Baking Memories

Last Friday started our baking day- one of our 12 days of Christmas. I spent last week planning what we would bake and making 6 different cookie doughs. I love to make candy, so that was planned for too!

As I would mix each cookie dough I would remember who I got the recipe from. I would remember the different times I've made the cookies and all the memories that surround each one. My thoughts turned to my MIL who has been gone for over 15 years now.

I remember as a young bride, trying to merge two family Christmas traditions into one, I had gone over to Vaughan's parents home and asked his mom for some recipes of cookies that Vaughan liked. I hand copied several. One of those recipes is "Holiday Fruit Cookies" I haven't made these forever. Vaughan and I love these, but my kids don't. So, I quit making them. But for some reason this year they were calling me! So, I bought the dates and candied cherries and included these in our baking day! These were the first cookies I started baking on Saturday! They smelled heavenly and tasted better than I remembered!

I thought of my MIL the whole time I was baking. What an amazing woman she is! I miss her. I always see her smile and hear her laugh when I think of her. I hope in sharing some of her recipes with my girls I am sharing her with them also. Only Hillary and Heather have any memory of her.

I think that is why baking at Christmas time is so important to me. It is so full of memories. As I mix up the Russian Teacakes I think of my Grandma Moore and going to her house on Christmas day. She always had a gift for everyone. I don't know how she did it on her meager income, but we all got something. Then she would pass around the treats she had made! When I first got married she gave me a bunch of recipes she had typed up. Russian Teacakes was one of those. I also think of *MY* mom, I remember her teaching me how to form them just right and putting the powdered sugar on them. (They must be formed in little log shapes, not round or square! But little log shapes. They just don't taste the same otherwise!)

I always think of my mom when we make our annual Peanut Butter Blossoms or Spritz cookies. I added the spritz cookies back to the menu this year. I found a recipe online that sounded good! It was! My mom taught me how to make these when I was little. Then one year she gave me an electric food shooter for Christmas. This makes making these a snap! The girls had fun making these for the first time! (How could you not have fun using a *food shooter*? Just the name sounds fun!)

And of course I think of my MIL when we make ginger creams! This is another recipe that was copied by me early in my marriage! They really aren't hard, but mine have never tasted as good as hers. But, I keep trying! They were better this year! Maybe she put her finger in the batter!

It was fun working along side my girls. Showing Hope how to measure flour and sugar as she made a special gift for Hillary. Teaching her how to *cut* in the shortening! ("This is hard Mom!")

I want to teach my girls all the things that will help them be good wives and mothers some day. I know I don't always have the patience and take the time to do what I should to help them.

I am grateful for two mother's in my life that have taught me what I know. I see them in my memory as I work in the kitchen. I hear them tell me little tricks and secrets to making the food and treats taste yummy. I am grateful for five daughters to pass this knowledge on to. I hope they realize the amazing heritage that they share. And how much LOVE is felt through *baking memories*!

Family Traditions

One of my favorite family traditions is doing the 12 days of Christmas with my family! I blogged about this last year, but I thought I would share again!

You can do it different ways, but this is how we do it now! We have three little trees set up in our family room. Hanging on the tree's are 12 tags. One for each of the 12 days of Christmas. My kids really look forward to seeing the tags get put on the trees! On December 13th we start the 12 days of Christmas as a family. The idea is to spend time as a family enjoying the Christmas season as a family! It's so easy to be stressed and busy and not take the time to relax and enjoy each other. I used to buy games, puzzles and movies as gifts for Christmas that we never played or had time to do together! Our 12 days of Christmas tradition stretches the fun and anticipation throughout the month! We have learned to adapt the 12 days to activities that we have like Ward parties, concerts and family parties, but we still take the time to do things with just our family!

This year we are spending our 12 days of Christmas like this:

1. Go look at Christmas lights. (It wouldn't be Christmas without a drive to see the temple lights and then a drive around town to see light displays in various neighborhoods! We like to sing Christmas songs and end up at home for hot chocolate and donuts!)
2. *New this year!* Share a favorite Christmas Memory. I thought this would be fun for FHE. We'll probably end with the Christmas Story from Luke.
3. Sing some Christmas songs around the piano!
4. Holli's Choir Concert
5. Story Night (I like to buy a new Christmas book every year. We have a very neat collection of Christmas stories. Some short, some for children, some longer! I put them out each year and we re-read them through the month.)
6. Game Night (I bought a new game...It is wrapped under the tree and ready to be played! We will spend the evening enjoying our new game together!)
7. Baking day.
8. Movie Night. (We love Christmas movies at our house! I try to buy a new one each year.)
9. Durfee Family Christmas Party.
10. Puzzle Night (Vaughan & I choose a new puzzle, I wrapped it and we opened and started putting it together yesterday! They are working on it as I type! This is fun because they will spend the rest of the month putting it together! The kids LOVE this one!)
11. Deliver Goodies. (We like to make treats for our neighbors!)
12. Moore Christmas Eve. (We will have our traditional FIESTA Dinner and gift exchange. We have a family talent show after dinner and then the cousins exchange their gifts! Our talent show is pretty low key - basically you perform if you want to and it's one per family! We have music, a story and singing! Sometimes it is pretty hilarious!

