Dishwashers

After being with out a dishwasher for six months, I am happy to report that today Troy bought me a new stainless steel Maytag dishwasher!!!!!! No more hand washing dishes, and just in time to bake all the yummy cakes! I am so happy, much happier than Troy is. We went to Blacker's and they had some really great deals. We were really surprised that they were so inexpensive. So, tonight when I would normally be hand washing a zillion dishes, I will be doing more exciting things...like scrap booking or blogging! Happy day! Thanks, Troy, for making my whole week, month and year!!! I love you!

Cake contest and free decorating

I am finishing my cake classes and I found out last night my "final" is a wedding cake. I can design it or replicate one that I have seen. I am super thrilled to do this. THRILLED. There is something fun about playing in FROSTING, and yes, ADAM, I LOVE CAKE! :)

This is the part I am excited about. I am starting a blog for my cakes. I will post all the cakes that I have made, or at least the ones I have pics of, and I will decorate cakes for people for the cost of the supplies. So, instead of paying 30 for a sheet cake, it will cost two cake mixes or supplies for homemade, and the cost of the frosting. I do all the decorating and time free until I develop a nice portfolio and feel like I can charge people for my time. I am so excited about this! I get to practice and people get to order cheap cakes. Well, inexpensive cakes!!! I don't do "cheap" :). So if you or anyone you know is in need of a cake, I would love to do it. I am a clean person and my kitchen is not messy. I do not have pets of any kind in my house...just two small boys. But I keep them clean, too.

However, I am in need of a catchy name for my blog. So, if you have any ideas for a snazzy name, and if I pick yours, you get a free cake or cheesecake. I will deliver to Rexburg, Pocatello or Idaho Falls...so if you live outside this region, you will get a gift certificate/gift card for $10.00 mailed to you. (Unless you are from Malad, I will make a special trip to see some friends from my highschool days!) I want this to be fun!! If you have an idea, please leave a comment with your input. Thanks and I look forward to the ideas!! I will be posting some of the cakes that I have done in a couple days, so watch for them!!!

Happy New Year!

So, this year I have decided not to make unreachable goals. You know the type...loose 20 pounds in 5 days, not to eat junk for three months, not to blog but only once a day!!! This past year I have done some major soul searching. I have contemplated my life and the lives of my family members. I have come to the conclusion that I am not the best person I can be. There are so many things I could do better and this year I am focusing on what I can to do be a better me. I know that sounds selfish...but I will, with that, be better to those around me. I will focus on being a true disciple of Christ. I want to be someone that is reliable, stable, compassionate, trustworthy, hard working, friendly, and confident that I will be able to handle what is handed to me. I know that I am probably asking for some trials by doing so, but I know that will make me obtain these goals more earnestly. I want to be a better mom, friend, wife, daughter, granddaughter, Primary councilor, camp director, visiting teacher, housekeeper and cook. I want this year to be my best year.

Troy and I have been focusing on getting out of debt and trying to be frugal. He does a great job at providing, but we have been really loose with our finances. Budget??? So, with the help of our fave talk radio host, Mr. Dave Ramsey, we will be working fervently on getting out of debt so that we will one day be able to call in and do a shout out. This, I know, will be a trial for our family. We are so used to buying what we want and not just what we need. I know we are counseled to be debt free and with the economy the way it is, there is no better time to start. We have decided to make the financial freedom commitment and with that, we should be completely debt free...including our house...by 2015. I know that we will be so much happier by doing this and I know that we will teach our children discipline and be an example for them.

I have big plans for 2010. I am really trying to stay focused and goal oriented. What ever your endeavors for 2010, good luck. I hope each of you can accomplish the things you would like to happen. Happy New Year!!!!

9 cent photos

This week, until Jan 2, you can upload photos to Walgreens and print them for 9 cents!!! You go to Walgreens.com and click photos, then you make an album, select the photos you want and type in the coupon code 9cents. This should give you the discount. You have to order 50 prints...so be sure to do that. It does not have to be all the same photo, just be sure you have selected 50. I love Walgreens photos and they always have them done in an hour! You just go to the store to pick them up. I have never had to use the reciept I print off line, but I always print it just in case. This is the cheapest I have ever seen them! Usually you can get pics for 10 cents, but I have never seen nine cents! Great way to get all your photos from Christmas printed! For 50 photos, it is only $4.50!!! Pretty great!!! Good luck with it! Their cite is really easy to use!

