Stringing Popcorn!

As we pulled out the tree for Family Home Evening last week, the kids decided they wanted to string popcorn. We spent the whole night poking holes in the popcorn and our fingers. We didn't finish that night due to it being a school night. They said they had fun!!

I thought it was interesting that they didn't remember ever seeing a hot air popper! We did string last year, but maybe they didn't see me actually pop it. It was amazing for them to watch the popcorn pop with just hot air!

They spent the next night putting the ornaments on the tree. I love not having to worry about it. I just let them go at it!

Christmas is coming, YIKES!!!

Great Find!

I was at Walmart in the Christmas light section, buying some lights, and replacement bulbs for lights I already had, when I came across this Light Repair Tool.

I was very skeptical, but I thought I would give it a try. If it really worked, it could save a lot of time going through all the light sets. It always takes so long to go through the lights trying to find the problems and replacing burnt bulbs. Just locating the burnt bulbs were even a pain if too many were burnt out and the strand wouldn't light. I was hopeful!


Basically, you take one of the bulbs out of the socket of a strand that won't light and plug the socket into the gun. You then pull the trigger up to 20 times and voila! If there are no disruptions in power (ie light loose, or something wrong with the socket) the circuit will light! Then you can see which ones are burnt out and need to be replaced!

If they don't light, then you push the top button and run the red led light along the wires to locate the problem socket. It beeps at you as it detects the current. When it stops beeping you check that bulb. A lot of times I only had to pull it out and put it back in, maybe it was just loose. If it didn't light you keep checking. It sure took a lot of guess work out of locating and fixing the problems!

It also has a place on top to test individual lights to see if they are burnt out as well as a fuse tester.

Of course as with anything it wasn't 100%. I had a couple of circuits that I just had to go light by light. But out of all the strands I went through it cut my time down considerably! I definitely think it was worth the $20!

I did however decide to stop buying these cheap lights. As I replace my lights, I'm replacing them with the LED lights. I'm hoping it will save me time and money in the long run. When I get the outside done, I'll post pics. We're almost there!

Thanksgiving Pies

I've decided I have a lot to catch up on and I'm just going to go for it. I'm not going to worry about the order though, just go with what comes up and works!

We had so much fun making pies this year, I actually took pics. I don't usually get a lot of help in the kitchen unless someone wants to learn how to make the pies, or Holly is here! This year most of the girls wanted to help! Yeah!

I didn't quite make as many as usual, I just knew I wasn't going to have as many people around all weekend, and I decided I was going to try to behave myself, and not indulge too much!

Anyway, We started around lunch time, because Melanie wanted to come help too, so we were waiting for her to get off work. I started with the cream pies, and the low fat, crustless pumpkin, so by the time she got here, we would be ready for the pie crust and pumpkin pies!!

These girls really worked hard to learn how to crack eggs with out dropping shells in the bowl. There were lots of eggs to crack, so by the time we were done, they had learned well! It cracked me up, the faces they were making trying to open them!

Emily was great to measure the sugar and spices and to help keep the girls out of the way when we needed them to be.


Melanie got pretty good at rolling pie crust and getting it into the tins! While this is a great tasting pie crust, you can't mess it up, it really can be annoying getting it into the tins. It takes great patience and a lite heart!

Final Pie Total....20! We made 4 cream, 3 low fat crustless pumpkin, and 13 pumpkin! That's cutting down you ask? Yup! I usually make 25. I didn't make any fruit pies, I wished I made less pumpkin and a couple of fruit. With Nana gone, I just didn't know who would eat them with me, and I didn't want to eat them by myself! Melanie took 3 pumpkin with her, and Jon took a cream pie for one of his parties. I only made that many because the kids were complaining when I said I wasn't going to make as many as usual, so I made a few more than I thought I should.

It did make for a GREAT Pie Weekend!!!

1st Tooth!

Today it finally happened!! Tiffany lost her 1st tooth!

She's been waiting for this moment to happen for some time. It's been loose for several weeks now, the permanent tooth was even a bit impatient! It was growing in before the baby tooth was even out of there!!

