Dressing Up....

I'm such a kid at heart and I love to dress up for Halloween. Here are some pics of what I was the past years. SO What should I be in 2009?!?!? any ideas?!?
2008 ward party... blond cowgirl





2004 Friend party...I'm a cowgirl with my sister emily at a cat.



















2006 Lacy and Alicia showing off some Halloween Style.


















A friends party 2003 - I was a Biker Chick, Emily was a police lady. The friends at work called me "BIG AL" and Emily was" CRAZY E". Oh yeah those are leather pants!!!! Those were some fun days!















2002 Halloween Party Blond Witch...... apparently I LOVE TO BE BLOND!!!

Horray for Halloween!! :)

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
Chocolate cupcake (body)
Canned chocolate icing
Chocolate sprinkles (hair)
2 pieces of eye-type candy (we used Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts)
Clean scissors
Ruler
1 package of black string lace licorice (legs)
1. Frost the cupcake with chocolate icing and cover with sprinkles.

2. Press the eyes into place.

3. Use scissors to cut eight 4-inch pieces of licorice for the legs. Holding all of the legs together in a bunch, bend them in half and crease. Push the end of each leg into the cupcake as shown.
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RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
Ghost Cupcakes
24 baked cupcakes
24 Nutter-Butter cookies
Chocolate frosting
Vanilla frosting
Tube of chocolate decorator's icing


Spider Cupcakes
2 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped peanuts or crispy rice cereal
3/4 cup dry chow mein noodles
24 baked cupcakes
White frosting
1. Coat each baked cupcake with chocolate frosting and partially insert a Nutter-Butter cookie into the top. Frost the remaining cookie with vanilla frosting. Draw a spooky expression on each ghost with the decorator's icing. Makes 24.

2. Make the spiders by combining the chocolate chips and milk in a glass bowl. Microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until smooth. Stir in the peanuts or cereal and chow mein noodles.

3. Drop by teaspoons onto waxed paper. Stick on extra noodles for spider legs and chill. Frost the cupcakes white. Then top each cupcake with a spider. Makes 24.
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CRAFT MATERIALS:
White pipe cleaner
About 16 inches of fishing line
Scissors
3 cotton balls
12-inch square of gauze
Black permanent marker or black acrylic paint
Masking tape

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Bend the pipe cleaner to create the ghost's shoulders.

2. Cut a 10-inch length of fishing line and tie one end around the middle of the shoulder piece. Assemble the rest of the pieces as shown, threading the line through the center of the gauze and clustering the cotton balls around the line under the gauze.

3. Tie the ghost's neck with the remaining line as shown. Trim the ends. Add a face with marker or paint. Hang with tape.
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CRAFT MATERIALS:
Pipe cleaners
Four-hole buttons
Stick-on googly eyes
Synthetic spider web
Double-sided tape

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Bend a pipe cleaner into a V shape. Push the base of the V up through one of the buttonholes until it protrudes 1/2 inch. Then, bend the 1/2-inch length over the top of the button. Use the same method to thread the three other pipe cleaners through the remaining buttonholes.

2. Next, shape the legs (there should be eight, of course!) by bending the pipe cleaner ends first 1 inch from the button and then again 1/4 inch from the tips. Stick the googly eyes onto the button between the front legs.

3. To create a web, the easiest option is to use a synthetic stretching spider web (sold at most novelty shops for under $2). If you can't find one, use a thin sheet of cotton batting. Stretch the web across a doorway, using pieces of double-sided tape to anchor the sides to the door frame. Then, set your spiders in the web wherever you like -- their legs will stick easily to the fibers.

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http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/halloween_ms_crafts/

Chocolate cupcake critters

Monster Faces: Remove top cookie from 2 cream-filled miniature chocolate sandwich cookies. Press remaining cookie halves, cream filling side up, into frosting on upper half of cupcake. Using the black decorating gel, pipe 1 dot onto each cookie half. Press one white candy-coated almond below cookies for nose.
Mummy: Using cloud-white cupcake icing, pipe strips back and forth across tops of frosted cupcake, overlapping as necessary. Using black decorating gel, pipe 2 dots for eyes.
Creepy Crawlers: Press black chewy raspberries into frosted cupcake. Cut small lengths of black licorice strings, and press into frosting on each side of raspberries to create legs. For spiders, add 4 legs to each side.
Roaches: Press 1 chocolate-covered almond into frosting. Cut small lengths of black licorice strings, and press into frosting on each side of almond to create legs.
Skeleton Faces: Press 1 chocolate-covered espresso bean into frosting on upper left or right side of cupcake. Using black decorating gel, create a stitched eye and mouth.
Caterpillars: Press brown candy-coated peanut butter pieces across top of frosting, forming an "S" shape. Cut 2 tiny lengths of black licorice strings, and press into frosting at head to create antennae.

