Doe this mean that I am a little crazy??

OK call me crazy but I couldn't believe that my most favorite person in blog land posted a comment on my blog! She read my post! Can I just tell you how that made my day????
You must visit her blog. It is full of Christian motherly wisdom and she has her own awesome fashiony-ness about her that is so refreshing!
Thanks Edie for checking out my blog :) Click here to visit Life in grace, you'll be glad that you did!

I love a good cookie exchange!

I had to take a pic of these scrumptious cookies right when I got home before they disappeared! Our Relief Society {ladies at church} holds an annual cookie exchange/Christmas party. We all look forward to it and anticipate the new delicious tidbits and old favorites!

{Notice the wreath cookie complete with holly?}

3 Generations of crafters!

Here am I with my sister Jennie, her daughter Lauren and my mom.

{Isn't she so cute in that headband?}

So, we saw these headbands {first saw them on Good Things Utah online} and then at the Spanish Fork Craft Fair. We all loved them but not the price....so we decided that for the price of two headbands we could make at least 15! So that is what we did!

Jennie learned how to use her sewing machine and I was responsible for the accessories that would be attached!

Christmas Apothecary Jar

Christmas Time is Here!

I had to set this jar at the end of my table because I had a little farmer playing with all his animals and big red wooden barn in the middle of our table!

So, this Christmas I decided to borrow from Mother Nature! In one of my apothecary jars we filled the bottom portion with found berries on twigs at Blake's preschool. I had the two cutest little helpers too. Blakey and Mimi. I really really like how it turned out! {And for no money!!!}

I love my girl.......and even my stinky Men/Boy folk too

In this house full of men/boys I love that I have my sweet sensitive little girl who is mostly just like her mom! We can escape together to Mom's bathroom and do our nails and chit chat about the "mean girl" at school, her stuffed kitty cat "Puddy 3shoes" (because we left Puddy 2 shoes in St. George at Aunt Christina's house) and all her friends at church and school. We talk about fashion and decorating her room with a whole new look and how she no longer likes Hannah Montana, just Miley Cyrus now. {{sigh}} I look forward to our first mini break (as they say in Bridgette Jones) where we can pop off to some great hotel and spa and spoil ourselves while the men folk are dirtbiking or playing the xbox 360 and making the house stink! {Yep that's what men/boy folk do! Which is of course why I always have a candle at the ready and a can of Lysol Fresh Linen Scent!} Now, please don't get me wrong.....I love our stinky wonderful Men/boy folk....where would we be with out them! :)

The Best Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies Evar!

{{{Are You Ready???}}}

This is such an easy recipe with few ingredients

One box of Devils Food Cake

1 stick butter {at room temperature}

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1-2 cups chocolate chips {depending on how much you need chocolate on the day you make these babies}

All you need to do is.......empty 1/2 the pkg of cake mix with all of the ingredients minus the choc chips. Cream together, it will be thick but that's OK. When it is all mixed add the remaining 1/2 cake mix and mix. Then add the chocolate chips!

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes and voi-la!

These would be incredible as ice cream sandwiches....I'll have to try that next!

Enjoy!

Cute piggies and random stuff!

I guess someone had fun with the camera.....I promise I don't just leave it out in the open. But who can complain when you upload your photos and there are these cute tosies to look at!

Here he is for Halloween...{don't know what happened to the other kids pics...Cami was the sweetest sassiest cat ever in a pettiskirt}

Here Blake is with his preschool teachers and friends

My baby boy took this one of him mama {with my favorite cup}

don't you wonder what you look like with your eyes closed??? LOL Oh those darn camera flashes!

Anyone for a couple of sweet kittens???

Yeah, kittens! Miss Lizzie found a beau the night we moved (she is always curious about those outside cats and what goes on out there!) I guess she was a little too curious??! Well, we have 3 sweet little kitties to show for it. One sadly didn't make it out of the 4.....the kids are learning some life lessons already. I was so sad to loose one.

