The Famous Sour Cream Cookies

This is picture of my mom, Vera Rasband, dressed as a witch for Halloween. She liked Halloween a lot. One of my favorite Halloween memories occurred when I was in the first grade. Mom dressed up as a ghost and Margie dressed up as Frankenstein and they visited each of their children's classes on Halloween. They didn't have to check in at the office and they brought homemade popcorn balls. I didn't know who they were and wondered why this ghost kept hovering around my desk. There were five children between the two of them in elementary school so they made a whole lot of popcorn balls.

One of her most famous Halloween treats was Sour Cream Cookies. She passed them out to trick or treaters and people came from all over to get a cookie. In honor of Halloween here is the recipe. Enjoy!

Sour Cream Cookies

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
About 3 1/2 cups of flour (enough to make a soft dough)

Mix sugar and shortening together. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together flour, salt and baking powder. Add dry ingredients alternately with the sour cream.

Chill dough well.

Roll out dough and cut into shapes. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Frost with your favorite frosting.

Enjoy!

Fall Fun

The weather is now perfect here. I was wondering if it would ever happen. I feel so much better now that it has cooled off. Heat makes me feel hot and grouchy.

I liked general conference a lot. Especially the talks given by Elder Holland and President Uchdorf. We all met at Rakay and Claye’s after the last session of conference for dinner.

Sam, Stephen, April, Lily and I went to Utah for Fall Break. Stephen, Sam and I drove and April and Lily flew (on an airplane). The S’s and I arrived in Price so we could attend Whitney’s and Dexter’s wedding reception. Caryl Tatton did a beautiful job of feeding everyone and decorating. Whitney looked beautiful. I especially liked her shoes.

We enjoyed seeing everyone there--especially the part where we all stayed up until 1:00 a.m. talking. Fun times.

We drove to SLC on Monday to pick up Lily and April at the airport. Lily was really good for the whole trip and we drug here around a lot. April and I had a great time boutique shopping. Stephen avoided this activity by having dates and Sam sat in the car mainly because Lily had fallen asleep.

We went to all our favorite places to eat: Magleby’s Fresh, The Brick Oven, Dairy Keen and the Lion House. Stephen introduced us to a new place called Zupas. It serves soup, salads and sandwiches. Yummy.

While in SLC visiting Kirk we went to temple square to see the model of the Salt Lake temple. Very cool. We also showed Lily and Christus statue and went to the new Deseret Book Store.

People were just moving out of my family’s old house. The door wasn’t locked so we went in to take a look. The remodeled kitchen was wonderful. My mom would have loved it. They uncovered the wood floor and refinished them. Some of the paint colors I didn’t really like, but it looked really good. I wish that a nice family would move in.

The weather was pretty wonderful there which was good because one day we walked all over the BYU campus. Can I just say how different it all is from when I went there. Who would have thought? New buildings, new technology, and really young looking kids. Sam’s goal is to attend there someday.

A missionary from our ward died of an aneurysm last week. He had only been out for three months. His funeral was yesterday. Our ward had a rather sad week.

Sam had his first orchestra and choir concerts. They were excellent. His choir is going to be singing at the temple on December 8. I’m sure Sam doesn’t remember how rotten he was when we went to go hear April sing there during the Christmas season. I told him he was never coming to the temple again and he told everyone in Primary that I told him that. He was probably about 3 or 4. The adults in Primary got a good laugh.

The first quarter of school if over already. A big shout out to Sam for getting straight A’s. I’ve been working hard at school also. Lots of kids to see.

I taught Primary today. It was pretty fun. It’s amazing what 7 year olds will do for stickers--things like being quiet and sitting in their seats--magical things like that. We talked about service.

Our back yard is all dug up because Salt River Project is putting in some new electrical lines. Our neighbor is very upset because he just finished landscaping his back yard. They have made a big mess.

Happy fall everyone!

Let Me Hear a Melody. . .

The music conductor Mitch Miller died yesterday. He was 99 years old. Most of you probably don't know who Mitch Miller is. I do. He was one of my mom's favorites. We had quite a few Mitch Miller albums at our house and we watched Sing Along With Mitch on T.V. Mitch Miller conducted a male chorus and they sang The Yellow Rose of Texas, The Children's Marching Song, and at Christmas--Must be Santa. I loved marching around the living room to his music--because that's what it made you want to do. When I discovered that I could actually buy Mitch Miller CD's, I bought two. Now I can march all around my house to the sound of March From the River Kwai (which is from the movie Bridge on the River Kwai which if you haven't seen you really should. Alec Guiness is fantastic in his performance as the ranking officer in a Japanese prison camp during WWII. Anyway, I digress.

I actually didn't know that Mitch Miller was still alive (until yesterday that is). When I read that he had died, I had one of those "ahh" moments. The kind that I have when a recall a wonderful childhood memory. I think I will go listen to the Yellow Rose of Texas for old time's sake.

Hand-me-down Technology

My son Chris just became the owner of a new IPhone 4. As a result I am now the proud owner of an IPhone 3GS. And Sam, well he has an IPhone 3G that used to be mine that used to be Chris's. We are all very happy that Chris always has to have the hottest and newest technology around.

