An update on my little man...

Jaxon has homework every night. He reads storybooks and takes them to class to pass off the next day. I went to Jaxons school to volunteer and was able to listen to Jaxon read and pass off one of his books. It was so fun! I love my little man so much, and he has learned so much this year. It's so fascinating watching him grow up. He is constantly reminding me that he's not a "little kid" anymore!

Last night we went to go see Alice in Wonderland. I love that movie!

After the movie I told Jaxon that I was going to give him some magic potion he could drink, so he would shrink like Alice! I told him I would put him in my pocket and take him to work with me all day long! For a minute he thought I was serious, and then he laughed and laughed.

Jaxon constantly reminds me that he doesn't need my help, and that he can do things himself. Last summer I came home from work and laid out his PJ's on the sofa. I started helping him get dressed, and then I saw this! LOL, it was hilarious! I joke with him about this all the time because he doesn't need my help! He of course, laughs it off and says "that's just what six year olds do, but I'm seven now!"

Tahmina's Sinful (and I mean Sinful) Double Chocolate Rum Cake

Double Chocolate Rum Cake
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups good quality cocoa powder (not hersheys)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk, shaken well
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
(Non Cafinated Coffee or Use Coffee Substitute:Can be made with Dandelion and Chicory. Roast the chicory the same way as coffee beans. Add 1 part dandelion root to 1/2 part roasted chicory root to a coffee grinder. Grind the mixture up and use this powder the same as you would some store bought coffee. This mixture brings the aroma, smell, and color your used to, but the taste is a bit different, but surprisingly close)
1/2 cup dark rum
(can you order that Alcohol Free? LOL - YES - Rum is distilled from molasses or cane syrup, so your best bet could be a mixture of molasses thinned with pineapple juice or white grape juice. I use 1/4Cup PERO, and 2tbspoons Rum Extract)
6 oz chocolate chips

Sift together dry ingredients, add eggs, oil, buttermilk, rum and mix with mixer. Add vanilla and slowly add in freshly brewed coffee, it intensifies the chocolate flavor but doesn't really taste like coffee. Make sure it's freshly brewed and hot and not some old stuff. Hand stir in chocolate chips, pour into bundt pan or two 9" round pans and bake at 350 degrees. If in the bundt pan then bake for 55 minutes, if in the two 9" pans then bake for 40 minutes and check and then check with toothpick in the middle.

Glaze:
1/4 cup good quality cocoa
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla

Melt butter in pan and add heavy cream, add in cocoa mix and take off heat. Add sifted powdered sugar (or you'll get serious lumps) and vanilla, pour over cake.

If making 9" cakes then here's the frosting:
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate (the bar kind)
3 tablespoons butter
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 8 tablespoons milk

Melt chocolate and butter in microwave safe dish for about 45 seconds and stir (each microwave is different so be careful and do not overheat and burn the chocolate), using electric mixer, mix in powdered sugar and vanilla, slowly add milk until you get the consistency you desire. Makes enough frosting for the whole cake!

I went private for a little while...

I decided to make my blog private for a month or so. I've been wanting to do a major re-model, but just haven't had time. I'm slowly adding things, but not in order. I'm planning to go back and add lots of past pictures, and put them in chronological order, so watch for that coming soon.

Additionally, I put a ticker on my blog and in less than a week I had over 140 hits. I thought that was strange, since I rarely have anyone leave comments. Thank you for those that do, but It started me wondering who was looking at my blog. It's good to know that I have very supportive friends who care about me and what I'm up to.

On that note, this may sound ridiculous, but it's my blog. I've been criticized by friends and family, and that being said, I just don't care anymore. I've had a crazy year, and so here I am, take it or leave it. I might go private again if things get crazy so make sure I have your email address and I'll include you. I've said many times, I'm not a scrapbook person, and I never have time to journal (I used to journal every day...), so on top of sharing news, this is for me and my family. It's good, bad, happy, sad and sometimes mad.

Love to all!
~Angie

How To Train Your Dragon

I had free tickets to the viewing of the movie "How to train your dragon", and so John, Jaxon and I took off to see the movie! This movie is soooo cute! We've seen it two times at the theater already! I highly recommend it!

We stopped at the Mayan for some yummy Mexican Food.

I just can't stop Jaxon from being so silly all the time!

We had our yummy dinner and then headed over to the show!

Jaxon was pretty excited. See what I mean about the "silly" thing!

John gets annoyed when I take pictures, so I posted this one to show him his own "silly" face!

The 3-D version of this movie is AMAZING! We loved it! It's one of the best kids movies that I've seen!

John's surprise birthday Party - 2001

I came across these pictures and thought it would be fun to post them now. The first year that John and I were married I threw a surprise birthday party for him. I called a few of his old mission companions, his family, and my family and we had the party at Peter Piper Pizza in Orem. It was a good time and I enjoyed coming across these pictures. Maybe I should perm my hair again! :)

John's Birthday Cake!

He was surprised alright! I told him that he needed to dress up, and get ready. I think he thought we were going to the temple or a nice restaurant...Hello Peter Piper Pizza! Hee hee!

