WOW!!!...WHAT A WEEKEND!!!!!

We have been non-stop since Tuesday! This has to be the BEST Thanksgiving yet!!! My parents flew in Tuesday afternoon and then it was just on to FUN, FUN, and more FUN. On Wednesday we got a call from Bob's dad letting us know that he was going to be able to come up....so....Bob happily drove to the airport on Thursday to pick him up. He entered the home to a full house of loud and hungry Ordyna's....poor guy....A tad bit overwhelming. We also had Holly's sister and hubby over and LOVED getting to know them more.....totally cute newly-weds :). The feast was wonderful!!!! We also enjoyed going to see the movie Bolt (had to get away the noise of the kids was deafening- ha!) After the movie we came back home for more food and desserts.....oh my!

At the top of our grattitude list.....The noisy and cute kids....9 boys and 3 girls....Watch out!

Apparently we practice segregation in this home.....The boy table

The girl table

The adult table

But wait.....there's more.....

Then.......

Friday morning Bob and I joined the ranks of early morning holiday shoppers....ohhhh yeah!!! We were too late for anything that we really wanted but we "miraculously" still managed to spend our limit....and then some!!...hmmmm. The best thing about Friday was the evening....it was Derrick's baptism. Talk about AMAZING!! The spirit was so strong and Derrick was so happy. Anyone who attended and met Derrick knows why we felt it was OK for him to get baptized so quickly. He LOVES the gospel. Derrick's foster family, Great-Aunt and maternal grandparents were also able to come. We found out that his maternal grandparents are taking the discussions and going to church. Also, Derrick's foster mother has been talking to the missionaries - hooray! The gospel is so true and amazing!!

It's the happy family against the church's cinder-brick wall.

Ok...by far these are the cutest pictures ever!!

Derrick with my parents

Derrick with Bob's dad

I can't believe the Bob was able to get this shot. These are all the great family and friends that were able to attend the baptism. Thank you all!!!! And, thank you to everyone who sent cards and other "best wishes". We treasured every one of them. We love you all!!!

Blessings, Blessings and more Blessings

This last weekend Amanda received her Patriarchal blessing. It was the most amazing experience. I am so grateful for the woman she is becoming. I am finding that I actually rely on her strength and that she is stronger than I am in so many areas. I am so blessed to have her as my daughter and friend. We have a wonderful relationship!! I was so overcome with gratitude and humility....I literally cried through the entire prayer!! It was so hard not to sniff or make a snort. I didn't want to distract from the blessing. I now know for when Nathan receives his to just take an ENTIRE box of tissues. I LOVE being a mom. I LOVE being a wife. I LOVE being a sister and sister-in-law. I LOVE being an Aunt. I LOVE being a daughter. I LOVE being a cousin. I LOVE being a friend. The blessings just continue to flow.....even though my life is hard and hurtful at times.

This week is also Derrick's baptism. Yet, another amazing blessing!! As we've been preparing for this day, we have had some trials. We have had some discouragement. We have ached in our hearts recently from some that we love deeply turning away from us. Yet, through the trials come these amazing blessings. We appreciate each other more and appreciate the simple things in our lives that bring us eternal joy.

I love how as Thanksgiving approaches now each year....Amanda can remember how thankful she is for her AMAZING patriachal blessing and Derrick can remember how thankful he is for his baptism and gift of the Holy Ghost. And, I am truly happy and overwhelmed with "Thankfulness". Thank you all for being my friends and loving me just for being me. You have influenced my life for good more than you realize!!

How can monkey see....so he can do?

How does the monkey sitting to the left of Nathan even see what he's suppose to play?

We went to Nathan's band concert the other night and this kid amazed me. OK...I understand the whole, "faddish -in style" concept. But, what dingle-dorf came up with this one? Hmmm...not going to happen in this house....I just LOVE Nathan's eyes way TOO much to NOT be able to see those Baby blues!! I would go in when he's asleep and cut that hair right off...or put Nair in his shampoo....Bad Mom, real bad Mom! :0

I am so grateful for my son, Nathan! He was also just called to be the Deacon's quorum president and is doing a fabulous job. He's trying so hard to change and do better. He is doing so well with sharing his room and his stuff with Derrick. I am constantly amazed with him. We get on him for A LOT of things....(boy's brains and reasoning processes just seem to make mom's a little nervous sometimes.) But, I know he is just one AMAZING young man!! I love you Bug-Man!! Keep being wonderful!!....and keep that hair short!

