Lately

I have been really busy. A bit over my head in a few things. I get like that sometimes cause I have the distinct problem of never ever saying no. Sooo I haven't been blogging. Instead I've been crafting and editing and editing and editing and editing and serving and lots of other things (besides laundry which I had to do catch up on!)

I'll be back soon!

Spiritual Sundays

Alden's Day

was on Saturday.
His day for a photo shoot. He was totally into it.
He told me he wanted to do a pose.... and this was it :)
And yes his jacket is way to small. His pants are again way too short. The kid just keeps growth spurting. He is going to be one tall guy when he's done!

He's always got a drawing on the go. He drew this one just for our little photo shoot together. He came upstairs when I was waiting at the door for him to go for his pictures with this drawing in hand. So he could hold it out and I could take his picture - like his idea totally :)

Another pose by him

Lots of this face. I mean way to much. SO Alden right now. Making that goofy face with his arms a' dancing.

Finally a real smile. After I started tickling him!

And then after one of his favorite dinners of Spaghetti with garlic toast, we went up to the church and he got baptized.

It was wonderful and I am so grateful for the family (still can't believe Susie and Ryan drove down from Calgary for it! Thanks so much guys!) and friends who came to this special day for Alden!
What a sweet boy he is. I should have had Regan take a picture of the two of us, but I didn't! This week I will!

And I forgot to add.... I did a little draw and Christine you won the apron! Let me know your address so I can mail it to you!

Spiritual Sundays

"The saving ordinance of baptism must be administered by one who has proper authority from God. The fundamental conditions of the covenant into which we entered in the waters of baptism are these: we witnessed that we were willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, that we would always remember Him, and that we would keep His commandments. The promised blessing for honoring this covenant is that we may always have His Spirit to be with us (see D&C 20:77). In other words, baptism by water leads to the authorized opportunity for the constant companionship of the third member of the Godhead." - David A. Bednar

Alden is 8

I can't believe he is 8. Really, it seems crazy on so many levels.

At 8 Alden is.....
• tall and slim
• blond haired and blue eyed and very handsome :)
• sensitive and tender, gets his feelings hurt before he gets physically hurt
• very kind and patient with his younger siblings
• loves to sleep in and sleep lots (gets that from his momma); goes to bed around 8 and sleeps til 7:30 and complains every morning that he needs to sleep in more
• loves to draw and create things
• he created a "germ language" so he can write words with germ drawings
• has notebooks filled with creations and inventions
• loves to come up with makeup stories including plots and story lines, characters and all sorts of things
• still loves math
• is loving grade two and quite happy about school lately
• favorite foods are cheeseburgers, crepes, nutella and spaghetti with garlic toast
• finally tasted soup for the first time this year
• has become a WAY better eater as he has gotten older and is way more willing to try foods
• loves Pokemon, Bakugan, Lego, Star Wars (even though he's never seen it),
• is really excited about getting baptized and getting the gift of the Holy Ghost
• loves to go to the movie theater
• is completely obsessed with the Wii at his Grandparent's house
• loves to be read to
• loves to ask how things work and wants you to explain how to him
• asks why about almost everything
• loves to ride his scooter and his bike outside
• loves sports of all kinds and has recently decided that he needs to play hockey (not going to happen)
• plays soccer every day at lunch and recess at school
• loves to play computer games
• rarely watches any TV at all
• prays to "Feast on the scriptures" every night
• loves to play with Lucy especially a game called the "hamster game" that they made up
• has a strong testimony of the Gospel and of Jesus Christ
• is very close to the Spirit and can easily feel promptings and often tells us so
• hates having his toe nails clipped and complains about it every time
• loves dance music
• tells me that when he grows up he is going to move "where the Saints are" in Utah And then asks me if I am going to come with him
• is very confident and comfortable with himself
• doesn't worry about what other think of him (which i love about him!)
Alden is such a good boy. He really just wants to do what is right and we are so thankful to have him in our home. We love him so much!

In the Craft Room: Halloween Decorations

So I got all Halloween'd up. Regan is not a fan of Halloween. He would have no qualms with saying Halloween is OVER. Doesn't exist any more. HATES it. Just putting that out there. I don't like all the yucky too creepy stuff. But I think the pumpkins are fun. And hello Candy. mmmm

Anyways, I decorated the house up.

Made this book pumpkin with the tutorial I saw online - I'll try and find it for you. Really you just cut the book into the shape. Rip off the cover and glue it too cardboard. Add a stick. Ink it.

Found this frame in my random box of extra frames, painted it black. Added some Basic Grey patterned paper. Added some numbers cut out of old book pages and inked them up.

