Small things

My favorite finds of May that make me happy. They are small things that make me smile.

Can you tell what this is? It is an outside trash can. Soooo cute for the patio. Kids love throwing stuff away. It was at target in the patio section.

I am done with plastic bags at the grocery store. I hate storing them so I am going green in style. Every time I use them I always get stopped. Plus they are great beach bags because they are huge. I use 4 bags instead of 20 plastic bags. Love, Love these. www.mixedbagdesigns.com

My new cute platter with added cuteness of a vinyl sticker.

Cute tins from Tai Pan for gifts for friends/visiting teaching with white chocolate popcorn in them. Each tin is less than $2.00 and I added the vinyl.

My new favorite recipe from my Aunt.

Directions: Microwave 2 bags of popcorn(light butter or natural)

Melt one bag of white choc chips and completely coat over popcorn in big bowl. Don't get any kernels in the bowl or you will kill you teeth. NO KERNELS

Poor out popcorn on parchment paper on counter. Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips(1/2 bag) Drizzle over popcorn. Leave about 30 minutes till choc dries. Enjoy.

Can I get a refund?

I spent way to much money on a pool to have you choose a bucket filled with water. Can I get a refund?

Waiting for the longest time

For the longest time, Scott never seemed to "fit in." (no jokes) Finally, after eleven long years of not fitting in at the Father's and Son's campout...he finally "fit in" because he had a son to bring. I definitely knew who was more excited to go...and it was not Brody. At 17 months old, Brody went on his first camp out with his dad. I guess he could not wait any longer...I mean Scott, not Brody. My only request was that he not be allowed to get burned by the fire.

"Dad... Look how close I can play to the fire on these stable logs!!!"

"Do I feel a little warm playing so close to the fire?"

"Can I throw this stick into the fire?"

"You don't even care that I am standing on the table we are getting ready to eat on?AWESOME!"

"Good...act like you are watching me. I won't tell."

"Can I go on a hike by myself?"

"Thanks for letting me have a cookie for breakfast...Mom would never let me."

"Thanks, Dad! I had the best time getting dirty and not having to listen to Mom and any sisters!

I am glad we have each other other! You have been waiting a very long 11 years for a Son and I have been waiting my whole life for a Dad like you!"

3 pan lasagna mom

There is an old story called Johnny Lingo that is a classic LDS movie. Basically, it is about a girl who thinks she is not pretty and worthy of a great husband. Everyone perceives her as a loser and not worth much. In her culture, your value is based on how many cows your potential husband pays for you. Most get 3 or four cows. This girl who thinks she is not worth much receives an 8-cow offering which sends everyone into shock. After some time she begins to think of herself as an 8-cow wife and becomes beautiful inside and out and sees her great worth. I am sure my husband would have paid 8 cows for me before we were married. Sometimes you forget how much you mean to someone as you go about your routine. I get a reminder every Mothers Day how much he appreciates me being the mother of his children. Not with cows or tender words but with Lasagna.

I used to try and tell him that it is way to much for 8 people and he should scale back. He spends hours making them. Maybe that was my inner voice subliminally telling myself I don't think I am worth 3 pans of Lasagna. But I AM a 3-pan-Lasagna Mom and am grateful he tells me every Mothers Day in his own way. It is worth all my sacrifice.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the 3-pan-Lasagna Moms!!!!

At LAST

At last we are done! We just couldn't wait 'til it was filled completely to jump in. The girls have been telling me they have been taking shorter showers to make sure we have enough water for the pool. My next question is how much does it cost to fill a pool with water? Looking forward to the bill from the water company.

Sprinkles

Many of you will recognize the cupcakes in this box. I have heard many refer to them as a "new love". These are Sprinkles cupcakes. Each cup cake is $3.25 or a dozen for $36.00. Pretty pricey for cake. I have only had a bite or two from a friend because she would not share any more than that. I have been trying to plot a way to go get some, but it is 40 minutes from where I live in Newport Beach. Funny how the world works because Scott wanted to go to the temple with the girls for FHE. Normally, I would steer clear of all that effort but this time I said, "Great, let's go to the Newport Beach Temple" which coincidentally was 5 minutes from Sprinkles. "Hey, on your way, swing over and get cupcakes for our family treat!" I think he was surprised how excited I was for FHE but we all know it was for the cupcakes. All day I was looking forward to finding my "new love". I had to take out a loan to pay for these cupcakes so they better be good and live up to the hype... Sadly, I was disappointed. I don't have a "new love". I don't know what I expected but they were not worth it. I did love the cream cheese frosting but I thought the cake was close to a Betty Crocker box. I know this will not go over well with the Sprinkles junkies. But just so you know, my kids did not even like the chocolate ones. Look, I threw them away. What kids won't eat a chocolate cupcake? FYI- each cupcake is close to 500 calories...you heard me, 500 calories for a cupcake? Not worth running 4 miles for it.

Exaggerated "FLU"

I am so sick of hearing about the swine flu. After all, it is a flu and people die from the normal flu every year, too. I think you have to just get over it as many of us have been told time and time again. Brody is really sick (not with swine) and I should probably take him to the doctor but I am not going to. I can only imagine how long that visit would take. I would probably be told he has to get over it and then would have wasted 4 hours or more with this FLU epidemic. Then I get a call from school that I need to pick up Sydney because she coughed a couple of times. They asked her if she wanted to go home. She is no idiot. Of course, she does. What does she do when she gets home? Rides her bike. Most of the time I would have made her stay in her room and sleep if she is soooo sick. I did not care because I knew they totally baited her. Then the other girls come home and tell me they had an hour assembly at school about washing their hands and how the principal had a flu shot when she was a child... Late that night I get a call on the phone from school that all kids need to bring hand sanitizer to school the next day. Do these people not watch 24, my favorite show. There are many biochemical weapons that will kill us faster than the FLU. Everyone needs to settle down and listen to Obama--wise presidential wisdom..."WASH YOUR HANDS". It might be the only wise thing he will ever say.