Carnival, Air Show, and Apple Pickin'...oh my!

Pumpkin Patch in Tehacchapi
Air Force Base

This weekend was busy, busy, busy. I spent the whole day Friday getting the Fall Carnival ready for the kiddos at Gateway School. Most of the morning was spent blowing up balloons, and moving tables and chairs all over campus. I then went home and cooked and wrapped up 100 hot dogs to sell at the carnival and rushed back to get the food booth ready. I then sat in the 90 + degree weather and melted while I sold water, hot dogs, and large otter pops to those who came by. It was actually kind of fun, but I was so hot and tired and felt bad that I didn't get to go around the carnival with my kids to take pictures, Waaa!

Justin got us up before the sun was even up the next morning and had us drive down to Edwards Air Force Base to see the Air Show they do down there every year. This is the first year we made it. It was totally worth going early to beat traffic and we had a blast. The kids got pictures of themselves in space suits. Mackay is going to Mars and Tyler to the moon. We also got more posters and fliers than we know what to do with. The kids even got to sit inside a couple of the planes. We watched the planes in the sky too, amazing! We left a little early, to beat traffic again and headed over to Tehacchapi to pick apples. The place we usually go was all closed up so we weren't able to pick our own apples, but bought some at another farm. We got some fantastic apple juice too. We then headed to the bakery to get a treat before we headed home. The place used to be a gift shop, but now is a clothing shop. They were having a grand opening so we had hot dogs, chips, and a pop there and then went and got our treat.

It was a great weekend, but our house is now paying for it. I have my work cut out for me tomorrow!

Real Mom

Just last night my kids out of the blue asked me, "Mom where is my real mom?" I really didn't think I would get that kind of question for quite some time. Anyway, I didn't know what to say so I just replied, "What do you mean, I am your real mom". They said, "No mom, we mean the mom that had us". We had a talk about how Heavenly Father had prepared a way for us to be a family. He knew that dad and I wanted to be parents really bad but for some reason weren't blessed with having them on our own. I told them that their birth mom prayed about what she should do because she wasn't ready to be a mom yet and because of that she was lead to us. I also told them that if I was able to have kids I bet they would have been a part of our family anyways.
My question to you my friends is, how would you reply to this and what would you say? It makes me sad sometimes that I couldn't be the one who brought them into the world, but I am so glad that they became a part of my world. I don't really want to know how life would be without them. From the first day that I held them in my arms I knew that they were mine. We don't always agree and as they get older they make choices that make me sad, but that is just part of life, isn't it. Anyway I am so grateful for the sealing power that we receive through the temple and the blessing that we have of having our children sealed to us just as though they were born to us in the everlasting covenant promised to us by our Heavenly Father. What a blessing that is.

O is for October

On the 1st day of October I decided to make the kids doughnuts to celebrate October - because O is for October. Anyway here is a very tasty recipe for doughnuts (almost like Krispy Kreme)

Donuts:

2Tbsp yeast

1/4 cup water

1 1/2 cup lukewarm milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1/2 cup shortening

5 cups flour

Vegetable oil for frying

Glaze:

1/3 cup butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

4-6 Tbsp hot water

Donuts:

Dissolve yeast in water. Add milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups flour. Beat on low, scraping the bowl, for 30 seconds. Then beat on medium for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. cover and let rise in warm place until double (50-60 minutes). Turn onto floured surface. With a floured rolling pin, gently roll dough to 1/2 inch thick. cut with floured donut cutter (I used a cup and then made a hole in the middle with my hands.) Place on baking sheet, leaving room for donuts to rise. Cover and let rise until doubled (30-40 minutes). Sides must not touch! Using a wide spatula, slide donuts into hot oil (350 degrees); turn was they rise to surface. Fry until just golden, about 1 minute on each side. Carefully remove and drain. Dip in creamy glaze, cool on rack and glaze again.

Glaze:

Heat butte3r until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water 1 Tbsp at a time, until desired consistency is reached. (For chocolate glaze add 1/4 oz of milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips with butter and continue with glaze recipe).

They were delicious! The kids loved them.