Another "Bernie" Story

Mrs. J. just reminded me of another Bernie story. . .Bernie goes to the trash can and pulls out a piece of paper. Written on the paper were these words. . ."Walter (one of Bernie's friends) has no friends." "Oh no!" he exclaims "Who could have written such a thing?" Being the excellent detectives that we are, Mrs. J and I started our investigation. Upon further examination of the paper, we find "Bernie's" name written on the other side with some school work he had done. Upon confronting the suspect, he said, "How did you know it was me?" "Silly boy, your name is on the paper." Needless to say, we all had a good laugh. There's never a dull moment in 1st grade.

The Rest of the Story

To see the beginning of this story, you need to read my brother Rich's blog. He is the Hairy Curmudgeon listed on my blog.

So. . .my mom arrived in Arizona to help with the newest member of the family, Stephen Gary. Boy, was I glad she was there. Stephen had to go back to the hospital because he was jaundiced. I was pretty much an emotional wreck. This experience did come in handy in September when Lily was born. April and Sam had to leave her overnight for the same malady Stephen had. I was able to assure her that it wasn't the end of the world and Lily wouldn't remember a thing or be scarred for life. At the same time I was reassuring her though, I could remember exactly how I felt when it happened to me (3 times). Anyway, I digress, Mom was there to help me through all that. In addition, we had to move while I was in the hospital and she unpacked most of my apartment.

I also have a "dad waiting in the car" story. When I was in high school, a big seminary bash was held at the University of Utah. Dad drove my friends and I there. I always wondered how he got the same parking place when he returned because I thought he would leave and come back after it was over. No, he just stayed in the car the whole time waiting for us. I didn't know he stayed in the car the whole time until much later. What a dad!

Sometimes, I wish more than anything that I could see my parents. I would love to go to Heber and run up the stairs and see them there. However, I know that because of temple ordinances I will see them again and we will be all together.

I'm grateful that I am my parents' child and I'm grateful for my own children who are all fine people. I'm grateful to Heavenly Father for families!!

School Musings

Confidence Man Strikes 1st grade--Holy Bernie Madoff

Conversation that took place a couple of Fridays ago. . .

E.--Mrs. J can I go to the bathroom?

Mrs. J. We just went, you'll have to pay me a grabber (the money of 1st grade).

E.--I don't have any.

Mrs. J. What happened to the five you get on Monday?

E.--I gave them all to "Bernie". He said he would buy me something from the 50 grabber box.

About 4 other kids exclaimed (none of them girls, I'm not sure what that means)--I gave my grabbers to "Bernie" also. He said he would get me something from the 50 grabber box.

Mrs. J.-- "Bernie" what's going on?

"Bernie"--I really was going to get them something.

Skeptical look from Mrs. J--No you weren't.

She questions the other kids as to how many grabbers they gave "Bernie." Turns out he made off with about 80 grabbers.

Mrs. J.--"Bernie" give them all back.

I'm sitting in the back of the room and mention, "Wow, you would go to jail if you were an adult."

"Bernie"--(in dismay) Why??

Mrs. J.--Well when you take people's money and tell them you are going to get them something for it and then don't do it, you go to jail.

WOW!

Too Cool to say Hello

When kids are in 1st, 2nd and even 3rd grade, they love you. You get hello's on campus and some hugs as well. Sometime after that things change. In 4th grade, they may grudgingly say hello to you as you pass them on campus. In 6th grade--well let me explain what happened the other day. I was walking through the library. Some 6th graders were there for their media center time. I said hello to a few of them. What did I get? Blank stares that's what! Apparently when you get to the 6th grade, saying hello isn't cool anymore.

Our Field Trip to the Science Center

A couple of weeks ago the first grade went to the Science center in Phoenix. First of all, it was under construction so some things had been taken off exhibit. Secondly, there were about a million other kids there. Thirdly, some parents should not be chaperons.

Some things were missing, however, the most favorite exhibit of all, the weather platform, was still there. What is a weather platform you ask? By standing on it with a bunch of other people, one gets to experience all kinds of weather--from hurricanes to earth quakes. This is all done by the magic of hot lights, blowing air, water, and a rumbling floor. As you can imagine, the kids love it and want to do it over and over and over again.

We saw buses from Show Low, Deer Valley, the Creighton School district and other Mesa School district buses. By the time our buses finally had their turn to pull up at the end of the day, we were about 20 minutes late. I'm also glad we didn't lose anyone (well, expect for one child, but his teacher found him) It was wall to wall kids.

You know, when a parent is sitting there and her child and one other child are at the top of a tree; I really have to wonder. . .

The Dreaded Dibbles Testing

Next week, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders will be tested. One of the most important parts of this test is how fast a child can read. Now I know that part of being a fluent reader is to be a fast reader along with accuracy and expression. I'm rather tired of listening to kids read the same thing over and over. Besides, some kids just talk slowly so they read slowly and getting them to read faster would require (I'm not exactly sure what that would be.) Anyway, I'll be glad when next week is over.