Mother's Day Muffins

So my mom and I saw this muffin tin at IKEA a while back... but we didn't get it.
(I don't know if you can tell, but the muffin cups are tall and skinny... super cute...)

And there are really cute paper cups to go with it.

And since then, my mom has mentioned several time that she wishes she HAD gotten it.

So I bought 2 of them for her for Mother's Day (and cups, of course).

And made muffins for breakfast.

And they were so good, I thought I'd share the recipe :)
(I mixed and matched a few recipes I found online)

Orange Cranberry Muffins
375 degree oven
10-12 minutes**
Yeild: 12

3/4 cups dried cranberries
Juice of one orange
- Put juice and cranberries in a small saucepan. You may want to add just little water if you don't get much juice (liquid should cover about half the berries). Simmer for 5 minutes to rehydrate the cranberries. Remove from heat.

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tb orange zest

- Mix together well in a medium bowl and set aside.

2 eggs (at room temperature)
6 oz. cup of Orange yogurt (I used Yoplait's Light Orange Creme)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
- In a small bowl beat eggs well. Add yogurt and oil and mix thoroughly. Pour into dry ingredients and mix until moist. Consistency will be more like an extra sticky cookie dough than a batter.
- Fold in cranberries and separate evenly into lined or greased/floured muffin tins.

3 Tb sugar
2 Tb flour
1 Tb COLD butter
- Cut together with a fork and sprinkle over each muffin.

Cook and ENJOY***!


**Cooking time will vary. Muffins usually take 20-25 minutes to cook. The provided time is when using these tall, skinny muffin tins and a convection oven. Just watch and learn! :)

***As always, best when enjoyed still warm. May be made in advance and frozen. If frozen, thaw overnight then reheat in the oven, covered with tin foil.

Back to the Real World...

'Tis the season for trying to remember what goals we set last year, wondering why we even set New Years Resolutions since we always forget them and then go on making them again...

...oh the human race...

And yet I do it too. Mind you I figure that if I write them down, I have no excuses for forgetting, right? :)

I always set smaller "goals" (really just things I want to do) for the Christmas break. Things I want to do to maximize my time off and enjoy this time of the year.

Some of the things I had on my list (which I completed) this year include:
See the lights at Temple Square
Knit a scarf (ok... I cheat... I use a loom... and I'm not quite done yet)
Do a puzzle (technically I did 2... one with Jessie and another on my own)
Make mint fudge
Make our traditional Holiday food items with Mom (Christmas braids, candies, etc.)
Finish my book (I've been so tired and busy lately that I'd had it sitting around forever)
Give really meaningful gifts
Be social on New Year's Eve
See friends in town (missed seeing Camille's crew -- I was sick -- and Katie's crew :( -- hopefully I'll catch the Pondster before she heads back to Cali)

I really wanted to go skiing over the break, but it just didn't happen.

Other things I did:
Spoiled the Cal-bear :)
Went to Narnia (Voyage of the Dawn Treader) and out to Chili's with some friends
Finally re-watched INCEPTION (still soooo good!)
Saw A BEE MOVIE
Played lots games (and never won :( -- except for Mario Kart...)
Watched a bunch of LIE TO ME episodes
Music, music and more music
Family time! :)
Watched a few traditional Christmas movies
Cleaned and organized to make construction a little more sane
Worked out
Slept in



And tomorrow... it's back to school.

The good thing about this is having a schedule.
And institute is starting up again.
And Thursday is Temple Night.

It's already after 11?

Darn.

I better go to sleep...

Well, hello there!

Ok... considering the fact that I haven't written anything since... February? (wow...) You are all probably expecting an update... here is the [very] short version:

1- Mitch got his mission call the first week of March to Sapporo, Japan. He actually said a few days earlier that he felt like he was jinxing himself, but that if he could choose his own mission, he would go to Northern Japan... I guess it wasn't a jinx! He was like a little boy on Christmas morning:
Notice the dazed look? Yeah... he was in blissful disbelief.

2- Mitch left for the MTC (Missionary Training Center) on May 19th. Matt, Michelle and Callan were able to come down for the farewell!

The Oh-So-Handsome Missionary:

The Fabulous Family:


And the most delightfully, darling, chunk of a nephew around!:Mitchell is absolutely loving the MTC and is devouring the Japanese language. He's always had a thing for Japanese culture and language, though -- so we aren't surprised :)

3- School ended. I officially survived my first year of teaching! (With no parents yelling at me either... though I was assumed to be a HS/College aide more than once...) Once the year was over, I spent the next week cleaning out my classroom for the summer, sorting supplies, etc. It's a never-ending job! I miss my kiddies, but it's nice to have the summer off and still get the same paychecks! ;)

4- The week after cleaning and before starting #5, I got to see my dear friend, Camille, her hubby, Cody, and their darling boy Jaden! They were in town for a bit during their crazy 3-week road trip so we took a morning to enjoy a Smoochie Smoothie :) I also got to go to my friend, Greg's, cabin at Bear Lake.

