Summer Day 4

With no swim team practice this morning, the day started LAZY ... I even had to wake a few of the girls to get things moving!! We started the day with a trip to the bowling alley with the Wilsons! An hour of bowling finished off with pizza and root beer made for the perfect morning :)

Cougar

Alex

Amanda

Kendyl

Kayla

Ashton

Brinley

Of course, we had to spend some time in the arcade, too. I love that they were thoroughly entertained without actually paying to play a single game!!









After a break at home, we headed to Krispy Kreme to celebrate National Doughnut Day with free doughnuts!








Next, we hit Costco and bought every snack that they carry so we can start our summer snack buckets on Monday - YAY! After a quick trip to drop a smoothie off to a friend who had his tonsils out on Wednesday, it was home for some pickup and some Wii time ... Just Dance 2 *WOO HOO*


After a super speedy dinner mac & cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches for the kiddos, Steve and I snuck away for dinner at Rubio's followed by frozen yogurt. It was the perfect start to the first weekend of summer 2011!!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas ...

It rained.

We started the day early by making a batch of Addiction for Brinley to take to her math class. They could make a recipe for extra credit showing the calculations to double or triple the amounts and then share it with her class ... aren't they lucky? I haven't done hardly any baking yet this year due to the kitchen disaster of 2010. Good news on the horizon, though - countertops go in tomorrow, plumbing will be done Saturday {dishwasher, sink, disposal, RUNNING WATER} just in time for company to arrive on Sunday, and they will be here to finish up and clean the tile (and grout *WOOT*) on Monday!!! Don't worry ... pictures will follow ;)

I headed into Ashton's class to help with some Christmas crafts today. She is a lucky girl to have such cute and sweet friends! I had so many kids come up that were excited to see me ... I love that! I also got to stay and enjoy the holiday feast with her {although I didn't eat - I had a lunch date with my guys right after and Chipotle sounded way better than the ham and tamales they were serving}!

As I was frantically preparing food for my Bunco hosting duties tonight, a sweet girl from my ward stopped by to drop off some goodies, a Christmas card, and a darling thank you gift. I didn't feel I had done anything "worthy" of a thank you, but as I read her note I was humbled by her overwhelming thoughtfulness and gratitude toward me. It reminded me that I need to take more time to express my own gratitude for others and the impact they have on me ... not just for the big things that we might normally show our thanks for. It was just what I needed and I will definitely go back to her note when I need a pick me up!!

Then it was off to Bunco! I was invited to be part of a Bunco group several months ago and it is such fun - I had never played before that!! I chose to host in December because it is the one month out of the year that I feel like my house has any style. This was, of course, before things fell apart in the kitchen! Lucky for me, my dear friend Beth came to the rescue and offered for me to use her house ... even nicer since she's not even in the Bunco group!! I convinced her to sub for another girl who couldn't make it this month. We made Cafe Rio salads and fruit salsa along with lots of peppermint goodies and some amazing peppermint oreo brownies that Beth made.

I made a little gift for the girls, too. I had been wanting to make a little something and I knew I also had teacher gifts, office gifts, and friend/neighbor gifts to make, so I worked and created my very first subway art {inspired by so many designs that I had seen online}!! I love the way that they turned out and I can't wait to give them out to everyone else ... hope they like them!!

I asked if everyone would be okay with bringing donations this month rather than bringing gifts to hand out after play. Everyone was on board and I talked with the nurse at one of the local high schools (after being tipped off that there were some specific needs there) about what could be used. We decided to collect lots of hygiene products - pads, tampons, shampoo, lotions, soap, deodorant, combs, brushes, etc. These will go to help students in our area who are homeless, displaced, or without some of these everyday basics. It felt so good to gather everything up in my car tonight and I can't wait to deliver them to the school tomorrow!

While I was at Bunco, Steve attended Brinley's "regular" band concert. She has been playing the french horn for months now and is improving as she practices! She really seems to enjoy it and I'm sure she did a great job!

