Some Layouts to Share

Olsen Christmas Party

On Saturday the 22nd, we attended my family Christmas party. All my siblings and their kids gather at my Mom and Dad's where we share a big yummy dinner. We each bring our own meat to grill and a side dish to share. Then Santa comes and calls each child to come up and get a present. Each parent is responsible for bringing a gift for each of their children for Santa to give out. The kids LOVE it and we always get some great photos of the kids on his knee and fun ones of the adults too. I'll need to scrapbook a bit with the pictures I got of the kids and then I'll share. We also enjoy visiting as a family while we assemble graham cracker houses. We get a great mix of candy to accessorize with because each family brings some and then we all share. Here is a layout of the candy houses we made.

Tree Trimming

Here's a layout I made of our family decorating our Christmas tree.

Something I got for Christmas

Ok so this was a gift I received many years ago for Christmas. I decided to get it out during this Christmas break and Savannah has loved playing with it.

Let it Snow!

I can not believe the amount of snow we have had over this Christmas break. I thought it was magical to get such a wonderful storm on Christmas Eve. My kids have loved playing outdoors. Here are a few layouts of the snowy fun!

Santa Came!

HO HO HO! Guess we were good little boys and girls!

I had to laugh at this picture of Clayne on Santa's lap. Look closely at what he is holding in his hands. Yep, it is an Ariel Mermaid Barbie. Too funny. I only noticed it when I was putting it on the blog. He was still trying to unpackage it for Savannah (she got it when she went up to sit on Santa's lap). Guess he didn't even think about the fact that he was holding it and it would look like he was getting it from Santa lol. This was at my family Christmas party last Saturday. More about that in another post.

Here is what we really got from Santa on Christmas morning.

I had a hard time deciding if my kids would get a play station for Christmas. We have an old Sega and so I figured that was good enough. But the kids just kept asking for one and they didn't even get greedy and ask for a wii. They just asked for Playstation2. Pretty cheap really. They were so excited when they got up and saw it on Christmas. The TV has been on almost constantly when they are awake - and not for TV viewing! Tonight is the exception though. Morgan is watching the big Patriot game. Hence my few moments to blog!

I have to admit that the PS2 is a mixed good/bad thing. There is some whining and crying when others feel that they are not getting their fair turn. I have to set timers sometimes. When school starts we will certainly have to set limits. It ought to be interesting when they don't get to play it tomorrow (Sunday). I am amazed at how much better the graphics are on the PS than on sega. And yes, I'll admit it... it is way fun to play the American Idol game lol. Cheyenne had to beg me to give her the microphone back. Simon doesn't like me much -cry! Paula is always nice though lol. I'll have to keep practicing.

Anyway... we had a fun Christmas and everyone was very happy with what they received and the joy of my children made it fun for me. I'll be sharing more photos and blog entries over the next week.

Grocery Deals - week of Dec 26

Albertsons
$1.99/lb Half Boneless Pork Loin
10/$10 Albertosn's 18oz oatmeal, hunts spaghetti sauce, american beauty pasta, reser's chip dip, swiss miss 10 oz cocoa, 4 count cinnamon rolls
Frito lay chips buy one get one free
3/$5 Nabisco snack crackers


Smith's
$1.98 Nabisco Ritz crackers
3/$5 Nabisco snack crackers
$1.89/lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
49cents/lb broccoli or cauliflower
99cents/doz large eggs

Done Christmas shopping? CHECK! and weekend plans

Just a quick entry for anyone who may even still be in blogland with Christmas so near. I should actually be wrapping presents, but then what would I do on Monday lol. All the shopping has been done for a while and that is a wonderful feeling. Speaking of shopping, I finished a layout of Morgan doing his shopping at the dollar store. Used that wonderful freebie kit that I posted the link for earlier this month on my blog. Still LOVE that kit and thought it made a great page.

Did I mention freebie downloads hehe... I am so addicted to grabbing all this great free stuff on the net. I found another great site this last week and thought I'd pass it along to you in case you are wanting to grab some free goodies too. I liked this site because it has everything in categories so it would be easy to find something specific when you are working on a layout. Anyway here is the site link. http://digiscrapdepot.com/ Happy downloading!

Tonight we had Clayne's company work dinner party at the Whitewater Grill over by the falls. I had the coconut shrimp and it was delish. I was proud of myself for passing on ordering desert. I am always a bit overwhelmed by the amount of food I eat at the holidays. Thank goodness for aerobics!

Tomorrow we go to Malad to my parents for the family Christmas party. We will be making graham cracker houses and having a big dinner (more food!!) and then Santa will come. That should be enough festivities for us for the weekend lol. Hope you are all having a great weekend too.

Grocery Deals - week of Dec 19

Albertsons

5/$12 Coca-Cola 12 packs
5/$11 Pepsi 12 packs
$1.69 each Albertsons butter, pillsburry crescent rolls or cinnamon rolls
99 cents/lb Cook's shank portion ham
4/$7 buy 4 post cereals and get a coupon for free milk too.
$3.99 marie callenders fruit or cream pies

Smith's

1.49/lb John morrell spiral sliced half ham
3/$5 Smith's butter
99 cents/doz. large eggs
5/$12 Coca-Cola 12 packs
5/$11 Pepsi 12 packs
69 cents Philadelphia cream cheese
39 cents/lb large navel oranges
3/$5 Nabisco snack crackers or frito-lay chips
$1.99 each when you buy 4 Sara lee pies or private selection ice cream

Our Christmas Card and a Layout

So I am an addict to digital scrapping now lol. I would spend even more time on it if I had it. I want to share my latest creation. I entered a challenge at digital candy. Yep, I made this page all by myself lol. A challenge - not a contest lol. Not ready to start competing with my limited skills in this area. Here is the site for the challenge http://www.digitalcandy.ca/shoppe/ Click on forum to go to challenges.

If you become a member of their community and enter the challenge they give you this really cute kit that I used to create this layout. The challenge is that you use everything that is in the kit to create your layout. Kind of fun and I thought this kit was way too cute. It also got me to get a page done - even used photos from a few years back.

Our Christmas Card

While I am at it, here is the front of our Christmas card that I sent out this year. Inside it said:

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you happiness and joy at Christmas time. Here's just a spot of news about each of us:

Savannah is 5 and loving kindergarten. She loves riding the bus like the big kids, but feels a bit ripped off that she only gets to go for half a day.

Carson is 8 and is in third grade. He continues to hold the title of "class clown" and is good at it because he really is funny!

