Singing

For your Christmas viewing pleasure

BOYS!

I do love my son, oh yes I do love my beloved son but there are times when he tries my patience. So I am talking to my mother on the phone when around the corner appears my daughter Diana with a water balloon. I think to myself..."hmm a water balloon in December....can it be...it must not be...but AIYYYYEEE it is!"

I ask Diana where did you get that "I made it in the bathroom upstairs." After getting off the phone with my mother I discover my son has got into my party bag of balloons and decided that he is going to make water balloons. There is water EVVVVERYwhere and balloon pieces scattered around the bathroom floor.

I want to pull my hair out but I take a moment to just laugh off my frustration. I hand my son a towel and say "Taylor go clean it up!" I explain to him we make water balloons only in the summer not when it is snowing outside. In the end I tell him he can make all the water balloons he wants in the summer.....he just needs to aim and throw them at daddy ;)

P.S Don't tell Keith ;) It will ruin the surprise

White Christmas!

Could it be? The weather man says that there is the possibility of snow making its presence in Chistmas eve. We will see about that! The white christmas I see outside gives me hope ;).

YIPEE!

So....can you guess what I am about to POST!!
Can you.....??
Well at exactly 7:30am this morning as my wonderful husband was getting ready, he sat down with me and my old set of scriptures from the Library upstairs to do scripture study and POP...out came my....
yes you can guess...it,
I know you are feeling the anticipation...
well ok I guess I will tell you....
YES MY WEDDING RING!!! Tears sprang to my eyes as my eyes could not comprehend the shiny wedding band being put back onto my ring finger.
Chloe had not put it in the toilet as we had thought but had instead put it inside my old set of scriptures upstairs. A christmas Miracle and the best present ever! Thank you for all your prayers. I know that is why it was returned to me!

I AM JUST SO GEE GALL DARN HAPPY!!! YIPEE! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

P.S watch out for the members of the child intelligence association (a.k.a your kids)....they can be pretty darn sneaky!

Santas Sleigh

I am washing dishes when I hear "turn around mom" from Diana. So I turn around and what do I behold but my laundry basket turned into Santas Sleigh. They have tied yarn to the basket and decorated the inside. Taylor is yelling "Fly reindeer Fly!" Chloe and Diana are guiding and "flying the Sleigh" through my hallway and I do not think I have ever seen a happier brother than Taylor bossing his sisters around :)

** Now if I only could have found my camera **

Cold Feet

My husband is soooo very wonderful. Last night I could not find any of my slipper socks, due to the fact my youngest daughter seems to covet anything her mother wears thus resulting in my things disapearing frequently.

My feet were freezing and he said "Go look in that box on the dresser." I was like "Why?" "Just go look." he said. So I go and look in the box in which he has had to hide my present (due to the fact I am a snoop at christmas time....yes I openly admit it:)...) and drum roll please inside there was.... warm, fuzzy leather slippers. I am in heaven. Christmas came early and my feet have never felt so roasty toasty! Ahhhhh!

TASTY TUESDAY

Ahhh I was looking back at old posts and realized, HELLLLLOOO long ago I seemed to have let Tasty Tuesdays slip my mind. So for my Tasty Tuesday today I am posting a winter favorite.

Egg Nog Oven Puffed Pancakes
3 eggs
1/2 cup Flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup egg nog
1/4 cup milk (maybe 2-4 TBSP more if too thick)
Dash of nutmeg or cinnamon

Heat Oven to 400. In a baking dish put in 2-3 tsp of butter and melt in the oven. Meanwhile mix all of the the ingredients until smooth. Cook for 18-24 minutes. Serve with powdered sugar and whip cream.

** This is our favorite breakfast every Christmas morning ** I serve it with Bacon and scrambled eggs.

Alternative version. After the butter is melted, add sliced apples into the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle cinnamon over apples. Use 1/2 milk instead of (egg nog and milk). Pour batter over apples and butter. Cook for 20-25 minutes at 400. Sprinkle with lemon juice and powdered sugar. (Blueberries and raspberries are delicious as well)

Run Run Run, I am the gingerbread man

Yum-O. What is that smell coming from my kitchen? Why yes it is. Homemade Gingerbread with molasses, brown sugar and butter of course.

