Another Mod Podge project!

YAY!!!! Michelle(my niece, who is visiting) and I finished our block letters!!! We both have Americana decorated rooms in our homes, and love the 4th of July. What a fun project to introduce Michelle to Mod Podge, and get me more aquainted with it. We thought we'd add it on to Xazmin's Mod Podge Mania...we got inspired by the block letters she posted last month.

Here's how they turned out!

Have a wonderful evening!!!

Mod Podge Mania!!!! and a quick Totally Thankful Thursday

Here it is... the second Mod Podge Mania over at my crazy(amazing) friend Xazmin's Blog... This is the Year. Go over and check out some awesome projects, and if you have any to share link up...too much fun!!!

So...Bug has this little computer desk in his room...

I thought it was boring, and getting a little beat up, what could I do? He has lots of sports stuff in his decor, but also some really cool maps(that he loves) on his walls. I decided to go with the "map" idea. I went and bought a five dollar map at the map store, used a little Mod Podge, and this is what it looks like now.....

He loves this!!! I am actually a pretty "cool" mom for this project. He just wanted the (fake) wood look still, so I didn't paint the rest of the desk, just left it. It looks great, and so easy and fun!

Michelle(the niece visiting, and still sleeping... that's why I'm sneaking in this quick post)and I are doing some of the blocks that Xazmin showed last month, and that she's giving away for her 100th post giveaway. We'll link up later with those....if they turn out!:-)

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Just a quick Totally Thankful Thursday...

1. sweet family visiting!!!

2. the geese yesterday...not chasing us!!!

3. a vacuumed floor

4. Mod Podge...love this stuff!!

5. Hunter Dan's job

Have a wonderful Thursday!!! Don't forget to check out Mod Podge Mania!!!

Extreme Makeover-Me Edition

Good Morning! It's time once again for EMME. Love Wednesdays!! Amber has this awesome thing going on where we can give each other some support on getting healthy and fit! Isn't that great!? Go over to Amber's to join in and check it out!

I had a decent week last week. Not great but o.k. Why is pizza sooooooo good? I didn't actually eat any, just wanted to. I did pretty good though. Not down any weight, but not up either...so I guess that's not too bad, but not what it could be. I also didn't exercise much, but did drink tons of water. O.K. it's official....I AM A SLACKER!!!! Where is my motivation? You'd think it would be when I look in the mirror, and see the gorgeousness looking back...YUCK!!!!

SO....this week....GOALS!

drink lots of water

eat healthy

get my heiney moving(not sure how ya spell that)

stay positive

This weeks question/sharing.......Share with us a healthy recipe.

This was really hard...seriously all I can think of, is that we grill a lot of chicken, and have salad in the summer time. So many great marinades out there, that are decent and chicken, hello?...always good! Love to be able to grill, we occasionally grill in the snow also, but it doesn't taste the same for some reason. So....basically I am just excited to get all the recipes everyone else shares!:-)

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My adorable niece, and her two adorable little girlies are here, and we are heading out for the day! Hopefully the weather will be somewhat warm, so we can go to the historical farm Jibbity has been wanting to share with these girlies.

How cute are they?!!!! And Michelle (my niece) is pregnant with her third daughter!! YAY!

Hope everyone has a WoNdErFuL WEDNESDAY!!!!! ( I have some awards to post about, and I received a giveaway I won, so I will share those tomorrow or Friday!) I will visit when I can, I am so far behind on my blog reading!!!

I WON a BUTTON!!!!

Check this out!!! Over there to the right------------------------------------------------->
I won a " link to " button from Anissa at Learning Together Hand in Hand. It's so cute!!! Thanks so much!!! Everyone is welcome to take it if you want.:-)

I have company coming in today until Thursday night...I'll visit when I can! Have a wonderful Tuesday!!!!

Friend Makin' Monday!!!

I love Mondays!!! Nothing like making some new friends and learning more about old ones, so head on over to Kasey's at All That is Good to find out the rules and link up! This weeks question was inspired by Kelli over at Outside My Kitchen Window...

Here we go...

“5 Senses Tag”

We are to list 4 things we love, and one thing we dislike, for each category.

SMELL

love...

1. lilacs

2. baby lotion

3. freshly mowed lawn

4. clean clothes fresh out of the dryer

dislike...

1. flatulence...hubby and son!!!

TOUCH

love...

1. Ashie's soft skin

2. when Hunter Dan holds my hand

3. hugs from the kiddos

4. like Kasey, fresh clean sheets...love that!!!

dislike...

