Believe

The Birth Scoop

2011-04-22T13:21:00.003-06:00

Ok so here is the scoop(finally) on how our baby girl was brought into this world.

On the night of Sunday March 13th just before bed I discovered I had lost my mucus plug. It kind of alarmed me but I was pretty sure it was no biggie...not like your water breaking or anything so I just went to bed. In the night I woke up to having some pretty strong contractions but I could still breath through them pretty easily. They lasted for about an hour or so and then I was able to fall back asleep. The next day I looked online, called some people, and spoke with my doctor to see what they thought about me loosing my plug. Most everything I read online said it could be anything from a day or two up to two weeks. My doctor told me I could still go 5 weeks without it so not to worry.

All day Monday I felt pretty tired but I just tried not to think about it. I was so tired though that I told e I needed a nap and he just watched TV while I slept on my recliner. My mom told me I was in labor and my friend told me that I should pack a bag for the hospital but I just didn't want to anticipate it happening and then have to wait for 5 more weeks so I didn't follow her advice :)

That night I went to a "Bachelor Final Rose" watch party at a friends house and had a great time. It was so fun, good company, amazing food, and it kept my mind off of things. I came home and went to bed only to be woken up again with labor pains around 4:30 AM-the morning of Tuesday March 15th. I tried to breath through them but they were getting stronger and stronger and closer and closer apart. So I woke Case up to help me keep track of them. He timed them- coming 5 mins apart. After it had been over an hour of this I looked at Case and said I think I should take a shower and pack a bag. He looked at me and said "really?" I was so surprised by how calm he was and that he really did not think it was happening(so not like him). After I got showered and Case packed our bag it was about 7:30AM and the contractions were still 5 mins apart. So Case called my doctor and she told us to go to the clinic and have someone check me(not happy about that....I'm pretty sure she didn't believe me). We packed e's bag and took him to a friends house and headed to the clinic. Once I arrived the doctor on call was so surprised my doctor had told me to go there...he said "you are in labor and you need to get to the hospital quickly. Don't pass go...go straight there!" I asked him if they needed to try and stop my labor since I was only 36 weeks and he said there was no stopping it at this point. (My due date was April 10th and I was expecting April 17th since e was 6 days late)

ready or not...here she comes!

I was at a 3 when he checked me and when I arrived at the hospital around 9:30 I was at a 4. I labored for a couple more hours and when checked again I was still at a 4. What the heck...those contractions were crazy strong and I'm only at a 4?? It was then I decided to get an epidural. Best decision! I was in labor for 5 more hours and our totally healthy baby girl was finally born at 5:21pm weighing in at 5lbs 12 oz and 19inches long. Labor was half the time of Eli, she was almost 3 lbs smaller, I wasn't totally exhausted when she came out, and no broken tailbone...all good news! :). The coolest part was Casey got to deliver her! The Dr stood next to him of course but he did the actual delivery! It was amazing and unforgettable.

The first thing I heard was her tiny little voice when she made a "crying" sound. It brought instant tears to my eyes and I felt the most amazing sensation go thru my entire body. She had the sweetest cry I have ever heard! I could feel her sweet, soft, spirit so strongly in that very instant!! Miraculous. And even more miraculous is that she was totally healthy and had no complications due to an early birth. In fact, the Dr told us it was a miracle she was born early because her cord wasn't attached very strongly and it could have come off pretty easily. I guess my body knew she needed to get out of there and into our arms!! Love. Her.

Not a doll...this is our real baby girl...crazy huh?!

This Kid Cracks Me Up!!

2011-03-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

The other night e finished dinner before Case and I and all of the sudden he appeared back in the kitchen with my glasses on(please mind the dirty shirt and face..it kind of makes it even more endearing). We both just started laughing. He always keeps us laughing.

Some funny sayings/stories of e:

"I'm here to tell you....I just got in my car seat all by myself."

"Here's the deal..."

"I have a great idea...."

"Actually..."

When he got a shot at the dr's office he looked at me and said "Did she just stab me with a screw driver?"

Awhile ago, before he moved up to Sunbeams, he was showing me a picture of a little boy he colored in nursery. He said "It says I will obey." I said "What does obey mean?" He was silent for about a whole minute and I thought he wasn't going to answer me. Then he said "Um mom...can you take me back to church so I can learn what obey means? Not the sacrament part but just straight to nursery!"

Since he has moved up to Sunbeams, in January, he has let us know how unhappy he is about it. He says every Sunday that he wants to go back to nursery. He is quite aware that he is getting robbed of snacks and toys and now he just has to sit and listen. Too bad he is so observant!

"Mom, look at the tagpoles." "They are called tad poles" "No....tagpoles...because they play tag"

Nuggies Game!!

2011-02-22T13:20:00.021-07:00

Casey's brother Scott invited Case and e to a Nuggies game with him and his girls. They had a blast as you can tell:)


e loves spending time with his cousins Makayla and Naomi and I enjoyed a quite night to myself :)

Love Party

2011-02-16T16:27:00.008-07:00

e got invited to his first Valentines Day Party hosted by my friend Elizabeth (didn't even get a picture of her or the other moms). She had yummy food and let the kids decorate cupcakes. e enjoyed eating all the sugar for sure! He would put candy on the cupcake and then every chance he got, he would take it off and eat it.

This picture cracks me up! They all look so happy and can't you just feel the love in the air:)

Makin' His Mama Proud- Signing Alphabet

2011-02-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

Playgroup- Playing in the Snow

2011-02-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

Talon, Jack, Macy, and E

He LOVES the snow...can ya tell??

We hope he follows in Jack's footsteps...he is such a good kid.

Belly Shot

2011-01-30T16:19:00.010-07:00


So sad...this is really the only picture I have of this little girl. I was 30 weeks when I took this.

Showering of Love For One Lucky Girl...um Make that Two Lucky Girls:)

2011-01-25T12:25:00.001-07:00

Announcement-Designed by Wendy

Prego Linz at 29 Weeks

Here are a few snap-shots from my baby shower a couple of weeks ago. I have some of the best friends in America...no really...I do! I feel so lucky to have such good people around me that inspire me, listen to me, serve me, and shower me with love. It makes living away from family so much easier! I finally feel home away from home ever since we moved down here in our new little town because I have met some of the best people I could ever ask to meet and be friends with. Love you friends! Thanks for making me feel so special and for helping me celebrate the birth of our new little "sweepy" (e's way of saying sweet pea.). We are so excited to meet her!!

The LOOT!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries- Handmade by Alysa

Adorable Favors- Handmade by Wendy

Raspberry Yum Cupcakes- Handmade by Elizabeth

We had such delicious food -handmade by Kelly, Jocelyn, and Christy. Chicken salad croissants, fresh fruit with to-die-for-dip, and a strawberry garden salad.

Everyone that came made bows for the baby girl and they turned out so cute!

Handmade by Kelly

Loving the Snow

2011-01-10T16:20:00.014-07:00

the hill daddy took him down- after he went he said "Dad...I'll just sit here and watch you:)"

eating snow...a boy after my own heart:)

He's got the snow angel down for sure

Christmas 2010

2010-12-31T12:24:00.031-07:00

We love Christmas around here and this year was especially fun to have e around. He got so excited about all the things we get to do. I love the music, the lights, the coziness, but most of all the traditions with my family. Here are a few pictures from our Christmas celebrations this year.

We love to go to the forest and cut down a real tree. e LOVED it this year and he was so much help.

Case's work had a Christmas Party with Santa and Mrs. Claus

He also got to see Santa at the library- him watching Santa tell a story.

Our Neighborhood 2nd Annual Sleigh Ride Through The Neighborhood

Christmas Morning

Case pretending he was a manikin with his new clothes

Unfortunately I didn't get any actual pictures of e on Christmas morning...just video.

5 Years Babyyyyyy

2010-11-23T16:27:00.012-07:00

Case and I have been hitched for 5 years now and we went to dinner and a B&B to celebrate. It was so much fun!! My mom was here to watch e while we took 2 days to have to ourselves.

remember this (click here)??

Well...we loved it so much we decided it was time to go back!

I can't believe we have been married for 5 years....time goes so fast!

We stayed at a B&B and this was the only picture I took while we were there.

This was the first time we left e overnight! It was so nice to know he was in good hands.

Curious e is THREE Birthday Party

2010-11-15T13:06:00.120-07:00

Decorations and Food

The theme for e's birthday was Curious George. All the decorations and food went along with the theme.

