Birthday Boy

Today is Colson's SEVENTH birthday. Wow. I thought turning thirty would make me feel old. This is a bad year altogether for the age thing...

What do you say about your first born?? Are there words to describe the moment before you were a mother, to the moment after? Only mothers can understand this incredible moment. And how lucky I feel to have been able to have children. Wow, what a blessing!!

I won't bore you with the "birthing story" but I'll tell you a little bit about Colson. We started "trying" almost right away after getting married, thinking it would take a few months to get pregnant. Not so much. We were prego immediately. I still can remember Josh sitting on the bathroom floor with his head down, asking are you sure you did it right?? :) SO FUNNY!! We were not ready for that little guy quite yet, but Heavenly Father knew we needed him right then. I was six days late with Colson, and boy was that the longest week ever. He was born at 4:02 in the morning, after a decent labor, with drugs, and thankfully fairly quick.

I immediately felt like I knew what I was doing, which is a great feeling to be confident as a mother, I think that was only at the beginning, because now, well, times have changed and the confidence is slowly creeping out the window.

He's been a pleasant child, very easygoing, and is full of personality. He's my intellect, and loves all things science. He's built like his dad tall and lanky,, with an amazing aptitude for learning. He's the only one of my children that looks anything like me, no matter what anyone says!! Hallie has my personality but looks like her Grandpa Heath. He is joyful, passionate, considerate, a deep thinker, and has a spirit like no other. I've known for quite sometime that he is sensitive to spiritual things. He was 3 years old and building an alter to pray to Heavenly Father out of toilet paper. In this world where things of the world seem to be more important, like money, cars, houses, nicest clothes, etc. It's a breath of fresh air to have someone like Colson around. I know he still desires "worldly" things, and I think he's spoiled considering my upbringing, but overall the boy is quite uplifting. He treasures his friends, and misses them dearly as he's moved from place to place, he remembers Matthew, from Indiana, Katie, from Muncie, Brendan from Fort Carson, Haley, Livvy, and Emma from Cali, and Chris and Stewart from Fort Meade. How I've hated moving him away from his friends.

He's also been through more than most kids, his dad has left for Basic Training, and three deployments, totaling over 2 years. He's lived in five states in five years. And has prayed often for his dad's safety. I can't imagine carrying that burden for such a little guy. He's been a sport through it all and has even prayed for me, when things have gotten rough. He's been memorizing the Articles Of Faith, which are about our basic beliefs, and doing a great job!

I also can't not mention his ingenuity, as he's created costumes, art, and elaborate knex and lego structures.

He is also my only son, so far! Which makes him that much more special to me.

So, as I'm sitting here, making 20 key lime pies in cupcake holders for his 1st grade class, I have a smile on my face thinking about Colson and how fortunate we are that he was sent to us 7 years ago.

We love you, and happy 7th!!

Wish you were here.

I hear we're coming home to some ice and winter like weather. At least I'll be sporting a tan...

Greetings from the Atlantic

The beauty of the south. (sigh) We've arrived!! We stepped out of the car yesterday and took a deep breath of 78 degrees. It was marvelous.

Yesterday, we checked in about 3:30 and were at the beach by 4:30. It wasn't that great of a beach, but it was the ocean, we just kind of sat and relaxed and let the kids run and play!

Today we got up and went to church, LOVE THAT, we can go anywhere and know exactly what to do. You have the typical ward with families, singles, and the grandmas, and grandpas. It was the most diverse congregations I've ever seen, people from everywhere BUT, we met two fellow hoosiers. Sweet. The talks were on serving the Lord in our callings, which I just gave a talk on, so that was kind of fun to hear it from a different perspective. The Relief Society was neat, a lot of needs in their ward, and the primary was great. Small building, but still felt like home. So here's a clue we were in Florida. We started to walk through the building to get to the van, when DUH we realized it wasn't 20 degrees, we could walk around the building outside!! Awesome.

We then spent the Sabbath at another beach, this one was much better, a bit crowded, but nicer area. We arrived in time for stopped traffic due to what we later discovered was a Man of War warning, one of those yucky jelly fish, apparently got somebody. There was part of the beach that was closed so we had some fun watching the lifeguards keep telling people to stay out of the water. Colson is much more adventurous this year and loved the waves. I even got a full moon view, that was SO FUNNY!! Thanks for a good laugh Colson!! Laila did all right, she didn't like the ocean much, and Hallie had a scary moment with a big wave that surprised her, so she wouldn't get near the ocean again. I'm sure by the end of the week she'll be over that. Oh, and Hallie found a jelly fish that was washed up... she can't NOT touch something so I thing she got stung a little bit on her finger, we haven't heard anything more from her, so thankfully wasn't too bad. It was kind of gross

We've got the zoo lined up, a moon science thing for Colson and Josh, a downtown party, and more beach.

