BOOOOOOOO!

Ok, update on Dave's Lasik Contest. 

He did not win.  We were expecting him to win with the other, um.... videos in his category. 

BUT no big deal.  He will get it sooner rather than later :)

Thank you to those that voted for him.

OUR Thanksgiving

Last year we had Thanksgiving at Al and Diann's house.  It was very nice and A LOT of work for them.  This year they were going to one of Diann's kids' house.  SO.... Dave and I decided to host it with Karalee and Sean and their boys and Abuela. 

(Dave had to come in to help me take the turkey out of the oven to check the temperature.  

Every time he would say, "I cannot believe how big this thing is!" 

That is the biggest pan I have and the bird was touching the ends of the pan and literally hanging out off the pan!)

I was VERY nervous about making a nice dinner for all of us.  We all have things that we love to eat for thanksgiving and I did not want to disappoint.  I made a menu plan and went with it.  It included turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, sweet potatoes, corn bread stuffing, Karen's raspberry jello, cranberries and rolls.  I did most of the cooking the day before. 

Karalee's friend, Spencer Stokes, brought us a turkey that was SO big.  This turkey was bigger than Milli!  It was THIRTY-TWO POUNDS.  I could not believe its size when I saw it.  My fear of making a lovely thanksgiving feast became worse than before.  I researched and researched how to cook such a giant bird and NOWHERE did I find cooking times for a 32lb turkey.  However, I knew it was going to have to cook for a long time.  I woke up at 3am and put the turkey on a low 275 and cooked it like that for TEN HOURS, yes TEN HOURS! Then I uncovered it and cooked it for an additional 2.5hours on 375.  It was juicy and SO pretty.  I gave it lots of TLC.  I massaged it with 4 cubes of butter, thyme, rosemary, basil and parsley.  I also spread the butter under the birds skin.  It was so fragrant....mmmmm! 

 (You MUST try the Corn Bread Stuffing by THE Pioneer Woman, its delicious!)

When our guests arrived we finished the last few things and got to eating.  We only ate 1/4 of ONE breast!  Needless to say we will be eating turkey for a very long time.

(The adult table.  Leah was invited to be part of it since the kid table only seats four :))

 (The kid table) 

 

We had such a great time with the Skamnes Family!  We chit chatted, played sequence, chit chatted some more, laughed (A LOT), ate some pie and it was fantastic! The kids played so nicely together and I was sad to see them go. 

T-Day 2010 was a wonderful success... a little stressful, but successful!

Uboldi "Thanksgiving"

Marcos and Maria hosted our Uboldi Thanksgiving.  It was wonderful!  Maria made cute little eatable pilgrim hats, I had several :), super cute and super tasty.  The kids wore Native American "hats" and later put a little play of some sort for us.  The kids played very good for the most part and the adults just chit chatted and ate peacefully (while the kids played).  

Marcos read a story about the first Thanksgiving, it was nice.  Then we filled a "thankful tree" with the things we were thankful for.  The kids all said they were thankful for each other.  It was very sweet.  It was a late night, but worth the very tired kids.

As we left I felt and overwhelming sense of love my the family that I belong to.  I love the holidays for that reason alone.

Thank you Marcos and Maria for the lovely evening!

Friends

This picture was taken while at Leah's family b-day dinner.  I showed it to Milli and asked her, "Who's that?"  With a big smile she said, in her cute voice, "They Friendsssss!"

This child loves her mom and her mom loves her :)  It was the sweetest thing ever!!!

FRIENDS.FOR.EVER

(I hope that is the case :))

Cold weather, Warm Dinner

Chicken and Corn Soup

Click HERE for recipe

Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup

Click HERE for recipe

I just purchased a new recipe book at Costco.  I love it!  Every recipe is done with in 30 mins.  plus it give you ideas on how to make it into a meal, by adding a salad or a quesadilla for the above soups.  We have loved them both.  Both very easy.  With the cooler temperatures a nice warm soup for dinner is welcomed by most :)  Leah loved both of these soups as well.  She has become a great eater.  Mylo and Milli didn't love the "green" soup.  But, I feel a renewed desire to cook for my family again... Dave's prayers answered :)

ZZZZZZZZ....

Milli has been up since THREE this morning.  She just barely fell asleep, thank goodness!

She has been battling a cold of some sort since she got her flu shot last week, but I think it is not related anymore.  She has been coughing SO much that she also threw up a few minutes ago.  She has got to be wiped out!

But in a more positive note, she has been 100% successful with her potty training today!  YAY Milli!!!

I am a Child of God

Picture found @ Desertebook.com

 

We have FHE on Sunday night, most of the time, because the week just gets too crazy.  Last night I was really touched by our opening song, "I am a Child of God".  I have sang this song more times than I can count.  This is my "comfort" song,  I sing it when I am scared at night (I am afraid of the dark, always have been and always will be).

 Last night, this song meant something different for some reason.  It reminded me of my worth.  I AM a Child of God!  He sent me here.  He gave me an earthly home with parents, friends and a little family of my own who are kind and loving to me.  He does lead me and guide me and walks beside me, sometimes, when life is hard he even carries me! 

