The Douglas Family

Taking a Break

2011-02-02T20:19:00.002-07:00

You may have already noticed, but I am taking a break from blogging. There are a lot of changes going on right now in my life and the thought of blogging just stresses me out. Hopefully I can get back soon...

Going Private...

2010-11-15T14:55:00.003-07:00

After receiving several weird comments, I have decided that this blog will be going private. I feel really sad, because I hate when I can't see other people's blog! As long as you are not the people leaving the weird comments (creep on, dude!) I am happy to have you look at our blog! Also, I have been wanting to share Claires first day of Kindergarten pictures, but they all have her school or other kids in them and it made me too nervous! :) So, I'm planning to go private in about a week or so, so start sending those emails in to me! Seriously, I welcome any and all persons who would like to keep up with our family. And, if you are already private and have not invited me shame on you! Kidding, but invite me too at: clairesmom05(at)gmail(dot)com

Thanks for understanding my lameness!! :)

I'm on the Naughty List....

2010-11-06T19:57:00.002-07:00

I have something to tell you.

This is harder than I thought it would be...I'm all sweaty...and my stomach hurts....

Okay, here it is....

I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC FOR A WEEK!!!

(Sickening I know)

Stay tuned for a cutie fall project though! :)

Pretend Fried Zucchini

2010-10-27T20:04:00.015-07:00

I don't know about you, but I love fried zucchini! The last time we went to Red Robin (Yummm! Did you hear the song?) we ordered an appetizer of fried zucchini and it was....not good. It was not seasoned at all and was kinda mushy. Mushy from grease. 'Cause it was fried. For some reason that just really grossed me out that day! After stewing it over for a bit, and checking out about 10 recipes, I came up with this delicious, healthy, firm to the bite, perfectly seasoned recipe! The secret to the goodness? They are BAKED! Like in the oven baked, not like Willie Nelson baked. On this night I served them with crock pot french dip sandwiches (recipe coming soon!) and ranch dressing to dip them in. And a truly embarrassing dishwasher destroyed plate. (*blushing*)

Here's the scoop:
cut the zucchini into about 1 1/2 - 2 inch chunks (I usually get 3 per zucchini)

Cut each chunk in half

Cut each half into half- ya with me?

Then cut each of those in half. You should have 8 wedges now.
(Oops! No picture for this step!)

Then dump them into a bowl of Italian Dressing, stir, and let marinate for 15 or so minutes. I normally use the fat free, but was out this night so I just used the rest of a Sundried Tomato Italian I had left over. Didn't really make a difference, so use what you have on hand.

After good and marinated dump into the bowl of seasoning. (recipe below)

Then shake, shake, shake. Shake, shake, shake. Shake your booty! Shake your booty!
Is that now in your head? Your welcome! ;)

Then line up on a baking sheet sprayed with a little Pam.

Bake for 15 or so minutes @ 400 degrees. (I usually flip them half way and judge them to be done when the color looks good enough to eat!)

Did you just drool on your keyboard too? I thought so....
(I'm thinking now that I should have shared this recipe when zucchini was in season. Whoops!)

Baked Zucchini Seasoning:

1 cup breadcrumbs
1 t Italian Seasoning
1t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

I usually triple this and store the rest in a container in the freezer to use for next time. Saves a few minutes for you the next time...and trust me, there will be a next time!

**Special Announcement**
My friend Sherri and I are starting a fun new blog dedicated to crafts, cooking, decorating, scrap booking and anything else that tickles our fancy!! Check back soon!

Linked up with:

House of Hepworths *Someday Crafts *The Shabby Chic Cottage*Yesterday on Tuesday*
What Allie's Making Now*Today's Creative Blog*Hope Studios*Blue Cricket Design
*My Backyard Eden*Sew Much Ado*

EAT IT!!

2010-10-21T20:42:00.016-07:00

Here's a little story for you.

Once upon a time Heidi was inspired. Heidi was inspired my someone who painted and distressed a wooden spoon and glued it on some cute fabric and stuck it in a frame. Now this magical person had a name and a blog, but Heidi is dumb and didn't save it in her "Inspiration" bookmark.
Bad, bad, dumb Heidi. The End.
- Author Unknown

Moral of this story?
Don't be a Heidi.
(If you know who this magical person is, or if in fact you are this magical person, please let me know so I can give them/you some major props, yo!)

Clearly the pictures below aren't wooden spoons, but when I went to the thrift store to find some (I wanted the old school kind that had the hole in the middle...now that I think about it,
what was the purpose of that?) they didn't have any!
Curse you D.I.!!!
Then I happened upon bins and bins of old, intricately patterned silverware. Pretty, pretty!
Bless you D.I.!
And thus one half of this wall in the kitchen was saved!!
(the pictures are HORRIBLE, but I was so excited that this was done I couldn't stand the thought of waiting til morning to take nicer pics...maybe another day...probably not though. I'm lazy like that. There will be no judging on this blog!)

I giant, pink, glittery, puffy heart this frame. It's so chunky!
("I like 'em big. I like 'em chunky." 2 points for whoever names that movie!)

I simply sprayed the silverware, frames, and giant fork. Sanded/stained. Sprayed with sealer.
Easy, peasy!
Then I covered a piece of cardboard with burlap, stuck it in the frames and hot glued those little suckers right on.

Cost breakdown:
1 CHUNKY frame (already had the other..thanks Mom!)....$1
Silverware @ 10 cents each.....$.60
Giant fork.....$3
EAT letters @ 99 cents each....$3 (approx)

I already had everything else in my stash from other projects.

Total: $7.60

BOO YAH!!!
(just keepin' it real)

Linking up with:

House of Hepworth * The Shabby Chic Cottage *What Allie's Making Now
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating *Just a Girl *Tatertots and Jello
While he was Napping*Funky Junk Interiors*Blue Cricket Design*My Backyard Eden
*Sew Much Ado*

Falling for my Porch

2010-10-16T16:56:00.017-07:00

Whew! Finally the stupid porch is done!
This is how it went down: do something on the porch...stare at it off and on for a few days...tweak...tweak again...stare again. Repeat for 3 weeks.
Seriously, not only were the juices not flowing, they had gelatanized. (word?)

Behold, the porch in all it's falloween glory!
(spell check is not happy at all with this post!)

I had found a hanging planter at the thrift store for only $.25 each (yahoo!), but didn't want to put yet ANOTHER item in the overflowing garage, so I wrapped some leaves through it and stuck in a fake pumpkin that I got at a garage sale for $1.
I quite like it! :)

I made the wreath last year with stuff from the dollar store that I picked up for $3 and a thrift store grapevine wreath that I got for $1.50. I always have up the grapevine and just switch out different ribbons, flowers, etc with each holiday/season. For Fall I have 5 hanging pumpkins and some ball things cut from a vine that I got at a yard sale 2 years ago for free!
Cute, cheap, and easy!! (that's what he said!)

