Christmas Friday Favorites

This is actually a post about favorites from Christmas' of the past. I wanted to share with all of my many nieces and nephews some of my favorite things at Christmas time when I was little and young.

The song It's Marshmallow World is a funny, cute little song. I still like this song now but mostly because it reminds of my two older sisters Michelle and Erin. They used to perform this little number at the very elite Granada Christmas Concert. I loved this song. I loved the idea of a world being covered in marshmallows. I'm not quite sure why exactly because I don't even like marshmallows (unless toasted and smashed between chocolate and graham crackers.) I think it piqued my fancy because, growing up in Southern California, I had very little experience with snow. Whatever the reason was I loved this song and loved to hear my very grownup sisters singing it around our house. It really must be nice to have little sisters because well, we just think you older ones are wonderful in everything you do. But then again, you really are!

My next favorites are a couple of Disney Cartoons I always looked forward to seeing on TV when I was a little girl. Now, you can simply just buy these on DVD's. I love how even if we own our own copy of a certain movie or children's cartoon it's always fun to find it surprisingly on TV. And even if we've watched it a millions times already it still feels like "Oh ! the Disney Christmas Cartoon is on!" And we simply have to watch it.....again.

The Missing Month of November

An entire month has come and gone in which there is not one post to show for it! And November was a great month! I mean it's not like it's January or anything where everyone just stares at each other wondering what is there possibly to do?

There is a good reason for this missing month though. Two weeks of November were spent in Europe! Adam and I had lovely holiday (doesn't that sound British?) We really had a wonderful time seeing so many places that you read and hear about. It was so fun to travel with Adam and all of my family as well. It felt like being a kid again in the back of the big van, laughing and talking with all of my many siblings and with Mom and Dad in the front somehow tolerating all that racket and nonsense.

It really was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I cannot thank my Dad and Mom enough for their generosity. Thank you for taking me to Europe! I can't believe I actually got to go! I mean I really don't go too many places so this was an amazing way to start off the stamps in my passport!

*More pictures to come soon hopefully. Slide shows really do take a dreadfully long time to do!

Friday Faves

I'm shamefully late on this post-and many others this week-and I must apologize and beg forgiveness. Please don't kick me out of the club.

My latest favorite is a delicious cookie from Paradise Bakery. I love Paradise Bakery. It makes delicious sandwiches, salads, and cookies. My favorite cookie is a chocolate cookie with white chocolate chips called chippers. They're called chippers because they are small like chips (pretty clever,huh?). I love when baked goods are small. I feel a lot less guilty consuming these pint size cookies. Even though I make up for their size by eating about tree times as much!
Unfortunately, I cannot be running to paradise bakery as often as I would like these cookies so I decided to make these for myself. Actually I decided to call my exceptionally talented sister Erin and have her tell me how to make them. I'm telling you this girl has a gift. She has never tasted these cookies but just by me describing how they tasted she was able to come up with a great knock-off recipe. They were tiny, innocent, and delicious. I loved them!

Chocolate Chipppers

1 1/4 cup - brown sugar
3/4 cups- granulated sugar
1 cup -butter
2 -eggs
1 tsp. - vanilla
1 cup- cocoa powder
1 tsp. - baking powder
1 tsp. -baking soda
1 tsp. -salt
2 cups- flour
1 bag white chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla and mix. Then add in cocoa powder and mix. Add 1 cup of flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and mix. Add last cup of flour and mix. Add white chocolate chips. (Reserve about 1/2 cup of chocolate chips for topping cookies after baking them.) Roll into small 1 inch balls and bake at 350 degrees for 6 1/2 minutes. After they are finished add several white chocolate chips on tops of cookies. ( It looks prettier this way.) Then I put the cookies in the freezer, on their cookie sheet still, to cool the white chocolate chips quickly for about 5 minutes. This makes a large batch due to their small size.