General Relief Society Meeting

I'm really looking forward to hearing what these amazing "called of God" woman have to say. I feel they have prayed to know what we need to hear as woman in the church. I pray that we will be feed spiritually and I will be given strength from there words to "walk a little taller" as a mother, wife, sister and friend.

The general Relief Society meeting will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2009, in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City at 6:00 p.m. mountain daylight time. Speakers will include a member of the First Presidency, as well as the members of the Relief Society general presidency.

Henry and Perian

Tummy Time! Perian getting Henry's Ear...

Henry is only giving half smiles this morning.. "come on mom your embarrasing me" Perian is just hanging with her cousin.

Perian is ALL smiles...They are only a few weeks difference. So Sweet!

The big 3-0! Steve's surprise birthday party! What a blast!

Steve will turn the big 3-0 on September 29th... SOOOO I got the brilliant idea to do a surprise party early so he wouldn't suspect it. Hummm yeah he figured it out the day before. Bummer, but he was still surprised with the night. We had so much yummy food, we did a taco bar, cakes, dips, drinks and had lots of friends. We played the game "catch phrase" that was hilarious! I made him a special video of him growing up and different fun times. Everyone laughed and had a great time. Thanks to all those who helped and kept it a secret... It was a success!

FSU Daddy - Son Game Day

Bobby Bowden statue..
Clap clap.. having a great time!

No Girls, allowed well that is no mommy allowed. Our little stud Hunter got to meet the "FSU Cowgirls"... humm about that! It was a daddy son day... they went to a FSU game and Hunter had such a great time, watching the pregame fesitivies. They also got to see the horse, and meet the indian. To top it off Hunter got a new camo hat and stickers for his face (that he wanted to sleep in that night). Hunter talked about going for 3 days and now he tells everyone about his fun day.

Hunter was SOOO excited to see this Seminole. Check out the smile, ear to ear! What a happy little kid!

Girls Night Out

I just have to say I have the most beautiful friends. All these woman have added something special to my life. We went and saw a movie (time travelers wife) - careful it does have some nudity in it and it can be kinda sad... I would pick a different one for a girls night something more upbeat or funny, I love funny movies, humm maybe next month. Then we went to hang out, eat (welcome to Moe's) and chatted, girls can go from one conversation to another so easily and 2 hours have gone by in no time. :) Gotta Love Girls Nights!!!

LOVE THIS!!

O.k. So I had this can of scrubbing bubbles in my closet and had never tried it. My shower was soooo bad with soap scum, I thought for sure I was going to be in the shower all day scrubbing... NOPE! This stuff really does work, I just sprayed it and took a brush and rubbed over it and
ta-da soap scum gone.. My husband is going to think he is in the wrong house. It looks great! This is for sure my new shower cleaning product. There motto is "We work hard, So you don't have to" - Love it!

Ladies if you have any other great tips for cleaning house... please do share!!




Scrubbing Bubbles® is a disinfectant multi-surface bathroom cleaner that removes tough soap scum penetrating thoroughly and leaving behind a brilliant shine. It can be used on a variety of surfaces such as tubs, showers, basins, ceramic tile, stainless steel, chrome, fiberglass, vinyl and porcelain surfaces. Scrubbing Bubbles kills odor-causing germs, staphylococcus (staph) and athlete’s foot fungus. It removes mold and mildew stains. It smells nice too! Scrubbing Bubbles is ideally suited for use in motels, hotel, and hospitals.

Our "Chunky Monkey" laughed for the first time today!

Our Family has so enjoyed these months with our little "chunky monkey", he laughed for the first time on Labor Day, just mommy and Henry where hanging out and he laughed when mommy gave him neck kisses. He turned 4 months old.. time is flying by, we want it to slow down... So many sweet moments with Henry.

