Robert, home from the hospital

Robert is home and all is well.  Here are a couple of pictures of Roberts hosipital stay.







Robert got home and was feeling great.  With the all the family that was visiting him he actually got out and BBQ'ed.  Gotta love him forever the host. 

What a deal!

 

 

I love this idea for a party or a wedding.  Today I was shopping at Albertsons grocery store and ran across the smore sticks for 75% off.  I purchased 160 sticks for $20.  What a great find.  I'm going to see if I can build my own smores counter and rather then a chocolate fountain try this.  So very excited.  the sticks I found were like the top photo.  Nice long wooden sticks.  Have I mentioned how excited I am.  :)

Yummy Lemon drink

1 cup Countrytime Lemonade mix, 2 cups cold water, 1 can of chilled pineapple juice {46 oz}, 2 cans chilled Sprite = best lemonade stand in the neighborhood.

Great gift for nephew and nieces

It was pretty easy to put together once i located the right places to get all the stuff and thrifty too!

Here's a run down of what's included:

-2 Twin sheets: ARC for about $2 each

-Ties on the Sheet: old XL T-shirt

-Rope: Hobby lobby for about $2

-Flash Light: Dollar Store $1

-Clamps: Dollar Store $1

-Glow Sticks: Dollar Store $1

-Clothes Pins: Dollar Store $1

-Suction Cups: Dollar Store $1

-Lightening Bolt bag: Some cheap gray fabric, yellow felt $2

TOTAL: $13.00

Candy Cane Marshmallow Pops

Created with Love, by Liv

1 child to crush candy canes (optional, but fun)
large marshmallows
mini candy canes
melted chocolate (we use Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate block)
crushed candy canes


Stick a mini candy cane into the large marshmallow. Dip the marshmallow into the melted chocolate, allow excess chocolate to drip off, then roll into the crushed candy cane. Place on a waxed paper lined baking sheet and allow to set.

Holiday center piece

Epsom salt snow with wood and holly berries

We're outta here

 

Gone see  you in a couple of days ;)

 

Robert took this picture of the buffet at Cesar's.  It just opened and Robert had been reading all about it and so here we are.  It is definitely worth the money.  ($46 per person).  We got there at 5PM on a Friday night and only had a 15 minute wait to be seated which in Vegas is nothing.  The food was WONDERFUL definitely worth a trip back.  Nothing was your typical bland buffet food.  We actually didn't even from 1/2 of the stations too many for one trip. 

So excited about this. A real list I can work from

I found this and thought it was worth a reprint:

http://www.tacticalintelligence.net/blog/how-to-build-your-food-storage-for-only-5-a-week.htm

How to Build Your Food Storage On Only $5 

Think you can’t handle the price of food storage? Think again.

I was over at LDSPreppers today and found a great post in the forums by “AZPrepper”. He basically came up with a list of $5 food items that you can purchase each week for a year to build up your food storage for you and someone else.

Although he mentions that some of the food costs may have changed, the general concept and estimate should still be worth your while.

Here’s the list of what to buy each week:

