Produce Galore!

Look what we got from our Co-op purchase!!!  I couldn't believe the amount of food for the amount of money!!!!  I love a great deal!

We ended up having so much produce and such a variety that we ate so much better!  

I ended up making this. . . .

A huge batch of Guacamole, tomatillo Salsa, and homemade taquitos.  

These were so good . . .  even leftover! 

Click here to see the recipe for the Tomatillo Salsa, Guacamole, and Taquitos 

Okay.  I think you get extra points somewhere . . . home, heaven, . . .  the faculty room?!  I mean, when you decorate the teachers door for Teacher Appreciation week!  This is one of those things that you think will only take an hour or so, but ends up taking all day.  I kept thinking  . . . I'm so organized . . . I've shopped the dollar store, I've made a plan, I just need to cover the door, cut out the letters and stick all of these photos, etc. on the door.  Simple, right?


Not so simple.  The plastic tablecloth I wanted to use as the background paper wouldn't stick to the door and the photos wouldn't stick to the tablecloth, so plan B . . . use the schools paper:)  Luckily I have friends in high places and I got the OK by texting and didn't have to run around the school begging.  (Thanks Teresa!)

I ended up with this. . . .  Did I mention I need a new camera. . . . bad?

I also decorated Mr. Scoubes door because I'm head Room-Mom and found out that the mom who had signed up to decorate it wasn't going to be able to after all. 

It took a little more grit . . . after all he's a man. . . and I wasn't prepared with the plan, the dollar store and all.  So this is what I came up with . . .

The sad thing was. . . Mr. Scoubes wasn't even there.  He had a sub for 2 weeks while he was in Germany with the National Guard.  Maybe someone sent him a picture. . . you can tell why I didn't send one . . . did I mention I need a new Camera?

Zach received his Wolf Badge!

Zach earned his Wolf and was recognized at Pack Night on Wednesday.  He has worked hard and has had a lot of fun with his den.  His leaders were Rosalie Olsen and Hollie Larsen and they made it really fun. 

I'm excited because now Zach gets to come to the Bear Den meetings and I'm Bear Den Leader (with Hollie Larsen).  We are planning on hiking to Stewart Falls this summer and having a cook out at Diamond Fork campground.  We have some strong personalities and I love it!!!  It's so fun to see the boys learn and grow and work together.  We are so proud of Zach!!!

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The Perks of Hairstyling!

I just had another incredible moment with my parents with the excuse of styling Moms hair!  My Dad had copies of photos from his parents and brothers and sisters.  I love this photo of my Grandma Robertson (Lucille Shurtleff Robertson).  She is beautiful and whomever took her picture thought so too, you can tell! 

I love the fingerwaves, the makeup, and the pose.  I guess I love it because she was so beautiful inside too!  And it's so fun to see that she felt beautiful outside also.  Not showy, just beautiful

Simplify! A favorite quote by Lowell Bennion

"Learn to like what doesn't cost much.
Learn to like reading, conversation, music.
Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.
Learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing hills.
Learn to like people, even though some of them may be different... different from you.
Learn to like to work and enjoy the satisfaction of doing your job as well as it can be done.
Learn to like the songs of birds, the companionship of dogs.
Learn to like gardening, puttering around the house and fixing things.
Learn to like the sunrise and sunset, the beating of rain on the roof and windows
and the gentle fall of snow on a winter day.

Learn to keep your wants simple, and refuse to be controlled by the likes and dislikes of others."

I love to watch children and see the world through their eyes!  Every lady bug and butterfly is a delight, and every moment is lived to it's fullest.  I love to see my children laughing one moment, upset the next, then, having moved to the next moment, laughing again!  If I could forgive so easily and live so fully in the present!!!  This is my goal for the next year:)  

We spent so much of the summer last year going on little day trips and spending time outdoors!  It was one of my favorite summers in my memory . . . and we have a new one to look forward to!!!  I can't wait!  In the near future I will post a list of my favorite places to go, and then I'll blog our adventures!  There's lots to plan and look forward to!

Becca's Miss Spanish Fork!!!

Yay!!!!  Becca is officially "Miss Spanish Fork"!!!  We are so excited for her and she has made us all so proud!

The competition was incredible!!!  She was self assured and at ease the whole night and did a really good job.  I was proud of her for not coming across as over-confident!  She just seemed happy to be there and talented!  OK do I sound like a mom or what???

I like this photo of her and thought it would be fun to share!  Congratulations Becca!

A Huge THANK YOU to everyone who came to support our Bec's on her big night!!!!

Easter Dresses . . . (or pinafores?)

