XOXO XOXO

♥ I've never been one to decorate for Valentine's Day.♥

 

Valentine's Day is one of those 'sub-holidays' for me.

Thrown in there just cause we are sick of winter. 

 

But this year I had a special

Activity Day Girls Recognition Breakfast

at my house with my little ADGirls & their moms.

It was so much fun.

So, I wanted to make the house seem a little festive.

 

What?  You want to know our menu?

 

Cheesy Scrambled Eggs

Bacon

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Squares

Raspberry Cream Danish

Blueberry-Lemon Crepes

Buttered Toast

Orange Juice & Milk

 

The presentation looked so pretty and everything tasted so yummy.  (Why I didn't take even one picture of the whole occasion baffles me.)  A big thanks to Josie for helping me out there at the end when I didn't think I'd be able to pull it altogether before the guests arrived.

 

♥ I always get sidetracked when I start talking about parties and cooking. ♥

 

ANYWAY

 

I just couldn't wrap my head around the whole V-Day decorations.  I don't know why. 

Two of my very favorite colors are pink & red, and who doesn't like hearts?

Yet, I honestly don't own any V decor and I didn't have the desire to shop for any.

 Then it occurred to me that I love flowers and ribbon.
Just the level of commitment I was looking for.
Those two things can change the look in any room of the house, really cheap and really fast.

 

 

 

I love how it all turned out.  Just enough to make it special.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

 

 

 

One more thing I wanted to share:

A few months ago I found this awesome cutting board in a pile of clearance items at Target.

I love my USA cutting board.  The edge is painted in navy blue.  So cute.

So we found some heart stickers in the cupboard and put a ♥ on our two "home" states

Idaho & Ohio

and we also have sisters (and their families) that live in North Carolina and Arizona.

So we put hearts on their states too.

 

 

 

♥

 

 

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day?

Do you go all out, or just a little here and there?

Better late than never.

+

What is funnier than watching a bunch of eight year olds that haven't ever been roller-skating?

 

 

Maybe a few things, but this rates right up there.

 

Yes, no judging. 

Justin had his 8th birthday party today...3 1/2 months after his birthday.

 

Hey, we've been busy!

 

Justin, going down again.  Mitch trying to give pointers.

 

Careful buddy.

 

Getting ready for cake & ice cream.

 

This was funny. 

Until the kids started coming to the house, he didn't realize he'd be getting gifts today. 

 He got so excited. 

 

He had so much fun.  We don't usually have 'friend birthday parties', but they do get one when they turn eight.  So this was a treat.  All the little boys that came had a lot of fun and were such good sports to try something new.  We were there for two hours and it was amazing how much improvement they made in such a short amount time.

 

We never think to go roller-skating. 

Maybe we'll try to remember to go a few more times this year.

Do any of you go roller-skating?

 

It was a fun day.

 

 

 

This is just a random picture of the sunset the other night.  I was making dinner and looked out the window and loved what I saw. 

Thought I'd share.

 



Mind games

Right now I'm:

 

*Singing at the top of my lungs with Whitney Houston.  Pandora is rocken out the best music this morning!

 

*Thinking about a note I have thought to write and mail since Monday.

 

*Wondering how my Grandma is feeling this morning after her surgery.

 

*Listening for the dryer to stop so I can reboot the machines.  Will the laundry ever end? Scratch that.  I'm glad that we live a good life.  I guess I'd rather say, Will I ever catch up?

*Looking at the return air vent in the office and wondering why I never take the one minute it would take to vacuum the dust (and 'ahem' cobwebs) off of it.  ......  there, done.  Guess I just needed to say it out loud.  Ü

 

*Checking this weeks menu and see what needs to go on the grocery list.

 

*Back to thinking about the laundry.

 

*Getting plans ready for music in Primary.

 

*Wondering, did I get my scriptures read this morning?  I don't remember doing it.  Come on guys, I don't even remember what I packed Layne for lunch, for heavens sake!!  I'd better fit that in. 

 

*Deciding if I want to run errands now when it is 13°F or wait till this afternoon when it is 15°F.  (Lets be honest. That really reads,  I'm not running any errands today.)

 

*Going to empty the dishwasher and clean up the kitchen because life is just better when the kitchen is cleaned up. 

 

Have a great day.  

 

(source)

Wouldn't it be the coolest if Layne saw this on my blog and wanted to make it to store our food from the garden this fall?  Ya, I think it would be cool too.  Ü



Keeping it Real

(source?  If you know please let me know)

 

You know how a new year is. 

You want to change a few thing.

You want to set a goal or two.

 

I see other bloggers choosing a word for the year to inspire them.

That didn't really work for me. 

Mainly because I didn't choose a word, but I really don't think it would have made much difference.

 

What I found to be a better way to go at the new year was to be honest with myself.

 

Q- When did I become so lazy?

A - When all my children went to school.

Q - Why?

A - Sad story really.  I had a lot of plans for when that day came.  Awesome plans.  There was quilting, shopping all by myself, temple going, etc. in the plans.  Then I was shocked to find myself pretty much depressed and lonely.  I really don't like to say the "I didn't know myself any more after the kids grew up" because that isn't how I feel, but I did loose my sense of routine and a realization that I may have a mild form of ADD.  Self-diagnosed, of course. 