My friend Kelly made this adorable banner for me- "Curious e is Three"

Curious George Goes Fishing- these were the table center pieces

The Balloon Bunch Birthday Cake

The Food Table

We served "Chef Pisghetti's Spaghetti" (sauce made so lovingly by Jake:))

Macy and Talon

First Order of Business- EAT!

Games and Activities

Let the games begin...

Finger Painting Curious George Place-mats

Elizabeth and Charlie

Wendy and Dash and Korbin

Jack, Sam, and Fischer

green e

Then we played "musical shapes"

Prizes were involved!

Then we played "pin the butterfly on the log"- Fisch with George blindfold on.

Dash and Talon playing

Presents

Birthday Cake

He finally got to blow out a candle:)

Case sneaking some goodness in

Korbin- e's friend since birth (they were born a few days apart)

Party Favors

At the end we put all the fish in here and let the kids "go fishin'"


This was by far the hit of the party....all the kids were so quite and sat still the entire time!!

Everyone got to take a fish home as a thank you for "hookin'" e up and coming to his party.

Birthday Boy Status- Tuckered Out

Birthday for e

2010-11-08T17:59:00.001-07:00

e was very excited for his birthday this year. He is catching on to the whole present thing and he couldn't wait to open some presents. We asked him where he wanted to eat and who he wanted to eat with him and his reply was

"I want to eat Mac n' Cheese at Hops (all the way across town mind you...not sure how he even remembers eating there since he was not even 2 the last time we did. I guess that's what we get for asking him) with Jake, Wendy, and Dash."

So we invited our friends and they were good enough to drive all the way across town with us for this special little dinner. I didn't get very many pictures but here are at least a few...

e and Dash

love the tongue

He's got a sweet tooth just like his daddy! Look at that face!!

The whole time he ate he kept saying "Where is the candle?" He was pretty sad there wasn't one:( I had no idea that was important to him otherwise I would have brought one to make sure! Oh well...I guess we will remedy that at his party.

Present from Grandma and Grandpa- Tool Set!

I didn't get a picture of it but we got him a scooter and he LOVED it. Can't wait for it to be nice enough outside for him to ride it.

October Festivites

2010-10-31T13:06:00.005-06:00

We did so many fun things this year in honor of Halloween. We have such good friends!! Case and I have always loved this holiday. I think because of the time of year and because it's just so fun and not a lot of stress:)

The Angel and The Ninja- At a friends Halloween Party

I love this picture of all the kids...they look adorable!

Case made his own costume out of scrapes and things we had in the Goodwill pile. Very creative I must say!!

Kelly and Talon

Whitney and Cameron were dressed up as Humpty Dumpty and the King- very creative!

e and I got invited to go back to our last neighborhood and celebrate with our old playgroup. It was really fun to see everyone again!

My cute cowboy!

Attempt at getting all the kids in a picture.

We had all the kids trick or treat to the mom's in the backyard.

We invited some friends over last minute to carve pumpkins and eat some yummy fall food. It was really fun!!

e did not like putting his hands in the pumpkin:)

He liked painting a lot more!

Then we had our Trunk or Treat at the church and that was fun too!

e got tired of his cowboy outfit and changed his mind at the last minute to wear some hand me down dress ups:)

Dash, e, and Talon- BFF's

e's room

2010-10-30T15:17:00.004-06:00

I found a picture in a book that I fell in love with and really wanted to do for e's room. So Case is being a totally awesome and supportive husband and helping me do it despite not feeling the same passion as I do about it:) Here are a few photo's of the process.

prep...and a lot of it!

I painted inside the closet too and took the doors off

I was helping too!!

to be continued...

Photo's of My Boy- Age 3 (almost)

2010-10-25T13:22:00.033-06:00

E will be three in a couple of weeks so I asked my good friend Kelly if she would take some picture of him. So many turned out I had to share!! My baby is getting so big.

Family Vacation- San Diego October 2010

2010-10-16T14:04:00.000-06:00

Coming soon...

2010-09-28T16:47:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Earth

2010-09-13T14:26:00.002-06:00

I feel like in this scene the little girl must be talking to me. Or maybe it's all of you telling me...welcome back.

I know it's been awhile..a long while since I've been here and honestly I'm not sure I will be back any time soon. Maybe...maybe not. Maybe someday I'll explain my absence...maybe....maybe not. For now this scene rings true to me and makes me happy. To enjoy more fully make sure you pause the music on the sidebar:) xoxo

ps...do you ever feel like you jumped off the earth wagon for a little while??

The Family Man - Welcome to Earth
Uploaded by princeofbasket. - Full seasons and entire episodes online.

Happy Birthday Lover Boy

2010-09-12T16:30:00.002-06:00

Case had a birthday and we celebrated with a little cupcake decorating party with family and a few friends. We also announced...we are having a baby! Well, I am actually the one having the baby, but WE are adding another addition to our home in April! Also, I quit my job and get to stay home with e again!
(I guess you could say this is part of the reason these posts are so behind. I don't do well when I'm prego)

Loyal Fan

2010-09-12T11:48:00.003-06:00

Case calls me the loyal fan. I like to watch sports when I have some sort of attachment to the team or players...and if that is the case...I kind of get into it! Ok...not kind of but really get in to. I'm not so much the kind of person that watches the sport for the sake of the sport. Although in some cases I have been known to do that too.

Anyway, Case and I have a long standing joke about him making fun of BYU(he did attend there too mind you) and me standing up for it. I'm not a crazy Zoobie BYU fan but I did attend and graduate from that school and I have some very fond memories there...therefore I defend BYU. Case is a COLORADO guy. Anything Colorado, he is very proud of it. So this time of year is fun when we get to go to the BYU vs. Airforce football game. He wore his Airforce shirt and I dug and dug to try and find anything BYU I could. Finally, I landed on a totally dorky hat that I'm not even sure where we got it...but...it was BYU so I had to wear it. We went with some friends of ours (I didn't even get any pictures...lame I know) who I might add are fellow BYU fans although our tickets landed us among the Airforce fans to even things out I guess.

It was a very hot day with the sun shinning on us and it didn't end up to being as great as our last experience but we still had fun. It was, however, very neat to be able to honor all the victims, soldiers, heroes, etc of 9/11 since the game was on 9/11. It felt very patriotic in the stadium and I was thankful for the moments we had to remember that time in our history and all associated with it.

I still love him...in fact I kind of love that part of him:)

Very sunny on our side of the stadium

and very hot...his face shows how I felt inside:)

All the soldiers ran out onto the field at half-time and unfolded this HUGE flag while we sang America. VERY COOL!

We had visitors....yay!!

2010-07-25T16:40:00.004-06:00

I found out that my favorite aunt Tina (and I can say she is my favorite aunt because she is the only one that has come to visit me:)) was coming through Colorado on a long road trip with her family and they needed a place to stay....so of course we said they could stay with us. It was so fun to see them!! I lived with her and her family when she had 4 small kids in Texas and helped her take care of them for a short time just after high school. I think back to those times often as I have become a mother myself. It was great preparation...plus now I will always have a soft place in my heart for her kids. I told her and Alan that if our kids turn out half as good as theirs I will consider myself very lucky. Case, e, and I enjoyed every minute they were here. e still talks about Ashley and "her friends" (her brothers:))

Ashley...just before she heads off to the big bad BYU.

Scotty Bobo (he probably doesn't really want me to call him that but oh well...he will always be Scotty bobo to me:)

Nate- (whom I rocked in a rocking chair for a month straight in order to keep him happy)

Ryan- he wasn't around yet when I lived with them.

Spencer- he wouldn't let me take a picture of him looking at me.

Alan- doing the half sleeping half visiting thing

My favorite Aunt Tina (who looks a lot like my mom in this picture)

e loving all the attention!!

While they were here they took us to dinner at Red Robin on Sat night! Then they came to church with us on Sunday and Case made them an Indian dinner before they headed out. Scott also managed to iron Casey's shirts, Spencer hung a mirror, and they even offered to dig fence post holes. They are hard workers and they are very funny. Thanks for coming to see us guys. You can come ANY time!! We love having visitors.

McCall

2010-07-15T17:04:00.004-06:00

I didn't think we were going to get to go home to see my family this year because I had to work, but at the last minute I decided to ask my boss if he would be ok with it. I buttered him up just right and he said YES! So, e and I took a trip back home just in time for the family reunion. Unfortunately but fortunately, case couldn't come because he had to work....yes I said work...he got a JOB!! Yay! We are so excited he did but we sure wish he could have been here with us.

