Holiday Trappings?

What is it about this time of year that makes me feel like I have to turn into Martha Stewart?  I mean right now as I type, I'm folding a magazine into a Christmas tree!  Seriously, I really am.  Why do I feel the need for my house to turn into a picture perfect scene fresh out of the pages of a Pottery Barn or West Elm Magazine?  I think it all boils down to one word.  Pride.   I hate the feeling I sometimes get when I walk into friend's house and I start to covet the things they have and mumble about the things I don't.  For shame.  Seriously, I'm 40 and need to get over it.  I'll work on that for next year, promise.  So back to Martha Stewart, which I'm not, let's just make that real clear, what do I do? I  compensated, since I can't afford a bunch of fancy decorations I  tried to be crafty. 

 Found these cute, cute 3d snowflakes on my new time waster website, Pinterest. (which is fantastic by the way, but that's a whole nother post)

A better view.

 Our little Christmas village. These are the results of all their efforts shown below.  Yes, there are only 6, I didn't make one, I was busy making scones. (see photo farther below)

 You know it's a fun family activity when your 18 year son is late to class so he can finish his "masterpiece."

 Nibbling the graham cracker down to just the right size.

 See!  Yummy scones. The fried fattening kind, with cinnamon sugar, or nutella and whip cream! Definitely ate too many of those.

 Sweet Pea helping her Papa with the decorating.

 Little A's finished product.

 Liv's house, that she dreamed up during her Science class that day.

Who needs fancy decorations when you have home made ones!!  No photo of my Christmas tree made out of a magazine, I realized after I started that I need a magazine with more pages in it.  So I'll attempt it again tomorrow.

Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!!  Oh, how I love thanksgiving.  The food, family, the time off from school, the weather, the cooking and eating.  I love you can stretch out the Thanksgiving season and start in  October and have two months celebrating the bounty of Autumn.  Everything is so delightful.  This year I didn't have any stress about it so I think finally after 15 years of making Thanksgiving dinner I must have it down. Or maybe it was because this year I actually had a little helper.  Sweet Pea wanted to be involved in everything!  She was so helpful.  She helped me with the apple pie yesterday, she got up early today and helped me with the rolls, the turkey, she even personally cut every potato!  I was so impressed.  She wanted to do everything.  She even made these cute little napkin rings.  It made me so happy that she actually wanted to be apart of making our Thanksgiving dinner and I loved having the help!

Here's some photos of our day.

ok... well maybe not.  I downloaded the pictures onto my computer and I can see them in my photo album but when I go to look for them to upload to Blogger, they are not there!  That's frustrating.  Even more so because I deleted the photos from my sd card so I can't download them again.  I'll have to try again later. Sorry!


......It worked!  Maybe my computer just needed time to think about it.

 Sweet Pea's cute napkin rings. Courtesy of Our Best Bites.  When I decided to make these,  I went searching for the flowers and couldn't find anything in the right color.  I could see the flowers in my head but could not find anything close.  Dejected I came home and that night before I went to bed I had a revelation of sorts.  I knew I had seen the flowers I wanted, they were in my bathroom downstairs being used as a decoration.  Well, needless to say, I don't have that decoration anymore!  It was totally worth it, these were adorable.

 For breakfast.  Homemade egg Mcmuffin sandwiches, homemade pumpkin muffins and bread.

 Sweet Pea making rolls.

 Sweet Pea cutting all those potatoes!

 Hubby's way of celebrating Thanksgiving!

 Sweet Pea enjoying the fruits of her labors!

 Little A loves his slush!

 The Gang, which included: Hubby's parents and his Sister's family.  Fewer in numbers this year but still very nice.

 Slightly better photo.

Relaxing after the eatin'

Happy Birthday!!!

 

Happy 18th Birthday G-man!

This year was the start of many significant birthdays in our family.  It definitely has put me in melancholy mood.  Constant reminders of how quickly life goes by and how important it is to not waste time and enjoy every moment.   