Middle School Mama

First I have to say thanks so much for all of the sweet comments that have been left or e-mailed to me ... you sure know how to make a crazy girl feel the love!! I hope my reentry didn't leave you feeling like I was in the bottom of some dark abyss - it never got that bad ;) Life is fabulous most of the time and the rest of the time it is the pits or somewhere blissfully in between ... like everyone else's.

Last week met us with another milestone in our house - Middle School. That's right ... summer is over {in the blink of an eye} and the kiddos are back in school (can I get a little WOO HOO? We really did have a great summer but it was time for ALL of us ... the kids miss it just as much as I do)!!! Brinley has stepped up to the big leagues of Middle School. I'll be honest - I've been dreading it for at least 9 months. The mere idea of the new campus, administrators and teachers I didn't know, lockers, "tween" clothing {including training bras}, cruelty, language, "outside influences", etc. were enough to make this mama want to lock her up and homeschool her!! That, however, would never be an option for me because she is too passionate about school (and I couldn't do the homeschool thing ... having been a public school teacher). Toward the end of 5th grade I started to notice her attitude toward "moving up" become more nervous and I was afraid that my own fears were rubbing off on her - yikes. A change of attitude {for both of us}, 2 tours of the school during open houses, some fun school shopping for clothes and the MANY school supplies required by the middle school and we were both feeling much better. She dove right in last Monday and is loving the whole thing. She was accepted into the honors program so she has the same group of kids in her 5 core classes ... some of which she knows from her elementary school. She has a few friends in her homeroom class, too, which was comforting to find out. She's got a group of girls that she eats lunch with every day (I had nightmares of her sitting alone in the cafeteria). She got into band and has decided to play the french horn which, by the way, is one of the most expensive instruments to rent or buy ... just learned that last night. Ugh. Tonight she announced that she wants to run for Student Council which is awesome - she's a great leader. The kicker about that? She can start hanging posters and campaigning on Monday and has to have a speech ready for approval on Monday ... and I have to teach Relief Society on Sunday. How in the world am I supposed to have the time to work on a campaign over the weekend?!? No sleep is the only answer, unfortunately.

Now so you don't think she's the ONLY one who started school last week I should mention the other munchkins. Ashton is in 4th grade this year and Kendyl is in 1st grade. I am the luckiest lady around because they both got the teachers that I wanted them to ... both of which we have had before!! I am thrilled to work with these ladies again and plan to do some extra "spoiling" just cuz I love 'em. Kendyl's teacher is actually the one that I babysat for after she had her first baby so there is an extra special connection there ;) Both of them are doing exceptionally well and are loving being back in the classroom.

And now a photo of the girlies ... with a preview of my new product releasing in my shop on Monday!

How about the littlest of the bunch, you ask? He started preschool two days a week! I was really torn about it, to be honest, because he is still very young and has 2 years before he will start school. What it came down to was that socially he needs to be around other kids more. He is so lonely when his sisters go back to school and while I try to plan playdates for him, it's nice for him to establish his own "routine," too. He's loving it so far and his teacher says that he is doing very well in terms of participating and focusing {when required}. Here are a few shot of him as he headed out the door on his first day:

That kid cracks me up!! Well, I think that covers our first day of school happenings ... I'm sure I could go on but that is MORE than enough for one night!!

It's September, Right?!?

One thing that seems to always hold people back from starting to scrapbook is that they feel so far behind. In my case I've got 4 children and 12 years of marriage to document - and that only takes me back to being 25!!! That's exactly how I'm feeling about my blogging right now. I didn't post a single entry in June or July. I've only posted 18 times since the beginning of the year ... and now it's September. I've missed out on writing about so many things, posting silly happenings, stresses, accomplishments, struggles, etc, yet I'm going to take a page out of my scrapbooking theory - start with the current. Don't worry about what you haven't recorded yet ... you can always come back to that.

