We had a great Christmas!

This is what we have been doing....

I am so glad to have that silly virus off of my computer (Ivan is a genius, thanks sweetie). We have been having a great holiday season with parties, candy making, programs, dances, shopping, giving and also receiving.

Christmas Tree Decorating.

Little Starr Preschool program. Janika was such a doll, Grandma and Grandpa came too. Mrs. Starr is the best teacher and a sweet friend! The program was amazing!

Morgan has been getting into clothes and putting them on. She was totally obsessed with this shirt. She even got it out of the laundry basket and put it back on. She is such a doll!

Ivan's friend at work gave us a ginger bread house kit. Ivan put this together with the kids. Janika was such a turkey, she was forcing Ivan to make it look just like the photo on the box. I was glad to be napping on the couch while this went on. Didn't Ivan do a great job?


My favorite, visiting Santa! I love this guy (well I don't really know this guy, but I love Santa).

Making sugar cookies on very snowy days.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Whitney's Christmas Ball

Even though Whitney's date turned out to be a totally jerk, she was still able to have fun with her friends. I was thinking about calling my nephew Adam to take care of this boy, but I decided to save Adam for a bigger project and have my nieces take care of him! We stick together in our family and nobody puts Whitney in the corner.

Happy Birthday Melanie!

Happy Birthday to my dear friend Melanie! It is so nice to have a friend that you can totally be yourself around and not worry what she is thinking (yes I could fart in front of her and smell it too). She makes me feel like a teenager. We laugh until we pee, even over the small stuff (Umpa dumpa). On a serious note, this girl is so talented in many ways and she is so compassionate that she would give you he shirt off her back. I have learned a lot from her over these last 3 years and my life is blessed. Even though she may not have the best birthday this year (her grandmother died November 14 and her grandfather December 14) I hope she can find time to reflect on what a great Mother, Daughter, Wife, Friend and Aunt that she is. Love you Mel!

Happy Blog Anniversary!

I just wanted to wish my blog a happy 1st anniversary! We have our ups and downs, but at the end of that day I still love you!

January 2009 New Era is out!

I have been released from my YW calling and I am 35 so I am more of an Ensign girl now a days, but this January 2009 New Era issue really got me excited. I have been waiting for months and finally I have it in my hands. Why am I so excited? Look at the photo below and you will see why.

Do you see Whitney sharing her scriptures with the cute boys on the bus? Gosh I just love that girl!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Yesterday my Mom turned 68. We had a birthday party for her at the Golden Corral (fine dining). Words could never express the love I have for my Mother, but here are a few.

LOVING KIND

GIVING

FRIEND

GRANDMA

GREAT GRANDMA

MOM

AUNT

SISTER

DAUGHTER

DEDICATED

COOK

PSYCHOLOGIST

COMPASSIONATE
BEAUTIFUL

These are some things that remind me of my Mother.

Happy 68th Birthday Mom! I love you!

Fun photos in my Email...

On Saturday, Whitney took the kids to a birthday party at Flips Gym (brave girl). She emailed me these photos! Too cute!

After two days of shopping, we finally found the perfect Christmas ball dress! Now all we have to do is pick it up on Thursday and get the cute boy a flower.

Spyware!

Have any of you wondered where I have gone? Well, I got spy ware and it is really bad! Ivan has been working on it all week and still can't get it off. I really shouldn't be on his computer, but I can't stand it any longer, I have to blog about something. Ivan, I promise not to download anything (well other then this photo). I am known for braking laptops, but this virius/spy ware thing is a new one for me.
This week has been great, my neck is feeling a lot better, the Christmas tree is up and decorated, Ivan put lights on the outside of the house and we are almost done Christmas shopping. Now if I could get my computer fixed. I am really frightened because I know if Ivan can't fix it no one can.
We are all doing great! Ivan is working still which is always nice this time of year, I just got released from the YW and put in as the RS secretary. Whitney is going to school a lot and dating, so I don't get to see her too very much. Janika is busy playing with all of her birthday gifts and going to preschool. Carter is watching Wall E and going to preschool. Morgan is just being her sweet little self as usual. That is about it at our house. Now lets cross our fingers that my computer will be fixed soon so that I can start blogging again!
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1. Norma taking time out to show me how to dip chocolate, she is amazing!

2. My new SUV (it warms my bum on a cold day)

3. Carl's Jr (kids eat free on Wednesday)

Birthday fun.

On Morgan's birthday, my friend Melanie and her cute kids came over and brought her some darling clothes and a cute dog toy. We bought her a little cake and took her to Carl's Jr. for dinner. She loves to play in the kid area!

This is Janika's friend party. She had a play-doh party. I made a ton of play-dough for the occasion (I have an awesome recipe for that stuff). She had 19 friends attended, so with my kids that made 22 little kids. They all seemed to have a blast. Janika got some awesome gifts, people around here are really generous.

Sunday, was Janika's official birthday, so we had a family dinner party for my 2 November girls. I fed 27 people. We had sloppy Joe's, chips, pasta salad, cherry pie filling salad and pistachio salad, I was cooking all morning. My mom brought her most amazing secret recipe cheese balls too. MMMMM! Morgan and Janika got some lovely gifts and had a really great time. Ivan and I are tired!

This is the cake. Red Velvet Cake.... Have you ever had one of these babies? I am not talking about the ones that you buy at the store, or the cake mix, or the ones you get in cupcake form at the Golden Corral. I am talking about a true homemade southern red velvet cake. This cake number 2, the first one was so beautiful and perfect, but we ate it before I thought about taking a photo. Do you want a slice? I still have half of it, better hurry! Michaels babysitter in NC introduced this cake to us and we used to pay her to make them for us. Now I can make them all on my own, now that I have time for it.

I had to report on Janika's beloved cupcake maker. What a joke! Seriously, the frosting thing doesn't even work. She absolutely loves it and never questioned why her cupcake didn't turn out like the one on the box. I learned that anything looks good with some sprinkles on it. Perhaps I will sprinkle myself.

That was our birthday fun, in short version. Can't wait for my turn in January!

Happy Birthday Janika!

November 23, 2003 a beautiful baby was born to me.

Janika Paige

A new baby they said would never be, but you decided to come to me. You are proof that miracles do happen!

10 years I waited to hold you in my arms, crying, begging the Lord that you would be.

He had mercy and gave you to me.

Your self confidence and sharp mind, it is hard to believe you are mine.

One girl behind, but you started the train that everyone forgot. You were the leader!

You love animals real and fake. You like to find old stuffed animals that no one wants. You clean them and love them.

You are an amazing artist! How does someone so small create such beauty? I still can't believe you are mine.

This is you being crazy! Proof that you are mine!

I love you so much! Happy 5th birthday!