4th of July-Hike to Devils Head

2010-07-05T16:35:00.003-06:00

For the 4th of July we got Monday off too so we took the opportunity to go hiking with Case's brother and his family. We hiked Devil's Head and we all had a great time....hence the gazillion pictures.

e and Naomi are such good friends. He loves her!!

Kayla on top.

My boy and me...he walked most of the way but he did get a little tired so I gave him a ride for some of it.

love this picture of these two!

Jen, Scott, Kayla, and Naomi

At the top

Isn't she beautiful!

Case and I did a little climbing once we were up there since we had Scott to spot us.

I love this view...so gorgeous.

Then that night we watched the town fireworks.

e and Naomi were covering their faces with their blankets when the fireworks were loud.

The weather was so nice all day, it was a perfect day to get out and do something active as a family. I love days like today!

Twin Lakes

2010-07-03T15:57:00.004-06:00

Over 4th of July weekend we went camping with Justin and Tess, and Jake and Raina and their kids to Twin Lakes. Colorado truly is beautiful and this weekend was no exception to the rule. Case got some beautiful shots of the lake and the mountains and he even caught a fish for us to eat.

Playing in the tent before bed...don't forget to notice he is wearing "camping pj's"

The reflection is spectacular!

e's favorite friend- Tess

He caught one!!

I just love this little guy!

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-19T15:24:00.000-06:00

For Father's Day my friend's Wendy and Kelly and I got together and decided to send our husbands on a fun outing. We decided to send them to a race track while we stayed behind and made some yummy food and watched the 3 goons you will see below.

Devin, Case, and Jake looking smokin' hot in their race get up. My favorite part is Devin's high waters...no words are necessary:)

The Goons- Dash, Talon, and e!

The Zoo... Again:)

2010-05-28T15:01:00.000-06:00

We have a kid that LOVES the Zoo. So we spend as much time there as we can. It never seems to get old to this little guy and we enjoy watching him so amazed by everything.

Father and Son-

2010-05-20T14:43:00.000-06:00

While I was working full-time, Case and e got to spend their days together...some much needed time together just father and son. They did a lot of fun things together and I'll be honest, I did feel a little left out. But, I had a lot of peace of mind knowing e was with his dad! He has an awesome dad!!!

Headed out to play with dad-skateboarding

and flying kites

on a beautiful, sunny,

blue-sky day!

I Wish Bubbles Had The Same Effect On Me...

2010-04-21T14:22:00.005-06:00

e with my grandma and his

2010-04-20T13:50:00.000-06:00

I'm still updating my blog so these pictures are from last April but I thought they were cute of e playing with my grandma and his. He was running between them with his football and laughing so hard. I wish you could see his face better. He really has grown up a bunch since then.

Go Rockies!

2010-04-16T16:31:00.022-06:00

After Casey lost his job, life was pretty tough around our house. We tried to stay positive but day in and day out of stress can really wear on a person, relationship, and family. A friend of ours gave us tickets to the Rockies and it was most definitely more than just a game for us. It gave us renewed strength and perspective. We had a great time as a family and enjoyed taking our mind off of stressful things. I will never forget what those tickets did for us in that time of our life. It was a miracle for our little family.

I love this guy...he is the best friend, partner, lover, father, anyone could ever ask for!

e was in the middle of potty training so we weren't sure how he would do here...he didn't have one accident. it was great! although Case got his exercise going up and down those bleachers to take him to the bathroom:)

It was a beautiful sunny day. I love the sunny state we live in. Perfect!

Easter Celebrations

2010-04-05T14:19:00.038-06:00

Our Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

He got pretty excited and collected a lot for his first hunt!

They had a little train the kids could ride on...too bad it was so windy and cold.

e's favorite part (besides the candy of course) was decorating eggs.

Easter window decor

His reaction to seeing his Easter basket...pure delight.

More candy please!

This video cracks me up!!

Bloggers and Breakfast at Snooze Make Me Happy

2010-03-24T10:40:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite Denver Bloggers Melanie at you are my fav is hosting a brunch at one of my new found loves SNOOZE A.M. EATERY. Have you ever eaten there? It's amazing. We discovered it a couple of months ago on one of our visits to the Denver Zoo. We were driving down Colorado Blvd and all of the sudden I see this crowd of people standing outside a building...then I realized they were in line to eat at Snooze. I said to Case, "let's try that place when we get done with the zoo." he agreed and we did and we were very very glad. So all you that live in the Denver area...come join in on the fun. Don't forget to rsvp over here.

Free Owl Tutorials Make Me Happy

2010-03-21T19:30:00.001-06:00

this owl tutorial is so stinking cute i had to share it. make one and show me how it turns out. maybe i will too in my spare time ;)

little red boots make me happy...

2010-03-17T08:55:00.002-06:00

(stacked just like this by e)

...apparently I'm not the only one!

How to Make A Happy Wreath Under $10 and in Under 10 Minutes

2010-03-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

Step 1

I went to Micheals and got a plain basic twig wreath for $3.99 (all the wreaths I have been seeing at craft/decorating stores are close to $30 and they are totally-ugly-too-much fluff-yuck!)

Step 2

Then I bought this cute fairy-like garland on sale for $3.49. I think it's so happy looking.

Step 3

Then I found this perfectly spring, cute little guy for $1.99

Step 4

Put it all together and you have one happy entrance to your house that is much cheaper and much more delicate and cute than anything you can buy. ahhh....spring is in the air!

Decorating Books- I {heart} you

2010-03-12T09:00:00.002-07:00

If you are looking for some good decor books....look no further. These books are dreamy yet real!
This first one happens to be one of my favs. It has great color options too!

Also I found a book called "A Color Scheme Bible, Neutral Color Schemes" that is an excellent resource for choosing colors...something I find myself doing a lot of these days!

The shape of me...

2010-03-08T13:58:00.006-07:00

I know this post may seem like a total contradiction from my last one...but just hear me out. I do believe that it's important to love the shape you are in. I also believe that it's important to take care of yourself. So what I have come to try to focus on is getting healthy. My aerobics instructor has been a huge resource for me in this journey. She told me about http://www.livestrong.com/. This is a website that helps you set goals and keep track of what you eat. I have never in my life counted calories so this was a huge eye opening experience for me. I have learned SO much. I will say that I don't anticipate counting calories the rest of my life that is for sure but it did at least teach me how to make better choices that are simple and easy. For example...did you know that a single piece of pizza at the Costco Food Court is over 1700 calories....holy cow people...that's almost a days worth of calories(or more if you are trying to loose lbs).

Another resource I got (which happened to also be from my aerobics instructor) is the book called "Eat This, Not That!" This book too taught me a lot. I grew up with a "health conscience mom" so I thought that I knew what choices would be better for me but after reading that book, I realized that the restaurants of America are not helping us make smart choices. What we would think would be a healthier choice is in fact much worse for us.

In the book they rank resturants with the A,B,C rating system and they rated McDonalds with a B and Panara with a D. I would have never thought that eating a soup and salad at Panara would be much worse for me than eating a Quater Pounder at McDonalds. I'm not saying that eating at McDonalds is healthy per say but it is healthier than a lot of other things that I have always thought would be better. I want to be able to eat out with my family and friends and when I do I am so glad that I know some better options for me.

And just because I think it's interesting I will randomly give facts that I have learned from the book.

Did you know that it's actually better for you to eat regular bacon because turkey bacon is infused with much more sodium.
Oscar Mayer regular bacon(2 slices) 70 calories, 6 g fat, 290 g sodium
Oscar Mayer turkey bacon (2 slices) 70 calories, 6 g fat, 380 g sodium.

The Shape of Me and Other Stuff

2010-03-08T09:01:00.001-07:00

I love this book by Dr. Seuss called "The Shape of Me and Other Stuff"

The shape of you

the shape of me

the shape of everything I see....

a bug...

a balloon

a bed

a bike.

No shapes are ever quite alike.

Just think about the shape of beans

and flowers

and mice

and big machines!

Just think about the shape of strings

and elephants...............

and other things.

The shape of lips.

The shape of ships.

The shape of water when it drips.

And the shape of camels..........

the shape of bees

and wonderful shapes of back door keys!

And the shapes of spider webs

and clothes!

And, speaking of shapes,

now just suppose....!

Suppose YOU were shaped like these...

....or those!

...

Or a garden hose!

Of all the shapes we MIGHT have been....

I say, "Hooray for the shapes we are in!"