I found some other ideas on a blog I like to visit. I think I will try some of them next year! They looked like fun. Whatever traditions you have as a family I hope you are enjoying the holiday season! I know I am!

My Little Girl is All Grown Up!

When did time fly by so fast? How come our kids grow up in the blink of an eye? And how long before another change in our family??? These are questions I've been asking myself this past week! What prompted these thoughts? Winter formal...

My cute daughter Heidi went to Winter Formal on Saturday. Seeing her in her beautiful {borrowed} dress was exciting, yet scary! I couldn't help but think of her someday standing there in a wedding dress. *sniff sniff* I'm not ready for anymore changes in our family! I kinda like my kids around me! Oh well, you can't stop time, huh??

It sounds like they had lots of fun. They went to Golfland for their day date and had a picnic lunch at a park. Then they gathered at one of the girls houses for dinner. I heard it was very delicious! Then they went to the dance and took pictures. They ended up at our house for ice cream and played the Wii and some other games.

I'm glad they had so much fun! Now, I will just have to start preparing myself for that inevitable day when she is standing there in her wedding dress!

Cute hair! Compliments of Hillary! (Thank you Sis!)

Isn't she lovely???

Here's Heidi with her friend and her date Aaron!

Homemade Bread Goodness!

One of my goals this year was to learn to make bread! I must admit that one of the reasons that I want to make my own bread is economics! Not because I can't afford to *buy* bread, but because I don't want to pay the price they want for *good* whole wheat bread!

In order to accomplish this goal the requirements are that the bread be moist, light and whole wheat! As opposed to dry and crumbly! Basically, it had to be as good as my Mom's! I had my bread making lesson in October at the cabin. The bread turned out amazing! YAY! Then it was time to do it on my own!

It didn't look so pretty, but it tasted wonderful! So, I'm counting the goal as accomplished! There is still room for improvement, but at least the taste and texture are what I was aiming for! I knew I'd hit the mark when I asked Hope if she minded having homemade bread in her lunches. She said no and that all her friends told her she was lucky! I believe she said it like this "luck-eee!"

So I now make 5-6 loaves of bread every two week and it nice to use my wheat AND know that my family is eating something healthy and nutritious and made by ME!

Can't you just smell the goodness? Mmmmmm

Happy Thanksgiving and all that stuff!

It's been WAY too long since I've posted anything. To be truthful, I haven't had anything "positive" to say! A couple of weeks ago I wrote this long "venting" post and then realized that I didn't really want to share that side of me with anyone - let alone people I love!

SO, I didn't post it. It did feel good to "let it all out" so to speak!

While there has been much stress and anxiety in my life lately, there has also been much to be thankful for. I have witnessed miracles and received many blessing. I am truly blessed, humbled and grateful for SO many things. I am blessed with a husband who works harder than he should have to. I can only imagine the burden that is on his shoulders as he tries to support and provide for our family. I have amazing children, who for the most part do their part to be obedient, righteous and helpful. I have the best of friends. They are supportive and loving. I have the love and support of a loving Heavenly Father and the comfort of a loving Savior. Yes, I am truly blessed.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving! I spent the day before making pies and rolls. We had our traditional pre-Thanksgiving dinner of hot scones with yummy refried beans, cheese and salsa! For dessert we had scones with raspberry freezer jam and powdered sugar!! YUMMY. We watched White Christmas, Holiday Inn and Going My Way! Yay, Bing Crosby! We were glad when Vaughan arrived home safe and sound from working in Flagstaff and joined in our pre-Thanksgiving festivities!

Thanksgiving day we went to my parents house. We had a yummy feast with my parents and my brother, Mike's family. It was relaxing and quiet! We took naps, played games and planned our Black Friday shopping trip!

Of course, Friday came way too early as Vaughan and I headed out to do some Christmas Shopping in the wee morning hours! Yes, it was still dark outside! We had success though and got most of what we planned. I continued the shopping till early afternoon! It is nice to almost be done with that part of Christmas!

We enjoyed our Durfee Thanksgiving that night. It was fun to visit and catch up with family. Vaughan played games and we enjoyed having Afton come over and spend the night with Hope!

Saturday we cleaned the house and put away ALL the fall decorations! I decided to DEEP clean, washing curtains, cleaning fans and even cleaning the glass light fixtures! It's feel good to be dust free for a few days!

Sunday we enjoyed our sacrament meeting, attended tithing settlement and then started decorating the cleaned rooms for Christmas. The girls helped tons! It usually takes me a week to decorate. I only have a little left and the living room to do! I plan on doing that tomorrow! Here's a *hint*. Take pictures of your decorations after you decorate. Then next year all you have to do is repeat what you did before! It made things so easy for the girls to help. I just pulled the pictures up on the computer and told the girls to pick a picture and start decorating. (I also pack my Christmas stuff away by room and label each container what room it is for! This helped too!)