Morgan is 9 and is in the fourth grade. he is a very social boy and we have a hard time keeping him home unless we have a good football game on tv.

Cheyenne is 12 and started Jr. High this year. She is loving it and making lots of new friends. She's still playing the piano and getting real good at it.

Tiffany is still staying home and keeping very busy there managing the kids, and Clayne too. She is learning a bit of digital scrapping and serves now as the Relief Society secretary.

Clayne is still working as manager at Bonneville Collections to support himself and his 5 dependents - guess that didn't keep him busy enough because now he serves as 2nd counselor in the Bishopric.

We (Tiffany) have/has a blog now so drop in and see what we are up to any time at http://www.tiffanybodily.blogspot.com/ We'd love to get your email address too. Have a very happy Christmas Season. - Much Love XO

Recipe Share

My friend Shelly http://shellyabrown.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/12/a-bright-idea.html?cid=94049156#comment-94049156 has started a recipe extravaganza to share our favorite recipes. I have already been posting many of mine, but here is one more. I'm trying to go back through my posts and add labels (tags) to my previous posts of recipes so that you can easily go back to them if you missed them. Wish me luck lol. Ok so I don't know how to make a list of labels to go on the side of my blog yet, but if you just click on the label "recipes" at the end of this post it will bring up all previous posts with a label of "recipes" and you can scroll through them and grab the ones you want. Someday I'll figure out how to add my label listing on my blog - if any of you can help me in this endeavor, email me please.

Chocolate Dipped Oreo Balls

1 Package Regular Oreos
1 Package of Cream Cheese, softened

Pulse Oreos in blender until resemble a crumb mixture. Add in cream cheese and blend until smooth. Roll into balls and chill before dipping in chocolate. White chocolate is a nice contrast for dipping the oreo balls into. You can then melt milk chocolate in a zip lock, trim corner and use to drizzle over the white chocolate. Very pretty!

Hodge Podge of Stuff

It has been a busy week and there are things that I really wanted to get posted here so I am just going to take the time and do it. Here is a quick page to show our gingerbread house activity. We have been cheating the last few years buying the Wilton kits where the house is all assembled and you just add the decorations. One of these years I am going to use the molds I bought from pampered chef. (first I have to remember where I stashed them)

I wanted to share the recipe that we used for our cookie making activity last week too. It is a great classic sugar cookie recipe. Jen shared my other sugar cookie recipe on her blog a while back but in case you missed it I'll give you it too. This one is called Carol's soft sugar cookies and they are super tasty too. I love the cream cheese frosting. The reason why I sometimes go back to the classic recipe is that they are easier for the kids to decorate and the frosting sets so that you can put them on treat plates and the frosting doesn't stick to the plastic wrap. Happy baking!!! If you make them... bring me one.

Classic Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter flavor shortening
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp milk
4-5 cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp salt

Cream the shortening and sugars together. Beat in eggs one at a time; add milk and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Mix into creamed mixture until well blended. Chill for one hour. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out 1/3 of the dough at a time, to about ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut out with cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Sprinkle with colored sugars and decors or leave plain and frost when cooled. Bake for 5-6 minutes, or until edges are slightly golden. Remove immediately to cooling rack. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Buttery Cream Frosting

In a medium mixing bowl, combine 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, ½ cut butter flavor shortening and 1 ½ tsp vanilla. Slowly blend in 6-7 Tbsp milk to desired consistency. Beat on high speed for 5 minutes.

Carol’s Soft Sugar Cookies

3 ¼ C flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ C softened butter
1 C sugar
1 egg unbeaten
1 ½ tsp vanilla
½ C thick sour cream

Sift flour, soda and salt. Cream butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Mix sour cream into creamed mixture along with half of the dry ingredients. Add remaining dry ingredients and stir by hand. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Divide dough in half, roll out and cut. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

½ C softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
½ lb cream cheese
3 ¾ C powdered sugar

Beat butter and cream cheese together until well blended. Add vanilla and sugar; beat until smooth.



And finally, I have been wanting to share my "home improvement" with you. Remember that red wall I was going to paint? Well, I did it and I love it. It was a treacherous wall to do up and down the ladder worrying about dripping red paint on the carpeted steps below me. I had to put a stack of books on a stair to make a platform to put the ladder on and every time I climbed that ladder, I read the label on it that warned about incorrect use leading to serious injury or death. That was a comfort - NOT!

I went to Four Sisters in Shelley and had the vinyl lettering done with the scripture from 3 John 1:4 and I am so happy with it. Wish photos did it justice, but they don't so if you are ever able to, you should come and see it for real. Whew! I feel better to have all this posted - not that you aren't all too busy to read it lol.

Ok and one more little goodie.... I love http://www.pandora.com/ You can listen to any kind of music you want to there. Check it out! Now I am off to help my kids make their gifts for grandparents. Have a great weekend.

More 2008 Calendars

So after looking a little bit more at my downloads from the legacy lady site (see previous post) I also downloaded a calendar set from the blog of Erin Lynch http://www.erinboberin.com/blog/ At the top of her page click on "templates and tutorials" and you'll be able to download her cute calenders. I liked that these could be printed as regular size photos and I found acrylic frames at Walmart (both self standing ones that could go on a desk top and those with a magnet on the back for the fridge.) They were less than a dollar each. The cost of the photos will be minimal too and I'll have a personal and inexpensive gift for grandparents. I sat down and in less than an hour added photos to them - so it is quick too. I still love the CD calendars that I posted earlier, but I think those might work best just for myself. I plan to give grandparents both types of frames so they can choose how they want to use them. Anyway... here are just a couple of the months that I added my pictures to. Cute huh?

She posts, "It's a set of 12 4x6 Calendar quick pages. It's the perfect size for a picture frame, just rotate the months through. I like to put them in one of those cheap magnetic acrylic frames. Last year I gave the grandparents calendars for their fridges and they loved them, and requested them again this year too! All you need to do is add your pictures and print. I found it works best to print them on regular paper at home. When you've got 12 lab printed pictures in one of the frames, it's a little heavy for the magnet."