Isn't this concept so much easier said than done? To love the shapes we are in. In fact I haven't been a really good role model of loving the shape I'm in. I grew up in a family that put a lot of focus on shapes and it's a very hard habit to break. I guess the closest I have come is knowing and believing that it is important and I'm working on it. I love the simplicity in children's book...it's so simple and yet so profound. After reading the book I had the realization that all the other ladies I have ever compared myself to are beautiful...but this world doesn't need another one of them. This world only has one Me. Hooray for the shapes we are in!

No Fuss Play Dough Recipe

2010-03-04T09:00:00.002-07:00

I found this recipe in blogland a while back and thought we would try it out to make for some of his friends. Little e loved it...in case the pictures didn't give it away so we just bagged the friends and played with it ourselves. We are nice, I know. But for those of you that are nicer than we- you can pull off sections of it and ball it up and put it in a cute little bag with a tag and give it to friends as gifts...I'm sure they would love it!

No Fuss Playdough:
1 cup cold water
1 cup salt
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 cups flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Food coloring (we chose red)

Step One: In a large bowl, mix together water, salt, oil and a few drops of food coloring.
Step Two: Mix together flour and cornstarch. Then add 1/2 cup at a time to the liquid, stirring constantly.
Step Three: Knead for a few minutes with flour on your hands.
Step Four: ENJOY!

I love this kid!

zooo

2010-03-03T16:25:00.002-07:00

Therapy Corn Sack Tutorial

2010-03-01T16:08:00.002-07:00

Ok here goes my first tutorial...yay!

Materials Needed:
Cute Fabric (for the outer layer)
Coordinating fabric or something plain (for inner layer)
Ribbon (optional)
Thread (not optional)
Sewing Machine (not really optional)
Feed corn (not popcorn...this is corn that they feed cows and you can get it at a feed store. It won't pop when you put it in the microwave)

1. First fold your fabric in half and measure it out. I make mine long and skinny so I can put them around my neck or over my shoulder. I cut it about 7 inches wide and just the leave the length the same.

2. Cut the inner layer slightly skinner so it will fit inside the outer layer. I usually cut it around 6-6.5 inches wide.

3. As my sewing teacher used to always tell me..."put the pretty sides together" and sew up each side to make a little sleeping bag.

4.Do the same to the inner layer only I use a zig zag stitch to add extra strength (the corn is kind of heavy) and then flip both sacks back to right side out.

5. Then get some cattle corn feed (some people use rice but I find that the corn stays warm longer so I prefer corn)from a local feed store. I paid $9.00 for this whole bag and it made almost 20 bags. If you don't want to buy such a huge bag of it I have heard that during certain seasons walmart carries it and sometimes a feed store will sell it in smaller quantities. But I end up using them for gifts so it's not hard to use it all.

6. Fill up the inner sack with corn. You want the corn to be able to move around so don't fill it too full. I put a little less than 3 of these cups in.

7. Then fold the inner layer top down inside and zig zag across

8. Stuff the inner layer in the outer layer and tie a cute ribbon around the top(if you want). If you want to give it as a gift you can click here and here to print a copy of the instruction card I made and print it on card stock for best results. So there ya go! Now got get warm and enjoy!

Happy Finds

2010-02-22T14:00:00.001-07:00

my sis gave this to me and i love it. hope you do too...

One Happy Make Over

2010-02-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

As I was looking around my house one day I started to notice ALL (and there are a lot) the projects I have been wanting to do. It was kind of making me crazy....so I decided I was in serious need of a project. Do you ever feel like you need to complete something and you need to do it NOW? I love the feeling of finishing something....anything...it just does something for my over all psyche. Then when I'm done I love to sit and admire- and with out my permission my mind continues on to think about all the other things I could do as well....but oh well...at least I got something done!

So here are some of the projects I finished a couple of weekends ago:

I found this unique little desk at a really cool thrift store (one of my friends recently showed me) for $4.99. I saw it and thought it would be a perfect little sewing desk. I wiped some places down after I painted so you could see the black coming through for a more antiqued look. I love how it turned out.

It's hard to tell in this picture...but if you look closely the before picture is a really bad job someone tried to do of a crackle finish....80's is the best way to describe it. I got this chair for $7.00 and I loved the style and I even loved the fabric on it...all it needed was a fresh new coat of paint!

here is the night stand (I got this at a garage sale before we moved) for when we have company and we set up the airbed. the before shot isn't that great...I forgot to take a picture before I started but you get the idea.

and I found a home for one of my most favorite happy finds....i got this window for a buck from my neighbor. he is a window guy so when he replaces windows he comes home with treasures. I didn't do one thing to this...I loved it just the way it was.

before

and after.....I think the craft room/ guest room is now feeling much better! I filled the amoire will all of my loot. It has all my fabric and craft stuff that I don't always want out. I love having it there.

I'm still debating whether or not I should paint the amoire...what do you think? Should I make it more the same color as the chair and desk or just leave it? I can't tell if it looks dated or if it looks shabby chic? I've had it since my childhood so I think my emotional attatchment gives me blinders.

elder D-lish

2010-02-04T09:00:00.001-07:00

ok so my title will only make sense to one person but the rest of you can just know that this recipe is delicious and better for you.

this is my kind of cookie

1. easy

2. really easy

3. good

4. really good

5. not that bad for you

Take a spice cake mix and add a can of pumpkin(14 oz) to it and some chocolate chips. You might be tempted to add water or something else to it but don't! Stir it up and put cookie size drops on the pan and bake according to the dirctions for the cake only do it for less time. I cooked mine for 15 mins and they were perfectly moist and yummy yummy.

picture taken by YUMSUGAR

Creativity

2010-02-02T16:01:00.004-07:00

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before....

"You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter."

"Nearly a century and a half ago, President Brigham Young spoke to the Saints of his day. “There is a great work for the Saints to do,” he said. “Progress, and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations. In the mean time continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the Spirit of Christ.”

These quotes are from a great article on creativity called "Happiness, Your Heritage" I love the whole article but in particular I love "The Work of Creation" section.

Jump-Start Your Day and Your Metabolism

2010-01-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

I have had a couple of people inquire on how to be more health conscience (I know I know- I'm not exactly a model citizen in this department mom BUT...I did learn a thing or two from you that I'm going to pass along...that and a couple of other things that I have just picked up a long the way) so I thought I would just start passing on the information that other people have taught me about things we can do to be a little more healthier. I always love to hear what you have to say too...so comment or email your ideas and I can post them for you!

For this post I just wanted to put together a little list that has been helpful for me that I do first thing in the morning-or at least try to do- and it really helps jump-start my day.

Jump-start Routine Check-list(done kind of in order but doesn't really have to be):

1.Always! Always! make your bed! It doesn't matter if the rest of your room or house for that matter are a total disaster-it will feel better to at least have your bed made!(and sometimes it even motivates me to do a quick cleaning to make the whole place look fresh)

2. Scrape your tongue with one of these or something like it(I just got mine at target but I think a metal one would work even better). The tongue helps detoxify your digestive system at night and so in the morning it's important to scrap your tongue to remove the toxins from your body. Scraping also aids in the quality of your digestive process and helps to keep your mouth feeling fresh! (I learned this from a website I got from my sister-in-law's brother who is really into alternative healing..it has a lot of cool stuff on there so check it out!)

3. 2 Minute Drill (I got this from Jaff Csatari an editor of Mens Health)

Do as many as you can of each of the following exercises in 15 seconds

A.jumping jacks(15 seconds)

B.prisoner squats (15 seconds)

C. high-knee skips-while keeping your upper body straight begin with pulling your right arm in the air while bringing your left knee up and out as far as you can and get as much vertical lift as you can. Then switch and add a hop on the downward step kind of like you are skipping in place.(15 seconds)

D. side-to-side hops- start with both feet together and then push off with your right foot laterally as far as you can(about 3 feet if you can)and land on your left foot. Then push off with your left foot laterally and land on your right. Swing your arms to help you push of further. (15 Seconds)

E. push-ups-do as many normal push-ups as you can (even if it's just one at first) and then go down to your knees to finish off. Remember to keep your head up and belly in and butt flat. (15 seconds)

F. crunches(15 seconds)

G. mountain climbers- get in the push-up position and your hands under your shoulders and then bring the right knee to your chest keeping your weight on the balls of your feet and quickly switch legs like you are climbing a mountain. While doing it remember to hold your stomach and core tight.(15 seconds)

H. body weight thrusters- (this one gets your heart going more than you would think) keep your back straight with your hands at your shoulders like you are holding a bar behind your head. Then squat down pushing your butt back and not letting your knees come over your toes and then explosively drive your legs straight and get up on your tippy toes while extending your arms.(15 seconds)

I love this because: it's only 2 minutes, it really gets your metabolism going, I get almost instant energy from doing it, it seems to put me on track for a healthy more productive day, and if you aren't going to have time to exercise for the day you can just run through it a couple times or do each move for 30-60 seconds. (this does not take the place of exercise on a regular basis..but I aways say...something is better than nothing!)