1. pumpkin guts...I throw up every year!!!

SOUND

love...

1. birds early in the morning

2. rain falling

3. my kids laughter

4. water in a creek

dislike...

1. whining

TASTE

love...

1. pizza

2. my homemade salsa(mouth watering)

3. symphony bars

4. ice cold skim milk!

dislike...

1. Hamburger pie...sorry Mom, it is gross!!!!

SIGHT

love...

1. flowers of all kinds

2. a clean home

3. my family

4. the gorgeous mountains

dislike...

1. when my kids are hurting

This was lots of fun, thanks Kasey and Kelli!! I seem to take so many wonderful things for granted, my "love" list could have been sooo much longer! Thanks for making us think today! I love FMM!

Have a FANTASTIC Monday!

I Feel My Savior's Love...

I feel my Savior's love In all the world around me.

His Spirit warms my soul Through ev'ry-thing I see.

I feel my Savior's love; Its gentleness enfolds me,

And when I kneel to pray, My heart is filled with peace.

I feel my Savior's love And know that he will bless me.

I offer him my heart; My shepherd he will be.

He knows I will follow him, Give all my life to him.
I feel my Savior's love,
The love he freely gives me.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Pay It Forward!!!

I love this!!! I just finished up another Pay it Forward...(yes ladies your gifts will be in the mail Monday!!) I saw over at an adorable blog Creations by Lanie, that she was doing one, and I decided to join in!!!!

Here we go...

Making handcrafted items is a dying art, but they are so fun to make and get! So, here's a little game to encourage the handcrafting to live and thrive. The first 5 people to leave a comment on this post, will receive, at some point during the year, a super-duper handmade gift from me! What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise. The catch is that you must participate as well :) So before you leave your comment here, write up (or copy and paste) a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. Then, come back, let me know you are going to play, and anticipate the arrival of your super-duper handmade gift! Remember that only the FIRST FIVE comments will receive a gift from me, so be quick!

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantee that you will like what I make. But, I will try my best to make sure that you do :)
2. It will be done this year (hopefully sooner than later)
3. You will have no clue what or when it will be.Please make sure to leave your e-mail address too so I can get a hold of you.

Have fun!

Fun with the Family and ABC tag

Fun with the Family....

What a relaxing day yesterday was!!!

*I spent time with Bug going through his summer clothes and realizing,,,this boy better stop growing!!!

*spent time with the girls and their lack of summer clothes.

*fixed something yummy for lunch.

*admired gorgeous chalk art that was done.

(didn't get a picture of the finished masterpieces before it rained!!!Darn!!!)

*Played this game.....eight hundred and fifty-one times!!! I only won once...SAD!!!

*rocked Ashie

*cut Bug's hair

*bean bag war...this is daily...thanks once again, Michelle!

Nothing fancy...just relaxing, and hangin' out with my munchkins.

When Hunter Dan got home...we had to run a quick errand. Afterwords we went to the video store and rented these...

CLASSIC!!!!!...and

We then took the kids to the grocery store to have $4.00 dinner night. My brother and his family started this, and we have done it a couple times too...not very often though!!!.....each family member gets four dollars to buy what they want for dinner...or in our case "our family movie night"meal...can I just say... we spent over an hour in that store!! Too funny watching the kids figure out the perfect dinner!note...this is fun...not necessarily healthy!!:-)

Hunter Dan...popcorn chicken(from the deli), bag of pork rinds(gross)
Me...(sorry folks no diet tonight)...popcorn chicken, fuze peach/mango drink, almond poppyseed piece of cake.
Bug...2 Jones sodas(cream soda), lunchable, flaming hot cheetos, ice cream bars
Lexlee...lunchable, countrytime strawberry lemonade, 2 kiwis, sweet tarts, ice cream bar
Jibbity...popcorn chicken, bug juice, smarties sucker, 2 strawberry juice pops
Ashie...she ate food from home

We then had a picnic in my bedroom, and watched our movies. Where the Red Fern Grows....not the original, but so cute. I cried and cried, yes I am a baby!!!! I didn't cry for the dogs dying, but for how heart-broken "Billy" was.(ya just look at things differently when you are a mom) Freaky Friday...funny and the kids loved watching all the "oldness" from this one. They laughed really hard!

It was a FUN day...

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ABC tag... my cutie niece tagged me for this...

