Apple Tartlet

I saw this recipe on cooksillustrated.com and thought it looked so good, I had to make them. They were very good. I should have had the tartlet on a nicer looking plate for the picture, but oh well. And really I would love a better camera to take cool pictures with but we will work with what I have! It was fun to try something new. It was not as sweet as a pie, which I liked. A little ice cream on top...what a great FHE treat. And then there is Clark who when I ask, 'What do you think?', his response is, 'It's ok.' More culinary refinement is necessary!

Great Book

I am normally a novel reader. Some of my favorites include, Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudiced, certain Grisham novels, Magic of Ordinary Days, Twilight...If I ever find or make time to read I want it to be something I really enjoy and for the most part has a happy ending. Sometimes I read other stuff, but not recently - that is until now! My dad had told me The Price We Paid was really great, so I put it on my list of someday reading. But since it was staring me in the face on my bookshelf everyday I started reading. It was really interesting and very inspiring. I haven't done a whole lot of 'church history' type reading so it was a good branch in a new direction. I finished reading it a couple days ago and have found myself thinking about it as things come up. I was so amazed at the experiences of these early pioneers and even more how they responded to their challenges. Truly amazing. And I enjoyed it enough to keep reading when I got a minute but I wasn't so consumed that I couldn't fix dinner for my family for a few days either! GREAT BOOK! (But if you read a good novel make sure to let me know - I am not giving up reading them!)

A New Wolf

This one isn't part of the "Jacob Black or Sam pack" but it is CLARK who earned his wolf rank in Cub Scouts. He did a great job finishing all the requirements, many of which he did on his own. He also got some great help from his Grandpa and leaders! Many thanks!! He is very happy to have it done but wants to keep working on other badges and beltloops too! Way to go Clark!!

Recent Projects

I like to have projects. Sometimes I tend to get a couple going at a time, which really isn't the best, but here are a couple I have finished recently!!

I have always wanted to try making a rag quilt so I made this one for a friend's new baby. It was fun. I think I would make another...someday.

And It is peach season...my very favorite fruit of the year. We have bought a couple boxes of peaches and have eaten almost all of them. But then I bought another box to bottle. It was good. I did more than just three bottles - it was just the picture I took for your reading benefit! Glad I am done with that for the year too. I still have a few left and I think I am just going to freeze them. Frankly, it is just faster and what is better than fresh peach smoothies all year round?

Surprise!

Last Sunday morning before church I was doing a couple things for RS on my computer, Clark was reading, I am not sure what Ryan was doing and Bella was playing. I went to check on her only to find her with NO clothes on. She had taken off her pajamas and diaper and having a great time playing - I was not so happy about it. I couldn't find any wet spots, so I figured I lucked out on that one! Then today, I was changing her diaper and she threw the biggest fit when I was trying to put one back on. Wow. So we went and sat on the toilet, just because and nothing happened and eventually I got a diaper back on her again. Tonight I gave her some milk and realized that her diaper was still dry, so back to the toilet we went. And...drum roll here...she went pee in the toilet! Amazing. I hadn't really geared myself up for the potty training thing yet, but I guess if she wants to go I will do it! I mean, who really likes buying diapers? That would be great to get off my Costco list! And I would rather having her GO in the toilet than PLAYING in the toilet, which happened a few weeks ago. She didn't like the result near as much!

Bella's Party

Well, there wasn't an official party but here are a few pictures from Bella's birthday.
And here is her cake, which took me a while to even decide how to make. I suppose it doesn't really matter all that much but I wanted one that looked cute in the pictures.



She enjoyed eating it at least!

She wasn't quite sure about presents but she had a good time playing with them once they were out of the box!
I really wanted her to have a little doll and doll cradle, so we built this little cradle and I made the bedding for the inside. Both she and the doll have a good time inside!
I really wanted to post this video that was cute, but long and I just can't seem to get it shortened on this computer, so I am going to have to use Ryan's software sometime, but I just need to get this draft posted! So watch for it...it will be great!

What we love about Bella

Happy 2nd Birthday Bella!!! Wow how the last two years have flown by. I wanted to post things we love about our little sweetie.

1. Bella has the BEST hair! It is so cute when it is done all up and it is great when it is not. Here is just a sampling of a few hair pictures.

This is my favorite. What a classic primping pose. Notice she is sitting IN the sink which is her favorite place to be, when I am doing her hair.

I did help this hair out a bit, but it does tend to be a little crazy by the end of the day, even when I do it in the morning.

Most days we do her hair and there are so many things we can do with it - I am jealous every morning...

2. Bella is such a happy little spirit. She has her not so happy moments like all kids, but she really is a happy little girl and smiles often and especially with Clark - she LOVES her brother!

3. She is has so much fun playing and we have just as much fun watching her. It is fun to see her enjoy herself.

She makes every day better and we are so grateful for her that she is part of our family. I often say, "What would I do without her?" And I just can't imagine!