Recipes

I have been busy getting ready for Christmas.  I had made THESE for my older girls last year.  I thought that it would be fun to give them a few of our family favorite recipes that I have digitized to add to those they have collected and copied this year.

AND since I have them here I thought I would post them on my blog to have and share.  These two recipes I make together creating our own Panda Express night.

The first one is from my Aunt Callie, who is an amazing cook.  I lived with her during the summers while I was at college and collected so many favorite recipes that I STILL make for my family.  You just add your favorite vegetables and have a yummy stir fry.  The other is an easy one from my friend Emily Flake. 

 

 

I think I know what I'm making for dinner tonight!

Joy

A definition of Joy is "an outward show of pleasure or delight".

Joy is actually Jerrica's middle name.

AND I feel like it fits her perfectly!

I just LOVE that wrinkled little nose when she is tickled about something.

Toy Story Party

Ash wanted a Toy Story party with her friends, SO a Toy Story party is what we did.  Once again I was too busy with the party to get pictures of all the kids, BUT I did take a few pictures from the party to remember what we did.  Here is the table set up.  A friend, Danette had a Toy Story party for her son and I noticed in the pictures that she had the plastic ware in a cowboy boot.  LOVED the idea and did it. 

We played games with Toy Story toys.  Like Army men bowling with a golf ball...

Races with Mr. Potato Head and all his pieces to see who could assemble him the fastest...

Scavenger hunt, pinata, AND a game where they had to reach into a bag with their eyes closed and guess which character they pulled out.  Thanks to Kim I had ten different characters and a total of 20 toys that could be pulled out...

The cake was basically licorice wrapped around cute figurines that I had bought at Target.  She was THRILLED (along with Jerrica) to keep and play with the little characters.

It was a fun party, but I'm glad that we alternate friend party years with family parties.  I kinda need those breaks...

The BirthDAY

Started out like this...

And ended like this...

(We did have a fun Toy Story friend party and Red Robin dinner in between.  I will post more pictures later)

I HEart FaceS

This week's theme is Silhouettes.

My kids were out playing one evening.  Nathan shooting on his soccer goal, Kaylee making baskets, Jerrica dragging her favorite doll around, and Ash making her mud/flower creations.  I couldn't resist gathering them together along with Jake and Rebecca to get a silhouette shot that gave a glimpse into what they enjoy.

Oh how I love my SIX!!!  To see more check out I HEart Faces.

Guess What Tomorrow Is?

Ashley's BIRTHDAY!

AND She is Excited!

I think tonight was the first night EVER that she asked if we could ALL just go to bed EARLY!

Weekend Update

Jake and Nate went to a fun night over at the Wright's.  When I dropped them off I could see the big bon fire going with boys gathered around.  Sean was organizing a little basketball round robin tournament for the night.  It just looked fun with all those boys.  I'm grateful for the good friends they have AND for willing parents to have them all over.

Saturday Nathan and Kaylee both had basketball games and won easily.  Kaylee and Nathan each had six points in their games.  I love watching Kaylee learn something and then apply it.  They worked on boxing out in their practice (that's putting your butt on an opponent to block them out from getting the ball), and guess what Kaylee would do each time the ball went up...

Here are a few more from Kaylee's game.  I LOVE the contact of the defense on Kaylee.  Her form didn't help her make the basket but her concentration sure did!

Then Saturday night we had two end of season soccer parties at ITZ and Mr. Biggs.  We divided up and enjoyed the company of all our soccer friends.  It is sad when the season comes to an end because we really don't see some of them until the next season begins.

Sunday the kids had their Primary program.  I was sooo proud of how well the kids sang their program songs.  Ashley belted them out from the front row.  I sure enjoy working in Primary right now and the opportunity to be with my kids. 

Thanksgiving Daily

LOVED this!  It's so true that you get sooo used to what is around you, that you take it for granted.

FREE

There is a FREE action just for the next 24 hours on Pure Photoshop's site.  The action is filled with these borders that can easily be changed to whatever color you desire.  They also have varying border sizes and of course the fun rounded corners.  I think that it would make such perfect invitations!

Take advantage of it HERE before its too late!  (Scroll down on the link to where it has the border action.)

Ash and Pictures

It always starts out by learning something new in one of my photography books or online.  I grab Ash before she leaves for preschool because she is ALWAYS game for taking pictures.

The first shot is always a little stiff and serious...

Then the Ash of multiple expressions breaks out ...

The last two I was playing with composition a little.  People think that you need everything dead center with border space on all sides, but I LOVE to crop in here and there.  I feel like it really DOES draw your eye in.

And for you photographers out there - just thought I would share these two articles.  Portraits that Captivate and Intruige AND Your Camera Takes Really Nice Photos.  They both talk about backgrounds, which looking at the above pictures next to the white wall is probably what I need to work on!!!!

Gratitude Turkey

We are loving our gratitude turkey.  I posted about him last year.  He is filled with cards that I printed from Sugardoodle.  We draw one out at dinner each night and then have until the next night to show gratitude for whatever is on the card.  I like drawing them out the night before so we can prepare for whatever it is.

The cards have gratitude ideas from members of our family to blessings that we enjoy each day.  One that we did last week was "We are grateful for our home - find something to clean in your home"  I had the kids each clean out a drawer or closet.  It was a VERY cold day and we talked about how lucky we are to have a home to stay warm in.  Then someone drew out the card "We are grateful for our mother, serve her in some way".  One of the girls piped up that we better buy chocolate....

I LOVE the cards because they have such simple "doable" activities, yet remind us of the blessing that we have. 

He LOVES Soccer

See this boy...

He absolutely loves soccer and was devastated yesterday to learn that all outdoor practices are over for the year.  However he does STILL have indoor soccer to enjoy.  He went outside yesterday and shot on his goal for TWO hours.  He is lucky to have a little sister (AKA Kaylee) that enjoys soccer as much as he does AND that she goes outside to practice with him!  They are so fun to watch out there giggling and talking.

His strength is his foot skills, AND they are incredible!  He always has people (refs, coaches, and parents) come up to him after games talking to him about his amazing footwork.

 

I WAS supposed to be watching Kaylee's game, but couldn't resist zooming in and taking these above pictures as he was dinking around on the sidelines.  He just LOVES to play with that soccer ball! 

Thankful Hands FHE

Tonight we talked about ALL of the many things we have to be thankful for.  We started out watching this clip and discussing how we are all so different and are grateful for different things.

Then I passed out these little hand books that I had whipped up.  Each person wrote on each of the five fingers the various things they were grateful for using the topic on the palm of the hand.  There were four pages - food, activities, people, and places.

We then each shared a few of the things we had written.  It was fun hearing the kids favorite foods and talking about how grateful we are just to HAVE food.  Of course a couple kids had to add (out loud) foods that they were NOT thankful for. 

We definitely are very blessed and need to be quick to express gratitude for all that we have.  I challenged the kids to thank Heavenly Father for AT LEAST five things in their prayers tonight.  Ash piped in that she would just READ her book to Heavenly Father. 

Orange I HEarT FaCES

"Orange" is the theme for I Heart Faces this week.  You can see the orange in Ashley's  red hair OR the orange on the beautiful giant pumpkin! 
See more here-

Senior Photos Part-Twin

Jori is a twin to Tylor, so of course we need the other twin posted on here as well.  There are so many fun ones but I will contain myself.

 

You are handsome Tylor!  I just can't believe that you and your sister are Seniors!  Time flies toooo fast!