I felt His loving arms around me as we sang that song and as we prayed and read our scriptures.  The love I feel from my Father in Heaven is marvelous!

When I was in YW and we would repeate the Young Women theme, I felt of my Heavenly Fathers love too.  I am a daughter of my Heaven Father, who LOVES me and I love Him!

I am SO grateful for the church that I belong to and for the joy and guidance that it brings me!  I AM a Child of God.  He loves me!

Oti's Update

Otis is as sweet and calm and peaceful as ever.  He rolls over from back to belly and few times (yesterday) from belly to back.  I really hate to see him grow up.  I want him to stay little.  He is cuddly and squishy.  I love to cuddle with him after a nap or after nursing.  I love his baby smell and I wish I could just hold him under my nose all day.... I love him!

I took him for his baby well check visit on Monday and he is growing just prefectly.

Weight:  14.5 lbs  (50%)
Height:   25 1/4in (75%)  who knew?!?!?
Head:     17 1/4in (75%)

Dr. Coombs said he wanted to keep him (He also said that about my other kids.  I am sure that is just what he says to all of the babies).  He asked Mylo if he could take him home and Mylo said No! Dr. Coombs told Otis he looked a lot like Mylo.  Then mentioned their big eyes an their dark hair.  Then he looked at Milli and said "are you adopted?" giggle giggle.  I thought it was funny, but I quickly assured him that she is ALL mine!  He also said Otis is doing great and to keep doing what I am doing.  Easy enough! 

Otis loooooove to talk to us and laughs all the time.  He is on a great schedule but has been wanting to eat at night.  I will blame it on my dt. coke drinking habits and I am not sure if I want to give that up or have a good night sleep.  For now I take every chance I get to feed him and to baby him. 

Otis is a dream to have around.  SO thankful to have him in our family!

Good-Bye!!!!

Its is hard to believe that a year ago this very week Ashley and I opened our Shabby Band Design Business together.  Today I said Good-Bye to one of my dearest friends.  A few years ago when I first saw her, with her spikey hair, I thought she was a visiting home from college.  I would never had realized that this spikey-haired girl was going to be my "partner" or better yet such an amazing friend.  Through our business, which we loved together, we became great friends.  We spent many late night finishing 400+ Shabbies laughing, crying and supporting each other through our parents divorce.  Turns out we had a lot more in common than we ever thought. I will miss her terribly but I know this is not the last time!  We have shed tears, laughs, girls camp, runs, and dinners (thx shabby bands) together.  We have partied like "teenage girls" and I cherish the memories we have made.  We have had a great group of ladies in our ward and there will now be a huge part missing from it (I mean that figuratively, not literally :)).  It has been a blast having Ashley as part of my life. 

London is lucky to have them!  It has been a privileged and a blessing to have known the Talbot family. 

BON VOYAGE! 

See you soon!!!!! 

FOR REAL NOW.... Please vote!

So Dave is one of six finalist in his "division" for FREE Lasik Eye Surgery. YAY!!!

The videos were hard and slow to view last time, but it is not the case this time.  Please vote for him!

You will have to vote for the other "divisions" as well, but its fairly easy.

Dave is under the "Serious - My Eyes - Hoopes Vision" 

HE NEEDS YOUR VOTES!!!! 

Click HERE to vote. 

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

You don't need to be on Facebook to vote for this one :)

Otis + Friends

Rockwell, Otis and Marissa

How cute are they?!?!?  

Pastafrola with Abuela

Abuela spent Sunday with us.  It was great.  We just chilled, watched t.v., had left overs from Leah's baptism celebration and made yummy Pastafrola.  Its an Argentine Cake/pastry.  I love it and its been forever since we had some. 

The kids 'helped' Abuela by adding the ingredients and rolling out the dough into 'long snakes' that would go around the Pastafrola.

Leah made most of the 'snakes'.  Then the kids did some fine decorations for the top of the Pastafrola.  Leah made an L for herself, a flower for Milli and an O for Otis.  Mylo made his name out of the dough.

Abuela is a pro at making Pastafrola.  Plus, she is very sweet and patient with the kids, I need to learn form her!

The end result :)  Its half gone already and only Abuela and I have been eating it.  :)

Pastafrola

Ingredients:

600 grams flour
200 grams sugar
200 grams butter
4     eggs
1     tbsp baking powder
1     tsp vanilla
1     can Quince Jelly (melted)

Directions:

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and butter.

Add eggs and vanilla and form a dough.

Place 1/2 of the dough in a GREASED 9X13 pan, pressing so the dough forms a lip around the edges.

Pour melted Quince Jelly of top and spread over dough, leaving 1/2 inch exposed.

With remaining dough from a laddis and place on top or Quince Jelly.  Make a long strip to decorate and finish the edges of the cake.

Bake @350 for 40-50 minutes.

Notes: I use a scale to measure out my ingredients.  The dough is very easy to work with.  Once baked the cake is pretty dry, its not a regular cake.  We like to enjoy it with Mate (aka. Argentine Herbal Tea).
Source:  Abuela :)

Leah gets Baptized

Leah choose to be baptized and nothing could make Dave or I happier!  Leah is a very special girl and she has been wanting to take this very important step for a VERY long time.  We are proud of her decision and we know she understands the covenant she has made with our Father in Heaven. 