I had the pail empty to begin with, but the height difference between the scarecrow and the other two things were buggin, so I may or may not have cut branches from the bushes in the landscaping next to our house...did I mention that we rent? I also added some leaves from a vine bought at Wally World 6 years ago and the rest of the ball vine things.

I want to paint that bench, but I can't decide what color. I think I would also paint the hanging basket the same color. Any suggestions?

So all in all I spent $0 on the porch for this year!
I think that means that I can spend some money for the Christmas porch...oh wait...
already did that...
(yes, I bought Christmas decorations in October. I clearly have issues.)

Linking up with:

Tatertots and Jello

House of Hepworths

The DIY Showoff

The Shabby Chic Cottage

Yesterday on Tuesday

Just a Girl

What Allie's Making Now

Funky Junk Interiors

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Someday Crafts

Greek Food = Love

2010-10-08T07:15:00.004-07:00

My title rings true! I really think that Love is a main ingredient in Greek food. That and crack, because seriously I am ADDICTED!!

I also think I am addicted to the men....

Anywho, while out and about last Saturday we came across the Greek Food Festival in Ogden. Score!!
Claire has never tried Greek before, so we stopped in. (this was all for Claires sake, not mine...)
The smells were AMAZING! The line was not.

This is us standing in line for 20 min. Clearly we are too excited by the smells wafting our way to get too annoyed...mmm...

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Love on a plate! (my stomach is growling at the memory)

Although her face would indicate otherwise, Greek was a hit with Claire! She tried everything we offered her, but especially loved the flat bread. (Hey, no judgment here. I love it too!)

Spencer picked up this cool Greek soda...tasted like a simple syrup. Hey, Stavros, stick with the food will ya? The drink was utter failer!

I love that Claire tries new food, and pretty much always likes it! So far she has tried:

Greek
Sushi
(I know that's a menu item, but it deserved to be on the list)
Indian

and although not as impressive she also loves:

Chinese
Mexican
Italian

We are raising a child of the world. Take that Brangelina!!

Fall Fantle

2010-10-05T18:11:00.022-07:00

Get it? Fake + mantle= fantle! (oh, the woes of renting...)
First off, I'd like to introduce to you my new lova'. Truly. If I could cheat on Spencer with a star, it would be this one. I may be wrong, (and if I am someone tell me and I will erase this sentence!) but I think I may have birthed a new project to do with burlap!! YIPEE!!
Horrible picture, I know, but I do not claim to have talents with a camera.
All I did was mod podge a piece of burlap on a rusty thrift store star that I got for $1, trim it with twine and a glue gun, and wrap a brown satin ribbon around it. Since I already had all the supplies from a previous project, I only spent $1 for this cuteness!!

And here it is on my Fall fantle! I already have plans to tweak a few things up there, and I definitely have plans to fill the picture frame, but for now it's done and I'm basically happy!

Linking up with:

eighteen25 *The DIY Showoff *Tatertots and Jello *Today's Creative Blog *Thrifty Decor Chick
House of Hepworths *Polly Want a Crafter *The Shabby Chic Cottage *Yesterday on Tuesday
Just a Girl *What Allie's Making Now *Shanty to Chic *Someday Crafts *Blue Cricket Design
*My Backyard Eden*Sew Much Ado*

Fun Times Ahead

2010-09-23T06:54:00.003-07:00

This funness (I think I just made up that word!) went around blogland a while ago and I never got around to doing it, so I'm starting it again! Although, rule number 3 lets me off the hook til Dec 31....yeah, you can probably expect it around then...LOL! If you read this blog but never comment, you need to today so you get a fun something from me...don't be skeered...:)

The first three people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Who's in?

Also, is there anyone interested in doing a Girls Night at my house? I was thinking we could craft/scrapbook/sew/pick your nose...whatever sounds fun to you!! Anyone (female and adult) is invited! Any takers?

Claire Bear

2010-09-18T21:49:00.004-07:00

My super talented friend, Sherri did these pictures of Claire for her Birthday. I seriously could not love them (or her...both hers) anymore!

My baby isn't a baby anymore....(sniff, sniff)

To see a few more, and to see all the other awesome pictures that Sherri takes, visit her at sherriwright.blogspot.com

2 Months of Straight Fun!!!

2010-09-07T22:11:00.004-07:00

We had way too much fun lately to blog, so lotsa pictures comin' your way!

On of my favorite times of the summer was when Heather, Jordan, and Jadyn came to play! Claire loves her cousin so much! She loves to be the little mother! :)

My Mom bought the teeniest, tiniest, Polly Pocket sized swimming pool for the girls and they LOVED it!

Clearly Claire had the time of her life....

Attention one and all! Introducing the only smiling picture of Jadyn looking straight at the camara....will miracles never cease?

The end of June took us to Bear Lake for a week! I only have pics of the girls swimming in the pool and Lake, I swear we let them do more than just live in water for a week, although I can't prove it.... Anywho, look who's learning to swim without floaties!

The girls took turns doing this with Grandpa Dave and loved it! We were all laughing so hard!

Cherry Hill!! We love you! This face was priceless coming down the slide!

She can do this without floaties too, but even with floaties she kinda panics! She arches her back so far and pretty much hyperventilates every time.

Another big part of our summer was Birthdays! Claire and Spencer have the same B-day...one turned 5 and the other turned old! I mean 32! Surprisingly enough the 5 year old acts like a 32 year old and the 32 year old acts like a 5 year old...yeah for me! This was at the family party, but I was actually quite daring and threw Claire a Princess Party too! (That will be another post seeing that I took 110 pictures JUST of that party...my camera is basically just part of my hand)

Lastly, to top off our summer, we took Claire camping overnight for her first time! (Lame parent raising her hand. It's me.) She did perfect! Slept through the whole night and didn't wake up till that @$&! chipmunk woke us up at 7...that's just not cool. But speaking of cool, we saw a moose, a beaver, and these freaky weird lizard, fish things that had these crazy spikes coming from the neck. The guys thought they were baby salamanders (whatever), but I'm pretty convinced that we found a prehistoric something...again no proof. :( Here, though, is proof that those new "Campfire" marshmallows are not a good mix with kids. Seriously at one point you couldn't even see her hand. It was like eatable elephantiasis. (That is a seriously gross image...sorry for that)

Also, being the cool Mama that I am, I took little crafts for the kids to do! Umm..yeah...confession: I just wanted to have them sitting and quiet and clean for a measly 5 seconds. So brilliant me took paint...well, I got the sitting part at least. Oh well, they loved it!! :)

Spencers Got Talent

2010-06-17T08:47:00.005-07:00

If you didn't know my Hubby is cay-razy talented! He did this, along with his assistant aka: Me, in a house in Farmington. They wanted the one full wall done in each of the 4 kids rooms. We had a lot of late nights, a few SUPER late nights, and truck loads of caffine...but we got 'er done!