So today was fun! We worked in the morning to get the house clean, the kids pitching in and the hubby biting off the big projects. It was sunny and cold!!! We thought outdoor jobs would be fun, but I couldn't get past the chill in the air. Tyler broke out the lawn mower, Scott trimmed the peach tree and fixed Zach's bike, and I made a huge batch of turkey/16 bean soup. By noon me, Brooklyn and Becca were on our way to JoAnns for inspiration for Easter skirts. We weren't really thinking of anything in particular but when we got there we were reminded of this great fabric, already gathered (I can't remember the name of it) and ready to stitch. Brooklyn (earlier in the week) had wanted the black and white fabric and I made her wait. I wasn't sure that's what we wanted to do, and I wasn't sure I'd have time to do much. But this is what we came up with. I think they turned out cute and will be even cuter on the girls.

We're thinking they'll wear them next week on Easter, but maybe tomorrow since it's our ward's Easter program. It's always fun to pull off a new project!!!

Another fun part of our day was a little shopping trip with Addie and Zach. They wanted to get paintbrushes from the dollar store to paint a couple of plaster Easter projects. I took them to CAL Ranch to see the baby chicks. There were Black ones, yellow ones, and a couple of black/yellow ones, and some turkey chicks. The kids loved it!!!!

Brook and I went to the YW Broadcast tonight too. We ate at Arby's because we thought it started at 7:00, but it actually started at 6:00. We were inspired by the messages. I felt like all the messages were for me . . . and I'm the mom:)

Hopefully tomorrow will be a true day of rest compared to today!

A Well Deserved Day Off!!!

Scott had a day off. . . his first since last Tuesday. So we made sure he had some rest, then attacked our list. We ran errands like running to the Elementary School to pick up Kindergarten registration information for Addie, and a stop at the scrap-booking supply store for Ward Clerk certificates. We stopped for lunch at the In & Out Burger and stopped at Barnes and Noble to pick up a new read:) We can't wait!
Scott picked up a book Tyler recommended, Lone Survivor, and I picked one that Scott recommended called Three Cups of Tea. We have been reading a lot more since the sound on our TV in our bedroom quit working. It's actually been really nice!!! Lot's more pillow talk!

We registered Addie for kindergarten. She was so excited to tell Mrs. Hyer all the things that she already knows. She wanted to go shopping for her school stuff. I had to tell her that we had plenty of time and that we had a lot of camping, hiking and gardening to do before we had to shop!!! I have lots of hugging and holding and reading to do . . . before she heads to school. I'm having quite mixed emotions. I

SPRING IS HERE!

I'm so excited that Spring is here. I've spent the weekend stocking my fridge and cleaning my pantry, and planning projects to give a fresh feel to my home. Brook and I painted her room last weekend and it turned out Great!!!! We were inspired by the colors in her comforter and ended up painting one wall a dark chocolate brown and the other 3 walls a robin egg blue. We loved how it turned out! One fun thing we did was take the old Closet doors (which were beyond repair) and stood it in one of the corners of the room, then put a wreath on it.

Thanks to Kathy Tibbs I spent some time this morning making vinyl letters of the children's names for a Responsibility board. I'm getting inspiration from the Eyre's and am trying the "Family Economy". I know a few people who do this and I like the lessons the children learn early. Kathy has a Cricut and my project is now well on it's way!

My daffodils bloomed today! I can't believe how just that one little thing made my day!!! It didn't hurt that the sun was shining and the temp. felt like the 60's:)

The beginning of a great weekend, spent with an incredible husband and five or our children. Scott took today off of work and had a much needed break from travel and the office. We were able to run to our favorite restaurant for lunch and spent a couple of hours catching up and having a heart to heart. The children came home from school and enjoyed the great outdoors by playing football.

Valentines Day is on Sunday so we will celebrate it by having a delicious Salmon dinner and for dessert . . . Scotts favorite, Blueberry Cheesecake. I can't wait to see him take the first bite!

The three best things . . .

As a mom I want my children to focus on the BEST part of their day, as opposed to the worst part. So I ask them "What were the three best things that happened in your day today?" Today Zach says, "morning recess, lunch, and afternoon recess!" And I think he meant it! Addie says, "I don't know!" (So why am I breakin' my tail with play dough and polly pockets?) Josh said, "I don't know, I have to do my homework still!!!"

I'm thinking that this 3 best things bonding with my children is not working!

Becca is home for a few hours and we're loving it!!! She's been away for 4 nights and is adjusting really well!

Two Days 'til Christmas!

It's only 2 days 'til Christmas and we cannot wait. The anticipation is growing with every passing hour and the children have wide eyes and heightened senses.

The house smells like evergreen boughs and Gingerbread and we're counting down the hours until we can celebrate our favorite holiday!!!