4. Finally, don't forget to make up your green smoothie and drink it for breakfast! Click here for one of the recipes I posted awhile back.

Happy Finds Paper Dolls

2010-01-16T14:39:00.004-07:00

FYI-I did a little post on my L-bows site that has some links to free downloads for paper dolls. I know a lot of you have little girls or at least know little girls so check it. You will be the coolest auntie or mom or grandma or sister ever!

SUNSHINE

2010-01-13T16:00:00.005-07:00

this is why i love where i live...
CO is know for how sunny it gets here. It's actually in the top 7 sunniest states. (Plus I think the elevation helps it feel even warmer when the sun does shine.)

Yesterday we had the most beautiful day full of clear blue sky's and warm sunshine. The sun's rays felt medicinal as my skin soaked them up. It was cleansing and motivating! Our little family was in much need of some good ol' fashion sunlight so we, in the middle of January mind you, got our bikes out and went for a family bike ride. It's days like yesterday that help me make it through winter. The sunshine rejuvenated me and got me ready for the rest of this week!

Top Ten Sunniest States:
Arizona
California
Nevada
New Mexico
Texas
Florida
Colorado
Utah
Idaho
North Dakota

So as soon as you can...go outside and soak up some rays...it does a body(and mind) good!

ps..more posts to help jump start your day coming soon.

(Poster found HERE)

Get in the Loop with Reader

2010-01-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

So I am really loving Gmail these days...there is so much you can do with a google account. Reader being one of them...do you all use reader? It's awesome. If you aren't already using it I would highly recommend it! If you aren't using gmail...I would make the switch for sure!

Reader is a program that helps you keep track of all the blogs that you follow. It alerts you when a new post is on any of the blogs that you subscribe to.

How to get in the loop AKA Reader:

1.Log into your gmail email account

2.Click on the Reader button in the upper left hand corner where it says "Gmail Calendar Documents Reader Web More"

3.Once you are in Reader click on the "add a subscription" button in the upper left hand corner just under where it says GOOGLE READER

4. then type in the blog address that you want to follow

5. continue to add all the blog addresses you follow and then organize them into categories ie family, friends, projects etc...

Then once you have your reader set up all you have to do is when you check your email you can click on reader and see if any new posts are up. It's awesome how much time it saves me and it reminds me to check all the blogs that I would otherwise forget about but love.

Happy Finds in the Mail Box

2010-01-07T10:35:00.001-07:00

a "how to un-frump a frumpy housewife apron" from mom

a pile of homemade goodies from an ever creative sis....if only we lived close by!

I'm feeling loved!

I love packages in the mail...don't you? Have you gotten anything good in the mailbox lately?

2009 was good to us.

2010-01-06T13:54:00.004-07:00

Happy finds in 2009 (in no particular order)

*finding e when he got lost in UT-I have thought about this A LOT and thought how different our life would be right now had we not found him. I thank God for that little miracle!

*a very cute rental house to live in and create so many happy memories with our little family

*finding a new house of our own

*Casey getting a new job in order to pay for the new home...that's always nice;)

*e turned 2 and went to the doctor and she told me he was very healthy and very smart and a little demanding ;)

*some of my family came to visit us here in CO :)

*Lavender Fest with the Girls and two little monkeys

*good renters for our condo

*one of the best birthdays in a long time-surprise Denver Nuggests Tickets (right behind the team)accompanied with Casey, Ryan, and Mary-good company!

*living with my best friend

*having my mom in my life-and knowing a good resourse to help-thanks Travis

*a month in Boise and a week in Mc Call

*being a mom to the best little brown-eyed buddy

*getting special time with grandma and grandpa Blackford

*making new friends and finally having a support system here in CO

*enjoying new creative outlets and being inspired by so many other people

i look forward to 2010 and pray it brings good things to everyone

have you made your new years bright ideas? I'm interested to know what some of them are?

my 2010 Bright Ideas are still in the works...coming soon!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-31T10:35:00.000-07:00

Bethlehem Christmas Party

the best Christmas party idea ever...it really brought the spirit of the true reason for this season

and it gave C and E a reason to wear the apparel his parents gave us from Kuwait

(e was feeling the joy of the season)

Our neighborhood party was a blast...complete with a horse drawn carriage ride to look at Christmas lights around the neighborhood. We are very excited to live here in what seems to be a very friendly neighborhood.

Piles of goodness...

a warm house...

good friends(no pictures of Justin...sorry)....
and family to celebrate with= perfect!

Holy Cow People

2009-12-30T13:09:00.000-07:00

So I don't have the award for the most consistent blogger...I'll just go ahead and tell ya right now...I never will. But this last month of no blogging...it's been crazy! Good...but crazy. Here is the house as of yet(don't judge my white legs...I mean walls) I'm not as efficient as all you crazy people not to mention the little punk that climbs on my legs every time I sit at the computer.

Ta Da! Here she is in all her naked glory(landscape to come in the spring).

The Front Room

(with our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree-although it looks like it's going to tip at any moment...it really is just a crooked spine.)

(notice: on the left you can see part of the stairs that go up and down...we will come back to that)

Behold the Family Room-

(with the recovered couches...not sure I ever posted pictures of my couch project...so here ya go!)

More Family Room-I spy with my little eye another project over there in the left corner

Kitchen/Dining Room/Office

(to the left is the laundry room, powder bath, and garage)

My beloved and yet very neglected Laundry room-don't worry love is coming soon!

Now we are headed back up the stairs

The Loft that got taken over by Christmas and I didn't really want to clean it up just for a picture...so there ya have it!

Craft/Guest Room...also in need of some serious love and open for visitors!

Little E's

Guest Bath

Master Bedroom..and yes I am aware that it has some resemblance of a college dorm room...as I'm looking at all of these pictures I'm kind of seeing how much work I have...my house is in need of some serious love..love I'm prepared to give...in time...in time.

more master and the lonely chair:)
future home of my favorite spot!

Master Bath/Closet

Behold the Ginormous Basement...Casey's very favorite part of the house

So there ya have it folks...there is the grand tour that you all have been asking for. We are very excited/overwhelmed with our new home and all that comes with home ownership. It sure does feel nice to be settling in though. So anyone that wants to come for a visit and help me splash color through-out let me know;)

Very Merry

2009-12-24T10:27:00.003-07:00

This year we did Christmas cards via email but unfortunately our email lists are not very comprehensive so for those of you that we missed we wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas filled with lots of love, laughter, and warmth.

Happy Finds-Trees

2009-11-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

DIY Projects make me happy. These cute little pics brought an instant smile to my face. Check out The Little Red Roost for an easy tutorial.

Maybe after we move you will find some of these in my cute little house?? Who knows what I will have time for!

Happy Finds

2009-10-30T09:00:00.004-06:00

So I happened upon this awesome site that has ample ideas for cute, cheap, and modest clothes...what more could a mama ask for!!

Oh and go to the site now and vote on your favorite outfit...mine is #21 if you want to vote for me;)

Snow Days Make Me Happy

2009-10-28T12:08:00.007-06:00

hand knit hat & scarf made just in time for the snow storm by C's co-worker make me happy

Blond curls peeking out make me happy

The Inside Scoop...at least some of it!

2009-10-27T09:00:00.001-06:00

So by the time I actually got these pictures posted they are over a week old...but I won't be going back to the house until this weekend so I thought I would post these anyway since so many have asked for inside pictures.

Here is the dinning area that leads to the family room

My beloved Kitchen! These cabinets make me happy!

What else makes me happy you ask?? We close on NOVEMBER 13(!) Craziness here we come!

Happy Finds

2009-10-26T14:20:00.007-06:00

I woke up yesterday morning with a cold sore(blast those things) indicating that I'm not doing well with managing my stress(moving all be it a good thing is very stressful). I found this happy scripture in Philippians and it helped me take a sigh of relief. The whole book of Philippians is pretty much a happy find!

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Don't be unduly concerned about anything; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

Going Green

2009-10-24T15:18:00.002-06:00

So do you ever find it difficult to get your kids/yourself/your husband to eat veggies?

