last weekend

Friday my cooking class for kids made

Bunny Bread

and Egg Salad.

It was fun.

Saturday we ran down to Utah Valley to see our newest family member!

Marcus & Brittany welcomed 

Claire Nicole

to our family!

Isn't she BEAUTIFUL!

Only three days old in this picture.

Sunday I taught Relief Society.

Then made these spring cupcakes for Tiffany's mission farewell.

Our sweet Tiffany is going on a mission.

She is going to Atlanta, Georgia!

We are so very excited for her.

and just for fun

Finn & Crew

cookies and uncles and cousins and uncles... again

Charlie & I made cookie monster cookies.

(smile)

Trent approved.

They were delicious!

 

Joey & Brittany agreed- they were YUM.

The boys LoVe Brittany.

She put them to bed several times & Joey let her hold him - all the time- especially while eating. Which took me back to when Jack was Garrett (long story) and her dad would hold him on his lap during meal times.

 So sweet. Jack loved that & joey does too.

 

While waiting for the morning carpool

Uncle Trent read books to Charlie.

Just a few moments here I don't want to forget.

brittany had a birthday!

 Last Sunday night we celebrated Brittany's birthday!

Woot Woot!!

(We are so lucky to have her so close)

I tried to recreate a similar cake Brett & I tried the day before...

*vanilla bean cake-- with white chocolate whipped cream frosting*

I added coconut because I tried & tired but couldn't get some tiny lumps out of my whipped cream--

 darned white chocolate. It was so good though!

I want to apologize right off the bat here for this picture above-

I realize Jack is the only one being flattered here- love you Jack.

There- that's better.

Chloe, Brian & Hailey-

Laura was home sick with a terrible cold--- 

which is just now- after a week or two -kinda, sorta, getting better.

Poor thing! She's 33 weeks & 2 days pregnant with twins & has had this terrible flu/cold.

It's just not right

(I sent her home a piece of cake)

It was so fun to have Johnny here- 

I'm always so busy I rarely get time to just hang out with Johnny.

He is such a cutie- maybe one of these days we will get to know each other better?

He is a BIG fan of his Aunt Brittany. 

We made -- truly had to MAKE Marcus-- blow out a candle too.

His birthday was last week.

It's been an emotional week here

Monday our sweet Chloe was admitted to the hospital.

She is switching medications right now to try to help the tics. 

I had mentioned before that the ticking had gotten severe.

It's been so hard for her - but she is a trooper!

I would have had to go into the hospital after a couple of hours -- literally!

She had been struggling for 5 weeks now. 

We had tried meds & other treatments conservatively but-

Enough was enough & she is being helped.

We are fasting for her this Sunday & welcome any who would like to join us.

We are missing her.

Really missing her.

But-- she is getting the help she needs & she likes it there for now. She is strong & she is doing really well. She cannot have general visitors, but we visit her everyday.
It's amazing how things happen in life.

How truly precious family is.

How people think other people have these perfect lives... everybody has something.

I love you Chloe- You are an angel & you will get better & all of Your dreams will come true.

I know it- I really do

really... so long between posts?

It's been a seriously... 

busy busy

month here for me people!

In November-

I started redoing Hailey's room.

She moved into the boys old room in the basement & we (okay it was me) decided to turn her room into a guest room. We frequently have guests & it is only difficult because we always put them in Trent's room. That is a nightmare for me. So much work & it throws him off his schedule. So- In changing this room to a guest room-- my life will eventually be easier- right?

I have to say- all the wallpaper is down & I haven't even walked into the room since the friday before thanksgiving. No time.

One of Jack's best friends---

SETH CAME HOME FROM HIS MISSION!!!

So lucky for us Jack was home a little bit. 

He is so fun to have home.

Great News-

Hailey got a job at Cafe Rio!!!

FREE MEAL

-Oh ya-

She doesn't get to bring home free food I just love to yell free meal like they do.

Are you just sick about the whole Hostess going under business?

I may have ate my last raspberry filled powdered sugar donut?

I don't want to live in this kind of world? A world without twinkies?

Dear me--- can it be so?

SOMEONE FIX THIS!

A little update:

We LOVE having Brittany close & think she should eat dinner here every night.

Laura is on bed rest now-- she's 26 weeks--- much too soon for these little buggers to be wanting to come. So down she is!

I've been working nearly 30 hours a week & haven't had a day off in 10 days straight!

sigh- Christmas time + retail = crazy busy.

I've been in the last two Sunday nights after the store closed putting up Christmas floor sets.

Fun really-- but so tiring.

my window

ISN'T IT GORGEOUS!!!

I'm just a little over the top - proud of it.

I've also been making capes for Christmas- remember the super hero capes I made for Charlie & Joey?

Well-- I have had some orders & made 5 capes now! you know, just in my free time - still it's great for a little extra Christmas money & they are really fun to make!

Thank Heaven's for Brett- he is such a huge support & truly my sweet heart. 

I love to see him with his "other girls" Lavern & Shirley.

It just cracks me up!

They run to his as soon as he opens the back door. 

Thanksgiving Post 

(it was so much fun!) 

coming soon

this past week...

I work four morning shifts-

and

I went to TWO

birthday parties!

Lisa & Lauri's

They were both really fun & I adore both of these ladies!

Brittany's house is really coming along & I can't wait for her to move in at the end of the month.

It was conference weekend 

and

sadly... oh so sadly...

I slept through most of it.

Oh I am so mad at myself!

I must have been really tired? I didn't get a project together & I just fell.

Fell asleep.

Thank heavens for the DVR.

I will be watching it this week-- maybe I will hear more of it anyway?

 Jack was home for a night.

I tried to feed him as much food as possible.

He is gaining a little weight, after his specialist gave him a couple of new prescriptions.

It's getting cold outside- Trent has been begging me to turn the heat on- and this morning I finally succumbed. It had to be done.

REally-- is your October flying by too? 

today

These ladies came up to the back door window to say hello.

Megan sent me this darling picture...

last Sunday.

and this one Monday-

his first day of Joy School.

So SWEET

Brittany's house is coming along nicely!

The inside is even nearly dry walled!

My creative friends & I have started meeting again - officially last week!

This week was Wende's birthday!

We had a little birthday luncheon & it was so.much. fun!!!!

The birthday girl herself!

I am so blessed to have these amazing ladies in my life every week~

Grateful.

I've known Wende now for about 15 years!

wow

Time flies when you're having fun.

Happy Birthday Wende-

You are the BEST