Isn't It About Time?

 

When Jon and I first landed at the airport, mom pretended not be excited.

 

But she really was happy to see us! Haha!

Pennsylvania was full of fun and relaxation and good food and hanging out with family.
I am so happy we were able to see all of the kids. The Siebach boys and Shauna and Courtney (who is pretty much family) were only able to stay for a couple of days, but I am grateful  I was able to see all of those cute boys! I miss them so much. They are growing up way too fast!
Jon was able to stay for only a week, but I stayed for an extra week. I missed Jon, but I loved being able to spend more time with my side of the family!

Here are some mixed pictures of what we did for those two weeks, in no particular order: (Jon took a lot more photos on his phone, which I don't have right now. I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of the twins!! I know for sure Jon has some, at least...)

 

 

Dad with Olivia 

The girls were pretending to be 'mermaids'

out on the rock in the middle of the creek. 

 

 

 JB enjoying a snack (I can't believe there are no

soft letters surrounding him!) That boy

loves anything to do with letters!

 

Chris, Abbie, Carter, and Hamilton on the old railroad bridge.

They loved throwing rocks into the creek below.

 

Jon and some of the older nieces and nephews going for a walk down the trail.

(It used to be a railroad, but PA did a 'Rails to Trails' program.) So we were able

to enjoy going for a few walks along the trails and the old railroad bridges.

 

Olivia was a doll pretty much the whole time!

 

The oldest cousin, Chris, holdest the youngest, Olivia

 

We had a blast playing Mexican Train (and eating lots of snack and

drinking lots of soda! I paid for that later that night...I was so sick! But it's vacation, right?)

Unfortunately, I never won a game... Next time I

won't be sitting next to dad, haha!

 

Ellie enjoying her ice cream at Frosty Freeze!

 

Carter and Marian playing on the see-saw 

 

It may seem odd, but I LOVE these buttered, poppyseed rolls dipped/soaked

in hot chocolate for breakfast. We only do it in Pennsylvania with

my grandma and grandpa, but it's a delicious tradition!

Dad built up a couple of fires while we were there. We roasted hot dogs and

marshmallows a few nights. It was nice to sit around with the adults and talk late

into the night after the kids went to bed.

The stars and moon out there looked amazing. The fields were also glowing

with all of the fireflies. I didn't quite enjoy all of the bats flying

above us, though. At least they didn't come too close...

But next year I am bringing some personal spider spray

for those nasty, pesky daddy long-legs! I get shivers just thinking about them

crawling up my leg!

A bald eagle family lives on the property. This one is just a baby,

but it sure still looked big! It just sat there for a long time,

'talking' to it's parents, who we heard but couldn't see.



 

Last but definitely not least, mom made some homemade bread

which we topped with her homemade rhubarb jam.

I think this bread and jam combo is part of my top five favorite foods list.

She made it on our second to last day there, so just in time!

We also enjoyed going to a small 'zoo' with deer, black bears, goats, chickens, turtles, a zebra, some wolves, and some other odd animals. Emma, Hannah, Mom and I sung in church on the second Sunday we were there. We had a fireworks show in the backyard - I am grateful Jon was there to be in charge of lighting them up. Shauna was keeping an eye on him to make sure he ran away from them fast enough! We mostly stayed at the farm, but that's the way I like it - there isn't any cell phone service out there, so it was kind of nice to be 'away' from texts and phone calls and other responsibilities... :)
I hopefully will get some more pictures off of Jon's phone soon - I know he has more from our trips to Utah and to Pennsylvania.
I am grateful we were able to visit both of our families. Jon and I have both been blessed with wonderful families and friends and we miss everyone so much!




I Remember You

It's official, I am the worst blogger - ever. I think I have titled some past posts: "It's (insert month) Already?!" Or "I'm Baaaack" at least a couple of times now. But thanks to a gentle push/plea from my mother-in-law, I am going to do my best to update more often. I always think about writing something, but then times come and go and by the time I think about it again, the 'story' is old.
Today's blog is a hodge-podge of pictures and things we have been up to since February. (It's been that long!)

First, food. I love to cook. I love that Jon loves to eat what I cook. I have been trying out some new recipes, and have found some new favorites!

 

 Crispy Chicken Burritos

I just made these for the first time yesterday. So easy, soooo good!

Thank you to Pinterest for a winning recipe.

 \

 

Strawberry Yogurt Bundt Cake
So moist, delicious, and really good for summer.
I will definitely be making it again sometime.


 

 

Spinach Pasta Salad

One day, Jon brought home some leftover salad from a catered lunch at work.

I tried to recreate it. It wasn't quite as good, but I'm working on it still!

I'm trying to find the best dressing for it...I think that's what really

makes it or breaks it. It was still really tasty, though.