Every year in our home at Christmas timeit is a tradition to make a gingerbread house. This year instead of those kits (that are NASTY and who knows how many months ago it was baked) or graham crackers we went with the homemade route and baked our own. Since we were stuck inside due to FRIGID, ICY weather outside it was the perfect day to bake. The kids had fun cutting out the house and Gingerbread men. Chloe's Gingerbread man did not make out so well. She bit off his leg and arm...LOL. Keith said "I do not even want to know how much sugar she just consumed." I said "well I sure do. I will see it tomorrow in her diaper!" :)

The house turned out cute. Each of us are standing around the house. Keith has a sword and sheild in his hand to guard our house! :)
Here are some pictures of us decorating and the final product of our hard work.

Christmas "Storybook Land"

For the last 30 some years Christmas Storybook Land has enchanted all ages of the young at heart. In A. Volunteers gather every year to create an inside Christmas wonderland to look like an enchanted forest with Christmas trees, lighted displays, Train displays, ending up at the big old guy from the north pole, Santa himself. The whole experience is free, with donations of canned foods stressed for those less fortunate. I hope it goes on next year as no one is stepping up to take over it for next year. A project too big for me right now in my life but If my kids were in high school something I would definitely find fun to volunteer for. Many children would be saddened if this tradition could not be carried on for A. Here are some pictures of the family in Storybook Land. Our kids LOOOOVED the train displays. Taylor told me..."mom I want this train for christmas." I just laughed and smiled.

Oh Let it Snow....Let it snow...Let it Snow!!

I can not believe it but last night was magical. We had finished putting up the rest of our christmas decorations and afterward we looked out the window and with music in tow we saw with our very own eyes that there was snow coming down. It was everywhere and coming down hard! Our neighbors came out and we all had a fun and festive snowball fight with the whole neighborhood. Diana built a snowman, Taylor learned how to chuck a snowball and smash it into peoples behinds and Chloe well she decided that the cold was just not for her (she lasted 10 mins, before heading inside to watch a christmas movie). For the next 7 days it willl be freezing with temperatures not expected to reach 32 and snow coming in on Wednesday. Bundle up people because it is going to be a fun and chilly seven days of slippers, crafts, books, and playing in the snow.

By The Way....

Before I go, I do not usually do this but long story Short My wedding ring is missing due to a member of the Child Intelligence Association coveting my ring and misplacing it. That ring is CLOSE to my heart. I was sealed in the temple, gave birth to three children with it and etc. PLEASE WOULD YOU PRAY FOR US TO FIND IT :)

Tis the Season to be busy

I do love you all it is just that we have been busy with planning Christmas Enrichments, swimming lessons, vt, putting up christmas lights, exercise classes, Christmas Caroling with the Girl Scouts, cooking for and attending our ward christmas party and the list could serisouly go on and on and on.

As the new enrichment leader of my ward I had the pleasure of planning our Christmas progressive dinner. It turned out FANTASTIC. We had great attendance and had the pleasure to be treated to yummy appetizers, gourment soups, music, and speakers. At the end I gave each of the sisters in the ward a plaque with a picture of Christ. I felt that not each sister in our ward has a picture of the savior in her home and that we all need that reminder that Christmas is all year long. It was a night to be reminded of our savior Jesus Christ, the miracle of his birth and life. The spirit was VERY strong that night, especially when the sisters ended the night caroling in Sister C's home. I was very appreciative of all of the sisters that helped, it was a wonderful night because of their service.

I am very proud of my girl Scouts. Last meeting My co-leader M and I had the girls decorate Christmas cards for people at the Mennonite Nursing Home. On tuesday we had the girls practice Christmas Carols and then drove them to the Nursing home where they sung carols to them over dinner and handed out the cards. It was neat to see the Girls out of there element. This was a chance for them to serve there community. Service builds the character of an individual and I hope these girls remember the smiles they brought to those lonley grandma and grandpas this Christmas season. One cute lil old lady kept saying "Merry Christmas" to the girls and giving them hugs. I just love Christmas!

I could blog about each of these but I would be here for the next hour and as much as I love you all I want to you to have a Merry Christmas and know I cheerish my family time this time of year so If you do not see me on here awhile please know I am making sugar cookies, reading stories, drinking hot cocoa with marshmallows and all of those gooooood things that come the Christmas season. Take care and MEEEERRRY CHRISTMAS!