The Dinosaur room: this 4 year old wanted scary ones with the sound bubbles.

The Savvy room: We call it that cause that was her name and wanted it on the wall! She also wanted a meeelion and one weird things so Spencer did the best he could to make both her and the Mom happy. I think its genius!

The Star Wars room: They came up with the comic strip feel to it and Spencer just ran with it. I love the parts that come out of the strip! I also really love Yoda, but I think its mostly the color combination in that section. Don't get me wrong, Yoda looks cool! I just don't get the whole Star Wars thang...

The Spongebob Room: Seriously, we spent so much time in this room I haven't let Claire watch it since. The parents asked if Spencer could hide things in the mural. I thought that was a cool idea! The picture with Claire below is to show how giant that thing really was! Huge!

Spread the word that you now know a muralist! We would love to do more homes and would really love to get into Parade of Homes or in model homes. Anyone know how to go about doing that?

Finally! Warm weather!

2010-06-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled out of our minds that we had a few days of warm water weather! Don't believe me? I think Claires face speaks for itself!

At the Gateway:

And the South Ogden splash pad....hey we go wherever the sun is shining! :)

Claires Graduation

2010-05-21T20:34:00.003-07:00

Hi. My name is Heidi, and I'm a blog abandoner. (" Hi Heidi" say the people) Okay seriously? Where did that last month go? Just so you don't think that I never think of this poor, dusty blog I take pictures ALL THE TIME that are intended for you all to see. And do you? Nope. Sorry. Too busy moving every 3 days to do that. But that will soon stop. Know why? You don't? Is that because I never blog? Spencer got a new, better job at Hill Air Force Base! Now we don't have to move to Dugway...or Dungway as I like to call it! Not really sure what the job title is or what exactly he does there, but I couldn't be more thrilled!!! Yeah for Spencer! :)

Now, onto more exciting things....Claire is a graduate of "On My Way Preschool"! (See proof below)

She absolutely ADORED her teachers and most of the kids too. (although she did refer to one girl as "the mean girl". I really don't know her name, because that's all Claire would call her.) If you are looking for a fun, clean, safe preschool give me a ring. A diamond one. Kidding! (But you can if you want.)
We are so proud of Claire! We got her this cute dog with a graduation cap on, a balloon, and those flowers. So far, the dog's hat has been cut off, and the most of the blossoms are off from her hitting the wall, Spencer, the cat....apparently she hates them.
These are her AWESOME teachers, Mrs. Shelly and Mrs. Amy. Love them. Love. Like hot pink, puffy, and glittered LOVE. We will miss them. :(
The boy in the red shirt is Wyatt. This was Claires first crush and kiss. (scratchy record sound here) What the.... That's right folks, my daughter is OBSESSED with boys already! :( She has since been educated that we don't kiss boys till we are married. (At least that's what I did. You heard differently? Weird....) But, sadly, Wyatt is old news. The new man in her life is Dylan. She bawls at him. Definition: batts her eyes at him and does a silly little wave. Ummmkay....that's not totally weird.

Kindergarten, here we come!!! (sniff, sniff)

Crazy Craft Lady!

2010-04-21T14:20:00.002-07:00

So......I've been a little busy getting ready for this:

I can't wait! My friend and I are doing it together, and may I just say that we have some caauuute stuff!! I'm not sure how much will actually make it there to tell you the truth! Also, I have heard some good things about some amazing cupcakes...yummy! Go to their blog for a few sneak peeks at what will be there. Let me know if you need directions. Hope to see you there!

We're still here!

2010-02-11T13:51:00.004-07:00

I had every intention of posting Claires new haircut right after if got fixed, but I got lazy. Then I forgot. Then we've been deathly ill for the past 2 weeks so I just didn't feel like it! Who's ready for spring?! So, after much bugging and begging here is the new Claire!

We ended up flipping her part so the hairs that she cut above her ears wouldn't show on the other side. That alone has been a battle...those stinkin hairs just don't want to go to the other side! All in all I'm pretty happy with her hair, but I still miss her "Repunzel" hair. :(

Spencer was at work for the day of my birthday, so Claire took it upon herself to make me a cake complete with a candle. She even sang me "Happy Birthday" and told me she was going to get me some new shoes and a necklace...so far all I got was the Play-Doh cake! Pretty sweet though!

We have some new friends at our house! (I refuse to call them family members. I will not be a crazy cat lady!) Meet the female, Toshi II! (remember the original Toshi?)

And this is the male, Pumpkin. Gay name I know, but he will be neutered soon, so that pretty much makes him a girl.

Claire had her Valentines Party today at school! She fought me tooth and nail to go buy the valentines to exchange (no idea why), but ended up having a fun time! Here is her cute little Valentines outfit, compliments of Grandma Cheri! Thanks!!

What is the deal with this face? She does this at Christmas, Easter, and her Birthday too! You could live in those nostrils!

They decorated those cute bags for their activity and made a sweet little birdie Valentine for the parents. I get so excited for her to have these fun times that I totally remember!

R.I.P. long pretty hair

2009-12-29T11:36:00.002-07:00

Although we did have a great Christmas (another post to come) this sort of puts a damper on things...

What do these

...plus this equal?

ANSWER: one very bad haircut.

and one very sad mommy.

New haircut to follow....

2009-12-20T22:31:00.001-07:00

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Elf Yourself

2009-12-19T20:11:00.001-07:00

For the second year in a row, I give you some Elf happiness! This years features Claire and Jadyn!

2009-12-19T20:07:00.003-07:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

My First Blog Party!

2009-11-23T11:41:00.005-07:00

I have officially been sucked in to DYI blogs....I actually refer to them as MY DIY blogs.

I made these little guys at my Mom's house one night when I was bored off my gourd and felt the craft feva' burning. I meant to make some for myself also, but the closer it got to Halloween the more I couldn't stop thinking about Christmas. So I made these dudes instead!

This is the Daddy...

and these are the Mommy and Baby!
(this is what happens when you have a girl)

Do you see how the Baby doesn't have a mouth? I like this for MANY reasons.
(insert evil laugh here) I couldn't get a good shot when the candle was burning and I was too excited to wait til night, so use your imagination!

Like the title says I am joining my first Blog Party at just one of the many sites that I stalk, The DIY Showoff! Check out all the other fun ideas that are on there!

Channeling the Heffernans

2009-11-18T14:44:00.002-07:00

* Editors Note: This happened a few nights ago and I am still getting a good laugh from it every time I think of it.
For those of you who don't know Spencer and I are completely OBSESSED with King of Queens and I personally get ecstatic when something from the show happens in real life.

