Monday, November 9, 2009

Too cheap to buy the real thing

So, last year I heard about the elf on the shelf, I thought it was a cute idea and wanted to get it, but once I checked it out and found out it was $29.95 I said forget it. Being the cheap and resourceful girl that I am, I was determined to rip off the words to the book from somewhere (I was hoping someone would post the poem somewhere) and I planned to create my own little book. It must be the protected secret of the universe, because I couldn't find it anywhere. That brings us to this year and I'm still too cheap to plunk that kind of money down, so after scouring the web, I came up with this alternative. This is a similar idea, where you can print a letter from Santa introducing you to your elf, and the elf's passport, great idea from
organizedchristmas.com ! I have been on the lookout for an elf, and just last week found this one at Robert's crafts for $7.99 (unless you score a 40 percent coupon like me!)
We haven't officially introduced him to our family yet, but for now.....he's an extra set of eyes in the teenage boy's room.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Meet Tykee. He is cockapoo/maltese
Our family has fallen head over heels for this little puppy. We have actually had him for almost 2 months now and are realizing how much we love having a dog and how much we had missed having one since Molly died.
In March, Taylor came home and said his band teacher told the class that they had brand new puppies. I e-mailed him to find out what kind they were, how big they would be, and if there were any females. Out of 4 puppies, they were all male. Since I already live with 6 males, I was determined that I wouldn't add another one. But then I started to seriously consider the idea (for a lot of reasons) and we finally decided to go and take a look (I actually knew that we would be getting one), seriously the cutest puppies ever, and before we went home that night we had picked the one we wanted (actually Cole picked him) to bring home. A week later I picked him up, just a few sleepless nights, but very quickly, he was the puppy of our dreams. Oh......he's naughty alright, he chews, drags shoes into the family room constantly, pulls flowers out of the flower beds.....but we love him. (Kayla took these darling pictures that capture him perfectly.)

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Easter Bunny Cinnamon Rolls


Cinna-Bunnies
Ingredients:
  • 6 Rhodes Anytime™ Cinnamon Rolls
  • cream cheese frosting (included with rolls)
  • candy to decorate face
  • sliced almonds for teeth
Method:

Allow rolls to thaw until pliable (about 1 hour). Place three rolls on a sprayed baking sheet for the bunny heads (leave space around rolls for the ears). Unwind the other three rolls and fold both ends toward the center. Place above head for ears. Bake at 350°F 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Frost with cream cheese frosting and decorate face as desired with different candies and sliced almonds for teeth.



I'm going to Costco to buy the big bag on cinnamon rolls (the best deal by far) and I am so making these on Sunday Morning!  Cute! Cute! Cute!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Rag quilt

Sewing is pretty good therapy for me, and anyone who knows me well enough would agree that I could use a hefty dose of therapy these days. Not that it relaxes me too much, but it is so great to have something that began as squares of fabric turn into this.
My niece, Tiffany picked out all the adorable fabrics (for her daughter Kapree) and I got to sew it all up and clip it. It didn't go without some trauma, (and some mild potty mouth) however the end result is pretty fabulous I think! This one has to be my favorite one yet. I love, love, love the colors and for the adorable little sis it was for...so cute!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

February was a busy month for our family with 3 birthdays.
Noah turned 4 on February 8th. Funny how four year olds like to go to McDonalds on thier birthday so we celebrated there the night before. Since his birthday was on a Sunday, we made homemade ice cream and cake. Fours are easy to please.
It is so difficult for me to see my baby getting so big. With the other boys I guess I always knew I would have another baby and get to live the experience again. Now that he is the final child, even though I know I have made a point to enjoy every second of him, it is still so hard for me to see him grow up.

Cade's birthday was the 22nd. WOW! He turned 7. He was our Olympic Baby. I actually had him several hours after the pairs skating competition during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. We went to the SLC hospital to be induced around 6 pm, driving through the city all bustling with Olympic activity and these buildings with top to bottom images of ice skaters, there was just magic energy everywhere. A really fun time to have a baby, plus his birthday is so cool...02-22-02.

Even 7's like to go to McDonalds! Lucky us, twice in two weeks! Again, homemade ice cream and this time, cupcakes.
I share my birthday with quite a few others I know, and my friend Jill called to say happy birthday and tell me her daughter just gave birth on that day. How fun! Hopefully they had a great day as well.
And....I must say, I have GREAT friends! Thank you so much for everything, lots of fun gifts and dinner out, and this boquet of balloons from Penny. They are so pink and with happy little bees that they just made me smile all day.
FYI...no puppy.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

To Shawn...I LOVE YOU! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!


