JANE EYRE

I love Jane Eyre. It is one of my ALL TIME favorite books, and I have watched every movie version that has been made in the last 65 years. The best film that gives the book justice is the 2006 release by Masterpiece Theatre. It's a 4 hour, 2 part mini-series, and it is incredible wonderful.

So just when I think I am completely content, another film is released. This time the remake is done by Focus Features, who also released Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightley (BBC version is much better). It looks like it will be a 2 hour movie as well, and I can't possibly see how they could fit all the important details into that amount of time. Although I am doubtful, it does look very good, and has a stellar cast, including Miss Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfax. I already have a Girl's Night Out set up on the night it is to be released in March in celebration of my SIL Andi's birthday (she's my co-partner in crime when it comes to classical period romances). Watch the trailer below at
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3294271769/

RECIPE FOR AMY'S EGGLESS ALCOHOL FREE EGGNOG!

Just in time for the Holidays. I mixed and matched some recipes online several years ago and came up with this version. It's delicious, and my family loves it!

1-3 oz box french vanilla or cheesecake pudding
7 c whole milk
1 c heavy whipping cream
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp real vanilla
1/4 tsp rum flavor
1/8 c sugar

Mix all ingredients in a blender for 3 minutes until jello and sugar is completely dissolved. Chill for 4 hours and serve with a dollop of whipped cream mixed into each serving and a dash of nutmeg/cinnamon on top.

WE'RE HAVING A BABY!

It's official, there is a strong heartbeat and everything seems to be moving along normally! I had my second appointment yesterday and my Dr. is optimistic that I will carry full term. We are very excited and I feel so blessed to have been given the honor of being a mother again, and to be responsible to raise and care for another life. I'm 15 weeks along. From about 8 to 11 weeks I suffered from a little nausea, but soon discovered that if I ate something every couple hours, it abated. This pregnancy has been the first time I've dealt with nausea, so Jason thinks it's a girl. I must admit that thought has occurred to me as well, especially since I haven't suffered from the hormone headaches that plagues me with both the boys from 9 to 13 weeks. We definitely want to know what we are having. We found out with both the boys, and for me, it made the process of life and pregnancy so much more spiritual. Knowing who they were, and naming them while I was still pregnant, I could feel their spirit surround me, and the anticipation of preparing for their arrival was pure joy. Jason is, as always, the eager father. He can't wait to hold the baby, and I'm not even half way there yet! We decided to wait until after my first appt to tell the boys because of how Logan took my miscarriage last year. He was so upset, he cried and cried, so I wanted to spare him any unnecessary pain. When I told him, he began jumping up and down, saying how excited he was, and that he can't wait to see his baby brother or sister. He has been thanking Heavenly Father for the new baby in our evening prayers, and it is so special to see his instant love. He is telling everybody we see, that his mom has a baby in her belly. Silas asks me every day if the baby is still in my belly, so he also understands what happened last year, even though he was only 2 years old. He gives the baby kisses and loves every day, and is very careful when he climbs into my lap, because he doesn't "wan to skoosh da beeby en you belly". I love being a mother!

AMY'S WARM SPANISH WINTER CHILLI!

1 lb diced pork (I buy mine already diced and marinated from Jalisco Market in AF, UT)
1 large sweet onion, diced
1 TB olive oil
1 diced green bell pepper
1-15 oz. can drained hominy
1-15 oz. can drained diced tomatoes
1-15 oz can pumpkin
2 c chicken broth
2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Saute onion and bell pepper in olive oil until onion is transparent, add the pork and cook until done. Add chicken broth and mix well, next add pumpkin and mix again, then add hominy and tomatoes. Bring to a boil then add cocoa, cumin, garlic and cinnamon. Let boil a min, then reduce heat to low and simmer for an hour. Serve with fresh diced cilantro, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole.

BACK TO THE COLONEL............

Over a week ago Jason was involved in a 7 car pile up on I-15. It's truly amazing that nobody was killed considering that a 16 year old girl driving 75 mph in a GMC Envoy plowed into bumper to bumper traffic at a stand still.

Her impact caused 6 cars in front of her to slam into each other, and Jason was the second car hit.
Luckily he wasn't injured too bad, aside from whiplash and a few visits to the chiropractor he's doing great. Wish I could say the same for our natural gas Honda Civic, but it was completely totaled so we are now in the market for a new car. I'm sad to see the car retired, especially since Jason was able to ride in the HOV lane to work every day (and save 1 hour of drive time) and because we were only paying .90/gallon in fuel until a month ago. All in all, thank heavens her parents were insured!
This being said, we have pulled the Colonel (our red extended GMC truck) from retirement and are getting him battle ready for the commute until we can find a new car. This truck has been such a lifesaver and a trooper over the years. Ahhh, the memories! Moab, camping, CA road trips, renovating our house on Leslie, late night movies all snuggled up in the back at the drive-in. It's the one thing we have that is older than our marriage. Jason bought the truck when we were dating. I'm so glad we still have it for times like this, and the boys are very excited to finally be driving in the truck again.

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS.....

Silas: "Aye yike gubble buggle gum mom."
Silas: "Dis is my pliano."
Silas: "Can I haff a blueblerry snack peas."

We were driving in the van one day and we drove over a pothole cover in the road. It made a "klunk-klunk" sound, and from the back seat Logan asks, "What was that Mom?". Before I could answer him, Silas pipes us, "Ets a popcorn cuvo Logan, fow da woad."

