Let the Felt Food Fetish begin...

The "felt food craze" on etsy has nearly passed me by...because let's face it...What would I do with fake felt food? But I found out today that MY SISTER IS HAVING A BABY GIRL! And everything has changed. Now, if the mood moves me, I may just start making a few of these tasty looking treats. Wouldn't they be adorable in my little neice's room?

Okay, so I actually already have quite a few neices, but it just dawned on me today that I could make felt food even though I only have boys. Wahoo!

Don't these things look good enough to eat?

I also spent the better part of my afternoon looking at girly quilt patterns and fabric online. I'm gonna have to buy some pink thread...

Potty Training

We are in the midst of Potty Training. In doing some online research, I've come across a few BAD idea's for potty training. Here are a few:


I'm sure my husband would really go for this... (no pun intended)

This one can't be good...



Um, yeah. This will make my three year old excited to go near the toilet...

I have a hard enough time getting my boys to aim...do we really need any more distractions?

This kid is absolutely thrilled with his accomplishment. Good thing he got the T-shirt.


A man definitely came up with this one. Not only do you get to clean out the bucket in the bottom, you also get to reach in and wipe down the entire urinal 13 times a day.

What do you do if you have to throw up?

Hey, it worked for the elephant...I just feel bad for the roto-rooter guy.

Imagine hitting this one with a hose...

I'm still trying to figure out what these are for:
Ah, another T-shirt. This is just what I want my kid wearing around town.

Now this one might actually work...

Fall Fever Giveaway

Ooh...I can't wait for fall! It's my absolute favorite time of the year. I used to love summer so much that I'd leave my Americana decorations up 'til September 11th, but this year I just can't wait. My fall decor is coming out TODAY! I don't care what the calendar and the thermometer say...it's time for pumpkins, apple desserts, cool crisp air, changing leaves, and my very favorite Strudel and Spice Candle from Scentinel Candle Co.

My incredibly talented friend Marci is having a fall giveaway on her blog. Leave a comment to tell her what you love about fall and win this darling pillow.

PS- Marci has an ad in the latest Country Sampler magazine...go check it out!

Dillon made it through the day without his boys...barely!

Here's Dillon, running out to meet "his boys" as they walked home from school. They hugged when they met up...it was adorable...but I missed it 'cause my memory card was full.

I took this picture of Caleb giving me a flower because I thought it was so sweet. It was only after I had loaded it onto the computer that I noticed Dillon in the background, licking Brayden's hand. Did I mention that he was excited for his boys to come home? If he had a tail...it would've been wagging!
The best part, is that Brayden didn't have a fit over the germs (although he would have been justified in this case--ew!). His OCD medicine has helped SO much. Now it's time to start the homework...

It's the most wonderful time of the year :o)

The first day of school!

Poor Dillon. He came down the stairs about 10 minutes ago (10:20 AM) to say "It's time to get my boys from school", and when I told him that they wouldn't be home until this afternoon, he threw a little fit and started ranting about how stupid computers are (that's what he's been doing this morning, after I drug him around town in the stroller for a morning walk).

Caleb was so excited he was dressed in about 10 seconds, and chose cereal because "it's faster than eggs and toast"...as if that would make school start sooner.

Brayden decided, after Back to School Night last night, that second grade would be easier than first grade because there was less stuff in his desk.

House comparison

The boys have been out riding their bikes and enjoying their last night to stay up [sort of] late before school starts on Thursday. I've been sitting in the yard under the apple tree and enjoying the cool summer evening. I snapped this picture of my house with my cell phone, so the color isn't great...I'll take a better one in a few days when my zinnia's bloom.

This year we added the window boxes (I love 'em...thank you, Todd) but they still need to be painted. We also got a new screen door. Todd made the cute red ladder on the left, and we nabbed the old-fashioned wheelbarrow from my dad's barn in the spring. Next year I want to plant more perennials that will grow tall enough to hide the cement foundation. Any idea's?

Todd has been working hard on the lawn and it finally looks great! It had big yellow spots and bare patches for the first part of summer, but he's re-planted in the bare spots, weeded and feeded, treated for grubs, and gave it a treatment of straight nitrogen. Now it has to be mowed twice a week, but he doesn't mind. He finally got the thick luscious lawn he's been waiting for :o).

We'll soon get new windows with almond frames, rather than dark brown. I can't wait to be able to open my livingroom windows to let the breeze in!

This is what it looked like when we moved in:

Hey...I didn't know this

I started a post a week ago, but was having trouble with my computer and/or blogger and never finished it. I just finished uploading the pics tonight, but it posted back on the date when I started it (Aug. 11) instead of at the "top" of the blog. So if you're interested in seeing the fun time we had at the park with Todd's brother, Aaron, and his family, scroll on down and take a look.

