I am so happy!

During the months of September and October, I went on a sugar and candy binge. I am ashamed to say it, but I am a sugaraholic! I had gained ten pounds back and I was frustrated with my self. I needed to find something to get me off of sugar. I was at the library and found this book, "The Belly Fat Cure", by Jorge Cruise. I took the book home and read through it and decided I wanted to give it a try for one week. I was a little doubtful that it would really work, but I tried it anyway. I ate really good all week and I didn't feel any sugar cravings. I liked what I was eating and I felt better than I had in a long time. I got on the scale this morning and had lost 8 pounds! I was amazed! It all has to do with eating too much sugar and carbs. I am going to keep this habit in my eating lifestyle. It makes me feel good to be off so much sugar and to not crave it and carbs. If you are curious yourself, get the book and give it a week and you too will be amazed. I have 10 more pounds that I want to lose. I think I will get there now that I understand how bad sugar is for our bodies and that eating it and carbs in the right amounts is the ticket to good health and weight loss! Praises for the Belly Fat Cure and Jorge Cruise!

First Snowfall of the Season! Whoo! Hooo!

I couldn't believe all the snow this morning!

This is my rose bush covered in white stuff.

The back yard looks like ole man winter visted there!

This picture shows the depth of the snow. We measured 8 1/2 inches. WOW!

Sorry the tree is a bit blurry.

Nice picture of the mountains above us. Beautiful!

Another picture of how deep the snow really was this morning.

Our tree out front has been kissed by the North wind. Quite pretty! I think winter is finally here!

New digital pics of the grandkids!

Little Spooks and Haunts up at This is the Place Heritage Park

Little Emma riding a pony.

Delphia enjoying a pony ride too!

Look at Chloe enjoying her ride on the pony also.

Chloe, Delphia, Emma and Ruby just hanging out and having fun!

Ashley, Eli and her beloved cast. Meg and baby Braxton. They were hanging out while Erin and I took the four other grand-daughters on a train ride. So much fun!

Here we are on the train. Little Emma in her princess costumn and smiley little Delphia. Delphia is going to be an elephant for Halloween, but we took off her costumn because it was too hot to wear.

Chloe and Ruby dressed for Halloween too. Chloe is going to be a witch for Halloween and Ruby is going to be Jessie from Toy Story.

Erin and Josie and another cute little girl going for a ride on the train.

Our train conductor.

I just love all these little girls. They are my sweet little angels and they make me just want to smile!

Here is a silly picture of them not cooperating too well!

We had a fun day together and I was glad we could all go up there together last Thursday. I love my daughters and my daughter in law, Meg is really like one of my daughters though. We all have a great time together. Little Braxton slept most of the time we were there and Eli and Josie were really good too. They had trick or treating for the kids and train rides and pony rides and just alot of good old fun up there for the kids. I think they all really had a good time. I know that I did. I know also that I was really tired by the time I came home. So if I was tired, I know that my grand-daughters were tired too! We had a fun day!

Pineapple-Gingerbread Upside-Down Cake!

I found this recipe and it is sooooo delicious! I absolutely love the way the spice cake contrasts with the sweetness of the pineapple. I thought I would share pictures and the recipe. I hope you will all try it. So good with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream! YUM!

PINEAPPLE-GINGERBREAD UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

FOR THE TOPPING:

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter

2/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1 can 20 ounces pineapple tidbits,

drained and patted dry with paper

towels.

FOR THE CAKE:

3/4 cup boiling water

1/2 cup dark molasses

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, softened

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 large egg yolk

MAKE THE TOPPING:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch round nonstick cake pan and dust with flour.

2. Heat the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until foaming. Stir in the brown sugar, turn the heat to low, and cook, whisking, for 2 minutes. Scrape the mixture into the prepared cake pan and tilt the pan back and forth to cover. Arrange the pineapple tidbits around the top of the sugar mixture. Set aside.

MAKE THE CAKE:

1. Pour the boiling water into a glass measureing cup and stir in the molasses andbaking soda. Set aside to cool. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.

2. Combine the butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and beat until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice as necessary. Beat in half the molasses mixture on medium speed and then half the flour mixture. Scrape down the bowl and repeat with the remaining molasses mixture and the remaining flour mixture.

3. Pour the batter over the pineapple, gently spreading it into an even layer. Bake until the cake is set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let stand for 5 minutes.

4. Holding the pan and a plate together firmly with oven mitts, invert the cake onto the plate. If necessary, replace any fruit stuck to the pan. Let the cake cool for 20 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature. Store uneaten cake in a cake keeper, or wrap loosely in plastic and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.

ENJOY! I LOVE IT. IT IS A KEEPER OF A RECIPE! PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK IF YOU TRY IT.

New digital scrapbook page!

My nephew Cory Thompson is engaged to this cute young lady. I haven't met her yet, but hear a lot of wonderful things about her from Cindy. They make a cute couple and I am so happy and excited for the both of them. I decided I needed to do a picture of this cute couple. I hope they are having a good time preparing for their wedding. It is an exciting time in a couples life. Lyndon and I were married in December and I loved getting married at that time of year. Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I am looking forward to it again this year and with this up coming wedding it will make it all the more special.

Stake Conference Weekend

We had a wonderful Stake Conference! We had the adult meeting saturday night and did a dinner for the Stake Presidency and wives and for Elder Keetch and his wife. It was delicious and then we attended the Saturday evening session of the conference. It was so good and I gained so much by being there. The Sunday morning youth fireside was really good. It was at 8:00 a.m. and then I had to practice with the choir for the conference at 9:00 a.m. It was fun to sing with the choir. Music truly helps bring the spirit to the meeting. Plus I got to sit in nice comfortable seats. Then the conference began at 10:00 a.m. All of the speakers did a wonderful job. I loved Elder Higgs talk and after he spoke Mikhail Bain and Heather Higgs spoke. They are two lovely young women in our stake. They talked on service and seminary. Then Elder Von Keetch spoke to us. He talked about many things, but mostly about service to others. One of the quotes her shared with us that he said is on a plaque in their home says this..."If you don't like your lot in life....Build a Service Station." I loved it and am going to make a plaque to go in our home with that saying. It really struck me! I am so grateful for my membership in the church. I am grateful for my knowledge of it and for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know it is true, beyond a shadow of a doubt and have always known it. I am so blessed. I have a wonderful husband and strong and wonderful children and grandchildren. I love them all and I am so glad and blessed to call them my own.
Life is truly good through the ups and the downs. We learn from all these experiences and they are all for our good.