Thanks Erin for being so generous and clever with all of your recipes. I could have not done this without you! I hope everyone enjoys these cookies. And if you want to see a whole weeks worth of other great cookies just click a way right here! http://prudencepennywise.blogspot.com/

The Finer Things Club.

The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart

"This is the story of how a middle-aged spinster lost her mind, deserted her domestic gods in the city, took a furnished house for the summer out of town, and found herself involved in one of those mysterious crimes that keep our newspapers and detective agencies happy and prosperous."

I thought I would begin my introductory post into the Finer Things Club with a chilling book because, well, it is almost Halloween.I only came to be familiar with this book due to Catherine and Mom. While Catherine was visiting Mom and Dad in Nauvoo one summer, she and mom had long periods of waiting. I can't remember what they were waiting for but they were waiting just the same. To pass the time Mom would read out loud to Catherine from a book. This book, The Circular Staircase. Apparently this book was written by a favorite author of our Grandmother's(Mom's mom). Catherine said the book was very interesting and frightening and she loved to listen to Mom read it. I was sold. Not long after that I headed over to my beloved Library and checked it out.

I really enjoyed this book. The author does a good job of keeping you unsure and wanting to read more. Well, at least to me. It was also interesting to read a book written by a very popular writer in the early 1900's. I hope anyone looking for a good mystery will get a chance to read this.

*Bonus*

Can anyone name the movie where the opening song is from? Do you know who the composer is? (I didn't till yesterday but I love his music!)

Friday Favorites!

This Season makes me want to do many things. Bake, take scenic walks, go pumpkin picking, and anything else fallish. One thing I long to do in the Autumn is go to Disneyland. I love Disneyland. It's such a fun and amazing place. I loved going as a child and now with my own children. Since everyone, besides the Utah families, will be going to the Magical Kingdom soon I thought I would write about a few of my favorite things at this Wonderful Place. I love New Orleans Square. I love the smells, the music, and all of the rides. One of those rides is ideal during Halloween Time. The Haunted Mansion. I really do love this ride. The music and the mansion itself are very eerie. I have always loved to be scared, just a little-not too much, and this ride is perfect for that.

My favorite part in this ride is when you get put in the first room and that chilling voice begins telling you your Haunted Mansion fate. At the very end of it the lights go out and some people scream but no one as good as my sister Erin.

Erin is quite an accomplished actress. She could give such a convincing blood curdling scream. You know the kind in Scary Movies where it makes you throw your popcorn in the air and spill your soda all over. My sister Leslie screams like that too but believe me she's not acting. That really is how she screams for many, many things.

So Erin would scream and her little sisters (Catherine and I) would laugh and think she was so fun and funny. Then Catherine and I would sit by each other and those same big sisters would knock on the back of our ride carrier to scare us. Oh I miss being the little sister with so many fun, silly sisters around!

My other favorite thing to do at Disneyland besides rides is eating all of the delicious snacks so conveniently located in my path. (Maybe I should have listed this first.) I love so many but I think my favorite has to be the Churro. It's fried bread rolled in cinnamon and sugar. What's not to love?

I love them but can't stand when I get a cold one. I learned that you must go to the Churro cart with a line if you really want a hot one. If you go to one without the line then most likely those Churros have been sitting around for awhile but the busy carts have to keep making fresh ones. When it comes to food I believe the long line is worth it!

So here is my nod to one of my absolute most favorite rides and one of the most delicious snacks at one of my most Favorite places- Disneyland!

Friday Favorites!

Lovely, lovely Fridays. It's here a gain! Hooray! My loves for this week are inspired by my dear sister Heidi. She discovered them and so all credit goes to her this week.

