Engagement Photos

I'm working on a wedding annoucement and here's one option. Pretty cute couple, ey? (By the way, Stacy may be saying "ey" more after living in North Dakota for awhile!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!!!

IM GETTING MARRIED...and here's the proof!

It's Heaven Turning Seven

Tree for Charity

Isn't this tree Wonderful. Stacy decorated this for the Trees for Charity.

This Explains a Lot

Why Emma is getting pink hair.
Why I'm getting gray hair.
Why Rachel probably won't finish her Personal Progress.
Why the Gondas probably won't get a playhouse for Christmas.
Why I can never catch up on laundry.
Why my house will never be clean.
Why I don't have time to have "me" time.
Why I don't wear much make-up: it's on my children's toes.
Why I spend half my life sitting on the toilet watching kids take a bath.
Why I have little patience for kids who should know better than to lick someone.
Why I have little energy left when my husband who gets home at night.
This explains a lot.

My Baby's Gone

Last night I said to Joseph, "Come on, baby doll." He replied, "I'm not a baby doll, I'm just Joseph." Then he went down the stairs and climbed up the banister. It's official. He's not a baby anymore. Bring on the potty training!

Holly Days

Here are a couple of photos from the Holly Days celebration the day after Thanksgiving. The kids had a ball but it was a little cold! They all wanted balloon snakes!

Zo at zoo

Here's Zo at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. Because of our visit, giraffes have become his favorite animal.

Truffles Update

Benjamin was so in love with the truffles that he wanted to make them for a party tonight. I thought I'd put a few more details up that might help if anyone is ever adventurous enough to try.

1-We chopped the Oreos in my food processor. Do it in batches of about 3 instead of the whole package at the whole time!

2-Make sure the cream cheese is good and soft and cut it into chunks. We put it in the food processor with all of the cookies and it mixed in really nicely.

3-One package of chocolate chips isn't enough. Two probably is but I couldn't tell you for sure because Benjamin spilled half of the package on the floor. We then spent the next half hour trying to figure out how to dip chocolates (can't offer any advice on that because we just made a huge mess) while Emma and Joseph made piles of chocolate chips around us on the floor. Then they sat on them and pretended they were eggs! The things we let our kids to to buy us a few minutes!

4-Seeing how messy and greasy these are before the finished product will help me eat fewer! Totally unhealthy!!!

Oreo Truffles

WARNING: If you're trying to avoid unhealthy food skip this post! But if you're like me and the temptation of oreos or chocolate is too much for you read on! I got this recipe at our ward recipe exchange last night and thought they looked nice, but I'm more of a cookie girl than a candy girl so I didn't even try them last night (plus I was too stuffed with other great recipes). But, our bishop's wife sent me home with a plate so I had plenty to try today. These look so simple to make and are soo good. Quite cookie-ish for a candy!

1 pkg Oreo cookies

1 pkg 8 oz cream cheese

1 bag chocolate chips

Blend Oreos into crumbs...completely crushed...no chunks! Add softened cream cheese and mix together. Put mixture in fridge for 15 minutes. Remove and roll into balls about 1" in diameter. Return them to the fridge or freezer for another 15-20 minutes. Melt chocolate in a double boiler. When melted dip each Oreo ball in the chocolate and place on wax paper to cool. For best results put them in the fridge again to help the chocolate harden.

New Family Photos

Hailstorm

August 29, 2009

The biggest hailstorm I've ever seen.  It ripped through our plants and Hailey couldn't resist eating the larger-than-marble-sized ice.  Some were even cone-shaped.

We went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication that was broadcast yesterday to our Stake Center. We were with Benjamin, Rachel, and Daniel and as soon as I sat down I was so overwhelmed with the Spirit. What a neat thing to share with our children. I can't wait to be in the temple with them for ordinances!

Homeless?

Quick update for all you following our homebuying saga. Our prospective property, which was advertised as suitable for FHA financing, is actually not acceptable to FHA because it was moved from one foundation to its current location. So we're back to the drawing board. Spencer's threatening to put me, Brittany, in charge of any further house-hunting forays.

Thanks everyone for a fun and successful weekend!!!

Baby McLaren

Due Date is February 18, 2010
That makes me 12 weeks and 3 days along.

Lake Owen

We went canoeing on Lake Owen yesterday and the weather conditions couldn't have been more PERFECT!   Look at that water! The fishing wasn't bad either.  Warren caught a rainbow trout and a brooke.

I just love this picture!  And to think that Warren didn't want me to take it because he thought that would only encourage her.  She's perfectly well-behaved now--what was he thinking???

Charlize is turning 2!

I was wondering...is it terrible two's or destructive two's? I guess it doesn't really matter. Looks like I'm in for a little of both. :) When I went to get Charlize up from (not) napping this is what I found. She apparently kept herself well entertained by grabbing a book and ripping it apart.

Happy birthday to Charlize. We're so glad that she's in our family.