Alyssa Chappell June 2006-August 2008

Our little friend, Alyssa, passed away this weekend.

She was a newborn when we moved here, and I met her right away at our little park group. We called her "Miss 'lyss" and it was so fun to see her each week and "gush" over whatever cute little girly outfit she had on. She was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in March of this year, and has undergone 5 or 6 rounds of chemo, and a major surgery in the past 5 1/2 months. She left behind three older brothers, and an older sister who is 11.

Her family came to our ward today, and I was able to give her mom a hug, and cry with her for a brief moment. Our ward was so crowded, that we had to sit on chairs in the gym and listen to sacrament meeting. Alyssa's family sat on the row behind us. My heart ached for them every time I saw a little blonde girl at the drinking fountain during the meeting. There were SO many. I couldn't help but wonder why they could all smile and twirl around in their little skirts....when Alyssa can't. I know she's happier where she is, and she's free of pain, and I know her family will get through this, but it's been so hard to watch.

Thank you for all your prayers in her behalf. Her family feels that support.

Bubble Battle

I found this picture on my sister's photo blog,

and since it's my kid, I figured it was OK to steal it.

Dillon, in the midst of a bubble battle,

desperately trying to shoot down enemy warheads...

More blog fodder

My friend, Shauntae had this comic posted on her blog. Unfortunately, even Todd learns a thing or two from my blog :o)

Who wears the pants in your family?

Todd wears the pants at our house...but I pick them out :o)

With our tenth wedding anniversary coming up, I've been pondering marriage related things, and it's amazing to me how one can change in ten years. I used to be uptight where Todd was laid-back and now we've switched. Well, not really switched...we've just grown more and more alike. We just "go" together,

and we really do take turns "wearing the pants".

I am blessed to have a husband who walks beside me

(not in front of or behind me).

He truly is my better half.

We celebrated our anniversary (early) last week when we were in Cache Valley. We had dinner at Hamilton's and when we told them why we were celebrating, they brought us a complimentary cheesecake and two goblets of sparkling cider so we could have a "toast".

We looked at each other and kind of laughed because a toast is for "fancy people" and we were sitting there in our usual baseball cap and flip-flops.

But then I noticed that the cheesecake they brought us had a fly on it.

I couldn't think of a better representation of our marriage...

so we toasted to the fly.

There's been a lot of good, a little bad, and plenty of ordinary.

I'm just grateful we get to do it for the rest of eternity.

I Love you, Todd!

(but I do think it's time for some new pants)

Fun at the park

Todd's brother, Aaron, and his family came to visit us last weekend and we had a ball! We were completely irresponsible...staying up 'til 2:00 AM every night, eating breakfast at 11:00, lunch at 3:00, and dinner at 9:00. We played games, talked, and laughed. It was wonderful. We took them on the scenic drive on highway 12, and ended up at a park in Escalante.

Does anyone know what this thing is? It's a tall pole, with several chains hanging down from it, and the chains have handles attached. We tried holding onto the handles and running around in circles...but we just ended in a big heap, with our arms tangled in chains.

Here's Caleb on the monkey bars, wearing his signature socks.

Dillon kept putting his arms and legs in the air while

swinging on his belly, pretending to be a super hero.

Brayden, Caleb, and Makensie on dinosaur

Uncle Aaron had the most fun. I think he tried out every

piece of playground equipment there.

Here he is on the monkey bars:

...and on the big purple dinosaur



Todd dared him to jump out of the swing
and then he did it again :o)

You can see Cayleen and Sydney Jo on the swings.
Posing for the camera. What a ham.
He made it down the slide...although it took awhile :o)
Todd and I got a minute to ourselves for a "foot popping" kiss :o)

Out with the gold...

My neighbors are moving.

They had a garage sale to "lighten their load".

They were selling their sofa and loveseat for a killer deal.

I had to hold myself back from doing cartwheels as we

loaded "old goldie" here to the dump to make a little extra room.

Then we moved the couch and recliner from our

livingroom to the basement to make room for my finds.

Now here is my testimonial for microfiber couches:

I had heard about how easy they were to clean, but I was
still a bit nervous buying this sofa set because my neighbor
let her kids eat on them and although they were in great
condition otherwise....they were covered in stains.

I called the furniture store that is an hour away (before the purchase)
and asked how to clean a microfiber couch.
They lady assured me that they are "naturally stain-resistant"
and all I would need to do is use a little dish soap,
diluted in a bucket of water, and wipe the entire cushion
down with a rag. After it dries, you take a nylon
scrubbie brush, and brush over the surface to get the texture back.
I cleaned one cushion first, to compare it to the one next to it,
and this is what I got:


She was right! I couldn't believe how easy this was to clean. And
now that I know it worked, I am very happy with my find!

This is definitely the way to go with kids!
The two ends of the sofa recline, but not the middle
(that's why it's uneven)