summin' it up

* lunch with Sam and Jess @ Paradise Ü

* 3 girls get pedicures. Ü

* 3 girls each get a new pair of jeans Ü

* I got 2 new shirts Ü

* I sold 2 cows Ü

beginning of girls weekend

Well the boys are all hunting. They left the afternoon of Thanksgiving. After everyone was out of the house we girls were on our own. We got ready and headed straight to the movies to see Twilight. Samantha had already seen it, but I was waiting for Jessika to finish reading the book before I took her. So my review of the movie is not coming until Monday when I go see it again, because I am not sure how I feel about it. I liked it enough that I want to see it again, but it just seemed like it was kinda choppy jumping from scene to scene. So I will see how I feel about it Monday.

Yesterday I laid in bed and did not hit the black Friday madness. I got up around 10am to go to the gym and then I came home and just stayed home all day and tried to finish Breaking Dawn which I am almost done. The girls just laid low and hung out and relaxed all day. It was a great relaxing day with nothing to do, I LOVED IT!

Today we are headed out for a little bit of shopping and some pedicures. The fun begins. We are going to come home and try to get some gift made for the girls friends. We have a great idea and it will be fun and easy and sure to be a hit (we hope). I still need to get my sharing time together for tomorrow, I hate waiting till the last minute.

Update on the boys hunting. They saw nothing yesterday. It is cold, and they have to hike alot. I am sure they are having fun. I will be thinking of them as I am getting my feet massaged. I hope they get an elk soon. The sooner they get an elk the more vacation time Thayne can spend at home. Ü

Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Also sending a huge good luck to my friends doing the turkey trot today!

Shout out #7

Thanks Valeen for being my friend!

(isn't she cute, I really like this picture of her)

I have been Valeen's visiting teacher for many many years. We always have fun visits. Each visit lasts between 2-3 hours. It sounds like a long time, but it goes by so fast and I figure it makes up for the months in between that I miss. We laugh and cry and just catch up on life. She is one of the nicest people I know. I am trying to teach her the word "NO" (except for when I ask her to play piano for primary). She so generous with her time and talents. I am so happy to call her my friend. Thanks for letting me come for a long visit today, it made my day!

Drug addicts

Some days I feel like a drug dealer

Todays list of drugs:

Wyatt- bad headache from jumping on trampoline = 2tsp ibuprofen

Samantha- cast came off leg today, leg bruised and sore = 2 tsp ibuprofen (she can't swallow pills, but that is another post)

TJ- injured wrist from bike riding or should I say stunt riding, big bump on wrist (let's hope it's not broken)= 2 Tylenol extra strength

Jessika- my back hurts= no meds

Thayne- in CA with head cold = I am sure he is on something good

Me- NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!! Yet!

Ask Gramps

I just love it when I come across a website that is fun and informative. In fact, I like it so much I am not just going to secretly add it to "my extra peeks" without sharing it with you first. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Don't forget, if you do go to this website look on the right hand side to see "who is gramps".

Ask Gramps

the things you do for your kids

Last night I had the opportunity to go with Wyatt to Amazing Jake's for his all night football party. I took a small nap from 10pm-11pm and then we headed out. The party went from midnight - 6am. I went prepared with my Breaking Dawn book thinking this would be the best time to read it. Here is how my night went.

*Got to Amazing Jakes
*read my book for half and hour
*played pool by myself for awhile (loved it)
*went back and read alittle bit more
*played Galaxy and Ms.Pacman for awhile
*read some more
*played a little more pool (I was much better than I remember at playing pool)
*read for along time until my bum starting hurting
*did some bowling, I played 5 games
*went back to reading
*played 5 more games of bowling until my thumb was going to fall off. (high game 150, not to bad since I hadn't played in many many years)
*went back and read until 6am. I think I got in 5 or 6 chapter all together, but still haven't finished the book.

Wyatt had soooo much fun. He ran the whole night and never got tired. We stopped and got donuts on the way home. I walked in the door and crashed. Wyatt walked in the door cleaned his room and ran off to the neighbors house and has yet to be seen. I am thinking he will be sleeping good tonight.

Thayne got home from California last night with a huge head cold, so I was kinda glad I wasn't having him cough on me the whole night. Thayne was going to go with us but I thought he should stay home and keep his germs to himself. I would have had alot more fun if he were there though.

I guess I am not to old for all nighters, as long as I can have recovery time when I get home.