Solution= Green Smoothies!!Just add a couple of handfuls of spinach to your morning smoothie and bada bing bada boom! You can't taste the spinach, it just turns the smoothie a funny green color. So if you can get past the color you can get a lot of much needed nutrition in your diet as well as your little one! E loves them and so do I! It's an easy way to get some veggies in me!

Recipe

1 cup water (juice if you want it to be more sweet)

5 or 6 frozen strawberries

Handful of frozen blueberries(if you have them)

1 banana or apple(the sour kind are really good in it)

2 handfuls of fresh spinach

blend until creamy smooth

Drink up!

(Really it changes often..I add or subtract depending on what I have. So feel free to change it up a bit. Some other things I've tried-plain yogurt, mango's, romaine lettuce, grapefruit)

Warning...may cause green poop! My friend says they make E's diapers stink too but I'm not sure if it's the smoothie or what??

My mom says the key to success is to start your kids young and they will think green smoothies are normal;)

Happy Finds

2009-10-23T09:00:00.004-06:00

In love with these found over here

so darn cute!!

FAMILY BIKE RIDES ARE MY FAV!

2009-10-06T11:41:00.006-06:00

Feeling lucky to have:

"So it's not a joke??"

2009-10-03T14:45:00.006-06:00

WARNING....this is NO joke!!

Chacos+REI garage sale = $9.83

I heart REI garage sales!!

We've been busy!

2009-10-01T11:35:00.000-06:00

Sorry it's fuzzy...I had it on the wrong setting...but you get the idea. Isn't that the cutest invitation you've ever seen at the end when he invites you to come sing with him...who can pass that up?

Ms Geneva Evolves

2009-09-30T08:49:00.001-06:00

To make a long story short...for several months(since Jan)we felt like we were spinning our wheels here in CO. Things at C's job were pretty stressful with the way the economy is right now and our current living situation(house sitting) was coming to end. With e growing up so fast I was also feeling the desire to be closer to family. So after several offers fell through on homes here we felt that maybe we were supposed to move to another state and began making preparations to do so. Almost immediately things feel into place...not in the way we thought. Casey was offered a new job here in CO and we found a house the next week. So we are building a new house and staying here in Colorado. We feel that it is clearly where Heavenly Father wants us and we are grateful he has made it possible for us to get into a house of our own. We feel watched over and are in awe of all the many miracles that have happened...even if I don't get to live in Boise;)

We (aka..I)call the house Geneva...it's kind of a cool story. Casey's grandma(who I never had the opportunity to meet) is named Geneva and we had been talking about her just a few days before we found this subdivision of homes being built. When we went into the sales center and asked to see the different floor plans one of them was named Geneva. I don't really know why but when I saw the name of the model was Geneva...I just new it was the one!!

FUTURE HOME OF MS GENEVA
June 13, 2009

They poured the foundation and had it framed by the time I got back from our trip to Boise...so I don't have pictures of that.

September 3, 2009

September 12, 2009

September 26, 2009

Floor Plan-Click to enlarge

Genes live on...

2009-09-29T08:49:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time I had a Grandpa named Ezra. He loved hats...but not just any hats...he loved goofy souvenir hats from all the places he had visited. He wore them in a goofy fashion flopped upon his head. One year I had the opportunity to take a boat trip with him and my grandma and my parents all along the coast of Canada. While we were visiting one of the small coastal towns he made sure that I went with him to a small quaint souvenir shop and pick out his hat! Another year I talked him into buying two very cool matching Jcrew snow hats for him and my grandma. They were cute.

Years later I had a son of my own and he grew up very fast. He began having opinions of his own. One day, to my surprise I found this:

one very content little boy that had some how found the very goofiest hat he could find and placed it on his own head with an expression just like his great grandpa named Ezra(!!)

(Author's note: I did not in any way alter the way he wore this hat...it is exactly how he placed it on his head.)

Later that day I found this around the corner....

I love him and his great grandpa named Ezra!

Tomatoes-o-plenty??

2009-09-27T10:52:00.007-06:00

If you are like me and have a ton of garden tomatoes coming on....this recipe looks pretty much to die for(recipe and picture from Cafe Zupas). Try it. I think I will on Monday!

4 lb tomatoes, halved lengthwise
6-8 garlic cloves, left unpeeled
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 teaspoons fresh oregano, minced [use only 1/2 tsp if you used dried]
2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced [use only 1 tsp if using dried basil]
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
3/4 cup heavy cream
Directions
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat to 350°F.
Arrange tomatoes, cut sides up, in 1 layer in a large shallow baking pan and add garlic to pan. Drizzle tomatoes with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast tomatoes and garlic 1 hour, then cool in pan on a rack. Peel garlic.
Cook onion, oregano, basil, and sugar in butter in a 6- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring frequently, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, garlic, and stock and simmer, covered, 20 minutes.
Purée soup in batches in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids), then force through a sieve into cleaned pot, discarding solids. Stir in cream and salt and pepper to taste and simmer 2 minutes.
Divide soup among 8 bowls.
Enjoy!

Buried

2009-09-23T08:52:00.007-06:00

It's been so long since I last posted that quite frankly I'm overwhelmed about catching up. So I will postpone once again and leave you with this. I hope to unearth soon.

the 4th

2009-07-08T17:31:00.012-06:00

Colorado is beautiful...I love camping in the mountains here. For the fourth we went to Devil's Head Campground and found some really cool things. I hope you enjoy our journey...although it would have much better had you been there:)

(side note: If you click on the scenery pictures you can see a much better view of how spectacular it was.)

Setting up camp

The man!

My Mans;)

little rock climber in the works

In the morning exploring around our site:

Our campsite was tucked up right under these boulders...so cool!

After exploring our site we decided to hike to Devil's Head. For those of you who don't know what it is...it's a look out point for rangers so it's really high up and it has a 360 degree fantastic view!

E hiked almost half a mile all by himself...saved our backs...we were grateful!

This was about the halfway point and it was already so amazing

we hiked up all these stairs (143)to get to the look out point. At the top we met a Ranger that was in his 80's and he hikes these stairs every day at least once but normally more. I sure wish I would have taken a picture of him. He was awesome. He kind of looked like a rugged Santa;) He said that being up here during summer thunder storms "helps you find religion real fast!"

I was so freaked out up there...I barely moved;) I have never felt afraid of heights like I did up there.

elevation is 9,748

This is the lookout that we hiked too.

couldn't ask for more...

2009-06-30T14:40:00.010-06:00

1 Picnic + 1 Sprinkler - All clothes(including diaper) =

1 Happy CHILDHOOD!!

growing

2009-06-29T20:38:00.007-06:00

little e is praying....how did that happen??

2009-06-29T20:35:00.005-06:00

Yesterday we sat down to eat dinner and we hear e say "Heav Father...AMEN!!" We both looked at each other with a look of "did he just say what I thought he said??" Then we looked at him and he had the biggest grin on his face...he was so proud of himself. Eli does things that surprise us every day. I can't believe how much he understands, remembers, and recalls at the appropriate times. He sure is a funny boy.

So this picture has nothing to do with e praying...it's just cute. He hears lawn mowers when we are in the house and always gets excited and wants to look out the window and see it so I when I saw this at a garage sale for a buck I couldn't pass it up. He absolutely loves that thing. I can't believe how big he is!

precious time with grandpa too

2009-06-28T20:38:00.000-06:00

After the reunion we got to have grandma and grandpa stay with us and e took advantage of every single minute!! (Since Casey's parents live over seas we don't see them all that much and E really didn't even know them all that well...now he does!!)

Grandpa read to him a lot better than I can...all those farm animals make way cooler sounds coming out of grandpa...thanks grandpa...I can never reduplicate those sounds even though e asks me to try every day!

E misses his grandparents and he still asks for them almost every day. I'm so glad he got some precious time with them so he knows who they are.

Blackford Family Reunion

2009-06-15T20:38:00.002-06:00

June 10-14th 2009

My sister-in-law Becca planned a fabulous reunion for the Backford fam up in Winter Park Colorado. We stayed in a cabin at the YMCA and there were so many fun things to do. I didn't do that great at taking pictures...I guess I was too busy having fun;) but I did get some of a few of the things that we did.