Grocery Deals - week of Dec 12

Smith's
3/$5 Butter
99cents/doz. large eggs
10/$10 sour cream 16oz, hormel little sizzlers, eggo waffles
8/$10 General Mills Cereals or nature valley granola bars - must buy 8
$2.79/gal. milk

Albertsons
8/$12 General Mills Cereals, nature valley granola bars, betty crocker fruit rolls/snacks, fiber one bars- must buy 8
99cents/lb. Cook's shank ham
$3.99 Northern bath tissue

Another way cute gift idea

I totally loved this idea on the legacy lady blog. Super cute gift idea and I'm gonna need to have one on my scrap desk too. Go to her site to get all the links for the downloads.

http://thelegacylady.typepad.com/the_legacy_lady_online/2007/12/got-2008-calend.html

Got 2008 Calendars???
On the tangent of fabulous and inexpensive Christmas gifts, checkout the cooperative efforts of the pclayers team - sharing these fabulous 2008 CD Case calendar Freebies! All you have to do is visit each blog and download a quick page for each month of 2008 (some blogs will have two downloads). Then you can easily drag and drop your photos into the templates, print them out and insert them in a CD case opened so that the part that holds the CD is supporting the calendar - they make great gifts - all for the cost of printing - so enjoy!!

Our Holiday Happenings

Just wanted to post a few layouts that I made from quick pages (the only way to go when you want to get them done fast to share on the blog!) These are some of the activities that we have enjoyed together this past week for our Christmas Countdown. Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season too. Gotta make this quick since I need to get FHE going - we have a gingerbread house to make tonight!!

Told you a while back that I'd share my 25cent neighbor gift find. I got Betty Crocker cornbread muffin mixes at Winco. We added a cute tag that said, "You're getting "muffin" for Christmas from the Bodily's." The kids were really good about helping me prepare them and deliver them. So nice to have that done already!

Letters to Santa

Had the kids "write" letters to Santa today. Decided to just do it on the internet for a change this year. This was a pretty fun little site http://www.emailsanta.com/ Where the kids just finish filling in a letter and then after submitting it, he sends a reply right back. There is an option to print them out and the kids are having fun re-reading them. I think I'm going to put them in a binder so they can look at them again next year too. Anyway... if you feel like reading more, you can read Morgan's letter and Santa's reply below. Have a great day and remember Santa is watching so BE GOOD!

Idaho Falls, Idaho,
United States

Dear Santa Claus,
My name is Morgan. I am a boy and I am already 9 years old!! I live in the great city of Idaho Falls. Of course, that's in Idaho, United States, but I'll bet you knew that!! This year I've been so good that I should really be on the 'Nice' List!!
Santa Claus, some things I might like for Christmas this year are:- Playstation2 for family;- Collage football game; and,- Randy Moss jersey.
Santa Claus, I almost forgot to say... Hope santa will not be fat next Christmas!
Love, Morgan


Merry Christmas Morgan!

Idaho falls, Idaho
United States
#1, Rudolph Way
North Pole, Canada
HOHOHO

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Dear Morgan,
Thank you for sending me your email all the way from Idaho falls! The Net sure is wonderful because now I never feel lonely all the way up at the North Pole. I can get those wonderful Christmas emails any time of the year now, but it's always special when I get one from you, Morgan.
Well tickle my whiskers, Morgan, I can't believe you're 9 years old already! You're getting to be quite a big boy! I'm really glad you still wrote me though because I'm sure some of your friends have said things about me. Of course, I'll bet they never got a magic letter like this directly from Santa Claus himself! (*wink*) I also hear you've been a good boy. (Of course, you won't mind if I do a little checking, will you? HO!! Ho!! ho!!).
Let's see what you put in your letter for Christmas wishes: 1. playstation2 for family; 2. collage football game and; 3. randy moss jersey. Can I tell you a little secret? I love playing games on my PlayStation -- reindeer games that is! HO!! Ho!! ho!! They are a lot of fun aren't they! I guess that's why so many good little boys and girls asked for the same thing as you! I just wish there was room in my sleigh to give everyone one.
Well, I better go feed the reindeer and polish Rudolph's nose with nose wax. Have to make sure everything's ready for the big day! Take care Morgan and don't forget to come back and visit me here at EmailSanta.com on Christmas Eve!! And remember... only 19 more sleeps until Christmas!!
Lots of Love,
Santa

P.S. The reindeer say "Thank You!" for the nice treats! I hope you don't mind, but I had a bit of carrot and celery too. After all, even Santa eats his veggies!

P.P.S. I've attached a special postmarked copy of your email below so you can print it off and show it to all your friends or put it on your fridge.

Other COOL STUFF at this site
Write a letter to Santa
Check the "Naughty or Nice" List
Count down to Christmas
Get Santa's Autograph
Send your pet's email to Rudolph
Play Rudolph's Christmas Trivia
Vote for who'll guide Santa's sleigh
Send Christmas Cards
Watch Christmas Webcams
Read live emails to Santa
Try out Santa's Advent Calendar
Laugh at silly Elf Jokes
Watch the 'Rudolph cam'
Sign up for 'Santas Top 10'
See Santa's Magic Photo Albums
Colour these Christmas pages
Play "YuleSearch"
Download Christmas Software

Scrapbooking stuff and sites to share

Isn't this a lovely free digital download scrapbooking kit? It is by Rita Massela and here is her blog address http://ritamassela.blogspot.com/2007/12/mais-novidades.html Just scroll down and find the "download here" under her kit and you'll be on your way. I thought it was fabulous and wanted to share it with any of you who are getting into digital scrapbooking. I am amazed at all the talent out there on the web and that there are so many designers that share for FREE! I can't wait to create something with this kit.

Another site I am loving is Sketch This http://janellerichmond.typepad.com/sketchthis Where they post a sketch each week and several examples of how designers have used it. Here is a sketch from a few weeks ago and a layout they posted. Cute huh?

Grocery Deals - HoHoHo Save Some Dough!

Albertsons


It's the big Quaker sale - plus
Buy 10 for $25 and get an instant rebate of $10 - makes it 10/$15
Aunt Jemima syrup
Quaker oatmeal breakfast or mussin bars
Quaker oatmeal to go
Quaker granola bites
Quaker granola bars
Quaker sweet & salty bars
Quaker life cereal
Quaker oats
Quaker breakfast cookies
Quaker Cap'n crunch cereal
Quaker simple harvest hot cereal
Albertsons cereal
Albertsons orange juice
Albertsons instant oatmeal
Albertsons fruit and grain or chewy bars


It is also the mega meat and seafood sale.
Several cuts of meat, roasts, steaks, chicken breasts, etc. are buy one get one free.