Harry Potter - July can not come fast enough!

Twilight - The puppet saga

In Everything Give Thanks - 1 thess. 5:18

I love this time of year. The cold air nipping at your nose, pumpkin pie, family. All of it makes for much to be thankful for. In a earlier post I wrote about my blessings so I will not write much today other than to say I have been favored in the eyes of the lord and feel humbled by all that he has blessed my family and I with. May you have a wonderful thanksgiving tomorrow and be able to put the cares of the world aside. Take care and Happy Thanksgiving!

Babes in Nyeland

I had fun this morning pulling out the kids Christmas Dresses and suit to wear to church this morning. I found the girls dresses at Costco for super cheap (great quality for a small price) and Taylor's very first Big boy suit at Target for only 19.99!! I bought the outfits on the larger side so they will fit next year as well, hoping no one will grow 5 inches :). I put Diana's hair up in pin curls and curled Chloe's hair for the first time. Taylor being a boy, enjoyed taunting his sisters that he did not have any hair to do. Before we left I took some cute pictures of the kids. The Pictures are below. Enjoy.

"All wrapped up for Christmas"


Silly picture :)

So handsome!

Oh my gosh is he really almost 5!

A look of mischief 24/7

Princess Diana

Look at them Dimples

Cuties!!

911 Fashion police

I just have to laugh at my daughter Chloes little quirk. She is a huge clothes horse. She absolutly loves clothes more than toys and shoes are the icing on the cake. When ever we go into a department store she will demand to try on something if you go into the dressing room as you pass the racks of clothes. The shoe department is worse. Shoe after shoe is such a delight to this little girl as she loves to try them on and say "mommy these pretty shoes." or "mommy princess shoes." I am truly doomed when she becomes teenager :).


This is why I become confused when she comes to being at home. Yes she still raids her drawers of clothes and Dianas of course (big sisters clothes are always more pretty ;) but when it comes down to what she wears 90% of the day..... it is only one item of clothing that has caught her attention. This piece of clothing as you can see is one of Dianas old tank tops that goes over a t-shirt. I just am baffled on what made her love "her pretty dress" as she calls it. What is wrong with the rest of the clothes that are sitting all over the floor and in the drawers of her closet, I do not know. All I know is that my little girl wears this "thing" a majority of the days around my house, leaving me to steal it when it stinks so bad it NEEDS washed! Heaven help me!!

BEeeeee-autiful

For the past week we have not had milk, cheese, lunch meat, yogurt......

SO "Drum roll please"....... this exact beautiful fridge will be delivered tomorrow at my home courtesy of sears to save the day! We were able to buy last years model on clearance and get 10% off of the clearance price so it ended up being a great deal. It dispenses water, ice, crushed ice, and will hold all the food my children seem to eat at lightening speed. I love sears!

AHHHHHHHHH

I am SO frustrated! I woke up this morning to warm milk, ruined hamburger, a chicken that was defrosting, AHHHHHHH probally another 75.oo in groceries RUINED!!!! Sorry but I just had to vent. I am very grateful that we were given a fridge but this is starting to really hurt our monthly budget to replace now over 150.00 in groceries. AHHHHHHH! Where is luck when you need it.

Splash

(Picture from tea party last spring)
Right after Taylor was born, I was at a local pool for a YW swim party. I and other leaders brought there families along for the fun. As I started to mingle with the other YW and the leaders my husband took Diana to go play in the pool. He walked over to the table with her to take off his gym pants and while doing that (his head was only turned maybe for 2-3 seconds) Diana followed her good friend David and his father into the pool, not realizing that she did not have floaties on. When Keith turned back to Diana she was gone. In that instant it is all parents nightmare what happened next. When searching for her and listening to the prompting of the spirit he found her after much searching at the bottom of the pool in the shallow end. When he picked her up she was upset and very scared. Diana was 3 1/2 when that happened and it scared the crap (sorry!) out of us! Swim lessons after that were difficult because as she grew older she did not remember the incident but had internalized the fear of her head going under the water.