The girls started school on August 3rd and progress reports are just around the corner. Brinley is in 5th grade and is clearly growing up. She even said that recess is SO boring now because there is nothing to do now that she is older. I've been meaning to get her into an orthodontist to see when we will be diving into that whole mess ... maybe I keep putting it off because I know how expensive it is going to be. She ended up needing glasses this year and just got them yesterday. She had been complaining about not being able to see the board clearly and sure enough - she couldn't. She is still extremely focused in school and is planning to run for student council again this year. She is still taking piano lessons, singing in the school choir, and is taking a swim stroke clinic right now. She really loves to swim and did a great job on the swim team this summer.

Ashton started the 3rd grade this year and loves it. She has a few friends in her class again this year which is always nice. She's lost a few more teeth and is starting to care a lot more about what she wears ... ugh. She got her ears pierced back in May and is always concerned about what earrings will go with her outfits. She is jumping into the world of soccer this year and will begin practice tomorrow - officially making me a "soccer mom" for the first time. She is also taking piano and singing in the school choir, too.

Kendyl is FINALLY old enough to start Kindergarten!! She misses the cutoff here by only 2 weeks, so she was really more than ready to go last year. Lucky for her she got to spend 2 years with Ms. Beckie so at least she was getting top notch preparation for her "big" school debut. She absolutely *LOVES* school! She has a wonderful teacher and even with all of the crummy state budget cuts to education she is attending all day - really a good thing for her. She has a class bunny named Chloe who gets to hop around the classroom while they do their morning work. I go in on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to check homework folders and offer my help for a few minutes. It is so fun to get to know the children in her classroom as they adjust to being in school full time. She has decided that tennis may be the sport for her (at least for this month) so she will begin lessons next week. She will probably do the swim stroke clinic in October with Brinley since it has been so fabulous. She also started taking piano lessons in August and she's learning to read music but also picks out melodies by ear! I miss having her with me on our Tuesday lunch dates with Beth, but am so glad to know she is happy to be at school.

Cougar is a mess. That boy keeps us moving at all times. He makes us laugh and scream in frustration. It became very clear the first week the girls were in school that life would be much more challenging with only one at home. I have never had only one at home his age ... I always had another by this point (and no, I will not be having another). It is a challenge, to say the least. He changes his clothes at least 3-5 times a day. His clothes are literally all over the house and it is rare to find anything in his drawers ... even if I've just put laundry away. Errand running is great but trying to get any housework done with a shadow is near impossible - I never noticed how much the girls helped to entertain him!! Well, I noticed it, but never fully APPRECIATED it until now. If I am folding laundry he is on the bed unfolding it. If I am trying to sweep he will get out another broom and mess up my pile. He loves to feel "helpful" even when his help is usually more destructive. And yet we get the best smiles and silly expressions out of him when he is on his own. Lunchtime is so much fun when Steve comes home and it is just the 3 of us. He constantly has us cracking up!! His favorite word right now is "AWESOME," and he always turns things around on you. "Cougar, pick that up." "No, YOU pick that up!!" He cries everytime someone else starts to say the prayer, so we have to let him bless every meal and offer every family prayer - even if we follow it up with someone else (who's prayer he will cry through because he is not the one offering it). He has at least one weekly playdate and is still my Tuesday lunch date buddy (along with Beth and Alex). So much fun and so much work all in one little boy!!

Steve was released from being the Young Men's President this past week and called to be 1st Counselor in the bishopric. UGH. The up side to this is he was already attending most of the meetings that he is required to attend now, so hopefully scheduling won't be that much worse - except for Sundays and an added night during the week. He was so sad to be released from YM ... he was really starting to see things moving in the right direction ... but I know he will enjoy working with the Bishop and getting to know the ward members even more. I'm so proud of him. He's always been such an amazing example to me. He drafted his Fantasy Football team this weekend and is looking forward to a great BYU Football season as well - starting with the BIG game on Saturday vs. Oklahoma. GO COUGARS!!! He is always looking for the perfect practice to buy and even tosses around the idea of opening his own. For now I am just grateful that we have a good, stable job!! He wishes he could golf more than he does and still plays basketball on Tuesday nights.