Below is one of the girls. She is fluffy like here mom. I think these pictures were taken when they were about 8 days old. They are now 4 weeks old and getting fat bellies! Litter training is next.....thought I was done with the potty training!

The nursery

Looking for something to craft?????

Blake and I collected some pine cones today for this project! It is so simple that I think Cami and I can do it together!

{just some hot glue and ribbon....shh no one has to know!}

Check out these sites for some inspiration!

Check out this adorable pumpkin center piece at Reinvented!

Edie {one of my favorite bloggers} is hosting a 12 days of handmade Christmas full of awesome tutorials. I am already making one of the tutorials on there!

Check out Country Living's Holiday decorating ideas here

My latest craft project......

Owl Towel

This is the first time I have made my own applique` and actually sewed it onto something!!! It turned out so cute! (I think it actually looked better in person as I didn't have very good light when I took the photos)

This was a gift for my friend Amy for her baby shower. She is having her 4th boy in two days!!! I always make hooded towels....or hair bows. I love owls for boys. So cute! After she opened the gift, she passed it around the room where it was analyzed and questions were asked like how did you do this etc. I had to explain that it was my first applique and the machine gave me terrible fits all the way through! Why didn't I just get an outfit for him ??? LOL

I miss my blog!

Life has taken me in so many directions this past month that I haven't been around much. With the cold weather setting in (OK it was setting in and today it is 80 degrees out) I thought I would make some kind of yummy creamy chiken soup in a bread bowl for dinner tonight. I'll post the recipe and some pics later - that is if we all like it and I like how it looks in my bowl~ LOL

I have pics of the hooded towel that I made for my friend Amy's shower that I loved.....that I will get on here ASAP.

How have you all been???? For all my readers that don't have a google account...sign up already and get one so you can comment....or even start your own blog~ I would love to hear from you!

The Pumpkin Patch and Halle Berry? WOW!!!!

I already posted this on Facebook....I mean come on, where else can you share your excitement and see it spread instantly???? Oh but I do love my blog! So, here are the pics that my friend shot of me with Halle Berry in the background, we didn't want to be too obvious after all. OK, there was NO ONE else around us....the petting zoo is kind of off to one side on the hill and we stalked her all covert like. I think we pulled it off! Of course we waited for her to get out of the petting zoo which was about 2 minutes and then I told her how cute her little girl (Nala?) was in her darling outfit! She said thank you and was quite nice and then proceeded to wipe goat and sheep poop off of her sparkley sandals. So there we are! Enjoy and yeah I know that was a bit of a run on sentence if you ever saw one! LOL Have a great day!

Here they are with the animals.

And me posing

Here she is washing her daughter's hands (the other little girl and lady were her friends) Total normal mom!

Hi! That's my head! But there is Halle! (I don't know what that thing is in her hand....anyone else know???)

You can click on THIS to see it bigger! (Thanks Linds)

It's my 2 year Bloggiversary!!!! and the U2 concert!

Blogger isn't letting me upload any more photos for some reason! Darn it!!!! I have so many wonderful things to catch you all up on! I am so sad! {having my own pitty party right now}

So, I guess I will have to fill you in on my trip to Dallas with out all the fabulous pics!

So, my sis in law Cathy who is married to my oldest brother Jeff is a huge U2 fan....she knows everything about them and the two of us have seen many concerts together over the years. Well, since we were supposed to move to Dallas TX over the summer she went ahead and bought up tickets. {Isn't that sweet?} Well, you all know that we didn't move...yet. So, Cathy from ID, her sis Carol from VA and my sis Dallas from UT and me here in CA all flew out to Dallas to spend 4 days together doing all kinds of fun girly stuff! Shopping at the Galleria {amazing} 4 hours spent there and then a trip to the House of Blues, we had a driver and a Town Car to take us all over. We ate some really good food OK A LOT of good food!

Monday was the Big day! We got all dolled up and headed to the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. It was really nice. U2 was playing the inaugural concert and it was AWESOME!!!!! Totally Rad! LOL

The Muse opened up {love them!} and then "they" came on! I love Bono!!! I love all of U2 but I love the humanitarian in him too. He is happily married with kids and uses his fame as a platform for oppressed and forgotten people.