Tomorrow I'll finish up the cleaning and decorating. For the first time ever I think I will be ready to start the Christmas season by December 1st! Pretty good for someone who just started thinking about Christmas a couple of weeks ago!

All in all it was a successful weekend and a wonderful holiday!

Hi Ho Cherry-O

So last week I had so much fun canning Cherry Pie filling! It was so fun! I ordered cherries from a lady in Queen Creek. She got these tart cherries all pitted and frozen. They were de-lish! The filling turned out wonderful! I just wish I would have ordered more!


It was alot of fun! I'm really enjoying learning how to bottle and put away food!


Today I worked on cleaning our food storage room. It was out of control! I'm all ready to do the holiday shopping. This time of year I usually buy most of the baking and basic items we use for the whole year!

Thursday I am going to make bread ALL BY MYSELF! Cross your fingers for me... hopefully it turns out as good as it did when my Mom helped me!

Confession...

Dear Visiting Teaching Sisters,

Not that you read this blog or anything, but this will make me feel better.

I have a confession. I am lame. You most likely already guessed it. Yes, you have not received a visiting teaching message for at least 3 months. You have barely had a contact some of those months. And here it is October 30th and I am again in the same boat.

I have had a darling treat prepared almost the entire month. (Don't worry, it's something that doesn't go bad!) and it is STILL sitting here. I have had every *intention* of calling and setting up appointments each week and I have allowed myself to become distracted until I put it off for the NEXT week.

BUT here we are... at the end of the month - the VERY end of the month once again.

Although my actions don't show it I want you to know I think about you ALL month, I pray for you and I worry about you. I wonder how you are doing. I look forward to visiting with you and learning what is going on in your lives - good and bad. I wonder what I can do to serve you and yet - I do nothing.

Again - I am lame.

So, forgive my lack of attention. I won't make excuses. There really isn't a good one. But I will keep trying until I get it right and do better. Forgive my last minute call and know that it doesn't really mean that I don't care. It's not about just "getting it done!" I really don't feel that way! I really do love and care about you. You really are important to me! I will do better at showing it!

Love,
Your very absent visiting teacher

Mmmmm Caramel Apples

I have the sweetest friends! One of them gave me a fun bday gift a few months ago... a caramel apple kit! Being the practical person that I am, I saved it.

In our family it is a tradition to have caramel apples in October for a FHE treat! So, of course I saved it! Monday I pulled out the caramel apple kit and made them. Oh my gosh! Those were the BEST caramel apples I've ever had. I wish I knew the secret! It was some kind of mix that we added butter and cream to and then cooked! It was dee-lish! Seriously, I really want to make these again! They beat Kraft caramels by a million miles!

We thoroughly enjoyed our yearly treat! Here is the proof! (A BIG Thank you Cyndi T.)

Fall in Mesa, Arizona

There is a lot of negative said about our lack of seasons here in Mesa. Heck, I'm one of the big time offenders! I always *wish* we could have seasons. Especially fall/autumn!

Don't get me wrong, I love it here! I really don't want it to snow here. Snow is fine to visit, but I'm very happy that I don't have to shovel it, drive in it or live in it!

Really there is only three horrible, no good or fun to live here months! So, can I help it that I really look forward to fall and the beautiful cool weather that is SUPPOSE to come with it? This has been a very warm fall. Not so fun. So, I decided I needed an attitude adjustment. We can find joy in our Mesa Arizona Fall - right?

How to tell it's fall in Mesa.

Dead giveaway - Halloween/Thanksgiving decorations!

Here, everything turns GREEN! LOVE our winter lawn!

The sweet smell (being sarcastic here!) of the freshly planted winter lawns!

BE-U-TI-FUL citrus. Of course right now it's still green. But if you look closely you can see that the green skin is starting to bleach out and turn yellow! By thanksgiving we will be eating tangerines and grapefruit! Yummy! It isn't Thanksgiving until we open a tangerine Thanksgiving morning while the turkey is baking!
FLOWERS! We can finally plant flowers again!



Carmel Apples. Every October we make carmel apples for a FHE treat! I don't know when the tradition started, but somehow it did, and now it's definitely a sign of fall!

So - we may not have the traditional fall, but we definitely have fall! I guess it's pretty wonderful after all!

Our Garden! week 2

(This is the garden right after we got done planting!)

We are loving our garden! My Mom came over a couple of weeks ago and helped me plan it out and get it planted. Vaughan was working in Flagstaff so it was fun to surprise him with the planting of the main garden all done!

We planted sugar snap peas, carrots, green onions, beets, turnips, spinach, lettuce (2 kinds) and radishes. Of course the kids had to come out and "watch". Heidi thought things looked a little boring. All dirt - no color! So she suggested ribbons on the sticks we used to mark each row. I told her she was crazy! But you know how my creative daughter just HAS to make things all cutsie! So into the house she goes and gets the curling ribbon. She has color coordinated the ribbon with what color the vegetables are going to be. I have to admit it has made it easier to remember what is growing in that row!