I should probably save myself for another post for fear of writing an entire novel in one sitting. Anyone who actually reads this should really receive some type of medal. Then again, I'd be surprised if anyone even bothers to check my blog anymore. I deserve it. I haven't been posting and I haven't been checking/commenting on other people's blogs. Shame on me. I just got to the point where something had to give and blogging was the easy choice. Stinks, really, since it is the one thing that connects me to the "outside" world and keeps me informed, but it is what it is. A few of my highlights (to spare you the many boring details):
* I survived Girls Camp (and even tried rappelling for the first time)
* We traveled to Utah where we hung with family and ate at all of my favorite places
* I took on a co-leader position over the hybrid creative team at ScrapMatters and also help oversee the hybrid design team
* I became a hybrid designer at ScrapMatters and opened a teeny tiny (so far) shop at SM where I am selling my designs - and will be adding more as time allows
* I got to see Wicked again this summer and especially enjoyed sharing the experience with Jill and John
* I was in charge of coordinating the 2nd birthday celebration at SM ... so much work and yet completely rewarding
* I upgraded to CS4 from PSE6 and am loving learning my new software (when I'm not cursing because I don't know how to do something)
* I am still writing tutorials for The Hybrid Chick blog once a month
* I am still serving as stake YW Secretary
* I decided to chair the hospitality committee for the PTA this year and will also be Kendyl's room mom
* I've started running again after taking too long off - schedule took over back in January and after gaining back more weight than I wanted to (who ever wants to gain weight they worked so hard to lose?) I am regaining control and hoping to find some races to motivate me
* I learned to can chicken and have 24 pints to show for it (well, 22 after giving one to a friend to try and using one for dinner tonight)
* I am headed to Utah in a few weeks to meet up with some dear cyberfriends and help out at the first Digital Scrapbooking Experience - as a TA for the amazing Jessica Sprague
* After 10 years I am no longer a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator ... bittersweet
* I can't imagine how I survived (and held it together) before my BlackBerry

I'll stop there for fear of boredom (and sensory overload with the mere IDEA that I even posted again ... let alone wrote a book). The layout of me is actually one I did months ago that I never posted - it's still one of my favorites from my JS classes. I've got a few more pages and projects to post as well as previews of the goodies in my shop, but I'll save those for another day. Feels good to be back. Seems like I said that after I got off the treadmill this morning ;)

Brinley's Baking Academy

A few things you must know before reading on ... this will be a long post with lots of photos. I've had requests for details so I'm doing the best I can ;) If you want any more info than I give just let me know! Also, because I was so "hands on" involved in the party I was NOT the cameraman for the first time in a VERY long time! It was a hard role to give up ... seriously.

After much preparation, Brinley's birthday party arrived. There were a few late nights getting some prep work done so things could be as "organized" as possible when the girls arrived. Brinley got to invite 8 of her friends and ended up with 6 coming because 2 were sick - the joys of having a January birthday!! Ashton and Kendyl couldn't miss out on the fun either so we had 9 girls taking part in all of the festivities ... FUN!! As the girls arrived they were each given a red and pink polka dot apron. I picked these up at Target in the Dollar Spot (the $2.50 section). I also found my goody boxes and rubber scrapers that I used for the invites there ... Target seriously NEVER fails me!!!! Once the aprons were on we had each of the girls make a chef hat. I used posterboard for the bands and tissue paper for the tops. I found the idea on FamilyFun.com but their directions weren't terribly clear so I figured something out on my own. We had tape, glitter glue, regular glue and chunky glitter, foam heart stickers, and sequins on the table for them to decorate away. They all turned out so cute!While the hats were drying we headed into the kitchen to make fruit kabobs to go with our dinner. They had a great time putting grapes, pineapple, apples, and cheese chunks onto the skewers. Of course they nibbled along the way, too. When they were done we put them in the fridge to save until we were ready to eat.Next we had a cooking demonstration from ME! I wanted to teach about reading recipes, measuring, etc. so I walked them through making Chex Muddy Buddies. Each girl had a turn to put a part of the recipe into the bowl and since we doubled the recipe it gave me a great opportunity to work in some math concepts, too ("since the recipe calls for 9 cups of cereal and we are doubling it, how many cups of cereal do we need?")!! Guess it's the 4th grade teacher still inside of me ;) The girls didn't complain one bit and had a fabulous time when they were each given a bag of goodies to shake with powdered sugar.While Steve and I got things cleaned up and ready to make pizzas we had the girls play Cooking Mama Cook-Off on the Wii. It is one of my girls' favorite games and fit the theme of the party perfectly!! They took turns slicing, dicing, mixing, and stirring virtual food. The original idea was to have a "tournament" with a winner at the end but we were already running behind so they just took turns and it worked out great - gave us just enough time to get things prepared to move on.