Now at 7 1/2 and after taking a 2 year brake from swim lessons I am happy to say that Diana took her first swim lesson and DID GREAT! She was jumping in the pool, bobbing her head under the water and overall made mommy very proud! WAY TO GO DIANA! :)

The fight begins

Check out this website on pictures from the destruction going on in California due to Proposition 8. The picture that broke my heart is of the little girl walking to church around my daughters age. She should be a hero to us all.

http://www.cougarboard.com/nologin/message.html?id=4213999

Veteran's Day

Four weeks ago I signed up my Girl Scout Troop for the Local Veterans Day parade, Largest west of the mississippi. We joined other troops in A. to march together. Our theme was "Girl scouts are great...Kazooing in 2008." There were 100 yards of kazooing girls and yw ages 5-16, kazooing good old fashioned Americana songs. The previous weekend I had my brownies decorate a troop banner with there hand prints. It was fun to watch them think and strategize as a group. The result was qute and quirky but by the end of the parade due to the raining it definantly took a beating. Here are some pictures of the parade.

Job

So on Tuesday my husbands boss, his boss and then the boss over that boss (OK some really important guys high up in the corporate latter) came up from Las Vegas and Reno to notify the Corvallis location that there were going to be lay-offs and VSP given out (voluntary Severance packages). IGT never has had a lay off in its companies history but the economic losses from the 4Q resulted in the need to slash costs, meaning lay-offs. In this economic look out even the healthiest of companies will be affected.

Well today we found out that Keith is safe. You can not even imagine the relief that brought to everyone in this house. With so many people out of work you feel grateful for that paycheck you are blessed with to be able to pay your mortgage and feed your family. We do not know what the future holds but hopefully we can make it through these next two years with a job until the economy picks up and then we can breath easily again.

Blessings

In this time of economic and spiritual turmoil, there can be a mindset that there is no good left in this world, leaving what is left precious and rare. Being a Latter-day saint I have the peace and knowledge in my heart that there still is much good left. I was born into a family where parents loved me and taught me the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am loved and have parents who have cheered and supported me in my goals.
I have been blessed always with a warm home, food and clothes. I have been blessed with the opportunity for a eternal marriage in the house of the lord to a remarkable man whom the privilege is mine to call husband. I have been blessed with three Beautiful children who teach me everyday to slow down and laugh. I have been blessed with the scriptures that enrich my life and show me the way back to my father in heaven. I have been blessed with sisters in the gospel that have been there for me and my family in times of need, sadness and joy. I been blessed with the guidance of my friend the spirit. I been blessed to have a relationship with my savior Jesus Christ. My cup over floweth and I am SO grateful to my father in heaven for the country I live in, the greatest nation on this earth. As the wind and rain pound outside on my windows today I slowed down and contemplated on the depth of how much I have been blessed and it truly left me speechless. I know this may sound pollyannish but I want to make a goal more often to look for the good in life. There is so much good left, and the lord needs us to stand up as saints in these latter-days and see how blessed we really are so we can take a little of what we have and share it unto others around us.

A BUSY Sunday

So a few weeks ago I was called to be enrichment leader and substitute teacher for the RS of my new ward. Along with my new fab. calling I was also recruited several times to help out in primary (not good when they find out you were in a primary presidency before :)...). Well today I had to have the invitations done for Enrichment, Sub for a teacher and sit up on the stand for the primary program and to top it all off teach RS. Then yesterday on Saturday, I went to super saturday, ran errans, ran a Girl Scout Clinic in the afternoon, Had the neighbors over for dinner and games and then ended the day by preparing for my lesson. It was a busy weekend and I think now.....I will go to sleep ;)

Proposition 8 and Proposition 102

My heart goes out to all of the latter-day saints in L.A and California. There have been violent and angry picketers at the gates of the temples and churches, making it hard for the LDS saints. Saints have been screamed at, accused and wrongly judged when numerous other churches such as the catholic and surrounding churches took the same stance on proposition 8. In this dispensation when those who listen and look for warning signs are truly feeling the end of days, comes yet another attempt to prey on and dismantle the family.

Wonderful Husband

So after coming back from an hour and half of mutual with hyper 12 to 13 year old boys, along with a hectic work week, my husband spent another night taking the fridge apart ALL over trying to diagnose the problem. When he went to go and take the freezers back panel off he found behind the wall the coils consumed in one HUGE blog of ice resulting in the wires to the fridge shorting out and no cold air going to the fridge. It was a bad design but after defrosting the huge block of ICE and some electrical tape over the wires for protection we have lift off. My fridge is cold this morning, my freezers ice cubes are frozen and I am ONE HAPPY WIFE! Not many hubbies would have spent from 9 to 1:30am taking apart, defrosting and diagnosing a refrigerator. It saved us a lot of money and I am grateful the faith and blessing this is to our family.