Bought this frame and painted it black, added some cute ribbon, felt, old book pages and some Martha Stewart Halloween stickers.

Found this cute banner at Micheal's. Just popped it together.

Wooden pumpkins. Found the wood chunks in my backyard. Eli and I painted them last week. Added the stems and ribbon yesterday.


And this for the table.


I still am going to make one of these cute wreaths too!

Do you decorate for Halloween?
How do you feel about Halloween?

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for my husband.
I am thankful for my kids (even if I've had a hard day.)
I am thankful for my parents and my inlaws, for my siblings and married in siblings (both sides.)
I am thankful for running water and washing machines.
For a free country and the ability to vote.
I am thankful for my ward family and all of the good relationships I enjoy.
I am thankful for my camera and my ability to use it.
I am thankful for time by myself.
I am thankful for a home, money to pay the bills and a hard working husband.
I am thankful for good health for my entire family.
I am thankful for the Holy Ghost and a testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
I am thankful for the Atonement and the ability to return to live as an eternal family.
I am thankful for the beauties of nature created by the hand of God.
I am thankful for friends close and friends far away who have touched my life and continue to do so.
I am so blessed and today I am so very very thankful.

Spiritual Sundays

My dear sisters, each of you is unique. You are different from each other in many ways. There are those of you who are married. Some of you stay at home with your children, while others of you work outside your homes. Some of you are empty-nesters. There are those of you who are married but do not have children. There are those who are divorced, those who are widowed. Many of you are single women. Some of you have college degrees; some of you do not. There are those who can afford the latest fashions and those who are lucky to have one appropriate Sunday outfit. Such differences are almost endless. Do these differences tempt us to judge one another?

Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” I ask: Can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I answer—with Mother Teresa—“No; we cannot.”

—President Thomas S. Monson

In the Craft Room: The Lucy Apron

So this Apron.

This was what the party guests that came to Lucy's Bake Shop Party got instead of a gift bag. I found the material for clearance price at Marshall's here in Lethbridge. Both the pink and the gray. It was like $3 a meter. So super cheap.
Steps.
1. Cut out the shape for the apron of the pink. I had another apron that I used as a pattern for the shape, but really it's the chef apron shape. kwim?
2. Fold over the very bottom of the apron over and sew closed (to give it a finished edge) and sew on the strip of lace.

3. The sew bias tape across the chest top. You can see it in this picture. After you sew that on, start at the bottom left side start sewing the bias tape along the edge going up the sides and the leaving a loop at the top big enough for the heads and then back down the other side. (clear as mud?)


Adding the ruffle.
Cut your strip of gray long. I mean I made them 1.5 m long.
Fold them in half lengthwise and then sew down the sides and one edge so you have a long tube that is open on one end. Turn it inside out.
Iron it flat and then pinning it down, tuck so you get a kind of ruffle and sew it down, making sure you sew around the whole waste tie to get the end closed too.

Make sense?
If something doesn't make sense, let me know and I'll try and explain it better.
I made 8 of them in about 3 hours. Super easy. And i love bias tape. I wish I had some in every color :)

And look.... we've got one to share.

So let me know if you want it :)

In the kitchen: Butterscotch Cupcakes

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING
And make these cupcakes.

They may just look like plain ol' white cupcakes.
But hiding inside is a lovely little surprise.

Butterscotch Cupcakes
from Food Network here
Cupcakes
* 1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 pinch salt
* 3/4 cup unsalted butter
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 3 eggs
* 1/2 cup milk
Butterscotch
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 2 tablespoons water
* 2 tablespoons Scotch (or other whisky)
* 1/4 cup 35% cream, hot
* 2 tablespoons salted butter
(I used this recipe for butterscotch here instead since i don't use scotch)
Vanilla buttercream icing
* 1/2 cup unsalted butter
* 1 1/2 cups icing sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 tablespoons 35% cream, hot

Directions
Cupcakes
1. With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Place paper or silicone liners in 9 or 12 muffin cups.
2. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar with the vanilla using an electric mixer. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until the mixture is smooth. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk. Divide the batter among the muffin cups.
3. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a cupcake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let cool slightly. Unmould and finish cooling on a rack.

Butterscotch
1. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the sugar and water to a boil. Cook until the mixture turns golden-brown. Off the heat, add the Scotch, the cream and butter. Continue stirring until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.

Vanilla buttercream icing
1. In a bowl, beat the butter, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cream in a thin stream and continue beating until smooth. Set aside.

Assembly
1. Using a apple corer or a melon baller, cut a pocket from the centre of each cupcake, removing about 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of cake without cutting through. Fill the pocket with 15 ml (1 tablespoon) butterscotch. Ice the cupcakes with the buttercream icing.

