clarification

okay, i think that i need to clarify. i probably came on too stong. my poor sister called me yesterday asking me if i don't like her dog. whoops. i do. he is the cutest little thing that i have ever seen. plus, he doesn't have that yucky dog smell. sorry again--but you know that smell. well, her dog goes to the groomer every 6 weeks--the same day that my sister gets her hair done. i apologize. i love my cruisey! my children love him more--especially my youngest who french kisses him. yuck! my main complaint with animals is that they die. i know that that sounds funny, but i have enough anxiety about losing family members that i don't like the added stress. okay, i feel better getting that off my chest!
bring on the fish!!!!!!!!!

we are having a guest stay with us for christmas!

yesterday my son's kindergarten teacher approached me and asked if we would keep the class goldfish over christmas break. i smiled and agreed. i then said, "you picked us because you knew that if it died we would replace the silly thing and no one would no the difference." for those of you who know me well--you know that i am anything but an animal fan. i was not pleased this summer when my son came home from camp at thanksgiving point with a goldfish. i knew that it would die--sure enough--3 days later the blessed spidey was gone. only to be replaced with hulky the beta fish who has a life expectancy of 5 years! okay--is that commitment or what? so, how many fish goldfish do you think that we will go through before school starts back up on jan. 2nd?

out of the mouth of babes!

a couple days ago my dad had an angeogram (sp.). i was explaining to the boys that papa would be in the hospital for a test. i explained that he might have some clogging in his heart. i told them that it was similar to when our drain was backed up and i had to (this is going to get gross--beware!) dig some gunk out of it. our oldest said, "yeah, and it looked like b.m.!" to that our youngest responded, "papa, pee-pee in heart! ha ha ha!" he thought that it was the funniest thing that he had ever heard--or said for that matter!
well, i am proud to report, there was no gunk and all is well!" yay!

it's almost december!!!!!

i cannot believe that tomorrow is december! tomorrow starts the excitement of advent calendars! we have a new one to add to our collection this year. on my last post a put a picture of it. i taught how to make them at Super Saturday for our ward. i think that they turned out pretty cute! each day we will put an ornament on the calendar--don't worry--we bought the chocolate calendars too!

Christmas Countdown

yummy recipe!!!!

i have been scrambling for the last few weeks looking for a good caramel corn recipe! i am on the pta at my son's school--my job being teacher appreciation. i have made it a goal to do something fun for the teachers each month. well--i found an awesome recipe and the teachers gobbled it up! hope you enjoy!!!!

1/2 c. butter--not margarine
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 karo syrup
1/2 tsp. vanilla

boil butter, brown sugar, and karo syrup for about 3-5 min, until caramel is done. use soft ball method, (have a cup of cold water handy, place a drop of caramel in the water, if it forms a soft ball, then you know it is done).

remove from burner and add vanilla, stir well.

pop about 1/2 cup of popcorn, salting once popped.
pour the caramel over the popcorn and stir well.

WHAT?!?!?!?!

i am stunned! i don't quite get what happened last night on the bachelor. i totally respect brad for his decision--but was that a last minute thing? it sounded like when jenni was in the limo leaving that brad said that he was positive that deanna was what he wanted! hmmmm. AND why was it a total break from each girl. there was no--"take this ring and let's get to know each other better. . . " it sounded like there was complete break. ohhhhhh i am dying for tonight!
comments?

"It's a full moon!"