Here we are 13 rows away from the stage!!!!

This is Dallas my sister AKA my twin to everyone we ever met who didn't know us and to everyone on Facebook! My hair really did look cuter than the picture...promise! LOL

Did you see the lady drinking her beer behind us??? I laugh at that! The whole place was overflowing with beer. But we didn't have any crazy drunks though....sometimes they make a bad concert more fun but not on this night...no crazy drunks needed!

I have a few stories and pics to share that I have to post when it will let me! Stay tuned for the crazy taxi mini van driver!!!

It's a bit blurry but that man right there is Bono!!!! You know from U2? If you don't know who U2 is then I am so sorry for you! LOL

I can't believe two years has gone by so fast! I have really enjoyed blogging and keeping in touch with friends old and new and my family!!!! Hmmmmm........ what can I do to celebrate? I'll get back to you on that!

Sippy Cup Adeventures and why I haven't posted a picture lately!

Truth be told...........we have been doing so much lately and here's the shocker! I don't know if my camera is broken or just dead!!! (Mike I hope that you don't read this post!) The charger is somewhere in storage and the reason that it could be dead is that Blake's Diego sippy cup with the straw (yes occasionally I still have him drink from one...I don't know if it is because I can't let go or if it is because of the mess that I can still prevent while he uses one!) Anyway, I put that sippy cup in my nice Dooney bag and put it and Blake in the Yukon and drove off into our day. When I turned the corner, my purse slipped off the center console onto the floor! Well, that sippy cup was loosened ever so slightly by a sweet lil boy just b4 I put it into my bag. Yep! Apple juice drowned the bottom of my bag where my camera sits in its lil protective case. I went to turn it on and NOTHING!! My only saving grace is that I knew that the battery was low the last time I used it. Oh and the bag is fine!!! You would never know that the lining was completely saturated with juice! The leather (did I mention that it is red?) is as beautiful as ever!!! Gotta love those Dooney people!

Anyway, look for pictures (hopefully soon) of a little boy playing peewee soccer and all sorts of other fun stuff!

Have a great day!

Happy anniversary

Dear Mikey,

Well we are officially in the teens now!!! 13 years! I remember the first time I met you. You were so sure of yourself like you were gonna knock my socks off! Well, you did even though you made me play Clair de Lune infront of a hundred strangers(remember?)!!! We've known each other now for 16 years.....that is almost half my life! I loved that you were so fun and adventurous always making me try something new....mountain biking, hikes and most recently over the past few years you taught me how to ride my quad! Remember that guy on the Huntington Beach Pier that was kind of a wacky old drifter and how he played his guitar and sang "Mike and Elaine walkin down the pier...they love Jesus and Jesus loves them!" I think that was the night that you found out I was a baby! 18!! There you were a college guy who 5 months earlier returned from serving the Lord on a mission and had so many great experiences! I was so in awe of you. And now here we are....in our 30's happily married and raising our 4 incredible children. How did we get to be so blessed?

Looks like we are in for one of our "adventures" in real life now. If what has happened had to happen then I am glad it happened with you. You are so strong and wise, funny and great to look at. I am so proud of your decision to go back to school. Your first week back and your teacher already sends her praises!! You have had to make everything in your life happen completely on your own with almost no family support (except for Christina) and I know how hard that has been on you. You always come out on top no matter what life throws your way. It truly amazes me how our Father in heaven has blessed you! I will always be there for you and will always support you and be your help mate. We are your family and we love you. Thank you for my children.....I don't ever want to think of my life with out them (or you). Our 3 rough housing talented sons and one amazingly sweet beautiful daughter look up to you and love you so much. You are the man in Cami's life and her world, thank you for the way you treat her. It brings tears to my eyes to know that she has a soft place to land with her Daddy. She will have and does have the father/daughter relationship that I have always dreamt of for myself. She will have better self worth because of her relationship with you. Thank you thank you thank you. My babies have been the most incredible gifts...next to your love. Can't wait for our date tomorrow night. Did you get a babysitter??? :)

I love you...did I tell you today?

