RUBY

My little sister's getting married - WHAT?!?! That's right - only now that this is so late - she is married! As of February 2nd! And we couldn't be more excited. Well, I could be more excited if I would have been able to go. She was married in Sydney & that was way to far for my wallet, unfortunately. Sad, sad for me! ;)

However, Since she was able to come home for Lane's funeral we decided to throw her an impromptu bridal shower. Worked out lovely since she had a lot of family in town that were able to come celebrate! Now we just need to get Ruby & Tane home! Love you Ruby & Congrats!!!

St. George

Last weekend I had the priviledge of tagging along for a quick trip to St. George. When I say quick - I'm not exaggerating. We left early Saturday morning & came home on Sunday! It was crazy, but lots of fun. Mimi was driving with her friend Kathy that had been visiting in AZ back up to St. George. It was perfect timing because Steele & Amy had just had their baby, so she was able to go see little Max Steele Hallows! It was also my mom's birthday on Sunday. Which was my main reason for going. Although I was pretty excited to see my newest nephew (& he's pretty dang cute!!) it was nice to surprise my mom!


Here's Kathy, Mimi & I with our matching head wraps.....
I have a friend that makes these cute headwraps & they were a hit on our drive up. Check out my friends blog HERE.


When we arrived into town I called my Stepdad Alan to let him know I was their. He came into town to pick me up. He told my Mom he had to go into town to pick up a present for her birthday. They had had a long day & she told him not to worry about anything. He just told her to trust him & that she wouldn't want to take this present back.


We then made the journey (all of 15 minutes) up to their home in Dammeron Valley. When we walked in the door Alan announced that he was home as I hid behind the wall of the dining room table. My Mom walked right past me & then I jumped out at her. She jumped about 20 feet & then started balling. It was great!! Totally had her surprised & it was wonderful to spend some time with her on her birthday!

Sunday morning came & it was time to leave already. I said my good-byes as Mimi picked me up @ my Mom's. We then went back into town so I could meet little Max Steele.....


My niece Abi is one of the most hilarious kids you will ever meet! She was telling me all kinds of things. She asked me if I knew where her baby ate from? Well? Upon my not answering she informed me that he ate from his Mommy's tummy! What a nut! The best story is this one though..... (try & read this with the thought of a little girl with a high pitched voice saying these to me & OVERLY animated)



Abi: Did you know I came out of my Mommy's tummy once?
Me: Yes.
Abi: When I came out of my Mommy's tummy, I came out her throat!
Me: How did you do that?
Abi: I jumped!



I just about died!! Where did that come from? She's so funny. There's just no way to describe her & how funny she is. You just have to meet this little one to fully understand.

Then, we headed out to drive home....already. We came home in Steele's Pilot with Steele. He was heading back to AZ to finish some work on their house. Here's Robin & Steele jammed in the back seat...

We had a fun little adventure in between Mesquite & the Valley of Fire area with this turtle....

First, we heard a weird noise & saw items flying out the back of the car. We got out of the car & saw that the turtle was open & Steele had a bag of stuff that had flown out. We scoured the side of the highway for shoes, gloves & other misc stuff. Dodging speeding cars trying to get stuff out of the middle of the highway with Mimi just about having a heart attack watching us. Steele ahd some tape in his car, so he taped the turtle shut.



Second, we had a car drive up next to us pointing up & then Robin caught a glimpse of the turtle in their windows wide open. (This is within 5 minutes of our last incident.) We stopped again & tried to figure a better way to secure it since the tape snapped. Steele went scouring the side of the highway for rope while Robin & I put together 2 luggage straps & wrapped it around the turtle. Finally, we got Steele back in the car & were off again.

Then, (5 minutes or so later) we heard a noise & the strap was flapping in the back window of the car. The hinges had broken off the turtle & it was not staying together AT ALL! At this point we loaded all of its contents into the car & took the turtle off. We then looked for a hiding spot for Steele to stash it....

He stashed it & we were off. We made it home safely & all was well! Apparantly, Steele, drove by this spot on his way back home to St. George & found the turtle still their. He was able to take it back home to his in-laws! Fun times were had by all & we now find ourselves with a few more inside jokes like.....

"That trip was not real. That did not happen. And, no, they really had a girl!"

ENABLERS

This is my SIL Rennie....