FROM THE WEEKEND.....

In honor of Aunt Francie and Andy's birthday, I made a revised version from scratch of the Decadent Chocolate Cake I blogged about a month ago. Dustin and Taska were here visiting for the weekend, so it was a great time to try it out. It was delicious! Here is the recipe for the heavenly, mouth-watering, lip-smacking, lick the plate and anything the frosting touches, moist and chocolatey divine cake.

RECIPE:
1 3/4- 2 c sugar
4 eggs
1/2 c oil
2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 c milk
3/4 c cocoa
1 c sour cream
1/4 c water
1 small box chocolate pudding

Using an electric beater, blend well until all ingredients are incorporated and pudding has dissolved. Pour evenly into 2-9" cake pans and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Frosting:
1/2 c melted butter
2/3 c cocoa
3 c powdered sugar
1/3 c cream
Using an electric beater blend 5 minutes, until light and fluffy!

Since Jason will be traveling a lot over the next month due to work, we put up our Christmas tree last Sunday. This is a couple weeks early for us, but we didn't want him to miss it. The kids have loved it, and I must say that I've enjoyed having the Christmas spirit in the house a little early this year.

Sunday was a blustery, blizzardy day. We went to sleep with the drizzly sound of soft rain and woke up to 14 inches of snow and a winter wonderland!!! It was the perfect day to play some games,
listen to some Celtic Christmas music,

enjoy some comfort food; an avacado, tomato and extra aged smoked gouda sandwich on honey whole wheat...delish!


It's tradition at our house to go sledding after the first major snowfall, so we all bundled up and hit the hills near our house.
Here are Logan and Si in front of our house.
Here are the boys and dad getting ready to hit the slope.
Logan and Silas going down on their own.
Dad pulling the boys back up the hill. How spoiled are they!
Si just snug as a bug! He didn't care that he couldn't see where he was going, he was having too much fun.

It was such a beautiful night. I wish I had a better camera (it's what I asked Santa for this year for Christmas) because the moon, and the dark blue sky and the fluffy clouds were amazing, right out of a painting that belonged in the Louvre! I tried to get a good shot through the top of the pine trees, but as I stated before...my camera stinks! I gave it my best shot.
We ended the night with a cup of hot chocolate topped whipped cream and cinnamon.....

and all nestled into the couch in front of the warm fire and the Christmas tree. What a great family night!

~GRATITUDE~

My heart is always overflowing with gratitude. Each day I seem to find something else to be thankful for, something else to fortify me to live my life worthy of my blessings. I always seem to feel the pull of gratefulness a little more in November. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are my top 10. The wonderful blessings I am thankful for in my life.

1. I am thankful that Heavenly Father gave me the opportunity to live longer than 10 years old. The last 24 years have been a gift and May 16th, 1986 lives in my heart every day.

2. I am thankful for a strong, healthy body. Thankful for eyes that see all the beauty in the world, arms to hold my family, legs that let me play and run, and ears that hear my childrens' laughter.

3. I am thankful for the knowledge that I am a daughter of a living, loving God and that I have the example of my Savior Jesus Christ to get me through this life. I am thankful I know who I am, why I am here, and that my life has purpose and meaning.

4. I am thankful that I have the honor of sharing my life with Jason. I'm so glad we found each other. I'm thankful that I fall in love with him a little more each day. It's an amazing journey to spend it with someone so wonderful.

5. I am so thankful I have been blessed to be a mother and that I have been given two beautiful, healthy boys. It is a sacred calling and I do not take it for granted.

6. I am thankful for my roller coaster life; for the ups and the downs, the excitement, the laughter, the thrills and the times I'm upside down hanging on for dear life. They all strengthen me and help me to become a better woman.

7. I am thankful for the freedom I enjoy every day of my life. I know it has come with the great sacrifice of so many. I am honored to be a citizen of this great nation.

8. I am thankful for Temples, and the knowledge that I have been sealed to my family for time and all eternity. Families are forever.

9. I am thankful for modern conveniences. My van, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine, computer, and let's face it....my iphone. Every minute I don't spend cleaning, cooking, etc., I get to spend with my family, and that means the world to me.

10. I am grateful for friends and family, good food and a warm home.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Here are the boys on Halloween Sunday. They decided they wanted to be zombies, or "sompies" as Silas said. He said to Jason, "I'm a one-eyed sompie dadda.", with his face squinted and one eye closed! So after church we painted them up. A little ghoulish for the sabbath, I know. But it is Halloween!

I didn't do anything too exciting food-wise on Halloween. I think I burned the kids out, as Logan told me that he "doesn't want to eat haunted food anymore mom", so I promised him I'd take it easy the last day.

We had an "it" taco salad for lunch.

Halloween shaped marshmallows for a snack.

Pumpkin, ghost and bat macaroni and cheese for dinner.

After dinner the boys each made a skeleton candy necklace that my cousin Lara sent them. They were really cute.

Here is Logan's necklace.Because Si ate half of his "cangies" as I was making the necklace, the necklace became more of a bracelet.

"I can't eat em mom, ets too hod. Cut em off."

I ended up cutting the bracelet so he could get the candies off, and swiped half of them in process, (they ended up in the garbage along with the skeleton and bones...too much sugar) he never even knew they were missing.