Christmas Day 2009

We all got spoiled Christmas!!! Thank you to everyone who made our Christmas wonderful. We really appreciate the thought put into our gifts! Christmas morning I had a hard time sleeping in, so I stayed awake waiting for one of the boys to make a peep. Daeson finally did and wanted to tell me a story, but I interupted him by telling him it was Christmas. I have never seen him jump out of bed so quickly!!! Troy woke Tev up and we had a great Christmas morning! I made caramel rolls, bacon, sliced oranges and hot cocoa for Daeson. The boys enjoyed playing with everything and we took our time opening gifts. Tevan was thrilled with the toys and pajamas, and Daes was so excited for everything. He even loved the clothes!!!! Troy and I just sat back and watched them be excited. It brought us much happiness! We even like the drums Danielle and Todd bought. I think they thought it would be torture, but I have even tried them out. They are way fun!!! We, after Troy's 4 hour nap, headed out to Grovers for a night of visiting. Daeson took his three robots from Jess and Carlie and played all night with them. Tevan was just excited to run around with his cousins!!! Merry Christmas everyone! We hope your was happy!

Christmas Eve Party 2009

Tonight we had a great Christmas Eve party. We had prime rib, twice baked potatoes, corn, rolls, spinach salad and pie. After we took some pictures and got the kids ready for bed, we opened some presents from Grandpa and Grandma. They got us a Camp Chef and a cover. I am sooo excited! Tevan got two TMNT movies and a Thomas movie. Daeson got Garfield the movie and a really cool Hot Wheels track. Aunt Dani and Uncle Todd gave the boys a drum set. Yeah! Kayla gave them a really fun game called tumble. Then the kids watched a movie, and the grown ups played liars dice. Then, Tevan wrapped the night up by throwing up. On me. All over. It was all I could do not to throw up!! Adam was even placing bets against me! But, I was fine. I waited patiently while everyone loaded up and then I was able to strip in the living room with out making a trail of puke to the bathroom. SIGH. What is going on with my kids!?!?! We go a day, then they puke, we go two days, then they puke...I am beginning to think parties are more work and sick then not!

Merry Christmas!!!! Oh, yes...Thank you Mom and Dad for the wonderful heater!! It kept us toasty warm!!! How lucky is that to have been shopping for one while I was talking to you on the phone!?! It worked great!! Love you!

It's Christmas Eve: I am sick

So, after my boys were once again sick Monday night/ Tuesday morning: both throwing up and yucky poo. I am now very nauseated and hope this passes quickly! We are having our Christmas Eve party at our house, so I have exactly five hours to feel well. Part of me thinks it is the food I ate last night. I questioned it the whole time I was eating. I haven't felt well since. I ate fish and it did not flake, but I automatically think they have to check temps before they serve it...maybe I am just naive! I generally love the Hard Hat and always order prime rib...however, that is what we are having tonight and I didn't want to repeat. Humph. Should have gone with the prime rib!

Half Maarthon Training Part two

Last night I was talking to my fabulous sis in law Kayla, who looks absolutely amazing, and she re-motivated me to train for the half marathon. I was supposed to run it last summer, but I developed a strange bump on my leg that kills if I start running. She is already, after having a baby 7 months ago, running 6 miles. That is a 10k. It took me all spring to train for that!!! So, I started retraining today. I can run a mile, so I am not as far behind as I thought!! However, that annoying bump came back. So, after the new year and deductible, I will get it checked out. I did weights today and I feel sore already! My problem is this: I hate the music on my mp3 player. I need some fast paced music...not overly old school, but some is okay. I would like some new stuff, but I don't listen to much more than "Old MacDonald" and "bingo". So, if you have a fave dance/hip hop/exercise song, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me!!!! I am desperate for some great tunes...preferably some that have good lyrics and no swearing. Just leave me a comments with the artist and or song title! Thank you soooo much. Oh, and Kayla, thanks for the motivation I needed. I really appreciate you! Now I need to hit the showers before the kids get up...I have to drive carpool today!!

Family Pictures December

So, these are all in reverse,

but after we froze taking pictures,

Troy treated us all to some hot cocoa

at a place near Snake River Landing.

It was scrumptious!

Everyone loved the

mug Grandpa and Grandma

Blue had. It was large!

I love this picture!

Can you believe it has been

almost 10 years? Okay, so

seven months from tomorrow

it will be!

Jump

Kaden and Tev were

so cute playing on the rocks

Daeson is getting so big!