(top picture is my sugar snap peas (so proud!) and bottom picture is our radishes)

That weekend, Vaughan worked in the planter box turning the soil and adding our wonderful mulchy soil! So, I planted cauliflower, broccoli and brussell sprouts. I know - some of these vegetables are on the "I don't like" list, but I want to give my kids the opportunity to TRY them fresh and tasty as they should taste right out of a garden. If we don't like them, we won't plant them again! Though you have to admit there is something about eating something you had help in growing that makes it taste that much better! Who knows, maybe we will actually learn to like something we thought we didn't like before! It could happen! :)

(Beautiful broccoli and cauliflower! To the far left you can see the little tiny brussell sprout plants!)

Licorice (our bunny) enjoying the winter lawn!

Turning our Afflictions into Blessings

I've been wanting to blog for a long time. There has been so many things in my heart and mind. But to be honest my emotions have been way to close to the surface.

This past week has been difficult as a sweet friend of mine lost her fight with cancer.

My friend Carla Niesen passed away on Monday, October 12th. She was an amazing person. Full of life, laughter and fun. I can not remember ever visiting with her that I didn't laugh at something she was saying! It just wasn't possible. She could turn the worst of times into the best of times. She did this the whole time she was dealing with cancer.

Carla left behind a sweet husband, 2 daughters at home, ages 17 and 14, a young son, age 7, a married daughter and son in law and a brand new granddaughter - only 5 days old. I know that Carla is in a better place. I am happy for her and that she isn't in pain anymore. I can only imagine what happy reunions took place the day Carla returned Home.

Carla was never bitter or angry. She always had a positive attitude about her cancer. She turned every negative into a positive.

A week before she passed away I went to visit her at the hospice center she was staying at. A member of our stake presidency was there. She was asking him about what he was going to do after he was released. She asked him if he was getting his papers ready to go on a mission. Then Carla said, "I'm going on a mission. My kids asked why they couldn't go too. I told them it was because you didn't get picked! I did!" There it was again. Her positive attitude. Making everyone else comfortable with the eventual outcome! There was never a gloomy sad feeling.

I think the worse part about Carla's leaving is missing her! I feel sad for her family. I feel sad for her children. Children shouldn't have to grow up without their Mommy's. Husbands shouldn't have to be alone so young. And grandbabies should be able to grow up knowing their grandma's.

Carla and I used to joke about raising our grandchildren together! She announced that she was going to be a grandma by saying... "You aren't going to be mad at me because I'm going to be a grandma before you?" "Of course not!" I remember telling her! I was so excited for her and for her daughter!

The Sunday before Carla's funeral we had stake conference. We had a 70 visiting, Elder Richards. At the Adult meeting on Saturday he talked about something that meant alot to me for so many reasons and it reminded me of Carla. He told us to "turn our afflictions into blessings." He shared some examples. It reminded me of many of my "afflictions" and the resulting "blessings" that always come! It reminded me of Carla - and how she turned her "affliction" into a blessing.

I titled this blog "turning our afflictions into blessings" because I don't want to forget what I have learned. Although, I will miss Carla so much, I am grateful for the blessing of learning so much from her: How to smile when your heart is breaking. How to allow my faith to carry me through hard times. To look at all the good around me and remember to tell my kids I love them everyday. Service, service and more service is what makes us happy - truly happy.

I want to honor my friend by following her example, which is following the Savior - and becoming more like Him. Thank you Carla, for being my friend. For making me smile. For reminding me what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ. For reminding me that out of every trial comes blessings! I love you!

A Fun Project!

I needed something cute to hang in my window for halloween! So, I just went to my favorite scrapbook store - Scrapbook etc. - and bought some cute halloween paper and a couple of embellishments! Not too much, I wanted to use what I already have! I decided to make this cute Halloween banner.
I used my cricut to cut out the letters. I *heart* my cricut! With jewels, ribbons and some fun halloween brads that I found in my stash I think it turned out pretty cute!

Now - to work my Happy Fall banner!!

We're Going to Have a GARDEN!

It is really going to happen! I'm so excited! Vaughan and I have been talking about putting in a garden but he's been So busy- which is a good thing, but has slowed down the process!

Unfortunately gardening doesn't wait! You have to get those little plants or seeds in or you miss the window of opportunity!

So Monday we finally took the first step and ordered dirt! Yep, we actually paid for dirt!
(this used to be TWICE as big - maybe bigger!) But after Vaughan wheel barreled load after load into the backyard we now have this:

It used to look like this:


This used to be our kids sandbox. The neighborhood cats found it and we have hated it! I knew it was a health concern. To be truthful I don't really like sandboxes! DIRTY! But Vaughan had so much fun making it for our kids! It really looked like he was putting in a swimming pool! It was pretty funny! But now it's going to be a beautiful garden!

I can already see the rows of radishes, carrots, lettuce and other delicious vegetables! I can almost taste them! But I'm trying not to "count my chicken's before they hatch!" This isn't our "first" garden, so I know our success ratio! But we'll keep trying until we get it right!

At least we are on the road to being more self sufficient! I'll post more soon!

Yay for Fall!

I am loving the cool weather that has finally found us! It finally feels like fall is coming! NOW I can decorate and bring the season in the house!

