Streamlined

You may notice that I've changed the look of my blog. I was ready for something new. This probably isn't the end of changes - I'm looking forward to mixing it up seasonally. Just wanted you to know when you saw this - it's still my blog! Have a great day!

30 Oct 2009

Lest anyone think I'm going gourmet - I totally used pre-prepared where I could (general tso and potstickers) and seasoning packets for the rest. I'm not CRAZY!

I put some pics on the family site of Chuck's costume. Such fun! Here's a few more pics from the Halloween Album:

This was the strep throat year :)

Now I'm working on printing out some popcorn boxes. The girls are cutting them out for me. Fun for all!

Have a great evening!

Oh - and Kaye - please send me your email address. I've lost it in the computer somewhere. Thanks!

29 Oct 2009

Had to post this picture - reading Sharon's blog about the snow and Mara & Spence made me think of where the wild things are :) Let the wild rumpus begin!

Since I missed yesterday - I'll have to post double the pics today. Just had a busy day yesterday - that's all!

I don't know if I'll get through all the pics I have in this morning's post. Here's a couple more:

This couple own a restaurant in Howe. That is not quite to Arco - but after Atomic City. Anyway -in the middle of nowhere. It is fabulous food! Chuck and Sue took DJ and I out for dinner to celebrate DJ's birthday last week. What a treat! Authentic German food! LOVED IT!

This is a pic of the food I made for DJ's birthday dinner at home. Chinese food: General Tso Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Spicy Kung Pao Stir Fry, Fried Rice, Potstickers and Beef and Broccoli. This is DJ eating:

He (and everyone but the kids) liked it!

Here's some snow at a house on Canyon Street in Pokey. It's the only snow left. There was some flurries but they didn't last. BTW - the Canyon house is still for sale - $210K. We went by the Rosewood house too - it is being cleaned up. I think someone has bought it. Looking improved! No for sale sign there. It was fun driving around memory lane (agaiN!).

Quick thank you to Aaron! You made my day with the magazine today! Thanks a ton!

Have a great day all!

27 Oct 2009

Happy Birthday to my love - DJ! Hope it's a great day for him. I'm cooking Chinese food for his dinner tonight - and mom made a pear cake (per his request!). Should be good!

Had such a nice visit with Grandma Jo this morning - and after seeing Becky's pics - I have to post some myself.

More pics tomorrow! Just got the mail and am enjoing the Costco Connection - some great articles - Creating a Chronicle (and that's as far as I've got - but I know there's another history related article after it). Also one of the regular writers talked about how adversity is good for us. I wanted to post a link to a story I remember - but couldn't find it anywhere. I think it was in an Ensign. The article talked about things that had happened to a family - and how what they thought was a blessing turned out to be a trial, and things they thought were trials turned out to be blessings. I guess it's all in how you look at it.

Well - I've got some cocoa to drink :) Have a great day!

26 Oct 2009

Feeling productive this morning :) Paid some bills....getting ideas for DJ's birthday dinner tomorrow....and general tidying (in addition to laundry).

Seems like I had so much more to say.....Did I tell you about spooky soap? Glycerin pour and melt with halloween fun inside? You could do any holiday, really. My kids are working hard on a bar of soap with a skeleton inside. Great thing for this flu season.

BTW - All the kids that go to school are back there today. Some more reluctantly than others. No one had a fever - so I felt good sending them - even though some are coughing (still!). We've had some sort of flu here - in addition to bronchitis (McKay) and Strep (Hinks and Taylor). So it's been a busy few days. Hopefully this will be a better week.

I made some pretties for my calendar/organizer. Using a scrapbook cover.....here they are...woops! I forgot that they are still in psd format. I guess you'll just have to take my word. OK - so I really want you to see - here they are:

Something else I've been enjoying - going along with the theme of a series of unfortunate events/where the wild things are is this blog with some lovely art!: http://www.terribleyelloweyes.com/

Go take a look! Some beautiful pictures there! I also liked this image from asoueclub.deviantart:

I'm thinking of doing a word board (you know the kind) with Steffler Family's A Series of Wildly Fortunate Events. Gives it the slant I'm wanting - and ties in the colors for my eventual room :) What do you think?