Birthday breakfast in bed. 

(He will not appreciate this but, hey, he probably won't even see it, hee, hee)

 

I'm so proud of the man you are becoming.  Working full time (sometimes even more) taking a college class, buying your own car and paying for your own expenses and saving for your mission at the same time!  You are an excellent example to your siblings and me!  I appreciate you and all your hard work and dedication.

I love you!

SWEET!!!!!

 Well, here it is.  G-man's exciting news.  He bought his very first car!  (yes, he paid for every penny) 2001 Honda Civic.  I have to say, I'm a bit jealous, it's newer and nicer than my van and has less miles on it than Hubby's 2006 car.  To say he is excited, is an understatement.   I have to give credit where credit is due though,  it's thanks to Grandma and Grandpa V that he has it.  They actually found it for us.  Their neighbor was selling it and they told us about it.  I'm so excited too because now he doesn't have to borrow my van anymore.

A perfect match!

Turning 12

Party Rock Anthem for my Mr. E 
(Just try to sit still for this song)

Almost a month ago my Mr. E turned 12!  A big year in our church because he is now out of Primary.  Primary is Sunday School for the kids.  When you turn 12 you get to move up into the Young Men and Young Women program.  By the time you turn 12 all the kids are ready to get out of Primary.  Luckily for Mr. E.  he turned 12 before our Primary program, which is a culmination of all the lessons and songs they have learned throughout the year preformed in Sacramento meeting.  He was SO excited that he didn't have to do it year this.  He really doesn't enjoy singing.

 Traditional birthday breakfast in bed.  (Much easier given on the bottom bunk than top!)

 Growing up!  ALMOST as tall as me. Give him another month or so and he will surpass me.

Backtracking a little bit.  First day of school.  Kinda.  For Liv that is.  The other 3 had been in school for about 4 weeks already but, of course, I forgot to take pictures of that.  I wasn't even home on Liv's first day because I was off having some much needed mommy-time at Education Week in Utah.  So hubby made sure to take pictures on Liv's first day.  What a good man.

Strange to see a first day of school picture with one missing.  G-man is taking one class at the community college, and then has been working full-time to save for his mission and something else exciting that I hope to post sometime next week!!!!

BTW- the song you're hearing is our new favorite song in our house.  It has a really fun dance that goes with it that you have to see if you haven't already.  Liv and I spend time trying to learn it.  Well, she learned it,  I just look like a chicken. =)

I'm still here....

But I still haven't learned to manage my time well enough for this to become a priority.  I hope to return soon.  Thanks for waiting... or not.

Letting Go

As parents we do a lot of "letting go."  It all starts very gradually at first.  Letting someone else hold your baby.  Then  letting go of your child's hands when they take their first steps.   A few short years later, we're letting go to send them school.  Then letting them go to their friend's house after school.  Then it's scout/girls camp for a week. Not to mention the letting go of the expectations we started with.  You know:  Clean rooms, straight A's,  good manners, complete obedience.   Well, now it's the letting go of my car keys.  A few months ago G-man got his license.  I know it's an inevitable right of passage for a teenager but I still was not prepared for the feeling I got when Hubby dangled a set of car keys in front of G-man's face and asked him if he wanted to go for a ride. By himself.  I asked if I could sit in the backseat but Hubby wouldn't let me.  It was one of those moments where I had to offer up silent prayers and then keep busy until he returned.  Now he has graduated from high school and he can't let go fast enough.  You'd think I've had enough time to prepare but I don't feel I have.  Time went by too fast and I'm not ready to let him go.

 At least he'll still hug me!

 May 17, 2011

Typical of our family, pictures were rushed and not very good.  The graduation took place at Arco Arena (excuse me, PowerBalance Arena) at 7pm on a rainy day.  We had to take two cars to fit everyone and then had to drop G-man off at a different location then where we were to go.  After the graduation, it was a miracle to even find him again and it was pouring and dark.  Not good picture taking weather.  So very few pictures were taken.   I might have to stage a family graduation picture another time.