Smith's

$1.29/lb. Bone in country stylw bork ribs or pork roast
$1.89/lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
$2.79/gal. milk
10/$10 Duncan Hines brownie mix
4/$5 Hershey's baking chips
99 cents/doz. large eggs
$1.88 Dorito chips
3/$5 Hot pockets/ lean pockets

A Bit of Christmas Cheer

Last Wednesday we attended the Nativity Display at the stake center by the Temple. This has become one of our family traditions to kick off the Christmas season. We like to strongly reinforce that the Christmas season is all about the birth of our Savior and the gift of his atoning sacrifice. Looking at the dozens of nativities collected and displayed at the stake center helped us to remind our children of this. We so appreciate all the work that it takes for this display to be available. In conjunction with the tradition of attending the Nativity display, we have also started a tradition where the first holiday decoration (aside from the lights on the outside of the house, which are preferably hung before the first big snow storm) that we display in our home is the Nativity. At the beginning of December we hold a special family night and have a lesson about the Nativity and then we put our figurines out. Not until the Nativity has had a few days to take center stage, are the rest of the decorations and the tree put up. From my last post you will see that yesterday we put out our Nativity. Tonight we will attend the First Presidency Devotional. I am excited to see and hopefully hear from our beloved Prophet.

Today in Relief Society we had a wonderful lesson about family traditions. The spirit was very strong and it was a beautiful message. Thanks Shelly and to all the sisters who shared in the lesson. I am grateful for the traditions that we have in our family and I hope that as my children grow up that they will carry some of them into their own families.

Now a little gift to you for reading my post: I attended a super fun Christmas party this weekend where we all exchanged goodies. I took my gingersnap cookies which are already posted here on my blog as well as some yummy caramels. I promised to share this recipe on my blog. I had just enough left over after the party that I decided to wrap them up and put them away for the Relief Society holiday open house coming up this week so I am counting on all of you to enjoy this recipe, but not to take them to that party. (Sorry Heather B., but I have to take them to the party so that I won't finish eating all of them myself!!) With that said.... Here is the recipe. These are way easy. No candy thermometer involved and just microwaving for the cooking!!! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!!

Microwave Caramels

1 cup margarine
2 1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 dash of salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Melt margarine in microwave bowl 1-2 min. on med/high. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, milk and salt. Cover with plastic wrap. Cook on high 10 min. Stir and cook uncovered 12-15 min. on med/high or until forms a ball. (Take a spoon and drip a small amount into a cup of ice water. See if it forms a ball.) Add vanilla and pour into a greased 12x7 pan. Cool and cut.

The Countdown Has Started!!

I can't believe that tomorrow will be December 1st!! How did this year go by so fast? I spent some time today making our Christmas Countdown Chain. This is one of our family traditions that we enjoy and look forward to. Each year we have a Christmas countdown chain of red and green paper with 24 links. On each link is written a special activity that we participate in as a family. Some of these activities are service oriented, some of them are spiritual and others are just frivolous and fun. There is however, one common thread that all of our activities have, which is that we spend time together as a family having fun and building relationships.

Here is a listing of the activities we will be doing for the next 24 days. It may sound overwhelming at first, but I realized that most of these activities we were already doing each year and this just keeps them organized so we don't get bogged down. You and your family probably do at least 24 things related to Christmas too. Every year the list varies a bit. We used to go to the gingerbread house display and we are sad that they no longer do it. It never was as good after they stopped having it at the visitors center and this year Town and Country isn't even doing it. Had to cross that off of our list. We used to go visit Santa at the mall too, but now there aren't many believers in the jolly man here at our house so I'll probably just take Savannah one day while they are at school. Sometimes it is a bummer to have them grow up!! Ok, now the list:

S December 1 Put out Nativity Display - lesson on the true reason for Christmas
S December 2 First Presidency Devotional
M December 3 Prepare Neighbor Gifts
T December 4 Deliver Neighbor gifts
W December 5 Decorate Sugar Cookies
T December 6 Write Letters to Santa
F December 7 Shop for Tree Ornaments - each year our kids get a new ornament
S December 8 Decorate Christmas Tree
S December 9 Make Gingerbread house
M December 10 Go shopping for $1 gifts for siblings
T December 11 Send Christmas Cards
W December 12 Make an Ornament
T December 13 Watch Christmas Carol Movie - I love the Muppet version
F December 14 Make Grandparent gifts
S December 15 Ward Christmas Breakfast Party
S December 16 Read Christmas Stories – Drink Hot Chocolate
M December 17 Make gifts for Teachers
T December 18 Watch Polar Express
W December 19 Go out to Dinner at a Restaurant
T December 20 Drive to see Christmas lights
F December 21 Make Christmas Crafts
S December 22 Olsen’s Christmas Party
S December 23 Nativity Puppet Story
M December 24 Go Sledding (no snow? Go Ice Skating)

Giving Thanks

Thoughts of Thanksgiving

I owed my blog one more post relating to Thanksgiving before the month ran out. As I have previously posted, we kept a box for this month for everyone in our family to place slips of paper where they had written various things they were thankful for. I finally got them all typed in and wanted to share them. Some of them are pretty funny - at least I think so. Again, I have to say that we are truly blessed!!

Clayne
Being healthy, Living in a Free Country, a Good Job, Wonderful Parents, Wonderful Wife, Helpful Children (who’s), living in Idaho, Nice Home

Tiffany
My Carpet cleaner, Kitchen appliances, Indoor plumbing, That I am a good cook, The Sacrament, That I don’t have to play the Piano at Church anymore, my Family,the Temple, my New Computer, Grocery Stores, Hairspray, Vehicles, Warm Home, my Bosch, Fresh Baked Bread, Dishwasher, Good Music, Comfortable PJ’s, Rain, My Home, the Gospel, President Hinckley, my Savior

Cheyenne
Tamagotchi, Friends, Water, Talents, Pets, Pie, Life, Family, the Piano, my Radio, my Karaoke, Food, Clothes, my Cell Phone (has no service), My bed, Spiders (um, right), bugs, insects, Animals, Lava, Heat, Cold, the Earth, Shasta (a stuffed animal husky dog), School, my Education, Music, Pancakes, Pencils

Morgan
Brian Burton, Jason Burton, Jill Burton, IF, Home, Rain, Sun, Plants, Food, Mom & Dad, School, Friends, Jesus, Football, Smurf Turf, Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Carson Christensen, Trevor Baird, Idaho, New England, Randy Moss, Brett Fave, Computers (I think Morgan has a bit of a fascination with Football!!)