We decided to go by Arctic Circle on the way home to grab an ice cream cone, ( You know those teensie ones that are like 25 cents? Perfect size... I pink puffy heart them) but because we were in Spencers new ride he wouldn't let Claire have her cone til we got home. That left me holding both hers and mine. I started to get a little worried thinking that they would start dripping and I wouldn't have anyway to wipe them because my hands were already full, so I decided to just hurry and eat mine. Real quick back to King of Queens, remember in the opening credits at the very end Doug licks an ice cream cone and it falls off? This is important. Remember this. Okay, back to the story. So I was trying to quickly eat mine when, no joking, the ice cream fell off!! I started to panic thinking it had landed on the floor, and that I would soon die by the hand of Spencer, but I didn't see it down there. Where was it you ask? In my purse. IN MY PURSE!! What the.....?? So not really thinking I grabbed it with my hand and plopped it back on the cone all before anyone saw what happened. And then I got the laughing shakes. You know the ones. Where you are laughing, but the only way you can tell is because your shoulders are going up and down. ( or is that only in my family?) I wasn't going to tell Spencer till we got home, but then I flashed over to the King of Queens part I just described and burst out laughing!! By the time I got the whole story out I had tears running down my face, and ice cream down my hands, and I couldn't do a thing about it!

Ahhh....good family bonding right there!

Night(s) of Fright

2009-11-12T21:49:00.004-07:00

Happy Belated Halloween! I'm actually pretty impressed with myself that I didn't wait to put Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas together on the same post. Yeah, I'm on the ball like that.

Claire decided that this year she wanted to go against my wishes (it's starting already) and be a fairy. I know, how creative is that?! I mean there was seriously no other fairies that we saw. Anywhere. I can't remember what the girls in her class where, but they were definitely not fairies. (Seriously though, they ALL were. It was like some weird fairy convention) Her costume turned out a little more "homemade" than I would have liked, but it was the only way to keep her warm enough!! I did make the adorable skirt though I don't mind mentioning :)

We were kind of crazy Halloweeners this year. (Spell check did not like that word) Claire dressed up 4 different times! (It would have been 5, but we had a terrible cold go through our house) And here's the proof.

We went to Boo at the Zoo at, you guessed it, the zoo. We went with some friends and had a really fun time. There were booths set up by businesses all through the park with (lame) candy to hand out along with stupid fliers and such for the parents. Although we did score a coupon for Claire to eat for free at (Up) Chuck-A-Rama...somehow I don't see that getting used.... The zoo also decorated some of the cages. For the gorillas they toilet papered their area. Not sure what that had to do with Halloween, but we were all entertained when they started eating it!

This was the only shot I got at the zoo before my camera died :(

A few days later she dressed up for school, but I just deleted it by accident and don't feel like getting it back in here in the right spot. Sounds like more work than this blog is worth. Take what you can get people.

These next few are at the family party. We did soups and breadsticks, decorated cookies, played games, and just tried to be as loud as we possibly could. (have you met my family?)

Claire making out with her cookie piled high with all sorts of crap. I mean, fun holiday decorations.

The kids all played the donut game. It was so funny! Claire was belly laughing so hard!

Her foot was going crazy while she was trying to catch the donut! So funny!

Ummmm.....yeah....that's my brother Trevor. Being a bachelor and all he eats out A LOT and it's starting to show. Who wants to break the news to him?

An entire donut in you mouth at once? Really Trev?

This is at our ward Trunk or Treat.

I thought this picture was cute of her Uncle Ryan giving her a treat. Awww...look at the nerd home passing out treats on Halloween!

These are a little random.

This is what I came downstairs and saw. Helloooo? Who does that?

At Claires preschool we take turns taking a snack that goes with the theme for that day. This day was the letter "S". What food starts with S? I came up with Star Soup and S shaped rolls. They actually turned out better than I thought they would! Little inconsistent, but cute. Way to much effort though :)

And here's an annoying update: I made rolls for 18 kids...only 9 showed up.
(Again with the underlining. Why does that happen every time?)

Too lame to think of a title....

2009-10-12T09:57:00.007-07:00

Trying to catch up and be a good little blogger again. Here is a glimpse of our summer/beginning of fall. We had so much fun this past summer, hope you all did too!

I mentioned we went to Disneyland, and here is the proof! Claire adored it! I loved seeing her face and loved that all the workers called her "Princess". I even teared up at one point....don't tell. Claire was so brave! She was able to go on every ride except the Indiana Jones Ride..weird I know.

I think everyone who has gone to Disneyland has this very picture. Now Claire does too.

Chocolate covered rice crispy treat? Yes please!

We saw several characters throughout the day, but were only able to get pics with Sully and Helen Parr a.k.a Elastigirl. (seriously the woman has some hip action going on)

We were actually in California for my cousins wedding. It was so fun seeing everyone! My cousin is Hawaiian so they had a Luau complete with a show! (the food was so yummy! My mouth is watering...)

They had all the boys get up for part of the show to teach them how to dance. Check out those booties!

This is my cutie cousin Taylor! I don't think Claire moved through the whole show!

Uncle Ryan dancing with Claire. Awwww....that's kinda fruity lookin!

T.K. (the groom) gave Claire the flower in her hair from his lei, and she thought she was HOT STUFF!! Check out her "I look so cute and adorable" face.

Daddy and Claire dancing....so cute!

Beach Time!! The currant was so strong we had to hold Claire so she didn't float away! I even fell a few times! Later, she figured out how to ride the wave in. It was pretty funny!

We also had a few Birthdays at our house! Claire and Spencer have the same birthday, so we always host a big spaghetti dinner. Spencer, being the awesome sign painter that he is, painted this for their birthday!

Look who got a bike!

Blowing out the candles on a yummy trifle, compliments of moi. Claire turned the big 4, while Spencer turned this big 31!! Ha!

Another big day was Claire starting Preschool! She loves it and is such a little smarty! She is the only one in her class that can write her name and even knows what the letters are!

Her new "pack-pack"!

For one last summer activity we went boating with some of my family in Mantua. This was what Spencer walked away with after a fight with the rope! Yikes!

Part way through, we let the kids jump off and swim awhile. This was Claires face every time she jumped in...kinda scared, kinda fun!

Spence riding a surfboard! (Jordan you are so jealous!)

Spencer and Claire on the tube!

All the kiddies waiting to get the boat in the water!

Lastly, we celebrated our 6th anniversary the other day! We are going to Vegas in November to see Kevin James (!!!!), so we just did a little date night. We had Spencers parents to watch Claire, but that morning they got the flu! With such short notice we had to take Claire with us. We were glad to though, we haven't had a family outing for awhile!

This was Claires first golf experience! We went to an indoor, glow in the dark, miniature golf course! So fun!!

We ate a Lone Star and loved it! This was my take home "box". The waitress totally made this in front of us! So cool! Claire thought she was hilarious putting it in front of her face!

