Decorations (yesterday) -- I didn't get pictures of the inside decorations yet...

We had a plain green wreath, which I decorated with leftover Tree Ornaments

And Jenna decorated her room!