Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday to ME!

I have spoiled myself lately with a couple of shopping sprees. Which I shouldn't have...but I did. I just couldn't resist.

Gotta Love...Black Friday 5:30am at Walmart. I am still tired...but yeah I got my TV! Now I can lay in bed..watch my shows. Yeah!!!!

I already have a cricut...but I couldn't resist getting the larger version for only $199 this morning. I love my cricut..but now I can do so much more with this larger one. Now I just need to find the time to be creative!

Finally...I saw this at Costco last week and I couldn't pass it up. It looks really nice and is a great way to organize my hundreds of photos. It holds 800 photos in albums and the multiple drawers to hold more. I am so excited to fill it up. The only problem is...I have THOUSANDS of photos. So I still have to pick and choose my favorites.
SOOOO...HAPPY BIRTHDAY and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!!
Thanks Mom and Dad...Some of it is from you too!!!!
And of course, Thanks Eric for not getting mad at me for being spendy lately. I am sure he will get payback soon enough...

More like HOME!

Now our home feels like HOME. Eric hung a few of my favorite pictures/decorations the other night. What a difference it makes to have "your" things on the wall. I love it!

This is my favorite picture we own. Actually it is a painting...hand painted. It was my Christmas present two years ago...and I still love to look at it every time I walk through the room. I love the colors..especially the bright umbrella. This painting will always remind me of our years here in the bay area.

I love Stars!!! I will leave it to that.

I found this at Walmart a year ago and couldn't resist. Only $28 for a Canvas print. It is colorful...it looks great in the kitchen!

I love this clock! Another great deal at Walmart.

Our Thanksgiving was small...just the four of us. I am use to a big family feast...well we didn't have that. I must admit...I was a little home sick yesterday. Next year..I am not cooking. Mark my words..I am not. It isn't worth all the time and effort for four people. Really only two. Brooklyn only ate lettuce and Easton had some "chicken" really turkey of course. Eric doesn't like yams or stuffing. So to say the least...we have A LOT of leftovers. I bought a frozen pumpkin pie and it was GROSS! I am so use to my moms homemade wonderful, yummy, delicious pies...this one was far from it. I had one bite and that was it. Easton didn't like it either, he said.."Mom... I don't like pumpkin pie..take it away." So much for a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast. Oh well, I should have taken Eric advice three weeks ago...Pizza! At least we would have ALL enjoyed that.

The total day wasn't a loss...the kids got into the Christmas decorations and started to decorate themselves. They loved pulling out all the bulbs, Santa's, snowman, and of course the LIGHTS. They were so excited...Eric and I just laughed at how excited they got. Especially Easton. He kept saying that they were so "pretty" or "beautiful," So even though I hadn't planned on putting decorations up..we did it. My favorite was the mantel. I love hanging the stockings on the fireplace. Our tree is just a little 6.5 foot..but the kids had a great time decorating it. So my part is done now...NOW it's Eric turn to put the lights on the outside of the house.

I really enjoy turning on Christmas lights. It sure sets the mood! Now I feel like listening to Christmas Music! Happy Holidays!!!!

Yummy and EASY Taco Soup!!!!

Dinner Plans tonight??? Here is the easiest and yummiest Taco Soup Recipe. I found it on Mel's Recipe Page on Sugardoodles.com. It literally took me 10 minutes yesterday to make. Just long enough to brown hamburger and open some cans. SOOOO EASY!!!! That is the best part. I love easy and yummy recipes. At the table...I added sour cream, shredded cheese and crunched up Tortilla Chips to my bowl. It was soooo delicious. A little spicy...but just right for me. Give the recipe a try...it will become one of your favorites!

CROCK POT TACO SOUP

1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans

1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans

1 (11 ounce) can corn

1 (28 ounce) [or two small cans] can diced tomatoes

1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies

1 envelope taco seasoning mix

1 envelope hidden valley ranch dressing mix

1 lb ground beef

Cook meat and drain. Add all ingredients to the crock pot. DO NOT DRAIN CANS. Stir it all together and cook on high for a couple hours. Keep on low until serving to keep hot.. You can garnish it with sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onions and/or tortilla chips. It’s a little spicy, but very tasty.

