Christmas Charleston! (Luke and Duke included!)

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Keeler Elves!

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Wacky Recipe Wednesday

This week's recipe was inspired by the CHILL that is in the air all of a sudden in St. George. It is my favorite recipe from my mom. Perfect weather for this yummy soup!

MIDWEST CHOWDER

2 c. peeled, diced potatoes
1/2 c. sliced carrots
1/2 c. chopped celery
1/4 c. chopped onion
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. margarine
1/4 c. flour
2 c. milk
10 oz. medium or sharp cheddar cheese
1 can creamed corn (optional)

Combine first 6 ingredients in a pot. Add about 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Turn down and simmer 10 minutes or until fork goes into vegetables easy. Drain and set aside. In another pan, melt margarine. Add flour and milk stirring constantly. Turn to low and cook until it thickens. Take off heat. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add other vegetables and creamed corn if desired. (I love the creamed corn in it but Kirt doesn't care for it so sometimes I just do regular corn and it's really good too.) This is really yummy served in bread bowls.

Keeler Kitchen: Wacky Recipe Wednesday

All of us "Keeler sisters" decided we would post a recipe on our blog once a week. We're hoping this will break us out of our rut of making the same meals over and over, so check for recipe updates every Wednesday! Here's this week's winner: (yummy and EASY)

Crockpot Lasagna

6-8 lasagna noodles, uncooked
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 jar spaghetti sauce (your favorite kind)
1/4 cup water
1 carton cottage cheese
2 c. mozzarella cheese

Spray crockpot with cooking spray. Break noodles in half. Place half the the noodles in bottom of crockpot. Stir italian seasoning into meat and spread half of the meat over the noodles already in crockpot. Layer half the sauce, half the water, half the cottage cheese and half the mozzarella cheese over the beef. Repeat. (noodles, meat, sauce, water, cottage cheese, mozarella) Cover and cook on low 4-5 hours. Serves 6-8 people. This is really yummy served with a Greek salad. (greens, tomatoes, olives and feta cheese) ENJOY!

TAG!

Okay, so my friend and sister-in-law both tagged me on the same day with different TAGS! Since I haven't updated in like 3 weeks, I took the time to play! Enjoy.

A--Attached or Single: Attached, VERY.

B--Best Friend: Kirt, but I love you ALL!

C--Cake or Pie: Pie.

D--Day of Choice: Fridays. Date Night :)

E--Essential Item: My computer, it's a must!

F--Favorite Color: Yellow

G--Greatest Accomplishment: Finding Kirt.

H--Hometown: St. George, Utah

I--Indulgences: reading a good book!

J--January or July: July. Sweating my guts out at the park for the 24th in the BEST!

K--Kids: Dallin(10), Jaxon(7), Noah(4), Mia(3)

L--Life is incomplete without: The gospel and my family.

M--Marriage Date: December 14, 1996

N--Number of Siblings: Five: Michelle, Jake, Clint, Callie, Jessica

O--Oranges or Apples: Apples (especially if they're in a PIE!)

P--Phobias or fears: 1) Being lost and 2) getting in trouble
Q--Quotes: " 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."
- Alfred Lord Tennyson

R--Reason to Smile: I am alive.

S--Season: Fall

T--Tag 5 Friends: Crystal, DeAnna, Brandy, Kellie, Kendall
U--Unknown facts about me: I'm an open book. Sorry to disappoint.

V--Very favorite store: Old Navy

W--Worst habit: Bossing people around. (That answer came from Kirt. Thanks, babe.)

X--X-ray or Ultra Sound: Ultra sound. In my case that usually means baby. :)

Y--Your favorite food: Durangos pork salad

Z--Zodiac: Cancer

I've been TAGGED!

8 THINGS

8 TV shows I love to watch:

• Biggest Loser
• Dancing with the Stars (go Warren!)
• CSI
• Rachel Ray
• Monk
• American Idol
• Jon and Kate plus 8
• Iron Chef

My 8 favorite restaurants:

• Durangos
• Olive Garden
• Subway
• Chili's
• AppleBee's
• Mimi's
• Panama Grill
• Pizza Factory

8 things that happened yesterday:

• I started work at 6 am
• I spent a total of 4 hours on the phone.
• I laughed and played hide and seek with my kids.
• I took Kirt on a date to Texas Roadhouse.
• I watched the CMA's (pre-recorded from Wednesday)
• I drove my taxi (mini van) around town with everyone in it.
• I studied for my Praxis test for 3 hours.
• I slept really well because I took Melatonin before bed.

8 things I am looking forward to:

• traveling to Germany over spring break (if I can juggle it!)
• watching "Twilight" with the girls over Thanksgiving break
• taking my sisters to get pedicures for their birthdays
• sleeping in...if that EVER happens again...
• traveling to Spain with Kirt for our 25th wedding anniversary (We're halfway there!)
• living in a bigger house one day
• becoming free of my medical debt
• talking Kirt into having more kids :)

8 things I love about fall:

• The sound of leaves crunching under my feet.
  
