It would seem that my blog-cation vacation took a little longer than planned. I’ve started to get some mild harassment from some of you as to my absence. Sorry about that.

Anyway, it was nice to have a little bit of a break and not worry about blogging. There are a lot of things to report on now though… Its been a pretty busy week or so. We’ve had a great time having Dave home in the evenings though, and have taken great advantage of our time with him.

Most of its been family togetherness time, but last night we got to go on a date to the Olive Garden. Dave had gone 3 times in 3 days while he was in Delaware, and I was starting to feel a little left out (wink) so we decided to go reward ourselves for enduring such a chaotic summer. Thanks Shelly for watching Bridget!!

Olive Garden was great fun! And super yummy too.

We had a really hilarious waitress… somehow we found ourselves laughing with her every time she came to our table.  She mentioned that she’s been trying to duplicate Olive Garden’s Pumpkin cheesecake, and we talked about the Sweet Pork mayhem around here.

So, random waitress lady, if you happen to read this please know that we think you’re great! And we appreciate the service.
Let me know what you think of the Sweet Pork, and if you feel so inclined to share the Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe we’d love to partake!

I am busy…

Trying to catch up on all of the pictures I need to edit from the past couple of months. I have deadlines to meet.

AND

Catching up on playtime with my ever-so-busy husband, who just returned from a business trip to Delaware.

AND

…Oh I’m sure there’s other less interesting things too…. my yard, laundry, etc…

SO, I decided that I am going to take a little mini blogging vacation. I’ll be back Saturday maybe. If I feel like it. If I’m caught up. Maybe Monday or Tuesday.
Hm. I feel much better about things already!

…

In the meantime, please still come get these dang plums. I know you want some.

A couple of years ago I joined a group called The American Child Photographers Charity Guild (ACPCG). Its a non-profit group of professional photographers that donate their time and talent to photographing children that are ill, premature, or that may otherwise have life threatening conditions.

For me, it is a nice way to serve while still doing something I love.

About 10 weeks ago, a dear friend of mine gave birth to her tiny little daughter at just 24 weeks gestation. Little Laurie was given a 50/50 chance to survive. She was born at just 1 lb. 11 oz. So far she has overcome many obstacles and is doing extremely well for a child her size. She is still in the NICU at Primary Children’s, but if things continue to go smoothly she should be able to return home with her family in another month or so. She reached 4 pounds yesterday!

I had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to go to Primary and visit my friend and her sweet little girl. I took some portraits for them while I was there. My friend was kind enough to let me share them with you here.

Meet little Laurie.

If you happen to know anyone that could benefit from this service, please let them know about ACPCG and share the link above with them. There are volunteer photographers nationwide. It was a great experience for me, and I hope a blessing or benefit for the families involved.

Pick Your Own Plums

We have 2 plum trees at our house. They are overrun with plums - ripe and ready for picking.

If anyone is interested in some plums we’d be happy to share. Feel free to help yourselves to the ones on the front tree… There are also more in the backyard, but please give me a call before coming for those!

Thanks!

We finally got our fish tank cleaned out and restocked.

Everything was pretty old and well used, so we replaced the rocks and scenery as well. And got some new tubes for the pump/bubbles.

Its fun to have fish again!

We got an Oscar, 2 red-tailed tinfoils, and a plecostomus (sucker fish). They are all really small right now… we are hoping that the Oscar will grow up and get to know the other fish rather then antagonizing them.

Now we just need to name them…

Oscars of the past have had names like Lazarus, Korihor, and Belthazor. We need something fitting.

I hate mosquitoes.

I’ve been allergic to them since I was a kid. They sting me. I swell. It itches. I hate it. It sucks.

Sadly, my sweet little daughter inherited my tempting blood - and gets them just as bad as I do (maybe worse). A few nights ago a mosquito got her while she slept. The next morning her eye was swollen shut. It took another 24 hours before you could see the heads… 3 mosquito bites on her eyelid.

This picture was more than 24 hours after the bites. Her eye had just started to open up. When I did her hair that first morning she looked in the mirror and then told me that she wanted her eye to open like the other one. Sad.

I’ve been giving her benadryl as needed for the itching. Its slowly getting better.

Its weird though. I’d never wished until now that a mosquito would bite ME instead. I hate to see her suffer.

———-

Speaking of bloodsuckers…

I finally finished the 4th Twilight book, Breaking Dawn! It was pretty good…. but it did take me a bit longer to finish than the others did.
I do have to say that the thing with Alice totally threw me for a loop. Didn’t see that coming.

Can’t wait for the movie! I hear its been moved up to November 21st!
I hope they make more movies based on the other books too. I’d love to see Reneseme on screen.

Read it if you haven’t. Read them all.

I hear I need to read The Host next!

