Pumpkin Bread!

today is chilly and just PERFECT for baking!   time to get busy :)

Have a Great Day!

I did a guest post!!!

oh my goodness!   this is uncharted territory for me!  but, I love my friend Laura to pieces and I am happy to say that she is AWESOME, a really smart cookie, with pink frosting on top!  :)  So I did a guest post over on her blog....          http://pinkcakeplate.com/     Go on, check out her blog.  ( I almost said, check her out, lol!! )

Good Day Sunshine!

Here is a small recap of our recent adventures-

 One Glorious Sunday Morning, not so long ago, My WONDERFUL hubby made breakfast. Pancakes and bacon, some of us have a 'thing' for bacon. In fact you might say, she loves it!   I like how she found the piece that looks like 1/2 of a heart.

mmmmm yummy bacon

*

We also went to a wedding, I would show some pics, but, I need to ask the Bride for permission.   this random head cut off foto, shows  the chic belt we admired. we have no idea who they are. cute belt, huh?!?!!   The temple was super busy and there were lots of weddings.  some wonderful color combos, red and turquoise; royal blue and the flowers were all hot bright vibrant colors; Hot pink; we saw one lovely  girl with  turquoise jewelry and some ostrich feathers in her bokay. ( yes, that' s how I spell it- to many years in a flower shop.)  Our bride had colors that remind me of the seaside, blues and greens with some silver.  The biggest trend we saw was the feathers with the flowers.    

                                                                            *



Our next big project is babysitting these DARLING  whirlwinds!  Twins. and yes it takes 3 people to watch them! LOL!! 

                                                                             *
More hi lites from our family adventures coming up!   I even get to do a guest post on a friends blog!  I am so EXCITED!
till then, toodles

busy busy busy!

I am so suprised how busy we have been doing basicly nothing.  All 3 kids have been to camp and back with out harm. (yeah)  Honors homework is almost done, bedrooms have been rearranged, the living room too.   We even had a YARD SALE, which I do NOT recommend.  We were all cleaned up by noon, lol!
so now after staying up really late and all that goes with it.  It is now time to get back to a rountine. groan.
Wish us luck! :)

Giveaways from Kim and Kris

The DIY Dish, is one of my new favorite blogs!   these girls have awesome tutorials and they are cute too!
check out their blog, and wish them a Happy Birthday. I did.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediydish.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fits-our-birthday-and-were-giving-you-the-presents%2F&h=95f67

Holiday Traditions

Traditions are a great thing.
We have a couple, but to me,
the best one is all about food. Let me explain.
We got married right before Halloween,
and so we had a bit of time to think about what was
going to be "OUR" traditions. We decided that because
we are both Phoenix natives and we LOVE Mexican food.
"OUR" new family tradition was going to be eating
Mexican food for Christmas. It does not matter if we eat
Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Just as long as we get to eat!

We have some favorites and we have been VERY blessed
with a Wonderful Neighbor, Dora, who shares
her Homemade Tamales-with us!
Now that IS Joy!
We have had everything you can think of, but the reigning
Favorite is 'Rick's'- better known as "Daddy's Tacos!"
One year he made 96 tacos. Can you believe it!????!
(but we fed alot of people)
to me, one of the best parts of this particular feast,
is that when Daddy makes Tacos, he also cleans up!
WAHOO!! YEAH! What a wonderful GIFT!

Another tradition that keeps getting better is our family
will go carroling. Not very easy when the kids were small
and did NOT sing. Some people don't know the words,
are to shy, or only want to ring the jingle bells.
This year should be fun! We always practice too.
We sound really great with "Far Away on Judea's Plains".
This year we are going to sing at an Alzheimers Home, with family.
I want to sing "I want a Hippo. for Christmas".
I wonder if I can get some Takers??
sounds like it could be fun, esp since we bomb on Feliz Navidad.
{the BAD bomb, not the good kind-and you would think, that song, would be easy}

What do You like to do for your Holiday Tradions? please share!

What Day is your Fav???

I have really struggled with this one.... a Favorite day of the week??? seems like it would be so easy. Saturday because I can sleep in, sometimes. However, I really think I like Mondays because everything returns to the routine. I had a wacky thought though. What if I had to pick my favorite day based on the songs written about it? [ Help me fill in the blanks-and no showing off by googling for a song... just off the top of your head, Do you have any other songs? ]

Monday-"Monday, Monday, can't love that day" ( I think thats how the song goes)
"Just another Manic Monday".