 

 

All about Liv!

This post is all about Liv.  In April she celebrated her 15th birthday. She's wishing it was 16 but we're grateful we still have another year before that happens!

Liv eating her birthday breakfast.  (also notice the color of her walls,  we have since painted and I'll post that picture later)

Liv is taking a Spanish class this year and one of her projects was to make a pinta.  She decided on Kirby, a SmashBros. character.  It turned out so cute.  She was so proud of it.!

Here he is again.  Click HERE to see a picture of him.

One of Liv's birthday presents was to have her room finally painted just like I did with Sweet Pea.  After 7 years of living here, I want everyone to finally be settled into finished rooms.  The problem is we always have to do things in stages and I never feel like we finish any one room.  Her room is now painted and I'm working on making some wall hangings.  Not sure if I'm going to make the curtains or if I can find something we both like.  But I'll post some pictures when we're done.  So far, it's turning out really pretty!  Hopefully it won't take too long.

Happy Birthday Little A!

A quickie post which may come in parts because I'm tired and I realized I haven't downloaded all of Little A's birthday photos yet. But I have to get something in now because Liv's birthday is the end of this week and I can't post about her birthday before Little A's!

 My baby turned 7!  Here he is enjoy his requested egg sandwich for his birthday breakfast.  Apparently he was in the mood for breakfast because we had breakfast for dinner too! 

 

Love this face!

Senior Ball Photos

I just sent G-man off on his first formal High School dance/date.  Wow, crazy.   I did have to talk him into it.  He was really indifferent to going.  He's not really one to participate in these kind of things but I wanted him to have a traditional High School experience to remember.  So he was gracious and indulge me.  Although, I have to say I was blown away by the prices of renting a tux.  At least a girl gets to keep her dress. But I don't want to rant about that right now.
Here's the cute couple.  

 

Awww, he cleans up pretty good, I'd say.

Birthday Time!

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea!!

We're now into rapid fire birthdays, 3 in a month's time.  Sweet Pea kicked it off on Tuesday celebrating her 10th birthday!  Wow, I can't believe it.  She's grown and matured so much over the last year.  She's almost a different person. I was worried for awhile but We're finally getting out of her meltdown stage and has turned into a very dependable young girl. I can always count on her to fulfill her responsibilities without being told. She;s just a sweet little girl.  The picture above was taken  in San Francisco when my mom came to visit. I just love it!  I think she's about 1 1/2-2 yrs old here.

 Our traditional birthday breakfast in bed.  She chose an egg sandwich.  Although, notice she's so good about getting ready in the morning that she was up, bed made, dressed and just waiting for us to come in!

 

Recently I decided to do a little room switching (again).  This used to be G-man's room but I moved him downstairs.  Liv is back upstairs in Sweet Pea's old room.  Part of her birthday gift was finally painting her room.  Last time we switched bedrooms I said I would paint it and then never got around to it.  (Good thing)  So this time I had a goal and got it done.  A very bright pink.  Nice and cheery just like her. The white corner piece was my "one man's garbage is another man's treasure" find.    It was out front someone house  and had a "free" sign on it so I grabbed G-man and had him help me put it in the van.  I knew I would paint it white and put it in Sweet Pea's room. I finally did it.    Eventually we'll get somethings on the walls.

Last month Little A and Sweet Pea were off track. I can't tell you how many times I heard, "I'm bored"  Because I'm home schooling Ethan, we couldn't really do much.  So I decided that Sweet Pea needed to have a hobby and learn a skill.  We bought her knitting looms.  I was really nervous she would be like "What are these!"  But she totally loves them!  She started right away making a scarf, I should have bought that a long time ago.  Funny, even my boys want to learn how to do it. (No, she didn't make the hat she's wearing. She bought it for herself and wears it all the time.) One thing that hasn't changed is caring about what she wears!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful little girl!!