A: Addiction: blogging
B: Breakfast(what you eat): honey nut cheerios(for diet) would prefer eggs benedict
C: Chocolate or Chips: Chips, I LOVE doritos!!!
D: Dessert or Appetizers : Appetizers
E: Essential Items: Make-up, and a bra(not pretty without one!!)
F: Favorite Color :Yellow
G: Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Gummy Worms
H: Hometown: Firth, Idaho
I: Indulgence: crafts, and shopping
J: January or July: July... I Love summertime!!
K: Kids: 4
L: Life isn't complete without: Family, and friends
M: Most exciting memory: when I was sealed in the temple to Hunter Dan, and the births of my babies
N: Number of Brothers and Sisters : 5 brothers, 1 sister
O: Oranges or Apples: Apples
P: Phobias or Fears: I am scared of the dark, tornadoes, and Bigfoot
Q: Quote: Christ is the center of our home, a guest at every meal, and a silent listener to every conversation.
R: Reading: anything good
S: Summer or Spring: Summer
T: Tag 6 people: anyone who wants to play along!!! Come join in!!
U: Unknown Fact About Me: I love to go camping, but pine trees really bother me, I'd rather camp in the quaking aspens. I am scared to death of night-time when camping...we sleep in a tent, and it terrifies me. Basically I am a chicken!!!
V: Vacation I want to go on: someplace on a gorgeous beach
W: Walking or Running: walking
X: X-Ray or Ultrasound: Always wanted a broken bone...never had one, have had x-rays though, it's hard to choose, they are both amazing with what they find out.
Y: Your favorite food: Pizza, and salsa(not together)
Z: Zoo or Bowling: either, they are both fun!!!

Have a great Saturday everyone...Hopefully Bug's soccer game won't be rained out!!

Spendin' the Day....

Just a quick post this morning, I am spending the day with my kiddos... ya know since I worked them to death(so they think) out in the yard, and cleaning the house this week. They are my world and the most amazing little people. It's hard to believe they are mine!(I never said they were perfect, or they don't drive me crazy sometimes, or make me want to pull my hair out)....they are after all still sleeping...so it's still quiet:-) Today will be a computer free day! A day for me and my little monsters. I will check back tonight after they are in bed, and try to get caught up with everyone!!! I love my bloggy friends, and am sooo very grateful for all the amazing women I have met through this outlet of mine, and for the wonderful comments that are left. Thanks to you all!!!!

A few pics and a pole....what is your favorite flower????

Have a Wonderful Friday!!!!

Totally Thankful Thursday and Lovin' the yard work!!!

I HEART THURSDAYS!!!!!!

Actually for a few reasons...TTT(totally thankful Thursday)which I love, it's getting super close to the weekend, which I also love, and this week Bug has a rescheduled soccer game. I wasn't able to go last Saturday because of the craft boutique, so I am anxious to watch him play. I know I'm his mom, but he is a really good soccer player!!!:-)

SO...being thankful!!!

1. beautiful, sunny days!!!(yesterday and Tuesday were gorgeous!!!)

2. yard work!!! Hated it growing up, love it now!

3. Ashie saying, "hi Mom",(in her cute little learning to talk voice) and waving when I walked outside where she was out with Hunter Dan.

4. deodorant...it was really hot in my house last night!!!(about 80 degrees at 10:00)

5. sirens...I hear them all the time at my house...grateful to know that there are police officers, firemen, and EMTs to protect us and care for us. We are so blessed!

*so glad too that they come really fast when you lock your baby, keys, purse(with the extra keys)in the car...right in front of the school playground, while 12 million kids are out at recess, and then get the joy of a police officer and fire truck coming to the rescue, while the cute little kids have their little faces pressed against the chain link fence. I was just at the school to support Bug for business day....Ashie was fine, and it wasn't hot or cold, but I was a little embarrassed!* Sometimes I forget my brain at home!

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We've been busy out in the yard!!!!

So...I got the polka dot flower pot idea from Kimm at reinvented. She has sooo many amazing ideas, and these flower pots were just so "happy"...I decided to do all of mine. Eight in the backyard, and the two big ones in the front. These are just old ones I had, and one of the ones in the front is missing a chunk from the top, but once the flowers are in, they cover the missing piece. I can't afford all new pots just to make them polka dotted.:-)

I did mine in four colors, red, yellow, green, and black. I love how they turned out...Hunter Dan says they look like clown outfits...that's o.k., clowns make me smile, and so do these pots!

It really is sad how something so silly can make you giddy!!:-)

This is my front door with all the daisy and happy(so glad winter is over...we hope) decor. Can't wait to plant some beauties in the pots.

A little closer view.

