FHE: BEARing our Testimonies

Did you know that today is "Party with your Bear" day? Neither did I until I looked it up. Not very specific on how to celebrate but I DID know that we should have fun with it. We invited Broseph's special friend that he's had since before he was born. Teddy. We talked about the importance of bearing our testimonies; not only in sacrament but in our everyday lives. Our Bishop once told us that our testimonies are like a muscle; we need to exercise it and make it stronger. We opened by reading a couple of scriptures. We're really trying to teach Broseph how to look things up in our scriptures. Starting with Doctrine and Covenants. It took me a while to get the hang of it myself. We ended with a yummy treat that I found on Pinterest. I wanted this FHE to be fun but it got really serious, really fast. I will not name names buuuuut..... He's gonna hear about it later. Haha!

Scriptures: D&C 115:4-5 , D&C 58:6, and Alma 30:44

I took a couple hints from Prepared NOT Scared. I'm a total cheap-o and don't want to use my printer ink unless its ABSOLUTELY necessary. So instead of using the print outs from their site, I just put them on index cards. But, I'll get back to that.

After reading our scriptures, we asked Broseph what he thought a testimony was. There's definitely no wrong answers at Haus Von Schenck. He knew that we have a fast and testimony meeting every month but wasn't too sure why and how to share his testimony. Both Rich and I shared our testimonies with him and tried to answer his questions to the best of our ability. After our discussion, we went back to those index cards. I drew little bears on the blank side (sticking with the theme) and on the other side I wrote a topic to bear our testimonies about. The topics included: The Book of Mormon, the 1st Vision and Temple Marriage. Just to name a few. We want him to be comfortable enough to bear his testimony in front of a congregation or in front of his friends. This definitely applies to us as well. When we finished that, we wrote down our testimonies on a blank index card and placed them in our scriptures.

Treat: I made Gummy Bear popsicles! Pretty yummy. Broseph really liked them. But he likes anything sweet. Mine doesn't look like the one on Pinterest but I don't think anyone noticed. 

There wasn't an official recipe for these so I just winged it. I stuffed our popsicle molds with gummy bears and filled it up with 7up. I tried to make the soda flat but ain't nobody got time fo' dat!

October 31st: Hocus Pocus

It's finally here! Our last movie of October! It was a less than eventful Halloween here at Haus Von Schenck. Hardly any trick or treaters. We have a cauldron full of candy! But that's ok because we get to end our night watching my favorite Halloween movie! And for dinner we are having what I like to call our "virgin" chicken chilli. And for dessert, our left over candy.Obviously! Haha! This is Halloween when you're 29 I guess.

October 28th: It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (FHE)

We are headed into the home stretch! Hubs and I have been off the grid for about 3 days but we are back now. Since we weren't home on Monday (our designated FHE night) we held it today. Which was ok with me since we were carving pumpkins. For dinner, we were joined by our Missionaries! If you can't tell, we absolutely LOVE having the Missionaries over. We had "brinner" (breakfast for dinner). Gluten Free PUMPKIN pancakes, bacon, hashbrowns, and eggs. For FHE, we went off the lesson from lds daily (Jesus and jack-o-lanterns). By far one of the funnest FHE's we've had at Haus Von Schenck. To end our evening, we watched "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown". I love this movie so much. Definitely gets me into the Halloween spirit.

Trader Joe's is my hero, 

Linus: Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He's gotta pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.

D&C 50:24 - That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

October 25th: Beetlejuice

"BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE!!!!!" Ok, seriously, how can you not like this movie? If you can't tell already, I'm a big fan of Tim Burton...except Corpse Bride..(sore subject). I watched this movie when I was a kid and always watched the cartoon. Product of the early 90's right here. Anyways, for dinner we started with an appetizer of shrimp cocktail (insert "Banana Boat" song) and for dinner we had black and white pasta (representing Beetlejuice's iconic suit and the love of black and white that Tim Burton has). Squid ink was way too expensive so I just used regular old food dye. It freaked Broseph out too much and he didn't want to eat it. We topped it off with red sauce (to match Lydia's wedding dress). No dessert this time. Although, I had planned one. Maybe next time.

Fairly cheap shrimp and cocktail sauce from Trader Joe's. It's becoming my new favorite store. 

Broseph's gluten free pasta that I dyed. I thought it was cool. 

Charles: As soon as we get settled, we'll build you a dark room in the basement, okay? 
Lydia: My whole life is a dark room. One big dark room. 

Lydia is my hero.