it is early saturday morning and my darling husband took our little boys with him to play basketball--because i am awake--not by choice!-- i decided to do a load of laundry and update my blog. this past sunday we had a very memorable sacrament meeting. i wish that it was so memorable (for us and the rest of the ward) because of some marvelous uplifting talk or reverent musical number. but no--it was because of our darling angelic little 3 year old. he really is the cutest little guy, but for reason he was really on one that day! in the middle of the meeting he started acting up. so to be polite and QUIET my husband took him out into the hall. a few minutes later--a few minutes too soon--they were back. i could tell that trouble was just brewing! he had that look on his face and the crying started again. this time i decided that i would take him out. well, he didn't want to go out. i was not going to cause more of a sense (opps! too late!) so i picked him up. needless to say, he didn't want to go and put his feet against my chest. i carried him out anyway. when we got to the hall he ripped off his clothes--don't worry--he always does this when he is upset--it's nothing new! there he was--buck naked in the hall. it was comical to see the different ages of people and their reactions as they walked by. the younger kids did double takes, a teenage boy blushed and tried to pretend that he didn't see anything, the young parents had sympathy and some laughed--as i was! the m0st interesting was the relief society pres. from another ward. she put her hand and him and said, "oh no!" meaning--what a horrible mother to let you be in public like this! after the meeting we returned to our pew. a man in the ward patted me on the back and said, "Wow! That was a full moon!" after seeing the confusion on my face he told me that when i was exiting the chapel--my little boy's pants and diaper where completely down! the whole ward got a different view of my boy! when i got home my neighbor and dear friend called. she is battling cancer and isn't able to come often. she called to thank me for the "best sacrament meeting that she had been to in years!" i am glad that it made her day!
hmmmmm- i wonder how tomorrow will go?

i voted

this morning my 3 year old and i went to the polls! there is something exciting about casting a ballot. my little boy loved the "i voted" sticker--also very important! we were #116. we will have to go out later today to another poll and vote for the sewer issues--kind of a pain to go 2 places--but this is an important race with huge issues at stake!
be sure to get out there today!

the bachelor

okay, i admit it! i watch the bachelor. my friend tara and i talk at each commercial break trying to debrief what has happened and who will get the rose. it is a busy phone night because i do the same with my sisters. so, who do you think he will choose? i was shocked last night when he kept betinna. hmmmm? but, sheena's mom was a bit cuckoo! so, now i really think that it is between jenni and deanna. i am torn. i do think that jenni is a bit too into her dancing.
i would love to hear what you all think! leave a comment and let's make up brad's mind for him!

Help!!!

help! i feel like i am being sucked in! i feel like i am living at my son's school. of course, it is totally my fault. i love to help out and am terrible (as all my friends know!) at saying "no!" i was there (with my 3 year old--who only escaped once!) from 9:15-1:30. i have also gotten myself roped into (once again, by my own doing) into helping (a lot!) with the book fair. i also need to get things finalized for the halloween party, etc. etc. etc.
oh, did i mention the outlandish time that i have spent on getting things ready for super saturday--tomorrow!?!
once again, this is all my doing--but my head is swimming and i just wanted to vent! i really need a nap!

I need a vacation!!!!!! (another one)

uugghh! i am pooped! i never thought (pre-children) that i would be so tired as a stay at home mom! poor sick husband started back to work today. he probably shouldn't be there. . . we will see how the day pans out. he brought the nebulizer (sp?) with him to his office. lovely, that will look great if he has any meetings with clients! i have been busy as a bee! here is just a little list (i need to just vent). dropped my oldest off at school, rushed home for my youngest to get on his little bus for preschool, ran to the dry cleaners, bank, back to the school to bring my oldest his red bracelet for red ribbon week (i realized he left it home--he is so excited that if all the kids bring their's all week they will get a surprise), scrubbed the hard wood, started dinner, washed the couch covers, ran to the store to buy new halloween plates (i gave my children's away to some neighbors when we were spooked (i had to replace them before my boys found out!), laundry, etc. my sweet friend janice just brought over a diet coke. oh bless her!!!!!!!! now back to work and back to playing with my youngest!

my poor sickie husband!

i feel so bad for my sick husband! he is now going on week 3 of this awful sickness! we spent much of general conference in the emergency room. after 2 sets of chest xrays they said that he had possible early pneumonia. so, 3 medicines later we thought he was on the mend. then, the day before our trip he was really sick again. he saw our dr. and she said that he now had a sinus infection. well, the magic of disneyland seemed to make him better. he did really well on the trip. on monday he went back to the doctor--sinus infection was still bad--but okay other than that. wednesday night-sick, sick. yesterday--back to the dr.--blood work and then back to the hospital for more chest x-rays. the doctor was very concerned because after 3 rounds of antibiotics he still wasn't any better--worse actually. we were not home even an hour from the hospital when our doctor called to say that he has full blown pneumonia and croup! what in the world????????? to bed for him!!!!!! i think i need a little nap too!