• Week 1: 6 lbs salt
• Week 2: 5 cans cream of chicken soup
• Week 3: 20 lbs of sugar
• Week 4: 8 cans tomato soup
• Week 5: 50 lbs wheat
• Week 6: 6 lbs macaroni
• Week 7: 20 lbs sugar
• Week 8: 8 cans tuna
• Week 9: 6 lbs yeast
• Week 10: 50 lbs wheat
• Week 11: 8 cans tomato soup
• Week 12: 20 lbs sugar
• Week 13: 10 lbs powdered milk
• Week 14: 7 boxes macaroni & cheese
• Week 15: 50 lbs wheat
• Week 16: 5 cans cream of chicken soup
• Week 17: 1 bottle 500 multi-vitamins
• Week 18: 10 lbs powdered milk
• Week 19: 5 cans cream of mushroom soup
• Week 20: 50 lbs wheat
• Week 21: 8 cans tomato soup
• Week 22: 20 lbs sugar
• Week 23: 8 cans tuna
• Week 24: 6 lbs shortening
• Week 25: 50 lbs wheat
• Week 26: 5 lbs honey
• Week 27: 10 lbs powdered milk
• Week 28: 20 lbs sugar
• Week 29: 5 lbs peanut butter
• Week 30: 50 lbs wheat
• Week 31: 7 boxes macaroni & cheese
• Week 32: 10 lbs powdered milk
• Week 33: 1 bottle 500 aspirin
• Week 34: 5 cans cream of chicken soup
• Week 35: 50 lbs wheat
• Week 36: 7 boxes macaroni & cheese
• Week 37: 6 lbs salt
• Week 38: 20 lbs sugar
• Week 39: 8 cans tomato soup
• Week 40: 50 lbs wheat
• Week 41: 5 cans cream of chicken soup
• Week 42: 20 lbs sugar
• Week 43: 1 bottle 500 multi-vitamins
• Week 44: 8 cans tuna
• Week 45: 50 lbs wheat
• Week 46: 6 lbs macaroni
• Week 47: 20 lbs sugar
• Week 48: 5 cans cream of mushroom soup
• Week 49: 5 lbs honey
• Week 50: 20 lbs sugar
• Week 51: 8 cans tomato soup
• Week 52: 50 lbs wheat

He also mentions that some weeks you will have leftover change. Instead of spending it, put aside the change each week to be used for the weeks you may need more than $5 (like for wheat, milk, etc). Also be sure to lookout for sales. This way you can jump ahead and cross items off the list where there are great bargains.

After you have completed this list, you will end up with:

• 500 lbs of wheat
• 180 lbs of sugar
• 40 lbs of powdered milk
• 12 lbs of salt
• 10 lbs of honey
• 5 lbs of peanut butter
• 45 cans of tomato soup
• 15 cans of cream of mushroom soup
• 15 cans of cream of chicken soup
• 24 cans of tuna
• 21 boxes of macaroni & cheese
• 500 aspirin
• 1000 multi-vitamins
• 6 lbs of yeast
• 6 lbs of shortening
• 12 lbs of macaroni

I calculated that this amount of food has around 1,249,329 calories which based on a 2000 calorie a day diet will provide enough food for two people for 312 days! That’s almost one whole year for two people on $5 a week! Even if the price was double that, at $10 a week you’re only paying around $40/month in grocery bills. Try to beat that…

I want to marry your daughter......

As a parent there are several milestones in your children's life that you plan for their whole life and this is one of them.  Got a call yesterday around 4:30pm  from Jason the young man Dayna has been dating for the past year or so.  He would like to meet with Robert and I and chat.  He will be proposing to Dayna soon and wants to make sure he will have our support. 

I am thrilled that Dayna has found someone that will love her as much as she loves him.  I am excited, nervous, thrilled, scared and every other emotion you can gather up and put into one.  To imagine the child that you've had, raised and sent out into the world will begin another part of life is amazing.  I've always said that when you have a child they are yours forever.  I still believe this but now we will have Dayna plus 1.  That's not bad, just different.  Lucky for me I have girls.  And girls getting married and having a family of their own is easier I think on the parents then having a boy and loosing him to his wife and her family. 

A son is a son until he takes a wife and daughter is a daughter her entire life. 
 

We don't know Jason that well.  We've had him over and met he and Dayna over various family functions.  He seems like a good balance for Dayna and of course I think Dayna is a great balance for anyone.  She has so many great qualities.  She is a very strong willed girl, one that sets her sights on a target and doesn't stop until she has what she wants.  She is determined, motivated and accomplished.  She's active,  educated, cultured and well traveled.  She comes from a very active supportive family.  She has an extended family that spans the world and also part of the "village raising a child".

 

Having grown up in the LDS church she knows right from wrong with strong convictions for good versus evil.  She has been allowed to follow her heart and make her own choices with her parents, family and friends behind her to support her in those choices.  She has changed her direction in the past year and I believe Jason has had a good hand in influencing her with some of those changes at least moving forward we will believe that :).  Dayna has seen the world from different views and come to her own conclusions.  Right wrong or indifferent they are her own.  They are what make her unique and special. 

