Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Wow

Just watched the best episode of LOST ever! I honestly think that was the best episode. And I can't WAIT for next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Pizza and Breadsticks

INGREDIENTS:

2 T yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 T sugar

1/2 cup milk
3 cup very warm water
3 T oil or melted butter
3 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar

11-12 cups of flour

----------------------------------------------------------------------

DIRECTIONS:

Mix first three ingredients in a bowl. Set aside. Mix next 5 ingredients in electric mixer. Add first mixture, mix. Add flour and kneed for approximately 5 minutes. Take dough out, and put in a greased bowl. Put towel over the bowl and let dough raise until it has doubled, around an hour. Divide into 4 pieces for 4 full sized pizza's.


Classic Pepperoni Pizza:
Spread tomato sauce over pizza. Sprinkle basil and garlic powder, or Italian seasoning. Top with mozzarella cheese. Spread with Pepperoni.
Healthy Pizza:
Spread french onion dip over pizza. Sprinkle basil and garlic powder, or Italian seasoning. Cover entire pizza with one layer of spinach. Then add chopped green peppers, sliced mushrooms, and top with Canadian bacon.

Breadsticks:
Roll dough out 1/4 inch thick. Slice with pizza cutter to desired length. Take two pieces and wrap one around the other. Brush on a generous amount of melted butter. Sprinkle garlic powder.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPTIONS:


Divide dough into 6-8 pieces for smaller individual pizzas.
Make pizzas and then freeze.

Bake fresh at 425 for 15 minutes. For frozen pizzas, bake for 20-25 minutes.

Happy Valentines Day!

Well, Clay and I had a pretty fun Valentines Day. We started off accidentally sleeping in until 9:41 when we were to be at the Primary Valentines Day party at 10:00! So we hurried, got ready, went (in pretty much no makeup and sopping wet hair, mind you), and stayed for like 2 HOURS! Anyway, then we went to the DI and got each other Valentines Day presents! If you didn't think we were cheap before, I'm guessing you do now. That's right folks, I said it. We got our V-day presents at the DI! But we are both SO PLEASED! Here were our findings. And yes, I did go out in the cold to look for a good way to display these wonderful items. I know I'm a dork, I know they aren't even that good- just ignore my efforts to be a cool photographer...


Clay's present. 75 cents. He picked it out (obviously). For some reason he LOVES this thing. It reminds him of King Arthur's round table. Now we just need armor, and a sword! It isn't plastic either. It's the real deal. So he is pretty excited to drink out of it.

My present! 50 cents each! I wish they had more. I LOVE THEM! If you can't tell, they are HUGE mugs! I've decided that I eventually want a kitchen full of random, bright colored, unique dishes. These mugs are AWESOME. Great for hot cocoa or cider, and big enough for cereal and ice cream! Also, I really want to use my box shelves (do you know what I'm talking about?) anyway- they are like boxes that you can put things on or in, they serve as decorative shelves....anyway- I think it'd be AWESOME to hang those in a kitchen with these big mugs inside of them. Like Luke's Diner. If you don't know what I'm saying by THAT, then I am so disappointed.

Anyway, Patty was a sweet thing and gave each of us a little play money for V-day so we went to Walmart and just blew it! We never get to do that so we thought it'd be a fun little date. We ended up with 5 movies! Yowsa! Thank goodness for 5 dollar bins, and 9 dollar double features. Love it. We've already watched 3!

Then we got Subway, because we still have money on our Subway gift cards we got for Christmas. Then we headed to the Natural store (don't know the name) that Clay decided is his new favorite store. We got him some lotion (for allergenic skin).

We came home, watched a movie, Clay napped, I did dishes and made Fetticcinni Alfredo (YUM! The best recipe and easiest recipe is on my Chef Danielle Blog...HERE). We then watched another movie. It was great!

Lets see...lets see....not much else to report. We found out today that a boy's mom in our primary class died of cancer. We don't know when, but it came out today. It made us so sad and put some perspective on the boy. A girl in our class has a sister who was born blind and handicapped to the point that she can't talk or walk, and gets sick so easily. She just had a surgery that they weren't sure if she was going to make it, and she did. The girl in our class today told us how Jesus helped her sister, and that angels are around us all the time:)

I made homemade Pizza and breadsticks. Yum.