My favorite/the best grilled veggie sandwich.

Oh my goodness, so good. So flavorful.

My sister Hannah sent me the link to it over a year ago.

I've made it at least 3 times since then, but I really should make it more. 

 

For Jon's birthday, I turned to Pinterest again - this time for a special breakfast recipe.

This was rich, and it's definitely for a 'special occasion'.

Stacked french toast, with strawberries, marscapone, and nutella.

Whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon added on top, of course!

 

Bbq Tortilla Pizza

Also delicious - I just made the chicken in the crockpot, shredded it,

and put it on top of a tortilla, bbq sauce, red onion, and mozzarella cheese.

I just stuck them in the oven for a few minutes, and viola - yum!

 

Grilled Naan

I loved this Indian flatbread. I have made it with chicken curry,

or just to eat plain. I've opened it up like a pita and put taco stuff inside.

It's kind of sweet, and I keep thinking I should make

a cinnamon and sugar dessert with it...mmmm! Some time I will try it out.



 

Of course there have been more delicious meals since February, but I suppose I can't take pictures of EVERYTHING I make...And no one gets too excited to see pictures of mac' and cheese, ramen, hot dogs, or frozen pizzas. Those seem to make it into our menu sometimes, too. :)

In May, we took a trip to Utah to surprise Jon's mom for Mother's Day! I am so grateful that the Knights are very good at keeping surprises secret! Personally, I sometimes have a hard time keeping my mouth shut when I am excited. Jon almost gave it away a couple of times!

We had a wonderful time in Utah visiting family - as always, time flies by way too fast. I always say "If only we had just a couple more days" or even "If only we had one more day..."But I am sure we would be saying that every day, no matter the length of a trip.

Here are some pictures of our Utah trip - I wish I would have taken more of our family! Next time...

 

 

 Jon and I went to Carrabbas with Megan and James. (My old roommate and our friend/now her boyfriend - which I approve of and love...). :)

I really love their Pomegranate Mint Lemonade, and was very happy

to have it again. It's not on the menu, but they will serve it if you ask.

 

 

We stopped by the Provo Temple to take some pictures. We were going to walk around the grounds,

but we were in a bit of a hurry. Plus, it was so hot that day! I did not plan and pack for so many hot days! I think I was wearing a cardigan that day (surprise, surprise).

 

Landing in Utah!! I miss it so much!

We enjoyed watching Dad's dvd of pictures of his life in Alaska when he was younger.

We had a good laugh at this picture of Jon's dad :) I didn't recognize him at all!



We went for a drive and picnic up the canyon with mom and dad Knight.

I miss the snow, and I couldn't believe how much was still up there! Mom and I

only got out of the car for a quick picture. I am used to this Texas heat, I guess. The

men braved the cold and walked around a while and ate outside, though. 

 

 After lunch up the canyon, we walked around temple square and went to the

church history museum. I have been there a few times, but it never gets old.

 

 

 We definitely stayed busy on this trip. Another day, we headed down south for a few hours

and checked out Wes and Kara's new 'cabin'. I put 'cabin' in quotations, because this was

definitely not what I was expecting. I think I really only had spiders on my mind. We

were going down to move in some furniture and clean up the place a bit. I assumed 'cleaning up'

meant dusting for cobwebs and squishing spiders. Thankfully, it was the opposite!

It is a huge cabin, with lots of windows and a beautiful kitchen/great room, etc. Their

master bathroom is from a dream - who doesn't want a nice claw-foot, soaking tub?!

 

Here is the Provo Tabernacle, soon to be temple. I can't believe how much

work they have done! It's amazing. It boggles my mind how they can

dig under/put up stilts/balance/fix/build it. I love it. I am grateful I was

able to attend the tabernacle a few times before it burned - for stake conferences,

graduations, and singing in a choir there, too. I am especially grateful

I was able to play the organ up on the balcony, also. What an experience!

We visited our friends the Alderks who lived down the street from us in Provo.

We stopped at the old place for a minute and I snapped a picture. I miss it a lot

more than I thought I would. There are six years of memories in that house! We've only

been gone a little over a year, but it seems like a small lifetime. I am almost tempted

 to move back, and even live in that house again!

 

Beautiful mountains. I miss going up the canyons on beautiful spring/summer/fall days.

I can't believe we didn't take pictures with any family. Next time!! But we really did have a wonderful time with family and I enjoyed our visit so much.


Next post, our trip to Pennsylvania!

It's February Already?

I feel like I say this all of the time lately, but seriously - time really does fly!!

Obviously, I am failing already at some of my new year resolutions. I haven't been updating by blog weekly, and I haven't read a book a week. I think I will go back to reading one book every two weeks. Along with A Thousand Splendid Suns, I have also read a biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt. I never knew their relationship was so tumultuous...! But it was an interesting read, and I love to learn about historical people. Hopefully there will be a jeopardy question about them one day and I will know it now!