She has come full circle with her faith.  I believe this is a good thing to have a testimony that is yours alone and not borrowed from your parents, your teachers and so on.  Her testimony is solid it is in tact and wont be rocked because she grew it herself.  She loves with all of her heart and with every fiber of her body.  As a parent watching her grow in relationships it was tough at times but knowing that one day someone special will be on the other end of that love made it worth the journey.   

 

Jason will be a lucky man to have Dayna.  I am confident we are giving him the best, our very best.  She is our pride and joy.  She is AMAZING, She is our Dayna.



A song that has always reminded me of Dayna:

Cleaning out the garage

There are several annual tasks that every married couple should be aware of that can definitely lead to disaster.  One being the annual cleaning of the garage.  This is no small task and should take careful consideration before attempting.  Never ever attempt this without a plan and understanding of what the goal is.  Every year Robert and I clean out the garage together.  It does take the two of us because if he had it his way all my things (party decoration and holiday decorations) would be tossed out.  Of course there is no accounting for his tools that he ohhhh so had to have only to either 1.  Leave them still in bag he brought them home from the store and oh yes there are several of those in our garage  or 2.  Use them once and never ever ever again because the job you use the tool with is just toooooo big and well why not just leave it cause eventually my wife will be tired of looking at the mess and hire someone to fix it.  Oh do I sound bitter sorry I'm really not...... uhuh. 

Anyways as I said this is no easy task and never to be taken lightly.  Plan ahead.  Have plenty of tape (for marking your storage bins) and several markers (because undoubtedly he will put one down and not remember where he put it down, then in a few days when you do laundry you will have several in his pants pocket and several in his shirt pocket but never mind that's another tip under laundry).  A step ladder and a broom is also needed.  I mention the broom because this time this was our source of contention.  This was the object that broke the camels back.  A BROOM hmmm

This year was no exception.  We made it to the 2nd day of cleaning out the garage before the fireworks began and something was broke and I stormed off.  Well at least we can say we have a clean garage.  Thank goodness its only once a year.  :o)

Wednesday Dinners

Since we've been home from Hawaii I decided since I am the only person not working and have more free time then everyone else I would have a homemade dinner once a week for all those in the family working.  That's not to say I don't make dinner at home each night, its just once a week we have the Sonke's and the Becks over and I cook the meal or Robert BBQ's for all.  This always include a dessert of some sort.  Usually something new and different.  (Thank you Pinterst).

Its been fun we usually eat on the patio and enjoy just sitting and chatting for hours after. 

This was from our last dinner.  You can see its not fancy, just a lot of fun and home cooked dishes.  I will admit after I saw this picture I've decided to up the anti a bit and dress up the table.  I have so many great serving dishes and place settings that I thought I can do better.  So although our dinners are usually BBQ's I am going to break out some of my party stuff.  After all who and what am I saving them for.  Actually I'm not saving them I just forget I have them.  Oh well :)

Thyroid Cancer

I've been reading a lot on the topic because Robert has been diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer.  Last month he underwent partial Thyroid removal.  The doctors told us at that time that a biopsy would be done to determine if cancer was present.  On his follow up visit the doctor then told us it was cancerous and he would have to return for a second surgery to remove the other side and begin radiation therapy after surgery.  At the time the doctor told us this Robert became very solemn and didn't say a word.  I think the shock of hearing that he had cancer was overwhelming him.  I began to ask the doctor questions to get an idea of what we faced and what we could hope for.

It was explained to me that 98 percent of the cancer was removed when the initial surgery was performed.  The mass was quite large however because they will need to start the radiation therapy the second thyroid must be removed in order to have the therapy be effective.  The doctor seemed quite confident that Robert did not face future problems related to this and after the radiation therapy he would resume a somewhat normal life with the exception that he would be on medication for life. 

I felt good as we left the doctors office that we had caught this early enough that it had not spread and was isolated to his thyroid.  Robert on the other hand was still in shock.  As we talked I realized the realities of what his mother had gone through with her illness was enveloping Roberts thoughts.  He is his mothers son in so many ways.  The fact that he would have to remain on medication for life bothered him.  Below is a brief explanation of Thyroid Cancer from WebMD.com

What is thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer is a disease that you get when abnormal cells begin to grow in your thyroid gland . The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and is located in the front of your neck. It makes hormones that regulate the way your body uses energy and that help your body work normally.