If you want the recipe, click HERE!

Love you all!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

"No...Obama is NOT the prophet"

Yes, that was just one of the many joyous responses we got today in our primary lesson when we asked, "Who is our prophet today?". This is the same kid that said he learned to fight from HALO.

Class was SO much better today. First, there was a kid last week that was a major problem that wasn't there this week. Second, we think we found a better pattern where I teach the actual lesson, and Clay does the activities. Third, we took Amy's advice...kind of twisted it to our own mold, and had the kids make up their own rules (with our help), and then we wrote them on a posterboard. On the other side of the poster, we had them write their names down, and everytime they follow the rules to our satisfaction, at the end of the day they get one sticker. Once they each get 10 stickers, they get a party. Only 3 out of 6 people got a sticker today...2 boys were close, and it was so sad...we could see their dissappointment, but they needed to see that we were serious. I think they will act MUCH better next week...I could see it in their eyes...they really wanted to put that bug sticker by their name:)

One boy was really REALLY bad. It was so sad because after we made up the rules, all the kids were trying really hard to follow them...but this kid kept bugging EVERYONE. Eventually it got to them and that's what happened to the other two boys. But we really think we are going to have to ask this kids mom to the class next week. He was laughing and talking the whole lesson, and when they were coloring pictures of President Monson, you know...the Prophet, he decided to color his as a vampire. And one kid looked at it and said, "Charles, that is just disgusting" with a look of dissappointment. (I changed the name just incase any parents actually read this someday). You could tell the kid felt guilty and bad so I offered him another picture, and he drew a bloody nose on him the second time. We were so proud of that one boy though for telling him what was up.

Overall, it was much better this week and I think I can actually do this! Clay is awesome. He took a kid to the bathroom at one point, and told him that the other kids look up to him, so he shouldn't play around the way he was. When they came back, he was really good the rest of the class! Besides the time when we asked how they thought Moroni told Joseph that it was his job to restore the gospel, and he said, "He pooped his pants:)". Brother.

One girl is so cute. She sat on my lap both weeks and is so anxious to help with everything. She is so good, and raised her hand everytime she wanted to talk. So did two other boys. Both of them are so shy, but so kind. They helped put away chairs and clean up the mess of the other boys afterwards. So sweet.

Well, that's all for now. I just kind of wanted to update, and share my stories. I think they are kind of silly.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Leslies, work, church calling, life........................

Deep title, I know.

Well, the Leslie's came over to our place 2 Sundays ago. It was great! We ate crock pot chicken taco wraps, an orange cake Rebecca made, and played the wii. The girls also were completely fascinated with the turtle and tortoise. They were so cute. Here are some pictures. I couldn't cut any more pictures than this. They are all so cute. They are all in random order, but I am too lazy to put commentary and such with them....













.




This is random, but I started to curl my hair for a while. It was really cute, Clay loved it, but now I have to get up so early and be out the door so early that I just don't have time...


Work...same ol' deal...wake up at 6am, hit snooze 1-3 times depending on what time I went to bed the night before...shower, dress, drive 30 minutes while listening to Brad and Jeremy on z103 which includes battle of the sexes, celebrity dirt (my favorite), and random other things depending on the day. Then when I enter the workplace walk downstairs, turn on the light, turn on my computer, wait for it to boot on, open the tax software, begin a tax return or continue from where I left of the day before, and then eventually make it back up the stairs to ask for more work. At noon I go to Patty and Paul's house and eat lunch and chat away with Patty about basically everything. Sometimes I read. I then go back to work at 1pm, and the routine continues. At 5:00-5:15 I finish my work and exit the establishment. Drive home for 30 minutes, listen to Shay on z103 who is not NEARLY as entertaining as Brad and Jeremy, so often resort to plugging in my Zune, and listen to High School Muscial 3 soundtrack, or something else like NSYNC or Britney. I'm not joking. This music makes me happy.

