Quick Visit

 We had visitors last night!  Grandpa and Grandma Clark were heading home from Spokane and stopped for the night at our house.  The boys were in heaven.  In less than 2 weeks they have seen Lovey and Papa with the girls, Grandma and Grandpa Idaho and now Grandma and Grandpa Clark!  All he needs is a visit from the Hellers (Toby's grandparents) and my Grandma Ginny and he will have seen all the grandparents!

It was a short trip, but we loved having them come and stay.  I heard a few new stories and some old ones.  :)
We had a yummy breakfast and Grandpa topped it off with a package of Reeces' for me and the boys.  Yum.

Thanks for coming-we love you!

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa Idaho

Grandma and Grandpa Idaho (Toby's Parents) came to visit us this past weekend!  We were so excited to have them come and meet Tory's new twins and also see where we lived.  Dallas was looking forward to hanging out with them and playing toys.  They always bring gifts when they come and this time they brought these amazing magnet toys.  We built many things and I'll have to take photos next time.  Such a fun toy.  They also brought some big colored beads and string and we have been working on creating long snakes (as Dallas puts it).
We went out to dinner and did a little shopping and Dallas showed them Cabela's and all the animals.  We also went to Sub Zero which is quickly becoming our favorite ice cream place. 

We had dinner over at Tory's and we made pork tenderloin.....YUM.  It is one of my most favorite meals ever. 
As I was getting photos for this post I realized that I hardly took any!  But, I did grab a few so here they are.

Grandma and Luke.  The twins aren't identical, but they still look a whole lot a like!

Dallas has been waiting FOREVER to see the babes.  We've been sick, and then Ryker has been sick so we haven't had a chance to get over there to visit.  He was so happy to hold a baby.  Hope he still wants to do that come May!  He is holding Luke.

Even Wes liked the babies.  Think he'll like his new little brother??  We'll see.

Don't I look lovely.....I'm holding Max and Becky is holding Luke.  You can see just how tiny they are by looking at their arms.  I will never have a tiny baby.  These guys sure are light and teeny!

 Ryker, Wes and Luke.
Ryker is a great big brother and loves having more boys around!

 Michelle is home!!!  We are so glad that she is back and slowly getting better.  She is still swollen and puffy but she is getting healthier every day AND she's gained weight!!  She just might weigh more than Dallas and Ryker.  That would be awesome.  Glad you're back Miss Michelle.  :)

 I made cupcakes to celebrate Michelle coming home and got her a cute little shirt and some hair clips.  We've missed her.  Here she is doing her "shaky, shaky"--we tried it on the boys.  Ryker and Wesley thought it was funny.  Dallas FREAKED.  It was hilarious.

 Get ready to hold a new baby of your own Toby!  And be prepared to be exhausted.every.single.day.and.night.  Oh wait-we have kids who don't sleep through the night right now! 

We're so glad you came and spent time with us!  We appreciate all that you do for us and love you dearly.  Come back soon!!!!

Holy Crap

13 weeks folks-that's all I have left.  Third Tri-here I come.

Start giving me advice.......3 under 3. 

Who's moving in with me when this baby boy is born????????

Flooding

 This is what my normal sugar/roll out cookie looks like.  I have seen on lots of blogs and websites the idea of "flooding" your cookies.  It's where they are nice and smooth-no bubbles or lines.  Love how they look but have never learned how to make them.  Plus, I don't like royal icing and that's what most people use. 

Here's another look

 So, I finally figured out how to make flooded cookies!!!  Here is my first attempt at it.  You can see the outline and there are a few bubbles, but I really like how they turned out.  Little bit more classy don't ya think?

 Trying my hand at writing stuff.  Not my best but it was still fun to try.

 I use can frosting.  Heated it up so it was soft, piped the outline and then heated the frosting a bit more and "flooded" the cookie.  Not hard at all-and it still tastes the same.  That was my biggest fear, I didn't want it to change the way it tasted.

Another view-you can see how smooth they are.  Not bad for a first timer and they still tasted great!

Valentine's Day

 HAPPY LOVE DAY!!!!

Scripture Power

Working in Primary (I'm a counselor in the presidency) I get the opportunity to come up with new ideas for teaching sharing time and also teaching the kids all about this years theme--"I know the Scriptures are True." 
We wanted the kids to have their own Book of Mormon so we decided to put little bags together with the BOM, a scripture marker pencil and an Articles of Faith punch card.  We want them to work on memorizing them. 
They turned out so cute!!  I created a stencil and then painted the theme on the bags.  Ordered the books and pencils from the Distribution Center and added the cards. 

 Lots of the kids don't have their own set of scriptures, so it was great to be able to give them a Book of Mormon.  They really loved them and I hope they will bring them to church and use them at home.

