happy happy birthday eliza dear...

Forgive my descending order, it was supposed to be ascending...or do I have that backwards?

Anyway, Happy Birthday to my 11 year old Eliza Jane!

You are:

*Bright red lipstick

*Love it or Hate it, with no in between! (oh how I wish I could blame that one on Kyle...but alas...)

*Artsy, Crafty, Put-it-together, Pull-it-Apartsy

*A gem of a friend who loves and gives 110%

*If my family were a chinese take out menu, you would be my "kung pao chicken" girl!!

(To put it in perspective...let's just say Josh is "ham fried rice"--

you know exactly what you're getting.)

*a swimmer, a dreamer, full of imagination and life.

*a spitfire, a clogger, a lover of kids in all shapes and sizes.

*a heart full of gold in the best moments of your day.

*HAPPY BIRTHDAY Miss Lizzie!!

Love,

Mom Dad Josh Grace & Little O

yummmmmmm

Pumpkin French Toast....did you know there was
a shortage of pumpkin? It finally showed up
after MONTHS and MONTHS of looking at Costco.
This led to pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins
and pumpkin french toast at my house! Delish!








And Josh's BFF Nate, had his birthday--he asked for
Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes. I finally have
perfected this recipe!



Homemade Chocolate Cupcakes filled with peanut butter
filling. Topped with whipped milk chocolate ganache, a dollop
of peanut butter frosting and last but not least a Reese's
Peanut Butter cup. DIVINE!

When Nate was asked how many he wanted to eat...he told
me "Just load up a really big plate!"

I think he and Josh ate about 6 each (the first sitting).

I only know I baked about 3 dozen and there are only 2 left
on the plate today. You do the math!

(Remember: Kyle, Lizzie and I are NOT
eating "treats".) If anyone needs a "treat" let me know-
I LOVE baking them even if I'm not eating them.

I have passed out plates of birthday treats, soccer treats,
and "just because" treats to get them out of my house~

DORF

Today while driving in the car with my girlies, Grace said to me...."Mom, you know how there are 7 of us?" (7 girlies in her "BFF" group of girls).

Me: "Yup".


Grace: "Well, for Halloween we decided to be the 7 Dwarves."


Me: "Ahhh, cute...."


Puddy, piping up from the back seat: "OH!!! Grace, what Dorf are you gonna be?"


Well, whichever DORF Grace is going to be...it is sure to be a cute one.


Any votes?

Homecoming Revisited

Cute Whitney, with a wink!




Josh apparently smiles for
someone ELSE's mother...


Josh & Whitney at the Stephens....
Josh caught mid-blink.
(looking like a druggie)




AND...off to the dance from the Stephen's home.

Thanks Whitney for a few pictures! :O)

Homecoming

Last night was Homecoming.

Yup, it was.

Too bad I didn't get any pictures...

All the other moms did, but not me. (in my best whiny voice)

I wanted some pictures. (stamping my feet in anger)

Should I just post last years pictures?

Same boy, same girl, different outfits.

(Imagine purple and black, I was told that's what they wore)

I guess I'll have to wait for the $40 package pictures to come home from school...

...I'm not holding my breath.

Bear Lake

We were fortunate enough to get an invite up to Josh's BFF's
(Best.Friend.Forever) Family Cabin at Bear Lake over the Labor Day weekend.

Who can say no to a trip to Bear Lake? Free place to stay and food for one meal
for everyone....also about as "cheap" as a good trip gets!

This was our view for 3 days....





There were 5 teenage boys (who arrived the first
night with the Brevicks @ 3 AM). or would that be the 2nd morning?
Let me tell you something about teenage boys.....
shhhhh....it's a secret...but they....
...GIGGLE (and giggle and giggle) like a bunch of girls
...@ 3 AM.
...all hyped up on Mt. Dew.
We feel a bit sorry for Debbie & Ron who had to drive up with them.
Kyle finally had to "shush" them @ 3:30 (AM).
Since they were sleeping (or NOT sleeping)
in the family room outside of our bedroom door.
It was soooooo funny to hear all of them giggling, like girls.
We ended up all giggling with them too...and then telling them to
"SHUT IT" and go to sleep!


There were 3 nights of these (beautiful sunsets over the lake)...




3 days filled with this (Water, Sun, Relaxation)...








Many hours shooting potatoes and old corn cobs through this (Potato Launcher)...





Some of this (4 wheeling)...




Lots of this (sunscreen)...



Hours of this (boating)...




More hours of this (tubing)...








All in all a great quick getaway. We spent time w/5 teenage boys,
5 new families we did not know (but got to and had LOTS
of FUN!). Everyone took a turn cooking one meal for the whole group.
We ate GREAT food, and we had some long hours in the sun
at the lake. We couldn't have asked for a better Labor Day Weekend.
It was all topped off with @ quick trip for some Bear Lake Raspberry Shakes.

Fun Times!

Yeah for Bear Lake!

And Yeah! for the Brevicks!