Advent Calendar

**edited below**

So, we have this great Advent Calendar that Andrew bought for me the first Christmas that we were married. As a child he always had an advent calendar, and he wanted to continue the tradition. I absolutely love ours, it is beautiful, and has cute little drawers in it for each day of the month. So, my question to you wonderful readers, what should I fill the little drawers up with? Keep in mind that we are on a tight budget, and we have a toddler who is easy to please.

Here are some ideas that we have come up with so far:

a cup of hot chocolate
1 extra show of his choice
truman chooses what's for dinner
take a christmas treat to someone
packet of stickers

This is all I have come up with, and I am desperate for help. We also have some little candies that we are putting in on a few days, but we don't want it to be full of candy because we limit the amount of sweets he gets. So, what are you suggestions?

**this is our final list, but of course depending on weather we may have to switch a few things around.

1) cup of hot chocolate

2) mini pkg. m&m's

3) write a letter to santa

4) 2 hershey kiss candies

5) game of hide & seek

6) toy: bouncy ball

7) Zoolights

8) wrap christmas gifts

9) pkg. of gummy bears

10) toy: balloon

11) make c-mas cut out cookies

12) deliver c-mas cut out cookies to church families

13) toy: stickers

14) Drive around neighborhood to look @ lights

15) make an ornament

16) family walk or bike ride

17) hot chocolate (I can fit a little envelope of hot cocoa in the drawer)

18) donate food items to food bank

19) toy: key chain

20) family game night

21) Inflatable Kingdom

22) playdate with a friend

23) Christmas Nativity Movie

24) Christmas Nativity Felt Story

I was going to add in read a Christmas book or sing a Christmas carol, but we've already been doing that, so that wouldn't feel very special to him. I appreciate the suggestions I have been give so far, and believe me, I am open to more, so please feel free to leave more ideas in your comments. Thanks!

Thankful...

You know at this time of the year we think a lot about what we are most thankful for. Quite often the things that come to mind are: family, friends, a home to live in, a job, etc. These things are all fine and good, but I am grateful for these things every day of my life.

Tonight I attended our ward primary leadership training meeting, and it was fantastic. I came away from it feeling re-energized in my calling, ready to take extra steps at teaching my class more about the gospel, and making sure the kids in my class know that I love them. I truly am thankful for my calling as the CTR 7 teacher. I have exceptional kids in my class; they all behave well, they are fun, kind, and most importantly they love the gospel.

I love my calling, and at this time of year, I am very thankful for all the above things I mentioned, but I am most thankful for the gospel in my life. For the person it has shaped me to be. For the knowledge I have of the life hereafter. For the comfort it gives me during times of trial, and during the good times. I feel fortunate to have been raised LDS, and to have had a strong testimony my entire life. My testimony has never waivered. I have always known the gospel was true, and that I would always be a worthy member. It is a part of who I am, and I would never be without it.

What are you most thankful for at this time of Thanksgiving?

Halloween 2009

I should have made this post a long time ago, but time has gotten away from me, and so it is being shared now. Better late than never, right?

We went to Seattle for Halloween weekend. We drove up on Friday because we had tickets to a concert with my in-laws that night. We saw Vienna Teng and she was fantastic. This was our first time to the Edmonds Performing Arts Center and it was an awesome show. We loved the close location, and especially not having to battle the Seattle traffic to get downtown. Those of you that do not know Vienna's music, and if you're a music lover and like to learn about new musicians, I highly recommend her music. She is fantasticly talented, has a beautiful voice, and can play the piano like nobodies business.

Saturday was filled with wonderful things; I got my hair cut, (I have not been able to find a good hairstylist here in Oregon for the entire 5 years that we have lived here - sad, but true. So, I always make an appt. to see my regular gal, Chris, and I am NEVER disappointed), I finished the baby quilt that I made for some friends of ours that we were able to see on Sunday before heading home, Truman took a good nap, Andrew went to the movies with Rob & family, I got to spend some quality girl time with my Mom, we went Trunk or Treating, ate yummy food with Andrew's family, and just had a great day.