Well, that's about enough inspiration for today I think. Have a great one!

23 Oct 2009

We're on the mend - I think. McKay is back at school for the full day today. Still coughing...
From the sounds I hear - Kimball and Hinks are feeling better - just need to get over the last bit of fever. Taylor had the fever and all this morning - so she'll be the last to get over it.

Got my computer back last night. Almost good as new - I'm having to reinstall a few things. All in all - it's OK :) Nothing was lost - except old emails :)

It's so fun to hear what everyone is up to. I enjoyed seeing the pics on Bruno's blog. Very nice! I hope everyone else is staying healthier than we are. We should be over it soon, though. I've enjoyed the quieter, less bouncy children. :)

More later!

22 Oct 2009

Posting again with Amanda's netbook. Waiting on my motherboard to come in so my computer can be fixed. Yesterday morning, Hinckley came in coughing and had quite the fever - as did Kimball - so all my girls ended up staying home. I took McKay late this morning - but they haven't called yet saying I need to go get her. She ended up having to go in - and she has bronchitis. I think Hincks and Kimball have a flu. So, we're bunkered down here. I put a TV in their room so I can have some peace and fewer germs in mine. They are doing well being confined to quarters as it were.

That's about all going on with us. Just waiting out this sickness stuff. Hoping to be well soon. Loves to all!

19 Oct 2009

We had a very productive and good weekend in Nampa. Made it back just in time for church here. Thanks Dan and Kaye for taking such good care of us :) Here's a pic of the house (after a morning of getting it ready and cleaned up for winter. :)

McKay has strep so I get to take care of her at home today while I work on getting her medicine. Crazy times here. We're taking it easy. Should be a good day.

16 Oct 2009

I think it's the 16th.....not sure. Posting from Amanda's computer. Handy little thing!

We're heading to Nampa tonight. I'll post if I can.....we'll be very busy in Nampa, though. Not a vacation - working on the house, attending events. Thinking of you all!

Mmore later....

14 Oct 2009

Taylor has the sore throat now - plus the fever. So - I'm waiting out the time until I can call the doctor this morning. Poor little sickie! Now we play the waiting game to see if any other kids get this (or adults). Tis the season!


One of my prescriptions is ready - so I get to ask about the price of the other one (still taking trial pills). I hope it's not too expensive because it's really working for me - Pristiq :) I'm not even having to take my daily vegamita vitamins :)

I should have believed you, Regan. You said not to read Wicked. I went ahead and read it. YIKES! I kept hoping that it would get better - it never did. I think I'll ban that author from my reading list. For anyone else thinking of reading that book - don't! Really, don't! If it was on TV it would be rated R - with the VSLD additionally. Enough said?!?

I have some other books that I hope help us through this time - I'm reading a Michener novel. Not sure which one I picked......and I have a few other gems. I'll try to update my goodreads. If you have access to Flora Segunda - check it out! My kids really are looking forward to listening to it again soon. The reader really does a great job with it. I think it's a Netlibrary book if I remember correctly. They don't have the sequel on the Netlibrary - but I enjoyed it. It (second book)would be good to read first before you decide if you want your kids to read it - but for those over 16 - I would recommend it. Also on Netlibrary (if you have access) is the So you want to be a Wizard series. Again - a good read. I think there's nine books in the series. I really enjoyed them!

Well - time to call. More tomorrow!

12 Oct 2009

Just quickly....Gabriel has moved back in - and is in the office. So....my computer time is a bit more limited. Updates will be better later this week/next week.

We had a wonderful baptism with McKay. What a special day! We were so glad for those who could come and share it with us. Thanks! Also - thanks to those who called and gave their well wishes too ;) We love you all!