Today I finally asked her if she was ready to get that puppy outta there??? She was worried and a bit skeptical, but she trusted me enough to get the string wrapped around it and let her go at it!!

It took a little patience on her part. She had to be gentle with herself at first. Then she would get braver and braver, and pull harder and harder, as she realized it didn't hurt. Then, the first pang, ouch that does smart a little. She thought about giving up a couple times, I could see it on her face, but she didn't!

She went into the bathroom so she could see her progress. Finally, just when she thought it would never come out, it just did!!!
Please forgive her breakfast all over her teeth! We just had to get that close up, of what, at our house, we call, the "Jack O'lantern Smile"!!

She was so happy and excited!! Can you tell??!!

Reflections Contest

Yesterday morning at about 7:30am, I get a phone call. It's the Reflections contest PTA person letting me know I probably want to be at the Reflections Assembly today. ::wink wink::

So I hurry up and get ready to go! Sure enough Kimberly won Honorable mention for her literature entry in the contest! If anyone know Kimberly, they know she LOVES to write stories!! The theme this year was "Together we can..."

She got a cute little medal to wear around her neck.

It even has her name en graven on the back!

Everyone who participated got to have some treats after the assembly, to show they are all winners!!

If you want to read her story, go here.

Sneak Peak!

Everything went Wonderful! I had a few hairy hours right before the reception, but had wonderful people there to step in and help me get everything where we needed it to!

There are so many pics to go through, it's going to take a while, but here are a couple we printed for the reception!

It's so hard to pick!! This might take awhile!!

Congratulations, Melanie & Zach Merkley!

Have fun in Hawaii!!

PS There's a few more on facebook!

Wedding Count Down!

Things are pretty crazy around here, as you can imagine! We are down to just 3 more days until the wedding! I have a lot to post about, but it's just going to have to wait until after saturday, there's just too much to do!!

Things are coming along, I just have to remain steady! Keep praying for me, I could use all I can get!!

If you didn't get an invite, consider yourself invited! Here's a scan of the front of the invite! Maybe I'll get to see you on Saturday, Hope so!!

Work Party

Doug has always been one to dress up for Halloween to work. Usually he's one of the few, but this year he's at a company that apparently it's a big deal. It's the Boss's favorite holiday, so they not only make a big ole party out of it but they also theme it every year. This years theme was "the 70's TV shows".

It took him a little bit to figure out what he wanted to be, but he came up with Grandpa Munster!

He asked Melanie to do his make up because he knew I was not talented in this way! LOL But boy Mel is!! I left to go on my run this morning, when I got back this is what I walked in on...

I was amazed at the transformation!!

Later this morning I got a pic of everyone at work! Fun!!

Halloween Parade

With yesterday being the end of the term and no school today, the Halloween Parade and Class Parties were yesterday!

Boy did Halloween creep up on me this year. (I don't know why???) LOL

I think it was Wednesday night when I realized they had a parade the next day and we hadn't even discussed what the kids were going to be for the parade the next day!! So when I got home, I had Doug pull the boxes out of the loft in the garage. The kids were already in bed, thanks to Shawn! It was going to have to happen in the morning!


When the kids got up the next morning, I said hurry and eat and pick a costume out of the box! It doesn't have to be what you're going to be for Halloween, just something to wear for the parade this morning! They got all excited and for the next hour and a half, we scrambled to get clothes, costumes, and make up in place. Sent them to school, then I had to get me and Natalie ready, I didn't dress up, but Nattie did, (Now that I'm thinking of it, I don't think I got a pic of her.)

Tiff was a Snow Princess, Aaron was a vampire, and Kim was a witch!

Off to the school for the parade! We hurried and hurried and practically ran to the school to get there in time. (There's no point in driving when you live as close as we do, you end up walking most of the way anyway. The cars were lined clear up the street almost to our house! This is big here!!) Then we waited and waited for the kids to come through for probably 20 minutes. They go through all the classrooms, to pick up the kids then come through the auditorium only once for the parents, then back through the classrooms to drop off. I wish they would come through at least one more time, but oh well!!