For dinner we had pizza on the menu, of course!! We set out the toppings, gave each girl a ball of dough (I bought my favorite dough balls and split them in thirds), and let them shape them, sauce them, and top them exactly as they liked. We had them create their pizzas on a piece of parchment paper with their name on it and it ended up being the perfect way to keep track of which pizza belonged to which girl :)While the pizzas were baking we decided we'd better open presents. Brinley got some fun things - HSM pajamas and tote bag, a scrapbook, Littlest Pet Shops, Kitty in my Pocket, a book, lotions, potions, and an organizer.Once the pizzas were ready we served up the goods ... pizza, fruit kabobs, and muddy buddies! The girls loved it all! I think they really loved the idea that they had made their own dinner :)Of course you can't have a party without birthday cake, so I had made and frosted "mini cakes" ahead of time so the girls could decorate them. I baked white cakes - that we colored pink - in a 9x13 pan, let them cool, and then cut them with a circle cookie cutter (about 4"). I froze the cakes to make them easier to frost ... theoretically. They didn't turn out exactly as I had pictured them - next time I will bake the cakes in a sheet cake pan so they won't be so tall when I stack them!! I ended up using 1 1/2 of the mini cakes because otherwise they looked sillier than they ended up. I also ended up with cake crumbs in all of my frosting ... even after freezing them which is supposed to help with that. I decided it was because there were no "sealed" edges on the cake since they were cut out of the middle. If I had had more time (Kendyl had a field trip the morning of the party which cut out about 3 hours of prep time) I would have added one more layer of frosting to cover the speckles. Steve kept reminding me they were for 10 year olds .... We had a counter full of colored frosting, sparkle gels, colored sugars, and sprinkles. Those girls decorated to their hearts' content and had a BALL doing it!! Most of the moms came while they were finishing up and it was fun to see the girls showing off their masterpieces!On the way out the door the girls got their goody boxes. I had made some chocolate covered popcorn, Muddy Buddies, and cake pops ahead of time. I also made sure to bag up their extra pizza for them to take home. I used the same bag topper that I used for Kendyl's goody bags back in September to top the bags of Muddy Buddies ... just used a picture of Brinley! I felt guilty reusing something I had used for another party but had to remind myself that none of these girls were at Kendyl's party. I spent my "creative juices" on recipe books this time!! I had the moms e-mail me their daughter's favorite recipe to include in the book and added a few of Brinley's favorites along with the recipes for Muddy Buddies and chocolate covered popcorn included in their goody boxes. I put a few blank recipe cards at the end so they could add to their books. I started with the cheap photo brag books that hold 36 photos (around $1 each) and designed 3 different 4x6 recipe cards. I was so happy with the way they came out and think the girls really liked them - I know the moms did :)Our 2 hour time frame ended up closer to 3 hours - I warned the moms ahead of time - and we were busy the ENTIRE time! After everyone left I cleaned the kitchen until almost 10 PM and had cracked, bleeding knuckles to show for all of my hard work :( I have gotten great comments come back from the moms who had to listen to little girls talk about the party all weekend! It was a lot of work but was super fun to plan. I might tweak a few things if I ever do something similar (did I REALLY just say that?) but for the most part I am happy with the outcome. Thanks to you if you actually read this far ... hope the details can be of help to someone!! If nothing else at least I will be able to remember sometime in the future ;)