Cinnamon Apple Cheesecake

Here's my latest baking adventure:

Crazy 8's

Just some random stuff...

8 Things that happened yesterday:

1. I did my k-boxing workout after a bit of a break--a big break, like three weeks. Shh, don't tell!
2. Went to the mall with two of my kids--not as fun as I'd envisioned
3. Baked some Quadruple Chocolate cookies for FHE--Sooooo good!
4. Practiced my flute- A LOT! Stake Christmas program in 2 1/2 weeks! Yikes!
5. Picked up Legos THREE times, okay FOUR times. I should've just left them on the floor!
6. Saw the cutest puppies at the pet store but had to walk away. :(
7. Cleaned the bathrooms. Ugh!
8. Wrote out my grocery list for the week. Can we just eat out??

8 Things I'm looking forward to:

1. Decorating my house for Christmas
2. Going "over the river and through the woods" to Grandmother's house for the holidays. The Nashes for Thanksgiving and the Oliva's for Christmas!
3. Going to Everett's concert at the Hult center!!
4. Making my sister's famous blueberry "salad" for Thanksgiving. (It can double as a dessert--my favorite kind of salad!) ;P
5. Listening to Christmas music.
6. Getting a few quiet moments to myself.
7. Watching the twinkling of Christmas lights on the tree.
8. Feeling the excitement and joy of the season!

8 Things on my wishlist

1. Getting a few quiet moments to myself. *See # 6 above.
2. That my kids will enjoy the whole season and not just getting stuff.
3. That I can relax and not feel harried by all the things that need doing, ie. music practice *see #4 on first list.
4. A new flute. I am playing the same one from waaaay back in jr. high! Santa, are you there??
5. To be in the same place at the same time as all of my siblings--all 7 of us!
6. That my ornaments will escape unscathed by my one-"man" demolition team that is Claire.
7. To spend time with all the people I love most in the world. Family and friends, new and old.
8. To enjoy my mom's comida mexicano. Tacos, chile colorado, taquitos, etc. and New Mexico's biscochitos. Mmmm! Terry married me for my mom's cooking!

Gratitude

I am finding it more and more difficult to blog about much lately. I'm not sure if it's just a lack of time or of interest in the whole deal. There are a million things going on in life at any given moment, or so it seems. What with four kids and a busy husband, there is never a dull moment.

We recently took the opportunity to escape Duck Country and head for the hills (of Eastern Oregon.) The kids had a 4 1/2 day weekend and it was forecasted to be rainy. So instead of sequestering myself in my bedroom to avoid the inevitable sibling squabbles, we went "home" to Ontario. There is nothing like sitting at my parents' kitchen table chatting in the morning while my mom makes French toast for the kids (their favorite.) Camille was able to have a little birthday celebration with her cousins, something she never gets to do having a late fall birthday.

Since it was a quick trip we made it a point to do all of our favorite things. One day we went to Boise to my sister's house. We were met there by other family members. My sisters are incredible cooks. They made some delicious pasta dishes and we feasted! The kids had a great time and I didn't hear one argument practically the whole time! Mission accomplished!

I am deeply grateful for the time I was able to spend with my family. I needed that break for a multitude of reasons. To be sure, there is nothing more important in life than family and the relationships we form with those around us. We create networks for ourselves whether it is through employment, church, school, or what have you, but there is none so lasting as family. It is my ultimate support group!

Sugar Rush!

Halloween brought the usual excitement around here. The kind that only pounds and pounds of sugar can bring! I was neglectful with the camera this year as far as capturing my little ghouls and goblins on "film". Maybe I, too, was in a sugar-induced stupor. Who knows? Camille had difficulty figuring out what she should be, even after an hour spent shopping for that very purpose. Not fun for me. She eventually decided to be a witch again. Lindsey wore her "angel" costume again this year too. Claire wore a tiny ladybug costume to the trunk-or-treat a couple weeks before Halloween but stayed home with Daddy on Halloween while the rest of us went out. Everett did the "Charlie Brown" thing, drawing a face on a brown paper sack. I think he ended up borrowing a mask. He did look pretty funny with the bag mask though.

As is tradition around here, Everett, Camille, and Lindsey counted and sorted their candy. Terry tried unsuccessfully to collect his own candy by way of donation, appealing to the emotions of the kids. Poor guy! He had to resort to more sneaky methods to acquire his chocolate, called "Waiting til the kids go to bed." They won't miss a piece here and there... and there and there and.....
Lindsey and her friend, Riley eating cupcakes in the corner.