Several years ago Heidi and her group came to visit my family back in our old Provo home. I was on my way down stairs to do some laundry and was trying to be extra quite since it was past bedtime for everyone, including Heidi's little bundle of joy at the time- Reevey. I saw a light coming from her door. I lightly knocked and went in. I was greeted by a small bright light that seemed to be shining from the top of Heidi's head. I was caught slightly off guard by my sister's strange aappearance. I looked at her. Heidi looked at me. Then we both started laughing. She looked like a Cole Miner's Daughter in her bed with a one of those flashlights they wear strapped to her head! She loves to read but due to a sleeping husband and baby did not want to leave a lamp burning into the midnight hours. Flashlights were okay but they never stayed in the same spot. Cellphones were only used as an absolute last resort. This was the first time I had ever heard of a book light and I loved it! Heidi's book light was rather an unconventional one but it worked! Adam just purchased me one that clips to my books. I LOVE it! It's absolutely one of the best most useful gift Adam has given me. So for all those many midnight readers out there, this little book light is perfect!


My last favorite is a song I just discovered on the Renouf family blog. It's Mahna Mahna by Cake. I love it ! So do my kids. They all dance around anytime they hear it. It's silly, funny, and got a great beat. It reminds me of the muppets who I love because they're so nonsensey Listen. Love it! Thanks Heidi for introducing me to two of my great favorites!

A Few of my Favorite Things

Everybody loves Friday, me included. I decide to try to do a post on each Friday of things that I love. It could be houshold items, music, movies, food, ideas, and just about anything else that has caught my fancy.These things will not be large or extravagant. Just simple things. If anybody else wants to post their new or old time loves please do! I love hearing about what other people love, especially my sister Leslie. She's a very passionate person. So here are my latest loves. Hope you love them too!

1. The Office- I love this Show! I think it's hilarious! I was so happy the Season Premier was last Thursday. It was greatly anticipated in my home. I love it so much that I always want watch it at the end of each night. I Love the whole cast but I can never make up who my favorite is. I think right now it's Kelly and Phyllis. I loved watching Kelly in the Season Premier gets so cranky and look so terrible when she's dieting. That's exactly how I feel anytime I try to diet. Too Funny! And Phyllis every time that women talks I'm laughing my head off. I would highly recommend getting hooked on this show if you aren't already.

2.Herbal Essence Hydrating Conditioner: I just bought this the other day. I chose it only because it smelled so heavenly. It smelled like sun tan lotion that I wash my hair with. I loved it! Then I used it and was surprised that it actually worked pretty well on my hair besides just smelling so good that I want to drink the bottle!So here are my first shot at My Favorite Things Friday! We'll see how long it last. Who knows, if I have a bad week it could end up being things that I detest Fridays!

Our Impromptu Summer Vacation

Before it is officially Fall, I must post some pictures of my wonderful California trip the kids and I took this summer. It was an impromptu trip that turned out being a great summer vacation. It was just the kids and I because I'm sorry to say that Adam was in the midst of finals and could not come along and play. Sorry Adam.

We went to St. George and then on to California with my sister Erin and her two children. I was so happy to have Erin and her group join the fun. It was great traveling with her and all of the kids packed in my van gave us plenty to laugh about.

I was so happy to get to go to good ol' Cali. It really is geared for summer activities. We loved going to the beach, going swimming, playing with cousins, getting ice cream, visiting with family, and just having a wonderful time. Thank you so much to my sister Leslie and my sister-in-law Sing Jin for letting us come stay with your families and feeding us such great meals. It was so kind of both of you. Thanks too to Laurie and her girls for organizing such fun activities. Anything you guys plan always ends up being a ball. You really do have a gift! We loved seeing everyone. I really had so much fun that I'm hoping to make it an annual summer event. Thanks again to everyone!

First Day of School!

Summer has come and gone. I miss it but am happy to see my favorite season of all coming-Fall. With Autumn comes the first day of school. My kids actually had two first day of school this year.
We were thrilled to get in to the charter school directly behind our house this year. They had already started at the public school but we could not pass up the opportunity of sending our kids to a school with a great location, curriculum, and uniforms! It's been great walking the kids to school, watching them at recess, and just having them close by. The kids are loving it and so am I.

Our BYU Grad!

