My Cousin's Cookbook

So, my cousin - Nanette (that does like to cook) has started a blog called My Cousin's Cookbook. She has invited me to add recipes to her blog. So, anyone that is interested in some new recipes should definitely check it out (it is one of my blog links). There are not many recipes now, but it is growing and I can promise you that any recipe I add will be YUMMY!! Remember - I don't like to cook, so the recipes I do have and take the time to make are sooo yummy, and don't worry about not having the right ingredients for them - if I have it, you are sure to have it...remember I don't like to cook, so I don't own alot of cooking supplies!!!

Anniversary Trip

Ryan and I went on a little trip for our "Big" anniversary this year. We wanted to go somewhere warm but didn't want to pay the VERY expensive plane ticket prices because we had to go over a weekend. So - we got in his truck and drove to St. George. We had to drive almost all the way to St. George before we finally got to where it was warm enough that there was no snow. We had such a good time. We stopped at Temple Square in SLC to watch the Joseph Smith movie. It was very good. We got to see the St. George, Provo, Timpanogas and Draper temples. We went shopping at every outlet, kids store and Pawn shop (not my idea - my husband LOVES guns) along the way. It was a very long drive, but so worth it. I was able to get alot of clothes for my kids for next year at school on the clearance racks (I'm a bargain shopper) and we also brought the kids each home a few fun things.

Excuse her hair please...We brought Laiklie home a cute little purse full of all the things that little girls love, but of course she found this swimsuit in the pile of clothes I got on the clearance racks and she has worn it non-stop. She has slept in it and worn it day after day. It is definitely a St. George trip favorite.
Dallin and Rhett got coon-skin hats. They have wanted them forever - they beg and plead everytime we go into Sportsmans Warehouse, but I have never wanted to pay the money to get them. Cabela's however had them for $4.99. That is my kind of price. Dallin especially loves his. He too has slept in it and even asked to wear it to school the other day. Of course he chickened out as the bus pulled up, but when he is at home it is on his head.

Oakley got a Hannah Montana hair coloring system. It works pretty good, but sure makes her hair feel gross after we use it. Next time we try it I will take some pictures to post.

My Little Bread Maker

Ryan bought me this bread maker for Christmas and whenever I pull it out this cute little bread maker on the right climbs up on the cupboard to help. She loves to watch it spin the bread. The cutest picture of her peeking in the window wouldn't rotate again, so I didn't post it.:( The bottom picture is her feeling it vibrate on her cheek. She will sit by it for almost a full hour just peeking in the window and feeling it vibrate. She is so funny!!

It's Official...

It is finally official - My best friend Shellee is gone. Last night just after midnight she boarded an airplane with her husband and her four beautiful children and flew across the country to her new home. I have cried alot of tears over the past weeks when I realized that ignoring the fact that she was moving wasn't going to keep her here. When Ryan and I first moved here 9 1/2 years ago Shellee was the very first person that took me in. I was her counselor in Primary for 2 years and then her counselor in YW for 3 years and then she was the primary pianist and I was the choirister for 2 years until the wards split. I cried then too. Shellee has been the one who has gotten me through the good and the bad times. She cried with me when I had my miscarriage and she cried with me when Oakley was diagnosed. She is the one that repelled down the mountain at girls camp right by my side - as scared as I was. She is the one that I would call to ask one quick question and we would talk for hours and not even realize it. I have no idea how I am going to survive without her. She just seemed to know when I needed her.

So Shellee - where ever you are...I am going to miss you like crazy!! Thanks for everything!

We Made It!!

10 YEARS - We made it!! WAHOO!! 10 Years ago today Ryan and I were married for time and all eternity!! I can't believe it has been 10 years!! What amazes me more is that who would have guessed that I could like the same boy for 10 whole years. : )

We have definitely changed over the years. It is amazing what braces and a few highlights can do for you. I was surprised looking back at the pictures as to how we really looked. Ryan was so cute!! He looked like such a little boy. Me on the other hand, I was a little questionable. I am just lucky he thought I was cute!!

So, since it is our 10 year anniversary I thought I would make a "Top Ten" list of the things I love about Ryan - not in any particular order:

1. He constantly tells me that he loves me. He very rarely leaves with out telling me.

2. He always tells me that I am pretty, and beautiful etc. even when I know full well I look like trash!

3. He is such a funny dad. He will complain all day about how bad his back hurts then get down on the floor to wrestle with his kids???

4. He never questions me as to where or what I have spent his money on. I don't know that he has ever asked me how much something cost.

5. He loves to take us with him when he is out working - whether it is in the tractor or to the ranch.

6. He works so hard to provide for us and is so good at what he does. The old men in the ward are constantly commenting to me about how they would give their right and left leg to be able to grow crops and cows the way Ryan does.

7. He will eat anything I make and never complain. Let me remind you that I HATE to cook - I have made some interesting stuff over the years.

8. He loves to stay up late and watch TV with me. He will even let me watch What Not to Wear and Jon and Kate Plus 8 and pretends to enjoy it!

9. He is worthy to take me to the temple today just as he was when we got married - plus he is a worthy priesthood holder. What a blessing that is in its self.

10. I think he loves me just about as much as I LOVE HIM!!


So, I am sure you are asking yourself "What does such an amazing husband buy his bride of 10 years for their anniversary?" ...He took my wedding ring in which when he took it consisted of one band with my big diamond on it and one band with 5 smaller diamonds on it and had the jewelry man make me a third band that matches the band with 5 smaller diamonds to go on the otherside of the ring. (Are you all confused yet??) It is BEAUTIFUL!! I tried to take a picture to show everyone - but the diamonds are to glary!! (If glary is a word) So just trust me on this one - he did a great job surprising me with it!! Thank you Ry!!


P.S. Note that my playlist song is "ME and RYAN'S" song from when we were dating! Aerosmiths version isn't quite as good as Ryan's version, but I know full well he won't be sharing that with any of you anytime soon.: )

Happy Valentines Day!!

My friend has a blog connection on her blog called "Piggies and Ponies" and it is just a blog made by some moms of their girls hair-do's. It always has the best ideas. I saw this one on there yesterday and decided to try it out on Oakley this morning. They had the ends different than braids, but I thought braids worked. I know I am not the worlds best hair fixer, but I guess I am not the worlds worst either. I think it turned out okay!

This is my children wishing all of you a Happy Valentines Day in their new Valentines shirts. I know Oakley has a silly grin on and it is because crazy Dallin wouldn't stop cracking jokes. What a clown.

Sleeping Habits

This is Laiklies new sleeping habit. She all-of-the-sudden thinks that she needs to sleep in mom and dads bed. I do NOT allow my kids to sleep in my bed and never have unless dad is gone or they are sick. There were a few nights I slept on Oakley's floor as a little girl because of this rule and Dallin never wanted to sleep anywhere but his own bed. Rhett use to sneak into our bed once in a while, but when I woke-up enough to realize he was there he was usually asleep enough that I would take him back to his own bed. Laiklie on the other hand has been more of a fight. She has been sleeping through the night for a long time now until just lately, and the first couple nights that she woke-up I gave her milk and put her back into her bed, but now she has learned to open her door and I can't get her to stay in her bed once she has woke up. Truthfully I think I am also getting too old for this and give into her much more than I use to give into Oakley. AHHH!! I guess the lucky thing is she will usually sleep in her own room until atleast 5:30 am so she isn't in my bed very long, but look how much room she leaves me - and this was a good day!!: ) I am just looking to see if anyone else has a kid similar to her and wondering what do you do about it?