Recital time!

Clarissa and Isabella had a great time going to dance on Wednesdays this past year and last Friday we went and watched them perform. Here is a picture right before we left. They both love to dance. Clarissa has a great memory for the routines and would remind the teacher at times what they were supposed to do next and Isabella really feels the beat and gets into it. I on the other hand felt like it was my last day of my senior year when we left the recital......done with that for a while.

Women's Conference 2009

This year I went with my Best friend Staleen. We had many adventures, one of them being we ran out of gas (we were distracted by the scenery, 0r talking something like that!) A kind Schwann man came to our rescue and brought us some gas from the nearby gas station. We had a good laugh.

All of the speakers at the conference did an amazing job. So much time and effort was spent on preparing their messages and it showed. I loved being there. It was my fifth year and I can't imagine missing a year. I am strengthened and learn so much each year.

Lisa Brown (daughter to Margaret Lifferth) and I...we are second cousins

Me, Margie Lifferth, and Staleen


Elaine Dalton and I

Staleen and I on the first day.

"I'm a mean 'ole LION!"

Jens was recently in a play. He really enjoyed preparing for it, memorizing his lines and performing in it. He was very successful in delivering his lines so all could hear. He was very enjoyable to watch because of how well he embraced his character. He was well casted for the part since he was such a humorous lion. Many people think Jens is shy....you wouldn't think that about him after watching him perform. He was great fun to watch. Here are a few photos from it. Note: the facial hair is make-up....It was kind of a shock for us to see him with it the first time.....hee hee.

Winter Wonders:

Clarissa's Birthday Party

Clarissa turned 11 and invited some friends over for a Polar Express ~Hot Chocolate~ Birthday Party. They played musical chairs, ate pizza bread, opened presents and then drank Hot Chocolate while watching Polar Express. The peppermint whipped cream was a hit.

Sledding:

behind a pick-up and this is the driver:

and the riders:











Jens celebrated his birthday:

with a big boom!

Maggie the Nubian Goat had her babies:

Jens requested Acetylene bombs for his birthday. The booms got progressively louder from one balloon to six. The video is of the sixth. You could hear it echo off the mountain and feel it under your shoes. It really startled me. But Jens and the other boys loved it.

Happy 15th birthday Jens!

Happy New Year!

We hope everyone had a nice Christmas, as they reflected upon the birth of our Saviour and enjoyed family and friends.

Ours Christmas was good. We felt blessed to be in a warm home, yummy food and happy children. We only had one accident so far this year (2009) instead of two like last year(2008), so that is always a bonus :)

Jens, a freshman, who will turn 15 on Jan. 25th is enjoying theater. He enjoys plays and performing. He has talent that we look forward to seeing him improve even more these next three years. His teenage humor and antics are emerging and bringing us joy. He takes out the garbage and does his homework with out being asked each day. He enjoys his motorbike and our new dog... Milkshake.
He played football this past fall and enjoyed some of the practices and some of the games, but he would rather spend his time on other things. Luckily he is still into building things, Legos, (not girls as much...yeah! for now) and a fun night for him would be spent with his friends and an Xbox 360. He built a goat ramp for the goats that they love. He cut hay and bailed it up this past summer for his Dad. He asked for a phone for Christmas. Santa didn't bring one but, Clarissa, who drew his name this year surprised him with one.
He also asked for and received his patriarchal blessing this past year. It was a neat experience for him, his parents and grandparents. I like watching him read it and digest it. Listening to the blessing humbled me, he has a lot of potential. It is a neat thing to go into his room at night and see him reading his scriptures in bed. He will be attending driver's ed this coming year and getting his driver's license next year. We know our time is limited with him and we are starting to feel a little anxious. He has a desire to serve a mission and go to college.

Clarissa, 5th grade, just turned 11. We are excited for her! The last three months we have seen her mature and grow past some of the Autism. She has increased eye contact and socialization. She is doing better with conversations. She is getting really good at expressing herself and how she feels. We are working on her voice volume as she does this, if you know what I mean :) She still suffers from anxiety and getting past something she wants to do, versus what a teacher or therapist desires. She is funny and has a great memory, compelled to tell the truth and follow routines. She will unload the dishwasher each day without complaining and rarely being asked. She enjoys watching T.V. , especially America's Funniest Home Videos and going to see movies. She loves Milkshake, the four goats and three cats. Every week she and I drive an hour away for one hour of speech therapy and occupational therapy. We both enjoy this time together. She is enjoying her new friend Ivree and loves her cousins. This past Christmas we learned she is very good at Disney Scene It. She will see a brief clip from some movie and everyone else will be clueless, but she will know which movie it is from. She will go to Mutual next year....GASP!

