I've been Tagged!

Okay!  So I've been tagged by Sandy Toes!  This is my first time I've been tagged (that I know of)  and honestly have had a hard time coming up with these six random things about me.  Am I that boring?  Anyway, here we go....

1.  I've been pretty religious about going to the gym every morning for that last 3 years. When I miss a day or so due to illness or a vacation, I almost cry with joy listening to my ipod as I get back in touch with that elliptical when I return.  Tears literally well up!  I know, pathetic!

2.  I LOVE going to bed when the dishwasher is running!  It just lulls me to sleep and totally relaxes me!!  Just a reminder as I dose off that the house is clean.  :)

3.  I used to play the guitar and sing in a small girl band.

4.  My husband proposed to me on a sandy beach in Jamaica.

5.  I once played the guitar and sang to Ricky Schroeder.  ( A story I'll have to share sometime!)

6.  When I was a child I IDOLIZED  Marie Osmond!  I had a banner across my room that read "I LOVE MARIE OSMOND"  that I colored!  I even went as far to draw a mole near my left eye like her!

So here are the rules:

If your tagged, this is what you do:
1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Write 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people
4. Please pass it along for fun...

I tag:

Stacey

Marilee

Kirstin

Emily

Chantel

Kelly

Chicken Pot Pie a Must try!

I've never made or had much desire to make a chicken pot pie.  Although it always sounds so good!   I found this recipe in my new 101 Things To Do With A Casserole cookbook and thought I'd give it a try.  It was so good and EASY!  The family just INHALED it! A definite new fave!

The Recipe:

2 cups frozen veggies (instead, I cut up fresh veggies and boiled them. sweet potatoes, carrots)

I added frozen corn and peas but mixed them in frozen with everything so they wouldn't be too soggy after baking.

1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken (2 ckn breasts)

2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup (I used just one)

3/4 cup Milk

1/2 t. Thyme or Rosemary (I used thyme, my favorite! 1/2 t. was a little too strong.  I'll do 1/4 t. next time)

1/2 t. black pepper (I used 1/4 teaspoon)

1 can refrigerated flaky biscuits

Cook and Cut veggies into bite-sized pieces.

Combine all ingredients except biscuits in a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake @ 400 uncovered for 15 minutes, then remove from oven and stir.  Quickly cut biscuits in half and place them cut side down over hot chicken and veggie mixture.  Bake 15-20 minutes more until biscuits are golden brown and done in the center.  

A total winter meal but it was great to try something new that the family enjoyed!

Homesick...

(Sadie in front of the tower that kept chiming at 9, Noon and 5.  She loved it!)

for Midway.  We had the pleasure of tagging along with Kevin while he had to work in Midway Tues.-Fri. last week.  We stayed at the beautiful Zermatt Resort!  I met Kevin up there for Wednesday night without the kids and then my parents brought the kids up to stay the night Thursday.  This place was fabulous!   The indoor/outdoor pool was a blast for the kids! Cole swam all over that place!  I'm really sorry, but I am going to swamp you with pictures!!  Since this is my "scrapbook"  there are some pictures I can't live without!!    There were SO many great "backdrops" for pictures!  I went a little crazy with my camera.  I know I took a couple hundred!  Hey, just trying to get used to the thing! ;)

Did I mention that there was a Carousel nestled in the mountain right out our hotel room window!  The kids were just "dying" to ride it the moment they saw it!

Which they did ride several times!  With no additional company.  Just ourselves!

The kids (and myself) loved the idea that daddy was working just downstairs!  They loved peeking their head in to say hello!  And while he was working, I took the kids to this beautiful meadow area, laid out a blanket, and snapped away!  If only I knew what I really was doing with that camera!  I kept thinking, this spot must be a photographers dream and I don't know where or how to even begin!  I just need to take that darn class!

Here is the only "normal" one of Cole I shot of him in this adorable tree!  Bless his heart, He just can't get that natural smile thing down!

Well, and then there is Sadie!!  Miss poser for the camera!  She was in her own world and would just wander around SINGING and saying, "take a picture of me mommy", as she would pose so delicately!  I think she REALLY believes she's a princess!!

MaryJane loved just being outdoors, free and clapping her little hands!   Oh can't get enough!!

And this is how it always is.  The kids just maul MaryJane!  They are SO cute to her!!  That little baby is so adored!

So here is my slide show in case you didn't get enough!  It was such a great little get away!  To be together in a different environment was so fun!!  Thanks Mom and Dad for helping us make it happen!  And of course to Kevin for allowing us to tag along!

What to do with all the pictures I keep taking!?!  Any suggestions?  

"I want Curly Hair!"

All Summer Sadie has been pointing out curly hair to me saying things like, "Mom, I want you to have curly hair like her!" But more recently has asked for it on herself.  Lucky for her, her mom is a hairstylist!!  So we played salon one day and I curled her hair as she sat looking at the new American Girl Doll magazine! (it's a good thing this  new one came because the old one was hanging on by a thread.) And she just talked and talked and talked. Something she's become an expert at.  Hmm I wonder where she got that from?  I was a cute moment.  Such a big girl!