disneyland!!!!!!!

we had a marvelous trip to disneyland! going to disneyland for 4 days is a ton of walking! i should have brought my stepometer. we had such a great time! my parents and sisters came too. here are some of the highlights--plus one not so great moment. i will start with the negative. tuesday morning at 3:30 am the fire alarm went off. it was terrifying! we had to climb down 1o flights of stairs--carrying our sleepy and alarmed children. all that i could think of was 9/11--this is nothing in comparison of seriousness--but i couldn't get it out of my head. it ended up that it was just some teenagers partying--it did make for a very exhausting next day!
okay--here are some of the highlights:
*being with our whole family. we all had such a great time!
*dinner at goofy's kitchen. our youngest loved it and was adored by all of the characters. our oldest was more reserved--surprise, surprise.
*lunch at club 33. that was so amazing! we were able to see the table from mary poppins and many of walt's sketches. my hubby ate that up!!!!!!
*our whole family received dream fast passes! now that was cool!
so, now we are home and back to the grind. my washing machine has not had a break! our oldest had a really hard time going back to school. oh, did i mention our luggage didn't make it home with us! we had a nearly perfect trip--so we were okay!

tagged--exicting info about me--hah!!!!

i now officially feel like a blogger. i often read my friends blogs when they got tagged. now that i have a blog, my friend annie has tagged me. so, here goes!

1. what were you doing 10 years ago?
i was attending BYU. i was starting the seminary program. i was an efy counselor. i was playing a ton! i was the relief society president in my BYU ward which kept me really busy.

2. 5 years ago?
we had just moved into our home. our oldest was not quite a year old. i was adjusting to being a mom (and loving it!!!) after teaching seminary for 4 years.

3. 1 year ago?
yikes! i need to consult my journal for that one! hmmmm. my oldest was just starting preschool. i was busy playing with our youngest.

4. yesterday?
doctors, doctors, doctors. we are all sick. both boys got their flu shots. trauma!!!!!!!!! my cute sisters picked us up dinner from chili's. (i do have the greatest family in the world!!!)

5. 5 favorite snacks?
hot chocolate (i drink it 364 days a year), smoothies, cherry coke (from sonic), granola bars (the new butter toffee ones--yum!), popcorn.

6. if i had one million dollars what would i do with it?
make it so my husband wouldn't have to work so much! take our family on a fun trip! go to prague with my hubby. save it for my children's college funds. wait, did you say just one million?

7. 5 places i would run away to?
disneyland (we will be there shortly!!!!), our bedroom (i would love to just lie on the bed and read all day!), prague, boulder, hawaii.

8. 5 favorite tv shows?
blue's clues of course!!!!!, biggest loser, the bachelor (did i just admit to that?), anything on hgtv and food network.

9. 5 things i hate?
when people are mean to my children, confrontations, eggs, putting away the laundry (why do you think that i am blogging right now, when my family is sick.

10. 5 people i tag?
all of you have already been tagged--but humor me!
janice, ani, karlie, mike, sara

twilight

okay, okay i am a little slow--but i am finally on the twilight bandwagon. all of my friends rave about this book and the others in the series. everywhere i go i see "the black book." it kind of reminds me of when president hinckley challenged us all to read the book of mormon. everywhere you would go people would be reading it. (by the way--i thought that that was an awesome challenge!), but now, everywhere i go people are reading twilight! so, i am hooked! i just started yesterday, but i found a few minutes here and there to read. i love it!
fyi--on accident i posted a family members name--i am trying not to do that--i want to keep this as "nonpersonal" as possible. when you leave a comment--please don't include anyones names. thanks! i love the comments! keep them coming!

scripture power!

