Lost camera

Well, I was going to document all of my Thanksgiving weekend and do a big post.
The last time I had my camera was at my parents house, and I remember taking a picture of all of the grandkids right before we ate.

I set in on the counter and that is the last I remember. My mom hasn't found it (and I'm sure she has cleaned 10 times since then), it's not in my car.

The only other thing that happened was Tristan was dropping me off in front of Albertsons to check out a Redbox and I tried to get out too fast, caught my leg on my bag, and almost fell on my face. Maybe the camera was in there and fell out. I called Albertsons and they didn't have it in their lost and found.

I still believe that most people who live in IF (and especially Albertsons shoppers) would still turn in a camera if they happened to find it.

I hate losing things. I know money is just money, but I've only had that camera since last Christmas, plus the cost of the rechargable batteries, camera bag, etc. It makes me sick inside.

Plus, my husband has mastered the art of being dissapointed in me instead of yelling. Sometimes that is worse than being yelled at.

Who has the money to buy a new camera at Christmastime anyway. I feel naked without it.
You have to a camera!

So, as I am a very visual person, my blogging might slow down if I can't blog without pictures.

Please come back little camera. I miss you.

The amazing Ritz cracker...

Does anyone else think that Ritz crackers are amazing? You can make everything from
Faux Apple Pie to Girls Scouts Mint Cookies.
My sister-in-law Pam signed me and my other sister-in-law Megan up for a free
candy making class at the Sugar Shack.
It was so much fun. Just to put in some free advertising they have everything you need to make your own chocolates and candy. I thought they sold candy, not candy making supplies.

Anyway, she taught us how to make the Girl Scout Cookies out of Ritz. You just melt your chocolate, add creme de menthe flavoring and dip your Ritz in, then stick it in the freezer. They taste just like grasshopper cookies.

It was so excited I had to try them at home this afternoon with the boys and the Hermanson girls. They loved helping and they were gone in about 30 seconds.

Plus, I had a new ephiphany about birthdays. I hate frosting with a passion, but I decided I could make cute chocolates and put them on cupcakes. The molds were only $2 and they could go pick out whatever they want. Brilliant!

Random thoughts for today

1st Random thought: Do men appreciate the fact that their size basically stay the same all month, all year, year to year? Give or take adding an inch or two a year to their waistline, they can pretty much count on being the same size.

Not so much for me (or women in general). Yesterday I decided to be efficient and put all the pants that weren't wearable up high so it wasn't taking up usable space and put the pants that fit at reachable level. So up high I have a wide range of sizes from everything to that great year where I was starving all the time and lost some weight and was loving those jeans to much, much bigger sizes.

This is what I came up with.

And this is what works at that awkward 12 weeks along stage of life. Not a whole lot going on here.

Which leads us to:

My 2nd Random Thought:

I should really think of these body shifts as a blessing because I can have healthy children.

Yesterday was my second appointment. They thought they could probably hear the hearbeat, but it might be too early. They couldn't find it on dopplar, so I got to have another ultrasound.

Everything was fine and normal and it is always amazing to see how much something so small and new is wiggling and moving all around. I didn't feel too nervous when they couldn't find it, but you could tell that the ultrasound lady had seen enough bad news ultrasounds, that she wanted to deliver good news.

I'm so blessed that I got some!

Random though number 3:

Should you really have to tell your kids not to stand up in a wagon on gravel, with your unstable 2 year-old-brother around?

This is the result of that decision!

Ok, Ok, I will do a memory...

I have been resisting digging into my past, but since Christmas is coming here is my Christmas memory.

It was the year of the Cabbage Patch dolls. Me and my sisters wanted them. Badly! And they were expensive. My mom being the super mom that she is got together with the next door neighbors mom and they made homemade Cabbage Patch dolls for each of us.

I was a little bitter about mine being the only one with short hair, but I got over it. If we had gotten real Cabbage Patch dolls, this memory would have been long gone, but now I will never forget.

It almost inspires me to make those capes I've been thinking about making for the last couple of years. We'll see....

I'm the second from the left.

With our next door neighbors the Stomells.

Not saving my china...

About a year and a half ago, I saw this quilt in my mother-in-law's magazine and fell in love. Completely and instantly. She sews professional quality quilts, so I knew she would love to make this for me.

