Why this blog...

I am the mother of the three most talented, intelligent and beautiful children ever to live on this earth. I am also privileged to be married to the most wonderful man! He has added three additional talented, intelligent and beautiful children to our family! I have a job that I mostly love, a wonderful education, a beautiful home, marvelous family, and I have the privilege of belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have been greatly blessed in my life, but I sometimes forget that. So, I decided to create this blog as a way to remind myself of all the many blessings and miracles that surround me. (I'm also terrible at keeping a journal- so this will be something for my kids to enjoy as well.)

I hope you enjoy what you read. I would love to hear what you think!

Deanne

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Staying Home During Spring Break...

When I can't go visit my littles, I NEED to stay busy!



Worked on some jean quilts...


and made some dishcloths...


baked...



cooked...

Love curry!

Luke's black bean/quinoa 'meatloaf'

LOVE quinoa burgers!

and played in the dirt...

Garlic- yum!

Peas coming up!

and flowers coming...

Not quite the spring break I was planning, but grateful I can keep busy!





Saturday, April 11, 2020

What do you do when you can't color eggs with the littles?




I bake! Whole grain Challah bread (even used powdered egg!)


Luke's "meatloaf" - without the meat, of course... really quinoa and black bean loaf- Yum!


Chocolate Zuc muffins with homemade salted caramel 'frosting'

And I cook...


Black bean/quinoa burgers!


And of course, lots of wheat bread!

And as I was craving ice cream, I was fortunate to discover some frozen strawberries and bananas in the freezer. This shake will do as well as any old ice cream!


So grateful to be able to bake!








Sunday, March 29, 2020

The Big 3.0!


This little one is now 3! She is such a great little sister and big sister and just a joy to be around. We were blessed enough to celebrate Olivia the weekend before the world turned upside down... otherwise we may not have had the chance to celebrate face-to-face.

So blessed to have this 3 year old!

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Eating from my storage...

With all that I know how to make and having a very large deep freeze...

Curry over oven baked brown rice!

I am very grateful to have an exercise bike and treadmill!

Curry over rice with homemade naan for dinner, black 'refried' beans with chips for lunch, slow cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast...

I am truly blessed!

Sunday, March 15, 2020

When the love of baking and the love of math collide.... Yum!

The blessings of having a Grandma who loves to bake and who loves teaching math:

pumpkin pie, pizza pie

blueberry/apple pie, chocolate pie with strawberry whipped cream!

One terrific Pi day for our local littles!


And they had fun with Grandpa too!




Monday, February 17, 2020

Blessings of Brothers

I have the BEST brothers!


I can honestly say that my big brother is better than yours! Dan has always been the best!

He always had my back growing up. Once, when I was very young, I started to read a (probably not the best) book on the recommendation of a friend... before I got to the not-quite-so great-part, however, I found a note from my big brother telling me that I should not be reading that kind of book, I was better than that, and not to ask who wrote the note (although it was in his cursive handwriting). He always wanted the best for his little sister.

And he still does! He's a man of gentle strength and a great role model for the kind of man I wanted to marry! (So lucky that I did marry a man like Dan!)

My little brothers are also the best! They are both hardworking and oh so very caring! I know they would help me in any way they could if I were to ask! I am one fortunate sister to have such brothers!

And now I have added two more plus to my wonderful brother list... my brothers-in-law and brothers-in-law-by-marriage to my sisters are all outstanding men!!! Greg, Jared, Jesse, and Phil are such great examples of the kind of men this world needs. Plus they all, in their own way, have gone out of their way to show how much they care for me!

I am so blessed to have such brothers!

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Nearly A Decade of Blessings!

I started this blog nearly 10 years ago....

2011:


Started with the first thing you see as you walk in my house.... 
and ended the year with my Christ-mas tree



2012:


Started with random thoughts (including the dating world and my "best" teenager) and ended with future in-laws!


2013:



And my baby girl got married too!


2014:



And our first 2 littles!


2015:

Had a hard time being done with the holidays.... 


but ended the year celebrating!


2016:


The year of the Parker!!!

And Grands make Christmas even more grand!


2017:


Another Grand!

And thankful for my husband!



2018:



Now we have a 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0!!! They all melt my heart!



2019:


Two more Grands!!!

What could be better?!


2020 with our magnificent seven is sure to be a stellar year of blessings!!!