We wanted to have the kids start to bring their scriptures to church every week so we came up with this little chart.  If they bring their scriptures, they will get to add a gumball to the machine.  Once it's filled up we'll have some sort of party.  Then I'll create another poster of some sort.  The senior kids all liked how I wrote Chews instead of Choose.  They thought I was pretty clever.  :) 

I love serving in Primary--the kids are so great and I learn so much from them.

Mr. Darcy

 Okay Ash-this little sign is coming your way.  I added a small felt rosette to the top-there was too much white.  Hope you like it!

Oh how I love Pride and Prejudice!!!  Mr. Darcy steals my heart every time.  Glad that stubborn Miss Bennet finally falls for him.  :)

I love to give credit and now I can't find the website where I found this craft.  The woman originally saw this on Pottery Barn but didn't want to pay the price.  Not sure what is costs as they don't sell it anymore.  Anyways, if I can find her link-I'll post it in here.

****I found it!!!  I was browsing Grey Luster Girl and also What Allie's Making Now and they had this craft.  Now I can give credit where credit is due!!!

Just a close up of my half felt rosette.  These were so easy to make and I love how it adds a little flair to the sign.

Giveaway!

First person to tell me who said this and where it comes from will get it.  If you know this quote, I'm assuming you love it (and the person who says it) and would want it.  :)

Never done a giveaway-thought it would be fun.

I might add some little dodad in the top left corner......

The D Man

 He can be such a stinker.......and then out of no where-the sweetest kid ever.  Must be the age.  He was eating a cookie that had blue frosting.  His favorite color is blue.  Anything blue and he thinks it's his.  Or he wants it!

 It was such a nice day today.  COLD but the sun was shining and if you bundled up, then it wasn't too bad.  Toby and I cleaned out the van and were working on organizing the garage while Wesley was napping and Dallas was playing.  He was so dang happy to be outside.  We can not wait for spring!

 He loves this truck from Lovey.  Has played with it in the garage during the winter because it's been too cold to play out side.  So when I let him outside today he was so happy!!!

Love my little fit throwing, crazy car driving, throwing everything machine!

Superbowl Party

We went to our friends house for the Superbowl-I serve with Joelle in Primary and Toby served with John in Young Mens.  We have become good friends with them and it's fun to get together!  Marlayna and her kids came up as well.  We missed Paul (Mar's husband) because he is serving in Iraq.  I made some yummy treats for the game and we had a great time.  I love the Steelers---whether they win or lose. 

Love roll out cookies!!!  They are so yummy.  Sometimes a pain to make and frost, but always so dang good. 

I also made Oreo Balls.  I decided to shape them into footballs and they turned out so cute!  Tasty too.

We had SO MUCH FOOD.  You think we should've talked about what to bring ahead of time.....oh well.  Everything was so yummy.  We just kept coming back for more.

Grace.  The girls decided that the game wasn't all that fun and so they decided to dress up.  Silly girls.

Picture won't turn and is out of order.  But you can see the footballs up close. 

Cute man- and I love Hines Ward.  So glad he isn't retiring and playing at least one more year!!! 

Figured I'd better add one photo of me in here.  This was before the game.....my face didn't look like this after the game.  :(

Simonne and Rachel.  I get the pleasure of seeing these girls every week.  Well not Rachel-she just turned 12 and is now in YW.

The D man was happy to be playing with Jack.  Jack is his buddy and is only 2 months younger than him.  They make the trouble in Nursery!!

The boys.  Wearing the same jersey.  Wes was a pill all night long.  Didn't want us to put him down and would only eat cookies......

John LOVES the Saints so he had to represent.  He was able to go to their game when they played against the Seahawks.  His first real football game and said it was awesome.  I hope to go someday!

Paul!!!  Don't know where Marlayna got this cut out but it's hilarious.  So he was there in spirit. 

Cute photo of the them.  Wish my flash would've gone off!

Drew.  Toby works with him in Scouts and YM.  He's a fun guy and is so sweet with the boys.  Dallas loves him.

Julia.  She did not want me to take a photo let alone put it on my blog.  Good thing she doesn't read this!

Lola and Gabi.  They are wild and crazy!  Love these girls.

Eating cookies.

"What Mom?"  "I've only had a million cookies......chicken?  Naw.  Just give me the sweets."

Let's Go Steelers!!!! 

And the dress up continues.....

Tessa

Gabi pulled out the craziest outfits. 

Missing Paul.

He was well loved during the game.  We sure miss you Paul!

The Girls.  Joelle, Marlayna and Me.

We had a great night despite the loss.  It was hard to see them make so many errors and turnovers.  The Packers deserved to win, they played a great game. 

But we'll be back again!!! 

I love my Steelers!!!