I tried and kind of failed...

My girlfriend Nancy is an amazing person. I just love her. And, she is soooo talented. She has the cutest blog where she shares all of her cute crafts, etc. She also makes the best treats ever. EVER. I don't understand how she does it --and all so effortlessly. I have tried to make her treats and although they always end up tasting divine, mine never look good like hers!



I tried these cookie/brownie/cupcakes and they taste good, but check hers out compared to mine!

Hers: MineReally! What kind of purple poo thing do I have on mine? Come on!

Happy New Year and more important, Happy Birthday Scott

Happy New Year. On 1/1/11 at 11:11 we took this photo of the kids holding Scott's phone that showed the time. Luckily, it was also 11 degrees! Cool (really... cold)!Elise loves her daddy! They get to share their birthday month with each other. Scott started his off at the beginning of January and he is now 34! He got a bike trainer which he loves and I am proud to say he uses it ALL the time! Way to go honey. I signed him up for a triathalon in the summer. He also got many many homemade presents from Aidan and pictures from Brennan.

Happy Birthday husband--I love you!

Elise's Birthday

We gathered the whole gang for Elise's birthday --Omi and Opa, Auntie Heidi and her darlings, and Grandma Nancy. Unfortunately, Grandma Bea, Grandpa Ron and Grandma Tracey couldn't come. It seems Grandpa will do anything to stay away from our house. He decided to have a appendectomy. But we'll forgive him.We thought we'd keep the elephant theme going for her first birthday and I made her this cake (a delicious orange flavor cake). Ali gave me the idea of using M&Ms to outline--using the valentine colors that are for sale now. Then Heidi and Omi helped me through making it.
Elise is taking her first bite of cake.. one bite is all it took! She loved it! Unfortunately she got some in her eyes and it made for some tears, but she had fun while it lasted. Here she is with all her loot. And she loved all the presents, but especially the teddy bear from Omi and Opa! Thanks to all who attended (and Beanie--she looooves the little pig!).

Crafts and fun

Weston had a little "business" at school and all the kids had to sell something. Treats or whatnot. We decided to make pet rocks. They turned out really cute and they were all bought up! We also made gingerbread cookie dough (with cake mix--add egg and oil). And made cookies with ABC cutters. Each kid made their own names and ages.

Puppet Show

The boys love to put on shows for us and for Christmas we got a bunch of soft hand puppets (so cute and such a good deal. Costco, 8$ for 4, lots of variety--dogs, farm, birds, etc.) So I wanted to have a "theatre" for them and most are very expensive. So I decided to make one. It really didn't turn out that much cheaper than buying one... But it really wasn't that hard to make. If I wouldn't have been interrupted every five minutes it probably would have taken me 2-3 hours to make.

Aidan does lots of puppet shows for his music class, too. I will try and take a video of one and post it.

A very lovely show going on about a pig, a dog, and a dinosaur. Not a lot of words, just grunts and barks.

This is the backside--it has pockets for the puppets.

Home Improvements

We had a family night about having a "House of God" (D&C 88:119) and used a leftover gingerbread house to "build" it. It was a fun way to talk about the things we can do as a family to make our home a good place to be. For the next five months we are going to be using the Missionary Guide as our family home evenings. We want to teach Weston the "discussions" before he gets baptized. I have divided up the lessons over the next five months so we slowly discuss each topic. We went to the Baptism Preview the other night and he is very excited for his baptism. Last night for FHE his former preschool teacher and husband came over and told us about their mission to Samoa. It was a fun suprise for him and so interesting for all of us.

Besides FHE "home improvements", we have been making a few changes in our house. We have never had bedding for our bed--just used old sheets from when I was single, and a blanket for when Scott was a kid. So, we decided to make our bedroom look a little more formal. I got the bedding at Kohls (at an amazing deal, of course--50% off, then a 30% off coupon, plus 30$ kohls cash...) and I really like how it turned out.

We have wanted new carpet pretty much since we moved in. Our old carpet was gross. GROSS. I hated it. We have been slowly searching for what we want and finally bought some that I think it perfect! It matches beautifully and it a nice berberish, with pattern, high quality carpet. (We happened to buy it from the son of Dad's old friend, Barry Sutton).

Christmas and other December photos

In their Christmas Pajamas around the tree Christmas morning! What cute elves!

Our melting snowman. One night we had a huge storm and we were able to make a humongous snowman. The next day it started melting and the following day it was slumped over!

Elise in her cute Christmas dress. Merry Christmas!