The day of her baptism was really wonderful.  The house was clean and ready for our guests.  The kids were well behaved and kind to each other.... the odd were on our side!!!  :) 

Leah and Dave have had an amazing bond since she became part of our family.  They are like two peas in a pod and understand each other.  Their friendship has only become stronger through this experience.

My sweet big girl with her two siblings, Otis was sleeping inside the chapel :) Leah is a great example to her siblings.  I know she loves them and wants them to choose the right, perhaps that is why she gets frustrated when they don't listen to her ;)

What a wonderful program was put together!  The kids that were getting baptized that day sang a song and we had a wonderful speaker.  Some of the things that stood out to me, and I hope Leah will remember, was that those that were there were pleased with her choice to get baptized, but there were others there that we could not see that were also there.  Those that have gone before us were also pleased with her choice.  The speaker spoke about the Holy Ghost and that he is a comforter, I hope and pray that Leah will find comfort in having the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  I know it will be a huge blessing in her life.

While Dave was giving Leah a blessing, I took a look at this beautiful daughter that Heavenly Father has blessed us with.  Her eyes were red and filled with tears.  We looked at each other for a split second and together we knew that what she was experiencing was the Spirit testifying to her of the truthfulness of this true gospel! 

After a long week, this was the BEST way to end the week.  We love Leah more than words could express.  Her example and young testimony strengthen my testimony.  I feel honored and blessed to have her in my life!

Daddy-Daughter Western Jamboree

I have the privelege of being a Faith In God co-leader with a Kristin Johnson in our ward (that was a mouth full, sorry).  I love this calling!  I love working with Kristin and I have enjoyed being with the girls. 

We had a Daddy-Daughter Western Jamboree Night to recognize the girls and their progress and accomplishments since they started this program.  We had a GREAT night!  Kristin did all the decorations with some fun center pieces, country table clothes and pie tins to eat out off.  We had pulled pork sandwiches, corn, bbq beans, coleslaw, potato chips and for desert we had apple pie with ice cream.  Everything was super tasty!

We made a jail and had the Dads and Daughters take pictures in it.  I love this picture of Brother Campbell and his girls, Clara and Olivia.  He looks like he is pretty sad to be there ;)

It was really fun to see so many people dressed up in their Cowboy Garb.  I was shocked to see Dave also participate, I guess he will do whatever to make Miss Leah happy, and she was!

We played games that included three legged races, 

or a four-legged race if you are in the Campbell Klan :), 

Potato jog where they had to "jog" with a potato in between their legs and run, it was comical, 

and a wheelbarrow race.  At the end of each game or race they had to yell "YeHAAAA!" 

It was really fun to hear and watch all of the dads and daughter have such an enjoyable time.  However, the real reason for this fun night was to recognize the girls in their efforts in the Faith In God Program.  Kristin made charm bracelets for the ALL the girls.  Each charm represented a goal the girls had accomplished or article of faith they had passed off.  Kristin out did herself and the girls LOVED the bracelets.  I love having her as my co-leader, she makes us look good :) THX Kristin!

We had SO much help from parents with food.  We also had two angels that helped us out that night with cleaning ALL the kitchen stuff while we played games, took pictures or presented the girls with their 'awards'.... Thank you Rashawn and Sarah!!!!!

A Lesson Learned...

After yesterdays less-than-good-day-post, I have learned a few lessons that have comforted me. 

First, I am not alone in my feelings.  That is so comforting!!! Clearly being a mom is the hardest thing EVER and I CAN do it. 

Second, trying at times is all that I need to be doing.  And trust me I AM trying.  I don't always succeed, but there are days that I feel like I have conquered that day and my kids were happy and kind and loving to each other and I was patient with them.  Life would be PREFECT if that was my every day :) However, yesterday was bad, so therefore, today will be good :)

Third, I really need to try harder to have good music and things that make me happy and feel good around me.  Satan is the one who wants me to feel like a no-good-mom, when truth is God loves me and perhaps IS pleased with my efforts.

Fourth, I have AMAZING friends and family who care for my well being. 

I know that days like yesterday will come, but I also know that they will GO!  I am trying to tell myself to not let the little things get to me.  I am rededicating myself to being a more patient mom and even a more loving mom :)

Thank you for your comments and encouraging words and your understanding.  I hope that as mothers/friends we can help each other on our low days.  Thank you for being there for me!

the day to day....

Ever since Sunday I have had a hard time.  We had a great lesson that really made me think and reevaluate who and how I am as mother/daughter/friend/person.

Today I am on the verge of tears and I really don't even feel like talking to anybody or do anything!

It makes me even more upset to feel this way because it really just makes things worse!  Nobody has done anything to me to make me feel this way.  I really just feel lonely, if that is even possible in a house with four kids.

I hate feeling this way!  I question my every thought, word and action.  "Is this right?" "Should I apologize for this or that?" "Should I forget about the house and just do what I want/need?" "What am I doing wrong?"

I am overwhelmed with my responsibility as a mother right now. SO overwhelmed!!!!