I made them for this little girl....

Who's just so happy to be 5.

And I'm glad to make them if that's what she wants.


And on a side note, when I told Alden I was going out to take pictures of Lucy for her birthday last night he said when do I get MY pictures? And I responded, when it's your birthday, remember how I did that for Eli on his birthday and I did that on your last birthday, etc? His response, "yeah but what about right NOW?" And I would have except the light was fading fast and we ran out of light. So coming up for his birthday week - pictures of him, his party, lots of ALDEN. :)

And seriously, make these cupcakes. They are my favorite thing I've made in a while. And I bake a lot. I MAY have had 3 and half today. :)

Lucy at 5

• loves to giggle and laugh and can really brighten the room with her smile
• can still throw a mean screaming fit (did in Kindergarten today - how horrible is THAT!)
• wears a dress or skirt every day. I think she has worn pants twice since starting school
• loves to "mother" Eli and any other small child in her presence
• loves to bake and cook with her momma (hence yesterday's party post)
• favorite foods: chicken nuggets, steak, cranberries,
• loves girlie movies but will put up watching Toy Story every time with Eli
• loves to sing and wants to be good at singing when she grows up
• talks a LOT
• loves to have stories read to her
• i think she can actually read but she just doesn't know it. She will correct Alden as he is reading on words and then when I ask her how she knows that she says "well I saw that word before". And I'll say that's reading and she'll say "I can't read mom!"
• she likes some foods one day and then not the next
• LOVES being in ballet
• prays for a baby sister to come to her house a lot
• loves baby sitters and will ask when the next time she gets one is
• loves to do crafts and glue anything she can get her hands on
• is in a real girls only stage with everyone except her brothers
• can read between the lines quite well (as in get what you are trying not to say)
• has a bout 40 "owies" a day and cries over them and needs lots of snuggles to get over them, while she is hugging you saying owie owie owie she is throbbing hugging you - like squeeze, let go, squeeze, let go
• LOVES polly pockets
• has a bath with Eli every night cause he wants to and is very patient about it
• has a wonderful smile
• says every Sunday after church - "how come I don't have a GIRL primary teacher?"
• creative in drawing and enjoys it
• still loves Anise Wilde and says she just doesn't get to see her enough anymore
• constantly giving me art projects that she has made with stickers and drawings on it
• asks almost every day we check the mail "is there any for me? awww how come I never get mail?"
• loves having her hair short but still asks can I have a bun for ballet?"
• brings lots of laughter into our home.
We love you Lucy! Happy Birthday

Lucy's Bake Shop Party

When Lucy told me she wanted a Bake Shop party I was excited. I mean baking is one of my favorite things! My mind was filling with different ideas. I wanted to do a lot but I tried to reign myself in.
Prepare yourself for LOTS of pictures :)
I let my kids pick their cakes. I show them pictures and tell them kinds and flavors and they can pick whatever they want. This year Lucy wanted a barbie cake. So I had her draw her cake and then I would make it too look the same.


How it turned out.... I made a red velvet cake using Bakerella's recipe here. Some of the girl's didn't like it. But Lucy did (and so did Aimee! She ate most of the left overs for me :) )

The decorations: I made a quick little banner with left over fabrics of various things I've sown her or her friends in the past. It matches her room so that I can hang it in there after. And the tissue paper puff balls are from last year and hang over her bed all the time, so I just reused them!

Instead of gift bags, each girl got a matching apron. I'll show you how to make them this week. Super easy!

Making their mini pies. See their hats? We made chef hats first out of plastic bags and strips of poster board. They each decorated them and then we stuck them all together.

Cutting out Sugar Cookies: All the mini bakers as the cut out their sugar cookies before baking them. You can see the mini pies in the middle of the table that they made first.

Tidbits from the party:

1. Rolling out the pie dough - it was funny to see which girls had been in the kitchen before and which ones weren't. Yes I could tell :)
2. The invitations - Lucy wanted a cupcake. So this is what I came up with.
3. The little boxes I made for them to carry home all the treats they made and one of the pies. I found the box idea here and loved them so much I am going to use them again. So easy and so cute.
4. Snack time - Lucy's favorite - fruit
5. Trying out the icing bag
6. The perfect color Lucy wanted for the cake
7. I took a picture with each guest and Lucy. First the two of them with the present they gave her and then just them. This is Lucy's cousin Alli who's birthday is 6 days after Lucy's.
Lucy was loving the whole party.

Blowing out the candles.

All the guests and Lucy in their hats and aprons screaming with joy :)

Tomorrow is her actual birthday and I'll share with you how to make the aprons this week (and I might have an extra to give away :) )