Chocolate Everywhere

 So Mom and I did a marathon 3 days of work and we completed all the chocolate dipping for the season.  

We made several new flavors and of course the classics/ favorites of everyone.  

Since learning about chocolates I have wanted to try out some of it on my own so I created a few new flavors and tried making the recipes I had learned.  I was successful! 

Mom offered to come help me dip the new flavors so we spend the day trying out some unique chocolates.  Mom and I have a great system.  We can get a lot done when we both get to work.  It has been really fun working with mom and learning from her.  

Some of the new flavors were Strawberry Cheesecake, Birthday Cake, Mint Chocolate chip, and Keylime Pie. We also dipped some gummy bears and cinnamon bears.  

I still had some extra chocolate so the following day I did some take 5 candy bars, Swedish fish, a peanut butter ball and Oreos with my left over chocolate.  

Halloween 2024

 

We didn't do much for Halloween.  We don't get trick or treaters since we live on a busy road.  Adam took the boys and had to work in Island Park so it was just me and Ila.

Ila and her friends still enjoy trick or treating and dressing up.  

We also had a fun young women's activity in celebrating Halloween. 

I can always learn more

 I have been trying to perfect my sour dough bread.  It is improving with each loaf.  

I also baked some sour dough bagels one morning for my kids.  I won't do that again because Avram was the only one that ate one.  

I have always wanted to learn how to make chocolates like mom but I have seen how much work it is so it has deterred me from learning.  I have a neighbor that makes chocolates all the time so I took a couple of classes from her.  She has some cool tools and has some unique tricks in doing chocolate.  For the past couple of years I realized I could do chocolates but I needed to get a tempering machine.  So it took two years to finally pull the trigger and buy a machine.  It was an expensive purchase but hopefully it lasts a long time and I can carry on the tradition of chocolates.  

Mom and I had a little class with my neighbor.  I really wanted mom to see some of the things my neighbor does and Monica also taught us about the tempering machine and how to use it.  

I was also able to jump in on a last minute chocolate dipping class at Gygis.  

Adam and Briggs went to the Kansas City vs Raiders game in Las Vegas.  Adam was given some box seat tickets from a supplier he uses.  It was an amazing experience for them.  

Avrams home coming

Due to General Conference and fast Sunday, Avram wasn't able to give his return report for a couple of weeks.  It was so wonderful having my three children all at church again.  Adam, Ila and I get lonely sometimes.  

I was worried about Avrams homecoming talk because he didn't take any notes nor did he seem nervous about anything.  When Avram gave his talk, Im pretty sure my jaw dropped open and never closed until he was done.   I was completely shocked by his report.  I think everyone was amazed watching him quote scriptures and prophets and talk for 15 mins without any notes.  

One of Avrams good friends, sister, sang an amazing song for the program.  I may be bias but the talk and song were one of the best sacrament meetings I have ever attended.  

We had an ice cream bar in the back yard afterward.  The weather was perfect and suddenly cooled down just before his homecoming so it was a little chilly out back but we had it out side anyway. 

 

Blessings

The Fall was beautiful, and the sunsets are always breathe taking.

Even though I just wanted to hang out with Avram there was still a lot to do around the yard.  I canned a couple more bottles of tomato sauce and made a lot of fruit leather and jam.  

Avram loves seeing his plaque on the wall.  We have had our plaques on display for years and we hope to get more up there before all is said and done.  Avram has said many times since returning from his mission, "Im so thankful I went on a mission."  

We are having fun feeding Avram all the food he loves and the new things we have learned since he has been gone.