Just For Fun

Proud New Mama

I am the proud new owner of a brand new calf! She (we think it's a she, anyway) was born tonight at 7:00. We missed the action because she came out so fast, but we were amazed to see the miracle of new life, even in a barn yard! Now we've got to find someone to milk that other cow. Any volunteers? (Not after my last post, right ;o) ?!)

There's a reason you buy milk at the store!

During the last week my toes have been stepped on by 1,000 lbs of cow, my wrist has been smashed by hundreds of pounds of pressure from her head, and my thumb got cut on her grain can. Not to mention the lovely sights, smells, and tail flipping associated with milking a cow. All this so I can have free milk that is free of drugs and hormones. Is it worth it? Ask me tomorrow.....

Save the date!

Samantha and I are coming to Vernal in July (17th) and when we do we are getting a new sisters picture taken. One with me in it too!

I got a haircut

Here's just a preview!

Here is a great site for us visual learners!  Find out how much sugar is hidden in all kinds of food.

Thank You, Sarah!

As if Porta Pottys aren't bad enough

Member of Future Pharmacists of America

I went into the kitchen one day and found Joseph stacking vitamins and drugs. He looks like he's ready to hand some out, too!

The hazards of working out!

Isn't he DREAMY?

This is my most favorite part on Twilight the move. You can only see it for a slight second and I really don’t know if it was planned but I am glad its there. They should make this a poster. Yes I took a picture of the TV but can you blame me?

At the Park in Denver

We went hiking on Memorial weekend to Jones hole. It is so beautiful up there and I cant wait to go again.

Just hangin' with our favorite aunt

All Aboard!

I'm trying a new approach to potty training. It's been a little frustrating. I'm sure you all can relate. Well maybe not Spencer and Stacy yet, but you will someday and maybe this will help you. Samantha has shared with me her experiences with Hailey and how she finally found that singing potty songs worked for her because she loved to sing. Well, as many of you know I have a little train enthusiast living here so I've decided to use that information to my advantage. All aboard the Potty Train! (haha!) I created a train ticket with four trains on it and it says, "I can choo-choose to go potty! Each time he tries to go potty he gets one train punched. When all four have been punched he can redeem his ticket to watch one train video on the computer (youtube). He was really excited about it at the start, we'll see how long that lasts! If you have anymore ideas for me pleast let me know!

A Few Favorite Things

Hillary Weeks' rendition of "These are a Few of My Favorite Things."

Still accident prone

I'm finally getting around to hanging the family pictures that we had taken a couple of months ago. The kids were "helping" me, of course, and when we were done I picked up the last frame and notice some blood on it. Frantically I start questioning the kids, "Are you bleeding?? Did you get hurt? Who's bleeding?" No one was cut, where did they blood come from? Oh....me. Apparently I sliced my finger on the glass. Pretty good too. That was some sharp glass. I didn't feel a thing. I skinned my toe the other day in the garden too. Camden is enjoying playing doctor.

Animoto

Cool, easy way to make free 30 sec. video.

Cherished Connections Blog

Hi, everyone! Here is the link to my new blog:
Cherished Connections Blog

Please visit and comment now and then-Thanks!

Sweet Sarafina

Sadly, Sarafina got hurt pretty bad yesterday in a horrible accident with the garage door. She's been a trooper but the pain is just too much and she will never walk normal again. Hailey is clearly distraught but she is already making plans for a new pet. Who knew it would be the parents that aren't over this one yet.

Recipe to Try

I made this great cake today and you all have to try it!  It's not a bit healthy so if you don't like fat and sugar don't look!  I'm not going to post it here cuz I just got it off a blog and you can print if off easily.  It's called Prune Cake but I didn't tell the kids there were prunes in it until they had given it a good try.  I didn't mash the prunes as well as I should have so I had some pruney spots in it.  It didn't taste bad at all, but wasn't as easy to hide!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/grandma-inys-prune-cake.pdf

There are lots of great recipes and photos on this site, too! http://thepioneerwoman.com/

I love this picture! Hope you all enjoy it too.

Challenge!

Hello, out there!!! Sarah, I love the music you added and good idea to share recipes. I want to challenge everyone to post SOMETHING at least twice a month! What do you say? I miss you all and this would be a fun way to share things but I keep checking and there's rarely anything new. Here's some ideas besides the obvious and much loved pictures: quotes, embed interesting videos from the internet, successful and healthy recipes, funny things kids say, household ideas--oh, I'm sure you all can think of SOMETHING.

Mexican Spicy Bean Pizza

1 premade pizza crust
1 small can of tomato paste
1/2 to 3/4 can refried beans
1 small can corn, drained
3/4 sliced bell pepper
1/4 cup thinly sliced onion
1/2 cup grated cheese

Preheat oven to 425. Put pizza crust on baking sheet or pizza pan. Spread tomato paste and then refried beans over crust. Arrange corn, bell pepers and onions over beans. Sprinkle cheese over the top. Bake for 15 min or until hot and bubbly.

Our Vacation Pictures