On August 15, 2008 Adam graduated from Brigham Young University!!!! We are still so excited over it and cannot believe that this day he has worked for years has finally come and gone. It was a great day for Our Family!
The day before graduation Adam's family arrived. We were so excited to see everyone and so happy they were there for Adam and this great accomplishment in his life. It was so kind of them to take time off work and not to mention the cost of the airplane tickets to get here. Thank you so much. It really meant a great deal to Adam and I.
The graduation was wonderful. The main speaker spoke on having integrity of the heart. It was a great talk and I felt proud to belong to a University and Church that install and believe in honesty, family life, hard work, learning, and the continually idea of trying to be more like our Beloved Savior in all that we do.
Later we had the Tuineis, Briscos, Jackson and Rosie, Gutes, and the Telles Group over for a dinner and small celebration. We had a wonderful time and appreciate all the help and encouragement we have received through the years from each family. Thank You!
The last big thank you goes to my dear husband. You must allow me to tell you how proud I am of you and your amazing accomplishment. It really is an incredible thing that you have done. Somehow you have had to manage family, school, work, church callings, mortgages, assisting car repairs(thanks Paul!) sleepless nights, finals, missed vacations, and countless of other obstacles to reach this goal. You made it! Thank you for all of your hard work, determination and grit that it took to do this! Congratulations Adam!!!

Annaliese the Birthday Girl!

This has not been a good month for me and my blog. I've been on back order through July and August and am hoping to finally get caught up. Annaliese's 9th birthday has come and gone but she must have her Birthday blog too.
We were so happy to have a beautiful, sweet daughter as the oldest in our family. Annaliese is a wonderful helper to Adam and I and a great example to her younger siblings. She has a love of the outdoors and of creatures big and small. She loves learning about an being around plants and flowers. She has a very sweet and tender heart. Annaliese also has a silly side and and loves to laugh.
I love to learn new things about the Birthday person so here is Annaliese's Birthday interview.
1. Annaliese's favorite book is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
2. Her favorite ice cream flavor is cotton candy.
3. Annaliese's dream vacation is to Disneyland.
4. Her favorite flower is a peach rose.
5. Annaliese's favorite movie is Nancy Drew.
Annaliese we hope you had a happy birthday! We think you are just wonderful! Happy Birthday to our delightful daughter.

Jacob the Birthday Boy!

Happy Birthday to the baby of our family! Jacob Easton Telles(JET)was born on July 22, 2006 in St. George, Utah. We were so happy to see our beautiful baby boy that morning. This was the first time Adam and I tried the "traditional" way of discovering the sex of the baby in the delivery room and not in an ultrasound. It was such a great moment to have Adam shout out "It's a Boy!!!" Jacob was my easiest pregnancy, easiest delivery, and easiest baby. He was such a sleepy and content baby that for the first couple of months it seemed like he only woke up long enough to eat and smile. This was greatly appreciated and needed at the time because his older sister was barely a year old.
From the beginning he had big beautiful brown eyes and soft chubby cheeks. Adam nicknamed him Cub, a shorten version of his name and because he really does seem like a brown chubby bear cub. He loves to play ball and chase with his Dad and siblings. He smiles so easily and gives the best hugs. He wakes up so so cheerfully that Adam, the kids, and I will all try to reach him first when he wakes up. He is beloved by the entire family and we are all so happy he came to join out little group! Happy Birthday Son! We hope you have a Wonderful Day!

Meme Assignment

Dear Mrs.Pennywise,
Here is the meme assignment you asked me to complete last week.Please excuse me for turning it in late but my children ate it.(We don't have a dog so I didn't think that sounded believable.)

Sincerely,
Mary Kate Telles

1) LAST MOVIE U SAW IN A THEATRE? I saw the movie WallE with the Montanos, the Briscos, the Gutes, and my own group. I enjoyed the buttery popcorn, the chocolate m&m’s, and my frothy soda very much.

2) WHAT BOOK ARE U READING? I’m reading Gone with the Wind, and I just checked out a book at the library on Heroines throughout history and another one on the French Revolution. I was feeling ambitious that day.