Clay and I got called to be primary teachers. I was so excited. Key word: was. Now? Well after trying to teach 5 boys and 2 girls (6-7 year olds), and having them say, "I can do whatever I want", and having them punch themselves and each other, and climb all around the chairs and move CONSTANTLY, I decided I am scared to go to church. Well, I've thought about it a lot, talked to Amy who teaches the same age group, and Clay and I have thought of a few ideas to make it better. I really hope it gets better. Clay and I felt like they went home learning nothing. I don't see how they could've POSSIBLY learned a thing! Anyway, we are trully being tried in this calling because we have no idea WHAT we are doing. Wish us luck. Maybe even pray for us:) I know we'll be fine.

Life. What to say about life? I definitely know for a FACT: that I never want to work if I don't have to....I was born to be a homemaker, mom, and wife. I know that. Don't get me wrong, my job is great and I am so GRATEFUL to have such a good job at this time. It couldn't have come at a better time, and really, I work with great people, and am confident and it's not as stressful as you'd think. BUT, I am just not as happy when I'm working. I just keep thinking, what's the point? However, I do understand that for some women, they need jobs. They go crazy staying at the house all day, or simply...and understandably, their family financially needs them to work. If my family ever needs me to work, by all means, I will do it in a heartbeat. So anyway, I don't judge any mother or woman that works, obviously. Everyone is different. I just know that I am not the strongest person when it comes to balancing my life while I'm working. I haven't been reading my scriptures like I should...as in I haven't been doing it. You know all those posts where I don't read my scriptures for a few days, and then I start doing it and realize what I've been missing? Well this is a case where I haven't been for more than just a few days, and haven't started up again, and I can definitely feel the difference. My life just isn't as productive, or as happy. Then also, I am always so tired when I get home and I never feel like doing too much but watching tv or something like that. I'm even too tired to BLOG! You all know how much I like to blog. Then there's the fact that even Clay hates that I work. He even told me that he never wants me to work again. He says I act different. I don't want to act different! I know I do. I get home and act all business. I am all about the mail, bills, and getting things done. Since I have limited hours left in the day, wasn't home all day, I feel like I have to get everything done right away. So I act like I'm at work, not like a nice, sweet wife. Also, Clay eats better when I am home to make him things and the house is cleaner and...yeah. But again, I hope you all know that I am very grateful for what I DO have, I just know that I wasn't born to be a working girl. I think that the workplace makes women tough, and I don't like being tough, I like being soft. (I know I sound half ridiculous right now, but don't you get what I mean? Maybe not.

Other than all this, Clay and I are very happy. We love each other and are laughing and loving and being silly and all that good stuff. Today at work I updated everyone on how Clay was doing, and kind of went through everything again as I was remembering it and realized again how blessed we've been to have been lead to our doctor and to have everything turn out so well. Clay is doing SO much better. It was a year ago in April that Clay first went to his doctor (I think). Isn't it crazy? It seems like it was just yesterday that he was hobbling around everywhere. I can definitely see a difference in our life. I never realized it when it was happening, but life certainly does seem much lighter than before. I just think that in the grand scheme of things, Heavenly Father is so merciful, so loving and life is just so good. I love my family so much. My Arnold side, my Phillipp side, and all my extended family and friends- everyone is so nice and so loving. Clay and I probably would've never gotten through some things had it not been for everyone's prayers and kind, kind love. Thank you, again. We love you so much.

Well, on to less deep, more shallow and dirty-habit subjects. Chocolate is so amazing. I just think that it's great that such a simple (yet it's not really a simple thing if you research it) thing can really change a mood. A woman at work brought in brownies, good brownies, and we were all just so happy. It made the morning go by quicker today (yes, we were eating brownies at 10am), and everyone just seemed happier. Last week someone brought in a vegetable tray. Didn't have the same effect. Funny.

Oh, one thing I have found energy to do is organize our computer room crap. I know I probably look OCD even posting all these pictures, but I'm sure my mom, and some select sisters will appreciate. I just printed these off the computer and taped them. Now I need to work on keeping track of a budget.................








Well that will be all for now. I hope it satisfied my readers:) I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!