Wheew! Done! Is your bum as numb as mine is?

Big Secret Reveal....

2009-09-30T17:50:00.002-07:00

Okay ya'll. I've been keeping a secret. And it's a big one. Not pregnant big, but big none-the-less. So are ya ready? Are you sitting on the edge of your seats? Do you have butterflies like I do right now just thinking about telling this big huge secret that I've kept for so long? Promise not to tell? Let's keep it just between us and the rest of the World Wide Web. Deal? Sweet. Here's the long awaited secret.......

Spencer got an awesome new job!!!!

It's with a freelance computer company that the government uses. He will be working out in Dugway, at the Base out there, as a Computer Tech of some sort. (I'm still not sure of the exact title.) Which means that in a year, when our lease is up, we will be moving out there and buying a house!! (You'd think with me living with a self professed computer geek I could figure out why that last sentence, and apparently the rest of this post, all of a sudden went back to normal. I didn't touch a thing. Swear it.) This is such an exciting time for us! I'm so proud of you Spencer! Thank you for being a genius!

Claires Pictures

2009-09-22T16:11:00.004-07:00

Okay ya'll, I know I said my next post would be of the home but it just hasn't happened yet! So I wanted to get Claires pictures done for her 4th Birthday, and my amazingly talented friend Brittany was able to do them yesterday for us at Union Station! See them on her blog here. Love them! Thanks so much Brittany!

We're still kickin'...

2009-08-29T17:41:00.002-07:00

What the title says is true, we are alive and well....sorta. We have had quite a few changes and challenges come up the past month or so. I have been dying to blog lately, but there just aren't enough hours in the day to be able to do one with pictures, so this boring written one will have to do for now. ( I seriously hate posts like this, so I feel your pain) First off we were able to go on a vacation to sunny(hot) Southern California! We went to the beach a few times, saw lots of family that live there, hung out with my sister, brother-in-law (why does that title have to be so long?) niece and the rest of my family, and even took Claire for a day to Disneyland and California Adventure!! She was in HEAVEN! They kept calling her "Princess", it was adorable to see her reaction! (pictures to come) Another change, Claire turned 4, and Spencer turned the big 31 on August 18th!! I can't believe my baby is getting so big! On the challenging side, poor Claire got a urinary tract infection (who knew a 4 year old could get one of those? I've never had one.), and Spencer was diagnosed with Grade C esophigitis (sp) and is on medication that is thankfully working! ( Grade D links with cancer) He also found out the other day that he allergic to about 25 things, wheat and peanuts being the two main problems! Seriously the guy is one peanut away from living in a glass bubble. (King of Queens anyone? How ironic is it that the subject of that sentence goes by the name of Spence?) He was instructed to have a completely wheat free diet for the next month, and then possibly for life. So far he's not listening, but if any of you have wheat free recipes, sent them my way! Another challenge has been that our landlords are kicking us out. (hang on, it get's better) Their son sold his house and still has 6-8 weeks left before his new house is done, so we get the boot so he has somewhere to live for a few weeks. LAME!!! So for those of you keeping track that's 3 moves in 6 months! (no typo there) We are having some serious bad house karma! Oh well! We found a place in North Ogden, and are in the process of moving there right now! (I'm on a break, but don't tell Spencer) My next post will hopefully be of our new house and all my Fall decorations and DIY projects! (my new hobby!) Check down the right column of my blog, those ladies are AMAZING!!! Wish us luck!!

Ode to Ohio

2009-07-13T19:46:00.009-07:00

Okay, not so much an ode as a tribute/recap. Ode just sounds cooler. So I have been to Ohio on vacation two times (I know, probably the most random place to go on vacay ever) and have fallen completely head over hills in LOVE with the state. (at least in the Columbus area) Here's why: The first time I went out for 10 days to visit Spencer when he worked out there for a few months. I was alone til around dinner time in a hotel (that alone made my whole trip) then Spence and I would hit the town! (in our own little mormon way) Here are a few examples of why I loved it:

Check out that sweet address! I would live there, even though it was a business, JUST to have that address. Would that not make getting bills so much more fun?

We were able to go to Kirtland and explore there for a day. Here's the total postcard replica, minus the humans, that yours truly took of the Kirtland Temple.

Gorgeous....

So green....so pretty....so coveting that black farm fence with a white gazebo with land that stretches for years...

Columbus Temple. This was one of my favorite temples to do a session at. The people were SO nice and sweet!

The second time I went was to visit my sis Heather, bro-in-law Jordan, and the caauutest baby ever, my niece Jadyn. :) I was able to go out in early June, but was lazy when I got home and never got this post up! Here are a lot of pictures fast.

Let's be honest, basically the whole weekend was about food so that's what I'll start with. We went to a little French Bistro and all I can say is, YUMM-O! (said with a little bit of drool) We ordered french onion soup w/homemade croutons and a chunk of baguette, and split an AMAZING little sandwich thing that I cannot spell even if my life depended on it. It was also yumm-o. Also, please notice the adorable window we sat in front of with the equally adorable flowers in the window box. Love it!

The inside was just so quaint! Check our those arches in the background. And the fresh flowers. And the cutie chompin on some bread.

Exposed brick...oh yeah.

Homemade desserts from the pastry chef that, get this, really was French! She had the cutest accent!

Outside with again, the cute window boxes and flowers, and cute baby.

Here's what I love about Jadyn. Her expressions! She has a different expression on every other second. Second 1...

Second 2...

Second 3....ahhh...the bitterbeer face...classic.

Second 4...who doesn't love a baby that isn't yours that sucks her thumb?

Here is Jadyn trying to devour a giant hamburger before it devours her. This was at Max and Ermas. Yet another reason to move to Ohio. Get this. Their "famous" dessert? 6 warm, homemade cookies served with a cool glass of milk. Uhh-huh!! (theme of the weekend? homemade.)

We went to the Rose Park on the Sabbath and it was purty! Roses everywhere! I'm not really a rose kinda girl, but even I loved it! They had a section of Heritage Roses with little plaques of the name and when the "Mother" bush was planted. Check out this little guy. That's old.

Look at the cutie I found!

Purty!

Okay, here is the real reason I love Ohio...THE HOMES ARE TO DIE FOR!!!

....swoon...

Shut-up! Look at that door! and windows! and little roofy thing over the door! (please excuse the crappy picture.)

Even the trees are cute!

This, my friends, is the firestation. True story.

Look how nice I am! I totally splurged and bought Jade a 99 cent ball. From what I hear it's a hit.

Check out those baby blues! Killer!

Heather and I hit up the Goodwill (love that place!) and found some CHEAP plates to dress up the wall in her kitchen. I know! Totally Country Living material!

Well looky here! This place sells Buckeye stuff AND it comes with adorable children! Another reason to move there!!

(This ones for you Heath) We tested out Jade's new stroller with purple bunny. HA! Good times!