Carson
Animals, Clocks, Bed, Trees, Water, Everething Exept Selere (celery), Earth, Littrisite (electricity)

Savannah
Me, Turkey, Cats, my Dog, Me (again), House, Clothes, Turkey (again), Cheetos, MOM, DAD, HALOKD (Hello Kitty)

Grocery Deals - Week of Nov 28

Sick of turkey? Here are some deals at the grocery store for the week. Not too many big sales listed this week.Maybe they think we are too busy shopping at the mall or eating leftovers?

Smith's

$1.89/lb. Extra lean ground beef
$1.59/lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
$2.79/gal. milk
3/$5 Smith's butter
69 cents Betty crocker cake mix
4/$5 Hershey's baking chips

Albertsons

$4.99/24 pack Coca-cola drinks (Thursday, Friday & Saturday only)

Our Thanksgiving

Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving Day. We had a nice lunch with Clayne's family at a church house in Iona. I love that all I had to do was make a batch of pilgrim pie cookies and the go and enjoy an entire delicious meal. We were able to visit with Clayne's brother, Jedd, and his family as well as his sister, Glenna, and her family. Clayne's aunts (Nancy, Ellen, and Janet) were there with their families too. Morgan couldn't wait to get the meal over with and cleaned up so that he could shoot some hoops.

We are going to wait until FHE on Sunday to go through all the "thankful notes" we put into our Turkey box and then I'll share some of the highlights of what our family is thankful for. For now I will just say that we are truely blessed by our Heavenly Father in more ways than we'll ever know. We are thankful to be a family and we are thankful for our extended family and good friends like you. Enjoy your holiday weekend with your families.

Been Digi Scrapping Today

So with the kids home today I did get up and go to the gym and then showered, but have been in my PJ's ever since. Love days like that. I have spent a fair amount of time on my computer today downloading some digital scrapbook freebies and going through some tutorials. I also was fair to my kids and let them each have 30 minutes online with my supervision - they get a bit jealous that I always get to be on the computer. When you consider that I have 4 kids - that is 2 hours! Cheyenne wanted to check and answer email (she has an account with gmail too - Jr High brings on all this!!!), Morgan wanted to go to some NFL team sites, Carson wanted to play some online kid games and Savannah has loved going to Disney's bunny town.

Back to my internet time... I have learned a few things about digital scrapping- like once you flatten layers in photoshop there is no going back if you exit the program. Make sure you save your file unflattened in case you want to change something later. I also learned a few ways to add drop shadows. I think they help give some dimension to the layout. I also learned how to save my layouts at a size for printing and at a size for sharing on the web.

I now present to you "Diva licious" my latest digi creation. If you are interested in credits (a list of the supplies I used) let me know. I have read many places that the proper thing to do when sharing a layout on the net is to list all the supplies and give credit. I don't know that anyone who visits my blog would really be interested in all that. Thanks for looking at my silly little Savannah.

The journaling is: "Savannah was going outside with her stylish glasses and doggy purse when I asked her where she was going. Her reply was that she was going out to pose. Well of course she needed a photographer and I was happy to oblige. November '07"

Seven Wonders of the Present World - AWESOME!

Thought this was fitting for Thanksgiving. May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving Day. Note: Mute my music in the juke box to the left and then click on the video to view and hear. I don't endorse any linked videos to this one, but this one is amazing.

Just Another Sleepy Sunday

Ok, so some of us sleep on Sunday. I don't know how these two can do it when I am in the kitchen right behind the couch banging around and the other three kids are doing their usual rowdy stuff. I think that is the main reason I have given up on trying to nap on Sunday is that it is just never quiet enough around here.

What I was busy in the kitchen doing was making Pilgrim Pies. They are so tasty. We have been making them for a few years and they have become a family favorite. In fact I think I'll be making them as my assignment for the Thanksgiving dinner this week. Today's batch was for my visit teaching ladies. Wow this month went fast and after Thanksgiving there won't be much time left. We'll see if I can manage a visit that last month though. We got this recipe from Family Fun Magazine.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
Pumpkin Cookies
2 eggs
2 cups light brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Filling/Cream Cheese Frosting
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 to 5 cups confectioners' sugar
1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Beat the eggs, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl until smooth. Stir in the pumpkin. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, pumpkin spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture a half cup at a time, blending each time until smooth. 2. Drop a heaping tablespoon of batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet, using a moist finger or the back of a spoon to slightly flatten each mound. Bake the cookies for 12 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. 3. Meanwhile, make the frosting. Beat together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract in a bowl until light and fluffy. Mix in the confectioners' sugar a half cup at a time, until the frosting is spreadable. 4. To assemble the pies, turn half of the cookies bottom side up and spread a generous amount of cream cheese frosting on each one. Top them with the remaining cookies (turned right side up). Makes 10 to 14 Pilgrim Pies.

What I really want to do is find some reading time. I had my name on the waiting list at the library for a long time and finally got this book it is the third in a series by Nancy Turner. The first is These Is My Words. The series is excellent and I would highly recommend it. Well, there are my random thoughts for the day. Well, I guess I can give one more for any Pepsi lovers out there. Winco had 12 packs on sale for $1.98 when I was there Saturday. I would think this price would be good until Thanksgiving. Now I must sign off and do the FHE thing. Hope you had a good Sunday.

Christmas Gift Idea

Look what I am ordering for my family for Christmas gifts. Aren't they the cutest? I think my boys especially will LOVE them. You can get any family name on them and you can get onsies for those who have babies, hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies... go see www.AOTees.com

Winco Thanksgiving prices

Here's the Deal-E-O (ok the deals) at Winco. Just make sure you go when the lines are short!

34 cents/lb Turkey with a $50 grocery purchase
$1.24/29oz canned Libby pumpkin
$1.66/lb butter
$1.48 Sara lee pumpkin pie
87 cents/60z box stove top stuffing
98 cents/can large pitted olives
48 cents/8oz flavorite whipped topping
$1.24/pint real whipping cream
98 cents/2lb bag brown or powdered sugar
98 cents/doz. large eggs
68 cents/8oz Kraft Phil. cream cheese

Give Thanks for Grocery Deals

Now is the time to stock up on all those Thanksgiving favorites. I bought a new chest freezer this week just so I'd have room to store all those turkeys. I usually buy 4 since they are such a good deal and we can get several meals out of one turkey. We simply eat as much as we want when I cook it and then I dice the rest up and store it in amounts of 2 cups in freezer bags. I can then use it when I make a turkey pot pie or a casserole. Anywho... that is just a tip for you. I will be going to Winco either today or tomorrow and I'll be sure to post again with any prices that are good deals. Have a great day! Gobble, gobble.