5- I've been working EFY again. I worked three weeks straight, had last week and this week off then go back next week. I love it! I had forgotten how exhausting being a counselor is, though. All three of my groups have somehow worked out with more guys than girls. For anyone who has been to or done EFY, you know that this is unheard of... and yet this year is crazy common. I had it 3 weeks in a row! And 2 of those weeks it was two guy counselors with me! Craziness! (My girls have been loving it... ;) )

6- Last week I was actually somewhat social! (Ok... I have had a few other sporadic social events since summer started...) I went to a birthday party one night and a house party another night.

I also went out to lunch with some of the girls from High School and was pleasantly surprised when another of my best friends, Katie, walked in the door with her baby, Kyson! They're living in Texas, but randomly decided to drive up since her husband wasn't in school and she was still on maternity leave -- it pretty much made my day!

7- Today Alex (16 and 6'1") and Jackson (13 and 6'2") left for a 19-day trip. They are on the 100th anniversary Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree and I'm pretty sure that they were more excited than they were willing to display... they get to tour in NY, PA and DC as well as camp and go to Busch Gardens... I'd be excited! (I love roller coasters...) The rule at our house is that to go they have to be an Eagle Scout... all four of my brothers have gone on the Jamboree now. Isn't that awesome? :)

8- Tonight... I'm going to the Days of '47 Rodeo!

How was that for an update? Still breathing? Seeing straight? Good...

♥ you all! :)

I Love To See The Temple...

I went inside today! :)

Running through the last few months . . . .

OK

I'm lame.
I have updated my blog for almost 3 months.

3 MONTHS!!!

Do you realize what has transpired during this time?

***ALOT***

So here I am, and I'll do a quick swing through of life and maybe I'll be a little better at staying up-to-date :)


So let's start with the most important:



Isn't he an adorable boy? He is.
My first nephew -- Matthew Callan Turner (Callan)

Born August 4, 2009 -- 6lbs 4oz and 20in long.

I can't wait to get him in my hands! (they're in Seattle)


And there is also:


Jaden Bradley Cutler
My surrogate nephew! Another precious soul :)
(His mom is Camille - my "sister" who has been my best friend since Kindergarten - so I'm claiming him too!)

Born October 2, 2009 -- 8lbs 5oz and 20in long.

Again -- far away in Indiana. :(

I love babies! :)


So, what have I been doing other than getting excited about my sister-in-law and best friend bringing these beautiful little boys into the world?

Well, I bought this:

And I love it!
Silver 2009 Mazda3 Hatchback

It had 16 miles on it when I bought it.

Now it has almost 3000.
That's what happens when you drive about 50 miles a day!

Why am I driving 50 miles a day?

Because I work here:



Where I teach First Grade.

20 miles there + 20 miles back + other errands = approx. 50 miles/day

I had 28 students, but my . . . challenging . . . student is gone for the time being.
27 6/7 year olds are plenty though!

I love them.

They are exhausting, but I love them!

On Wednesday we went on a field trip to Wheelers Farm.

It was POURING rain.

We were SOAKED!

So we went back to the school early,
ate lunch in our classroom,
played musical chairs for a birthday game,
and watched:




Day well spent! :)

And now, I'm listening to conference (you can watch it here)and enjoying my long weekend.

Life is good :)

Bishop Turner

We got a new Stake Presidency about a month ago. I predicted correctly that my incredible institute teacher would be the new Stake President (I miss him in class!). What I didn't predict is that now-President Blair Morris would be taking our own Bishop Reed Merkley as a counselor.

But as soon as we knew that, I was pretty sure who the bishop would be!

I was right :)

Yesterday (July 12th), my Dad was set apart as the new Bishop in the Park Meadows Ward in the Centerville, UT Stake of Zion.

Love you, Daddy!

It's all about the kids!

Back on the 3rd I was unaware of having work off until I was already up and ready for the day (and wondering why on earth Mitch was still in his PJs). So I "randomly" decided to fill out the online application for Granite School District with all my spare time.

I was definitely inspired.

Most of the applications that I've filled out have asked about grade preferences, etc., but this one didn't. Those of you with whom I've discussed my teaching career know that I was quite opinionated when it came to the grade(s) I wanted to teach:

I'm an upper-grade teacher.

5th would be the ideal position.

I don't even KNOW how to PROCESS information at a beginning level.

Good thing Heavenly Father knows me better than I know myself :)

So I submitted the application and didn't really think much of it until I received a call from a principal Monday morning -- she wanted to interview me the next day for a 1st grade position at her school.

My thoughts: First grade? No. But interview practice is always good!

So Tuesday I drove 23 minutes to Rolling Meadows Elementary School in West Valley City. I was the first interview of the day and Mrs. Kayla MacKay would be interviewing all week. She was an absolute sweetheart! One of the 1st grade teachers (Cherrie) was also in the room for the interview and she, too, was one of the sweetest ladies. I didn't even know them and they made me feel loved and welcomed as though they'd known me for years. I left the interview loving them.

Suddenly all thoughts went to 1st grade.
Classroom themes -- lesson ideas -- just how cute those kids are!

