Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!!!

I LOVE THIS DAY!  This afternoon, I bought Liza's ticket to come home for a few days in December!  Since Liza told me that she had the few days off in December, it's made me insane that she'd be sitting at home all day there alone and I'd be sitting here at home alone when we could be together!  Today, things came together for her to be able to come home and we can be together.  I highly doubt there will be much sitting.  I've already got every minute of the time here filled!  That will be my best Christmas present of all! 

I wanted to record this for my own memory and keep forgetting to... We stopped at Target on the way home from Uncle Lu's funeral two weeks ago.  The kids love shopping at Target as much as I do.  As soon as we walked into the store, they were all anxious to go off together and "look" while Doug and I grabbed the things we needed.  As the girls were walking away (to the toys, as always, I assumed), I heard Gracie saying to ZJ, "Let's go look at the clothes!"  I was stunned.  Clothes before toys?  Seriously?  Then, a few minutes later, after Doug and I had grabbed what we needed, we went back to the toy department.  When we got there, we found the girls, but Quayd was not there drooling over Transformers.   We walked up and down through the toys twice. No Quayd.  It made me nervous for a minute.  Doug stayed back at the toys and I said I'd go to the front to see if he was looking for us.  I found him in the electronics!  He'd not even gone to the toy department!  SERIOUSLY!?!?!?  They are growing up far too quickly!

Another sign...Tonight, for dinner, we stopped at Subway, since I've was finishing up little last minute details for the wedding.  Normally, Doug or I order the food and we usually bring it home.  Tonight, since the kids were with us,  I told them to come in and order their own sandwiches. I always get them Subway Clubs with lettuce and mayo.  Period.  That's what kids like, right?  Surprise! Gracie ordered pickles and olives.  ZJ ~ olives, pickles and tomatoes.  And Quayd.  Seriously?  Olives and ONIONS??????  As Zaylee would say, "Are ya kiddin' me?!"   TOO FUNNY.   My kids are not babes anymore!

The wedding reception is all together and ready to load in the truck in the morning. It has come together quite smoothly.   I'm feeling good about everything and hope that the actual festivities fall into place as well!  I've loved doing every minute of this "project"!  I hope that Tessa will be thrilled too!  And as of tomorrow night at about 10PM, my brain will turn to Thanksgiving, Christmas and LIZA COMING HOME!

Tonight, I was supposed to be going to the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn, as well as a huge "wedding reception" party for Bella and Edward at the Marriott Hotel in Logan.  My body has not been co-operative today, so I opted to stay home and sleep tonight instead.  I didn't dare risk feeling so drained tomorrow.  It's all good. I'll go next week and I'll go again with Liza and Kelly when Liza is here.  (Have I mentioned that I'm excited about that!?)

One last thing... About 13 years ago, on Thanksgiving Eve, I happened onto a recipe for a pie that sounded like it was to die for.    I "whipped it up" at the last minute. It was divine...the favorite of that year's desserts!  However, after it disappeared, I happened to look at the recipe and noticed that I'd done it all wrong.  I'd "whipped it up" alright.   "Whipped it up all in one step, instead of creating the pie in layers as instructed.  GRRR.  BUT, still.  It was sooooooooo good!   I remember Kelly's ex-husband saying, "WRITE THAT ONE DOWN!"  I tucked the recipe someplace waiting to put it into the back cover of my amazing and wonderful recipe system.  The next Thanksgiving when it was time to make it, I discovered that, somehow, the recipe was never filed.  And it has never resurfaced.  And I've wished for it every year since.  This morning, Liza emailed this recipe to me and it was the one!!!!  SO.  If you follow the directions, it will be divine.  BUT, if you're too lazy or busy to take time to read them, and you whip it all up together, it will still  be divine!  I'll be making this one in five days!  Woohoooooo!

DOUBLE LAYER PUMPKIN PIE  

8  oz. cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 cup whipped cream (whipped stiffly)
4 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla

1 prepared graham cracker crust

1 cup cold milk
1 16 oz can pumpkin
2 ~ 4 oz packages vanilla instant pudding
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. giner
1/4 tsp. cloves 

 Mix cream cheese, 1 TBSP milk, and 1 TBSP sugar in bowl until smooth.  Gently stir in whipped cream (add 1 tsp vanilla and 4 TBSP sugar to whipped cream when beating).  Spread on bottom of crust.  Pour 1 cup cold milk into bowl.  Add pumpkin, pudding mixes and spices.  Beat well.  Mixture will be thick.  Spread over cream cheese layer.  Refrigerate 4 hours or until set.  Garnish with additional whipped cream.  Serves 8   (As I said, I mixed it all together and poured it into the crust.  No fuss.  No layers.  SOOOOOO GOOD!)

HAPPINESS!  Liza's coming home!

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them,
is the true measure of our thanksgiving.

Comments

[Nicole]

Thanks for the recipe Sophia, it looks yummy! How wonderful that Liza is coming to visit you in December, I bet you will be super busy!

[susan]

do you know...I had this very pie, i think, when I visited SLC in 1962...and met with the elder who first knocked on our door and brought us the gospel. That's what I remember. and it is great!

[Cindy Thomas]

Sophia...doing the happy dance for you that your beautiful Liza will get to spend some time with you next month. Our daughter moved to New York from Ohio in 2009 and we miss her terribly each and every day...but yet are thrilled that she is doing what she loves. This year will be the third Thanksgiving that she will not be with us and my heart aches. She will be here for a time in December, and we are very thankful for that, so we too are excited for the holidays to come for our girl to be with us. What a wonderful Christmas gift you are getting...love the counter. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season.