Etsy

Hey friends I am going to post links to my friends' Etsy shops on the side of my blog. If you have a shop and want me to post a link for you just leave it in a comment and I will add it. Hey, free advertising right?!?!? Smiles!


*Which leads to another thought. I sort of put the becoming private thing on hold. I just realized that there are people who visit my blog that I have no idea who they are but maybe that is a good thing. I remember finding a blog off of my sister's blog and the post I read was an answer to my prayers. It was what I needed to get through that day. So I ask myself, what if some lame post I write is in fact somehow what someone out there in the blogging beyond was needing. What if what I do on my blog was worth something special to someone beside me? That would be really nice. That's worth not going private for at least a while longer.

Bridger's First Date

This Saturday I was attending a Baptism for a sweet little girl in our primary and I asked Bridger if he'd like to go as my date. He excepted. :) We went to the baptism and then had ourselves some ice cream. He got my doors for me and held my hand every time we walked. He was a great gentleman. When we were heading home he asked me if we could go on lots more dates. I excepted. I think this is the start of a really great relationship.

Mess

I just wanted the world to know that having three kids who are not babies is still a lot of work! It is easier as far as not being soooo physical and soooo emotional. I mean I don't think many people understand what the last four years of my life have been like. It has been like child barring on crack and the craziness that follows such child baring is like skipping all beginner courses and jumping right into 400 courses! You are doing triple the work with zero experience. Its the super accelerated version of motherhood and the growing pains and levels of self depreciation are humbling. But now with older kids my job as a mother has never been easier! I don't have to spoon feed them, I don't have as many diapers to change, I don't have to wake up in the night with a baby, I only have one nap schedule to work around, they don't all run at cars trying to get killed daily, they play with each other all day long, they read books with me, I only have one screaming toddler as I try to buckle him in his car seat instead of two, when they have tantrums I can actually talk them through it and help them rationalize better, they don't go and hide when we are at the store so I am crying as I search the store looking for them (aka Bridger is growing up!). Things are good.

BUT they are busy none stop kids living and eating and using up so much stuff!!! The amount of food we go through blows my mind, the amount of laundry I do each weeks is staggering (9 loads at least), the number of times I am sweeping and mopping up my floor kills me, and the scattering of toys that I have to pick up over and over again is stunning. As soon as Benjie graduated to a toddler my life got messier! The most common thoughts in my head these days are things like: Darn it, I just cleaned that. Didn't I just put that away. When did they get in my bathroom? Why are their tampons all over my kitchen? Why do my kids change their clothes four times a day? Why are there fishy crackers scattered across the lawn? Why do I bother to do her hair? Maybe I can get a shower in before Stew gets home today. I really am so happy but the maintenance of operating our house is a FULL time job!

The sliver lining is that they are good helpers. They really do help to clean their rooms and such. It just is such a test for me because if I take one day easy the ENTIRE house seems to fall apart. I have to be on my game every second of everyday or else I am making up for it for days. This parenting thing really demands the best of you no matter what phase of it you are in!

Oh, I better go. Angeli is screaming that Benjie just pooped in the bath. HA! Good thing I love motherhood so much.

Its not Spring anymore.

Its not Spring anymore. Deep down I knew it could not last but I didn't think Winter would feel the need to make her point so strongly. Today we were going to have friends over for dinner and sit out on the patio and let the kids run around and play outside. We had been trying to get it all coordinated for over a month now. But we woke up this morning to find our patio table looking like this:
And the car like this:

We got a call informing us that church had been canceled due to the poor driving conditions. It wouldn't be that remarkable except we had had temperatures in the 60's for past two weeks and had spent everyday outside playing, going to the park, running and enjoying the sunshine. The day before the snow we were outside working in the yard in short sleeves and sandals. But not today.
We didn't have power for 14 + hours and thus we were pretty cold. But we had running water and that was good. Stewart visited all the widows and elderly from our ward that live in our neighborhood to make sure they were ok and shoveled their driveways and walks. Good man. :) By dinner we had power again and enjoyed a hot meal and a blaring heater. It was a good trial run in emergency preparedness. We have some things we need to go buy. :)

It was pretty and I got to make my first snow man...isn't that embarrassing? I have never made my own before. I have always been too cold, too pregnant, too busy taking pictures, or too busy holding a baby to get in on the action. But while dad was out helping others I took advantage of the perfect snowman snow and built me my first. It was good I took a picture, the kids killed him about 10 seconds later!