I started doing a little today. I love taking things I already have and updating them or at least making them look better than they used to! It saves money and helps me fill that creativity need! It makes me feel good using what I already love!

My first project is this holiday tree. I spent hours many years ago painting cute wood cut outs for each holiday. I am slowly changing them and updating their looks! I love how this turned out!

Here is the BEFORE:

And here is the upgraded version:
It looks cuter in person! I took off the rafia and added lots of ribbon! It was fun looking through all my ribbon. I tend to collect ribbon! ;)

Well, I'm off to see what's next!

They're Coming Home - AGAIN!

Yep! It's true! Mom and Dad. Grandma and Grandpa. They are coming home! Home from serving another LONG summer at Martin's Cove, Wyoming. LONG to me because I miss them so much and seriously thought we would have this past summer to enjoy their presence at the cabin, at FHE, dance recitals, sporting events and birthdays! But they decided they needed to serve another summer and so they did!

I am so proud of my parents for not "taking it easy" and for doing the Lord's work. For the great example of enduring to the end and continued service! How could I not try to be a little like them! They have set such a standard to live up to. I must certainly try to be like them.

Tomorrow there will be lots of hugs and squeals of joy from grandkids and from ME! I can't wait to hug my Dad and hug my Mom! I'm already dreaming of all the fun visits with Mom and shopping with Mom! At least ONE trip to Globe for the famous burritos from Burger House with Dad. (I think I'm the only one who hasn't had one yet!) Relaxing days at the cabin with Mom and Dad. And stories. I love to hear their stories about their mission, about the pioneers, about their life.

Hurry Hurry Hurry clock!

Peaches Peaches and MORE Peaches!

(All blanched and ready to be cut!)

So I've been working on One of the goals I've set for myself! CANNING. It's actually been lots of fun. Lots of work. Very messy. (That's the not so fun part!) But it's been fun to learn. So far I have canned using a steamer canner and a pressure canner. I like the steamer canner the best! Mostly because it's easier! Less scary! But you can only do stuff like fruit and tomatoes with a steamer canner.

My sister has a pressure canner and we bottled chicken in it! I'm glad to have the chicken, but it was the least favorite of my canning experiences. It smells and looks like a science experiment. It is pretty easy though! It will definitely be appreciated when it comes to making yummy chicken meals!

(pretty jars of peaches and pie filling!)

I've bottles 20 quarts of peaches, 12 quarts of pears and 7 bottles of peach pie filling.

I did 7 bottles of peaches and the pie filling yesterday! The peach pie filling is AMAZING! It was messy and sticky, but my house smelled amazing! There was a little left and so I put it in a bowl! I couldn't stop eating it! It was so good! There were some peaches left so I made peach freezer jam! I can't wait to taste it after it's frozen! It was so pretty! I ended up with 20 1 cup containers! WOW!

(Peach Pie Filling! Mmmm - you can almost smell it's yumminess! cinnamon and almond flavoring!)

Now to start on my NEXT goal: Bread Making! Just in time for my Mom coming home! She is the best bread maker I know! I LOVE her bread! I've already asked for her help! I want my bread to be like hers - soft, moist, and not crumbly!

And in case you were curious, the goal after this is GARDENING! YEP! We've already started working on the ground. Then I'll have yummy tomatoes to bottle! Mmmm! Homegrown tomatoes are the BEST! I can already see bottles of whole tomatoes and salsa all in a row!

Why this crazy canning obsession all of the sudden? (Those who know me, especially my Mom know I always hated canning!) Well, my Mom gave me her gazillion boxes of jars and they are sitting in our shed. Empty. I figured if I was going to store all these bottles I might as well fill them! That is my goal. To fill every bottle! I have no idea how many are out there, but there are lots! (I think it would overwhelm me to go count!) But it's baby steps! right? Maybe I'll bottle corn next summer! I'm thinking carrots might be good too! (I'll have to learn how to grow them first! tee hee!)

Guess I better ask for a pressure canner for Christmas!

Here is the yummy peach freezer jam! Didn't plan on this, but what a wonderful accident!

The Bedroom Project

So - redecorating and painting Holli and Hope's room has been long overdue for some time now! We've been working on their room since August. We started by emptying their closet and reorganizing and cleaning it. Let's just say whenever there is any cleaning or organizing going on at our house it all gets dumped in my room! I'm SO ready to have a clean bedroom again!

Then we started looking for the "perfect" bedding! You can't choose paint until you know what the bedding is going to be! We finally found this beautiful bedspread with large zinnias in shades of blue and green! The girls did not want PINK anymore! So pink was totally out! Along with the bedspreads we found pillows to match! The fun part is everything was on clearance! We found them at Marshall's but didn't buy them right away! After looking everywhere I could think of we decided that "these were the ones!" And then hoped that they would still be there!

Then we had to choose paint! The girls and I talked about what we could do creatively in the bedroom. We decided we would make stencils by tracing the zinnias on the quilt and stencil them on the wall. My SIL Tiffany helped me find the perfect blue and the perfect green!

