Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween to all of you out there! Is this not the cutest giraffe ever??? And of course our little Cannon is ready for Halloween!!!

Chicken & Salsa Soup

I'm posting this for my college girls! Quick, easy and the best part...really yummy!! I need to make sure I give credit, where credit is due.... This recipe comes from our "new", old neighbor, Candy Owens. Not only has she taught me to knit better but is a fantabulous cook!

1 3/4 cup of water
1-14 oz. can chicken broth
left over cooked chicken or pulled chicken from grocery store rotisserie
1 to 2 tsp. chili powder ( the more the more kick!)
1 can of corn ( drain the liquid)
1 cup of your favorite salsa
and I like to add a couple of diced potatoes to make it more hearty
Simmer (which means cook on low) until heated through.

You can add a dollop (spoonful) of sour cream and also cheese is good on top.
I also like to add baked tortilla chips~ here's how to do it:
buy a pack of corn tortillas (where Cara lives I'm sure it will be easy to find!)
cut them in small slices and bake on a cookie sheet at 400 for about ten minutes (until crispy!)
I will add pictures later to show this step.

Love to all~ c momma

Friends along the way!

Those of you who know me well, know how much I love all of you! There is nothing like a friend ...new or old. Here are a few pictures of those of you I have seen through the last couple of months in our meanderings in the west.


June and EArl Halvas. We became friends with them in Kalamazoo and he was our bishop. They live in Utah and we do miss them but enjoy when we can visit!

Cathy, Lynn Markos and Kelsey meeting up at Noah's in Pleasant Grove. Lynn helps manage Noah's (a place to have any kind of event!) we were so impressed with the facility and concept! Lynn is prego and due very soon!!! She is a joy to be around.

Dawn Winter Douglas, Cathy & Kels and Zandy Russell Dayton. We met up at Rick's sister's pizza joint in Provo. Love seeing these girls! What incredible women they are...

Cathy and MIriam. WE met while working at Albertson's in Provo. Our two oldest kids were the same age and we would get together with our families. Another girl I love! It doesn't matter how long we are apart it always seems like we start where we left off.

Cori Thomas Harris from the Enumclaw days. Another one of my young women who has three beautiful children! Her oldest daughter and a set of twins ... boy and a girl! She and her hubby Mark are one awesome couple.

Another Laurel that I taught and love! Kristi Maikoski from the zoo! We keep finding our way to each other and always will!

Wendi Butler Erikson just happened to drive by while I was in Idaho! She drove around the block and we had a spontaneous reunion! We have had fun experiences through the years and she has four boys with a new baby on the way! She would let me stay at her home before Jamie got their own home. I love their family!!!

Met with Stephanie & Kels at Cocoa Bean. She is one of Kelsey's old roomies and we have had lots of fun through the past few years!

Here's to friends, old and new

without any of you, I would be so blue! Okay that is a little corny but so true....

Creative Juices overflowing!

Here are all the projects we worked on while I was in RExy for a few days.

Jamie's flip flops that I knitted for her. She wanted them for her having her baby.
I ended up making two boppy's because one of my friends who lives in Rexy is pregnant and her youngest is six.... so she has never had the priviledge of using one! They are a great addition to babyhood!

While I was in Idaho this past week we had a creative explosion! Jamie had a list of items she wanted us to work on and here are the samplings.
This little cover is for nursing in public purposes. :)

We recovered this little bouncy seat that was used for all of our kids plus Kylie, as well. The new look is adorable!


Here is the finished new boppy! I was having a hard time moving this under the last two pictures so it is out of order. Oh well! I need my girls!!!

This is the batting that was inside of the old "boppy" cover that Kylie was making snow angels in!

Here is the old boppy and I just cut around it to make the pattern! Super-duper easy!

Kylie in pre-school at BYU-Idaho!

Jamie helping out at school with Kylie's little marching band. It was pretty chilly outside!
Kylie loves going down the railing just like her Nana!

Kylie and I marching around as part of her activity.

Kylie likes marching to her own drum! She was so cute and loves going to school at the young age of 3 1/2!

Cara's trip back to AZ....

Cara left with two friends from college after conference on Sunday. Five minutes after I had dropped her off to meet them she called and told me they had been in a car accident. I wanted you to see the weather conditions and the flashing lights.

The vehicle closest to you was the one Cara was in. Needless to say, I made arrangements for her to fly back to PHoenix and her awesome tennis coach & family came to pick her up. Her back has been a little sore but other than that .... it was an experience that she will never forget.

Celebrating Bopa's birthday!

Jen suggested that we celebrate our Dad's & Bopa's birthday while we were together this past weekend. So a few hours after Cannon's blessing we got together (after the priesthood session) and had dinner in Orem. Cathy, Kylie and Cara here in this shot!

Bopa holding his two grand-darlings while Kelsey is looking and talking on!

Here is the Smith family at Cali-Pizza Kitchen. It was great spending time together and we feel so blessed to have been able to spend a few days together. Happy Birthday honey!!

More of Cannon's blessing day!

Cannon's Great Aunt Jenny, Nanette and Jennifer. Apparently to be a member of our family one has to have at least one "Jennifer" in the family!

Nana and Bopa and their "favorite" grand kids!!!

Our whole family! This is a rare picture to have all of us in it!

Aunt Jamie made this beautiful cake for Cannon. We will have to tell him at a future date how good it tasted!

Kurt, Conrad, Jamie, Kelsey and Cara. I'm not sure where Jen was...

Baby Cannon on his blessing day!

Kurt and Jen with little Cannon on his special day.

Conference Saturday, Cannon James was given a name and a blessing by his Daddy. Aunt Kels, Cara and Jamie were there to see this blessing.

Bopa, Daddy Kurt, Mommy Jen, baby Cannon and Nana.

Baby Cannon growing. October 9, 09

Baby Cannon in August of 09.

More knitting!!!

Since all of my fall and winter clothes are in a box somewhere.... I have to knit my fall wardrobe! What do you think? I knitted the shoulder cover and the cabled hat.