In every prayer the kids said today they have Thanked Heavenly Father for the snow even when were were curled up in bed all together trying to keep warm. They absolutely loved it. Nothing better then watching your children delight in the world around them. I guess I can survive a few more weeks of winter watching them love the wonder of snow.

Crack

Have you ever wanted to try crack? I never have but there is a pie that claims to be as addictive and yes, as good. :O) I think this pie is as bad for you as the chemical form because I am pretty sure it would kill you in a year if you ate it daily. But this form of crack, though still deadly, is legal, super yummy, and people in Manhattan pay $44 big ones for it and still come back for more. The greatest thing is that it is made out of stuff you already have sitting in your pantry. Score.

I posted about it on my recipe blog...but I think I am the only person in the world that even knows about my recipe blog :) so I thought I will hit up the ten people who read my family blog so at least I can sleep at night knowing I did my part to spread the addiction of Crack Pie. :O)

Here is the article I got the recipe from.

Here is my tutorial on my Food and Recipe Blog.

Happy Olympics to You!

The kids and I just wanted to wish you a Happy Olympics! To do so we created this edible work of "art". It is flawed yet I think it still gets our hearts' intent across. Smiles!

For yummiest sugar cookie recipe click here

Celebrating L-O-V-E

This weekend was wonderful. Exactly what I needed. There has been a lot milestones hit lately with birthdays coming right after another and our anniversary, gearing up for fourth year and how much Stew will be gone again, and worrying about all the uncertainties of life in general. I have been feeling a little sad to have to be growing up so much. But this weekend I got to reconnect with that young little girl and and the bright eyed RM that met and fell in love over six years ago.

On Saturday we had our primary activity and it was a big hit. Stewart dressed up as Mormon for it even and he was such a hunk! ;) He had a great time doing it and the kids all had a great time too. (Picture hopefully coming soon! - maybe even its own post)

Then I spent the afternoon cooking and baking! Oh, I love cooking and baking. Heaven. That night we went to our wards Valentine dance. And to be honest we were worried we'd have an awful time. But we polished up nice and hit the dance floor with all our rusty old moves. It was fun, really fun. It was a bunch of us oldies dancing like we were 16 again. It was funny how we were all complaining about our sore hips and backs! LOL I really loved having my girl friends dancing their hearts out with me. I really feel like our ward is family. I love them all so much. AND flirting with my husband like we were dating again was so much fun. I felt like a teenager again with the cutest boy at the dance on my arm. It was fun, plane old fun.

After taking the babysitter home we stayed up late watching a chick flick and woke up Sunday morning excited about our family Valentine's party the kids and I had been prepping for for weeks.

Stewart and I cooked together, laughed, chased the kids around, made our house a "celebration of love" with all our homemade decorations, and ate the best cupcakes in the world.

Our romantic table setting. Daddy and the kids even made place cards and we put more little hearts on the walls and our chairs and it was "So Bootaful Mommy! Its love!"

My little paper banners I made impromptu the week before, with the kids help of course. They told me we did a "bootaful" job.

The entire family got in on the fondant this time and made the decorations for our cupcakes. The kids were so proud.

This cake recipe is so good! I loved them. I filled the inside with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Oh, it was divine! Will post on food blog soon. Its a must try.

After dinner we gave each other our gifts. We are not big gift people, never have been probably never will be, but this year we tried. Stew got a weedwhacker, I got a new palm tree and a new salad spinner (which may sound boring but man, I was so excited to have one since mine melted on the stove six months ago). Then I surprised Stewart with my secret gift for him! Eeee! I was so excited for him to get it.

I bought him the movie UP! and I made him our own little adventure book. It was good enough to make him tear up. :) I scrapbooked the adventures we have had thus far and then I scrapped the adventures we hope to have someday. I hope as the years go by we will add hopeful adventures, unexpected adventures, and document the highlights of our wonderful life together. I was so glad he loved it as much as he did.

Then on President's day we were busy with my business appointments and Stew's studies for most the day. The kids played the entire day in the back yard soaking up the unusually warm spring like day we were having. Watching them enjoy our new back yard was so so rewarding.

That night we had dinner with our friend and his little boy and went to bed feeling like all was right with the world.