We went to our ward Halloween party for Family Home Evening the Monday prior to Halloween, and Truman loved saying "trick or treat" to the senior ward members who were handing out candy. It was very cute, and this was his first time going out and getting candy. Last year we just stuck close to home, and didn't go out. He was younger then, so we could get away with it, but now we're in it until we decide he's too old to go trick or treating anymore.

Happy Birthday Andrew!!!

Today is my awesome husbands birthday. I'm thankful that he is so supportive, loving and kind, especially these last few weeks while I have been sick. Last year, Andrew's birthday wasn't the best, if you recall he was hospitalized and only released a couple of days prior to his birthday. This year I know his birthday will be much better because I have special things planned for him.

Happy Birthday Andrew! I feel very blessed to have you for my husband. You are my very best friend, and I love you very, very much. Enjoy your Birthday 'cause you deserve it.

**P.S. I've made lots of post recently, so be sure to scroll down to read the others.**

He listens

Tonight I was bustling around the house getting things in order for our housesitter to come while we're gone for the funeral, when I listened to the baby monitor and heard Truman say this: "heavenly father, please help me to not be scared in my bed. protect me. Bless grandma Lee. and Grandma Willis too. Bring Daddy home safe tonight. Name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

You can imagine my thoughts when I heard this. Tears filled my eyes, and I realized, he does listen when we have family prayer. He knows who to pray for, and what to pray for. Recently there have been times when he is scared, and we have told him that he can always say a prayer to Heavenly Father because he listens, and he can give him comfort. Evidently he needed the comfort tonight. So sweet.

Chicken Pot Pie

1 box pillsbury pie crust
1 - 16 oz. pkg frozen carrots & green peas blend
1 can cream of potato soup
1 celery stock, chopped
2 cans Kirkland chicken chunks
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 tsp. salt


Start with my white sauce recipe and then add chicken broth, combine ingredients at low to medium heat. Add all remaining ingredients. Simmer on medium heat until veggies are almost cooked through. Put one pastry shell into 9 in. pie plate, then add the chicken mixture. Place the other pastry shell over top, and crimp the sides together & flute. (I personally don't "flute" well, so I just made sure they were crimped together well) Be sure to cut a couple of slits into the top of the shell for steam to escape. Bake at 400 for 9-12 minutes. Leftovers only keep for a few days, and I would cover it with foil and reheat in the oven vs. the microwave. In the micro it would turn to mush.

We really liked this. The only thing I would do differently is buy the small individual size pie shells. This would be easier for the pie to stay together and look pretty. Once you cut into the large pie all the inside ingredients slide right out, and it doesn't make the prettiest presentation. We serve our pot pie over mashed potatoes because we're potato lovers at our house. It was great, and I will definitely be making this again really soon.

White Chicken Lasagna

2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts, cooked, and chopped
1 - 15 oz. container ricotta cheese
1/2 pkg. frozen chopped spinach
1 egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. dried basil, crushed
1 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
6 oven ready lasagna noodles

Prepare white sauce recipe from my previous post with my additions for the lasagna recipe.

Cut up cooked chicken into bite size pieces. In a separate bowl combine: spinach, ricotta cheese, basil, oregano, garlic, and the egg. Mix ingredients together thoroughly. Place 1/2 cup of sauce mixture into bottom of 8x8 baking dish. Then add 2 lasagna noodles on top. Add half of the ricotta cheese mixture to the top of the noodles, then add half of the chicken. Drizzle some of the sauce mixture over the top of the chicken, then repeat layers. After repeating the layers, then add your 2 remaining lasagna noodles to the top of the chicken, and pour remaining cheese mixture over the top of the noodles. This should be enough to coat the entire top of the lasagna. Bake at 375 for 35-45 minutes. Serve with garlic french bread, and green salad.

This turned out absolutely fantastic. I had never thought to do a White Lasagna before until I read my friend Shannon's blog post about her Spinach Alfredo Lasagna recipe. I tweeked the recipe a tiny bit because I didn't have sausage on hand, and I don't care for jarred alfredo sauce, so I made my own. If anyone has a great alfredo recipe to share, let me know because I'd love to have it. We loved this so much, and I can't wait to make it again soon. Thanks for posting the recipe Shannon.