This was the view from our Cabin(thanks Sarah for the pictures)

On Thursday morning we woke up early and headed to Kremmling(sp?), CO for a river rafting adventure....and adventure it was. It poured rain the entire time we were on the river. Surprisingly it was still really fun. Casey even jumped off a cliff into the ice cold river...he's

C-R-A-Z-Y. He almost got knocked out by a huge boulder that he got flung into during one of the rapids...thank goodness we was trying to rescue Brynna from falling out because it probably saved his head.

I don't know why but the name of the river just seemed funny to me that it was called the mighty upper...mighty cold that's for sure!

Hiking around the lake with Becca and her kids and my mother-in-law Barb

e sure loved playing with his cousins! I love this picture-Natalie just took him in under her little mother Hubbard wing.

Cute Becca with her cute kids looking at a little dam

Natalie taught e how to throw rocks...oh boy did he find his true love...not sure I love it as much as him.

When we hiked back up the trail all the kids saw grandma and ran to her....she's quite popular amongst her grand kids....good sign of a good grandma!

e hiked almost the whole time by himself. He loved playing with the rocks, sticks, and dirt. This picture does not do Justis to how pretty it was there...this view was beautiful!

On another day we decided to go canoeing with Becca and Barb. Here Barb and I were sporting our Cowgirl hats before we took off for the lake.

It was so fun to have Becca and her kids in Colorado so we got to spend some time with them!

Me, Natalie, and Casey on the lake

Horseback riding with grandpa and some of the cousins and Annie

even e got to go...he wasn't so sure what was about to happen to him.

My father-in-law rode behind me so I got to get a picture of him while we were riding. I love this picture of him....he grew up riding horses...I think he looks so youthful and happy.

All the cousins up ahead of me and you can see my horses head...her name was Stitch.

The trail was absolutely breath taking...I loved this green little meadow/valley we went through with the beautiful mountains off in the distance...and Casey and e in front of me.

e decided that he liked it!

One night we had a Chuck-Wagon dinner...

it was freezing cold outside...but it was still fun.

The live music was my favorite part...it was really good

grandpa and Collin dancing!

Now this is a cool picture....this is the cabin that Casey's grandfather(who has since passed away) built way back in the day. Casey's dad helped build it so we asked him to take us to the Cabin to show us where it is and what it looks like. After a couple of wrong roads and a prayer in my heart-I really wanted to see it and so did Casey- we found it! Casey has told me about this cabin since we first started dating. He told me that he wanted to find it and buy it one day. I told him I thought that was a great idea. (I'm kind of sentimental like that I guess...just to think that someone from his family built that with his own two hands...I guess he was really good with his hands. He even built a boat by himself. I think that's amazing. I wish my hands worked like that!) I'm glad we got to see it. It's not for sale...but maybe someday. At least we know where it is now.

Nana Projects

2009-06-10T20:48:00.001-06:00

While Nana was here she made little e some new bibs...so cute!!

Here is e telling nana thank you! (don't mind the sandwich in his mouth;))

My Angel Baby

He LOVES the bug one.

Our first Sprint Triathlon

2009-06-06T13:03:00.000-06:00

So you may or may not remember that way back in the day(click here to see) I posted my new years bright ideas and one of them was to participate in and finish a triathlon. Well...this year it finally came to be...and the best part was Casey joining in the night before to do it with me!! He is awesome! We had a lot of fun and I'm so glad I was finally able to do it!
We didn't get any pictures of the swim...but the swim was first, then the bike, and then the run.

I'm the one in green just coming in to the dis-mount line

Dis-mounting my bike and headed for the transition area to begin the run...

transition area

um....... me running

Our cheerleaders!!

Case coming into the finish!!

Us looking like we are mentally challenged

E eating my power bar

The happy fam

Me with my mom aka.. the nanny, the personal chef, massage therapist, nutritionist, photographer, and cheerleader. Thanks for coming mom...it was great having you there to support us!

The Dunes

2009-05-31T15:54:00.001-06:00

The 2nd Annual Trip to the Great Sand Dunes May 2009

To continue tradition and in hopes to redeem our last year trip(if you don't remember what happened click here)we went with our friends the Walkers down to the Sand Dunes. It is one amazing site and this year we got to actually experience more of the dunes.

Beautiful Views from the dunes

Beautiful dunes tucked up next to the mountains

We took Casey's old snowboard again and rode it down the dunes...

Case taking little e for a ride

walking back up is the hardest part!

The whole fam about to go down the steep side and a funny lady that sat right down next to us to watch us...that's why I left her in the picture;)

e LOVED playing in giant sandbox with his friend Corbin

we also took our little saucer sled for e to hitch a ride on

for this picture and the next one you have to click on it to make in larger in order to see Casey about to go down the hugest dune ever!

case snowboarding down

there is a small little river/stream that the guys tried out skim boarding on

makin' sand castles

Beautiful Day...Cutest Kid EVER!

In paradise!

And in the end...we did our job as parents; we wore him out completely!!

Need a good laugh??

2009-05-20T15:41:00.002-06:00

Click here!! No matter how many times I see this I still laugh!!

2009-05-13T09:42:00.000-06:00

Go Nuggets!!

We are so excited about how well the nuggets are doing in the playoffs!! It has been so exciting to watch the playoffs this year since we have a team in them. Case even put E to bed in his Nuggets jersey...maybe for good luck...we'll see tonight!!

Happy Mother's Day to Me!!

2009-05-11T09:27:00.001-06:00

Casey knows me well...instead of buying me flowers to put in a vase(which I do love at times but the more practical side of me gets in the way of spending money on something that dies so quickly)...he bought AND put together all by HIMSELF a little garden kit complete with a package of Haribo Gummy Bears!!

He came home from the store and said..."I think Eli found something outside...you should go take a look!!" And when I got outside he said "I was thinking we could work on the garden!"

I have been wanting to plant a garden but thought we were not going to get to it this year. I'm so happy he made it happen.

He is the best gift giver ever.

Not to mention that the next day (Sunday) he completely spoiled me ALL day long and he made me the best steak dinner with watermelon, potatoes, and peas with strawberry shortcake for dessert. I love being a mom... thanks to Caseman and little e!

The Best Rout Out Yet

2009-05-08T13:39:00.014-06:00

So many of you know but some do not...last week while E and I were in Utah...I lost little e. Due to a miscommunication, a broken front door knob, and a gush of wind the little man escaped and took his little self for a morning stroll. He walked right out the front door of my grandma's house, ACROSS the STREET, and down about a block to neighbor's house(all the while...NO ONE saw him) where he apparently realized he was lost and began crying on the back porch.

He was gone about an hour...the worst hour of my life...literally!

We called 911 and they put out a search party with at least 5 or so policemen and I even saw a helicopter overhead.

The entire neighborhood came alive and the streets where filled with people-people searching for my little baby boy. Strangers, mothers, daughters, grandmothers, little old men one their bikes, friends, and family.

Despite the desperate sinking feeling in my heart, my mind, my stomach- I could feel the good in humanity...the good that unfortunately seems to only come out in desperate times. It was alive and thriving in those moments...those moments where time stood still and all that was really important came to the surface of reality and everything else(that may have seemed important) sank to the bottom. It's a feeling I can't really express, a feeling that I will forever be grateful for, a feeling that found my itty bitty little baby boy in a gigantic world with endless scenarios and outcomes. In this case the scenario ended in a LONG and LOVING embrace. To that I owe much thanks to God, family, friends, and strangers alike.

Meet Oats. He was given to E from a Police officer after he was found.

Oats will forever be a reminder to me to never take one moment

for granted with the loved ones in my life. Even if they are screaming

and pulling on my legs while I'm trying to make dinner!

e is 18 months today and I'm sure glad he's here to celebrate it with us!!

2009-05-05T13:41:00.004-06:00

I have had a lot of you ask about being able to see the L-bows before you purchase them in order to get the perfect match for all your outfits...so I just thought I'd let you know I will be selling them at a Spring/Summer Kids Sale here in the Denver Metro area-Castle Rock- this weekend. Check out L-bows for all the details.

You are never going to believe what I found today...

2009-04-17T16:38:00.005-06:00

Healthier or Worse?

2009-04-16T13:23:00.002-06:00

I AGREE!! Do you??

Happy Finds Round UP

2009-04-10T12:00:00.007-06:00

This week for "Happy Finds" I found several favs...bare with me...

1. From my sister- Just a note to let those of you who don't know that cell phone numbers went public this month. Telemarketers will have access to your numbers, and you will foot the bill. Here's the number for the national do-not-call registry. You must call from the phone you wish to block. It takes about twenty seconds, and lasts five years. 888-382-1222.

2. FINALLY...I found these guys this week and I guess they decided to join us...instead of just terrorize us and leave again....