I cannot believe he is 4 1/2

Family pictures are usually a bad

thing, but Troy and I decided the

boys did very well today! And boy

was it cold!

Tevie







Thank you soooo much, Peggy for taking our pictures!

I know you all had a busy schedule and we really appreciate it!

They turned out so well. Now I can mail out Christmas

cards...better late than never!

Argh!

Just when I thought we were done with the sickness bug, Daeson surprises me with a sick tummy this morning at 1:00. And again at 3:00. Then diarrhea started in at 6:30 this morning. Cleaning up throw up is not my forte! I thought I was going to be sick! Usually Troy takes care of it for me, but he had to work at 4 this morning so I let him sleep. I took the kids to McD's yesterday and opted not to let them play on the toys...I guess it would not have mattered! I just hope he is better soon! Troy and I have a fun game night planned for tonight and we even found a sitter! So...I hope this thing is on its way out!!! However, if it is not...we will once again have to reschedule our night. Just pray that he will feel better soon!!!!

Almost done with colds!

Last Sunday, the boys and I started in with colds. Daeson seemed to get over his quite quickly, and I recovered from mine super fast (I would like to attribute that to Airborne). However, Tevan, over the last week and a half, got really bad and the cold moved down into his chest. There were nights we sat outside, bundled up of course, at two in the morning at Zero degrees. It seemed to help with the coughing, wheezing, and the congestion. Tevan absolutely HATES medicine and would throw up every time we tried to give it to him. The stinker! Finally, yesterday and today he feels much better and has a little sassiness back. It is good to see him bounce back after a week and a half! He still has a bit of a cough, but it should clear out. I think it is mostly post nasal drip. Now about Airborne: I asked our doctor if he thought it worked, and he said it is just a boost of essential cold vitamins and there was no proof that it actually helped. I BEG to differ! Troy and I are firm believers in Airborne and absolutely LOVE it! If we feel like we are getting sick, we take Airborne. If we get sick, we are usually better in a day or two vs. a week or two. The berry flavor is the best. If you are skeptical about an off brand, we really like the Walgreen's brand, too. The pharmacist said Daeson could take a half tablet dissolved in the same amount of water. He likes the fizziness of it and takes it really well. I think that is why he got better so quickly, too. I am just glad this all hit BEFORE Christmas and not during all the upcoming activities! I am glad it wasn't longer than it was...I might have been insane from sleep deprivation! Tevan and I don't fit on a twin sized bed very well! I am glad to have my bed back without having to sleep with him every night in his bed!

Tevan's Christmas present finally done!

I couldn't think of what to get Tev this year, so I made him a quilt to match his bedroom. I think it turned out pretty cute. I am not the world's best seamstress by anymeans, but I like it. We went to Gram Tom's to make it the other day. Thank you so much for all your help Gram...it would still be sitting in my cupboard waiting to be done without you!!!

I hope Tev likes it. Of course he saw it when I was making it, but when he opens it on Christmas, he can really use it!

Taxes

Amongst all the excitement of Christmas, today I started on TAXES! It sickens me to start so soon, but I thought I would get a head start so when we receive our 1099's (or whatever they are) I would be ready. I cannot believe where everything goes...eating out, FUEL!, oil changes and other maintenance, clothing, groceries, entertainment, Doctor visits, insurances, car payments...the list goes on and on! I wish it were this simple: everyone pay a certain percentage of their income. This would make my life a lit easier! But, we have our itemized lists for our business and that makes tax time so FUN! So for all of you thinking about Christmas right now, I will interupt that by saying April 15 is only 125 days away! :)

Nutcracker

Daeson and I went on our Annual Nutcraker Date tonight. I was lucky to get tickets earlier today. I thought they would be sold out, but there were several rows empty behind us. It was really good and our cute neighbor girls were in it. They did a great job. Daeson took them both roses and stuffed penguins. He said, "Mom, I want to take something to Rachel and Alexis to tell them congratulations because they will do a great job." It was very sincere and sweet. You gotta love four yeat olds! Daeson had a hard time sitting through this production, and I think it is partly because he wanted to give them his gifts. He kept saying, "Is it done, Mom?" The Utah Ballet Company came to perform with our ballerinas. They were incredible. They had wonderful leg extensions and muscles to DIE for! It was incredible. Thank you, Daeson, for a great date night. After we got home, we ate some of the coconut cream pie I made before we went. That was a bit dissapointing, but better than none at all! :)

BLACK.FRIDAY.

