2013~ In Review

 Let's review, shall we?

 

 February: I started working full time at our office in Orem.

Our whole family works together. People ask us all the time how we handle working together.

So far, it's been just fine. We all have our days when we get on each other's nerves, but they are few and far between.

 

 May: Curtis & Shae moved back to Utah. They lived with us for a few months until the contract with their renters was up. Meantime, Baby J. made her early debut.

 

She was born at 29 1/2 weeks and weighed just a little over 2 pounds.

She spent a couple of months in the NICU before coming home.

 

Cutest little bug, ever!



 

 June:  We had a baby shower, while we waited for Baby J. to come home.

The theme was "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" and we decorated in pink and gray.

 



 The cookies were a favorite!

 

 It was lots of fun!

 

 

 Summer:  We also got in a couple fishing/camping trips.

 

 (Currant Creek)

 

Boulder/Capitol Reef

 

Mid summer, we went from having 8 people living in our house, down to only 4. Actually, more like 3 1/2, since Spencer is rarely home.

 

July:  Rick, Shane and I took a trip to South Dakota. We took the other kids several years ago, but Shane had never been.

We had a great time!

Mount Rushmore is quite impressive.
If you've never been, we highly recommend it!

We also went to Yellowstone, and then drove home through the beautiful Tetons.

It was such a great trip!

 

 

September:  Baby J. was given a name and blessing.



 (Rick's parents on the left, my parents on the right)

Our whole family, minus Spencer.

 

Grandpa's Girl!

 

 October:  We took my parents to St. George to see

Mary Poppins @ the Tuacahn Theatre.

We try to go down every summer. It was the first time for my parents.

Tuacahn never fails to impress!

 



 

We moved. Again.

This was my backyard last winter.

 

This is the backyard at the new place. (In the Fall)

That is mud, in case you can't tell. The front is landscaped, but the back won't be done until next spring.

 

This is the view off the back porch.

It's a field.

A. Field.

 

 

But this is the new kitchen!

So, there's that...

 

 (Before we moved in)

More baby cuteness, just because I can!

(That's the perk of being the Grandma!!!)

December:  These two got engaged just before Christmas.

They are planning a May or June wedding.

 



 

We celebrated our first Christmas in the new place.

It's growing on me.

 

 Christmas Eve~2013

The whole crew!



 

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the best for 2014!!!



A Few Fall Favorites

Yummy Fall scents from Bath & Body Works~

My favorite was Scarlett Pumpkin, but I didn't get a picture before it was all gone!

 

These cute little guys!

My confession: I bought them to go with my Fall Mantel décor.

Then I remembered I don't have a mantel anymore!

OOPS!

My other confession: I haven't decorated for Fall yet.

I guess I'll get a few things out since I am hosting Thanksgiving this year.

 



 

 This is my favorite, isn't he cute?

 

This turkey!

(Yes, my front door is turquoise!)

 



 

This Soup:

Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup

 

 



This Blog:

Hen Pecks

 

And these printables:

Colette's Sunday Sentiments Series

 

And...Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays!

Hope all my blog friends are enjoying this month of Gratitude!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

Halloween Mystery Dinner~2013

It's that time of year!

 

We just moved in to our new home 2 weeks ago.

I was going to cancel our Annual Family Halloween Dinner this year,

or at least do something a little more "low-key"...

But my kids (mostly my daughter and daughter-in-law)

guilted  talked me in to it!

And honestly, it turned out fun!

We did get the kitchen unpacked & most of the main floor

"tidied up" a bit, so I felt better about hosting a party.

(Also, I am loving my new kitchen...more on that another time)

 

I even pulled out a few decorations, to liven the place up a bit!

I think everyone had a great time.

 



(Cotton Candy Spider Webs & "Vampire Bites")

 

 

This year's menu consisted of:

 

Mummy Snot: (Ranch Dressing)

Alien Pods: (Green Beans)

Mouse Droppings: (Sunflower Seeds)

Vampire Bites: (Candy Cup w/ all red candies)

Witch's Broom: (Fork)

Bony Knuckles: (Mini Garlic Monkey Bread)

Sticky Spider Web (Cotton Candy)

Brains: (Fettuccine Noodles)

Dragon's Blood: (Red Punch)

Scarecrow Noses: (Croutons

Moldy Bat Wings: (Salad)

EscarGROSS!: (Creamy Italian Chicken)

What IS That? (Pumpkin Spice Cake)

 

The stand-out favorites this year were the Mini Garlic Bread & the Pumpkin Spice Cake. I've linked to both recipes for you.