i don't know how many of you are familiar with the new primary song "scripture power"- but it is a hit in our ward. yesterday our son was singing it as he was drawing. after a few minutes he came into the room where i was and said, "Mom, i think that ______ (a bully at school) is under the power of sin. he needs scripture power!" how do you respond to that?!? it was hilarious!
out of the mouth of babes!
on a side note--my sweetie did not win the award. maybe next year!

the award

tonight my cute hubby and i will be attending a black tie gala. he has been nominated for an award for a design that he has done. my fingers are crossed! he is so talented and deserves a cute little plaque (okay just kidding)--he is extremely talented and it would be so fun to see him win. even if he doesn't win a nomination is huge in my book! love you sweetie!!!!!

yummy dip!

last night for book club i tried a new recipe--it is delicious!
it is a great dip for strawberries (or for anything!) one of the gals was dipping her pumpkin chocolate chip bread in it.

1 pkg. cream cheese
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
toffee bits (i used 1/2 a bag--you could use more or less)
mix all ingredients together. enjoy!!!

victory!!!!!

okay, i know that i went off about how furious i was at the little soccer parents for bribing their children, but today i gained my own little appreciation for bribery.
my 3 year old attends preschool 2 times a week. he has a speech delay so they work with him on that and they transport the kids by bus. when my husband and i first heard about the bus we did not want anything to do with it. he is so young--are you kidding? take our baby on away on a bus--alone!?! well, now i love it! i am able to go to my other son's kindergarten and help out, exercise, run errands (alone!), etc. for the first couple times he loved the bus! he would just hop on and wave. then, all of a sudden he started freaking out! i could hear his cries as they would pull away and it would kill me. i have been trying so hard to figure out what was going on. he is super independent! in fact, this past sunday he sat by himself during sacrament meeting. we always sit on the same row. but, this week was the primary program and i was needing to sit somewhere else. but not him! he had to sit in "our place!" so, he sat alone and loved every minute of it! so, after much thought i promised him this morning that if he would get on the bus and not cry--we would go to the library and get a blue's clues movie and he could have 3 mini cookies (from a 100 calorie pack) while on the bus. it did the trick!!!!!! i was so thrilled! let's see how next week goes. keep your fingers crossed!

Is it just me. . .?

Is is just me, or do you all think that it is crazy to pay your 5 year old for each soccer goal that they score? I have decided that I am not a big fan of most of the parents of the kids on my son's soccer team. They pay their children $1 for each goal that they score. Fine, fine--I don't really mind that but it makes me so livid when they push down the others so that they can score (and then rake in the cash after the game!!!!!!) I am a pretty competitive gal, but come on!!!!!!!

roasted tomato sauce with basil

i love blogs with fun recipes. my friend recently passed this one on to me. i made it last night and it is DELICIOUS! thanks joanna!

1 1/4 lbs., plum tomatoes, (about 8 tomatoes) cored and halved
1 large yellow onion, peeled and quartered
3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
6 TBS olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
6 fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
1 TBS balsamic vinegar

preheat oven to 400.
place tomatoes, onion, and garlic on a large baking sheet with sides. drizzle with 3 TBS olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. roast for 30-35 min., stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are shriveled and the onion is soft and lightly brown.
remove the garlic and onion from the baking sheet and scrape the tomatoes and juices from the baking sheet into the bowl of the food processor fitted with a metal blade. peel the garlic cloves and drop them into the food processor with the tomatoes. remove any stems from the onion and add them to the food processor. pulse for about 1 min., until the sauce is almost smooth but still has some texture. add the basil, balsamic vinegar and remaining 3 TBS olive oil and pulse to combine. transfer the tomato sauce to a small bowl and season with additional salt and pepper to taste. use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

other tips from joanna: you can play around with each batch. sometimes she adds more garlic, or more balsamic to give it a different taste. this year she roasted some bell peppers and eggplant at the end then threw them in and mixed them just a little so that the sauce was chunky.

enjoy!!!!!

anyone out there?

I cannot believe that I am finally starting a blog! I have had so much fun reading my friends blogs, hopefully someone will enjoy reading about some of the crazy things that happen around our house!