This Is It

What an AMAZING, TALENTED, GIFTED man! Of course I always knew that because I've been a HUGE fan my entire life! I remember running around in my friends basement rocking out on the Billy Jean record. (Yeah the word 'record' probably just dated me!) I also remember being FREAKED out at the Thriller video! (Not so freaky these days) Rocking out in my car to his greatest hits and having my kids ask who is Michael Jackson? Watching this movie and seeing how he re-made Thriller just saddens me. He left this world FAR too soon!

AND Thanks ladies for the super fun and delicious 'This Is It' party!

Missing.......

.........one 6 year old's tooth!
Kali told me last week that her tooth was loose. I checked but thought she was full of it. Sure enough while brushing last night out it came! She is so excited to be growing big!

My little Jr. Jazz thief! Kaleb is extremely good at stealing the ball. He can't quite make a shot though!
Abbi has once again made it in the top 10 for the Science Fair. Judging will be on Friday. I'm so proud of her and her hard work!

AND....for the little turd. At FHE last night she thought it was pretty funny to put the scripture bag on her head and totally disrupt us! But she sure is cute eh?

Slacking Once Again

When I made my New Years Resolutions, I forgot the "Diet Factor". I have been checking out all these DELICIOUS foody blogs and have to say to myself "3 more weeks Amy!" I will more than make up for my lacking dishes. Count on that! As for now down 10 pounds and going strong. My goal is 5 more! Can't wait to hit the gym in one more week!

So Many Things To Do

I am a total list maker. I saw this idea on someone's blog. I thought it was adorable. I had this old brown clipboard that was tattered and really worn. I just dressed it up with some scrapbook paper, ribbon, and a little vinyl. I also had some sheet metal that I added under the maroon part and voila! I've got a really cute little place to keep all my sticky notes....and "Things To Do".

Abbi and Baylee after their friend Charly's birthday party! Aren't they cute?
Abbi teaching Kaisey how to make a peace sign.

Abbi and I have really started butting heads lately. Turning 11 hasn't been so fun for us. I finally decided that I was the adult and to make some changes. Change one would be to just let a little more slide. I ask myself "Is this issue really worth a battle?". Usually the answer is no. I kept my voice down...most of the week anyhow! I also have tried to be a better mom by having fresh baked cookies and chocolate milk ready for them when they come home from school. (Thank you Costco and your giant container of Nestle Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough!) Well....let me tell you how much those little things did for me. I was busy running around (like usual) and asked Abbi if she could watch Kaisey and just scramble the eggs while I ran Kali to dance. When I got back she had already started the french toast AND they were eating. Ding Ding Ding! I've hit the jackpot. Pre-teen/teenagers want....RESPECT. I guess I didn't realize that I wasn't giving her proper respect.

As for my new recipe this week.....I have tried using more spices lately when I cook and have discovered that Ground Cumin is delicious. We made lettuce wraps and spiced the chicken up with it. YUM!

AMAZING BUTTERMILK ROLLS

My first recipe came from the Sisters Cafe. I LOVE that blog!
Tried and tested.....the roll dough WILL stay good in the fridge for 7 days! Awesome! I will admit that I did this recipe before the new year, but I cooked the rest after.

Buttermilk Refigerator Rolls

Submitted by Melanie

3 cups Buttermilk (room temperature)
3 cups flour
1 T. yeast dissolved in ¼ cup warm water (first let rise a few minutes)
½ cup sugar
3 eggs, beaten with a fork
2 tsp salt
5 cups flour (sometimes you need a cup more--it should not be too sticky)
½ cup oil
1 tsp baking soda

Dissolve yeast in ¼ c. warm water and let proof a few minutes. Mix the buttermilk, flour and yeast together thoroughly in a large mixing bowl. Cover and let this stand at room temperature until double in size, about 2 hours.
Add sugar, eggs, salt, flour, oil, and baking soda. Mix well and knead for 7-10 minutes. Roll out what you want and place the rest in the refrigerator, covered. The next time you want some fresh baked rolls, take from the bowl what you want and again put the rest back in the refrigerator. It will keep for 7 days. (This is perfect for Sunday meals because you don’t have a lot of mess to clean up and it’s quick.)
Let rolls rise on baking sheets until double in size. Time depends on the room temperature, usually 1½ - 2 hours. Dough from the refrigerator will take longer because the dough is cold.
Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes. Brush with melted butter if you like.

Julie and Julia

Katie, Abbi and Lexy and their very first apple pie.

Which reminds me of the movie Julie and Julia. It's basically about a girl who takes on a challenge to cook EVERY recipe out of Julia Childs cookbook in 1 year. Which is more than 1 new recipe a day. CRAZINESS! One of my new years resolutions this year is to cook 1 new recipe a week. Thus enhancing my current cooking skills which will make my husband VERY happy.

A few of my other resolutions:
Get back into shape (another 1/2 marathon in May)
Quit the bottle (of Diet Coke that is)
Try to say "Yes" to my kids more often
AND have more patience.

New Years Eve 2009-2010

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!
We went to our neighbors for a Par-tay! We had delicious fondue cheese dip, vegetables, chicken and beef. Then we finished off the food with some chocolate fontain, and fondue chocolate as well. YUM!
Bishop Garrison couldn't get enough! Then we played some games and had a hysterical time. Chris is the all-time Guestures winner. I dare ya to ask him if his "air horse is eating grass?"
We found out these little do-hickies could acutally stick to your head.

Cute little Aiden.

Christmas 2009

Kali kept telling me she wanted the "boo-ya" from iCarli. Had no idea what it was. I finally just bought this thing....which turned out to be the "boo-ya". It has buttons and one of the buttons boo's....and another button says yeah! For the love!





We really tried to keep Christmas small this year. It was short but sweet. Notice Trent's hat...because it will probably never be worn again due to the Utah half. I thought it was hilarious.....he did not.

Christmas Eve 2009

Our Christmas present to ourselves is getting our basement bathroom finished. Yeah!

We started Christmas Eve out by going to Build-A-Bear.
Then we went to Grandma Thomas'.
Then we came home and got into our Christmas Eve pajamas. I couldn't get a decent shot of the kids....but I thought they were pretty funny pictures. Thank heaven's we have our fantastic photographer Julie!