(Please ignore my ugliness in this picture. This was from when we were in Hawaii almost 2 years ago & we waisted no time on getting ready. We were too busy playing!!) I love her dearly, but she is an enabler in my life. Even though she doesn't know it! She always makes the most delectable quick treats. She always has quick, easy, kid-friendly recipes that I usually salivate at until I try. As I've mentioned before she made the best recipe books for all the girls for Christmas. Luckily for me, it had the yummiest caramel corn recipe in it. She's made it for us before & we craved it afterwards. Little does she know that it's created a monster at our house!! We eat this stuff up! It's so easy & YUMMY - you gotta try it! Thanks again Ren!! My thighs & lack of willpower love you for it! :)

SOFT CARAMEL CORN

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cube of butter

1/2 cup corn syrup

1/2 can of sweetened condensed milk
**This is actually half of the original recipe. This makes enough to cover 3 batches of popcorn popped with an air popper.

Instructions

1. Mix sugar, butter & corn syrup in a saucepan & bring to a boil. Once boiling stir constantly for 2 min.

2. Add condensed milk to mixture & bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce to low heat & stir constantly for 2 1/2 minutes.

3. Pour over popcorn & fold until evenly coated. ENJOY!!

Then there's my SIL Ruth (who I sadly enough couldn't find a picture of) who is an amazing cook! She just recently shared this recipe with me that she found on the internet. These muffins really are the best! And keep in mind that I hate bread, but love these! (Yes, I don't like bread. And yes, I know it's weird!)

THE BEST BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

**If buttermilk is unavailable, substitute 3/4 cup plain whole-milk or low-fat yogurt thinned with 1/4 cup milk.

Ingredients

Streusel Topping

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

Pinch table salt

1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

5 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted and warm

Muffins

2 cups fresh blueberries (about 10 ounces), picked over

1 1/8 cups sugar (8 ounces) plus 1 teaspoon

2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon table salt

2 large eggs

4 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted and cooled slightly (1/2 stick)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk (**see note)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

1. FOR THE TOPPING: Stir together sugar, brown sugar, salt, and flour in small bowl until combined. Drizzle with warm butter and toss with fork until evenly moistened and mixture forms large chunks with some pea-sized pieces throughout. Set aside.

2. FOR THE MUFFINS: Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Spray standard muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Bring 1 cup blueberries and 1 teaspoon sugar to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, mashing berries with spoon several times and stirring frequently, until berries have broken down and mixture is thickened and reduced to ¼ cup, about 6 minutes. Transfer to small bowl and cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in large bowl. Whisk remaining 11/8 cups sugar and eggs together in medium bowl until thick and homogeneous, about 45 seconds. Slowly whisk in butter and oil until combined. Whisk in buttermilk and vanilla until combined. Using rubber spatula, fold egg mixture and remaining cup blueberries into flour mixture until just moistened. (Batter will be very lumpy with few spots of dry flour; do not overmix.)

4. Using an ice cream scoop or large spoon to divide batter equally among prepared muffin cups (batter should completely fill cups and mound slightly). Spoon teaspoon of cooked berry mixture into center of each mound of batter. Using chopstick or skewer, gently swirl berry filling into batter using figure-eight motion. Sprinkle streusel topping evenly over muffins.

5. Bake until muffin tops are golden and just firm, 17 to 19 minutes, rotating muffin tin from front to back halfway through baking time. Cool muffins in muffin tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and cool 5 minutes before serving.

BABYSITTING

My sister Steph will kill me. Good thing she never looks at my blog! :) She was sweet enough to watch our girls on our anniversary, so that Erik & I could go out.

I guess I should say that Erik & I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversay! We went out to Someburros for dinner (where we went on our first date) & then we went to see Angels & Demons. Which I liked that movie, but Erik didn't think it was that great. I'm more easily amuzed.

OK - back to my story. While Steph was babysitting they must have played dress up & took pictures. Well, I just found these gems!! Here's a lesson to all - don't take pictures with my camera unless you want that to be leaked out - HAHA!!

PARAMORE & NO DOUBT

***I am ridiculously behind on blogging. There are a few new posts on here & MANY more to come...***


My lovely sister Stephanie bought tickets to the Paramore / No Doubt concert for my sister Allison's birthday. Well, Allison ended up not being able to go. LUCKY ME!!
Steph asked me if I wanted to go - UH YEAH!! It was so much fun. I've seen No Doubt before - back in the old days. I had forgotten how much fun they are live. It was a real treat to see them again. Paramore was really good as well. I give MAJOR kudos to their bass player who did a barrel roll over the guitarist while playing! That was awesome!! We had a blast!