It was fun to see all the costumes. I was amazed at the detail some of them went through for a parade 3 days before Halloween! I wish I had that much time! I am glad it all worked out, the kids were happy!

Gone are the days of themed costumes, Jack o lanterns, crayola crayons (all different colors of course!), One year we even did Mr. Potato Heads. I think the kids liked the ideas because even though we were the same, they got to design the faces (jack o lanterns & potato heads) As the kids got older, I stopped getting that kind of cooperation anymore, so I stopped worrying about it. Deseret Industries Thrift Stores are a wonderful resource for costumes. But we didn't even do that this year!!

Tonight is the Carnival at the church, then of course Halloween! It's going to be a long weekend!!

Lovin on...

Alex!

We sure enjoyed having Alex around, even only for a few short hours! Alex is my new little nephew. We really thought Natalie was the last of the grandkids, well, my brother decided to start all over, thus we have now have Alex!! Unfortunately, he lives in Beaver, 3 hours away, not good!!

This pic cracks me up...Natalie is watching Uncle David change Alex's diaper. I love the hand on her hip. I couldn't hear what she was saying, but David was cracking up!!

Dee, getting in on the lovin on Alex!! We definitely need some babies around here more often!! You'd think we'd had enough of babies at our house. Just isn't so!!! LOL

This isn't lovin on Alex, but it does have to do with some lovin!! This is our Stake President, President Hanks, at Ben's setting apart. (You can read about that on Elder Ben's blog) Pres Hanks did such a fun, wonderful job meeting everyone, joking around and making everyone feel welcome. He has such a way of endearing himself to people.

I just LOVE the way he's hugging Tiff here. You can see how much he loves her. He has a way of making all of us feel like he REALLY cares about each one of us! He even pulled me aside that night to give me a hug as well, and make sure I was okay and assured me that Heavenly Father was aware of me and the timing of all that was happening! Just amazing!!

Sorting out Feelings

It's hard to believe it's been almost two weeks since my mom passed away in my home.

Right in the middle of getting Ben ready for the Mission Field and finishing up Wedding Plans, my mom took a big turn for the worst. She had 3 TIA's (mini strokes) small, but big enough for me to notice and to wipe her out. She just didn't have to time in between each one to recuperate before the next one hit. By the time we realized she wasn't going to recover, things went down hill really fast! While she has been on hospice for 3 years, it still felt kind of sudden for most of us. It truly was a blessing for her to finally be free, but I'm still sorting through my feelings about everything. I've been taking care of her long enough, that I do feel some kind of relief, but yet I do feel her absence, profoundly. I do feel the Lord's hand in helping me to deal and cope with everything. I have a great support system, family, friends, and ward members who have helped with so much. Thanks to you all!

I'm hoping to be able to put more details on her blog about her final days, and after. We really had some wonderful blessings and tender mercies happen. This picture was taken the day before she died. I'm still planning on posting the story that goes with it over there. I'm hoping that everyone will help me to post memories and blessings with regard to Mom on her blog. If you are not a contributor, email me and I will add you so everyone who wants to, can post.

I love you, Mom!

New Blog!

To make "keeping everyone updated about Ben" more fun, I've decided to start a missionary blog just about him and his mission.

I might refer to it from time to time, but I will be posting pics he sends me, and snippets from his emails and letters over on that blog!

So if your interested on how Ben is doing, go have a look see!!

Bridal Shower #2 & #3

Kind of Condensing here! Melanie had a couple more bridal showers on Friday Oct 1st and 2nd.


The first (or should I say second) was given by her friends, Rachel and Kristen!

She had her friends from school and work come to this one.

Fun friends and food!

The second (third) one was given by her future sisters-in-law, Megan & Chelsie!

This one was for family on both sides. Those that couldn't come to this one, came to the ward one a couple weeks back!


More good food and fun!!

She took a lot of razing because a week or so before GG took her to target to help "beef" up her registry list and had "fun" in the lingerie dept!! She took it pretty well!