Last night I started reading 'Stand By My Servant Joseph - The Story of the Joseph Knight Family and the Restoration'. (The book is over 500 pages, so it may take all month). Jon and his family are descendants of Joseph Knight/Jesse Knight. Joseph Smith wrote this about the Knights. I think it's pretty neat, and I am blessed to be a part of their family now:

"While I contemplate the virtues and the good qualifications and characteristics of the faithful few, which I am now recording in the Book of the Law of the Lord, of such as have stood by me in every hour of peril, for these fifteen long years past; say for instance; my aged and beloved brother Joseph Knight Senr., who was among the number of the first to administer to my necessities, while I was laboring, in the commencement of the bringing forth of the work of the Lord, and of laying the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: for fifteen years has he been faithful and true, and even handed, and exemplary and virtuous, and kind; never deviating to the right hand nor to the left. Behold he is a righteous man. May God almighty lengthen out the old man's days; and my his trembling, tortured and broken body be renewed, and in the vigor of health turn upon him; if it can by thy will consistently, O God; and it shall be said of him by the sons of Zion, while there is one of them remaining; that this man, was a faithful man in Israel; therefore his name shall never be forgotten. There are his sons Newel Knight and Joseph Knight whose names I record in the Book of the Law of the Lord, with unspeakable delight, for they are my friends".
 -  Joseph Smith, Reflections, August 23, 1842

I love learning and reading about family history, and I am grateful to have great examples on both the Siebach/Oftedahl side, along with the Knight/Henrie side.

Some new things:
- I start teaching piano this week. I now have three students! I am a bit nervous, but my SIL Heidi has given my some great ideas and advice, so I feel more confident. I am sure it will take a little while to get into the swing of teaching again, but hopefully it will all come back to me.
- I got a new calling in church. I am no longer the 1st counselor in Relief Society, but was called yesterday to be the new Primary President. I have no idea what I am doing. :) I have never worked in Primary, and have no kids. But I have great counselors with experience and I know they will be able to help me out and teach me. I just feel like I am more of a follower and like to be given assignments, rather than be a leader and make the assignments. But I am excited to look at Pinterest and get some new/creative ideas. My personal memories of Primary are: Sister Hawkins giving us sliced apples and cheese puffs on paper towels during class, choosing a surprise prize out of the 'grab bag', and the signs we got to hold up during music time - like the mouse, the lion, and the boy and the girl (to show us who sings, and how quietly/loudly). I am a little sad to be leaving RS - I feel like I was finally really getting to know the sisters better. But I am young and I know I will have plenty of opportunities to serve in a lot of different callings.
- I have totally fallen behind on Indexing. All of the easy (or easier) indexing items are no longer there! I suppose I just need to suck it up and try harder to read some more difficult handwriting styles...

That's mostly it for now. Jon and I have been enjoying this Texas weather - 70s in January and February? I can't complain. Although I love and miss the snow and cold, I have been babied lately  and 50 degrees now feels FREEZING! Haha.

A Couple of Things

This past week I was able to go back to Houston to visit with Emma and her kids. It was great to go back and see them all, and with less people there, I got to have the kids' attention even more... :)

We had a lot of fun - we went to the library for story time, had fun at the Natural Museum of Science, explored some beautiful model homes, had butterflies land and fly all over us in the butterfly museum, ate good food, played lots of rounds of 'LIFE' and the card game 'War', battled it out in Mario Kart on the Wii, sang the ABCs and played with letter blocks with JB at least 25 times, and stayed up late watching Downton and Biggest Loser. It was a really fun week. I can't wait to see them again. I'm sorry Jon was only able to be there for a day or two of it, but I know he really enjoyed seeing them again, too. I just wish we could be by everyone! I miss being by family, and I would love to see all of my nieces and nephews more often.

Right before we left for Houston, we met with a member of the Stake Presidency and Jon got called to be the 2nd Counselor in the bishopric! Unfortunately, I missed him being set apart and ordained, but I am excited/nervous for him. I know he will do a good job - I am a bit selfish, though, because I am disappointed I will be sitting alone now. Perhaps I will look around for someone who is also sitting alone and join them.

Today, twelve of us (family, friends) start the Game On! Challenge. It's a diet/exercise/lifestyle game where the goal is to earn points. Eating 5 small, healthy meals a day equal 30 points (6 points each). Getting 7 hours of sleep at night is 10 points. Exercising 20 minutes per day is 20 points. Stopping a bad habit is another 10 points (I think) per day, and also having a daily new (good) habit is another 10 points earned. Drinking 3 liters of water per day also earns you 10 points (I struggle with that one, but I am going to work my hardest!) You also have points taken away when you snack in between/change your habit in the middle of the game/etc. You get a  some weekly bonus points if you lose 1% of your body weight, too.We also have to talk to someone on our team every day (5 points, 2 people on each team), and communicate with someone on an opposing team (another 5 points). I am excited for the challenge, and Elza and I want to win that money prize! (Everyone chipped in $20).

