Happy New Year!

How did you spend the last minutes of 2008? Were you surrounded my family and friends? Were you lying in bed watching the "ball" drop only to roll over and go to sleep at 12:01 am? Or were you like me and was jamming to Guitar Hero and totally missed the hoopla.

We had a quiet evening at home. We allowed the kids to stay up as late as they could and toasted the new year with Chicago.




After getting the kiddos in bed, Chris and I started jammin'. We finished a gig and then both asked "I wonder if it's midnight yet?". As we both looked at our watches, we were shocked to notice it was 12:05! WHAT! I missed the celebrating with everyone else? We just looked at each other and laughed, gave each other a quick kiss and then played our encore.

Penguin Cake

So, I spent way too many hours researching how to make a penguin cake for Zac's birthday. I thought I had found the perfect answer. The idea was to take a "bear" cake mold, cut off the ears and then continue to decorate with frosting to bring out the inner penguin. My first attempt didn't go so well. I thought I had greased and floured the cake pan sufficiently, but it still wouldn't come out. After a few tries to "save" it, I gave up the fight and just pried it loose. Not very attractive if you ask me.

Try #2 went so much better. Why? I ditched the cake mold idea and just went with a basic rectangle. I figured we would just draw the penguin on it. Again, after much searching for the best picture of a penguin, I asked Chris to "draw" it on the frosted cake. He refused. Being the brilliant man that he is, he proceeded to cut up my picture and trace the parts onto the cake. WHAT? Why didn't I think of that. I always try to make things way too difficult. So, he traced and I frosted. I think it turned out pretty well. Thanks to Linux we had an impressive penguin cake for Zac's #9. My next task is to work on my penmanship and learn how to make a #9 and work on my spacing. I'll get plenty to practice, we have a birthday a month until April.

For Your Eyes Only

So in order to jump on the bandwagon, my blog will go PRIVATE in 2009. If you would like to receive an invitation to continue viewing my blog, please email me your email address. If you post it here, all will see.

Happy Birthday, Zacory!

Boy, do we love our Zac. He is so fun to have in our family. I remember being up early to feed him on Christmas morning and while looking at the Christmas tree aglow, realizing just how blessed we were and how close I felt to Mary. There's something truly special about having a baby at Christmas time. Sure, he gets the shaft most of the time where presents are concerned, but for us as parents we get a glimpse into a special night more than 2000 years ago.

So in honor of our first born son, here are 9 things we love about him.

1. He is such a good big brother. He watches out for his siblings and really loves them. It warms our heart when we find him reading to his siblings and making them feel safe and secure.
2. His imagination is HUGE! He prefers to be by himself, playing a game of his making in his head. He spends many an hour in his own little world. I have to chuckle when he asks, "Mom, can run and jump around by myself?"
3. He's a genious! (remember who's writing this...) I knew that someday he would be smarter than me, I just didn't realize it would happen before he was 12. He has a insatiable thirst for knowlege. He's constantly reading and trying to figure out a way to make fiction real.
   
4. He has a strong sense of what is right and wrong and has a very tender heart. He's very sensitive to other's feelings and the atmosphere around him.
5. When he grows up we have no doubt he will change the world. He wants to be a scientist and make potions on the moon.
6. He is very giving. The few years he's had a birthday party with friends, he's opted to give his gifts to Toys for Tots, knowing that there are others out there that have very little. I don't know very many 8 year olds that would give up their own Birthday gifts.
7. Being the true scientist that he is, he loves to make up his own recipes. We have tried to teach him some that are edible and that he can cook by himself. He loves to make dinner for us consisting of Quesadillas and Tomato soup. We hope to expand his repetoire soon.
8. Responsibilty is his middle name...Well, not really but you know what we mean. While we have to remind the other kids to do their chores, he's hauling out the vaccuum to do his before I even remember that it's his turn.
9. He loves the Lord. When our Bishop extended a challenge to read the Book of Mormon before Christmas, he asked us to participate. He had been very vigilant and has been an example to the rest of us.

Penguin Cake

So Zac wants a Penguin cake for his birthday. Anyone got some ideas in how to pull this off? Anyone have a "bear" cake mold?

Keys to the Kingdom

CLASSIFIED: The following are the secrets of Mormondom that they don't want you to know before you join their ranks!

1. You have to drive a van if you expect to "get" anywhere. If and when you are called to serve the youth, you need all the seats available in a large scale vehicle. After arriving in CA and the ward found out we had a van, they asked us to car pool for Seminary. Well, we had a cargo van with only 5 actual seats. That didn't stop them though. They put benches in our cargo area and had all of them sit there instead of on the floor. Hummm, not very safe if you ask me.
2. Every year you will be asked to dress up like a pioneer in authentic garb. This includes a homemade dress, apron, bonnet and of course dusty boots. Hey, I'm a pioneer. I'm the first Stay-at-home mom in 3 generations. I think my jeans and T-shirt should be acceptable on the next "trek".
3. Not only will you need authentic pioneer clothing, you will also need to add a complete costume kit to re-enact the Manger scene, including an angel, shepherds, wise men, cows, sheep, camels, donkeys, a baby doll (unless you plan on giving birth every year the first of December), and Mary and Joseph.
4. You will also need a sewing machine and basic sewing knowledge. Why? Because of those darn scouts. You will not only need to sew those %#!@ patches on their shirt, but change them with every move to a new district. If by chance you never have a boy in your life that associates with scouts, you will need it to make your authentic pioneer dress.
   
5. You think you may be fine with your Scriptures and study guides in your bag, but NOOOO. You must also carry cheerios, a "quiet" book, and wipes regardless of your "child" status. These are used to share with others or to dissociate yourself from the chaos around you. The cheerios for your husband to keep him awake during High Council Sunday, the "quiet" book the "cute" kid in front of you, and the wipes to clean off your sleeve from the grubby hands behind you.

Now aren't you glad I shared these with you? So, start today. You can use your van for storage of your new costume collection, sewing machine and church bag that weighs a ton. That is until you are asked to carpool to Seminary.

Welcome to the Christmas Edition of getting to know you. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Tis the Season to be NICE! Just Copy and Paste to your, Change all the answers so that they apply to you, and Post!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial for 10 years now. Hoping to buy pre-lit day after Christmas
3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Day
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, diluted with low fat milk
6. Favorite gift received as a child? CD/Cassette Player
7. Hardest person to buy for? Sis-in Law
8. Easiest person to buy for? Chris
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Many
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't remember
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? After Nov. 20th
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes
15 .Favorite thing to eat at Christmastime? Chocolate Covered Santas, Stephen's many flavors of Hot Chocolate
16. Lights on the tree? Yes, the more the better
17. Favorite Christmas song? Mary's Lullaby
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Grew up traveling, married a homebody
19. Favorite Family Christmas Tradition? Lights going out for 3+ hours Christmas eve. It happened 2 years in a row.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning only!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Long lines, mean people
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Don't have one, currently I have a copper and wood theme
24. What do you want for Christmas? My kids eyes light up with joy when they see what we got them!
25. Favorite thing about Christmas? Music

Merry Christmas!