My kiddos were awesome yesterday helping to weed the flower beds....they helped soooo much!

Bug...he fell back into the wet dirt right as I was taking the pic.

Cutie girls, with their gardening gloves on.

We locked Ashie in the exersaucer...she is too wild to be let loose outside while we are trying to weed! She is too big for this, but it is the only thing she can't escape from!!!!

One of the front flower beds.

After we did the front we journeyed to the back, we got the back beds weeded, then the kids took a break on the trampoline with Ashie....she loved it!

They are smiling because they think they are done workin' for the day, HAHAHAHA...now we get to clean inside the house. :-)

Have a WONDERFUL Thursday!!!

Extreme Makeover -Me Eddition

Welcome to Extreme Makeover-Me Edition!!! The adorable Amber has this amazing support system going on over at her blog, if you're looking to lose weight, get healthy, or just meet some amazing bloggers, head on over and check it out!

Today's Question....

Share some of the music that you work out to. What helps you rock it!? What gets your blood pumpin?

Well, this is a hard one...actually anything with a fun, and fast beat! I was a drill team and a cheer coach for a few years and I love the music we used. If you can do a cheer comp routine to it, it definitely has a great beat! I can't think of anything specific except NKOTB...sorry folks I listen to them all the time!:) It's Xazmin's fault!!!! IF by some miracle my knees and feet can handle the elliptical, I watch t.v. (too many years of dancing and cheering ruined them both!) Maybe I am just old!

NOW....I am down a pound and a half....not too shabby!! Which is amazing because I am STARVING!!!! Not because I'm not eating well, or getting a good amount of calories...it's just one time a month I seem to be more ravenous than others......

My fridge seems to pull me in too! Shoot I don't have metal fillings though! BUT...the yummy,and healthy fruit will soon be coming in season, and I love me some cantaloupe!!!! I cut it all up into chunks, and put in the fridge. If I get a craving and it's not cut already...chances are....I won't take the time to cut it...and I'll eat ice cream instead.:-)

Last week...

*didn't exercise like I had hoped

*ate pretty good

*drank lots of water

This week...

*exercise, exercise, exercise!!!!!

*Crunches(not the chocolate ones) daily

*water galore

*good snacking

*try to stay positive

Thanks for the support!!!! I REALLY appreciate it!!! Have a great WeDnEsDaY!!!!!

And the Year was....

A few posts ago, was the prom photo tag, go here for the original post, and to see if those I tagged played along. Now for the answer....

Hubby's prom was 1986...

He was a junior at the time, and he didn't actually go to prom as a senior. He also grew up in a super small town in the four corners area! He has two different prom pics from this dance...two different girls....interesting!!!!

My prom was 1994...

"R" was a senior and I a junior. That was one of the funnest dates ever!!!

Just for fun...this is my prom 1995, as a senior.

Another HUGE dress...loved this one too, and also created by my mom!!

"R" came home from school...(Ricks College)to take me...this was just a little before he left on his mission and this date was very emotional...It was just before graduation(big class of around 68!!!) Just before R was leaving(we'd been together for quite a while by then), and life was just seeming a little more "real", if that makes any sense. Funny how these pictures can take me back to a certain time, bring back all the memories and make me realize how quickly life can change. I loved High School... I really did.. but being a wife and mother is the most amazing experience ever. I am grateful everyday that I have this "job" that I love more than anything!!!Who would have guessed that one year after graduation I would be married, and a year after that I would have my amazing little baby boy!!!

AWWW...each day goes by so quickly...I need to slow down and enjoy them more!!!!

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My kiddos have year-round school and are off-track for the next couple of weeks...the weather was beautiful yesterday 71 degrees and it's suppose to be even warmer today!!! Can you say...YARD WORK?! I love being out in the yard and am so excited to get out and dig in the dirt, get the flower beds cleaned up, and get my decor changed. Bug will be so excited when he finds out he "gets" to mow the lawn...best chore ever! I'll post some pics later on to show my front door area.

These are what are in bloom right now!!! Love my tulips!!!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!!!

Friend Makin' Monday!

Andrea over at My Chihuahua Bites! is hosting Friend Makin' Monday for Kasey from All that is Good. This week is right up my alley with YUMMY, YUMMY, YUMMY...hotties for FMM!!! If you want to join in, and see some "nice" eye-candy, head on over to Andrea's, learn the rules and link up!!

Who are your top five celebrity crushes? What celebrities make you drool? (only five...where will I stop?)

1.