 

My solution?  Get better routines.  Any routines.  Something I could focus on.

So here it is, January 22, 2013 and here are a few things that have preoccupied my time these past couple of weeks:

Homemade marshmallows. 

Josie gave me an electric kettle for Christmas.  Something I've wanted for a long time.  It is so nice to use when cooking and even more fun for hot cider and hot chocolate in a flash.

 

Just good food in general, although this fried rice was yum.

 

 

Caramel Puff Corn

aka: crack corn

(you can't stay our of this stuff)

 

 

Putting pretty butterflies on my fingernails.

I've never worried about my fingernails.

Never. Ever.

So this one is proof that I'm looking for ANYTHING to get out of what I ought to be doing.

 

 

Actually, I am a really busy person.

My calendar is always pretty full.  Seems like I'm always running here or there.

But, I've lost any sense of routine and I feel like I am always just barely pulling it off.

 

I think if I was able to pull together a routine that I stuck with, it would make a difference in all the other areas in my life that I'm not really thrilled about.

 

Tell me about your routines.  Do you have specific days that you do things?

Monday, laundry? Tuesday, bathrooms?

Exercise first thing?  Scripture study early or later in the day?

 

What works for you?  I'd love to know.

 

I've got to pull it together cause these guys are growing up fast and I might miss it.

 

 

 

 

You may want need this recipe.

 

Caramel Corn Puffs

 

2 sticks of butter

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup (light)

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 packages butter flavored corn puffs (the popcorn in bags without kernels)

 

Boil butter, brown sugar, & syrup together for five minutes.  Take off heat and stir in vanilla and soda.  (watch out, it will bubble up)  Put both bags of corn puffs in large bowl and pour caramel over the top, stirring till well coated.  Spread on large cookie sheet (or two if needed) and bake at 250°F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Let cool.  Sometimes we leave it in the big Tupperware bowl.  Sometimes it ends up in baggies.  It never lasts very long around here.  Ü

 

Introducing...Crash & Eddie

(source)

 

My sister Geri & her hubby Jason came to spend Christmas with us.

(it was awesome)

We may have scared them a little and hope they will still come see us again someday.

 

It only took Geri being here for about 25 minutes when she made the most observant statement I think I've ever heard in my 38 years of life.

 

"Those two remind me of Crash & Eddie from Ice Age."

 

Those two, meaning Mitch & Justin, and HOLY COW did she hit the nail on the head or what?!

 

They are best pals one minute playing with their dog Jimmer, baseball, football, shooting their guns, or whatever it is they do, and then before you can blink an eye, they are out for blood and the race is on. (and I'd advise getting out of the way)

 

 

 

They come up with the craziest ideas, that usually involves making their sister scream.

They are the rough and tumble type and there is a constant giggle, that keeps the rest of us suspicious at all times.

 

They play hard and they fight hard ....

 

 

they are Crash & Eddie.

And we love them.

 

(Crash is in black.  Eddie is in red.)

We had visitors!

The last few days of September were super fun and super busy. 

My mom and dad flew in to celebrate Justin's baptism and so we packed those three days they were here full full full.

*Ate yummy pizza and salad at 600°F.
*Dad slipped in a little antique shopping while mom and I picked up a few birthday items at Wal-Mart.
*Had a mini birthday party for Judd.
*Watched the Benjamin Logan Marching Band, with Josie as Field Commander.
*Watched the Benjamin Logan Homecoming football game, with Todd as a corner. (It was a close game and we won!)
*Watched a soccer game, played by Mitch and his Zanesfield Black team.
*Attended Justin's baptism. 
*Grandma helped get Josie ready for the homecoming dance.
*Ate yucky Chinese food. Used to be a great place. New owners...now not so much.
*Went to church.
*Got mom & dad to the airport to head to North Carolina.

Whew. 

 

Josie and Logan Glauner

2012 Homecoming Dance

 

The kids leaving for school w/ a quick pic with Grandma Lucy.

 

The best clock story.

Here is one of my favorite clocks.  One of my oldest ones too.

She hasn't kept time in a long time.  Like, nearly a year.  I don't know how many times Layne and I tried to fix her.  She would get to seven o'clock and then stay somewhere in that hour all of the time.

 

I mentioned the problem to my dad cause my dad can fix anything, but even this I wasn't sure about.  He took it off the wall, did something for about one minute and she has kept time ever since. 

 

My father, from this time forth, will be known as The Clock Whisperer.

I couldn't be happier.

Thanks dad.

September 28th

Here's the birthday boy.

He still has his attachment to Curious George.

But who doesn't love Curious George?

 

He wore this jersey to school three days last week.

Guess I got the right one.

This jersey and that camo hat in a couple pics above. 

Grandpa & ma gave that to him and it hasn't come off either.

 

He said all of his dreams came true.

 

Eight is Great!

 

And this is what Judd had been anxiously waiting for.

His baptism.

September 29, 2012

(don't  you love the awkward smile stage?)

 

The other thing he is SO excited about is that he is now a Cub Scout.

I can't believe I don't have a picture of him in his uniform.  That is amazing because he has been trying it on for weeks in anticipation of the big day.  His first den meeting was this past Wednesday.  He said it was awesome.

 

We love having Justin in our family.

He's my sweetie pie.