Broken

When we bought our house, my cousins sister-law gave us a wonderful on top refridgerator, freezer on the bottom model . Yesterday we opened up the fridge and the milk was spoiled, lunch meat ruined, etc. What was funny was that the freezer was working just fine. We have tried a couple of things to get it working again and were down to one more idea. Say a prayer that it works because shelling out 1000 bucks right now is not so hot before christmas :(.

Yes We Can!

I have never been more proud to say these precious words "I am an citizen of the United States of America." I am an American who wants change. I know that the principles of democracy that our fore fathers fought for are still instilled the hearts of the American people. Whether we are white, African-American, Asian, Hispanic, native American we can stand together, hand in hand as a nation under god, indivisible to create change. We can tell our children that a man 45 years ago had a dream. That dream came alive tonight. We can tell our children to reach and never hold back for their dreams. We can tell them to never loose sight and to always fight for that change which is good. We can tell our children that tonight we saw the youth of our country realize that they have the power to shape Americas future. We can tell our children that tonight history was lived through our very eyes and to remember where they were on this night because when they think back they will remember Barack Obama as the man that said and believed "Yes we can." GOD BLESS AMERICA!

To all the women I know!

** My mom sent this to me and I loved it so much I wanted to share it with you **

One Flaw In Women

By the time the Lord made woman,
He was into his sixth day of working overtime..
An angel appeared and said,
"Why are you spending so much time on this one?"
And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her?
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,
have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable
and able to run on diet coke and leftovers,
have a lap that can hold four children at one time,
have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart
-and she will do everything
with only two hands."
The angel was astounded at the requirements.
"Only two hands!? No way!
And that's just on the standard model?
That's too much work for one day.
Wait until tomorrow to finish."
But I won't," the Lord protested.
"I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.
She already heals herself when she is sick
AND can work 18 hour days."
The angel moved closer and touched the woman.
"But you have made her so soft, Lord."
"She is soft," the Lord agreed,
"but I have also made her tough.
You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.
The Lord replied,
"Not only will she be able to think,
she will be able to reason and negotiate."
The angel then noticed something,
and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.
"Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.
I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak,"
the Lord corrected,
"that's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.
The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy,
her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,
her loneliness, her grief and her pride."
The angel was impressed.
"You are a genius, Lord.
You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing."
And she is!
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness,
love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
To all my women friends and relatives
REMEMBER just how amazing YOU are!!

Trick or Treat Give me something.....

Good to eat! So this was our first year trick or treating in a new town and we had a lot of fun. I got all crafty and made the girls fairy princess costumes and bought taylors knight accesories at our beach trip in august.

The girls costumes were a lot of fun to make because when I looked at the Disney tinkerbell costumes and other comparable fairy costumes and I did not like the quality for the price. So I went to jo-annes and bought some toole (sp?), elastic, fairy wings for 50% off, wands that I decorated, and made fairy crowns out of a wedding headband, glitter and toole. When all was said and done I spent $9-12.00 for each girl and ending up with FAR better quality than the 25.00 tinker bell costume at Wal-mart or Target, that did not include the crown ,wand or wings. Here are some pictures of the costumes:

Halloween after "Trick or Treating" and trying the whole ensamble on for mom

Chloe and her fairy princess costume. She was not being very cooperative in taking pictures that night because her candy bag was MUCH more interested than saying "cheese" for the Camera.

My Knight In Shinning Armor " Sir Taylor Lance" after A long night of trick or treating

We went around our neighborhood and made out like bandits. We took our next door neighbor along with her little girl, E who is not much younger than Chloe. We hit about 5 streets with the little kids (we live in a large neighborhood) and after Taylor and Chloe and I went home, Keith and Diana hit the streets again, filling her bag up SOOOO much that Dad decided to fill his pockets up with candy so her bag would not look so full. I know! I mean who is trick or treating him or her?!? I was glad that they were able to have so much dad daugher time. They had a lot of fun. When those two came home they re-filled up my empty candy bowl!!! It was a great Halloween.