Smith's


$5/ea. 12-14lb hen turkey
$7/ea. 16-20lb tom turkey
$11/ea. 16-20lb butterball tom turkey
Turkey prices are with a $25 grocery purchase and a fresh value card.

1.19/lb cook's shank portion ham
1.99/lb kroger premium boneless ham

1.99/ea. when you buy 4 Sara lee pies and breyers ice cream

69 cents/ea. 2 liter Pepsi varieties (when you buy 10 - good for neighbor gifts or upcoming holiday parties)


2/$1 PictSweet frozen vegetables
69 cents Philadelphia cream cheese
3/$5 1 lb butter packs
4/$5 16oz. cottage cheese, sour cream or dips
99 cents/doz. large eggs
89 cents/lb fresh broccoli or cauliflower

3/$5 frito lay chips (cheetos, fritos)

Albertsons

5/$10 Coca-cola 12 packs (buy 4 get the fifth free)
38 cents/lb turkey (with $25 grocery purchase)
1.77/lb hormel spiral sliced ham
$1.70 for a 10lb bag of potatoes
1.69/lb butter

10/10 libby pumpkin 15oz, heavy whipping cream 8oz, cool whip 8oz, stove top stuffing, mini marshmallows


2/$3 nabisco crackers
$1.77/box Kellog's cereals

Pass the Popcorn

The code for a free DVD rental is still good. Today "Amazing Grace" comes out. I have been wanting to see that so I'll likely rent it this weekend. This leads me to a post I have been wanting to do for a while now. I was flipping through the channels one night a few weeks ago and Gone With the Wind was on. I had to stop and watch it for a while. What movies make you stop and want to watch when you come upon them? What are some of your favorite classics or a recent movie that you loved? I'd love to see your random list of movies that you love. Consider yourself tagged.

Gone With the Wind

Fiddler on the Roof

My Fair Lady

The Sound of Music (yep, I love musicals)

Movies with Doris Day or Cary Grant

Movies with Fred Astaire or Bing Crosby (excuse me if I spell anything wrong)

The Man from Snowy River

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Avonlee

Little Women

Pride and Prejudice

Sense and Sensibility

Becoming Jane

I know that there are more and I may have to add to this post when I think of it. I just thought it would be fun to see what you like. Sometimes when you read a list from someone else it makes you think, "Hey I like that too and I haven't seen it for a while." I also think it can tell a little about you when you list the kinds of movies you like. Anyway..... Join in!

Project Pictures

So I have been really slow about posting pictures of my painting project in my great room. Pictures never do show it the way it really is, but I really am happy with how it turned out. If you want to have a better look at the color either go to http://www.sherwinwilliams.com/ and look at the color sensational sand or you could just come over Ü I love my new free standing fireplace. I think it gives a nice focal point when you come in the front door and just warms up the space so nice - both with heat-warmth and design-warmth. I also was excited to find that my Christ picture that I bought last May found a home. It goes great with the fireplace. What I am really looking forward to having done is the paint job of the wall over the stairs. I am putting it off because I am a little nervous of how to get up there to do it.

I wanted to also share a picture of a tag I made this week. I actually made 12 just like it for a swap.

7 random things about me

Tagged - 7 random things about me -

1. The toilet paper has to be from the top! I have been known to change it if it is on the roll wrong even in someone else's house.
2. I went to a Motley Crew rock concert when I was in High School.
3. I was sent to the principal's office when I was in kindergarten for kicking the other kids under the table. Back then we had bigger tables that several kids sat around instead of individual desks.
4. I was on the drill team for several years in high school - the Dragonettes and our colors were orange and black - yuck!
5. Swabbing out my ears after my morning shower is a daily MUST! I can't stand for them to be wet inside!
6. I worked at Subway sandwiches for a few years back in college. Helped to supplement my grocery bill since I got a free meal when I worked.
7. I married an "old" man. I got married when I was 19 to Clayne and he was 25. Since I was the first to marry in my family, it freaked my parents out a bit that I was marrying someone so OLD. My argument is that I had to marry someone older so he could finish raising me. I had a lot of maturing to do!

I am tagging anyone who wants to join in. It will be fun to see what you all post.

Grocery Ads - week of Nov 7

Albertsons

10/$10
doz. eggs
birds eye frozen vegetables
eggo waffles
fresh express bags of salad
1b. bone in country style pork ribs (max pack)

offer for free milk and marshmallows
buy four participating post cereals at 2/$4 and get two free bags of jet-puffed marshmallows - plus get free milk (up to $4 value) while coupon supplies last (ask store clerk for details - I think the free milk makes this a good deal)

2.99/lb petite sirloin steak

Smiths

2lb/$1 navel oranges
3/$5 kellogs or quaker cereals
3.99/lb new york steak
2/$4 fiber one bars (have you tried these? So good and very high in fiber - a little better of a deal at Sams club but if you just want to try them this is a good price)

So Very Blessed

I love the conference address by by President Henry B. Eyring entitled, “O Remember, Remember.” You may recall what he shared in his address. He spoke of a journal he kept during the years when his children were young. He was prompted to start this journal after his father-in-law had performed an act of service for his family. The spirit spoke to him saying, “I’m not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down.” He was supposed to record for his children to read, someday in the future, how he had seen the hand of God blessing their family. You can find the address at www.lds.org or in your next Ensign. It is an excellent article. I am glad that I had opportunity to record a special miracle in my life last week. Read on... to see my written record. Consider yourself "tagged" if you want to and after reading this post, either list some blessings or miracles that you have received and share them on your blog or with your family.

Last week my mother called to ask a favor of me. She had a Relief Society assignment to share an experience where either she or a member of her family had experienced a miracle. She told me that the first family miracle that came to her mind was an experience that had happened to me. My mother asked if I would write about this experience and then send it to her so that she could share it with her ward sisters. She went on to say that she just didn’t feel like she had any “big” miracles to share. This saddened me. Our Heavenly Father would never desire for us to compare our blessings and miracles with those that others receive. He would not want us to feel like our miracles were not “big” enough. Our conversation continued and I went on to list the blessings and miracles that I could see in my mother’s life. By the end of our phone call, she had to agree that our Heavenly Father had blessed her in many ways. Still I went ahead and prepared a one page entry about this miracle in my life and emailed it to my mother so that she could share it. This is the entry:

The Miracle of Motherhood
By Tiffany Bodily (written Oct. 30, 07)

I was married to Clayne in September of 1989 and not long afterwards we decided to start our family. Little did we know what was in store for us. We struggled through many years of infertility, doctor visits, and treatments, all to no avail. We spent many hours on our knees in prayer pleading with our Heavenly Father to send us children.

