Too Cute!

Made these yesterday at my dear friend, Ashley Samsel's house. Thanks for the great idea! Just get 5 gallon paint sticks, cut, and paint. Then print fun sayings on cute paper, antique and Modpodge onto the cut up paint sticks. Easy!

True - only WE can decide what our message will be.

My life is my message. Mahatma Gandhi

I am Thankful for my Family!!!

Twins!

Twins!

Cute Siblings

Drooling over my delectable pies!

The snowmen and their creators.

Love this boy

Yep - "The Cat Came Back"

Holiday Craft-a-palooza!

Mini wreaths, L-O-V-E!!!

Loved making the Gratitude Gobbler on Thanksgiving Day. This beautiful bird had over 100 feathers, including everything from Jimmer to Pull-ups to Missionaries to Miracles.

Beata, Sunny and Hank went crazy making these adorable little sock snowmen.

Just can't get enough of the yarn-wrapped trees this year.

Everyone made one of these cute mini-wreaths to put on the tree. They were all unique and all adorable - just like the people who made them.

He's da Man

Great article about a great attitude of a great boy, ooops - Man. Way to go Matthew!

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/52970252-88/edwards-byu-matt-career.html.csp

Oh My Pie!

Thank you to Glenda McFarland for sharing her wonderful pie recipes. Tonight I made five pies (pecan, apple, pumpkin, coconut cream and chocolate cream), and one bundt cake (carmel - inspired by Minnie in "The Help"). There is something absolutely pleasurable about baking something that I know will be simply enjoyed by some of the the people that I love the most in this world. I believe that there is a little bit of the baker's spirit in each creation. My spirit tonight was full of gratitude and love as I mixed, chopped, whipped and rolled - hopefully, everyone will ingest a bit of that felicity with each slice. Happy Thanksgiving.

I Want to Wake Up in the City that Doesn't Sleep

Wow! Steve and I had a wonderful three days in NYC. The weather was absolutely perfect so we were able to walk and walk and walk and really suck the marrow out of our brief time there. One of the really enjoyable things to do when visiting the Big Apple is to see our friends, Robin and Russ. However, I always feel a tinge of jealousy when I get a glimpse into their very urban, cosmopolitan life. Everything they do just seems more cool - even grocery shopping in NYC is more cool than in the suburbs. Anyway, Steve and I like to do something new every time we go, so this time it was a walking tour of Brooklyn Heights, a tour of the UN and an art tour of the Top of the Rock. We had super funny and interesting tour guides and frankly, I learned quite a bit.

We also went to see the de Kooning exhibit at the MOMA and a much smaller Diego Rivera exhibit. After the de Kooning, I was raving about how amazing the paintings were - the raw emotions, the textures and the colors. Steve responded by simply saying the paintings made him feel nauseated - funny how we all have such different perspectives. Of course there is great food, late nights and sleeping in - the trifecta of a perfect vacation. We saw a funny play called "Chinglish", a darling revival of "Anything Goes" and an absolutely transfiguring opera at the MET called "Satyagraha". The opera was about Ghandi's life in South Africa and the genesis of his peaceful resistance philosophy. Satyagraha means "truth force". It was so beautiful. So grateful for those 72 hours to be with the person I love most in one of the places I love most.

Midnight and things are just heating up in Time Square.

Central Park is gloriously decked out with fall foliage.

No explanation - just LOVE

Agree!

A favorite sculpture outside the UN.

Unfortunately, too much dessert is what often causes me so much stress!

Divine rice pudding.

That's all she wrote.

We Love Wreaths

Darling wreath made with variegated yarn and fun felt!

Sunny's wreath - she is so creative :)

Showering Mary Beth with Love & Family Traditions

Everyone loved tying ribbons from their gifts in Mary Beth's hair. She was a great sport!

What a wonderful group of women. There was just a great feeling of love and family tradition today at Mary Beth's shower. I love the Waggies and the Prices! Proud to be part of both families. It is exciting to continue adding new members to this crazy, wonderful brood.

No cuter girls in the world than these :)

We are missing Nicole!!!!! We are smiling, but crying on the inside.

A great family tradition - tying a wedding shower quilt. Becky and her girls did a great job of sewing this puppy up.

Cute Twig Stars

My kids made these cute twig stars on a recent fall day with their cousins. They just found some great looking twigs and then got out some yarn, felt (for flowers) and the glue gun - voila darling decoration.

Cat Scarf

Hank wearing his cat scarf

We have a cat named Panda. The thing about this cat is he is HUGE. It's not that he is fat, because he's not. He is extremely long, tall and athletic. I know it sounds like I am describing an NBA player, except my cat is not an overpaid baby like an NBA player. All spring, summer and fall Panda trolls the neighborhood killing birds, mice, rats, squirrels and he even once killed a weasel. He is almost three years old, and at the top of his game, so to speak. Did I mention that he does all of these amazing hunting feats with no front claws? Yep. Another endearing thing about Panda is that he loves to go on walks. No, not on a leash. He would never put up with being restricted like a lowly dog. However, he follows me around the neighborhood, walking right beside me, and will often wait if I pop into a neighbor's house and then will accompany me back home. I love this about him. But really, the single best thing about Panda is that he is such a lover. My kids lay all over him, kiss him, toss him around like a beanbag, dress him up in doll clothes, throw him in the pool, snuggle him and, my favorite of all, wear him like a scarf. Here is Hank today, wearing the cat scarf. Doesn't Panda's expression just say it all? Happy day.