Lyrics:
give me more lovin then i've ever had.
make it all better when i'm feelin sad.
tell me that i'm special even when i know i'm not.
make me feel good when i hurt so bad.
barely gettin mad,
im so glad i found you.
i love bein around you.
you make it easy,
as easy as 1 2,(1 2 3 4.)
theres only one thing two do three words four you.
i love you.
(i love you)
theres only one way two say those three words
and that's what i'll do.
i love you.
(i love you)
give me more lovin from the very start.
piece me back together when i fall apart.
tell me things you never even tell your closest friends.
make me feel good when i hurt so bad.
best that i've had.
im so glad that i found you.
i love bein around you.
you make it easy as easy as 1 2,(1 2 3 4.)
theres only one thing two do three words four you.
i love you.
(i love you)
theres only one way two say those three words
and that's what i'll do.
i love you.i love you
(i love you)
you make it easy, its easy as 1234
theres only one thing two do three words four you i love you
(i love you)
theres only one way two say those three words
thats what ill do i love you
(i love you)
i love you i love you.
one two three four i love you.
(iloveyou)
i love you
(i love you)

Friday, February 13, 2009

25 things list

I was tagged on FB to do a 25 things about me list.
I decided to post it here on the blog also for those who aren't FB addicts. (And it counts as a blog post as well...I've been so lazy about the blog for awhile now)
1. I want to go back to school sometime when the kids are all in school, I’d like to build off my associates degree and get that Bachelors….problem is I still don’t know what I want to be (that’s why I stopped in the first place)
2. I prefer sweet to salty.
3. For me, going to bed early is 11:30 p.m., late is 1:30 or 2:00 a.m.
4. Needless to say, I am not a morning person.
5. I love black and white, houndstooth, PINK and polka dots.
6. My husband is a better parent then I am.
7. One of my greatest talents and hobbies is bargain shopping. I have ALWAYS loved to shop. Fortunately for me, my husband also likes to shop, there are a few exceptions though, he’s likely to die in a fabric store.
8. I feel like I’m a genuine person, if you don’t think so, then I’d say you don’t know me very well.
9. I am not a teacher type person, speaking in front of people makes me physically ill, and I cannot even think straight and will sweat bullets if forced to do so. I literally have nightmares the entire night. I now say no and REFUSE to do it.
10. I am the youngest of 3 girls, by 9 ½ years. I will forever love being the baby of the family, I’m always so much younger than the others.
11. Having 5 boys overwhelms me constantly. I am not a structured organized person (didn’t come from an organized and structured home) and managing a family of 7 is quite difficult for me.
12. I finally conquered the purse of my dreams.
13. I love and have always loved crafts of all sorts. I love glue, glitter, rhinestones, ribbon and Mod Podge is my best friend. I love to make something beautiful from a bunch of products.
14. I always have gifts on hand so I can put together a little bag or basket at a moments notice.
15. I don’t sew much, but sometimes I feel like I NEED some sewing therapy. It doesn’t relax me however, I’m actually pretty tense while working on a project (I love to make rag quilts) but it’s the creating part that fills me. When I finish a blanket after painstakingly creating the colors and patterns, it is just so gratifying, it makes me HaPpY!!!!
16. I LOVE babies. I would have a hundred just for the first 6 weeks of life. (Then they grow up….soo…NO!) But I loved being pregnant and then the having the baby part was so surreal, I will say that those 5 moments when each baby was handed to me will go down as the Best 5 moments of my life.
17. I know I will ALWAYS be a little sad that I didn’t ever get a girl. I know that particular longing will always be there because I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted a girl.
18. My husband and I have never been away together…. ALONE!!! Sad I know!
19. I always do things in the 11th hour. It’s not that I’m a huge procrastinator, it’s just that there are so many other things going on that need to be done that once that particular project’s number comes up, it’s usually because it has to because it’s the night before it’s due. I keep very busy with volunteering at school (my 5 kids are at 4 different schools, preschool included) church calling projects that sometimes make me INSANE, home improvement projects (that NEVER quit) and then just LIFE that keeps happening (and that’s a full time job).
20. I’ve come to realize I’m a little of a control freak. People always tell me to let them help me with these projects but I can’t ever let it go. I’ve seen how crafty and creative and artistic other people aren’t and I can’t bear to let them ruin the project I’ve created. If it’s going to have my name on it, I have to have it how I wanted it. BAD I KNOW!!!
21. I know that I can do anything. If I see something I like, I take a picture or make a drawing and make it myself. I hate to pay for labor, I will try, learn or figure out how to do it myself….I mean how hard can it really be? I do my own nails, color my own hair…. And I’m not really afraid to tackle any project…tiling, painting, you name it, I’m game. I love power tools also, fun to use and can make so many things with them, I’d love to learn to make furniture (tables and stuff) Weird I know.
22. My hair always drives me crazy, I’m never happy with it. My husband puts his hands over his ears when I ask him “what should I do with my hair:” I guess it just proves I’m never happy with my looks.
23 I don’t really have TV shows I watch a lot regularly, but I am loving The Bachelor this season. I always get depressed when it’s over because it’s a whole week before it’s on again. I think it’s Melissa BTW. Love The Biggest Loser also. I do a lot of channel flipping in the late evening hours when the kids are in bed (hence #3 and the late bed time) I love pretty much anything on HGTV, Jon & Kate plus 8, and excited new episodes of the Kardashians are in March. Does anyone know what happened to Dr. 90210? I liked that too. Sorry, but I HATE the Office. I know, I know, I have Office lovers in this house too, but it’s dumb.
24 I love summer, sun, warmth, tans, flower gardens, green grass, flip flops, bare feet, pools, maui babe, lounge charis, BBQing, ice and diet coke….everything to do with SUMMER! Winter…..not my season.
25. I am the Mamma Bear, and I live in a cave. One day………..I WILL rise above that!