Now I feel depressed....
Miss you guys! XOXOXOXO

Why do I do this?

2009-07-06T21:41:00.011-07:00

No really, why do I do I wait so long til I post again? Why do I do that to myself? (and to you) Oh well, no use getting my panties in a twist. I'll just do it again in a month or so! Here it goes....

This is Claires new swimsuit, that she absolutely ADORES! While waiting for my mom to pick her up for a swim day, she insisted that she needed her picture taken because she looked sooo cute! (it's true. She did. Also, I CANNOT figure out why all of the above lines are underlined. I struggle. I think I did just figure out my question though.)

I found these on my camera, along with quite a few of fuzzy fingers. Either Spencer is stupid, or Claire got to the camera. I'll let you use your imagination on that one...

Being the AMAZING parents that we are, we took Claire to the drive-in....while it was storming outside....hot and stuffy in the car because it was raining like what can only be described as "cats and dogs" (that is a really weird image if you think about it)....to a truly stupid, dumb, why-won't-it-end-no-really-why-won't-it movie that will remain UP in the air about the title....(I'm trying to protect Pixar. Seriously though, tell me someone lost their job over that movie. That's how rough it was.)

So, to keep from going brain dead and insane we played Backyardigans Memory.... (I think I really was brain dead after that most stimulating round that would also NEVER end.)

...and ate delicious Chinese! (how weird is it that Claire won't eat hotdogs, Mac & Cheese, or BBQ sauce, but will shovel in Chinese food like she is some posh 3 year old from The Food Network?)

Everytime I get Claire out of the bath I wrap her in a towel, and she runs to her bedroom to hide, while I clean up the tub. I didn't have any towels clean at the time (okay, I still don't) so I wrapped her in her little baby towel and found her like this. What do you mean you can see her? She's hiding.

For those of you out of the loop, this is one family that is OBSESSED with Cherry Hill! We went on the 4th for a few hours and had so much fun swimming in 65 degree weather in the rain. You heard me. This was not just any 4th, this was the 4th of JULY. You know, the month that is literally the middle of summer? The one that should be well over into the 90's? What is going on here? All in favor of summer, say AYE! (To be perfecly fair it only rained for 10 min, then cleared up and was a perfect day to be at the pool. I am just SICK of the stupid rain....and I also like to complain. I just read that back to myself, and I totally rymed!)

Here is Claire and MY cousin Dakota, who is younger than my daughter. Crazy Mormons.

Claire loves this slide in the kids area. When the lifegard isn't looking she goes down face first and can't ever remember that she doesn't like her head going in the water before her body because it causes water to go in her eyes and that is the worst thing EVER!!

This is Claire and I at the fire works show. It's mosly proof for Claire that I really did exist in her childhood. I belive this photo makes a grand total of 4 pictures that have us in a picture together. I think I would like to just hire someone to follow us around and take pictures and videos of us as a family so that I can be remembered too. Hey! We could be like Spencer and Heidi from The Hills, except we would be Spencer and Heidi from The Mountain.....Green. No really we could be. Have you ever heard Spencer rap? or seen my not-at-all noticable boob job? I'm just sayin....

And lastly, the Morgan parade for the 4th of July! I just noticed that these last few are a little out of order. Although I'm sure to you city folk we do things a little backward, I promise that even here in Redneckville, the day starts with the sun so we can do a parade and ends with the moon so we can have fireworks!

Here is Claire with her loot! ( don't worry, Spencer and I only picked out the good candy, Claire got all the rest. Hey, snooze=loose. )

Although it looks like her hand has been removed, she is just waving so the people in the 5 second long parade will throw her some candy. I mostly had to show this pic so you all could see her ADORABLE little outfit. I luuurve it!

Oops! Forgot this little guy was here! This one truly is the last. This is Claire and Spencer doing sparklers even AFTER she grabbed the wrong end, after it had gone out, for who knows what purpose. This most regrettable move resulted in an inch long strip of a blister on her thumb, that would only feel good if she kept it in a little cup of ice water. (See photo. Look on lap. Claires lap. Not Spencers. Also notice in the photo that shadow above the chair. Yup that's me! Make that me-in-the-picture total to 5. Woot! Woot!)

WARNING: Do not use ice or ice water when trying to comfort a burn. This will only cause the tissue around the burn to spread the damage, resulting in extra, needless pain. Use cold running water, or whole milk to help numb the pain. (I was not being cruel on purpose. I was not aware of these instructions until after said incident. I now know. And so do you. Your welcome.)

All because of a little blue balloon...

2009-05-26T20:05:00.002-07:00

That's right folks. All these tears, about 2 hours worth (and I'm not exaggerating), were because of the balloon that she got for free while we were shopping at Maceys. Not the department store, the grocery store. Who, by the way, have their 4x6 picture prints on sale for $.10 this week! Score one for me...actually score 180 pictures for $19.22 for me! Anywhoo, back to the balloon crisis. So we get home, get out of the car and, well, I think you know what happened next. Goodbye sweet balloon. Trust me, I was crying like this on the inside. I mean, who/what was going to keep Claire entertained while I took a bath and read a book? Don't judge me. I was smelly and not feeling smart. Okay, fine. I was being selfish and tired and a little overwhelmed from my first day of my new job. Yes, I said new job. Thanks for asking. Again back to the balloon... So here she is outside screaming for all the cows, horses and chickens to hear. (in Morgan County we don't have neighbors, we have lots of animals. Yehaw.)

After she had calmed down a bit this is what her face looked like...

After she saw above face, THIS is what her face looked like.

The next ones are of her telling me the tragedy all over again. (was I not there the first time?)

Here are a few things she said about this life altering event:

* Will Jesus save my balloon for me til I die?

* Wahaaaaa!!!!!

* I. Want. A. Balloon. Now!!!!

* That balloon was rude.

*Wahaaaa!!!

* Can we get a new one yesterday?

* I am going to be sad again when I wake up.

* and, my personal favorite,
WAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

What a dramatic..... I mean pathetic...... oops.....uhhhh.....sad, yes that's the one, sad little girl.
(Feel free to send a blue balloon C/O Old McDonalds Farm...)

Silly Claire!

2009-05-11T17:44:00.004-07:00

I have been organizing my pictures the last few days, and I just had to post these of her being the silly girly-girl that she is!

Before I explain these pics, please know that all the crap in the background is because we had only been moved in about 12 hours....anyhoo....she got this piano for Christmas that came with a microphone that really works. Just lately she has been so into it, and it's hilarious! She then finds one of the beats that the piano plays over and over and over for hours on end and dances...sort of. Let's put it this way: The girl will be taking dance classes in the VERY near future!

Please notice the hooker red nail polish that she insisted she needed so that she could be a "lady" (of the night)

I have raised Claire to know that she CANNOT leave the house without a bow in her hair. I think she got a little overwhelmed and just chose them all!