Adam: What are your qualifications? 
Beetlejuice: Ah. Well... I attended Juilliard... I'm a graduate of the Harvard business school. I travel quite extensively. I lived through the Black Plague and had a pretty good time during that. I've seen the EXORCIST ABOUT A HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN TIMES, AND IT KEEPS GETTING FUNNIER EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE IT... NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO A DEAD GUY... NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK? You think I'm qualified?

October 20th: Addams Family

Throughout this whole month, I have been very excited to show Broseph movies that were made before he was born. For some odd reason, he had never seen the Addams Family. One of my FAVORITES!!! As a child I wished I was Wednesday Addams! I actually still do. For dinner we had Thing (HAND)burgers with oozy mozzarella cheese. Tomorrow, I have a Relief Society event. So needless to say I will be skipping our themed dinner. But that won't stop us from watching Addams Family Values. On a Wednesday, OBVIOUSLY!

It was kind of hard to get it into the shape of a hand. I don't know how they did it on Pinterest. Maybe I should have read the instructions. 

Wednesday: I'm a homicidal maniac, they look just like everyone else

October 19th: Hotel Transylvania

Today we watched Hotel Transylvania! A first for me. Broseph has seen it a million times! It's super cute! My new favorite. I can't wait to watch the second one now. For dinner we had Mummy dogs and tombstone tots. My mom asked me what tombstone tots were and Broseph looked at her with a straight face and said "They're just regular tots, mom". Broseph, always keeping it real. For dessert, we had Vampire Floats. For FHE we "Boo'd" our neighbors! They live on the street over and we have never met them before but they seem like a sweet family. I'm the worst at surprises and sneaking up on people. I get a bad case of the giggles. Broseph did a good job at ding dong ditching them.

I just wrapped hot dogs with crescent rolls. Take the triangles and slice them with a pizza cutter and then wrap the hot dogs with them. Bake them as directed. 

Vampire Floats! Made with Hawaiian Punch (which should be cold. Made that mistake.) and vanilla ice cream. I put vampire teeth for decoration. 

Jonathan: I'm Dracula, Bleh, bleh-bleh! 
Dracula: I've never said that in my life. 'Bleh, bleh-bleh.' I don't know where that comes from!

October 18th: Monsters Inc.

It's been a few days but I'm back! Life happens you know. Anyways, today we watched Monsters Inc. One of my absolute favorites. This was requested by Broseph. For dinner we had Eyeball (meatball) sandwiches with oozy provolone cheese. Broseph had yummy gluten free meatballs. We had meatless meatballs. They had an interesting taste. We like going meatless, if you can't tell already. They were yummy when you ate them all together with bread and cheese but by themselves with sauce they had a funky taste. I'm wondering if I could doctor them up in the future.

Mike: Good morning, Roz, my succulent little garden snail. And who will we be scaring today? 

Roz: Wazowski! You didn't file your paperwork last night. 
Mike: Oh, that darn paperwork! Wouldn't it be easier if it all just blew away? 
Roz: Don't let it happen again. 
Mike: Yes, well, I'll try to be more careful next time. 
Roz: I'm watching you, Wazowski. Always watching. Always. 
Mike: Ooh, she's nuts.

Mike: Oh, Schmootsie-poo? 

Celia: Googlie Bear

Even puppy liked it!

October 14th: The Witches

Today we had the privilege to feed the Missionaries again. Poor guys have a hard time finding someone to feed them. I absolutely LOVE feeding them! I love hearing their mission stories and about their lives back home. Although they can't watch the movies with us, they get a kick out of these Halloween themed dinners. Tonight we watched "The Witches". I had never seen this movie. I did read the book as a child though. Very good. I mean, Roald Dahl... enough said. For dinner we had chicken salad sand(witches). They loved it. Another successful Missionary meal for the boys. I also let it slip that the Shepherd's pie from the other night was meatless. Elder Griffin couldn't believe it! He said it was too tasty to be fake meat. He also asked for the recipe. I'd say they like my cooking.

Crescents courtesy of Costco (my favorite and very dangerous). I didn't use Greek yogurt like the recipe calls for. Just regular old Best Foods mayonnaise. I also didn't add walnuts because who has walnuts just lying around the house. And also Broseph and I aren't fans of nuts. 

Recipe from: damn delicious

Beatrice: [to another witch, under her breath] We can't possibly wipe out ALL of them!

Grand High Witch: Who spoke? Who DARES to argue with me? It was you!

Beatrice: I didn't mean to argue, your Grandness

Grand High Witch: You DARED to argue with me?