Well, today was black friday, but I stayed home and was not even tempted to go out. Okay, I really wanted to buy every cricut cartridge that was in sale, but other than that...not tempted. We went south to my mother's side of the family's get-to-gether. I was fun, but I felt very rushed and very frazzled the whole day. It is 8:30 and I am not feeling like I can make it through the day. We got to see U Dirk and A Kristy and their kids. We haven't seen them for a while. They are growing sooo fast! I also got to see my "grown-up" cousins. It was great to see them and their families, too! We definately have grown apart in the last few years, so it is always fun to see them and mingle. We also had a very special visitor at our Turkey day feast...Santa! Daeson asked for a Bakugan movie and a Bakugan game for the Wii. Tevan, of course, asked for Ninja Turtles! As if he can carry more than two! But they were both very excited and did very well on his knee. They each got a little treat bag and I, being the mean mom, made them wait until tomorrow to eat it. My great-aunt Ginner came with her husband and daughter, too. We live so close, yet we see each other next to never. Thanks everyone for the yummy food and the HARD work that went in to it! We love all of you and hope that we will see eachother more in the coming year!

Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I have so much to be thankful for this year. I am thankful today for my husband's family. We had dinner at his Grandma's house, and I know it is so much work for her. She didn't even really want to have it, but she did and I am grateful for that. Dani and Todd and fam came up and that was a blast. It is always good to see them. I was told I had too much time on my hands because I made Thanksgiving chocolates that were individually "painted' and I was also told my yams should not have had marshmallows on them, but what are candied yams without marshmallows!? We had wonderful food and wonderful company! THank you to everyone who participated in the meal prep and for the fun times we had BSing. We missed Brad and Heidi, but we know that we will see them soon for Christmas!

THANKSGIVING:

T Troy. He is my wonderful husband and I love him.
H Hugs and loves from my boys.
A Always having what I NEED.
N Naptime...rare, but worth every minute!
K Knowing where I came from and the potential I have.
S Singing time in Primary. I love to hear the kids belt it out without a care!!
G Grandparents. I knew all of mine and I am very lucky to have their influence in my life.
I In-laws. I have the best.
V Vacations to my mom and dad's. It is nice to see them and get away.
I In God we trust.
N Night-time with my family around me.
G Grateful to be alive and healthy!

Pause to think what we all have to be grateful for: Our Freedom and for those who fight so we can have it! I am so thankful for the men and women who fight for us...we would not be free without you! Thank you so much!!!

Christmas music...already!?

Yes, it is the season that I love to hear Christmas music. I absolutely love the feeling it brings! Also, it is snowing right now and that makes me want Christmas even more. In one of my past posts I complained that Thanksgiving is ignored and the commercial Christmas takes over. I hope that I don't appear to be hypocritical listing my Christmas music early. I will still celebrate Thanksgiving and enjoy this particular time of year. However, I have the feeling of thankfulness and that excites me to give to others for Christmas.

I have decided that our little family is going to pick a needy family and give Christmas to them. I have felt very strongly about giving to others this year. Troy and I do not have a lot of extra, but there are families who have nothing. I want to teach my kids how important it is to serve and how fortunate we are to have a roof over our heads and more than enough to eat. I often complain about wanting to fix this or that up, and how I hate the way my entry way and living room looks with our dingy carpet, but I am thankful for that carpet. I am thankful that I can turn my heat up as high as I want. I am thankful for the ample food I have to cook with and prepare my family three home-cooked meals every day. I am extremely grateful Troy has a job and can provide for us. I am blessed more than I deserve. I am grateful that we have favorable circumstances. It would be nice to have a little extra at the end of the month to "blow" on whatever we felt like, and it would certainly be nice to live in a big, beautiful brand-new home, but I am happy where I am. I am happy with things I have. And I am grateful for the means in which I attain all things.