Happy Halloween!

The house is all dressed up - awaiting the arrival of goblins and ghouls.

Boo-Scat Halloween Cat

It is Halloween and the kids did not have school today. The official reason for this is so that the teachers can enter their 1st term grades in the school district grade book. But according to my kids, the real reason is so they can run around like wild banshees all day, eating candy, messing up the house and yes, even having a lemonade stand in the front yard. I tried hard to convince the kids that indeed, Halloween is NOT a national holiday, but they are not buying it. They have argued that it would be a great injustice if I made them do homework, work in the yard or practice their instruments. So far I won on the yard and instruments, but caved on the homework front. Two out of three is not bad. Trick or treating is still on the docket, so the night is young. I am including below three darling sites I found today.

www.ziggityzoom.com - great activities for young kids.

www.ohthelovelythings.blogspot.com - the name says it all.

www.themotherhuddle.com - a bunch of ladies' cute ideas, recipes, etc.

Pumpkin-Palooza!

We had a few families over tonight for pumpkin carving - great night. I absolutely love carving pumpkins - gutting them, using the little tiny saw-like knives, creatively channeling some inner demon/fantasy on the bright orange pumpkin flesh. This year my creation was a visual ode to Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go's, circa 1982. It turned out pretty good. Of course, this party is really just an excuse to eat and drink more fun, fall food/beverage - carmel apples, hot apple cider, toasted pumpkin seeds, hot cocoa and hot scones with homemade honey butter, which just reminds me of a billboard I drove by today that is in front of a gym in downtown Bountiful that said, "Beware, average holiday weight gain is 10 lbs. Get started today". Well, I am going to get started today, but not to get killer abs, buns o' steel or cut biceps. I am getting started with making great memories with my kids, enjoying fun experience and eating a donut whenever I darn-well please. Have a Boo-rific Halloween.

These girls look really intense!

Me and "Belinda" and Rin with what looks like to me is a Bush Baby :)

Don't know if you can tell, but Hank is in the giant pumpkin.

Steve and Hank's masterpiece.

The goofy goober crew.

Darling, Devilish Duo!

Beautiful girls.

No severed fingers or cut tendons - phew!

Indian Summer Day at Pack's Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkins galore at Pack's pumpkin patch in Farmington today. Sunny and Hank ran around looking for the perfect pumpkin - not too hard when there are thousands of these little beauties to choose from. We splurged this year and bought a 100 pounder! I can't wait to carve it tomorrow night. Without a doubt, fields and fields full of bright orange, ripe pumpkins are happy makers. Happy Halloween.

Luscious Carmel Apples

Just a few of the 250 carmel apples I made for the Hannah Holbrook Halloween Carnival. This homemade carmel is simply the tastiest and easiest in the world.

Carmel Apples (Arlene Alvey's recipe):

2 cubes butter

2 lbs. brown sugar

2 cups corn syrup

2 cans sweetened condensed milk

Melt butter on low heat, then add sugar and syrup. Raise heat to medium, stirring constantly until it boils. Add sweetened condensed milk and bring to boil again. Boil to just past soft ball stage, stirring constantly until 230 degrees on candy thermometer. Then enjoy dipping your gorgeous crisp apples and place them on a greased cookie sheet or greased wax paper. Covers about 25 apples.

Cutest Little Pirate Ever!

Glamour pirate costume - " hot off the press", as my Mom likes to say.

When Beata said she wanted to be a glamorous pirate for Halloween, I knew I was up for the challenge - arrrrrgh matey! Although Beata can be a little rough and tumble (read Tom-boy) around the edges, she is definitely a glamour girl deep inside. I love how cute she looks in her costume.

Sunny Bunny - The Reflections Champ

She is soooo cute!

Hooray for Sunny Bunny! Sunny won 1st Place in the Hannah Holbrook Reflections Contest for 3-D Art. Her darling cat/rainbow creation is now at the district level and hopefully will move on to region. She got a very shiny medal an a fancy certificate too. The theme this year is "Diversity Means . . ." When I asked Sunny how her project tied into the theme she said, "Well Mom, everyone loves cats, no matter who they are, where they live or what they look like." DUH! So take it from Sunny, we just need a few more cats in this world - world peace here we come.

Fun Fall Crafting - Autumn Trees and Boo Decor

Love these autumn trees. All of my kids made them, which means that they are pretty easy. Connect a twig into a circle. Make the trunk and branches of the tree by tying brown yarn to the twig, and then weave colored strips of polar fleece through the yarn.

Thanks Angel Club for this oldie, but a goodie. I love breaking this out every year and thinking about my Mom and her lady friends laughing and crafting, while my Dad made bizarre treats for them to snack on.