Today Hinckley had a sore throat and a temp so we took her in. They are checking for strep but treating us regardless of the results. Just FYI...for those who were here ;( I think we'll be taking this week one day at a time - seeing as how it's flu season and all.

Hope you are all well - pics later :)

10 Oct 2009

Very interesting reading about the different school policies :) The teacher gave me no trouble at all! :) And all the kids liked them - many even said thanks without being prompted!

Today is going to be great! I'm keeping this short so I can go enjoy it with everyone! Have a great day!

9 Oct 2009

It's been a busy week in some ways and a quiet week in others. Took the computer to the shop yesterday and found out that the motherboard is our problem. So....we should be getting our computer back late next week. In the meantime - I have two computers in the office that I can use. Just a small inconvenience really. We are counting the computer as the third appliance to go down here recently. First it was the dishwasher (replaced), then the dryer (replaced) and now my computer (being repaired).

Also yesterday I had some fun with two of my girls - the younger ones. First, Taylor and I went out to DJ's truck and I let her steer it around the yard. So nice having a yard big enough to do that :) She had a great time - no seat belt or anything :) Later, Hinckley hadn't had a turn so I let her have a chance to drive the suburban - also just around the yard (just steering really). They thought that was so cool! Then I went over the rules - you must have a grown up with you to do this and just in the yard. You can't drive on your own until you are big and have taken a driving class. I was remembering times with Bruno letting me drive his old pickup around the same yard. That's what life is about isn't it? Building memories that will last forever?

We are getting excited to get McKay baptized tomorrow. I'm doing the programs today. It's going to be a really great day! We're looking forward to seeing all of you that can come :) And we'll be thinking of the ones that can't too!

We have spider cupcakes ready to take to McKay's class this afternoon. I have a quick question for any who would be willing to respond. Does your school allow homemade treats? Or only store-bought? I'm breaking the store-bought rule today. Oh well! Our old school allowed homemade treats and it was a bigger school - so it's interesting to me that this small school doesn't allow them. Anyway - you can't buy treats as good as I make them :) I'll take a picture although it will take awhile for me to get it posted on here :) I also got her cake done already. For those interested - I used the Chocolate Cake recipe in Deceptively Delicious. Except I didn't have beets - so I used pumpkin in its place (seasonal after all!).

Well, that is about it....Hope you are all well! Loves to you!

5 Oct 2009

I'm posting from Mom's computer today. My computer is on the fritz - probably the power supply from what I can figure. Conference was really nice. Today everyone is back to school - and we're back to "normal" around here. I really enjoyed having the kids home and will miss them :(

Hope everything is good with you - more after I get my computer fixed :)

2 Oct 2009

So looking forward to conference! The doctor apt. went well - trying some different meds. Making plans for Christmas already. If I'm not on top of things and get feeling poorly - nothing will be done. Anyway - also working on family history. Using Family Insight to get all my place names corrected (and preparing to sync!). It's going to be a while yet.....

If you don't have something for your kids for during conference - Here's a link with some great links on it:
http://visitingteaching.net/blog/2009/09/oct-2009-general-conference/

I also have another idea that we'll be trying out with Kimball. I've got various beads - multicolored (thanks again Sarah G!)For each speaker she gets to choose a large bead - and each time the speaker says one of her value words - she puts a coordinating bead behind the large bead - making a conference necklace! I'm hoping it turns out well. We'll let you know :) For the younger ones - probably doing some conference bingo :) - as well as worksheets. We're hoping to attend conference tomorrow morning at the church - with the local Spanish Branch. They have a meal between sessions -you see where I'm going with this? Very excited about that. Also, I hope to be able to help some of them get registered on new.familysearch - it's in some other languages too (including Spanish and Portugese).

That's about it from here. Hope you are all well. Please remember baby Vanessa in your prayers!