Look at the size of this guy.. he is going to be a "gator linebacker".

Dining room makeover for FREE

O.k. So I was sitting and eating breakfast this morning and started looking around the dinning room.. my hubby said what are you looking at, I just smiled and he said oh no! I love to change my house around.. I have never changed the dining room so this will be fun. My decorative ideas got going.. (not that I have much, if any) so then I was off.. rearranging the dinning room, took a tree from the living room, moved furniture and lamps and ta-da... there is a new dinning room, it makes the room look larger. I love it! Lauren and Melissa inspired me to do it for FREE, thanks ladies.. whatcha think? The window treatments are a different story.. i'm still looking for the perfect ones.( any ideas)??????

Before...



After...

A Heavy Heart

The past couple of weeks my heart has been heavy with so many emotions. Sadness, compassion, love, and peace all wrapped up in one. A sweet friend of mine delivered her precious baby daughter at 7 months only to have to give her back to our Heavenly Father, her baby was perfect. As I talked with her and read her blog all of my emotions came back of the experience that Steve and I went thru with our daughter Haley 6 years ago. It is amazing to me how fresh and so close to the surface my feelings and emotions are even over the amount of time it has been. I felt so much love for my friend and I just cryed with her, mourned with her and I KNEW exactly how she felt. I remember a quote by Joseph Smith, that the bishop gave in his talk about stillborn babies... “The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth. It makes you feel better to know that baby is PERFECT but really all we want is her to be with us on the earth...

Which lead me to another talk that I have heard over and over and yet I get something different out of each time. "Five Scriptures that will help you get thru almost anything, by John Bytheway" In Alma 14:9-13 "Your work is not finished" Joseph smith quotes "No righteous man is ever taken before his time"

SO what is my work....

Boyd K. Packer gave a talk called "The Play the Plan" - first act is a previous pre-mortal existence with God, the second act is the, Trials, Temptations, Tests, and Tradegy of this mortal life, and the third act is a glorious future of eternity.

Act 2 has been in full force for my family, I look back at my life... and really I have been blessed, yes I have gone thru a TON of CRAP!! But on the other hand I have been able to "just keep swimming", and do you know what I see? I see that I'm able to help someone that is going thru a divorce because I have been divorced, I have layed my baby girl to rest in her pure white dress and a white wood box, not in a girly pink crib, just like my dear friend, I have been to the Doctor over and over and they told me the cancer is still there you will need to do radiation, no you can't get pregnant, you must wait, when all I wanted was another baby... I can look back and see how the lord has walked beside me thru it all. He does have a plan, now 3 yrs later I have been able to hold my new baby in my arms, go to a doctor and they say yes your cancer has shrunk, 7yrs of marriage... I have been blessed to have another husband so loving and caring, his love is so special and comforting, he is my best friend. I feel the peace of my savior and father in heaven that I will have my dear baby girl again, and that is what I have to hold on to and envision.

I asked the question why so many times and I have come to realize why was the wrong question it should have been WHAT??? What can I learn from this and what can I do?? I feel the lord is so patient with me, it has taken a LONG time for me to get to this point... to know he wants me to serve, hold the hand of those that are going thru the trials I have gone thru... have compassion on others and help them the way the lord has helped me, comforted me and loved me. He prepares us "to feed his sheep".

I love this talk by Jeffrey L Holland: It is about the time that Joseph Smith had in Jail - I have felt this way many times..so helpless and alone.
Whenever these moments of our extremity come, we must not succumb to the fear that God has abandoned us or that He does not hear our prayers. He does hear us. He does see us. He does love us. When we are in dire circumstances and want to cry, “Where art Thou?” it is imperative that we remember He is right there with us—where He has always been! We must continue to believe, continue to have faith, continue to pray and plead with heaven, even if we feel for a time our prayers are not heard and that God has somehow gone away. He is there. Our prayers are heard. And when we weep He and the angels of heaven weep with us.

When lonely, cold, hard times come, we have to endure, we have to continue, we have to persist. That was the Savior’s message in the parable of the importuning widow (see Luke 18:1–8; see also Luke 11:5–10). Keep knocking on that door. Keep pleading. In the meantime, know that God hears your cries and knows your distress. He is your Father, and you are His child.