Tuesday- is there a song about Tuesday?

Wednesday- what about Weds? I know how to spell it because I sound it out 'wed- nes- day'.

Thursday-???

Friday- "Everybodies working for the weekend"?
some local dj's have a morning show and their song says 'FR- -I- D-A-Y'...

Saturday- ok all you Bay City Rollers fans, sing it with me!
"S, A, T, U, R ,D, A, Y, NIGHT!
S A T U R D A Y NIGHT! " { and yes, I still do spell it that way in my head! }
for all of you to young to remember watching them on Saturday Mornings in their kilts, please have a listen down below on my playlist. (& those of us who want to enjoy a happy flashback)
"Saturday is a special day, its the day we get ready for Sunday".

Sunday- "Sunday, Monday, Happy Days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days, Thurday, Friday, Happy Days. Saturdays, what a day, cruisin all week with you"......


OHHH, I finally figured it out, my Favorite day of the week....( drumroll please) ... is a Holiday!

There has been some excitement in a blogging group of friends, like maybe we should do some posting! Challenges are going to be made every week to encourae us to write...
let's see how long I last! muhahahahaha!

this weeks challenge... BOOKS. specifically, books that you loved as a child.

I remember my Parents got me the "Little House on the Prairie" books a beautiful paperback set in a yellow box. I believe for my 8th birthday. I love to read and these were great!
(then after the set, as many as I could find written by Laura's daughter Rose Wilder Lane.) I know that I loved learning about the past and Laura's unique perspective. I think having the TV show a few years after I read the books helped cement my love.

I love to read, and I can't really remember all the books I read, I know I read just about anything I could get my hands on, including the "Anne of Green Gables" series. Which inspired me years later as a mom how to name my children. ( long story for another day- or better yet, ask her! )
My parents also love to read and so I read alot of science fiction from my dad's collection.
Did you know that the man who wrote Tarzan, wrote a series about the future, called " John Carter of Mars." weirrrddd ;) yup, Edgar Rice Burroughs. I don't recall alot of that series, only that I read it. But my Dad had another series from Anne McCaffrey, a woman writer, shocked gasp. "THE DRAGON RIDERS OF PERN"
( alot more believable than Mr Burroughs. )
These are some great books!!! I think these are GREAT! I have been picking them up at the used bookstore and starting my own collection, and there are MORE! I can have great talks with my dad about these books.

I have tried as a MOM, to get my kids to read some of what I remember loving as a child. I have been told that my taste is to old fashioned. :) Seriously. so now what. How do I encourage my kids to read? I thought I was doomed to live among uneducated idiots. I read all the time, now what am I gonna do?

HORRAY FOR PERCY JACKSON!!!

and

A BIG HORRAY FOR THE BRINEGARS ,

for introducing us!!!
the writer, Rick Riordan is a Genius!
A book series for the whole family to LOVE!
the kids and I have read, no, make that devoured his books. Of course we own the 1st movie too. "The Lightening Thief" and now my life is content and filled with everyday references to Percy and his friends. We have dressed up for Halloween, had a Percy themed birthday party and a movie celebration. I even received Mr Riordan's book about Egypt for Mother's Day!

Now we search for more books we can read together. Brandon Mull is a fun author, He has written a series called Fablehaven. I like Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Cowlfer, but not everybody in the house does. We must not forget the Mother/Daughter bonding experience given to us by the Twilight books. Thanks Stephenie.

and so this concludes my post on books! let me know what books you enjoy!

I won't say I'm in Love ~

Tonight was the Perfroming arts part of Youth Olympics.

This is Clarcy's number, the song Meg sings in the Disney classic...Hercules!

other members in the group, ie... the Muses,

are Kendra Eaton, Miranda Garcia and Danielle D.

and of course our wonderful Herc, was Spencer Katoa.

Clarcy wants all to know that she had a hard time

with the mike, it was her 1st time! lol!

also please excuse the poor video quality, its just me!!

I must say that I had a wonderful time and,

I am soooo impressed with my daughter! Rock On Clarcy!

hmmmm, over an hour and the video won't load....S T I N K !