We felt impressed to pursue adoption through LDS Social Services while we continued our infertility treatments, to see what would work out first – adoption or pregnancy. In 1995 we were blessed to adopt a baby girl, Cheyenne, followed by an additional adoption of a baby boy, Morgan, in 1998. We were busy and happy parents and felt so blessed to have been fortunate to adopt two healthy newborns and to have an opportunity to raise both a daughter and a son.

At this point we decided we could be content if these two children were all that we ever received. We were no longer seeking medical treatments for our infertility and had decided that it was probably unlikely that I would ever conceive and bear a child through my own body. I made peace with this and we were happy.

Our Heavenly Father surprised us when Morgan was only 4 months old. It was then that I found out that I was pregnant. It was hard for me to truly believe this after almost 10 years of marriage. In all those years I had never been pregnant and so this was certainly a miracle to both Clayne and I, to our families, and everyone who knew us.

I was blessed to be able to conceive again and give birth to a beautiful daughter, Savannah, just 3 years after Carson. Yet another blessing I experienced was that I never experienced morning sickness with either of my pregnancies. Watching friends go through morning sickness taught me gratitude for this blessing. I feel so very blessed to have been the recipient of many wonderful blessings and miracles in my life. In my opinion every blessing is a miracle and every miracle is a blessing. These two precepts of the gospel work hand in hand.

What a blessing it has been for us to be given the opportunity to adopt two healthy children and to also experience the pregnancy and birth of two healthy children. To me the means by which each of my children came into our lives is a miracle. Not one of the experiences overshadows the other. I know that my Heavenly Father meant for each one of these children to be raised by Clayne and I. I know that they came into the world and into our lives in just the way that Heavenly Father saw as best. I am so grateful to him for his love and for the growth I experienced through our trial of infertility. Although there were times when I didn’t understand, it all makes perfect sense to me now and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Thanksgiving Idea

I have to give a shout out to my friend Joanna for this fabulous idea. (Joanna is listed in "blogs I visit" to the left, scroll down) On her blog this week she posted the following, "When we were little kids our family had a turkey box we'd break out at Thanksgiving time. It was a shoe box that was decorated with a paper turkey, and had a slit in the top where we could put lists of things we were thankful for. Then when we'd drive to Mama and Papa's house for Thanksgiving we'd get out the box and read every one's lists to remind us of what we are grateful for."

She also posted this great link for the cute turkey pattern shown in my post (get it here.) I am going to make one of these tomorrow and then introduce the idea to my kids in FHE tomorrow night (remember we hold our FHE on Sunday nights.) Thought you might like the idea too. Thanks Joanna Ü

What a Week!

What a fun and busy week this has been. I haven't had time to do the posting that I have wanted to with the holiday and projects that I have been doing. Here are a few of the good things that happened this week:

I finished the painting I was doing in my living room/kitchen area. I just have the red wall left to do over the stairs in the entry. I'll post pictures this upcoming week.

Savannah went to the dentist and had NO cavities. Yipee! I was so glad. The boys had been to the dentist several times over the last month to get Morgan's 9 fillings and Carson's 4. There went my new kitchen table. Teeth are just EXPENSIVE!

My GREEN dell laptop came on Monday. That was soooo fast. I ordered it late Wednesday night and it came in less than a week. I have been spending some of my free time playing around on it and trying to get used to it. I'm gonna love it!

On Thursday, I finally figured out how to set up my wireless router. Clayne had brought me one home from his office that they didn't need, but he didn't have any software or paper work for it so it was a bit tricky for me to figure it out, but I did - all by myself!! Now I can get online without having to come downstairs to my scrap room every time.

My kids all loved the Halloween mix-up dinner and the festivities of the holiday and they didn't even require much help from me to come up with costumes. When they did come up with them, I didn't have to do much to help them get ready that day. I was grateful for their independence since I was so busy this week.

I took the stake president's admonition to start indexing on familysearch.org and got my first batch of names indexed. It felt good to contribute to geneology and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Read the article in the August Ensign if you want to learn more about this.

Today was Digital Scrapbook Day and I spent a while today downloading free digital goodies all over the internet. I felt like a kid Trick-Or-Treating. I can't wait to find time to play with all the fun stuff I found.

I finally figured out how to use templates in my scrapbooking. The page I am sharing is made from one and it was kind of fun to see what I could do. I had read tutorials at a few sites and had tried to use templates earlier this week without success. I decided to go back to the blog of Misty Cato and try her tutorial http://mistycatodesigns.blogspot.com/2007/03/layered-template-tutorial.html. The layout I came out with above is the result. I also used a kit from Oscraps http://www.oscraps.com/shop/search.php?mode=search&page=1 for the papers and elements. The kit costs $1 now, but I picked it up for free a week ago. I still have lots to learn but I have more templates & supplies and can't wait to play around with this some more.

OHHH and I just remembered that it is Day Light Savings and we need to set our clocks back. An extra hour of sleep (or an extra hour to play on my computer).

Grocery Ad thru Nov. 6

Happy Halloween!

Here are your grocery deals for the week. While at the store why not pick up a DVD to watch. Here is your free code. Enjoy!

Smith's

99 cents/doz. eggs

3/$5 Smith's butter

1.79/lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1.49/lb. pork ribs

2.99/lb. petite sirloin steak or beef round, london broil

10/$10 Oscar mayer ham (lunchmeat)

2/88 cents Kroger canned vegetables

1.99 each when you buy a combination of four: tombstone pizza, breyer's ice cream, klondike or breyers novelties bars

5/$10 Kellog cereal

Albertsons

4.99 Coca-cola 24 can pack (first one at this price)

2.99/lb. beef lion top sirloin steak

4.99/2 lb. block Tillamook cheese (many varieties)

10/$10 cheese nip crackers

Many Many buy one get one free items... too many for me to type, see ad or store for details

Halloween Mix Up Dinner Corrections

Hey, when I posted the list of menu items earlier it was a list that Clayne and I had tried to piece together because I had lost the copy of the "Chef's Menu" that was the key to what all the crazy menu items were. There are some on the list that I do like better than what we came up with so I'm posting it for anyone who wants a variation. Of course you could always come up with some of your own ideas too.