BIG FOOT
Bad news, turns out that the Big Foot thing was a hoax. Turns out the frozen creature, was actually a frozen costume. Bummer!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/19/bigfoot.hoax/index.html

SERIOUSLY SO BLESSED

Shauntae posted about this new blog on her site awhile back. Its satire. It makes fun of “Mormon mommy bloggers” everywhere. And it seems I’m hooked. I read a news article about the woman behind the blog. Its very interesting.
If you haven’t read her blog, you should. And you should check out this news report too!
http://www.mormontimes.com/MITN_newsmakers.php?id=1563

BRILLANTE

My friend Michelle gave me this very prestigious and highly acclaimed blog award.

It comes with a few rules though…
Put the logo on your blog, and put a link to me (who awarded it to you) on your blog. You need to nominate 7 other bloggers for the award and put up links to them. Then, leave a comment for those you have nominated - so they know they have received a special award!

So, that being said, here are a 7 other blogs worthy of all manner of applause and praise:
Johnnie ‘B’ Good | Life’s Little Joys | 3 Guys 1 Girl | Dreaming in 3D | Joe-n-Kel | Drew & Amanda | Carrasco Family

CASTLE

Bridget made this great castle the other day. And asked me to take a picture of it. Here it is.

ALICE

My sister Alice moved into our basement Wednesday night. She moved up here to work, to get out of our parents house, and because she has a certain boyfriend that is attending Utah State. Though, I don’t think she’d attest to that last one as a reason for her move.

MOVING… Or Not.

Most of you probably know that we have had our house up for sale. Well, we recently took our sign down. No, we didn’t sell our house. Between me being pregnant, Dave going to school for his MBA, my sister moving in, the crazy unstable housing market, and the unknown status of Dave’s employment after he graduates - we decided to take a step back. I figure we don’t have to be in a hurry. If it randomly sells in the meantime, great. Otherwise, great.
So, for the time being, we’re not moving.

Please. Stop.
Don’t grow up THAT fast!

This was the sight I saw walking around my house the other day. She had necklaces on sometimes, other times carrying a purse or pushing a doll stroller.

My little girl is growing up. . .

This is a recipe my mom made a bit while I was growing up. I think she got it from a food program on KSL years ago - but its hard to remember. Anyway, its a great way to use some of those fresh vegetables from your garden. (Not my garden, I don’t have a garden)…

Anyway, think Banana bread meets Zucchini bread. …meets carrots… meets pumpkin pie spice… its pretty good!

Earth Bread

3 cups flour

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs

3/4 cup oil

1/4 cup water

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup mashed banana

1/2 cup grated carrots

1 cup grated zucchini

1/2 cup chopped nuts

.

In medium size bowl mix together well the dry ingredients.

In large bowl mix together well the eggs, oil, water, and vanilla.

.

Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients.

Add in banana, carrots, zucchini, and nuts. Mix only until it’s thoroughly mixed.

.

Pour into pans of choice that have been greased and floured. Bake at 350 degrees. Takes 30-60 minutes to bake depending on pan size/selection.

Cool 10 minutes on wire rack before removing from pan.

*Slices better after additional cooling and when sliced thick.

Since I don’t have a garden, I used zucchini from my mom’s… and carrots from Sandra’s garden. Thanks guys! I left the nuts out this time since I didn’t have any on hand, but I have to say that I MUCH PREFER it with nuts. It just adds another dimension to the bread.If you make it, let me know what you think!

Hello out there!

I know there are a few of you that are up on your fabric. Cami, Felicia, Livia, anyone else…. I need some help here!

For Halloween this year we are going to go a little crazy. We are making Sully, Mike, and Boo costumes from the show Monsters Inc. My dad, the man that can do anything, is going to help me create them. We are thinking combo foam rubber, paper mache, chicken wire, fabric, and paint… with any luck they’ll turn out close-ish to the kind of stuff you’d see walking around at Disneyland.

Anyway…

I’ve found the foam rubber (Smith and Edwards), and some green fleece for Mike (JoAnns).

I also found some long pile turquoise fur for Sulley at Zims, but they only had 2 yards. I need 4 more. There is some similar looking stuff at PreFurs, but its $40/yd. So if anyone knows where I can get some more of that….

AND, I am having a tough time finding the purple metallic scale-like fabric for Boo’s costume.

Here’s a picture of the Boo costume from the Disney parade.

The scales almost look painted on in this costume - as compared to the metallic looking stuff in the movie. Either way.

Any ideas where I can find such fabric?
What about the arms and feet?

The Magic Dots fabric listed here looks a little promising, in purple of course.
http://www.costumefabrics.com/metallic.html

But is it too much sequins, not enough scales? Tough to tell from the picture, I may have to get a sample.
Can anyone help?