Friday morning (July 10th) -- just one week after submitting my application -- I was offered the job. I was feeling so good about it, but it took me by such surprise that I asked Kayla if I could have the weekend to think about it. As soon as I got off the phone, I ran into my dad's office and had a heart-to-heart. He made me recognize how much trust and confidence Kayla was putting in me -- a first year teacher -- to offer me a position teaching first grade. Wow! She picked ME. Not someone with a lot of experience.

ME

So I prayed. I still felt good about it. I called Kayla back and I accepted the job. I didn't need the weekend.

She was thrilled!

She told me that right after she had spoken with me she called Jenny (the third teacher) and Cherrie to tell them that I wanted to think about it. Cherrie is such a sweetheart! Kayla told me that Cherrie mentioned that maybe I just needed some time to pray about it . . . and that she would think of me when she went to the temple later that day. Kayla expressed to me her desire that I would realize I wanted them as much as they wanted me. She immediately called the other two teachers back.

I am so blessed to not only have found a job, but to have the opportunity to work with such wonderful women!

Yep. Heavenly Father's plan is a whole lot better than my own. :)

Brownie is the royal dog of Belgium . . . and other things I learned in Europe

So while I was being a good girl in Europe and writing in my journal daily I started jotting down a list of funny little things I learned while I was there. For the most part, these are just random observations, but a few have stories behind them (ask what they are and I might tell you ;) ). I might add more to list later, but here's what I have for now. Enjoy!

• Tube strikes in London are a lot harder to work around and deal with than Metro strikes in Paris.
  
  
• The Netherlands are full of LARGE women. And by large, I mean tall.
  
  
• When the light turns green in Geneva you should already be moving. You will be honked at.
  
  
• You can't buy postcards -- or anything but McDonalds -- at night in Lichtenstein.
  
  
• McDonalds restaurants are EVERYWHERE! They are officially taking over the world.
  
  
• Utah's grid system ROCKS!
  
  
• Germans eat a TON of food!
  
  
• I can read every plaque and look at every item in a Museum before Mitch finishes a single room.
  
  
• Munich thunderstorms are awesome -- even though they are missing the thunder echoing through the canyons that we have in Utah and the torrents of rain we had in Thailand.
  
  
• Anne Frank's birthday is June 12. She would have been 80.
  
  
• Hallstatt really is a great resting point between Salzburg and Vienna.
  
  
• Good tomato soup is heavenly :).
  
  
• Peter and Monique Bearts are awesome.
  
  
• I ♥ Bad Mitterndorf.
  
  
• Despite all the pictures, Mozart Balls are NOT green inside!
  
  
• BILLA grocery stores have great sandwiches.
  
  
• The countryside between Salzburg and Vienna is made for sledding.
  
  
• I remember French better than I though I did.
  
  
• I still know my way around the Metro.
  
  
• I still prefer the Metro to the Tube!
  
  
• Living in Paris for 3 months supposedly means that I know everything about Paris/France -- from the population size to the name and use of EVERY building!
  
  
• When my mind starts shutting down, I can't decipher between French and English.
  
  
• They tell you that admission to the gardens at the Palace of Versailles are free -- what they don't tell you is that from April 1 - Oct 31 admission is 8 Euros/per person on Sundays.
  
  
• I found a really really good incentive to stay in shape.
  
  
• I'm "addicted" to the gym.
  
  
• If they reprint your boarding passes at the gate, prepare yourself for trouble.
  
  
• My dad has the best truths for "2 Truths and a Lie" EVER.
  
  
• My family is full of loud sleepers. Luckily, I'm not one of them.
  
  
• I've got a whole new list of reasons to get married!
  

Life is Grand!

Can I just say that I LOVE MY LIFE?!? Seriously.

First of all -- I was home for the week (which is always relaxing) and Conference was AMAZING. As I was driving back to Provo after the weekend home, I was thinking about the talks and which one I would label as my "favorite" should someone ask. Well, I don't have one. There isn't even one that stands out more than the others because ALL of them were amazing, wonderful, and directed toward me. I think it was the first time in my life that I didn't even start to doze while watching. Wow. You can REWATCH ANY OF THE TALKS HERE!

Secondly -- I'M GOING BACK TO EUROPE!!! Wahoo!!! My parents told my three younger brothers and I that we're going to Europe for two and a half weeks this summer and I CAN'T WAIT! We'll be starting off in London on June 8th (been there) and ending in PARIS on June 23rd (OBVIOUSLY I've been there ;) -- and I can't wait to go back to my "second home") and we'll be hitting Amsterdam, Vienna, and Frankfurt in between . . . possibly more.

Thirdly -- Yesterday I was feeling all sorts of love from my friends. I have the greatest friends. Ever. Hands down. I also have the greatest family. And I'm getting a nephew in August! :)

Finally -- I had my LAST BYU observation yesterday. Don't worry -- I've really passed! (Not that I was worried) But it's done. Over. I teach a short day tomorrow, have Thursday and Friday off, teach all next week and then Graduate. Crazy.

I'll repeat -- I LOVE MY LIFE!!! :)