Jack the Ripper (knife)
Witches Brew (apple cider)
Haunted Hash (jello salad)
Rat's Revenge (cheese sticks)
Black Cat Eyes (olives)
Scary Scooper (spoon)
Worm Delight (gummy worms)
Cow Pie (sloppy joe)
Chip Off the Old Block (toothpick)
Owl Eyes (mini donuts)
Goblin Crunch (potato chips)
Stringy Scarecrow Blood (celery sticks)
Bat Wings (napkin)
Skeleton Bone (fork)
Chilled Vampire Blood (ketchup)
Broomstick (pretzel sticks or fries)
Witches Fingers (mini dill pickles)
Pumpkin Curls (carrot sticks)

Fall and Halloween Traditions

I just wanted to share a new fall page. I picked up this digital quick page at http://freebiesandscrapsbymajula.blogspot.com/ Digital scrapping makes sharing my photos on my blog so much fun. We have been having fun enjoying the fall season playing in leaves, visiting the pumpkin walk, picking out pumpkins and then there are fun things to come this week with Halloween being celebrated.

One of our family traditions is to enjoy a mixed up dinner. It comes from a family home evening lesson we did once where there is a scavenger hunt each night for a week leading up to the dinner. We are now just doing the dinner. I place an invitation in each of my children's rooms the day before which reads, "Tomorrow night you're invited to the 'happily haunted house' to dine, so don't be late, be right on time. Mom is planning a special family night and using magic spells to make things just right! Right now, she's brewing her special brew... She's doing it all especially for you! See you tomorrow night at 6:00 pm."

On the night of the dinner they are presented with a special menu and a menu card where they list 6 choices for three different courses. Of course on their menu they don't have the items defined as I am doing for you. The menu selections are:

1. Jack the Ripper (knife)
2. Witches Brew (apple cider)
3. Haunted Hash (french fries)
4. Rat's Revenge (cheetos)
5. Black Cat Eyes (olives)
6. Scary Scooper (spoon)
7. Worm Delight (jello)
8. Cow Pie (sloppy joe)
9. Chip Off the Old Block (slice of cheese)
10. Owl Eyes (mini donuts)
11. Goblin Crunch (potato chips)
12. Stringy Scarecrow Blood (celery sticks)
13. Bat Wings (fruit roll ups)
14. Skeleton Bone (fork)
15. Chilled Vampire Blood (ketchup)
16. Broomstick (pretzel sticks)
17. Witches Fingers (mini dill pickles)
18. Pumpkin Curls (carrot sticks)

The kids sometimes remember what some of the crazy named things are, but most of the items are not remembered from the previous year. They are served the courses as they ordered them and it often means that they don't have things in the way that makes much sense. They love it! I usually do this meal the day before Halloween since the actual night of Halloween is too crazy. So we will be doing this on Tuesday night. I like to create atmosphere by playing spooky music in the background and eating by candlelight so that it is dim and spooky.

A girls night out and a few recipes to share

I went to a girls night out at the church last night. We all brought projects of our own to work on. I worked on a baby album as a gift for my new niece that we'll be having a baby shower for next month. It is a simple little book where the recipient can add a photo of the newborn and then a photo of the baby for each month of the first year. There is also a page at the end to record "baby's firsts."

We ate lots of goodies and it was a fun time. I enjoyed seeing what everyone else was working on too. I had a request to share the caramel popcorn recipe for the popcorn balls I brought last night to share.

Caramel Popcorn (from Desiree Reading)

Pop 2 bags of microwave popcorn and remove any unpopped kernel
In a sauce pan combine: 1 cube of butter, 2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup light corn syrup

Bring to a boil

Add: 1/2 can of sweetened condensed milk

Return to a boil

Pour over popcorn and mix well

Form into popcorn balls if desired

I was also telling Shelly about a easy and yummy recipe for banana bread last night and so I though I'd post that too. I picked this one up from the Real Simple magazine. I like to make it with vanilla pudding and since my kids don't like nuts, I never use them either.

Banana Nut Bread

1 box yellow cake mix

1 package Jell-O instant banana cream pudding and pie filling

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup veg. oil

2 ripe bananas, mashed

4 eggs

1 cup chopped pecans

Mix all the ingredients well. Pour into 2 large or 4 small greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 -45 min.

Free Digital Scrapbook Listings

Just one more bit of goodness here. I have been having so much fun collecting free digital scrapbook goodies (kits, papers, elements) from this site. Who would have thought that there were so many nice people out there willing to share all this great talent? Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! http://ikeagoddess.blogspot.com/ Have fun digital scrapping!

My Husband is the BEST!

Ok not that there was any contest going, but Clayne just won the award Ü Last night he let me order a Dell Inspiron 1521 Notebook computer. I wasn't going to get the green one because it cost $50 just to upgrade from black to green, but he told me to just go ahead and to it. He knows that the green one was my favorite and let me not only get this computer, but indulge in the green. Isn't he sweet? I can't wait for it to get here. The projected shipping date is Oct. 31. Trick or TREAT for me Ü Since I am converting over to digital scrapbooking, the upgrade in memory is a must and the ability to pick up my computer and take it with me anywhere is a very big plus. I'll be able to scrapbook as we do road trips, when we go to the condo.... YIPEE! Ok just wanted to toot my horn. Thanks for listening.

Grocery Ads

Albertsons

5/$12 Coca-Cola twelve packs
Yeah for Christine and her Coke machine!

$1.49/bag Hershey's Snack size candy
89 cents Motts Apple juice 64 oz.
$1.49 Cheeze it crackers
2/$3 Kellogs cereal

Smith's

$1.99 Breyers Ice Cream and Tombstone pizza (must buy 4 for this price)
3/$5 Nabisco snack crackers
4/$1 Regular size Hershey's candy bars
3/$5 Cheetos or Fritos
5/$12 Coca-Cola twelve packs
$1.88/lb Extra lean ground beef
5/$10 General Mills cereals

A Page for Morgan

Yipee. Now I have done a digital layout for each one of my kids. This one I put together from papers and elements that I got from http://www.oscraps.com/ as well. This will probably be the last of my digital scrapping for a few days. I will be painting my living room and entry area for the first part of the week and so computer time will be limited.

Just the way you are

I did it! I downloaded free papers and elements from the online store http://www.oscraps.com/ (no connection with O'Scrap! that I was previously designing for.) They have lots of cute stuff at this site. I then layered the papers and elements to create my own page. Morgan needs a page next, but that won't be tonight.