3) FAVORITE BOARD GAME? I love Clue and Monopoly.

4) FAVORITE MAGAZINE? I love Real Simple.

5) FAVORITE SMELLS? The beach, freshly bathed children, anything on the grill, cabbage patch kids, onions or garlic sautéing, newborn babies breath, and Main Street at Disneyland.

6) FAVORITE SOUNDS? A helicopter over head, wind chimes, distant lawn mower, the swishhh of a basketball net, a clicky pen, the pop from a sealed bottle, and a thunderstorm.

7) TELL ME ABOUT FOOD. I love him.

8) WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN U WAKE? Please don’t let anyone wakeup till I’m at least showered and dressed.

9) FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE? In & Out.

10) FUTURE CHILD'S NAME? I love the name Mallory and Violet for a girl and Michael for a boy.

11) FINISH THIS STATEMENT—IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I’D......Landscape our yard,finish our basement, redecorate our home, rent a beach house for the summer, put my kids in more lessons, buy new wardrobes for my family, go to dinner once a week at a lovely restaurant, and get a new but not flashy car.

12) DO U DRIVE FAST? I used to terribly. Now that I have kids I try not to. I also have a horrible fear of tickets so that helps.

13) DO U SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? No just a baby, occasionally a toddler and a husband if he can squeeze in somewhere.

14) STORMS–COOL OR SCARY? I love them. Storms are exciting and scary and a great time to bake something delicious and read a chilling story or watch a spooky movie. I’m so happy when I see one rolling in.


15) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? I consider mine to be the white jeep wrangler. I drove other cars before the jeep but this was the first car that my parents did not use regularly too. All of them were my parents and just on loan for the time being.
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16) FAVORITE DRINK? Shirley Temple.

17) FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD… Go back to School, refinish my piano, take up guitar, learn sign language, and take classes from home depot on gardening, framing and dry walling.

18) DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI? I do not eat broccoli. Vile weed.

19) IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE? I do highlight it already with what I like to consider a golden caramely honey color.

20) NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS U HAVE LIVED IN? La Mirada, Provo, Orem, Queen Creek, St. George, Pleasant Grove, and now Saratoga Springs. Pretty dang exciting, huh?

21) FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? BYU football.

22) ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? She is such an amazingly talented person. Her blog is proof at just one of those. She’s intelligent, kind, friendly, patient, musical, witty, speaks another language, wonderful cook, beloved mother and wife, and beautiful to boot! I think even Mr. Darcy would admit she truly is an accomplished women.


23) WHATS UNDER YOUR BED? Nothing yet because I just moved in to our home. Ask me again in year. On second thought better not.

24) WOULD U LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN? Yes, but only because I know we have a lot in common.

25) MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL? A combination of each. If I had my choice I would get up early and then take a small nap during the lull in the afternoon and then stay up late.

26) OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP? Scrambled.

27) FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX? At the beach, on a boat, and my front porch steps.

28) FAVORITE PIE? Apple pie and razzleberry pie.

29) FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Mint chip, chocolate chip, gold medal ribbon, and a double hhhhot fudge sundae.

The Hero Returns!

My kids are crazy about their Dad. I don't blame them. He runs, plays, wrestles, teases, and sports with the best of them. Each day the kids await impatiently(not as impatiently as their mother, believe me) for their Dad to return home. When he comes through the door the entire household perks up. A second wind has swept through, new blood has come, the man of the hour has returned, daddy's home!
Now what is to be done about a day when that hero is out of town? No second wind, no new blood, nothing. The children and I look around at each other. I know they're thinking the same thing I'm thinking. What on earth are we going to do for the rest of the night?
Oh we find something to do. Movies, games, movies, library, movies, target, and more movies. But nothing is quite as exciting as when that man is with us. That is why when Adam comes home he really does get the Hero's welcome he deserves.

Here are some pictures of Adam's Birthday Party and Birthday Party II.