Thyroid cancer is an uncommon type of cancer. Most people who have it do very well, because the cancer is usually found early and the treatments work well. After it is treated, thyroid cancer may come back, sometimes many years after treatment.

What causes thyroid cancer?

Experts don't know what causes thyroid cancer. But like other cancers, changes in the DNA of your cells seem to play a role. These DNA changes may include changes that are inherited as well as those that happen as you get older.
People who have been exposed to a lot of radiation have a greater chance of getting thyroid cancer.
A dental X-ray now and then will not increase your chance of getting thyroid cancer. But past radiation treatment of your head, neck, or chest (especially during childhood) can put you at risk of getting thyroid cancer.

What are the symptoms?

Thyroid cancer can cause several symptoms:

• You may get a lump or swelling in your neck. This is the most common symptom.
• You may have pain in your neck and sometimes in your ears.
• You may have trouble swallowing.
• You may have trouble breathing or have constant wheezing.
• Your voice may be hoarse.
• You may have a frequent cough that is not related to a cold.

Some people may not have any symptoms. Their doctors may find a lump or nodule in the neck during a routine physical exam.

How is thyroid cancer diagnosed?

If you have a lump in your neck that could be thyroid cancer, your doctor may do a biopsy of your thyroid gland to check for cancer cells. A biopsy is a simple procedure in which a small piece of the thyroid tissue is removed, usually with a needle, and then checked.
Sometimes the results of a biopsy are not clear. In this case, you may need surgery to remove all or part of your thyroid gland before you find out if you have thyroid cancer.

How is it treated?

Thyroid cancer is treated with surgery and often with radioactive iodine. It rarely needs radiation therapy or chemotherapy. What treatment you need depends on your age, the type of thyroid cancer you have, and the stage of your disease. Stage refers to how severe the disease is and how far, if at all, the cancer has spread.
Your doctor may also remove lymph nodes in your neck to see if cancer has spread beyond the thyroid.

 I believe this is what the doctor will start Robert on after surgery:

Radioactive Iodine Therapy

Radioactive iodine therapy is used to destroy thyroid cells.

Radioactive iodine therapy can be used for thyroid cancer to kill cancer cells that remain after surgery has been done to remove the thyroid gland. It may also be used to treat an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).

Radioactive iodine is usually given as a liquid or capsule that is swallowed.

Being a diabetic I'm always concerned with my feet.  I'm always looking at my feet and looking at articles online regarding the care of.  I think I am overly sensitive due to the complications my mother faced with her feet and ultimately loosing 1/2 a foot.  I have my doctor check my feet every 6 months as diabetics should.  So far so good. 


Thought this was worth saving.  Found this article on KLS.com.  A nurse from SLC wrote this. 

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1009&sid=17218013










Treating cracked heels and blackened feet

An easy six-step solution:

1. Put shaving cream on your feet.
2. In a bucket or sink, combine equal parts warm water and Listerine.
3. Soak a small hand towel in the solution of water and Listerine.
4. While the shaving cream is still on your feet wrap the wet hand towel around your feet and let it sit for 30 minutes.
5. After 30 minutes, use the towel to rub your feet. Some of the calloused and discolored skin will rub off.
6. Apply a healthy amount of lotion to your feet.

After your foot bath, is it a good idea to spend at least 5 minutes drying your feet. You want to make sure you do not put your socks and shoes on with your feet
still wet or damp (this can cause bacteria growth and infection). Use a towel to pat your feet dry and be sure to get in between the toes.
Also, give your feet a break from sandals (don't wear them every day) and apply lotion to your heels nightly to reduce cracking.

You can only use this method once a week or your feet will become very sore. Remember, this technique literally takes off a layer of skin.

