Pumpkin Squares

My neighbors just got home from their mission to Denmark. I offered to bring some goodies to their open house last Sunday. I made my tried and true Pumpkin Squares. They are easy, make a lot and everyone seems to love them. You can also pretend that they are "healthy" because there is pumpkin in them! Several of my fellow bloggers asked for the recipe so here it is:
PUMPKIN SQUARES
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
1-2/3 c. sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. oil 1 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
2 c. pumpkin (16 oz. can)
Beat eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together remaining ingredients and add to pumpkin mixture. Pour into greased pans (two 9x13 or one 15x10x1) Bake at 350 for 20-25 min. Frost

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. margarine
2 tsp. vanilla
5 c. powdered sugar
Cream all ingredients together.

Note: I always use one large can of pumpkin and make the recipe twice using 1/2 can in each batch. Making one batch of frosting is enough for 2 recipes of the pumpkin squares. ENJOY!

Book Tag

I don't usually do tags! But this one sounded unusual.
I have been tagged by Amber. Here are the rules.
1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages)
2. Turn to page 123
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag 5 people

I have been preparing for a lesson for my scripture study class and the first book I picked up was "Joseph Smith's First Vision" by Milton V. Backman, Jr. For those of you who don't know, I love history and I love to read about history. This book is very fascinating and I have read it several times. I turned to page 123 and it was just pictures of some of Joseph Smith's contemporaries.

The next book I picked up was "Teachings of Presidents of the Church - Joseph Smith." and here is sentence number 5:
"When has the Lord given you gifts to help you participate in His work?" As I thought about this I realized that the Lord has always given me gifts to be able to do His work. Whether in my calling or raising my children or any other part of my life, the Lord has always blessed me with talents and gifts. The challenge is to use what the Lord has given me which is always the best route or try to do it my way with my skills. The choice should be obvious, but I don't always do that. I am going to try and do better.

I guess what I do now is tag someone else. I tag Kari, Michelle, Kendra, Heidi and Kerri-Ann if she starts her blog.

I think every blog entry needs a picture so here is one time I did it the Lord's way. We had a wonderful Primary Activity at the Jordan River Temple where each child was able to touch the temple. Here is a picture of my Primary Children.

General Conference

I am looking forward to General Conference this weekend.
It always helps recharge me to do better.
I am also looking forward to Sustaining our New Prophet --
Thomas S. Monson.
Of the 16 Modern Day Prophets, I can remember 8 of them.
Each one has had a special influence in my life.
I look forward to being able to Follow President Monson.

You Gotta Love Teenagers!

"Zits" is one of my favorite comic strips --
probably because it mimics my life!

Sunday's strip especially hit home! Enjoy:

Cruising in Baja California and Mexico

For Spring Break we went on our First Cruise.

We started in Los Angeles and our Ports of Call
were San Diego, Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico.
We enjoyed our time together and
We spent most of our time EATING!!!

The Monarch of the Seas Cruise Ship
One of our State Rooms

Our initial Muster Drill

Gwen tries the Freezing Pool
Blake plays basketball on the back of the ship
Climbing the Rock Wall is a favorite of Family.
Brad won Third Place in the Teen Climb.
Blake and Gwen win several medals on the ship

Brandon and Bradley become Towel Folder experts

Brandon learns to fold all kinds of napkin shapes

Our Waiter Tony from India

Lori and Harold on Formal Dinner Night

Ports of Call -- San Diego

Catalina Island

Ensenada, Mexico - La Bufadora (or Blow Hole)
The Brockbank Family at the Los Angeles Temple

Pirates of Penzance

March has been a big month for Bradley!

He has definitely been busy with "Pirates of Penzance."
Add school, scouts and wrestling to that and he is one busy boy.
Hillcrest Junior High always does a great job with their plays.
This year has been no exception.
Brad is in the Pirate Chorus.
He was selected by the costume committee
to wear just a vest and no shirt.
The teacher/director announced that
those not wearing shirts needed a little more color -
or in other words, Lilly White Brad needed a "tan."
We started Saturday using a tanning lotion and
Brad has turned a very nice orange color!

Ben and his friend Valerie came to see the Play too!

Wrestle Mania!

Bradley started Murray Wrestling Camp about 2 weeks ago.

Last night was his first meet and Brad won both his matches.

Brad was a little nervous before he started because both the boys
that he wrestled had been doing it for years.
We have decided that Bradley is one strong dude!