Would you believe I've only taken one picture so far??? HELLO!! Hopefully I will get on that soon, we're just having too much fun.

Anyway, wanted to give you an update of our happenings. We are SO MUCH enjoying the time together, we almost don't know what to do with ourselves. It's such a break.

Last night I cooked these turkey, brie, monterey Jack, apricot preserve quesadillas for dinner, they were so good. I know that sounds wierd but they were yummy.

So I guess some things even on vacation never change... Still gotta cook!!

Josh and I have decided, that next trip it's just the two of us. ;) We're signing off, and we'll check back soon.

Braggin Rights, Baby

I have this friend, she is amazing. Really I have a billion amazing friends, you're all reading this, but anyway, there is one where we like to challenge each other with our scrapbooking. We both encouraged each other to enter this contest, and we just finished that. BUT, we kept going each of us making a layout, and then posting it on a gallery and would you know that we both landed a "Layout of the Day" Honors?? Mine is not quite as awesome as hers, BUT, I think it's a sign for our future... Check them Both out here:

EMILY


LUCY

All right, I'm really off... I've got a van to load, and kids to pack, and a house to vacuum, clean, and get to bed by nine!!

Thanks for letting me share!

Fantastic Book

I randomly found this in the library, and it was so worth it. I love it when I find a great book by accident it's like winning the lottery. Seriously the best book I've read in a long time. Twilight Schmilight. Give this one a whirl and let me know what you think.

Next book on the list is "Hoot" and I'm going to be reading it on the vacation... Until next time...

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Paradise!!

Ten - Day Forecast for my Vacay... SWEET!!!

Sat
Feb 16 Scattered Showers
80°/69° 30%
30 %


Sun
Feb 17 Partly Cloudy
81°/69° 20%
20 %

Mon
Feb 18 Scattered T-Storms
81°/57° 50%
50 %

Tue
Feb 19 Mostly Sunny
70°/58° 10%
10 %

Car Care Tips
Wed
Feb 20 Scattered Showers
75°/60° 30%
30 %

Thu
Feb 21 Partly Cloudy
76°/65° 0%
0 %

Fri
Feb 22 Partly Cloudy
78°/66° 0%
0 %

Plan a Scenic Drive

MONSTER Cookies

This is a recipe from my mom - Something I remember from long ago... They're monster cookies because it makes an enormous amount. I found they're best when you use an ice cream scoop to measure cookie portions, and let them finish baking on the pan. I made these to take on our VERY LONG trip to Florida... They have Peanut Butter, Oatmeal, and a bit of chocolate!! Perfect right? They're like cheap granola bars. WARNING - You can NOT make these in just any bowl...

12 Eggs (yes, that is a dozen)
2 Pounds of Brown Sugar
4 C Sugar
1 TABLESPOON Vanilla
1 Tablespoon Karo Syrup
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
1 pound butter melted
3 pounds of Peanut Butter
18 CUPS of Oatmeal
1 pound Chocolate Chips
1 pound of M & M's

Mix in order, spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet, Bake 12 minutes, leave on sheet to set.

You can freeze these, but prepared for a month of baking at least that's what it feels like, oh and when you get sick of scooping, I did make two batches of "bars", I pressed the dough into a 9 X 13... it takes longer to bake, but you don't have to keep scooping.

You can 1/2 the recipe, and it still makes a ton!

Have fun!

I finally did a scrap page about me... It was so hard to think of nine things I love about me... Is that bad?? I still couldn't do a photo of me... What IS my issue with that. I think it has to do with the imminent 30th birthday coming up.

Sweet Treat.

We had the missionaries for dinner, and had to make a sweetheart treat. Red Velvet Cupcake with the egg white frosting, you know the kind that is a pain in the neck with a double boiler and a mixer...

More fun to make, I only had a bite!

Check this video out!!

Eavesdropping....

Yes, I do it often, especially with the kiddos. Today while the kids were talking I heard the following conversation:

"Hallie where'd you get your gum."


"I got it off the street."


WHAT!! I look in my rearview mirror and there is Hallie chomping away on this piece of gum. I'll wait. You can go heave into the toilet. Had I not been driving I would have done the same thing!!! I'm totally freaking out, screaming at Hallie, Telling Colson to get her something to take it out and put it in!! She proceeds to tell me that someone just left it there, and she was going to save it for later. AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! SO gross.

At dinner Hallie tells Colson "That's disgusting." He was eating his dinner without his hands.

