More growing pains...for mama!

Well, I think this post is more painful for me to write about than turning my keys over to G-man. 
This weekend Liv had her performance of State Fair that she is in.  She was gone just about all day Saturday.  She came home to this:

Ugh!!!!  I'm really not ready for my daughter to start dating!  As parents, Hubby and I have upheld our Churches standard which is not dating until they are 16.  I thought I was safe because the proms for our local schools are before her birthday, however, she has one friend that goes to school in a different school district and his prom is AFTER her birthday.   Now, it's the painful process of finding a modest dress, etc.  This is not easy for me!

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.