Yesterday Elder Holland visited San Antonio and we had a special stake conference with him. He spoke for about 40 minutes. Jon and I arrived at the stake center an hour early, but we were already in the mid section in the gym. I found out later the people in the front row woke up at 5 AM to be there really really early. He couldn't shake hands, though, since he had to catch a flight right after, so I don't feel too bad that we were so far back. (I mostly wanted to be in the front so I could shake his hand, haha). Also, being in the gym area is a bit distracting - everything echos, and I feel like people let their kids run around a lot more, also. Oh well. It was still very good, and I am grateful we were able to see and hear him speak to us. He left with a blessing on all of us, and it included everyone we pray for and love, so I guess that means all of you were blessed, too!

I finally took down the Christmas tree last night. I had the ornaments taken down a few weeks ago, but the tree and lights were still up. I called it a "Winter Tree" but I suppose that can't work for too long of a time. More like "I am too lazy to stuff the tree parts back into the plastic bags" kind of tree. It feels good to be done with that - now I just have to unpack from my week in Houston, and I hate unpacking...

Books

So, I made a goal yesterday to read one book every two weeks. I think I will change that to one book every week.

I started A Thousand Splendid Suns last night, and finished all 367 pages of it this morning! (Mostly due to the fact I was sick and stayed up late and woke up early).

I bought the book from our library for 50 cents a month or two ago, but just finally picked it up to read it.  I usually don't cry when I read a book, but this one is about two women in Afghanistan who marry in their teens, and later, through sad/awful circumstances, their lives interact and they go from enemies to best friends. I tried putting myself in their position, and for some reason the tears just kept on flowing! The end is bittersweet, but I am glad I finally picked it up and read it.

I read the author's first book, The Kite Runner, in high school for my AP English class, and really liked that one, but loved this one even more.

Anyway, now it's time to choose another book. Mom suggested East of Eden, so I may go with that one next (if the library carries it). Or something to lift my spirits, like Beverly Cleary's Fifteen (for some reason I just LOVE that book, even though it's probably more for tweens/teens).

Any other good books I need to read?

Of Goals and Resolutions

Has it really been since October since I updated my blog?! Crazy. I thought I did it at least once in November. It must have been wishful thinking and I must have just imagined what I thought I wrote.

Well, here's to the new year and to my new resolutions.

And one of them - to blog at least once a week.

Here are a lot of the others:

- read a book every 2 weeks - either books from the library or ones I own (and I haven't read...)
- read the lessons for Sunday School and Relief Society the day before, or even Sunday morning (I do okay with RS, but hardly ever review the lesson for SS)
-  drink 3 liters of water every day (part of "the game")
- make the bed every day (I already do this 99.9% of the time, but I like to have a goal that I KNOW I will/can accomplish; I know, I know - it's a cheat)
- make a budget and stick to it
- save a little money from every paycheck, whether it's $20 or $200, etc.
- do a good deed daily
- plan healthy meals/menus for the week
- do my visiting teaching monthly
- write in my "One Line a Day" memory book every day (I have a hard time writing in my journal, but I can at least write a few lines/thoughts every day!)
- pray morning and night
- exercise at least 20 minutes per day (I would do more, but I know myself better than that. Some days I will do more, but I HAVE to do at least 20. Plus, I am preparing myself for "The Game". I bought the book for my Kindle, and if you want in, let me know :) Here is a link for a bit of information: The Game On! Diet (The book has a lot more info, like calculating points, etc)
- write more thank you notes and letters just because
- read scriptures and/or Ensign every day (and read out loud with Jon, also)
- wake up by 6:30 every morning
- visit Utah sometime this year
- practice piano for at least 30 minutes twice a week (actually practice, not just play the same songs over and over again)
- get to know more of my neighbors
- do more indexing for FamilySearch.org. I was on a roll for a while, but have slowed down lately. My goal is to do 100 names per day
- develop a new talent - I'm not sure what yet, but SOMETHING new/different that I will enjoy

So I am sure I will think of plenty more, and I will strive to do all of these, but I mostly want to focus on health, spirituality, and working with budget/money.

I have my big one-liter water bottle next to me, ready to be drunk. I better get on that - I still have two more to go after that one is gone!

And, I better go track down Jon, because I still need my New Year kiss. He hasn't kissed me ALL YEAR! Haha....(We both fell asleep before midnight. What the heck!)