THANKS MEL....I love suagerdoodles.com!!!

What do you do with all those moving boxes???

You make a SLIDE with them and HAVE SOME FUN!!! The kids were helping take the boxes to the truck and discovered you can slide down them. They had a lot of fun..so many laughs. Sorry it is sideways...just turn your head to the left!

A few family moments...

Brooklyn's Soocer Party! She got two awards..one as a joke "Best practicer Award" (because she never practiced...just played around and didn't listen to Coach Redford) and she got "Most playful Award" She loves her troffy!

Easton has the moves figured out! I am glad he has underwear on...he is my no underwear boy! It is always a surprise if he is wearing underwear. He just says, "I don't need them"

Brooklyn helping daddy build the desk. She was the "flashlight girl." She did a great job. And daddy was very patient as we moved the desk around the office a dozen times... trying to figure out where to put it. I love my new desk!

Moving Progress...

Here is what the house looked like 1 day after the move...so many boxes...so little time.

Easton's Room...his bed is there somewhere!

The craft boxes..all that stuff I don't use!
Dining Room...where is the table?
The kitchen...with my beautiful Mom!

Brooklyn's Room

The master bedroom

Brooklyns Jog-a-thon Run!

Brooklyn's school does a yearly jog-a-thon run. Brooklyn did a great job! She ran for 20 mintues and finished 11 laps!!! She got tired but she kept going. She had a great time. Easton and Mommy cheared her on from the side lines. Good Job, Brooklyn!!!

As soon as it was over...we headed to the airport to pick up Grandmommy!!! I think Brooklyn was more excited about that!

I did it!!!

That's Brooklyn in the center. 3rd child back.
Easton being a funny supporter!

Halloween...Pictures finally!

I must say...Halloween was a blur. It was the busiest week of my life (painting and moving) and I just didn't even put much time or effort into Halloween. I didn't even get a picture of Brooklyn in her costume. I feel so bad. But she did have a field trip at school at the pumpkin patch...so here is the picture of her and her best friend, Jessica. For Halloween night, Brooklyn was a princess fairy.

Easton was tigger...at least half way through the night. It was a rainy, cool night...but I guess the tigger costume was a little warm. Easton kept asking for water during our trick-or-treating adventure. We went with my mom and also our friends in our ward, Michelle, James & their daughter Claire. Michelle noticed that Eastons skin was really wet. So we checked and he was soaked in sweat. I mean soaked!!! So we took his costume off and Michelle asked for a glass of water at someones house. He felt much better until he got cold (because he was so wet). We couldn't win! It was quite the adventure...we went trick or treating for an hour...but it felt more like two!

Next year...We will do better..I might even dress up next year.

2 great new albums to buy

FINALLY...Taylor Swift has put out a new album with all new songs that she all wrote. I am so excited. I love her songs! The new album is "Fearless" If you like Taylor than you will like this one too. Buy it today!
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David Archuleta has released his debut album and it is great too. I love his song "Crush". He is also very talented.

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I would write more...but it has taken me forever to write that much. I have a sleepy and sick little boy in my arms. (Easton woke up sick, hungry, & throwing up) So I am typing with one hand and it just takes forever!

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Enjoy some good music today!

Our new home...

We are all moved in...at least our belongings are here (not out of the boxes yet)! We moved in on Saturday in the POURING RAIN! I mean pouring...sheets of rain. The worst rain we have had here in over 9 months. And of course it had to come on the day we were moving. Just our luck!

We rented the biggest Uhaul they had and got started early. We have the smallest ward ever...but when it comes to helping those in need...they are there! We had about 15 people come and help move us. Even a couple of the wives came. They are such troopers! It took a total of 3 trips and 6 hours to get everything over to the new house. Not too bad..considering we own a lot of stuff. And according to the guys...very heavy furniture. Of course we took a break and had lunch..Pizza of course. It was yummy!

My mom left yesturday. She was a lot of help..especially with the kids. They already miss her. I have been trying to find time to unpack but it is really hard. Slowly but surely it will get done. Life is grand! We are very excited to finally be in our new home. It really does feel like home already. We love it!!!