Cute Valorey - She looks so little in this picture!

John's parents, and family came all the way from Salt Lake to Orem.

John opening his presents.

I gave him this Scooby Doo Blanket. We still have it (2010).

DI...

Karen & Chad brought this back from their Hawaii trip!

More presents. It was a fun party!

John's family.

Ready to blow out the candles!

I think he got his wish!

Me, John, Tyler Mehl, and Amy Mehl. They later divorced.

John and his mission companions.

Oh, how sweet!

Here's my dad. He never really liked social events, so it was so nice of him to come with my mom and siblings!

The Phillips Clan.

Enough said!

Me & Val Gal Nov 2001.

I'm struggling today...

I'm having a bad day. I need some help and direction. I had a bad day yesterday and I’m feeling like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. I’m working hard, keeping busy, trying to improve…but each day is such a challenge, and I need some help and guidance! I read an email from my old boss, and it motivated me to read the Proclamation.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World:

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life.
The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.
Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God.
Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Happy Valentines Day!

John and Jaxon were so sweet and surprised me with a dozen Roses Saturday night. We had a wonderful weekend together. Neal & Amy came over for Dinner tonight, and John made a delicious Jagerschnitzel with Bacon Mushroom Gravy dinner.
I'm now craving Sugar Cookies... I've gotta stay away, but here's one of my favorite recipes!

Jaxon's 100th day of School

Jaxon's teacher sent home a notice asking parents to help their children compile a collection of objects to celebrate their 100th day of school. Guess what Jaxon wanted to collect? CANDY!

Jaxon's Fund Raiser Success

Jaxon participated in a fund raiser for his elementary school this last fall. He was one of the top sellers and was awarded a trip to IHOP in a limo (with the principle. :D). He had a lot of fun, and now pledges to be a ROCK STAR so he can have his own limousine. I explained to him that Doctors also have their own limousines, and so he's thinking about being that too. LOL.

The Limo...

Jaxon was so excited!

"Kids do not open the soda!"

Ready to go to IHOP!

If you've seen the movie Billy Madison...you can better understand Jaxon's principle.

I love, love, love his school. He has the best teacher in the world! Last night Jaxon told me that his first grade class won the pizza party again from Papa John's. They have a flier that they send home once a month for family pizza night with coupons. The class that sends the most people to get pizza by giving Papa Johns their teachers name will win a pizza party. So, this is the third time this year that Jaxon's class has won. It was so funny...Jaxon said. "The first time I was like OH YEAH, SWEET! The second time, I was like...OKAY, and this third time...my whole class is like...BLAH".

Jaxon's Treasure Hunt

We had a "left over" friend gift that never got delivered so for family home evening John hid the gift and sent Jaxon on a Treasure Hunt to find it. Jaxon has been really into being and "inspector" and carried his inspector glasses and goggles in order to find it. It was hilarious. The funniest part about it was that I couldn't find the clues...but Jaxon did.

Lava Hot Springs

A few weeks ago I felt like I needed to get away. Sara took Jaxon for a week... so John and I headed up to Lava Hot Springs. It was a quick trip, but we had a lot of fun. It's been a long time since we have been stuck in a car together for two hours, so it was great to talk and catch up on our friendship.

I've never been there before. We learned a little about the small town, and where we would stay the next time around.

We stayed at the Riverside Inn. It was interesting...

The Inn has mineral baths that are located in the basement. That was fun, and interesting as well. It looked more like an old foundation filled with water (which is what it was), but he a had a good laugh about it!

This is one of the rooms. They are all decorated just as it was in 1914 when the Inn was Built.

There is a small waiting room to relax in, but it was mostly creepy. I have to admit that I felt a little like Anne of Green Gables, and more like a horror movie!

At least the animal heads weren't in the bedroom.

Jaxons Primary Talk

Jaxon was asked to talk in Primary. He did such a great job. Since I can't take pictures in the Chapel, I thought I would post his talk. Here's his talk:

Each of us is children of a Heavenly Father who loves us. God is the father of our spirits. Before we were born, we lived with Heavenly Father. He created our spirits and sent us to earth to receive a body. This was part of his plan of happiness.Heavenly Father trusted our earthly parents with the sacred job of providing each of us with a body so that our spirits could come to earth. Our earthly parents also have the responsibility to love, protect and teach their children.The primary song "I am a child of God" helps us understand our relationship with our Heavenly Father:"I am a child of God" - Every single human being is a spirit child of our Heavenly Father."And he has sent me here" - We were sent to earth as part of the plan of happiness."Has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear" - We were sent to earth as part of the plan of happiness. Eternal families are an important part of this plan."Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way" - To return to live with Heavenly Father, we must use our free agency to choose the right. When we obey the commandments, the Holy Ghost can be beside us to help us find the way back to our heavenly home."Teach me all that I must do to live with him someday" - While we are here on earth, it is our job to learn and grow. We can learn by reading the scriptures, attending primary and listening to our parents and teacher.It makes me very happy to know that I am a child of God. I know that Heavenly Father is the father of my spirit and that he loves me. I am grateful that I was sent to live with earthly parents who can help me learn about the plan of happiness.In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen