Rambles

Just love it when Internet is knocked out for a long time. But not really. Not that I had anything to blog about anyways. I haven't really taken very many pictures lately. I did a cake here and some cookies there, but nothing worth immortallizing with blogger.

Tidbits...I guess I could report that Mykael and Jaden went to go live with their mom. It was a mutual agreement between all parents and the two kids. I miss them terribly!!! In just the few short weeks that they've been gone, I feel like I've lost the connection I had with them through the 9 years they've been in my life. I dont doubt B's ability to raise them into great people, but as a parent, it's hard to let a child go even knowing it was for the best. Everything changed SO FAST! But they're happy and so I'm happy for them!

My 9 yr wedding anniversary came and went. We didn't really do anything. No presents. No date night. Just the same daily/nightly routine with the boys. Which is how I wanted it. 9 years. Seems like a long time. But hindsight, it flew.

Which reminds me that I'm "flying by" too. I used to be so young. How did I get so old. 32. 32. 32. 32. 32.32. maybe if I say it enough, I'll accept it. And yet I find myself drawn to the commercials and ads for "age defying" products. "Reverse the signs of aging". Good grief. I think now would be a good time to rid my home of mirrors because I would be perfectly content to just throw my hair up in a pony.
I was walking through the store, looking for a good multivitamin. (next I'll be buying a pill box for a week.) and meandered through hair care and stopped at the hair color. I gazed at all the different colors and thought, "What the heck? Why not"? SO I grabbed two boxes and went home. I really didn't think it through and messing with hair color wasn't wise. I attempted to go lighter/blonder. But it turned out more, yellow. It looks ok, but walking past a mirror, I find my self hesitate, sigh, and then keep walking. Oh well. It is what it is.

I'm on a quest. A quiet and personal one. Seeking truth and finding happiness. What IS truth? What IS happiness? Why is it so important for me right now in my life? Where is it going to take me? I haven't really come up with anything satisifying but if I don't question it, how will I know for sure. *This doesn't mean I'm going to jump off a cliff. Incase any of you think that.*

Well I'm going to try to sleep. Although that has become as illusive as being 21 again.
nighty night!

'Tis the Season

I've actually got some free time to sit down and blog a little. Kinda nice actually. The months are passing by so fast now, it's hard to keep up. This month has definitely been busy. Parties, get-togethers, lunch dates, baking, delivering, cleaning, decorating, shopping, and trying to keep the relaxed attitude that one really wants for the christmas season.

 The most time consuming was the treats. And because I'm all about making things uncomplicated, I decided to make magic cookies. In my book, Magic=Sparkles, which in the baking world=sprinkles.

 The first batch went pretty quick because they were so big. Like 7inch big! Ooooh Eeeee! :o)

 Each kid decorated their own. I did the rest. And then they picked one to give to a friend. Which we delivered. I sold a few. And then they were gone.

 This was my favorite! They're fragile cookies and I broke one when decorating it. It started to bleed.

 I got a call from someone else that wanted to buy some. So I made more. Cause I like late nights. But not really. I just like creating, I guess.

For Ashton's football party, I made these chocolate covered brownie balls. They turned out so cute and S.U.P.E.R. Yummy! I love brownies.

So what I did was cooked a pan of brownies till they were soft. Let them cool down and then cut them in cubes that Mykael rolled into balls for me. I then dipped them in candied chocolate, topping with white sprinkles. WAY time consuming, but totally worth it!

I did make another kind of cookie. Home made oreos, that I rolled the sides (with the frosting) in crushed candy cane. Super awesome flavor combination. Just no pictures.

Traditions

Turkey day shotgun shooting. Although we were 2 days late doing it. It still got done, and we still had fun.

Dylan

Jaden, Eli, Corbin, Gramps, Miriam (with her cute white knee socks), Jared, Ashton, Dylan, ?, Tom

Jared, Ashton, Jaden

  Jane and Dylan up front. Granpa and Eli weilding that mighty weapon.

Gramps and Lotus

 But Man! was it cold!!! Windy cold. Which is colder than cold. In Idaho.

My Dad

I sat in the car majority of the time before I left to have lunch with a friend.

