Cinnamon Rolls

I have been making cinnamon rolls for General Conference for almost 20 years. I wanted the boys to look forward to these weekend and so began our family tradition. 

Yesterday, Saturday, I began as normal. But I did not monitor the temperature of the milk. 

I killed the yeast. It didn’t raise at all the whole day. No leaven at all. Craig told me to just cook it. I refused and threw it away. A quart of milk. A cup of sugar. A cup of butter. Eight cups of flour. All in the garbage. 

Today I began again. I cut the cubes of butter, really rectangular prisms, because I’m odd. The smaller pieces of butter melted better and faster. 

After five minutes, I could tell it was rising. I felt victorious when yesterday I felt defeated. 

Getting ready to roll it out. 

Waiting for the oven. 

Frosted pan of rolls  

The mess of the table. It was yummy. I’m taking some to work tomorrow to share. 

Traditions are lovely. 

And I’m happy I can still make bread after yesterday’s debacle. 

Raven’s quilt

Debbie and I sewed a quilt together. Brenda is binding it. I believe Willa and maybe her girls helped sandwich and pin it. 

It lived on my kitchen table for a few days. 

I quilted the small black and white squares. Leaving the large white squares for Deb to hand quilting. 

I ended up repairing the back, but I also quilted the boarders. 

Small part of the pattern. 

The quilt. 

Raven is getting married in June. 

Random pictures

Some pictures I didn’t get into other posts. 

Cute couple 

She’s a return missionary as well. She went to the Philipeans  and then finished stateside. 

The stage crew. Emma is second from the bottom. 

Cute couple. 

Haircut

Boaz decided to cut his curls. 

Before

After. 

He looks like a missionary. 

Unexpected blessings

A month ago, the first weekend in March,  my family gathered. Thea came from Hawaii. She flew through Utah and Deb met her at the airport. 

Craig went to pick her up at her best friends house in Montana. The is so good at keeping ahold of her friends. Brittany has two darling girls. Craig discovered he is an honorary grandpa. I was sorry that I couldn’t make it. 

He’s so happy to be with her again. They arrived home and we heard from Josh and his new girlfriend. They were fine, but the car was not. When Craig, Thea and I saw it the next morning, we were so grateful that it did it’s job. The people were totally fine. They walked away without a scratch. 

It hit a frozen burn and tore the undercarriage. 

The front of the car was ravaged. 

It started when the car caught something and swung out of control. They hit the ice and caught air. They hit a post, you can see by the car door. I’m not sure in what order. But Josh and Ámalie were fine. 

We were insured. The car was totaled, we paid off the loan. Now we have one less payment. On less car, but we were able to absorb it. We later sent Josh on his way in the red Kia. We are grateful for the outcome. Blessings in so many ways. 

We had a full weekend planned afterwards. Boaz was part of the stage crew for the high school musical. They put on Anastasia. This is Boaz’s senior year. His last play. We took a few pictures. 

I’m not wearing any makeup and my eyes are squinty. But I was so happy to be with my entire family. The last time for at least two years. Boaz will be going on his mission this summer. We still don’t know where. 

Boaz with his girlfriend, Emma. Josh with his girlfriend, Amalie. We are missing Thea’s boyfriend, Alex. But I love all these people that are here. 

Cute couples. 

Family picture. This time I have on makeup. But still squinty eyes. 😀

Josh and Amalie left after dinner. I took Monday and Tuesday. Monday morning Craig and I took Thea to Idaho Falls. We had a family party to celebrate Thea coming to Idaho. So many cousins showed up. Thea reconnected with family. Good food and sweet smiles. 

Thea has always had a special connection with Kim. Aunt Sand, who hosted and Roxie on the phone. 



Thea, Olivia, Mattie, LuRose and I. Ransoms groupings of family. 

Kris, Cindy and Sherry. 

Some people had left by the time this picture. But lovely people all the same. 

A picture of cousins. 

Thea flew off to Hawaii the next morning. But the whole weekend was lovely. 

Our family is blessed. 

Trying to get back on the horse

How do I catch up on something I have left for so long?

Do I just start from now, or do I try and hit the high or low lights?

Maybe a bit of catch up. 

We sold the house in Colorado. At a time when homes are flying through the selling process and being back big returns, we struggled, until we were about a month from foreclosure and ended up paying to have it done and gone. Nothing came back to us at all. Craig and I have both been angry. I have not wanted to write about it. But, now it is over. 

Craig’s job in Boise is over. It was too messed up. He was doing three jobs. His supervisor was incompetent and covering her butt over mistakes made. Mistakes that would then be turned over to Craig to fix. He was working 11-12 hours Monday -Thursday, and they were giving him a horrible time about leaving early on Fridays to drive home. He was missing out on Josh’s time home between tracks at BYUI, and the last time the boys would be together. So, with my full support, he quit. He is now working a bookkeeping job here in town at less than half what he was making - he se the almost foreclosure. But it was the best thing for our family. 

I am still with the eye doctor. 

Boaz has finished his senior project. He’s schedule is now fun and he is loving life again. He learned music theory and arranged a song. He worked hard and this time he is proud of his end result. 

Josh is back at BYUI and loving every minute. He has been to Provo finally and reconnected with his high school bros. I love when he calls me and we talk about cooking. 

A few of my favorite pictures from the past months. 

Long hair is in right now. They both have longer hair than me. 

Dressed for the Christmas music concert. He is in the band and in choir. 

We were part of a group that sang Christmas songs. This is just our little family in the middle of the group. Blessings upon blessings to sing together. 

I don’t remember why, but I think he is so handsome. 

Cross country meet back in the fall. He made it to state and had a lovely time. 

She looks mean and sounds terrifying, but is incredibly gentle with her mouth as we play with her. She loves her rope and her boys. 

The six senior cross-country boys going to state. They are all in our ward and the best of friends. This is why we moved to this town. Boaz is in the upper right corner in the blue shirt. They all bought visors as a team. Special life long memories. 

Symbols of Christmas

It has been a long time. 

Tonight we brainstormed on symbols of Christmas. 

Light

Ornaments

Tree

Candy cane

Nativity Scene

Star

Manger

Angels

Shepherds 

Choirs

Presents

Santa

Reindeer

Elf

Snowmen

Then we needed to relate it to Christ. 

Lights — star, Jesus: the Light of the World

Ornaments — stars, gifts,

Tree — according to 1Nephi : Mary, Tree of Life

Nativity Scene — obvious a symbol of the Nativity

Star — map, Jesus: Light of the World

Manger — Humility, Bread of Life (Jesus)

Angels — 

Shepherds — witness, the Good Shepherd

Choirs — angels, prayers, praises and worship

Presents — wisemen, first gift (Jesus)

Santa — giving to the good, Service, attributes of Christ

Reindeer — disciples, angels, we take the light of Christ to others 

Elf — priesthood (helpers)

Snowmen — mortal life (temporary), benefitting from struggles, from Isaiah-pure, washing, sinless, ideal

Gingerbread — bread of life 

Gingerbread houses — places of worship, temples 

Poinsettia — eternal, blooms in the dark, resurrection, second coming, true vine