Getting in Touch with my Inner Crafter

April and I found these cute "Gobble" letters when we were in Utah. I haven't done crafts for a long time and this looked quick and easy. It wasn't too quick, but it was pretty easy and I am pretty happy how they turned out.

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!!