My favorite NKOTB...Donnie Wahlberg...have ya seen this boy dance? Oh and have I mentioned I have a pillow with three different pics of him on it courtesy of Xazmin and last years Christmas present? My hubby doesn't mind though because the first night I had it, I went in the bedroom to find him sleeping on MY Donnie!!!

2.
An oldie, but a definite GOODIE!!!! You've gotten better with age my dear Sean Connery! Welcome to the list!

3.

What's better than a hot detective with a gun? Law and Order SVU...baby...Christopher Meloni...I rather enjoy watching you!

4.

Josh Holloway...(Sawyer)....why do I love the "bad boys"? I LOVE those dimples, and I don't mind seeing him running around on the beach without a shirt!

5.

Channing Tatum..."Step Up"... the best movie ever because of him! My Mom almost licked the screen when she saw him dancing!LOL Thanks Amy for introducing me to my boyfriend, and thanks Michelle and Alicia for staying up late in Idaho watching his movies with me. He's pretty dang cute in "She's the Man" too!

That was fun!! Thanks Andrea for hosting this most enjoyable FMM!!!! It was "kind of " a good subject to start my Monday.(Loved this!!!!!):-)

Hope everyone has a great Monday...(was this a short weekend or what?)

Lexlee killed our goldfish!!!!! ALMOST!

So...we have three goldfish. That's the sum total of our pets! Bug bought a fish at business day back in October, and the kids were so excited about this "one" pet that I thought..."just go get a couple more, then all of the kids will have a pet, and they will stop buggin' us for dogs and hamsters."

After a quick trip to Wal-mart we had a small tank, rocks, a shark to go in the tank, fish food, and two more fish(costing six cents each, my kind of pet!!!)

Oh how adorable(except the tank needs cleaned AGAIN!!!...so gross!)...meet Gil(Bug's), Pumpkin(Lexlee's), and Sparkles(Jibbity's). Awwwwww...not as cute as something furry and soft I know, but more Hunter Dan and I's style!!!

On to my story...Lexlee is the tank cleaner. She does a really good job, she takes her time, and makes sure the little home for our pets is perfectly clean! This is a weekly chore of hers, it stinks....seriously stinks soooo bad! I have actually cleaned it a couple of times too, but I have to tie a towel around my nose, and try not to throw-up. YUCK!!!! So last Wednesday I asked miss Lexlee to get the tank cleaned...she went in the kitchen, set up her "fish tank cleaning equipment" and got to work. She of course removes the fishies, and scrubs everything. After a while she calls me into the kitchen saying..."Mom one of the fish are floating on it's side, and the others aren't swimming!" I walked in looked in the tank and I thought..."what the krump?" How do three fish die in a matter of a few minutes! Poor little things were gulping for air, one was at the top on it's side and I looked at Lexlee, and said "honey, I think they are all dead." You'd think she'd have started to cry, but a little side story....a couple of months ago her first fish died...instead of crying she was more than willing to be the one to flush it down the toilet...AND she thought it was cool...what?...keep in mind this is my super sweet, and sensitive daughter. Anyway...Lexlee said, "they were alive and swimming around before I put them in." I pulled the tank closer, and to my surprise the tank felt warm. I thought it was from just being cleaned, but when I opened the lid and felt the water....holy smokes...she was trying to cook them!!!! I guess when she had felt the water before she put it in the tank, it felt just right....while it was running in it continued to get warmer, and she didn't realize it. "Well they're dead"...I thought, but I filled a bowl with cool water, and scooped the fish into it...MIRACLE!!!!!! They started swimming around and were so happy that one jumped right out onto the counter..."get it Lexlee" I screamed...she grabbed it put it in the bowl just as another one jumped out...

HALLELUJAH...they were alive and had become circus performers too! She quickly grabbed it and put it back in and covered the bowl with her hands....they were alive and better then ever!!!! After I re-filled the tank with cool water, and we poured the little fish back in, they were perfectly fine! Poor little things had gone into shock. Now all is fine. What a crazy minute, and I think I will supervise a little bit better when she puts the water in....

Check out these ways to keep your fish....
Key chain?

Jibbity wants this one!!!

That's just weird...but kind of cool?

Maybe someday I'll share the story of how on the very same evening Jibbity dropped my nice CTR ring in the toilet while she was wiping her buns...it fell in with the poo. That was fun....I probably won't gross anyone out with that one though....

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*Took Ashie into kidscare last night she has Thrush...always something going on!!!

Have a great Sunday...I will be staying home from church.. again! Maybe someday everyone will be healthy!!!:-)