Just some random pics

Halloween

15th B-day

Tiny Toes, got a pedicure!

Love the "sunshine" of this one!

12 years old.

S C H O O L S T A R T E D !!!

TODAY!!!
YIPPEE!!!
I AM A HAPPY MOM!!
'NUF SAID...
high school freshman, 6th and 5th grades...

Its a hot and muggy day.
I am doing LAUNDRY.
and all this equals...

"JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE!"

HAPPY 4TH!!

a couple of days to late!! but o welll.....

We had fun! Hope You did too!
saw fun and free fireworks- enjoyed in our friends driveway!
( i took pics) maybe somebody will help me put them on here.
and by 9 pm there was a small breeze so not totally icky outside!

now the prep work begins!!! school supplies and etc!
since school starts so EARLY, i am gonna stock up on more shorts too.

and I am having a blast playing with my farm on facebook.

God Bless America!!! please and thank you!!!

In the good ol' Sumertime!

WOW, what a trip... and I did not go anywhere.
Just disappearing from blogland.
some of my bestest friends now have blogs and
I have been invited to do facebook. hmmm.
I wonder if I could keep up on that?

some updates on me and mine,
We had a great Easter and have wonderful pics.
The kitchen is now painted a pale yellow.
I have a daughter entering HIGH SCHOOL!!
and now the other 2 will be in 5th and 6th grades.

and school starts on AUGUST 10th!!!
( but we do have fall break in October )
but still, sheese...

Have a great Summer everybody!!!

The Dutch Iris have already BLOOMED!!!
I guess we have had the perfect conditions,
rains and now lots of warm toasty sunshine!
ahhhh! sooo sweet! I need to tell you that these
sweet flowers are a total surprise when they come
up because some years they do NOT bloom.
They are a remenant from the original homeowner
and were spaced about the back yard in the most unusual places.
It's almost like she is saying hello!

I've got Sunshine!!! and not a cloudy day

OHHH! Glorious sun and heat!!!
its been in the 80's!! YEAH!!
(I feel so bad for my frozen friends)
I have a good friend moving from Florida to New York
to help with her aging parents. God Speed and God Bless.
because of course its a horrible storm she is driving into...
go figure...
My Iris are tall and I think the dutch will bloom by St Patty's day
and the bearded will wait till Easter (they have more shade)
a true sign of spring in these here parts!!

rain, rain go away

I know I live in the desert and that we need the rain.
I have just had enough for awhile,
I want some SUNSHINE!
I need to bake my sinus'. lol.

Happy Heart Month!

I was watching the early morning news yesterday and
everybody on screen had on RED, for Heart Month!
I am aware of breast cancer awareness month,
but this was new to me
(yes- i live in a bubble)
So in light of this, i want to help promote it,
or just raise a little bit more awareness.
As women, ( and i assume that mostly women read this )
we love and nuture everyone around us. I think we need
to make a little time to nuture ourselves and makesure
that we will still be here to do what we do best- take care of our loved ones.
So lets get to the Dr., get to the gym, or park and do something wonderful for ourselves!
Live a long and happy, healthy life.

( OH MY GOODNESS, did I just say that??!!??! )

Future Freshman Nite

all i can say is WHOAAAAA Nelly, slow down.
its been a long time since i have set foot on a HS Campus.
not much has changed. (lol) or so i thought. we went to
an "assembly" before meeting the club and sports and etc.
i thought the assembly was nice, they had, ROTC, jazz band,
choir, the deans spoke, and the dance ensemble performed.
OH MY GOSH!!!
i was soooo embarrassed....... they had girls and guys "dancing".
i think they were doing "hip hop", not really sure what to call it.
some of the moves were great, the costumes were fairly decent
( they even had on silver converse shoes ) BUT, i thought i was gonna die
when the song got nasty and so did the dance.
now, i dont think i am a prude, and i LOVE to dance
(granted i would rather 2 step, but i still like to shake my groove thing)
it was beyond 'Dirty Dancing'. and it was on stage!!!
i guess i am officially OLD, not only did i NOT like the music, but i was offended!!!
i dont watch MTV, so i know i am behind the times, but please
tell my WHY its acceptable
at the HIGH SCHOOL to be so risque?!?!?!?!!
PLEASE TELL ME!