Christmas Shopping Anxiety

If you know me, you know that once I set my mind to doing something I don't stop until it is done. Well, I started Christmas shopping the last couple of weeks. I cannot reveal what I bought because my family would know what they are going to open on Christmas. I am almost finished and I am very glad that I will be able to enjoy the holiday season. I need to purchase one more gift for my mother, I need to get Gma Sarah and Gma and Gpa Lish's made. I have my dad's to finish and I have one more item to purchase for Brad and Heidi. Troy and I decided that we would not purchase any presents for each other this year because of the shed and the other projects we have done this year. We also decided that our boys would receive one present from us and one from SC. Every year I do the 12 days of Christmas for them and that goes along with their Christmas. So I guess technically I do 13 presents for them. This year I have the following 12 days for the boys: Day 1: Homemade aprons, Day 2: Two large coloring books, Day 3: Three snowmen on a bowl (they have the cutest snowmen bowls with "floating" snowflakes at walmart), Day 4: Four finger paints, Day 5: $5.00 GC to McD's, Day 6: Six books and tapes, Day 7: Seven piece coloring set, Day 8: 8 oz floaty soap, Day 9: Nine cracker jacks (my kids LOVE cracker jacks for snacks on long trips), Day 10: Ten Holiday Cakes (I bought little Debbie holiday cakes), Day 11: Eleven sugar cookies (we will make and decorate sugar cookies and deliver to our friends and neighbors), Day 12: Twelve month calendar (Daeson's is Spongebob and Tevan's is Blue's Clues). It is harder and harder every year to think of things to give the boys. I might have to start sneaking ideas from my mom's lists that she did for us. :) I have no idea what to get the boys from SC. We have not made our lists yet, nor will we until AFTER Thanksgiving! I am all over shopping BEFORE Thanksgiving, but I feel like Thanksgiving always gets the shaft! I feel like it is a time we need to be Thankful for what we have so that we are not so thirsty for Christmas gifts. Just a thought. I am thankful that the bulk of my shopping is DONE and that I will be able to enjoy the reason for the season!

Mixed Emotions

Today my heart is mixed with many emotions. I will no longer be teaching Relief Society every second Sunday. I have enjoyed studying the lessons and relaying them to the sisters. It has been refreshing to go to my meetings. I thouroughly enjoy Sunday School and I feel like I have taken so much from these meetings. I feel it was an honor and privlege to teach RS. I will truly miss the wonderful sisters and the Spirit I have felt there.



However, the Lord has a different calling in mind. I will now be serving with Barbara as a second councelor in the Primary presidency. I am nervous and excited about this calling. I know the primary is involved with the scouts and that absolutely terrifies me. I know, having two little boys, I will eventually have to embrace Cub Scouts, but I thought I had another 3 1/2 years! :) However, I am very suprised to have this calling extended to me and I know working with Barbara will be very fun. She is a remarkable person and I have admired her since she has moved into the ward. The other councelor, Becky, is very fun and has wonderful ideas. She is definatley someone to look up to, also. So, as I go forward with this calling, I will do it with a happy attitude...no more mumblings or complaints from this mouth. It is time to step up to the bar and just do it!!!

McD's

Okay, so McD's has an eggnog shake, but it is NOT as good as I had hoped. Sad.

Eggnog Shake?

Yeah right! Arctic Circle nor Sonic have them right now!!! What does a girl haffta do???

XBox original and games

If you know of anyone looking for a used XBox, games, controllers, dance pad, extentions, remote, ect...send them our way. We decided to sell the games system that never gets played. Heck, our Wii never gets played either, but it is too new for Troy to let go of. We have a variety of games: Road Rage Simpsons, Yourself fitness, Dance Dance Revolution, Halo, Tiger Woods Golf, ATV, Beyond Good and Evil, Quantum Rdeshift, Otogi 1 & 2, Robotech, and a lot more. I have it listed on Craigs list for EIdaho. I have it all listed for 150 I think, but I am so willing to work with someone. Everything works great and there are no problems with any of it. Let me know if you or anyone you know is interested!!!! Thanks! oh, and a brand new Monopoly game stillin the packaging for $3.00. Troy absolutely HATES monopoly and I bought it for him for Christmas last year...who doesn't like Monopoly?!?!!?