The garlic bread was super easy & I will be making them again.

 

How are you celebrating the season?

 

Happy Halloween!

Early Arrival

Our sweet little granddaughter made an early debut!

She was born May 3rd, 2013 ~ 10 1/2 weeks early.

 (29 1/2 weeks gestational age)

 

She was so tiny!

She weighed 2.1 pounds and was 14 1/2 inches long.



Her mama had an undetected case of Preeclampsia, which developed into Eclampsia & HELLP Syndrome. She was one sick chickee!

Thankfully, we got her to the hospital, where it was determined the baby needed to be delivered ASAP!  It was a scary ordeal for us.

Shae had a seizure while we were in the ER. Did I mention she was pretty dang sick?

Pretty. Dang. Sick.

I won't go in to all the details, but if anything had happened differently, I think we would have lost both of them, her condition was that serious.

 



Thankfully, both mama and baby are doing well.

Baby girl spent 6 weeks in the NICU, where she was able to continue to grow and develop.

So thankful for modern technology that saved her mama &  gave this little girl a chance to live and thrive.

 



 

 After 8 weeks in the NICU, she was finally doing well enough that they could bring her home.

Curtis & Shae had just moved back to Utah the week before little baby J was born, so

they have been staying with us until they could move back into their home.

 



 

It's been kind of fun having the baby here.

And I'm kinda diggin' the whole grandma thing!

 

(Taken today)

Sure do love this sweet little bundle of joy!

I could just kiss those sweet cheeks all day!!!

And so thankful that she and her mama are both fine!



Pistachio Cake

 

We had an extended family party yesterday, with a St. Patrick's Day theme.

I made this Pistachio Cake for dessert.

 

This cake is so yummy!

It's dense & moist~ almost like a banana bread texture.

Even my pickiest eater liked it, which is saying a lot!

 

Pistachio Cake

 

1 package yellow cake mix

2 small packages pistachio instant pudding mix

4 eggs

1 cup Sprite

1/2 cup oil

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup cold whipping cream

3/4 cup cold milk

2 tsp. powdered sugar

 

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, ONE pudding mix, eggs, Sprite and oil.

Beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Stir in 1/2 cup walnuts. Pout batter into a greased and floured 10-inch Bundt pan.

Bake for 40-45 minutes.

Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

When cake is cool, place the cream, milk, ONE pudding mix and powdered sugar in a large bowl.

Beat on high until stiff peaks form. Frost cake, then sprinkle with 1/2 cup walnuts. Keep refrigerated.

 

*My Notes:

I just stirred the nuts in the frosting, rather than sprinkling on top.

This can also be made in a 9x13 pan.

 



Life, According to Shane

Yesterday when I picked Shane up after school,

he asked me why I always look like I'm sick when I come to get him.

 

???

 

Me: "What do you mean?"

Shane: "You never get dressed or do your hair or anything."

 

???

 

Later, I was telling the fam what he had said.

In an attempt to clarify his position, he said I always wear my pajamas to pick him up...

 

???

 

In my defense, I have been sick, but I have NEVER, EVER gone to pick him up in my pajamas!!!

And yesterday I had done my hair & put on makeup & thought I looked alright.

What a blow to my self-esteem! :)

 

What Shane thinks I dress like:

 

 

How Shane thinks I should dress everyday:

 

(Last month, he asked me why I don't dress up like the Principal, Mrs. K.)

I did ask her (she's a friend) if she could tone it down a little...she's making me look bad!



 

What I think I look like:

What I actually look like:



(Jeans and a shirt...my usual apparel. And crocs...)

 

Maybe I do need to step up my game a little, get in touch with my

inner June Cleaver.

 

I've got it! I'll throw on a pair of pearls when I pick him up today!!!

 

Note to Shane: I think you should ride the bus home after school. Just sayin'. 

Winter

Christmas Future

It's a joke in our family that I am sometimes mistaken to be

Shane's grandma.

I must look really old? :)

 

 

I guess it's time to do something about that...

 

What to do?

What to do?

 

 

I guess the only thing I can do
(besides plastic surgery)

is to officially become a GRANDMA! 

 

 

First grand baby expected in mid-June!!!

So stinkin' excited!!!