• pumpkin Pie
• fresh, crisp apples
  
• hot cocoa
• football :) (Ok, Kirt is helping me out...)
• decorating for Christmas
• dressing my dogs in sweaters
• buying new clothes for the "season change"

8 things on my wish list:

• to see Brad Paisley in concert
• to have another baby
• to have my kids stay under the age of 12 (ok, not really, but sometimes!)
• to travel the world
• to get my body back in shape (Wait! Round IS a shape!)
• to become a better teacher
• to be blessed with more patience
• to always have my friends & family by my side :)

8 people I am tagging:

• Lindsey Barlow
• Paula Wallace
• Janell Mortensen
• Angie Kreitzer
• Megan Wallace
• Aleisha Black
• Annette Keeler
• Julie Phillips
  

Coral Canyon Elementary holds a Halloween Carnival every year. We have booths with games and activities and all kinds of stuff. Each teacher does a game that the kids get to participate in. They also have rides and jump houses for the students to enjoy. This year they had a dunking booth that I participated in.

Here is a clip of the kids riding the train.

They had a large swing that Noah and Jaxon got to ride also.

Around and around and around they go!

Flying High

Uncle Aaron (married to Kirt's older sister) ,who is a Chinook helicopter pilot, stopped in St. George on his way back to Reno. He called and asked if we wanted to come and see the Chinook, so we jumped at the chance! The kids had a blast taking a tour, sitting in the pilot seat and even wearing Aaron's helmet! After we left, we went to JB's for breakfast and we were actually able to see (and hear) the helicopter take off. It was a really awesome experience. Thanks Aaron!

Pine Wood Derby...WAHOO!

Dallin participated the the Pine Wood Derby at the first of September. He did a great job designing and creating his car. (It's the yellow, silver and red one...) He was a little upset that he never came in first, especially because the derby is only held once every three years in our ward, so this was his only chance! The boys had a great time racing their newly built autos.

Happy Birthday Little Man!!!

Okay so I'm behind on the posting, but Jax turned 7 on his birthday in August and invited a few friends to go to Jumpin' Jacks. They had a blast. That's the biggest cake he's ever had! ;)

New JOB!

I have my very first official teaching job! Now we all know that term is relative because I've been teaching piano for 15 years, tutoring for about 5 years and substitute teaching for 8 years so I have plenty of experience but I'm so excited because I get to teach and still be at home with my kids! Crazy, huh? I was just hired by the Utah Virtual Academy to be a K-8 teacher. These students do their schooling online instead of in a traditional classroom. I will be in charge of tracking their assessments & progress and conferencing with them on a monthly basis to help them with any of their schooling needs. Most of my work will be online and on the computer. Once a month I have to go to SLC for training but I think I will welcome the break! I know it's going to be quite challenging, but I think I'm up for it! :) To anyone out there who is looking for an alternate to public education, this could be for you! Check it out at www.utahvirtual.org.

Back 2 School!

Happy August! That always means back to school for us and the anxiously awaited day finally came...yesterday! Dallin is in Mrs. LeBaron's 5th grade class this year and Jaxon has Mrs. Smith for 2nd grade. They were happy to return to Coral Canyon with Dad this year. They had a fabulous first day.

Summertime!

Popsicles, swimming, sleepovers....what more could we want? IT'S SUMMER! The kids are having a blast and enjoying the heat just like they do every summer. Let's see...that means lots of computer games and TV in the afternoons when it's too hot to leave the house. We did buy a pass to the new community center just around the corner from us. That is probably the best move I made! If we aren't home that's probably where you can find us... :)

I'm totally "computer-handicapped" so I promise I'm going to post some pics soon, but I have to have Kirt's help. Since he is busy building slanted food-storage shelves in my garage (which I am SOOO excited about!) I'm not sure when I'll get that help. Soon, though. Soon.

The Kids

We took a picture of the kids while waiting while their Aunt Callie was getting married. This is at the St. George Temple. Dallin (10), Jaxon (nearly 7), Noah (4) and Mia(3) are sitting in front of the fountain and flower garden. This picture was taken on the 16th of May. Congratulations on your 1 month anniversary Callie & Aaron.

Dallin Kirt Keeler

Dallin is 10 years old going on 25. He loves 4th grade, Cub Scouts, reading and playing the computer. His current favorites are: Percy Jackson & the Olympians book series, Warcraft III and Star Wars Battlegrounds (computer games), Salt & Vinegar chips Luke & Duke and his Imaginext toys.

Dallin was recently published in the Utah Studies Weekly newspaper for a writing contest. He was awarded $5 and the publication of his letter in the statewide newspaper. Great Job son!

All because one person was very persistent...and another was smart enough to listen to her! Dec. 14, 1996 was the best day of my life!

The Beginning

With the advent of Matt and Alan's blogs, we have decided to start our own. Doesn't mean we will keep it as updated as Matt and Kendall but...we are going to try!