Diva. Need I say more? This is not posed. This is what she does when she talks to someone with these glasses on. Such a snob.

In quoting her talking necklace: "So glamorous!" For all you boy moms, those are the kind of toys that are made for girls...talking, singing necklaces.

I made the mistake of letting her get a push pop, because as she correctly pointed out "I am all out of lipstick, Mom. I need lipstick to be a lady." Not sure what the deal is with being a lady.

Here is a prime example of her "dancing". BTW there is nothing wrong with your speakers or volume button. I'm not sure why, but there is absolutely no speaking/music/singing in the whole video. Mostly just loud breathing. Weird. ( and again with the crap in the background thing.)

I lied...

2009-05-09T22:13:00.005-07:00

So...I know I vowed to be better at updating this time sucker, but we all know I'm full of crap right? Here are just a few pics of Easter. (I mean it this time when I say "few"!)

We all got in a silly string war at the family party. This is Auntie Kristin helping Claire get someone.

She was SOOOO excited for the chocolate! Clearly this was the best moment of her life. (Next to her is my cutie cousin Lorin...yes my first cousin is younger than my daughter. My children are going to be so confused!)

This is Spencer, just workin on his tan. Please notice the elephant egg (not sure how that got invented) that he is using for his tanning goggles. Very creative!!

Awww...

Our little fam!

And last, but not least, easter morning!

Spring is Here! (at least for today)

2009-04-10T15:33:00.004-07:00

How shocked is everyone that I am posting again so soon? I hear ya! I never seem to get the pictures that I want on Easter so I took Claire to the Ogden Temple today. (I was hoping that even though my flowers weren't really in bloom, the ones at the temple would magically be in all their glory...they weren't.) It's funny how when I go get her pics taken the photographers always comment on how easy and photogenic she is. I'm just not seeing that! I ended up having a few that were adorable, and others that are just okay. Here they are!

I really liked the one above, til I saw her hair gave her a mustache!

Lately the only smile she will do is this super cheesy one. Silly girl!

We're Ba-ack!!

2009-03-17T19:58:00.008-07:00

I think I forgot I had a blog. Not to worry though, the blog is now dusted off and ready to roll!! Who wants to see 5 million pictures?!?

Here are just a few from Christmas. Not much to say here, just your typical Christmas that I for one am glad is over! (just looking at these make me feel the stress all over again)

The best part about Christmas was seeing my sis Heather, her hubby Jordan and my ADORABLE niece Jadyn. Claire just loves her cousin!

Ummm... I think I change my mind on the whole "best part of Christmas" thing. Sorry Jadyn, but Auntie got a Cricut!! (love you Spence!)

These last 2 pics are just a few examples of what a cheese ball Claire is. Pretty funny!

No, she's not frightened...just excited.(and slightly insane)

Eating yellow snow...totally kidding!
By the way I have NO CLUE why that above sentence is blue and green AND underlined. I am a moron.

ahh...cute... the devil making a snow angel!

Spencer spoiled "his girls" for Valentines Day this year!

Yes, he really did spell that out with real conversation hearts...I'm going to have to keep her away from him when she's 16. Seriously, the girl is spoiled by her daddy!

So sweet!

Claire wants to be an artist just like her Daddy!

Diva in the making

Claire spelled her first word! She was playing with this and when Spencer came around the corner saw that she had really spelled a word....coincidentally she was potty training at the same time. Weird.

Claire reading her picture bible to her dolls. What a goody-goody.

I was so excited to come home from work and put on my memory foam slippers, but when I did I felt something squishy. As I took my foot out I REALLY hoped it wasn't a spider! (Don't worry it wasn't) I looked in, couldn't see anything, stuck my fingers in and pulled out this: a blob of chapstick (that Claire is not supposed to use without supervision) that Claire had hid in there because she knew she would be in trouble! Now my right foot always has the slight smell of lemon sweetarts after I take off my slipper. (I like to think that Spencer thinks this is sexy)

Now that you are all in a multi-picture stupor, I pledge to keep up with my blog and not make you all suffer because of my laziness! (Shout out to my sis for helping me make this post stay in the center of the screen!!)

* I am retarted. Sometimes that sentence below her eating snow is green and blue, or brown and yellow, or yellow and green. Also the Staker Family name is in yellow. Not sure what happened, but all I know is : I am tricky!

It's official!

2009-01-04T00:19:00.005-07:00

Yes it's true! We have known for about a week and half now, but I just wanted to be sure before I made the big announcement! It's what we are calling our "Christmas Miracle", and truly it is. We have been trying for this for about 6mo now, it just never seemed like it was going to happen for us. We have so much to be thankful for! So here's the big news....Claire is finally potty trained! (did I trick ya?!) Like I mentioned we had been trying off and on for about 6 mo, and after changing yet another poopy diaper on Christmas Eve morning, I had HAD IT! I was done! I told her that either she could use the potty or go naked, either way no more diapers! (she had all the signs, she was just being super lazy about it) And it worked! Since then we have taken her to other peoples houses, stores, even to restaurants and we are doing great! She's had only a handful of accidents, though none in public, and has been pretty good the past couple of days about telling us when she has to go. Today though she told me she had to poo, and actually did! Praise the Heavens, my 3 year and 4 months old daughter is finally potty trained! (and for all those who have children who at 12 months potty trainded themselves, don't leave a comment. I don't like you or your child, and I don't wish to associate with the likes of you and yours. Also, anyone with a comment that relates in any form to the the sentence "it's about time", just go away. DO NOT RAIN ON MY PARADE!) (Sigh) I love Christmas.

Krista! Let me be your friend!

2008-12-20T15:43:00.003-07:00

Krista if you are reading this, you need to add me to your list so I can see your blog! I think I lost your number too, so let me know when you guys are thinking about meeting up. I can't wait to see everyone!

Feeling SO Old

2008-12-14T23:40:00.002-07:00

I know that this is my second post of the day, and third in the past two days, but I just had a really tragic moment and need to talk this out.
Over the past few days several people have commented on my upcoming birthday, which happens to be the big two six. (I spelled those numbers out in hopes that most of you will brush right past them and not dwell on it. Now that I've brought the number to your attention, feel free to gasp.) I really am not comfortable with this kind of talk, especially when it's about me, so I've been feeling a little uncomfortable lately. I was trying to cheer myself up with thoughts of Spencer graduating in 1year (it's for real this time, people!), the fact that I will forever be 4 and a half years younger than him (sorry Babe!), and that if I mention to older folks about my little problem of feeling this way, they will undoubtedly remind me of how I'm so much younger than them. (Oh, you do it too!) So as I was coming up with this list in my head I had just gotten out of the shower and was combing through my hair, when the light caught something on my face. I leaned toward the mirror to see better (again with the old stuff), saw that it was a hair, presumed that it was from my head, grabbed the hair, pulled the hair, and let out a half surprised/half pained gasp. You see, it was not the hair from my head that I thought it was. No this hair was ATTACHED to MY FACE!!!! Oh the horror! It had to have been at least 9 feet long! Now, I'm a basically good person. I give to the poor, and pray for those in need. I even make hats all year long to give to the homeless shelter. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? What did/didn't I do to have something like this happen to me? As a woman I get to have a monthly visit from Flo, carry and birth the children, have to shave my armpits and legs, and now THIS? I'm hyperventilating and about to have a nervous breakdown here! Does anyone have a paper sack I can breathe into? Strong drugs? Booze? Help me here!!