E. Dain, 4th grade, turned 9 this past summer. He is the peaceful one in the home. Always having the desire to do as his parents and teachers say.Though at times can be critical of those who don't follow the rules...something we are working on. He excels in his school work. He is in the gifted class with many subjects in school, he is a smart little guy and knows alot. He has always been and continues to be a source of enjoyment and usually always happy....but when he is sad and cries, it is earth shaking and the Heavens pour down the rain to mourn with him, it seems. He is quite the chef and will make some impressive things. Food makes him very happy and he will make his family members happy by making them meals. I came home from somewhere on day and he had made the meal for Peter and the children. He has many friends at school and is perfect for his sisters who each need him in different ways. He is very doting on them. He is best friends with his brother Jens. With Jens' increased time in being away from home, Dain found this to be a huge trial this past yr. and really missed his brother. He is adjusting to seeing less of his older brother now ~tear~. He is a brute, physically, and I am glad he wouldn't want to hurt me, because if he ever wanted to ram his head into my abdomen he would probably do some serious damage. Lucky for me he is a gentle giant. He loves scouts every Wed. and helps Jens with the trash..emptying all the trash in the house on Saturdays.

Isabella, 2nd grade, just turned 7 this past summer. She is looking forward to being baptized on her next birthday. She can be very loving, always giving hugs. I recently asked her who she thought was beautiful. She said "MY MOM"! I am happy to say she has good taste :) She has a great sense of style like her sister and she loves clothes, hats, makeup and dressing up to go to town, purse and all. She tends to need the most attention and at times really stumps and perplexes me. We don't know if it is just her, or, if it is because she is the baby of the family....maybe both. She has a talent of sensing what others are feeling and what they need. She has recently started helping me cut vegetables for dinner each night and she and I have both been pleased with this arrangement. She also helps Clarissa unload the dishwasher and if she feels like cleaning, she is an amazing cleaner. She is the best at irritating her brothers and sisters, especially Jens (they have a love/hate relationship).We are starting to see lots of DRAMA coming from her little mind through her moods. Life, either good or bad, seems to be intensified 100 percent for her. She would prefer to not work or go to school unless it is her idea, so this year has been some what of a trial. She usually comes around. (Yikes--Dad and Mom you are probably laughing right now and saying PAYBACK!--please stop! :) Yes, she might be the one that will help me to become more patient. She is quite the skip-bo player and wants to play it often as a family. She loves it when the family is together. She can't wait until she can start attending achievement days next summer. She enjoys coloring, making love notes for us and anything creative.

Peter and I are going to celebrate 16 years of marriage this coming February. We have learned alot from each other and love each other very much.
I enjoy watching him smile in the evenings as I tell him of the cute things the children have done or said. Peter is a hard worker and recently took on a two month job (during his break from farming) at the school to help pay the bills. He loves his family and says his greatest fear would be disappointing me or the children. He serves as the Young Men's president in our ward. This is great because he and Jens both go to Mutual on Wed. nights together as I stay home with the rest of the children. He enjoys farming especially when he is out on his tractor listening to a book on his ipod. He enjoys playing games with his parents and siblings. He cares for everyone and wants the best for everyone.

I am happy. Since 2006, life has been a upward climb for me. Life has felt hard with a miscarriage, appendectomy soon after, pain from Adenomyosis (scar tissue attaching and pulling apart uterus....searing, burning), an abdominal hysterectomy, anxiety after surgery and finally a year worth of finding the right balance of prescribed hormones. Many other trials came on top of all of this and Peter said one night....Wow, you have really been through it.

LIFE FEELS GREAT right now. I feel happier and more excited about life. I have been enjoying the gym at my home and up at the school. Thanks to the hysterectomy I can enjoy the physical activity. I am going to start training for a 5 K.

I serve in the Stake Y.W presidency. It is the best calling and I love the women I serve with. I have also taken on several catering jobs this past year and have enjoyed the creative part of it all....it is all in the details and ambiance. I have really enjoyed my children, husband and family this past year. I also enjoy blogging and reuniting with friends and family on Face Book.

Blast from the Past




(click on picture to increase size)

Lovin the 80's hair! I was a soph in high school when this picture was taken. David Gemoll (senior on the year book staff) was often taking pictures of me. I was always so flattered by this. This was one of them that made it in the yearbook that yr. He says this picture, the look on my face reveals something about me. ??? I think I was just tired from early morning seminary. I recently came in contact with him on Facebook and he asked if I wanted him to upload this picture for me. I was so excited because my yearbook is water damaged and I can't see half the pages now. :) Hooray for old friends and their uploads!

Just when you think you know your children, and what they would and would not do.......

As a mother it is hard to listen to the "peer pressure' in the background. Jens jumped several times and said he wouldn't have jumped if it hadn't been his idea. HIS IDEA? Gulp!

A few yrs. ago we went to Peter's brothers (Bret's) house for Thanksgiving. Jens took off with his cousins and a few friends. He said he was going to a gravel pit. To me in my mind I am thinking a mound of gravel, not a mountain, and he never said anything about jumping off of the mountains. He is crazy and daring like his Dad!

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Recipe
by ShaRee Yorgesen
this was the main recipe I used for the wedding


you can click on the picture to zoom in

Preheat oven 325 degrees
Lay a layer of parchment paper down on the row you are cooking the cheesecake.

I cut parchment paper to fit the inside of a springform pan.

Spray Pam on the inside of the pan, this helps the parchment to stick.