Jared and Dylan

 But I DID get out to shoot once. AND....shattered the first 'pigeon' that was launched. I left the whole group of guys we were with. Stunned. Even my husband and 12 yr old boy. My 'Coolness' went up 10 notches. And now have respect when it comes to shooting a gun.

We just didn't catch it on camera. But I SWEAR I DID!

There were 2 competitions after I left. Jaden won one of them giving him a highlight of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Thanks to all of you that housed, fed, played, entertained, and visited with us.  

Grandma's Idea

12 kids.

2 older kids that wanted nothing to do with this.

 20 eyes

 10 mouths

1 slow camera

 This was supposed to be a size shot. Biggest to littlest. But this angle doesn't show that very well.

 And they started dropping like flies.

 One by

one

I'm the favorite now.

Ok, well he didn't come right out and say it....but the bar was raised. hee hee hee

 I've made a tradition. For every one of my nieces and nephews, I make them whatever kind of cake they want when they turn 8. (I still owe Lydia because I decided to do this after she passed 8.)

 He picked "sea creatures" themed. I had made a lobster, clown fish, anenome, sea weed, and urchin spines before our trip.

 I thought with having his help, it would be more fun. Which it was. From filling the cake, to frosting it, to covering it then decorating it. Its a REALLY long process and I usually do it at night. Alone with my Mp3. And all the time in the night.

 He stuck by me the WHOLE time!! He truly was facinated and interested in the whole process. He is well educated in all things under the sea. Which he freely shared. I loved sharing that with him!

Of course there were others with  ideas to create and that was fine. I don't even know what he made. A ghoulish face or something.

If you've got it, use it.

In her case, it was a willing Aunt. and all that gorgeous hair!!! With our trip to idaho, she spent the nights with Ang and everyday I saw her, she had a new do. She loved it!! This was hers' (and mine) favorite.  

 With all her hair down, Ang sprayed it with hair spray to make it more stiff to work with. Silky hair isn't very obediant as far as placement.

 It looked like a rats nest before Ang started twisting and pinning. The sides first (right Ang??) and then worked on the pony at the base of the neck.

 Organized chaos. Simply gorge!

I'm not a fan of huge funky bows in older females, but simple large black flowers really make it classy. (in my own opinion.)

Images in this post are bigger than they appear

Due to Alisha's comment in the previously post, about how much Eli has grown in the picture on the sidebar, I had to correct that. The picture of interest is over a year old. To you family members, you're, traditionally, going to get your own hard copy, but these are for you other readers. I'll post these on the sidebar to update the blog. Here's this years school pictures for all the kids.

 The older she gets, she looks more and more not like me. Bummer. I wish she did because I'd be gorgeous! ;o)

 The biggest change I see in him is around his eyes and nose. And maybe the chin. The eyebrows too. Probably the shape of the top of his head. The jawline, kinda different too. And that's all.

 For some reason, he looks chubbier in the picture than what I get to see on a daily picture. Perhaps this picture caught that moment I always miss. The moment of him holding still. It's really all a blur to me, anymore. (@Mercy: "What has Ashton been up to lately"? Finished his football season and missing it. Throwing the ball in the house and chasing his little brothers down the hall till he can tackle them. . He's been so responsible lately about getting his homework done as soon as he gets it. He is also teaching himself how to write in cursive, something usually taught in the 4th grade. He's still got two years till he gets there. It's pretty ambitious of him. One thing that has me worried is, he faked being sick at school so he could come home because there's a couple kids that pick on him. He thought a good solution was call mom and go home. I've been observing the situation and trying to teach him he can't do that and how to stick up for himself. Other than that, it's still football this, and football that.)

 Our little kernal keeper is not so little anymore, for sure! He definitely looks much older. More angel kisses on his face. A half grown, grownup tooth. But same bright blue eyes and mischevious grin.

Speaking of angel kisses!!!! They just can't keep their lips of this boy! And I completely understand why. I can't either! Such a cuddly, lovey, affectionate guy. (No he hasn't lost a tooth, just a big gap is all). And the red on the head is here to stay! YEAH!