Shout out #6

I am just so thankful that I am not seeing this anymore...

Today it cost me $2.05 to fill up. I am sure if I went searching around town I could have gotten it cheaper, but my gas light was on and I didn't want to risk it for a few cents. I know it is still more than some of you are paying, but I am glad to see the prices falling fast. Let's hope it lasts.

counting flowers

Oh how my childhood sneaks into my parenting sometimes, even though I said it never would.


This picture means absolutely nothing to most of you.


My brothers and sisters are probably looking at it and laughing thinking ...
"oh my gosh that brings back alot of memories". It's pretty close isn't it?

Let me explain.

In the house I grew up in we had a tall wall in our entrance way of the house. Tall meaning about 10-15 ft. On that wall was, well when we first moved into the house the wall was covered in ugly flower wall paper. Then my parents changed it to something like the ivy picture above. Can you even imagine a wall that large covered in that. Keep in mind it was the late 70's and 80's. That probably still doesn't help, but that's what we had. Ok, back to the reason I am telling you this. When we were younger if we got in trouble or if my parents could not figure out who to blame for something that happened, we were instructed to Go count flowers. That meant you had to stand at that ugly tall wall and we could not move until someone fessed up or our time was up. No sitting, no turning around, no talking. We had to just stand there and look at the wall.

Fast forward 25 yrs...

Knowing how torturous counting flowers was, I do not use this as a punishment very often. Maybe a few times a year. Seeing as it is almost the end of this year I thought I would use one tonight. TJ and I went to the store and when I got home I noticed someone had been going through my dresser. Not a huge issue, but when I asked who did it the 3 youngest all said they didn't do it. I didn't want to play that game tonight so I told them all to stand against the wall. How lucky for them we don't have ugly flowers or green ivy, just boring beige walls. It was so funny listening to them stand there. It just brought back all those memories. They did the same things we did. At first you are mad at each other because nobody will fess up. Then you start laughing and cracking jokes. Then you start trying to convince someone to just say they did it just so everyone could get off the wall even if they didn't do it. You know, take one for the team kind of thing. Tonight I heard it all. I even had Samantha demand that she was not standing against the wall because she was not guilty. I even remember hearing that when I was little.

Oh the memories.

Well so I don't leave you hanging, I did find out who did it and of course their were tears because they felt bad for not telling the truth. I am not convinced that this system works all the time, but it sure does give me time to think about the situation while they are occupied.

Now for those of you who may want to try something like this, let me give you one piece of GOOD advise. If you can't get your kids to budge and they have been on the wall for awhile. If it is extremely hot or cold outside, sending them out to stare at the porch wall works wonders.

the whole truth

I am coming clean.

This is something Thayne does not wants me talking about because he want to pretend it doesn't exist. The truth is.....

I have a whisker that keeps growing on my chin.

I guess it is better than a wart, but it drives me crazy.

I know you are looking for a picture, but your not getting one.

Shout out #5

This shout out goes out to my primary kids.
Not only do they challenge me each week, but they make me Smile! Ü

pumpkin cookies

This weekend I tried Karalee's pumpkin cookie recipe. They are completely gone. On Friday I made some chocolate chip peanut butter swirl cookies and they are still sitting in the cookie jar, the pumpkin cookies...... GONE. I thought they were really good, the only thing I might try next time is maybe adding a little more pumpkin pie spice or some nutmeg. I did not add raisins, but I did add walnuts.

I am hoping Julia or Shannon will offer the pumpkin square recipe so I can try it too.

Shout out #4

This shout out goes out to......

Shelli!

She didn't have to do this. She did not make any money off of it. She did this out of the kindness of her heart.

What did she do?

THIS!

(this one is mine)

Shelly had a craft night at her house for all of her friends who wanted to make one of these. She put together 40 kits and set aside a few nights for us to go to her home and make these fun Christmas calendars. Isn't she so great. I just love mine and I can't wait to put it up with the rest of my Christmas decorations.

Thanks Shelli!

Parenting 101

I am not a perfect parent and have never claimed to be one. Thayne and I always say we don't want to judge others how they parent because we figure we are screwing up our own kids just fine. I have tried many things to encourage and to teach my kids, and to be honest have always known the answer to teaching them but I tend to rely on my own way of doing things instead of the right way. There is a right way and my way which I will call the lazy way. I came across this quote this week and should be saying I had an AHHHHH HAAAAAA moment, but really I already knew this I just have never implemented it in my life.