The other side of my life

Ohhhhh the boredom! The mundane!!! The RUT!! I am seriously having a bluggy day. Some things just never go away....they NEVER end! Today is a day that doesn't have anything on the schedule until 4:10....and yet....can I do anything fun??.....NO!! I have the consequences of life yelling at me. Anyone ever wonder what my life is really like?....here it is in full color :\

The NEVER ending dishes! And look....I still have a Halloween decoration out....Mr. Frankenstein candy jar behind the faucet...how sad is that?!?!

More never ending delights!! Can you see that the top of the darks pile is almost to the top of the bed and the table (aka..cheap desk)?...blug!

The shove-all closet....another never ending. I organize it and within 2 days it's back to this....HOW???

How in the HECK do these get here? We aren't moving anything. Do my kids just walk on them and mark them out of spite? Moldings are seriously a never ending battle for me!!

The front of my fridge....I thought these little things were suppose to end after the toddler years. Not in this house....my windows look the same!! I was greatly deceived.

And through it all.....this is what my dog does!!

Talk about adding salt to a wound.....ohhhh the life of a dog!!

HA!....I just got this from my friend Nicole's blog.....a perfect comic for my bluggy day....bring on the challenge! (I can't figure out how to make it bigger...get out the binoculars) Thanks Nicole!! It's good being a mom :)

The potential dread of comments

I totally love getting comments from everyone! I love them so much I think my self esteem might be tied to it - ha! Today I logged on and was sooooo excited to see the number increased!! Then I started reading all the fun things.....until I got to my dearest friend and person that I absolutely love and admire...Nicole's....there was dread and a sinking feeling that went all the way to my toes......how could this be???....Nicole simply wrote, " You are tagged".

Now, I've managed to avoid these things so far because usually I'll just read my name at the bottom on someone's blog and think....oh, it must be some other Julie....or some other sister-in-law....but, what excuse do I have when someone actually puts it on my blog? I don't know why this things petrify me. I love reading them on other's blog! So, I will take a step into the unknown and I shall honor my friends tag. (Nicole....if you read this....you better bring me over some of your delicious cookies or brownies!!!!! lol)

8 Favorite TV Shows:
1. Numbers
2. The 11th hour
3. Without a trace
4. The Office
5. The O'Reilley Factor
6. SNL (for the first 5 minutes)
7. Jay Leno (for Headlines and the first few minutes of the monolog)
8. Hallmark Channel movies (so terribly cheesy...I just LOVE them)

8 Things I Did Yesterday
1. Sat in the pouring and wind driven rain for 1 1/2 hours watching a soccer (or should I say mud) game. Even though I had a huge umbrella, I still came back DRENCHED!
2. Gave my opinion on where a shelf should be hung in the boy's room then proceded to get on Bob's nerves by telling him "no, maybe not....why don't you do it this way......."
3. Went to a restaurant that I hated for an end of the year soccer season party.
4. Joined with my daughter in convincing the boys (includes Bob) into not eating at the restaurant I hated for the year end soccer season and going to Olive Garden instead....after the awards were handed out....we succeeded! We just sat at our table sipping water and smiling....then ran accross the street and pigged out on breadsticks....oh so happy!
5. Went grocery shopping with Bob and once again proved my case to him that I'm not sabotaging the budget with frivolous things..."needs" are expensive!

6. Got our family picture proofs from the photographer and became depressed.
7. Mapped out my diet and exercise plans so I can re-take the family pictures in a few months.
8. Started watching the movie "The Hulk" with my hubby at 10:00pm....late night of seeing a green, angry beast. Joked that maybe we should try some of his anger management skills...hmmmmm.

8 Things to Look Forward To
1. Derrick's baptism
2. My family coming to stay for Thanksgiving and supporting Derrick in his baptism decision
3. Christmas
4. Having my diet and exercise plan work so I can retake our family pictures in a few months.
5. Going to Disneyland
6. Getting our shower fixed so I don't have to keep running downstairs to use that shower.
7. Amanda getting her patriarchal blessing
8. Derrick becoming legally ours and getting sealed to us.

