Apple Heaven!

Ok, so last night Scott and I made the Apple Upside Down Cake and in two words....Apple Heaven. It was so good and it didn't fall apart when I fliped it out of the pan...perfection. The girls are being good sports...willing to try it, but "Apple Stuff" is the preferred apple dessert. Although Kellie again, raved. Love her. And Nat had two slices...love her! Scott and I were like, "Score!"...it's a keeper! I am so glad I am trying these recipes. I don't think I would have made any of them...I would have said, "Mmmm, that looks good!", but that would be the end of it. Actually trying out the recipes have been fun. I think Skillet Lemon Souffle is next!!

The best he's ever had.....

Ok! So, my plan didn't quite go the way I wanted! My family is so busy that on most nights 1/2 of us are gone.....so I waited til yesterday to do the potato salad, but it was just for me and Scott. The big girls were gone and the little girls wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole, but Scott said, and I quote, "THIS IS THE BEST POTATO SALAD I HAVE EVER HAD!!!" Wow. I asked him if he was just saying that and he said no and proceeded to tell me why it was so good. Cook's Illustrated recipes really are awesome. Next up, the Apple Upside-Down Cake! Yum!

Me and Cook's Illustrated

Last weekend, Scott and I saw "Julie and Julia" and I just loved it! The idea of cooking your way through a cookbook sounded so cool to me! So, I started looking for a book to do just that. I picked Cook's Illustrated Best 30 minute Recipe book, but it's huge....great, but huge, so I settled on something a lot smaller, but just as good, Cook's Illustrated Magazine. I figured if I could work my way through their magazine every other month I would learn a lot and Scott would get some great, out of the ordinary dishes! So, last night I made the first recipe, "Steak Tips with Mushroom Gravy" and it was a hit! Kellie even discovered she LOVES mushrooms! Who knew? Anyway, tonight the plan is to make the Austrian Potato Salad and Mexican Grilled Corn with my awesome BBQ chicken! Sounds good, huh? Well, come on over!

Happy 43rd Scott!

Happy Birthday, Babe! Last week on Thursday, we had a nice little party starting with dinner at Taste of Asia which was fantastic! And then, after we opened gifts, we played a round of Imaginiff and in the middle of it, Grandma and Grandpa arrived! We had cake and ice cream and over all, you said it was a great day! Your folks stayed until the following Tuesday and had a nice visit.

Lindsay demonstated one of the many fashionable things you can do with party hats!

Man that's a LOT of candles!!!

We love you!

Hi Dr. Cullen!

On Saturday, Natalie, Emily and I went to our very own Charleston Town Center Mall and anxiously awaited the arrival of Dr. Cullen! It was SO exciting! Here's a pic or two!

July Photo Shoot!

Yesterday we did another photo shoot. Here are a couple of my faves!

Aren't they beautiful?

I LOVE APPS!!!

Ok, so I'm going a little crazy with the apps, but they are SO fun! My favorite is the gratitude journal. I also love the to do list, the scriptures, the games that keep my girls competing, and I haven't even mentioned the photo editing apps....AWESOME. Here are just a couple of photos I edited ON.MY.ITOUCH!

Good Morning!

Okay, so this is a little weird. I am still getting up a couple of hours before everyone else for no other reason than I feel rested and don't want to sleep anymore. Huh? I have always slept til I absoutely have to get up and now I'm up with real time to myself? I have to admit I really love this time of the day. The house is quiet, but not empty. The telemarketers haven't started calling yet and I have my laptop all to myself. I can journal, paint, read, whatever and get this: NO INTERRUPTIONS. Whoa. Although I am getting a little freaked out. I was up before 5 this a.m. (I took a major sunday nap yesterday) and I (gasp) mopped the kitchen floor. Eww, that's just wrong. Well, I'm gonna ride this wave as far as it goes because this must just be a glitch in the space and time continuum.....have a nice day!

Old Family photos ROCK!

The first 7 years of my life were complicated. Another story for another day. However, one of my biological half sisters passed away in May and the floodgates of memories...good memories....were opened. Old family photos have resurfaced and have helped me so much. When I saw this photo of Laurie and I, I about exploded with happiness. I'm 5 and I'm a happy, normal, proud big sister! I am wearing my WHITE GO-GO BOOTS! I LOVED those boots! It was a relief to remember something besides the sadness of those days.

This second picture helps me see myself in my own daughters...it helps me feel a part of something bigger. I am finally beginning to put my experiences into perspective and seeing the hand of the Lord in my life even clearer. It is really true, a picture does say 1000 words.

It's 5 a.m....do you know where your children are?!?

The answer to the above question is, IN BED OF COURSE! I guess the real question is, why aren't I? Ever since I started taking Abilify, I sleep for about 6 hours and then, BAM! I am awake and raring to go! I'm not actually complaining, because, I feel rested and refreshed which is a new feeling for me! It is quite amazing, really. It's been about 5 weeks now on this wonder drug and I feel better than I have in months. I'm so glad it has worked for me. I wish I knew HOW it worked. In the past I had good days off and on, but most days were BLAH. It was terrible and I was starting to think that was just normal for me, although I hoped I was wrong. My doctor has been working with me for months, upping meds, changing meds, committing me to eat right, exercise, etc., which all worked initially, but not for 5 weeks in a row! Whoo Hoo! So, here I am with 3 or 4 hours to myself, to read scriptures, journal, finish painting flower girl , and since I'm in such a good mood, I'm makin' coffeecake! Yes!

HAVE A NICE DAY-AY-AY!!!!!

Inspired 2009 was so, well, INSPIRING!!!

For the second year in a row, I have been lucky enough to attend Donna Downey's Inspired Art Workshop. It was so amazing. I though I would put up a couple pictures of works in progress...

Jennifer Stewart's Kicked up Canvas Collage .....



Paulette Insall's portrait class....

I have 4 other projects, but haven't got the pictures taken yet, all of them are in various stages of completion. They were all fun classes and I really learned a lot. I love working with new media and doing different things with traditional supplies. I have plenty to keep me busy til next year! Gina went with me and we had a blast!

Spring has Sprung!

Well, it is definetly spring around here! I love how every year our poor dead yard literally comes alive with flowers, green grass, bird's nests. Here are afew pictures from the last couple of springs, and it is just the same this year! I can always count on the beautiful purple lilacs...aren't they gorgeous? And, the mama bird that lays her eggs in the nest on the rainpipe on the front porch....

Our back yard.....amazing.

The front of our house...check out those hostias...they are even bigger this year!

I am so grateful for this beautiful world that Heavenly Father has given to us and will be eternally grateful for what spring symbolizes, that our Savior died for us so that we too can live again.

And the beat goes on....

Wow, time sure flies by. I don't get over here enough. But, I just read my sister;s blog and it reminded me that I really should add an entry. I mean, for myself at least! An update from Disney at a minimum! Here are some family pictures at Cocoa Beach---Laurie insisted! I have some more I want to put up, but of course I have to LEAVE RIGHT NOW to pick up some kids from track practice!

My Inspiration

These two little canvases of Annie and Kellie are from a photograph of the two of them taken a couple of years ago. They were outside playing and I went to check on them. What did I find but two sisters dressed as polar opposites....it was so funny I had to take a picture. I found the photo about a week ago and it screamed at me to do something with it. At first I wanted to put them on the same collage, but each one of them had something to say separately. I love these two little girls. They keep me laughing and help me remember what is important.