Brand New Boyband!!

2008-12-14T11:23:00.003-07:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Merry Christmas to ya'll!!

2008-12-13T16:03:00.001-07:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I'm just fart

2008-12-11T11:09:00.002-07:00

Confused by the title? Well let me explain...
Our story begins on a day I like to call Freedom Day (that would be Saterday, my day off. And yes I have a job, and no I haven't blogged about it because I have a job and no time. This little blog was written at work, because it is lame and boring and I'm getting paid to make you all read my babbleing. Okay back to the story...) I was finally getting my wish come true and getting my hair done, unfortunatly it was at 7:30 in the morning. ( the early morning part really has nothing to do with my story, I just still feel sad about it.) So while I was getting my hair done the gal had her kids there and they were wanting to watch a movie downstairs, so she apologized, saying it would be easier to just hurry and put the movie on for them. As she started walking downstairs I noticed the back of her shirt said something like "I just farted. RUN!" So me trying to be the polite person that I am tried to say " Oh it's fine" , but because I was reading her shirt came out " Oh it's fart". (I'm laughing even as I write this) So incase any of you are wondering, my hair is fart, my job is fart, and I'm just fart.

Playing Catch Up....

2008-10-17T23:40:00.014-07:00

That's right people, your waiting is over and I am honoring you all with a blog of the last few weeks! So grab yourself a beverage, a snack, and a blanket( if you're one of those always cold people) and settle in for A LOT of pictures! Here it goes...

Powder Puff Girl (literally) DAY 1:
I have only a few sentences about that day...
Brand spanking new, 22oz. bottle, of baby powder that is now half gone. Cloudy room/air. Deathly white, crying child. Vacuuming the mattress. Trying not to show deathly white, crying child that we are laughing. (not easy)

Powder Puff Girl Day 2:
The very next day it happened again! This time it was after her nap (just to change things up, you know, can't do the same naughty thing from the day before at exactly the same time! What would all the other 3 year olds think?) This time she involved the rest of the powder and the remaining wipes. (again, can't do the exact same naughty thing!) Punishment? Clean it up yourself! Walls, door, carpet, herself, mattress, pillow, laundry, she cleaned it all! Unfortunatly she enjoyed cleaning. So for those of you not keeping track we now have no powder and no wipes, and a child who wants to vacuum by herself. Just thinking of all the stuff I need to find before she does that could be dumped out and vacuumed up (you know, because she doesn't have a single toy to play with!) is giving me a migrane. Hmmm... to bad we have child labor laws...Mini Maids has a nice ring...

This is Claires vision of a "fancy lady". Child, it is 12:30 in the afternoon! Do not do funny things that require me taking a picture of you in your pajamas at that hour!

So here's something gross. We all were sitting down to dinner last night, and no sooner had Claire put a bite of noodles in her mouth, she did a GIANT sneeze that sprayed that recent bite of noodles all over the table. And then continued eating like her chewed dinner wasn't on the table in front of her. I blame her dad for this, not sure why, but someone needs to be blamed. Anyone want to have us over for dinner tomorrow?

We took Claire to a corn maze the other night that was pretty fun! That is if you think it's fun to freeze, pay to get lost in some corn, and have to listen to stupid high school girls scream about how scared they are. It's not haunted yet. Corn isn't scary. Stop being annoying.

This is my sweet little niece Jadyn! Her mean mommy and daddy took her away to Ohio so Jordan could get an education....whatever. Lame excuse. Claire asks everyday if we can go in a "hairplane" to "the Ohio" to see her cousin. (and I say "No", we're poor! Get a job and stop mooching off us!)

Claire and I made cupcakes the other day for my brother Trevor's birthday. He is currently on a mission in Russia, so we had to eat them all ourselves! (Don't judge me.) Happy 21st Elder!!!

This was before the blog was born, on her 3rd birthday, but she just looked so dang cute I had to show you all!

This was her cute ladybug cake that my aunt Marlene made for Claire. (and Spencer too since they share the same birthday. He totally loved it.) It was perfect because it went with her theme! So adorable! Thanks Aunt Marlenie!

It's all okay now

2008-10-06T08:55:00.003-07:00

Please disregard the below post, I was a little out of control. I promise not to say bad things about blogging anymore. Thank the heavens that I am married to a computer wizard! (he really makes me call him that!)

I HATE BLOGGING!!!

2008-10-04T23:00:00.003-07:00

This whole blogging thing is driving me crazy! I can't figure any thing out! Anywho, if you just click on the tiny,long black rectangle below, it will take you to another page so you can view our "Summer in a Nutshell" slide show. Seriously people, this is not worth stressing out the ol' ticker!

2008-10-04T22:57:00.002-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

How happy am I?

2008-09-17T18:16:00.003-07:00

Well let me just tell you...the happiest grocery shopper on the planet!! Pictured below is a photo of a lot of cereal, now don't be fooled, this is not at Albertsons. This is at MY HOUSE! 20 bags of cereal at MY HOUSE! Do we love cereal? Absolutely. Do I like spending lots of money? NO! (at least not on something as trivial as cereal) So instead of paying $59.80 I paid only $1.60! This is not a typo, I truly paid $1.60 for 20 bags of cereal! I am amazing! (Albertsons and Malt-o-meal are also amazing) Now I just have to figure out where I'm going to store it...

Ta Da!!!!

2008-09-16T13:24:00.005-07:00

It's official...I am a blogger! All it took was 7 days, 4 liters of Mountain Dew (my true love), and driving Spencer crazy with all my "How do I..." questions. Just as a was starting to write this I was wondering what the crap I was going to write, oh excuse me, post (I'm so hip to the lingo, dawg) and the most hysterical thing happened! I shaved Spencers hair yesterday and he decided 2 seconds before he had to leave for work today that the front had a few scraggely hairs, so he grabbed the trimmer, not looking if he had the gard on, and just went for those little suckers! Well needless to say (because I am so quick with the camara) he has a bald patch!!! Now, because he waited till literally the last second, he has run off to work with his beautiful masterpiece of a hair trim, while I am here at home dedicating the first post of our blog to him. Love you honey!!