Vaughan and the girls painted the room. They also took the closet door and shelves and painted them white. And then the real fun began! For a full week I started stenciling zinnias on the wall. I'm still feeling the pain!! But by 11:00PM Saturday I was done! As I was admiring my art work... :) the light went on *bing* I knew what would look SO CUTE! I got my glue dots and jewels and started putting them in the center of all the flowers! Can you say C U T E! (I know stenciling is so 80's, but trust me, it's cute!)

We then hung all the cute stuff on the walls and place the decorations around the room. It is really looking cute. All we have left is laying the "new to us" carpet and paint and install the baseboard. We plan on doing that this weekend! (Thank you Tiffany for the carpet!)

I wish I had "before" pictures! But I didn't think to take them! But here are some pictures of the finished project!

Lots and lots of Zinnias!

Isn't the quilt and the pillows so cute! I love the colors!

This is our magnet board project. They hang above the desk in their room. We had Vaughan screw them to the wall and then I found these cute brads that just happened to match the papers we'd chosen. I hot glued them to the screws to hide them. The girls made magnets to match!

This is the top of their built in corner book shelf. It's my favorite display! I made the round boxes. I was given these paper boxes and was going to just donate them to charity, but I got this idea to mod podge them. I *heart* mod podge! So now we have these adorable boxes that match their room. (Shhh - the big one has chocolate in it! I use it for activity day girls - treats for saying their Articles of Faith!) The candle sticks came from Savers! So fun!

Lest We Forget

9/11

A day I will NEVER forget. I still remember where I was. What I was doing. How I felt. For days. The erie silence. The empty skies. The anger.hurt.sadness. I remember the sense of pride, humility and love. Patriotism. Prayer.

Hope was only 2 years old. She doesn't remember. Or understand why my eyes well up with tears when I remember. Holli was 6, Heidi was 9, Heather was 12. I wanted to keep my kids home with me. Safe. Where I could protect them and help them understand. Hillary had an A hour. She was a Junior in High School and had already left. I really just wanted my family home with me where I could gather them under my wing. Because then I would know where they were.

I hurt for all the loss. For children who lost Mommies, Daddies, Grandparents. For parents who lost sons, daughters. For friends who lost coworkers. For the loss of innocence. Security. Peace.

Today to honor those lost I will hug my children. Tell them I love them. Offer prayers of gratitude for this country we live in. For freedoms - we should never take for granted. I will be more patient as I drive around town. I will smile at people I meet. Whether I know them or not.
I will remember that it is because of so many that I have the beautiful life that I live each day.

SEPTEMBER - A Beautiful Month

September comes with many promises!

1. FALL = Cool Weather

I seriously can not wait until I can leave my doors open all day and feel the cool air blow through the house! I look forward to turning off the A/C and all the ceiling fans. If you haven't done this before- sit down and just listen to the quiet after you turn off the fans and a/c! It is amazing. I always take a moment just to bask in the silence. (I'm weird I know!)

2. My parents are coming home from their mission!

I know, you've heard this before, but this time they have promised to STAY HOME. I am looking forward to having my parents home so much! I seriously miss them. They bring so much peace to my life. They add so much to our family. It's like everything is in place when they are here. I look forward to having the circle complete once again.

3. Dance is back in session!

This actually started last week. But I just love dance! I love they way my girls try out the new dance steps they are learning each week. They come home and show me the new things they learn. I love watching their able bodies bend, twist, twirl, stretch and leap. It is always amazing to me no matter what they are doing! (I secretly always wished to be a dancer!) This year we are cleaning the dance studio and I am assisting on Wednesday mornings with the 4 & 3 year old classes to trade in part for the girls tuition! It's been so fun to watch the girls pitch in and help! They have done such a good job and had such great attitudes! I think it will make dance even more special this year.

4. Piano Lessons!

Not only have the girls resumed their piano studies, but Hillary has started teaching at our home again! It's fun to visit with some of the families that come for lessons. It's a time to reconnect with friends and family. It's fun to see the kids learning and growing in their music studies! I love hearing them play!

5. Activity Day Girls

We met last week for the first time since July. It was so fun. I've had fun preparing and getting ready for them. I have seven darling girls! They each come with different personalities! They come eager to learn and do whatever is prepared. This year we are going to conquer the 13 Articles of Faith and start our memory books. We will work on our goals and finish at least two in each category! It's going to be a great year!

6. Ward Family Outing

Next weekend we get to go camping with our ward! We look forward to this each year! It's fun to take a break and enjoy our ward family.

7. RS Broadcast

I love hearing what the General RS Presidency has to tell us! I look forward to this so much! It's usually just the shot in the arm I need. And of course, the cherry on top is going out to dinner after wards with my mom, sister, sister in laws and daughters!

8. Canning - canning and more canning!

I have been bottling the last two weeks and have more planned! So far my sister and I have bottled peaches and chicken. I hope to bottle peach pie filling, apple pie filling, pears, tomatoes and maybe salsa! I've had so much fun learning and especially hanging out with my sister!