She was so happy all day!  For these pictures I had to pull her away from the newish movie Enchanted.  SOOOO cute I might add!  She wasn't to happy missing the movie but either way, she was happy with her curls!  I might have to invest in a smaller curling iron if this becomes a regular request!!  Maybe I'll try sponge curlers next!  

9 Months!!

Oh my sweet baby is growing up so fast!  I keep saying that but I can't get enough of her!  Luckily I have a really great camera that allows me to capture most of her precious moments!  Both of our worlds are about to change! She is mobile!  She'll roll, scoot, reach, and even crawl a bit to get what she wants.  In fact, nothing can get her to crawl better than a domino tower built by her brother!  She can't wait to take that thing down!  She'll just scream to get it!  So cute!  I don't have a picture of that one, but I'll work on it!

Forget crawling!! She pulled herself up on the kids table and chairs and I about died!  SO BIG!  

Patty-Cake!  Is her latest discovery!  She loves the sound it makes!  In the middle of the night when I make her a bottle it's dark and she's snuggling me patting my arm.  I'll sure miss those little pats!  Oh how I wish I could savor that for forever!

And here she is (with her big eyes and pour FLASH photography) DEVOURING corn!!  I couldn't get it out of her hands!!

So Fun...

was Sadie's first day of Preschool!  I can't believe how fast the years go when they are young and at home with you!  It's hard to let them grow up!   She was so excited to go to "Cole's school!"  Where Cole had gone to Preschool.  I have just loved Ms. Dana!  And my kids do too!  Now that Cole is in kindergarten, I am SO grateful for Ms. Dana!  She really prepared him well!  I'm so excited for Sadie to experience her class.  She acts like such a big girl and has no fear of being dropped off! She definitely is not a shy child!

After school, I took Sadie for a little first day treat to

that a friend told me about.  And it was 

And

Sadie was

And the cupcakes were

I love all these cute cupcake stores popping up all over the place!  Such a fun treat!  Sadie now asks for one everyday!  This could lead to an awful amount of weight gain for me!  Luckily they sell those minis!  Thanks Marille for the tip!

Feeling So Refreshed!!

MY NEW HAIR CUT!

So,  people (from afar) have requested a picture of me with my new dew!  Not too different,  just shorter!  It feels great!  My hair was getting way to long and thin!  Not to mention, it was in a pony tail all the time!  I finally came to the realization that I'll never have Miley Cyrus hair!  Especially without those extensions and personal hair stylists! 

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of going to a salon, as a client for a haircut! The first time in 13 years!  I never told him that I do hair.  I just sat, relaxed and enjoyed being pampered for an hour!  For those of you who do hair, I highly recommend it!  It was so fun!! And taught me so much from a different perspective!

United We Stand

In memory of our fallen heros, I thought it would be appropriate to play my favorite National Anthem by the Catcus Cuities! The maturity and harmony of their voices BLOWS ME AWAY!!  I must have listen to it 10 times the first time I heard it!  LOVE IT!

A fun little project!

A Picnic Blanket.

I saw this pattern on See Mama Sew and had to give it a try!  So simple for my first(adult size) blanket!  I made it just before we went to Bear Lake but just keep forgetting to post it!

On top,  cute bright fabric  from Heather Bailey and on back just an old pale pink sheet. 

Love all the patterns!

And especially,  these cute corner pockets which hold a small rock, so the blanket won't blow away!  In fact, I liked that idea so much, I think that was the main reason I made the blanket!  That and the cute bright fabric!!  Perfect for a cute outdoor blanket!!  Hey! It kinda matches my blog!;)

In good hands

This may look silly seeing my Son pushing a baby doll stroller.  But it gets even more comical when you hear the story.  Over Labor Day weekend I was out running some errands.  Kevin was at home with the three kids and had to drop something off, by wheel barrel to a friend down the street and around the corner.  When I had called to check in, he was in the process of completing his errand. And the conversation went something like this:

A: Hey!  How's it going?

K: Fine!  Were are just headed to drop this box off at Phil's

A: With the 3 kids!!

K: That's right!

A: Where is the baby?

K: Cole is pushing her in the doll stroller.

A: The DOLL STROLLER! WHICH ONE? (we have a couple)

K: The jogger looking one.

A: WHAT IF SHE FALLS OUT!?!

K: Don't worry I got that covered. I just ducked tape the buckle so it won't loosen. (well thought out) I'm making sure Cole's is walking real slow. 

A: OH! HOW EMBARRASSING!!!  I don't think that would be too comfortable for her! (again) How embarrassing! 

K: Whatever!  She is loving it!!  Hasn't made a peep!  The kids are taking turns pushing her! 

Leave it to Kevin to do a task in such a oddly manner.   None the less, the task is complete.