Beatrice: No, honestly, it just was a...

Grand High Witch: A stupid witch who answers back, must BURN till her bones are black!

Beatrice: No! No!

Grand High Witch: A foolish witch without a brain, must sizzle into fire and flame! I witch who dares to say I'm wrong, will not be with us... VERY LONG!

[she zaps the witch with her eyes]

October 12th: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Today we watched my favorite movie!!! Ok, one of the many. The first Harry Potter movie (and book) are my favorite! Of course all the books are magical but the first one is so new to not only Harry but to the reader as well. He's discovering the magical world for the first time and it's exciting! For dinner, we made loaded shepherd's pie, Because shepherd's pie is VERY British. It's also referenced in some of the books. It was so yummy that we pretty much inhaled it and I didn't get a chance to take a picture. I did get the recipe from Pinterest. I modified it though. I used instant mashed potatoes and added the sour cream. I used soy meat crumbles instead of actual ground beef and Costco bacon bits.  And for dessert we had "Polyjuice Potion" (7UP and lime sherbet). I had planned on doing a Harry Potter themed FHE but didn't plan it too well. Next time I guess. We also got to have the Missionaries over for dinner. I finally made something they liked! And they didn't know that it wasn't real meat. Muahahahahaha!!!

"Harry and Ron slouched into the Great Hall in states of deepest gloom, Hermione behind them, wearing a well-you-did-break-school-rules sort of expression. Harry didn't enjoy his shepherd's pie as much as he'd thought."

Shepherd's Pie recipe from: http://bakeatmidnite.com/loaded-shepherds-pie/

Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody: [handing out Polyjuice Potion] "Fair warning, it tastes like goblin piss."

Fred Weasley: "Have lots of experience with that, do you, Mad-Eye?"

[Moody glares]

Fred Weasley: "Just trying to diffuse the tension"

October 11th: Coraline (late post)

Last night we watched Coraline. I forgot how terrifying that movie was. We took Broseph to see it when it first came out but he didn't remember ever watching it.Maybe because he was about 7 then and nothing sticks when you're 7.  I think he liked it though. For dinner we ate (doll hair) spaghetti squash with (button) mushrooms and (button) zucchini. I don't think I was too prepared for this one. I had major plans on making gluten free sugar cookies for Broseph but it just didn't happen. He also didn't eat the dinner because lets face it, what 13 year old boy wants to eat spaghetti squash. But mom and I enjoyed it. 

Coraline:  [to Coraline doll] "You think they're trying to poison me?"

[Makes Coraline doll nod] 

October 10th: Edward Scissorhands

October 10th: Edward Scissorhands. For dinner: kabobs. Dessert: ambrosia salad. I honestly eyeballed all of this. I was so tired from our trip to the apple orchard. The ambrosia was made with the apples we picked today. This is Broseph's first time watching this movie. I'm so excited to see his reaction. I've loved this movie since I was very little.

Bill: Soup's on! 

Edward: I thought this was shish kabob.

Joyce: Who’s handicapped? My goodness. Don’t be ridiculous! You’re not handicapped, you’re… What do they call the… exceptional? My name’s Joyce, and l noticed that you have not tasted any of the ambrosia salad that l made especially for you.

UPDATE: Broseph's own words, "I hated it. It was stupid and sad."
This makes me sad.

I'm baaaaaack!

Yes! It's true! Thanks to my husband and my friend for pushing me to get back on the saddle again. Things you will see from me.. my pinterest in real life posts, recipes, themed dinners and life. I'm pretty excited to get started again. Also I will be posting a countdown to my 30th (yikes!) birthday. Stay tuned.

2012!!! Already? Let me tell you about 2011 (unfinished memory)

So here it is. 2012. And I need to catch you up on November and December of 2011.

Nothing much to tell. No pics yet I will do a picture haul of the last couPle of months soon. Let's start with November.

November if course is my birthday month. And I am spoiled for a whole month. At last that's what I tell my husband. And what kind of birthday would it be without a trip to....


Drumroll please....

THE TEMPLE!!!!

That's right ladies and gents, I decided for my birthday I wanted I go to the San Diego temple and do baptisms for the dead. I was accompanied by my beautiful husband, BFF Connie (her first time), BFF Brittany, Susan and Gerald the most cutest couple alive!!
So we baptized some of my husbands deceiced relatives. I have done proxy baptisms many times before but this was so much more special. I was overwhelmed with emotion. One of the best temple trips so far but there is one that tops them all. But we will get to that later.