3. My friend Kaye hooked me up with this site http://www.budget101.com/ about budgeting and saving money. It has some recipes for saving money by making your own mayo as well as tips and tricks to buying. It also has a Grocery Guide that allows you to enter your zip code and it will send you the deals going on at your local stores. It's pretty cool...check it out!

4. I found this cool idea for a tool box easter basket for little e

5. So I didn't actually find out about this, this week...but I found my CD in the CD changer of my car this week and it reminded me how much I love her music. She's coming to SLC on May 1st for those of you that live in Utah!!

6.I found some fun Easter Games, Traditions, and ideas of what to do with all those leftover eggs! over at "Or So She Says." Doesn't this salad look amazing! I don't even really like Cobb Salad..but I sure want to eat this!

7. And Finally...I have to put something on here about organizing. I love to organize and even more so I love to BE ORGANIZED. I found a good post over at Clover Lane about cleaning your house and keeping it clean....or at least keeping your house cleanABLE in roughly 10 minutes;)

Happy Finds

2009-04-03T17:41:00.010-06:00

Ok all you loyal readers"Happy Endings" is starting a new series. It's called "Happy Finds". So each Friday I'm going to post about things I happened to find during the week that I think might be of interest to others. Some weeks it may be one or two findings others may be more...who knows....just whatever I feel like at the time. If you feel you have happy find something useful of your own...please feel free to share(email me or something;)) and I'll post about it. It can be anything from a recipe to a good idea to a product or service. So this week I have to post about a happy find from over 10 years ago but re-discovered this week.

INTRODUCING...

The NeckPillow by Tempur-Pedic™ is recommended for those who desire not only a better night’s sleep but also need a more therapeutic sleep posture.
The dual-lobe design supports the curve created by your head, neck and shoulders to properly align your spine and give you a perfect night’s sleep!

I have had this pillow for 10 years now and mine finally gave out on me. C-man either got tired of hearing me complain about my neck or he just loves me and likes to do special things for me(I chose to think that later)...he splurged and bought me a new one...and can I just tell you...last night was the first good sleep I have had in weeks! I love these things. They are especially good if you have neck problems and have ever been in a car accident or 7 if your lucky like me(don't worry...none of them were my fault...I'm just lucky like that!)

The L-bow Spring Collection

2009-03-27T18:05:00.006-06:00

I wanted to let you all know that Lbows has come out with The Lbow Spring Collection for spring/Easter as well as some fresh new uses for Lbows for moms. Also we are offering free shipping for a limited time on all of the Lbow Spring Collection bows. So hurry and check it out http://www.l-bows.blogspot.com/ and pass it along to all of your friends and family members that would be interested as well. I appreciate your love and support.

Even better times ahead...

2009-03-20T18:39:00.009-06:00

Spring is seen as a time of growth, renewal, of new life (both plant and animal) being born. The term is also used more generally as a metaphor for the start of better times...TIME TO CELEBRATE!!

Keeping in line with our new family tradition we had a spring feast on this our first day of spring...

Menu= 1 Chinese Chicken Salad with a sesame dressing+ 1 Butternut Bisque, +1 basket of freshly baked Blackford Rolls.

(funny side note...C says every time I bake them "Dude...I think these are your best yet!"...hmm...is it really possible that I make them better every time?? Not so sure about that one!)

Butternut Bisque

*3 T butter

*1 med. onion

*2 garlic cloves

*1/2 t dried thyme

1/4 t ground cinnamon

1/8-1/4 cayenne pepper(cayenne goes far...so be careful;))

*course salt

*1 large butternut squash(abt 4 lbs) peeled, seeded, and cut into 1 inch cubes

*1 can(14.5oz) chicken broth

*1 cup half and half

*1 T fresh lemon juice

*sour cream for serving(or not...it is just as good with out it)

1. In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium. Add onion, garlic, thyme, cinnamon, and cayenne. Season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 5 to 7 min.

2. Add squash, broth, half and half, and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil: reduce to a simmer, and cook until squash is tender, about 20 min.

3. Working in batches, puree in a blender until smooth. Stir in lemon juice: season with salt. Serve bisque with sour cream, garnish with cayenne, if desired.

***to freeze- put in airtight container leaving 1 inch space: freeze up to 3 months.

***For a different flavor- use ground nutmeg(we did this and love it) or cloves instead of cinnamon, or add a southwestern touch with a small amount of chili power.

I'm going to grow by being more conscientious of what I'm eating...knowing where it came from, how it was made, and how it will help my body(and my family...since I feed them too). I'm going to renew my determination to eat and cook with more local food. And New Life with hopefully come from the garden I'm going to plant!

What prompted all this you might ask??....Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver(thanks to my awesome sis...who always inspires me). I also found an online book club that is going to go over this book- chapter by chapter each week over at SimpleMom if you want to join in I'd love to hear your thoughts!!

The more that join in doing this with me = even better times ahead for us all...especially our children.

BESTIES

2009-02-18T20:35:00.004-07:00

Ezra and Eli-chillin like villains!!

What does my little brown dress look like?

2009-02-05T09:12:00.006-07:00

Inspiration comes in many colors, sizes, and shapes or it can be in the same size, shape, and color for an entire year and say something different each day. Check out the following pieces of inspiration....

Let Him Do It with Simplicity

The Little Brown Dress Project

What does YOUR little brown dress look like??

I think mine is still in the works...but I would like it to look a little something like this...

**be more creative with what I already have instead of rushing to the store to buy something new. **Focus my compliments more on character versus on appearance. **Be comfortable with who I am rather than buy into the notion that I am what I look like( still do things to feel beautiful...just be more aware of what I'm doing). **Judge people for the content of their character...and nothing more **Live well within my means. **Simplify my "needs." **Embrace the simple moments and love the crazy ones too!! **appreciate beauty in all forms and use it to uplift during tough times. **be resourceful and not wasteful.**Find pure fuel sources for my soul as well as pure sources of food for my body**See people how God sees them and more importantly-love as He does.

I realize this is a tall order...visualization is the key to success:)

diaper bag give-a-way

2009-01-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

Check out these diaper bags http://simplychicbabyboutique.blogspot.com/

Our Growing, Busy, Funny, Hansom, Angel, Baby Boy

2009-01-26T14:27:00.010-07:00

What does a lion say??

2009-01-07T20:33:00.008-07:00

The long awaited video I've been talking about...here it is!! Oh and make sure your sound is up- it doesn't get much better than this:)

My friend and I took our kids to the zoo and I can not even describe to you how excited e was the entire time we were there. He was totally...and I mean TOTALLY into it. The first animals we saw were the lions and to my complete surprise e just started making the roaring sound all on his own. I quickly busted out the camera and tried to capture it on film(never quite as good...but good none the less). He did it for almost 5 mins...just completely in his own little world with the lion.

I didn't even know he knew exactly what a lion was, nor did I know he knew how to roar, and not to mention that he knew that lions roar. He just put all that together the moment he saw the lion...I was shocked, impressed, and proud! (as every mother should be right??)

Granted we read A LOT of books (the library is his other favorite place)with him and we teach him things everyday...but it's hard to know what he's actually picking up on. He surprises us everyday with new things he understands and implements. Needless to say, it was a great day for both of us. I had just as much fun if not more watching him having so much fun learning new things. Being a mom rocks! (I'm going to say it out loud while I still feel that way...because I hear it gets a lot harder when they get older and are able to make their own decisions...then it can be not so much fun...but until then... I love being a mom!)

Holiday Fun

2009-01-01T19:57:00.006-07:00

For the holidays this year Casey's entire family was in town so we got to spend a lot of time with them. We had the special treat of having his mom and dad stay with us. E LOVED every minute of his grandparent time!! He was in heaven! So Casey and I took the opportunity to go snowboarding while e played with grandpa and grandma. We haven't been able to go together for a couple of years so this was a special treat. It was crazy butt cold but it was such a fun date with my awesome man. He is so patient with me that it's actually fun to go with him:) He's my favorite person to go with!! Plus he's fun to watch too!!

This is casey landing a little jump (I didn't do to well at the whole picture thing..but you get the idea.)

...and don't you worry...this little guy will be up there on the mountain with us in no time!! Can you see the excitment in his face?? He played on it all day until finally Case put it away so he wouldn't get hurt and he started crying so hard....sad:( He loves Casey's skateboard just as much...that is scary to me.

merry merry

2008-12-24T15:38:00.005-07:00

2008 Christmas Card