“You can get people to work by using threats or by promising rewards. But if you want to create a band of brothers, you must inspire those who work with you and encourage them to give their all in a great cause.” Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, Feb 2008, 28–33

Instead of feeling overwhelmed with this task, I have decided to take baby steps to do a better job at it.

Holiday recipes

A few years ago, I received a yummy pumpkin bread recipe from my sister. It is a great recipe for mini breads. I have been thinking of making this recipe since it is the season to cook pumpkin. I do kinda want to try something new.

I was looking on line and there are tons, I mean TONS of recipes but I am not sure I want to be that daring. So I am calling on all of my friends, to give me a yummy pumpkin recipe to try. It can be bread, cake, soup, cookies I don't care. My only request and I don't want to be super picky, OK yes I do want to be picky, please don't send me anything that will look like this...

For some reason this doesn't look very appetising to me.

So let me have it!

(I can't wait to see what looks the best to try)

Shout out of Thanks #3

Why would you get into a pool in November when it is freezing cold?

and have your dad splash you


and splash you some more

Did I mention he had to stay in for 5 minutes.
would a 16 yr old boy do this just because?

Heck NO!!!

He did this because his dad bet him $2o to do it.

Shout out #2

This shout out of thanks goes out to the only person who can put up with me.

Now the thanks is not for putting up with me, that is just something that is expected. Ü

The thanks is for all the long hours of traveling he does each week to be able to spend time with our family. He never complains about all the driving he does, he just does it. Also, and extra special thanks to Thayne for always (almost always) picking up a black cherry slush for me on his way home. YUM!

showin up early

I showed up alittle early to pick Wyatt up from running club. I thought since he didn't know I was coming early I could get some good candid shots of him running.

Shot #1

Nice little walk with a friend, didn't know I was there.

Shot #2

Saw me with a camera and ditched his friend and picked up the pace alittle bit.

Shout out of Thanks!

This month since it is November, the month of Thanksgiving, I am going to do Random shout outs of thanks.

This goes out to my friend Laurie who shared a very easy and very yummy bread recipe. My kids have told me not to buy bread anymore and just make this from now on. She told me it was just a simple recipe she got online, but it has made my kids very happy. Besides it is easy enough that I don't complain when I make it.

Today I share her recipe with you!

(I tried making this with half wheat and half white flour and it was ok, but my family likes the all white flour best)

2 cups warm water

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 Tablespoons active dry yeast

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup vegetable oil

6 cups bread flour

In large bowl dissolved sugar in warm water, then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until resembles creamy foam.

Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. (I do all this in my kitchen aid)

Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn the dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise for about an hour.

Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes and divide dough in half. Shape into loaves and place in two well oiled loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.

Make at 350 for 30 minutes.

Remove and butter top of loaves. Let cool and enjoy!

This makes 2 loaves.

Oh to Vote!

Today I was thinking how great it is that I live in this great country where I have the freedom to vote how I want. Of course it is on my mind because of voting day tomorrow.



I picked TJ and Sam up from school today and while sitting there in the car waiting for them I saw a girl walking with an Obama shirt on. The thought came to my mind that I should make Samantha's crutch into a flag for yes on 102, but I don't think she would feel comfortable doing that.



As we drove home I asked the kids if the HS did any kind of student voting, and they said yes. I just think that is fun that the school gets the kids interested in voting because one day they will get to vote for real.



TJ piped up from the back seat and announced that he will be voting for our next president in 4 years. Holy Smokes, he is right he will be old enough to vote in 4 years.

I then just sat there feeling so old that I have a kid that old, when......

Samantha piped up and said, "I get to vote for the next president in 4 years too".

Talk about a double whammy!

The End!

Even after this great interception!

Wyatt still came home like this!

This week was first week of playoffs. The score at the end of the game 6-6. If you are thinking overtime you are right. Each team got 4 downs at the 20 yard line until someone made a touchdown. Our team went first. No score! Then it was the Rams turn and we held them until the 4th down. They threw a pass and we knew they were going to. Wyatt tried to get there but was not able to get the ball and they scored.

STINK-A-LINK-AROO!

Final score 12-6!

We are done for the season, and Wyatt is so happy to once again have free reign of the kitchen.

Here are some of the cutest but saddest faces you will see all week. You may not know them but you can certainly feel their pain.

After the game!

I think their faces say it all!

Check back next week and find out if TJ makes the HS basketball team.