See what I mean? Isn't September going to be amazing? There is so much fun to look forward to. We are still finishing a project that we started - re-decorating Holli and Hope's room! We will be stenciling zinnia's all around the room, hanging shelves and pictures! I will post pictures when we get it done! It's looking so cute already.

I hope you have a fun month to look forward to! September just feels like a month of re-birth to me! Time to start over, clean up and get going! It feels so good!

Summer will soon be coming to an end!

I haven't blogged hardly at all this month! I'm finding that not having a camera takes away some of the fun! I guess I'll just have to get past that!

There hasn't been anything Exciting going on! Just day to day life. Lots of blessings. Lots of cleaning and organizing!

School has started. (YIPPEE! sorry, just had do express a little joy!) I really didn't want school to start. I wanted to continue my lazy, no deadlines or real responsibility life. But I have really enjoyed getting back to a schedule and it helped me feel motivation again.

Do you realize the holidays are just around the corner? A short month from now we will start feeling like cool weather might arrive and if we haven't already, start thinking about gifts to buy and what projects need to be done.

SIMPLIFY.

That is what I want to do. But every time I try it, just doesn't seem to happen. I have decided much of that reason is because of the JOY I get out of DOING. I think I am going to really think about what I do - just because I've always done it, and try to do what is most important and brings me and my family the most joy! It's worth trying. Right?

For now, I'm going to enjoy this last week of August. No holiday thoughts. Just finish the home organization projects that I've started. Well, I'll finish them at least well enough to get through the holidays!

Hey, we've almost made it through summer! YIPPEE

Yes- I had a birthday!

(I actually wrote this two weeks ago! But I didn't post 'cause I wanted to include pictures! They are stuck on Hope's camera which is currently missing in action! Oh well! I'll have to add them later!)

No matter how old I get I still LOVE birthdays! Well - I love the thought of having a birthday! When it comes right down to it they are usually kind of painful! But later when I look back I'm so amazed at the love and kindness that my family and friends show me!

This year was NO different! It started out with my Mom calling and wishing me a happy birthday and then my Dad got on the phone and asked me if I was turning 25. Of course, that's kind of a stretch! This is my 26th birthday! (Yeah right!)

I enjoyed lunch with my sister and stopping at Target! Visiting with my friend Theresa while enjoying our Sonic Drinks! (Lime limeades all the way! "Could I have more lime please?") Finding the beautiful roses and chocolates hidden all over my house by my sweet friends Emily and Caroline! Enjoying their beautiful gift that brought tears to my eyes! (Thanks Emily, Caroline and Krista!) Talking on the phone to my SIL's, text messages and reading all the sweet FB messages! Vaughan took us out to dinner (Yay! I didn't have to cook!) and then we came home to gifts and cake! Heidi and Holli made the yummiest cake. Turtle cake! Lots of caramel and nuts! Quite the treat! Now I have new books to read and movies to watch! (Cary Grant and "Little Dorrit") I was hoping and wishing for Little Dorrit, but didn't really believe it would happen! What a fun surprise! It's so good!

And you would think it should end there, but no! Around this house birth days seem to extend to birth weeks! So! More lunches to enjoy with friends and sisters!

Thank you really isn't enough! But still - Thank you friends and family! You really made me feel special and loved today! You are all amazing!

Young at heart, slightly older in other places.

A funny Funny!

Few women admit their age. Few men act theirs.

It's not how old you are, but how you are old!

Life not only begins at forty, it begins to show.

Super Granny - Defender of Justice

An elderly Florida lady did her shopping, and upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle.
She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her voice, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!"
The four men didn't wait for a second invitation. They got out and ran like mad.
The lady, somewhat shaken, then to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver's seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition.
She tried and tried and then it dawned on her why.
A few minutes later she found her own car parked a few spaces farther down.
She loaded her bags into her car and then drove to the police station.
The sergeant to whom she told the story nearly tore himself in two with laughter. He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.
No charges were filed.
Ah, senior moments!

Games for When We Are Older

• Sag, You're It
• Pin the Toupee on the Bald Guy.
• 20 Questions Shouted Into Your Good Ear.
• Kick the Bucket
• Red Rover, Red Rover, the Nurse Says Bend Over.
• Doc Goose.
• Simon Says Something Incoherent.
• Hide and Go Pee.
• Spin the Bottle of Mylanta
• Musical Recliners.

I think we'll play some of these at my next birthday party!

I'm not old...I'm chronologically gifted!

This month is such a SPECIAL one!

In honor of the month of August I thought I would post some thoughts I've been having lately. Below is the first of the installments: :)

You Know You're Getting Older When...