When what has to be has been and when what lessons to be learned have been learned, it will be for us as it was for the Prophet Joseph. Just at the time he felt most alone and distant from heaven’s ear was the very time he received the wonderful ministration of the Spirit and the glorious answers that came from his Father in Heaven:

“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes” (D&C 121:7–8).

After this past week and seeing my sweet friend struggle with the passing of her baby it has really made me miss my little girl. It was so fresh in my mind and heart and I asked myself am I missing her enough, does she know we love her? She was real, she was ours, she came to our family, she is perfect, and so missed and loved more than words can explain. As tears come out of my eyes, they are wiped away with a peaceful feeling that I know that she is just fine "her work was done" she is with her Papa and loved ones... she is taken care of.

I smile and even laugh sometimes of the crazy things I have been thru, I still smile thinking about Haley... the way she kicked me and moved when I played her teddy bear music to her. Then when I did radiation, I glowed green, at least that was the joke of the girls, when they dropped and ran after leaving something special and sweet on my door. Those friends changed my life and I will always be touched by there love and kindness. The lord has blessed me after each trial and I can see them. My trials have also allowed others to serve me, this makes the lord smile. His plan is working.... :)

Thanks for listening and letting me clear my heart and mind... I can't wait for the third act... the glorious future of eternity.

Bisquick.... Pot Pie and Cookies... loved them!

O.k. So if you know me.. I'm all about quick, easy and yummy meals... Trying to find new and creative different meals can be hard so I find I make the same old stuff. Having a 4 month old and a 4 yr old, spending lots of time in the kitchen is just not an option (unless of course Hunter is making the cookies with me - :) I came across these recipes from Bisquick and they turned out good.

Bisquick Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2c. Butter
1c. Brown Sugar
1 Egg
2c. Bisquick
1/2c. nuts (optional)
1c. choc. chips






















POT PIE
3 to 4 c. cooked chicken, turkey or beef
1 1/2 c. frozen mixed vegetables
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 stick butter
1 1/2 c. chicken (or beef) broth
1 1/2 c. Bisquick
1 1/2 c. milk

Butter 9 x 13 inch pan. Cut chicken (or beef) and place in pan. Add vegetables. Pour (or spread) soup over vegetables. Cut butter into pats and lay on top of soup. Pour broth over all. In separate bowl, mix Bisquick and milk. Pour over chicken mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until browned. NOTE: This looks like a mess, but it will work.

So complete....

This is what happens when mommy leaves the room... poor
henry.
I never knew I could feel so complete in my life, to have that feeling when you look around the room at your family and just smile with happiness, that you are so blessed to have the family you have. In a blessing I was given it said that "my greatest joy would be in my children". I find that is coming true and so real. I'm so thankful for the children I have been able to carry, to feel them move and have the bond of pregnancy with them, to love them so much.

Hunter is my sunshine, and oh yes he can be my storm cloud some days to :). I love the conversations I can have with him, to see his little mind in motion, to see how creative he can be with drawings, building blocks and I just adore how he whispers in my ear and tells me he loves me. Playing I-spy in the car is the best..He is such a sweet little boy, so full of life and energy, very competitive (some times that can be bad) but in soccer it will be great some day. LOL The most of all he just loves on his baby brother, so protective, so sweet.

Henry is almost 4 months old this week, it is crazy how the time has gone by. I find myself just wanting to hold him all the time, snuggle up to him, talk to him and I so smile when I walk in the room and he hears my voice and turns his head to see me. Henry loves the water.. and has so much fun splashing with those chunky legs and tiny toes on his feet..I treasure the mornings when I can pick him up out of his crib and he smiles when I talk to him. He is my little man! So perfect in every way.

I'm so grateful for my little guys in my life and I am so excited to raise these adorable children, see them learn, grow and mature... I know I will have my hands full with 2 boys, yet I so look forward to the adventure of life ahead. These little guys have completed my life...I'm SO EXCITED for the future ahead!!!

A Natural High

~A Natural High~
What else could bring you so much joy
As the arrival of your baby boy!
His snuggly charms now capture you;
He's in your thoughts in all you do.
Nothing can fill you so full of glee
As bouncing your little boy on your knee.
His precious antics please mom and dad;
He's a bundle of blessings, this little lad!
His boyish grin enchants everyone;
He's just what you wanted--your boy, your son.
A baby boy is a natural high,
So have lots of fun with your little guy.


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