I know this weekend doesn't sound that miraculous but really there was something in the air... something that made me smile the entire weekend non-stop. Maybe because it was so warm and spring like, maybe because my husband is so dang cute, maybe because I was so grateful for how far we have come,...I don't know. But seriously I am sort of dreamy eyed just remembering how nice it felt to be me this past weekend. It was miraculous to me. :) What can I say more? I loved celebrating us some LOVE!

The Butter to my Bread

Stewart came into my life when I was starting a new chapter. I was 18 but really the maturity of a 25 year old, though a nervous one. I was finally free from the agony that was high school and ready to meet people that were happy to be alive and just as happy to be Mormon too. He came along and gave me everything I ever needed. When I was with him I felt so safe, so at home. That was something I hadn't felt in a long time. He really was an unexpected twist but the absolute best thing that has ever happened to me.

When we were dating and planning on marriage he let me read his patriarchal blessing. In it it listed attributes that he should look for in his future wife. I remember asking him if he thought I was those things. He said he thought I was. I was tempted to make him aware that I was not those things at all but, being a smart girl, I chose self preservation instead and kept my mouth shut.

That night I prayed fervently that I would be those things. :)

Only after a short while of being married I realized Stewart brought out the very best in me and I saw that I was indeed becoming those very things. I knew even clearer then that I had found my eternal companion, the man who could take me by the hand and help me be worthy enough to have eternal life. With Stewart by my side I learned to love myself, believe in my abilities, and have reason to smile through any hardship. I often feel like I can relate to Sister Marjorie Hinckley's sentiments, “You’ve always given me wings to fly, and I’ve loved you for it,”. I love my Stewart with all that I am and thank God for him everyday.

I heart concrete.

You know the slab of concrete in your back yard that you hardly ever think about? That thing you sometimes wish was prettier? Well, we didn't have one until today! Today it was finished. It still needs to cure (or whatever they call it), then we scrub it and seal it, AND then it will be pretty but for all intensive purposes it is done. The kids went outside and played for over an hour and I was so happy. We finally have our very own patio, little sitting area in the back, and what the kids have dubbed "the race track". They are simple, they are certainly nothing fancy but it means the world to me. Come Spring when Reno starts to looks a little nicer then soggy Mars I will take some pictures of our humble yet very loved patio to share with you all. Eeee! So happy.

Scripture Bags

I knew when Bridger started primary he would need his own scriptures because in primary we have a scripture jar the kids get to put a marble in when they bring their scriptures and look up the scripture on the board. I thought if he had his own little bag it would make it easier to keep track of it. I knew if i made one for him I would have to make one for the other kids too. I had seen lots of cute bags but I wanted something masculine, super easy to do, and really cheap too...so I made this up. I sew like I cook, without a recipe or pattern. Thus they didn't quite turn out like I wanted but they are decent enough for me. The kids love them and they loved carrying them to church this week for the first time (although they did draw on them on the way to church their first Sunday having them - so annoyed!).

The best thing has been how much they love having their own little scriptures. These bags have fostered lots of testimony moments. When we do Scriptures at night they each get their scriptures out and pretend to read along. Very sweet.

Angeli's Bridger's

Mr. Boo

I just wanted you to know how much you are loved and that nothing in the world could stop me from loving you. When those days of teenage angst hit and you feel that your parents are conspiring with the world to make your life terrible I hope you'll know deep down that you are cherished and loved endlessly. Always and forever.

Cricut, I love you.

I made these awhile back and I took some pictures so I could show my mom and sisters how cute they turned out. Stew helped me with these and we had a lot of fun doing them. We both love the Cricut. I think everyone should have one. I use mine all the time and love it even more with each use. I bought the everyday paper doll cartridge to do these and I have my eye on the dress up paper doll cartridge too (has a complete nativity on it!...what a great Christmas gift/toy!). They have a million different dolls on each cartridge and each are super cute. Plus you Reno peeps, I have conections my girlfriend sells the cricut stuff through Provo Craft for like 50% off! I can hook you up big time.

I made these for my older kids and as cousin gifts for the Ras cousin gift exchange at Christmas time. For each kid I made a doll to look like them with the theme "When ___ grows she/he will ...". Then inside the coupon organizer I had paper dolls with a variety of jobs or things they could do when they are older. I used Velcro dots so the kids can dress them up however they want. These were some of my favorites.

Missionaries

My kids love them. :O)