• All of your favorite movies are now revised in color.
• At cafeterias, you complain that the gelatin is too tough.
• The car that you bought brand new becomes an antique.
• The clothes you've put away until they come back in style...come back in style.
• Conversations with people your own age often turn into "dueling ailments."
• Going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.
• The gray-haired person you help across the street is your spouse.
• It takes a couple of tries to get over a speed bump.
• It takes too much effort to procrastinate.
• The kids leave one by one, only to return two by two.
• Lawn care has become a big highlight of your life.
• Many of your co-workers were born the same year that you got your last promotion.
• One of the throw pillows on your bed is a hot water bottle.
• The waiter asks how you'd like your steak...and you say "pureed."
• When you are cautioned to slow down by the doctor instead of by the police.
• When you do the "Hokey Pokey" you put your left hip out...and it stays out.
• Work is a lot less fun and fun is a lot more work.
• You begin every other sentence with, "Nowadays..."
• You can do just as much as ever; but would rather not.
• You choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy
• You come to the conclusion that your worst enemy is gravity.
• You discover the words, "whippersnapper," and "by-cracky" creeping into your vocabulary.
• You don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go along.
• You frequently find yourself telling people what a loaf of bread USED to cost.
• You go to a garden party and you're mainly interested in the garden.
• You have trouble remembering simple words like...
• You keep repeating yourself.
• You know it all, you just can't remember it all at once!
• You keep repeating yourself.
• You light the candles on your birthday cake, and a group of campers form a circle and start singing "Kumbaya."
• You keep repeating yourself.
• You look both ways before crossing a room.
• You know all the answers but nobody asks you any questions.
• You make it a point to attend all the RV shows that come to town.
• You notice they're making adults much younger - when did they decide to let kids become policemen?
• You realize that aging is not for wimps.
• You realize that a stamp today costs more than a picture show did when you were growing up.
• You refer to your $2500 stereo system as "the hi-fi."
• You run out of breath walking DOWN a flight of stairs.
• You smile all the time because you can't hear a thing others are saying.
• You start beating everyone else at trivia games.
• You start video-taping daytime game shows.
• You still have a photographic memory but it no longer offers same day service.
• You tune into the easy listening station...on purpose.
• You wonder why you waited so long to take up macrame.
• Your back goes out more than you do.
• Your childhood toys are now in a museum.
• Your friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes and you're barefoot.
• Your insurance company has started sending you their free calendar...a month at a time.
• Your lack of pep is often mistaken for patience.
• Your new easy chair has more options than your car.
• You're a walking storeroom of facts...you've just lost the key to the storeroom door.
• You're awake many hours before your body allows you to get up.
• You're good at opening childproof caps - with a hammer.
• You're not grouchy, you just don't like traffic, waiting, crowds, loud music, unruly kids, barking dogs, politicians and a few other things you can't remember.
• You're on a TV game show and you decide to risk it all and go for the rocker.
• You're sitting on a park bench, and a Boy Scout comes up and helps you cross your legs.
• You're sure everything you can't find is in a secure place.
• You're the life of the party...even if it lasts until 8 p.m.
• You're usually interested in going home before you get where you're going.
• You're very good at telling stories - over and over and over and over...
• You're well cared for - long term care, eye care, private care, dental care, Medicare.
• You're wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that's just your left leg.
• You've met so many people that everyone you meet reminds you of someone else.
• You've seen it all, done it all, heard it all...you just can't remember it all.

Yep- It's offical! Summer is over. . .

WHAT? You say. I don't think so! You say. It's hotter than hades! - You say! Well, I agree with you! It's not ME who is pushing summer out the window! (Although - I have gotten rather tired of the heat!)

Am I the ONLY one who has stepped into Hobby Lobby lately????

Well - today I took a little trip there only to find THE WHOLE STORE FULL OF FALL AND CHRISTMAS STUFF!

YEP! It's true! I wouldn't lie to you! I even saw a Christmas Tree.

Turkeys, Fall leaves, Christmas ornaments galore, and Christmas Tree's! The whole kit and kaboodle! It was AMAZING!

It was also a little alarming! But mostly AMAZING! I even giggled! Yep - a true little girl giggle! I wandered up every isle dreaming of cold crisp days, twinkle lights and hot chocolate!

I truly want to watch White Christmas! And why not - I ask you? I'm thinking it's time to break out the Christmas movies! You know - the ones that make you all mushy inside and remind you that It's a Wonderful Life! and there really are Miracles on 34th Street (and everywhere else!)

Maybe I will splurge for a couple of hours - turn down the A/C until it's cool enough to cuddle under a blankie, make some hot chocolate - with lots of marshmallows and a peppermint stick - and watch one of these movies! Hmmmmm - yep that's just what I'm gonna do!

Who says we can't have a little Peace on Earth, Good Will To Men in July!

"God Bless Us - Everyone!"

Wickedly Wonderful

Last night Vaughan and I got to go see Wicked at Gammage! Can I say AMAZING! It was my first time to see it and it was so wonderful! I loved every minute of it. I have been listening to the music all day today. I didn't appreciate the CD before! But now I love it all!

I think my favorite song is "For Good". Of course, "Popular" is pretty cute and fun too! What a fun play. I hope the next time it comes I can take all of my girls! I think they will love it. Now I know how to prepare them for the show though! It does take a little "Wizard of Oz" understanding otherwise you might miss some things.

It was fun to spend some time with Hillary and James too! We haven't seen them much lately and it was fun to get caught up over dinner!

If you haven't seen Wicked yet, make sure you put that on your list of things to do! It is so worth it!

And remember in the end... "No one mourns the wicked!!"