Easy Pineapple upside down cake

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 can (20 oz) pineapple slices in juice, drained, juice reserved
• 1 jar (6 oz) maraschino cherries without stems, drained
• 1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
• Vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box

Directions

1. 1Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). In 13x9-inch pan, melt butter in oven. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter. Arrange pineapple slices on brown sugar. Place cherry in center of each pineapple slice, and arrange remaining cherries around slices; press gently into brown sugar.
2. 2Add enough water to reserved pineapple juice to measure 1 1/4 cups. Make cake batter as directed on box, substituting pineapple juice mixture for the water. Pour batter over pineapple and cherries.
3. 3Bake 40 to 45 minutes (42 to 48 minutes for dark or nonstick pan) or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately run knife around side of pan to loosen cake. Place heatproof serving plate upside down onto pan; turn plate and pan over. Leave pan over cake 5 minutes so brown sugar topping can drizzle over cake; remove pan. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm or cool. Store covered in refrigerator.

Time

Well if you haven't noticed my most recent posts have been recipes.  Yep that's right recipes.  Now that I'm home I have a little more time to be home and able to cook more often.  Over the last year I've found so many different recipes online that I wanted to make and wasn't able to organize myself enough to store the recipes. Then one day it dawned on me hey why don't I put them on my blog and then I am able to refer back.  So you will begin to see more and more recipes.  You may also see more travel ideas as those are the two things I enjoy most and find myself doing more often then in the past.  Next year Robert and I will have our 10 year anniversary.  We're planning a trip to either Rome or Bora Bora we both enjoy the sun but Robert is very fascinated with history and would enjoy to see the Roman ruins.  I started a travel bucket list for us, need to find that and post it.  This year we didn't take a big trip due to having to travel to New Zealand then to Samoa for 15 days.  It seemed like we were gone forever. But anyways both trips were due to my dad passing away.  We did go to Kauai and that was nice.  A story for another day though.  :)

1 2 3 and you are done!

You will need three ingredients. That's it!

First spray your 9 x 13 pan with Pam. Then pour your berries into the pan.

Spread the berries out so that they are all evenly dispersed.

Add dry cake mix over the top. The recipe calls for a white cake mix, but all I had was french vanilla.

Pour soda slowly over cake mix.

DO NOT stir the cake mix and the pop - this will give you a 'crust'.

This is what your cobbler will look like before you put it in the oven.

Bake 350 for 45-50 min. This is what it looks like when it is finished.

I ate my Berry Cobbler with a 1/2 cup of No Sugar Added Blue Bell Country Vanilla ice cream. It was so good!

Dipped marshmellow YUM

Marshmallows dipped in caramel, left to harden, and dunked in chocolate (all on a stick)

Reminds me of Dayna and makes me laugh everytime.  I love you Dayna.  And Yes you are very fashionable. 

Kenison family Thanksgiving Dinner

Finally we have a location, the Makakilo Stake Center.  What a relief.  So much to do So much to organize.  You know me I am a third generation of planners.  My mother and her mother all the same.  Yellow pad and all.  I've been driving myself crazy with this and its not even my year.  Honestly I don't mind it but I seem to always face the same issues.  No one ever does things at my speed.  LOL I know that sounds horriable but what can I say.

Goal for the reunion is simple, gather as many of the Kenison family together in one place. Wish us luck :)



Strawberries and cream cake

Ingredients
2 3/4 cups cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups white sugar
1 (3 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup strawberries, pureed
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups quartered strawberries
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 9 inch round cake pans.
In a large bowl, beat sugar, gelatin and butter until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Mix flour and baking powder, and beat alternately with the milk into the sugar mixture. Fold in 1 teaspoon vanilla and pureed strawberries. Divide equally into three 9 inch round cake pans.
Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in the pans, then remove from pans and cool completely.
To make the filling: Beat whipping cream, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla on high until stiff. Fill each layer with 1/3 of the whipped cream and 3/4 cup sliced strawberries.
To make the frosting: Beat the margarine, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Spread over the sides of the cake, and pipe an edge of frosting around the top of the cake.
Spread remaining whipped cream on cake top. Top with quartered strawberries

I think I'll try this

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 2/3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup ground almonds
1 cup milk
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and ground almonds. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract and vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with 1 cup milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes and invert on a wire rack. Cool 10 minutes longer. Place rack on waxed paper. Combine 1/4 cup milk, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and toasted sliced almonds; pour over warm cake.