Meet...

our teeny, tiny little puppy! As much as Jake and I have been telling the girls no every time they asked for a puppy, we knew it was now or never. Jake called about him in the paper Friday morning, so we drove to Taft to take a look. I just fell for him and he is the cutest, sweetest little thing! The girls FLIPPED out when they came home from the ward Christmas party to find him! Now, its just a matter of the girls sharing!

His name however, is still undecided. We are down to Zeus and Scamp, unless someone has a better idea!

I'm Sure I Have...

no more BLOG friends by now! What is her problem you say? Kids school, my school, husband gone, Disneyland, x-rays, pukes, late nights, friend's visit, Thanksgiving, and everything else under the cold wet sky! For now, I'm back and I hope I can post something that's worth reading! Until then my friends... I must go to bed!

I Had No Idea......

that I had a classical pianist until I saw this!! How does that happen?

Disneyland.....

the happiest place on earth! Thanks to Pfizer we were able to enjoy a day at Disneyland. We even brought our "other" daughter with us!

The day started a little rough as we stood in line at Space Mountain. As you can see it quickly changed into a great day.

These two girls would only take THESE kind of pictures for me!


Waiting for my favorite ride. . . . . Space Mountain of course!

I even caught these two taking pictures of themselves making some funny faces!

See how it rubs off onto these girls!







Our other favorite ride....Thunder Mountain!

We had such a great time and can't wait to go back....SOON!

Dad Has Been....

SUMMONED! Apparently to get together with dad these days we have to officially post it around here! I thought this was so cute that one of the girls had to post a date with dad on the refrigerator door. I'm sure the "Russel" match in the pool will not be one to miss!

Preparedness Pro

You have to check out this blog byPreparedness Pro. She is absolutely amazing. She is in the "know" about being prepared for the future and doing so in a healthy manner. Check it out... she is awesome!


Preparedness Pro

Hello Ladies...

I thought I would share this darling little craft with you. My friend and I are selling these cute nativities and wanted to give you guys a chance to purchase them. I love them and I think they are the perfect little gift for someone! Here's what we are doing.

The nativity blocks are sold as a finished product or in a kit. These are the options we are offering.

Finished block $5
Unfinished wood, vinyl and ribbon $3
Vinyl and ribbon $2

Each block is approximately 2x4 square and shipping will vary on your order. Let me know what you think!

First Day of School....

I know, I know, I'm on the late side of posting! Here is my oh so grown up daughter who has hit the junior high stage. This was my attempt to get a quick picture before she walked to the bus stop. She was in a hurry (like her mother) and didn't want to be late... and of course she wasn't!

Here are the other two cutie pies! They were soooo excited to see all their friends again and couldn't wait to get to school. They were happy to pose for me and begged me to take some more. I always find random pictures on my camera from these two! They are in the same class and they love it!

Happy Birthday. . .

to our main guy! How this guy does everything is amazing to me. He never gets a moments rest unless its late into the night. He is so willing to help others and serve that he hardly gets a chance to rest, even on his birthday!

His main girls pretty much love him and spoil him with his favorite dessert....cheesecake!

Happy Birthday Jake...we love you!

Let Your Kids Know You Love Them...

I found this cute website that offers printable notes to send to your kids in their lunches. My kids love it when I do this and I thought this was just darling! Take a look!

http://alphamom.com/

Happy 15th Anniversary

It seems like forever ago that I married this guy! I have been very blessed in my life and he is one of my favorites!











I'm grateful for this MAN of mine. He truly is a man in the sense that he protects, provides and goes without for us. I will never have to worry about food, shelter or a worthy priesthood holder because he is that MAN. How grateful I am for you Jake....I love you!

Girls Camp Is Like No Other. . .

even when they can put up a tent better than their LEADERS!
They can start a real fire!









They are Queens of the Latrines. The girls had to stir the "pot" three times up at girls camp. They were REAL troopers!
They went on hikes. This is the first year girls who did a day hike. Nicholle, Emily, Morgan, Andrea, and Ashlie.

This is the second year girls who went on a 9 mile hike with their leaders. Nadia, Bro and Sis Wagner, Brecca, Kylie, Emily, and Melanie.

Third year girls went on a over nighter. Courtnie, Sam and Alex.

Take a look at those feet! Is that sick or what!

We were offered archery during the day. This was a first for me and I loved it!

The first year girls getting into it too!

Sometimes we needed a little fun. One night we decided to have a pudding eating contest without using our fingers.

I agree with Sam those girls are crazy!

When those girls are naughty to their leaders. . . we get them back!!!

When a leader is naughty to the girls we get HIM back!!!

Don't forget we will get you NOW and LATER captain!

Fourth year girls coming home from their two night hike!

Madi Memmott, Jordyn Perry, Whitney White, Lyndsie Garner, and Jennifer McArthur.

Here are these crazy girls having a sleepover the last night. There are eight of them in one tent. Where is Kylie? Oh, the one with the little green head smashed between the blue and yellow sleeping bag!
These girls wanted to sleep under the stars!

I was just happy to see this cute face on Friday night!

I had such a great time up at girls camp with these awesome girls. When I say awesome I truly mean awesome. They inspire me and make me want to be a better example for them. They truly love the Lord and have AMAZING testimonies of the gospel. Just like our theme I believe... I believe in them.

PAZOOKIE FROM BJ'S?

Nope! Just my own recreation! Now that I'm going to Big Meadow for girls camp, I wanted to find a yummy campfire treat for the girls. Well. . . I think I did. This is sooooooo divine! Okay, maybe not for everyone but if your like me and you love, love, love chocolate chip cookies with a little ice-cream on top your gonna dig this! Here's Makelle helping be make the dough and press it into the dutch oven.

This is what it looks like after baking for 30 minutes on 350 degrees. Must I say PERFECT! Only for those who love a soft middle.

What happened to this picture I have no clue. I didn't even take the picture this way but I'm too lazy to fix it. . . sorry! Here is my delicious PAZOOKIE!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 and 1/2 cubes butter

1 c. dark brown sugar

1 1/3 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 Tbs. vanilla

Mix well. Add in dry ingredients.

3 1/3 c. flour

3/4 Tbs. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

I used about 1/2 the dough for my 4 quart dutch oven.

Now go take on the pazookie! I know you can do it!

Quick Trip To Twin Lakes

We were able to spend a few days up at Twin Lakes with Grandma Grandpa Beck.



Even though it was chilly we were all smiles!







The girls had a great time feeding the blue jays peanuts.



So excited that I got a close up of this doe!



I love this picture! The family always teases Jake's dad for the way he hugs, he's so proper that he never gives us ladies bear hugs. I guess a beautiful granddaughter can wear any old man down!

I just think he looks HOT!






Here we are getting ready to go fishing! This was a first for the girls. They loved every minute of it.

Daddy's proud to see his daughter not only enjoying the boat ride but doing so in a Steelers hat!

How do you sleep on a boat?




Morgan loved fishing. She actually caught a fish but it was too heavy for her pole. If you look close enough you can see a doe in the background.
Makelle is still all smiles!

Maddy was all smiles when she caught her fish. Once she realized the fish was dying, she was all tears. Needless to say we needed fish counseling.
It didn't help that the girls watched their dad clean his fish! We had such a nice relaxing time.

Thanks for the wonderful time Grandma and Grandpa. We already miss you!