~Me

Fall is in the air.....and where have I been???

I just love this photo...so incredible beautiful! I have been so busy with this "new season" of my life. I haven't had time to post any of the pics or events that have been happening around here lately!

Today Cami was outside visiting with a friend for a few minutes and she came in and said that she needed a sweatshirt because it was COLD outside!!! Can you believe it???? I love this time of year!

P.S.******* Don't you love it when you hit the spell check and it finds no misspellings???? *****

Busy Happenings

So we have been crazy busy these past few days with all sorts of stuff for instance:

pushing the kitty in the stroller

lunching at El Torito

I don't think I'd go runnin' if I saw these lil cuties comin' after me with those horns!

YAY for Hello Kitty! What a lucky day!

While in the store Cami perused the aisles to no avail and ended up with a peculiar purchase! We saw these fantastic pink "Surprise" bags that she couldn't pass up {then started a frenzy in the store....people said "I want one too....can your daughter get one for me?" then the sales girl asked her if she wanted to spin the wheel {for $1.1.0} so we said sure! She landed on 1st prize!!!! The boys didn't dare come in with us....well Blake did but he's always with me! :)

The boys went with Nick (aka older brother(15) who is really our neighbor) to Tilly's and Zumies and all the skater places. They LOVED hanging out with him at the mall. I had to laugh because they went to the See's Candy store to get chocolates!!!!! Yep, they are my boys!

Here she is with her bags!

Above is the loot! So fun! Try the Surprise bag next time you're in the mood for some Hello Kitty!

The boys and Cami had a bake sale this morning at our yard sale.....they made $30! Selling cup cakes with homemade frosting, brownies and lemonade {which they quickly ran out of....see the picture below}

Gavin already wants to count the profits!

Good Charlotte concert in Ventura at the county fair!

So fun!

This is me with my friend Karen.......like a 5th sister! Seriously not the best picture....it was soooooo humid {and cold}that my hair just went limp! Ick!

Get me to the market!

I can't wait to try this delicious recipe.....looks like it is to die for!!!!

Also, I am totally hooked on all of her videos and her style! Love it!!!

Let me know whacha think!

Girlfriends

So, Camryn and her friend Skye have wanted to do a cooking class and a sewing class.....they are 7 and 8!

{Look what they made!!!!}

Cute adorable vintage style aprons. They learned the basics of the sewing machine and did great at sewing straight lines.

They also made delicious Devil's Food cupcakes with homemade chocolate frosting topped with SKOR bits! Soooooo yummy!

The bow tails are long for versatility....they can wrap all the way around to tie up front and add drama! You know we are all about drama!!! LOL

Today

Today was a great day and I am feeling like my self again! I actually wanted to sew again and had a wild thought about slip covering my living room sofa and chair in a crisp white linen with burlap pillows all fancied up with crowns on them!~

I know this is old news but I just love it!

Mike would absolutely KILL me but, I just love this cut!!!!! I may just get a wild hair and do it!

And I thought that I had it bad......

Please please please read this over at The Nester{be sure to click where their story began}. It makes me count my blessings in a deeper way. I have really tried to be conscience about my many blessings.....(name then one by one...a few words from a favorite hymn) since this fiasco....or what I thought was a fiasco of my life began.....feb 28th. But (never start a sentence with but...I know) I would take my situation right now in life any day over the one that you should really read that is linked above! I am soooooo blessed. Everyday I am blessed to have 4 healthy children and a wonderful husband and my faith. I am so blessed. Just wanted to share, maybe you should/could read this?

What's a Mom to do?