After waiting and almost dying when I learned how much it was to pay someone to quilt it for you (I grew up either getting a bed-in-a-bag or doing the yarn quilting), I was presented this quilt about a month ago.

It has since sat in the corner of my room, because I've never had this nice of a quilt. Was I worthy? Would we get it dirty in two days?

Maybe I'll wait until my room stays clean and organized, and I can't have this nice of a quilt without matching pillows. I'll wait until then. I decided this was like waiting until you were a size 6 to buy clothes that you like. Not going to happen anytime soon.

I am not a high-maintenance person, (Ie, see the scratched plastic wear we eat dinner off of every night), but I am especially not this last month since we have been in survival mode.

So, I decided not to save my silver for a special occasion, so to speak. My room may not be clean, my pillow cases don't match, but I deserve this beautiful quilt on my bed. So, there you go.

Contest Results

Well, most of you got these right. And Katie, since you've seen my kids like once, I can't really blame you. Thanks for playing.

And to answer your questions, I used Photoshop to put the words on the pictures and to merge the faces together. Wonderful program. I wish I was a pro and knew all the tricks that Photoshop can do!

A) Creighton

B) Brandon
C) Tyce

Something else I discovered while playing was I think that Brandon as a girl looks like my sister Kaylynn when she was little. (Just to add to her thinking she had a boy haircut when she was little complex). Don't you think they look alike? I never thought Brandon looked very much like my family.

Six Months Contest

So, I think mine will be easier to tell than La Tisha's but guess which one is Brandon, Creighton, and Tyce at 6 months.

Slideshow Tradition

I have always had a special place in my heart for pictures put to song, so this year I was trying to think how I could make this hobby useful.

So, I started a new tradition. This year I made slideshows of the birthday kids life and showed it at their family party. I try to keep them about a minute for each year of their life. I start off by showing birthday, 1 month, 2 month, up to 12 month, then 1 year, 2 years etc.

The kids love seeing themselves grow up, and I keep them short enough that I don't think the family is too bugged.

Today I also started one for the year. I'm going to try to make a "year in review" slideshow to show either on Christmas Eve or New Years Eve.

These also make good things to watch on those boring Sunday afternoons.

Just food for thought...

Who needs an ultrasound?

Without prompting (I promise) every time you ask Tyce what kind of baby I have this is his response. And since he was the last one in heaven, maybe he knows something we don't.

Of course the next question to ask is "Where is the baby?" and he says, "Outside." But you know, you get what you can take. 10 more weeks until we find out if he is right! FYI on my health, I am feeling a little better. I never feel normal, and eating is still very tricky, but we are making it through our days. Thanks for your concern.

Playlists

I love playing with my playlist and adding new songs. Who needs to buy music when I just pull up my blog and listen to my favorites?
However, sometimes they do get annoying when I am trying to read everyone's blogs and there are 5 different songs going on.
But lately I discovered a new use for playlists. Everyday when I'm doing my daily clean, I pull up a different blog and listen to their playlist.
You can learn a lot about someone by their playlist. Did you know Mary Jones likes the Indigo Girls?
I love getting a variety of music and expanding my musical horizons. I'm excited to put together a Christmas playlist. So next time you need some tunes, try someone elses playlist. You will learn a lot!

Halloween and Weddings

We had an exciting weekend. We left Friday morning for Utah. We stopped and bought a Love Sac (big bean bag) for our Christmas present to each other. Then we went to the Hogle Zoo for a little while.

It was nice for my kids to be with their cousins for Halloween. There were 10 cousins trick-or-treating together. It was definetly the nicest weather I've ever had for trick-or-treating.

Me and my sisters sat outside and handed out candy while the men were trick or treating. When does that ever happen?

The next day was my oldest sister Rachelle's wedding. I love going to temple sealings so I can remember what an sacred and awesome experience it is, and to think about how families truly can be together forever.

We are so happy for her and Nathan. She looked beautiful and the day went perfectly. The weather was so nice. She had her reception at a really cool reception center called Noah's. There was even a rec room for families complete with couches, and a pool table. So fun.

Everyone looked great in their pink and brown.