So since the event (that I so sadly missed out on) I had to do a little reenactment.  And every time I would put her in the stroller, she would get a great big smile on her face and instantly kick her legs!  Having flash backs of the joy ride!

Who is this BEAUTIFUL little princess?

A whole new meaning to dress-up! 

I found this princess WIG at the store the other day and could not refrain!!  It is a riot to see Sadie walk around wearing this!  She loves it!!  Solves all problems in the "wanting long hair with curls"  look! (for now)  I also bought the Sleeping Beauty one so her sister or a friend won't feel left out during dress-up.  Also, it is a great addition to our Halloween costume box (a collection my husband started before we were married)!

 

Not the best of pictures but you get the idea.

And he's off!

My little boy is finally a Kindergartner!  I can't believe it!  Wow time has flown!  He is such a joy to have around!  He is so very boy but also tender and love able!!  His favorite thing to do is trick me!  Especially if he can gang up on me with his Dad!  When I catch them in the act, he runs and gives his Dad a high five!  Oh I'm in for trouble!  

So I went a little nuts taking pictures on his first day!  I felt like the paparazzi with all the other moms!  But I couldn't help but capture this exciting day!  I didn't even cry!  Although, I could have.  It was there just sitting in my throat waiting to explode!  But I held it back!  

(It was when i saw this picture of my self, I realized that it was time to CUT MY HAIR!!   I mean,  what is that string sitting on my shoulder?)

Anyway, back to Cole.

Here is a picture of Him and his closest friend Peter.  He just lives a few houses down.  I had no idea I had bought Cole a shirt Peter had already owned!  They were so excited to discover it that they wanted to wear them on the first day of school together!  I had no choice but to let them.

Here Cole is lined up waiting to go into his classroom!  He got real somber before he went into school.  I was getting a little worried for him.  But he hung in there.  Now looking at this picture of his face it really wants to make me cry!  

Cole's locker!  I can't get over that my Kindergartner has a LOCKER!

there Sadie is in the background.  She had a hard time leaving!  She wanted to stay so bad!!  She kept telling me that she wants all the same things Cole has at school.

To celebrate the big day, we took Cole to one of his favorite restaurants, The Spaghetti Factory, to eat inside the trolley

He loved the giant meatball!  All I could think was "YUCK!"

A good day for that big 5 year old!

To All Twilight Fans!

Midnight Sun!

This might be old news to most of you!  Maybe I'm totally out of the loop.  But either way I'm going to post this for those who are in the same boat as me.  As some of you might know,  Stephanie Meyer was working on a version of Twilight from Edwards perspective called Midnight Sun.  She has had the first chapter on her website for a long time now and all of us fans have been looking forward for this book come out!  Now that the saga has ended are you feeling withdrawals like me?  

Sadly as she writes on her website,  "my partial draft of Midnight Sun was illegally posted on the Internet and has since been virally distributed without my knowledge or permission or the knowledge or permission of my publisher."  

So she has posted the 264 paged draft on her website for everyone to read legally.  And plans to put the book on hold "INDEFINITELY"!

Can you believe it!  Shame on that person for ruining it for all us avid fans!  I feel so bad for Stephanie.  After all the work she has done to protect her stories!  

I guess though on a more positive note, we have something to read!!  Even though it is not edited, I'm sure I'll enjoy it!  

Click HERE for the link to her website explaining everything and a link to the draft.  

Kevin's Birthday!

For Kevin's birthday, his mom took us out to his favorite restaurant, Benihanna. The kids loved it too! Always such a fun experience.

Kevin's sister Karen came too but the only picture I have with her, Kevin's eyes were closed.

Cole LOVED the shrimp!  He so confidently asked for shrimp and ate every piece of it!

MaryJane liked the rice

and Cole thought he'd like to share his too.

After dinner we walked around "the city" as the kids like to call it. (I know, some city!)  We found these statues and found it fun to copy them!  Cole was beaming!  I wish I had my nicer camera.  When we are on the go and out and about I just take my small digital.  Afraid to ruin the new one.

Maybe we'll have to go back!

 

Bear Lake!

Before time passes to quickly I must post our trip to Bear Lake!  And I'm finding that I didn't take as many pictures on this trip as I'd hoped.  Maybe I relaxed a bit too much!  We had a great time staying at the Ideal Beach Resort!  It was Ideal!  With beach access, swimming(everyday), tennis, mini golf, convenience store, and a large park with a merry go round included (you remember, the ones that we used to have at the school playground! except for this one seamed a bit newer)  what more could you ask for on vacation?  We had the pleasure of meeting up with some friends while we were there!  Having a year there without cousins would have been hard on my kids but thankfully it workout out to spend sometime with the Plumbs and Gardners!   All the kids had the time of their life digging in the sand for treasures Kevin would hide.  That game went on for what seamed forever!   Great times at Bear Lake and Great times discovering chocolate covered raspberries!  YUMMY!!!

my favorite picture of the trip!

that darn sun!

there goes my attempt for a cute photo op in the lake.