Eleven and Counting

This ... Has led to this ....

Today is our Eleventh Anniversary! Happy Anniversary, Babe! It was a beautiful and happy day eleven years ago and all these years and four kids later, it is still a beautiful day! I love you!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

This morning we joined our ward for a great breakfast with Santa. It was a great party with wonderful decorations, good food, and a visit from the jolly old man himself.

I can hardly believe how fast the Christmas Season has come! It won't be long now before this jolly old man visits our homes on Christmas morning! I love the magic sparkle that he brings to the kids and can't wait to join family for this magical day!! Taylee and Tydon both know exactly what they want after weeks of coaching and prodding!!
They are getting to old to just get away with a few simple toys ... they think way to big and expensive now!

Taylee is hoping for a cell phone! (Heath and I informed her that Santa can't bring presents that cost mom and dad money all year long ... she is only eight.) Tydon is determined to get a $100.00 dollar lego set. He is very specific with the price and doesn't really care which lego set he gets. Funny Kid!

Kamdon was a little hesitant, but then jumped up on Santa's lap and told him exactly what he wants! When I asked him what he told Santa to bring him, he told me , " Game ... MY OWN." He means his very own Nintendo DS! (What am I thinking, this kid is only 2 and already thinks expensive ... he has older siblings)

Kyler loved Santa's beard. In fact he pulled so hard, I could see a worried look in Santa's face as he leaned toward the pull so he didn't have any accidents!

Kyler's first visit with Santa! Thank goodness Kyler doesn't have a long list this year. His brothers and sisters lists are breaking Santa's Bank Account!

Merry Christmas To All!

Recipe Extravangza #2 (I'm so behind)

Delicious Pumpkin Cookies (our Fall Favorite ) 1 & 1/2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup pumpkin (canned)

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 & 1/2 cups flour
Mix and add Chocolate Chips

Bake on 400 degrees for 10 minutes.!

It Was A Special Day

I can hardly believe that it has been eight years since I held my sweet Taylee in my arms. She is such a joy to our family. She keeps life "LOUD" and exciting! We are so proud of her decision to be baptized. What a great example she is to her younger brothers. It was a very special day for our family!

Taylee and Heath

Our Special Girl with Some of Her Special Guests at her Baptism Lunch! (Notice the doll in every picture. Taylee loves the porcelain doll in HER blessing dress that Grandma Sandy made her for her special day ... she wanted "Baby Taylee" in every picture we took)

We are so greatful for such wonderful Family! Thanks for your love and support, you all helped make this day perfect for our princess!

Santa was Green

Taylee and Tydon performed in a school program called "Santa Goes Green" last week. The kids worked hard and were so excited to be "on display" for a room full of people. Little did they know that they would get to perform the program twice since there were so many people excited to come and watch the kids. This is like playing where's waldo ... WHERE'S TYDON???

(This was our great view from the second to last row!)

Hint: He is on the first row wearing a white shirt and a black scarf ... hee hee ... good luck!

WHERE'S TAYLEE???

Hint: She is also on the first row .. on the end wearing green and white stripes.

These two photo's are for you Somer and Chiara! If you were like us, with such "great" seats, none of your photo's turned out great! Here are a couple of shots we captured of your little elves!

Very Thankful

We have so much to be thankful for! We are especially grateful for our wonderful family, Heath's awesome job, a roof over our heads, and our beautiful children!! We are very blessed!

We celebrated Dad's Birthday on Thanksgiving evening! Happy Birthday Dad!

We had an "nontraditional" Thanksgiving this year. Our family along with Pa Pa, Ma Ma, Chad, Jess, and Grandma Kiesling all joined Little America for the Thanksgiving Brunch Buffet. It was Delicious and made the cooking and cleaning up a breeze.

We made sugar cookies the night before Turkey Day! Kamdon loved the pumpkin decorations!

Happy Turkey Day to you all!

Holiday Extravaganza Recipe #1

Thanksgiving Always Brings Cravings for Desserts made with Pumpkin! Try this delicious

PUMPKIN CRUNCH
15 oz canned pumpkin

12 oz evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 & 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1 box yellow cake

1/2 cup chopped pecans if desired

1 cup butter, melted

garnish with whip cream, cool whip, or vanilla ice cream

Combine 1st six ingredients. Pour into a greased 9 X 13 pan. Sprinkle evenly with yellow cake dry cake mix and top with pecans (if desired). Drizzle the top with melted butter. Bake on 350 for 50 to 55 minutes. Top will be golden brown. Can serve warm or cool. Enjoy!

Holiday Recipe Extravaganza

My good friend is hosting a holiday recipe extravaganza on her blog! I will be posting a recipe each week as part of this great idea. If you would like to play, get involved, or just get some great idea's and recipes go to http://shellyabrown.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/its-time.html. Follow her directions and join the fun!!

We've been up too ...

Remember a couple of months ago when I posted, "What's Two More"?? Well, I have gotten into the swing of watching a couple of extra kids. Don't get me wrong, I am not super woman. I have decided that this is not an easy job, my house is a lot more messy, I don't have much time on my hands, I am more tired ... I haven't gotten a nap since that very first post and when the kids are finally in bed I stay up all hours doing everything else I didn't accomplish from earlier, and I am so greatful for the extra money. These two, TWO year olds keep me hopping. The other day they put their artwork all over the walls. Thankgoodness it was washable marker and they - yes, I made them scrub - cleaned it right up!! They really are pretty good kids!!

Taylee and Tydon have both been "under the weather". Tay has a barking cough that can be heard a mile away and Tydon stayed home from school with a sore throat. Taylee has been filling our days and nights with treatment after treatment. I took her picture cause it reminds me of the good old days when I would spend my days and night keeping my parents up! My dad and I spent many hours and hours outside on the stairs trying to calm my barking! Love you Dad!

I have had an upset stomach all day today and kind of been feeling a little teary, so I turned on the Christmas Music and took pictures of these two cute little fella's ... they make me smile!

Just Like Grandma

Tonight Taylee helped herself to a Diet Coke from the fridge and then jumped into the bath. She washed, drank her coke and played for awhile. When she was done, she hopped out, giggled, and said, "Mom, I drank my diet coke in the bath, ... just like Grandma." This crazy girl sure keeps life funny!

If you love quilts ...

If you love fabric, quilts, quilt patterns, or giveaways ... go and check out this talented girl!! She is my sisters really good friend ( I like to claim her friendship too)! She is so talented! Visit her at http://camilleroskelley.typepad.com/simplify

Happy Birthday to our Princess

The time just flys by ...

Our Princess today ...

We opened her presents before we went to church today. When we asked Taylee what she wanted for her birthday, she told us to take piano lessons and a Piano. Well, she didn't get the piano today, but she is saving all of her money that she did get so we can keep looking for the perfect used piano. (ANYBODY Have a Piano for Sale??) Birthday girl (thanks for the cute dress Ma Ma and Pa Pa ... she looked so

cute at church today)with her cute brothers.

Dinner Fit for a Princess ? Taylee was very specific about what she wanted me to fix for dinner, after I told her that her birthday was on a Sunday and that we were NOT going to Little America Brunch or the Melting Pot.

Marshmello Cake Birthday Cake ... don't ask me why she choose this cake. I don't think she had ever even had this cake, but this is what she wanted and did enjoy it.

Make a WISH Happy 8th Birthday to our Princess!