I love to see the Temple

My Grandma and my cousin, Katie, and I went to the temple yesterday. I have not been to do a session since I was prego with Tevan and I had forgotten how wonderful it is. My cousin just received her mission call a couple of weeks ago and has been to more temples than I have! She is such a good girl and I am proud of her! It was a neat experience to go through a session with my Gram! I was just beaming!
I have to teach RS tomorrow and the lesson is on the Restoration and the Fullness of times and the temple. In one of the questions it talks about how we feel about our callings in the church and I thought about that long and hard. I know sometimes we get a calling that we are not excited about, and sometimes we know someone who we think could do a far better job. And, I know sometimes someone we know gets a calling and we wonder why on earth they were called to that position. And there are times that some people are turned away from the church because of someone holding an authoritative position "wronged" them. But the fact of the matter is this: the gospel is true. We are able to worship how we want in this country. We are ABLE to attend church for three hours each and every week. We are able to attend the TEMPLE for a two-hour session. We have the ability to watch/read/hear a living PROPHET and our other leaders talk to us and give us modern day revelation twice a year in general conference. I have been that person who knows a more fitting person for a calling. I have murmured about someone I didn't feel was living up to their calling. I have been offended by someone in an authoritative position before. But the gospel has never changed. The truths are there. I know that if the gospel were not true, if it were a hoax, it would have faltered long ago. I will truly try more diligently to be an apostle of Christ. I will try to be an example to all around me. I will try to not murmur and I will try to be more like Him. I have so many faults, and I am sure some people have thought that I am inadequate for the callings I have been asked to serve in. I am sure that I have offended more than one person, but never intentionally.
As we go through this live, striving to be the best we can, trying to make it once again to our Heavenly Father, I hope we can all try harder to be like Him. I hope we can overlook the wrong-doings. I hope we can forgive one another. I hope that we can find the time in our busy schedules to serve Him, to attend our meetings, and to attend the wonderful and glorious temples that we have all over this earth. I hope that we realize what a blessing it is to live in this dispensation. I hope we can all live up to what is expected of us. I know that when I die, I hope that I will be able to teturn to my Father and have my loved ones with me. I know He wants us to be happy and I know that He has shown us the way.

Returned Missionary

So I married a returned Missionary: my punishment???? Piles and piles and PILES of letters, pictures, posters, flyers, and souveniers. And guess what I get to do with them??? Organize and compile scrapbooks. Am I excited about this venture....not really. Will I take this opportunity to get to know my husband before he was my husband...yes sir! The nosy part of me really wants to dive in and read everything. The conservative side of me tells me it is not my business to read, but to organize so Troy can reflect on his missionary experience. Hmm, what part of me do you think I will listen to??? :) Though I am not excited to take on a project of this size, I am excited that Troy will be able to share his experiences with my boys. I just wish the pictures were written on and/or dated. Atleast the letters are in the envelope still with the dated postage stamped on them. Every missionary needs someone to do this while they are on their missions so it doesn't automatically get turned over to the wife! Remind me when my boys are on their missions that I said that, okay?

Trick or Treating

This was our 5th annual
Halloween party. It was a
lot of fun throwing together
and we hope that everyone
who came had a great time!





This was our witch pinata.
I actually bought it for last
year's party but forgot about it!!










Tevan was happy as long
as he was hitting the witch.












Adam was a "Cruiser"













This was the cake walk.
Thanks Adam and Kayla
for donating
the Litte Debbie cakes!








Daeson was Dan
from Bakugan











Peggy was a wizardress













I was a hot dog and
Troy was a Chinese Monk













Richard...AKA
Paul Bunyon









Melissa, Bryce, Carter and
their new baby...I forgot his name









Adalyn the Snow Princess











Jaedyn the fairy
she looks meaner than
she is :)













Mieley the candy corn was
very excited when she got to do
the candy corn bean bag toss.
Guess what the prize was???
Candy Corn!!







Kayla was the Benchmark
Brown Noser and the
recipient of the GRAND PRIZE.
And her cute Tora
was a little chick












And last but not least:
Kaden was a runway show.
Very creative Kade, KUDOS!






We had a lot of great food (chicken wings, pizza, meatballs and rice, frozen grapes, carmel corn, cinnamon rolls, regular rolls, veggie tray, chocolate pretzels, color changing cheetos, and I am sure I missed something), thank you everyone!!!! The trunk or treat was a lot of fun, too! I will have to get pics from Kayla of that. I have lost my camera (Don't tell Troy) but I am hoping to find it soon!!! Thanks to all who came: Gma Grover, Jaedyn, Adam's family, Hoopes family, Bryce and Melissa & fam, Lords family (we missed you, Barb), Richard and Peggy and Kaden. We missed those who didn't come...maybe next year!

Now that Halloween is over, I can get ready for fall. I really hope to get some scrapping done and some more quilts made. I was given a box of tomatoes and now I get to bottle them...she also gave me a recipe for mandarin sauce (I think it originated from a lady at the temple) and so I will attempt it. I bought 24 more jars today: YUCK! But, I think this is the LAST thing I am going to bottle, maybe. Definately probably not. Okay, I tell you, I have an addiction!!!!