For the Crust:
1 c. graham cracker crumbs
2 c. oreo crumbs
1 stick melted butter
mix and press on the bottom and up the sides of the pan, bake 5 mins
cool

Filling:
4- 8 oz. pkgs cream cheese
1 & 1/2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 c. sour cream
1/3 c. half & half
1 tsp. vanilla

have filling ingredients at room temp! this is important, prevents lumps. I used my kitchen aid and the paddle instead of whisk, so I didn't add to much air. beat the cream cheese, add sugar a little at a time while the mixer is going at med low speed, drop an egg in one at a time incorporating before you add another. Add the sour cream, half and half and vanilla.

P-nut butter caramel layer:
one can sweetened condensed milk
1/2- 3/4 c. p-nut butter

mix after heating in microwave for up to a min. just warm enough to be able to incorporate together. Some of this can be used for garnish

Chocolate layer:
one can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup choc. chips
1 cube butter

melt in microwave at 30 second intervals stirring each time until warm enough to incorporate together. Some of this sauce can be used for garnish

After the crust is done baking I poured the p-nut butter sauce over the crust. I ususally left out 1/2 cup or more

Then I took out 3/4 cup of the filling and mixed in some chocolate sauce until it tasted chocolatey....sorry I don't have a measurement.. and on some of the cheesecakes I added bits of reeses p-nut butter cups and butterfinger crushed up to the choc mixture


pour the choc mixture over the p-nut butter mixture

pour rest of the cream cheese filling over the choc mixture (filling will go up clear to the top of the pan almost- it is ok)

bake in center of oven at 325 for 1 hour or until knife inserted comes out clean. I turned off oven if the top was getting brown.

turn oven off and leave in oven 1-4 hours to finish. Refrigerate over night before serving.

serves 12-16 people


garnish with the p-nut butter and chocolate sauce/ crushed reeses p-nut butter cups and butterfingers

Soon...

November has proven to be a very busy month. I will post my recipe for the peanut butter cheesecake soon, as well as photos of everything we have been up to this past month.

For now I need to get some laundry done. My children are wearing the same clothes over and over. I think they are afraid to put it into dirty clothes and never see it again? The joys of being a mother :)

Peanut Butter Cheesecake

My camera's flash is faulty so these pictures are not the best.

But this is what I have been up to lately :)

I am making twelve of these for Tyler A. wedding reception this Sat.

It has been a good challenge to work through my mind. I made a few different cheesecakes and didn't like them so I made up my own recipe by trial and error. The final cheesecake passed Peter's inspection. (He is really hard to please)

I love this picture of Clarissa. I always wonder what is on her mind. I love it when she is happy, because life is so hard for her.

Halloween pics: Here is Isabella as a Chinese princess and her friend Ashley as the cheer leader.

Clarissa as the painter. She painter her smock a little at a time the whole month of October anticipating Halloween.

It was a weird Halloween, as it was Jens' first year not dressing up and Dain was with Granny and Papa in Disneyland.

So it was just the girls and I. We went to the church for the party there and then did a little trick-or-treating in Desert Aire. Clarissa isn't as greedy as Isabella with the getting of the goods and wanted to go home after a few houses. We talked her into a few more and then a few more. But when she was done, SHE WAS DONE! :)

Meet

Milkshake

Clarissa looks like such a proud momma..heee

He or she is half saint bernard and half german shepherd. When we figure out the sex of the dog we will give you that 411 later!

We hope for a good barker to protect the goats and our property.

I am tired from being up with it the last two nights and I bought more carpet cleaner in town today if that gives you an indication of what I have been cleaning up lately. But the children so easily look past the peeing on the carpet and my lack of sleep and just love the dog anyway.... :)

Since I was going down memory lane with ward dinners.....
I loved this Relief Society Dinner we did. I had alot of help again.
It was luai themed and the colors and tastes were explosive!
Click on the picture to see a larger photo.

2004 Wahluke Ward Harvest Dinner Memories:

America, Brenda, Lexi and Emily (not pictured Sol, Lindsay, many married women helped also, lots of hands and hearts) Sorry picture is dark!


The meat:

Prepping, the day before and feeding our children:

Hardworkers! washing pumpkins to use as tureens for the cream of pumpkin soup

Emily and Lexi:

Thanks to "my" beehives who are now Laurels who want to do another Harvest Dinner with me in 2008!

2008 Wahluke Ward Harvest Dinner menu:

Cream of Pumpkin Soup

Salad (homemade ranch and french dressing)

Homemade Rolls

Baked Potato (individual containers at each place setting with sour cream/butter/green onions/bacon bits)

B-B-Q boneless Ribs

Pie

Peter and I searched for these photos after a meeting we just had planning out a remake of the Harvest Dinner. My friend Staleen is in charge of activities in our ward and she had fond memories of this dinner in 2004 and wanted to do it again. In 2004 I was serving in our ward YW with the Beehives and thought they could help and learn a few things about making a dinner for lots of people. (Personal Progress activities :)

I will do better at taking more pictures of the progress this year. These events are alot of work but so worth it when people enjoy themselves. It is all in the details and the little bit of extra effort.