Um Hallie. You win the prize on that one. I'm still creeping out. Crazy girl. Please watch for stray wads of chewed up gum. Maybe your little one will have to satisfy a craving too. NASTY!!

Here's an artist who creates using chewed up gum. Jamie Marraccini. I wonder if they chew their own gum, or collect it like Hallie does?


Title: Bish Bam Boe
Dimensions: 12" x 24"
# of Pieces of Gum: 2672
Date Started: 1/5/99
Date Completed: 2/25/99

New Years Resolutions - How ya doin?

Check. I accomplished my first New Years' Resolution last night by submitting a portfolio of my work to a magazine. Ta Da!! Hard Work but it feels good!! I've started a 2nd resolution and I'm making progress on that one!! There's a third I'm not doing so great, and a 4th that I've forgotton. I'll have to go find the paper. Anyway it got me thinking, It's the beginning of Feb. and where are we on these resolutions. I think it's so important to have goals, to set them and work towards reaching them. It's something our church encourages regularly i.e. Faith in God for the Primary kids, Duty to God and Scouting for Young Men, and Personal Progress for Young Women, not to mention the Pursuit of Excellence for Women. But, sometimes we falter at our goals or lose our focus. I found I'm most successful, when I keep plugging away even if something comes up! Anyway, I found these great tips on resolutions! Hope this helps!!


Tips for Making Good New Year's Resolutions


There is a right way and a wrong way to make a New Year's resolution. Here are a few expert tips to see that your resolution actually makes a difference:


1. Create a Plan

Setting a goal without formulating a plan is merely wishful thinking. In order for your resolution to have resolve, (as the word "resolution" implies), it must translate into clear steps that can be put into action. A good plan will tell you A) What to do next and B) What are all of the steps required to complete the goal.


2. Create Your Plan IMMEDIATELY

If you're like most people, then you'll have a limited window of opportunity during the first few days of January to harness your motivation. After that, most people forget their resolutions completely.

It is imperative that you begin creating your plan immediately.


3. Write Down Your Resolution and Plan

myGoals.com exists to help you formulate a plan, which we then help you stick to. But even if you don't use myGoals.com, commit your resolution and plan to writing someplace, such as a notebook or journal.


4. Think "Year Round," Not Just New Year's

Nothing big gets accomplished in one day. Resolutions are set in one day, but accomplished with a hundred tiny steps that happen throughout the year. New Year's resolutions should be nothing more than a starting point. You must develop a ritual or habit for revisiting your plan. myGoals.com helps you stick to your plan by providing email reminders that arrive when it's time to work on a given task.


And finally...

5. Remain Flexible

Expect that your plan can and will change. Life has a funny way of throwing unexpected things at us, and flexibility is required to complete anything but the simplest goal. Sometimes the goal itself will even change. Most of all, recognize partial successes at every step along the way. Just as a resolution isn't accomplished the day it's stated, neither is it accomplished the day you reach your goal. Rather, it's accomplished in many small increments along the way. Acknowledge these incremental successes as they come.

Laila's First Trick

I love the age when they're starting to pick up a few things. Well today is Laila's first trick. Josh and I were watching Colson at his swim lessons, Hallie was playing in child watch, and Josh was holding Laila, we both had a piece of gum, and sure enough a few minutes later Laila was "chewing gum"!! It was hilarious!! We were laughing so hard, and she ended up doing it all evening. Such a cutie. I didn't have my camera with me to take a picture... but I had to share. Particularly for the grandparents! :)

Could it be, the biggest upset in NFL history???

I think it could. The only way I would be happier is if it was big brother Peyton. How beautiful. I could not even watch the last few minutes, I turned the volume down, I didn't want to scream and wake the entire family. What an awesome game!! It was awesome, IN YOUR FACE PATRIOTS!! Karma is a wonderful thing, got caught cheating in game number one, and screwed up your perfect season in game 19. WAHOO!! GO ELI!!!!


To celebrate I made a special treat for the fam, what do you think?? They were pretty yummy!



The tradition continues with a photoshoot for Laila at 7 months, this time, the kids wanted to be a part of the action, and would you believe I got a perfect shot for a Christmas Card?



This is Laila on her side... can you tell she's teething? Oh, and she has the funniest pattern of the teeth arriving... her bottom four, in. Her top left in. Her top right not in, but the one next to it, in.!! How funny is that?!








I have another special treat in store for my loves... Josh and Kiddos, with the leftover chocolate from the footballs I made these cute little chocolate hearts (Jamie these should look familiar!! :)) I will tuck these into our FHE treats tomorrow!