Where's have I been???

I do apologize to my faithful blog stalkers. I haven't been around lately. That's because I really haven't been around. We spent spring break in Moab with my family. Then we spent the next weekend...in Moab. With Jeff's family.

And now.... I am heading off to CALIFORNIA for a girl's trip.

I'm off to see the WIZARD!!!
Report to follow. Wish Jeff well -he's on his own!

Happy Birthday Princess!

Our sweet and saucy little princess turned THREE this week. I never knew what a girl was until I met Juliana! I have to be honest, I never imagined I would raise such a princess (I was NEVER like this) but I LOVE it! She brings such a smile to my face with the things she wears, says and does. I was so blessed to deliver her in Mexico. She was the most beautiful baby with her pink skin - the entire hospital personnel came to see her! She has many friends across boundaries. Our Mexican friends claim her as their own, although I have yet to see a Mexican with so little hair! She is truly our little angel with a kick of personality. She named herself Ya Ya about a year ago - and the name stuck. How funny that both names fit her little prissy personality so perfectly!
WE LOVE OUR YA YA!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!

This was her invitation (now, Jamie, THIS is simple! ;-) HAHA!)
The party was originally planned for Monday, but I came down with Dysentery, the plague and the flu. Since I couldn't function properly with my little "problem", I had to reschedule.

The cute little princesses. Don't you just LOVE this age??!

All decked out in her jewels and hair bows.

Our sweet little princess waiting to blow out her candle

Yep, even princesses get a little frosting on their face!

HAHA!! This is Austin's "cheese." He is so darn funny.

Aunt Karalee and Austin were soooo helpful - they came to "up do" all the little Princesses hair. Aunt Karalee is ALWAYS helpful at my parties. I don't know where I would be without her. Well, yeah I do. I would still be in my jammies, the cupcakes not finished and the house a mess. She steps in and finishes it all.

Here is us in our little princess attire. Except Addy. She ruined her clothes with food.

Juliana was soooo cute opening all of her gifts. She exclaimed, "I always needed one of these!" Yeah, like we need MORE princess jewelry...

Raimee, Juilana's best friend and my personal favorite (can I say that??) helped Juliana by opening all of her gifts. She's quite a crackup - so much personality in such a little body. These two either love each other or hate each other...

A little of this and that...

APRIL FOOLS!!

I Love this day. I really do. Unfortunately, I have "got" my family so many times that I am out of tricks. I can't even call them in the morning without a "We already know it's April Fools." I try - every year I try. I just need to plan better now and start thinking of NEXT years trick!
But that's ok - because now I have children...a whole new generation of gullible ginnea-pigs! And it doesn't take much planning. I found this recipe in the Family Fun magazine - a "chocolate" pie with "Berry whipped cream". I know, I know, the "berry" whipped cream doesn't look berry because the recipe called for beets. I hate beets. So I just did potatoes. And I added vegetables because I couldn't fathom the idea of eating dinner without some nutrients!


So I created this little masterpiece:

I brought it to the table and dished it out...
Me: "oh look everyone! We are eating PIE for dinner."
Jake: "That looks gross."
Jeff: "What did you put in it? I won't touch it until you eat it. Is there liver in here or something? Why are you smiling?" (He's been tricked one too many times!)
Juliana: "Ummmm...pie. I love pie!"

So I dished it up and watched everyone dig in. Not everyone is a fan of "chocolate" pie at our house.

"Disgusting...Eww!"
He. He. Got em!

For the original recipe, click here...

I will now take the time to tell how I WAS HAD!! I received a text from my brother Scott. He is applying for his MBA and we are waiting to hear where he will be going to school in the fall. He texts me to tell me he is going to Brazil for school.

Yeah right. Texting goes back and forth for SEVERAL hours. He starts to get me - maybe, just maybe this isn't a joke. Then I get a phone call from my dad, brother and sister-in-law. What put me over the edge was a written letter from the school itself addressed to my brother. He emailed it to me for "proof." Then I was all bummed out - I would miss him!

10 hours after the original text, I believe him. Then I got the signature "April Fools." Man, they got me. Took a LOT of work, a LOT of help and a LOT of time - but I eventually gave in. Anyone putting forth that much effort receives the April Fools Day Award...so there you go Scott!

And now for a funny story about my brother Ryan.

He's on a mission in California...
For those that know, my brother is a product of Springville High. Which, apparently, has gone downhill. The public school system failed him - he's a terrible writer. (Or he failed the public school system...we aren't sure which.) Anyway, I have corrected his spelling and grammar where possible...


"Last week we had companionship inventory, and like my companion asked me if there is anything that he could do to become better or things that he could improve on, so I give him some tips on door knocking.

Then I am like what about me?? He sits there for a little bit then looks at me and says, You know, when you sing you are off key, I just look at him and laugh, then was like are you serious?!?!? AND HE WAS!!! ha ha, so i ask him if i am off key during church (you know, cause thats what i am thinking) but then he tells me, no when you are singing in the car and walking around!!! HA ha ha ha, i am like oh ok, then he offers that he will teach me with the key board how to become on key, so I spent the next 15 mins trying to match a key. man, i was laughing soooo bad, it was really funny!!!"

Ryan LOVES to sing - not in public or anything, just sing. He walks around singing, sings in the shower, sings while working etc. I thought this story was hysterical and worth sharing.

Videos of the Big Party

I admit, this video is a little long...but I think my baby is a star! It took her awhile to dig in to her cake, but once she figured it out, there was no stopping her! Of course, Austin helped out a lot - she showed her how it works!


Daren eating our scrumptious meal.



And finally, the pig pen...

Adalyn's Barnyard Baa-sh!

Happy Birthday Addy! I CAN NOT believe she is one! WHERE DID THIS YEAR GO??

We decided to do a "Barnyard" theme to celebrate the big ONE. My cousin Jamie did one for her daughter Ashlyn. She claimed it was "easy." Hours into this party, I realized that Jamie's definition and my definition of easy are two very different things! Doesn't matter now, the party was wonderful. We had all of our family and friends there to celebrate. Addy was certainly the princess of the barnyard! She was unsure what all the commotion was about, but quickly adapted like she does everyday!

We served pigs in a blanket, chips, potato salad, beans and a spinach salad. We also served Jamie's yummy limeade punch.

Most people complied with the barnyard best request.

Papa and Austin in their barnyard best!

Here are the crafters making our cute Sheep Craft (found below)

This is what happens when you add clothesline clips, crafts and boys.

Meanwhile, the rest of the crew were playing in the "pig pen"!

Dad and Daren in their cowboy attire.

She's a little unsure what to do...

Ummm.. that tastes yummy.

Cousins Austin shows her how it's supposed to work. He would know because he's one already.

Ohhh! That's how it works! I think I will go at it!

Here she is just a'diggin in!

Cool Cow balloons I found online - then I checked Partyland...and they were much cheaper.

Cute piggy nose craft made from egg cartons, pink paint and stretchy cord.

Adalyn LOVED her new baby from Mimi and Papa

This is the cute invitation inspired by Jamie...

Of course, the cupcakes came from Jamie too. The nose is a strawberry marshmellow, the eyes are chocolate chips, and the nose is mini chocolate chips. The ears are wafer cookies. Now, I would agree with Jamie - these really were "simple."

Here is the "cute" sheep craft. Doesn't look at all like what the website said it should, but they all had fun making it. This particular sheep is Jake's. He said his was doing the splits. Apparently all that stretching caused his nose to fall off...