Today Camryn said to me that she wants to be homeschooled again!!!!! I am a huge supporter of homeschoolers!!!! I loved homeschooling {most days} but it just didn't work out for us at that time. She needs the social interaction badly! I wish I had had access to more social activities or h/s groups at the time. She doesn't have a sister to play with and with us moving to a new state she will really be cut off socially unless we are blessed to have lots (I'd be happy with 2-3) girls to play with. So, for now we are still on track for public school. We are really happy with the schools so far in the area we are looking at and I think we should give it a try b4 we change things......oh and Dad needs to be at work so he can stand us all being around if we h/s again! LOL {That was the big reason for us to put them back into p/s.} That was a hard time for me. Who knows what is in the future as far as this subject goes.....I miss it though. I am trying to find ways at home to supplement and give them a bit more of an edge. In fact my friend (who is a homeschooler) and I were just talking about this very subject yesterday. She is soooo good at it and her daughter is as smart as a whip! I sometimes think that my kids could be moving further ahead with the one on one ed that they get from h/s. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!

Family Dinner

So, this past week at our Sisters Weekend we talked about everything from tummy tucks to designer bags. In between those subjects, eating dinner as a family got brought up by one of my sis-in-laws. She said that my brother really preferrd everyone eating at the same time! "Another Sheets (that is my maiden name) rule!" I spoke up and said that my family eats dinner together every single night! I was proud that it was something that we almost never let slide. It is almost as important as going to church and as neccessary to me as breathing. The reason I bring this up is not because I think she is wrong....more like I think families miss out on valuable "table talk" and because today is one of those days that I actually let my self watch Oprah. ( I gave her up a while ago.....sometimes though she has some really great topics that are worthwile.) Today was all about living on less and living simply. I am glad that I already have developed a simple tradition of family togetherness. I love dinner time even though it is the "witching hour" here at that time, it is still sooooo worth it! If you need some simple famil togetherness time try it out this summer.....I know you will love it and so will your kids!

Girls Weekend {Sisters and Sis-in-laws}

Girls weekend started {for Cathy and me on Wednesday} here is her loot.....don't even want to know how much is here!!!! This was her "play" money. That girl hits the jack pot every time......like she is the "slot machine whisperer!" No, her luck didn't run off on me:(

So my sis in law Cathy and I decided that we needed to have a girls weekend! It turned out to be the best idea! No kids, no husbands (we did miss them) and no responsibilities! We had some wonderful things planned and everything went off with out a hitch! We had so much fun bonding and acting like we were kids again and laughing till it hurt and we couldn't breathe. That is the best!!!! {Some of us even lost our drinks through our noses!!!} You know who you are!!! :)

~~~

This was our Friday morning scrap booking session. We went to bed the night b4 around 3 a.m. and it became a trend for each night! I think I got more sleep as a new mom!

In the pic below are just a few of the girls...the rest were to arrive in a few hours.

{Connie, Cathy, Dana, Dallas and LaDawn}

Jennie and Connie in the pool...I think it was like 113 degrees

Dinner out at the Sonoma Cellar in Henderson. The Chef came out to talk with us and take some pics. The man has a gift! The food was beyond amazing!

We had a private room with beautiful wrought iron arched doors and a huge chandelier

My brother's wife {the one who set Mike and me up on a blind date} Connie and me

My sis Dallas and me....she is soooooooo tan! She colored her hair that day and we played make-over with her. So fun and she looked so HOT!

Mom and me

Um, yeah we played some pranks on each other!

You never want to be the first one asleep!!!!

Brunch on Saturday was Delicious! Dallas made this salad

Jennie made Lobster and Crab omlets from the major left over of Surf and Turf that was ordered the night b4! Sooooo amazingly good!

Saturday was our big surprise! Cathy and I arranged a massage therapist and an esthetician to come and spend the day pampering all the girls! Some have never taken time out for themselves to get a massage and a facial! It was a HUGE HIT!!

Dana getting a facial

Barbara and her gifted hands with Mom! She was wonderful. If you are ever in the Vegas area and need a massage she is the one to call!

All of us on the waterfall wall above the pool. We arranged these gorgeous patten type bags filled with Sisters weekend t-shirts {that we are all wearing here in this pic} and also Twisty Turbies, gourmet chocolate bars and the best lotion and scrap booking kits!

Do you know how hard it is to get 9 girls to all look the same direction and not blink their eyes????