8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Zab's
2. Macaroni Grill
3. Maple Garden (in Utah....far-away....boo-hoo)
4. Typhoon
5. Panera
6. Pizza Schmizza
7. Dogs and Suds (even further away...only one left is in Lafayette, IN)
8. Ruth's Chris (although I can never afford it...only ate there on someone else's dime)

8 Things on My Wish List
1. To actually enjoy exercising like so many of my friends do
2. To get new kitchen countertops
3. To hire a maid and a chef
4. To live closer to more extended family
5. To not gain more weight or look/feel older
6. To serve a mission with my hubby....best companion!!
7. For my children to rise up and call me blessed (just had to throw that one in there!!)
8. For me to have at least one day where I don't do anything or say anything stupid!

8 People I Tag to Play Next
1. Margene
2. Debi
3. Tammy
4. Holly
5. Kristin
6. Jamie
7. Erin (I can't leave a comment on your blog....so....you're the Erin that just had a beautiful little girl and now have 2 cuties)
8. Kelly

O-kay.....I must admit that was fun. Thanks Nicole for getting me out of my shell!

SOUP is the reason...it must be!

I think I finally figured out why after all is said and done....I just love living in an area where there are all 4 seasons. Why I deal with the snow, the cold, the rain, the misery of it all instead of enjoying a place where I can happily bask in the warmth of the sun all year round.....here's my discovery......

It's the SOUP!!!

It just wouldn't be right to NOT have a season where I could truly enjoy soup, chili, or stew....like an entire body enjoyment :) There is just something in that crispyy cool November air that brings on the soup. If I lived in CA or AZ....when would I eat my soup? And, if I did eat soup, would I enjoy it as much?....I doubt it because I certainly don't make much soup during the summer....hmmm...moment of ponder.

So, for all you freaky "cold" winter people like me......here's a recipe I just made last night. We seriously LOVED it!! Even my picky eaters requested I make it again. And, for all you birdies basking in the sun...well, there might be a few chilly nights that this will work.....HOPE YOU ENJOY!!

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

1 cube butter
1 finely chopped onion
1/2-1 Cup frozen corn (or 1/2 cup chopped celery, if preferred)
½ pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
½ cup carrots, sliced (I just used some frozen carrots that I had in the freezer...easy!)
¾ cup all-purpose flour
6 ½ cups chicken broth (can use 7 bouillon cubes plus 6 ½ cups water)
2 cups cooked wild rice
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon curry powder
½ teaspoon mustard powder
½ teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup slivered almonds
2 cups nonfat half-and-half (use normal half-and-half if you prefer, but you won't believe how delicious this is with the nonfat variety!)

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion, corn, chicken and carrots and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and sauté 3-4 more minutes. Then add flour and stir well. Transfer mixture to large pot. Over medium heat, gradually pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly until all has been added. Bring just to a boil and then reduce heat to low and let simmer.
Next, add the rice, salt, curry powder, mustard powder, parsley, ground black pepper and almonds. Allow to heat through and then pour in the half-and-half. Let simmer 1 to 1 ½ hours. Be careful not to let the soup come to a boil or it won't thicken properly - let it simmer on low heat, stirring occasionally.
I got this recipe from my kitchen cafe blog.

Booo-tiful!!

Why do I do this each year? It's for the CANDY!

We started off with the "must do" pumpkin carving. I wised up this year and had them do it outside. Very easy clean up!!

Here's how they turned out....Amanda did the CTR, Derrick did the Alien, Nathan did the Ghoul (actually, what is it?)

We got a fogger this year....it ended up getting way too foggy (and it smelled like burnt something)....so I ended up turning it off after the first 10 minutes....but it was a GREAT idea and Bob is just so pleased that I spent money on it....NOT :)

The trick-or-treaters. Oh what fun! Nathan is "my life" (he has various articles on that represent parts of his life) Derrick is Captain Rex from Star Wars Clone Wars, Amanda is a chicken and Toby is a fireman. What a group!! I hope they bring me home lots of milky-ways and almond joys!!! :)