Thanks again Steph!! (Oh & Allison for having to go out of town! :) )

BIRTHDAY

Here's the pictures from my previous post about how my birthday began. (Click

HERE if you don't know the story.) This is what my car looked like when Stephanie got ahold of it.

I have to say how sweet she was. Most people won't get this, but on one of the windows she wrote "I Love You Mail-Butt-Knee". Mail-Butt-Knee was the silly way my dear friend Sarah used to write my name when we were in high school. She passed away a year after High School and my family all knows how hard that was for me. We still make little comments about her & remember little jokes & it was so sweet of Steph to put that on the window! (And Mimi even gave me "prizes" that day! *Another Sarah saying that Mimi always tells me.) Anyway, It took some serious work to clean my car & my nails were blue & red for days! But, it was fun!


While we were locked out of the house we took some silly pictures. What else can you do? Here's my girls being mad at the door..



Kylie was too busy laughing. Here's some more silly pics & Jadyn's just sums up how we felt about the whole morning!


We were suppose to make it to a birthday party for "Grandpa Hallows" that afternoon, but I was too beside myself with stress. (Of course, totally my own making.) Plus, Erik was gone most of the day with his dad. (Turns out he had fractured his hip. He's in rehab right now. He had to have surgery. He's hoping to get out of rehab this weekend. We're also hoping for a speedy recovery! Unfortunately, he HAS to get back to work!) Erik got home in time, thanks to his brother Ron, that we were able to go to the temple with my fanily later in the afternoon. We started a tradition a few months ago to attend every 2nd Saturday. This month it got switched to the 3rd Saturday - because of Valentine's. Mimi got sick, so Mimi & Papa couldn't come. That was YUCKY! But, it was still fun. I love being able to do sealings with our little group. SO NEAT!! After the temple we headed to Cafe Rio for dinner. A HUGE THANK YOU goes to my sister Stephanie for making that all possible. She watched our girls & the Hallow's kids at my house so that we could go. She ROCKS!! The day ended on a high note. Thanks again EVERYONE!!

SERIOUS?!

I am WAY behind on blogging. I still have last weekend to update with, but I'm starting with this..... I have been up for an hour & a half & here's what has happened so far.

I was awoken at 7:00 AM by a ridiculously loud phone ring. Yeah - that would be my phone. Luckily it was my mom wanting to be the first one to wish me Happy Birthday, otherwise I might be really upset. As I was walking downstairs I noticed balloons at the front of my house. After I got off the phone I went outside to see what it was. There was balloons & a Happy Birthday poster taped out side my door. CUTE!! It looked like Allison's handwriting so I text her to say thank you & she asks what I'm talking about. Apparently it wasn't her - it was my other sister Stephanie. WOOPS!! Then, my husband comes downstairs & tells me that he just got a call from his parents that his Dad fell off his truck last night at work & is hurt. He needs help getting dressed & getting to the doctor. So, he takes off to go help. As he's leaving he tells me I better go look at my car. I do & Steph had also written all over my windows. Silly girl! I grab the girls to come look & my camera to take pictures. After looking we go to walk into the house.........well, we were locked out. Someone - who knows who - accidentally locked the door. I, of course, have no keys & no phone. We walk to a neighbors house & use a cell phone to call Erik. He had to quickly drive all the way back to let us back in. He also tells me his Dad's hip is hurting & he can't move it. He's broken it once before & Erik thinks it may be broke again. He informs me this may be an all day trip. I'm not worried about that - I just hope he's ok.

Anyway, that's my day so far. What a wonderful beginning! I can't wait to see what other disasters occur today. Maybe I'll just stay locked IN my house all day & forget everywhere I need to be today....

P.S. - I'll post pictures later. I've got to get back to work now.

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving.....HUH??.....What?! That's the way I feel. Time is just flying by. I can't believe Thanksgiving has come & gone already & life is just full speed ahead. My head is constantly spinning. This year we ventured to Dammeron Valley to spend Thanksgiving with my Mom & my Stepdad Alan. It was nice to get away for a bit - even though we froze. Well, I did. Sad to say that the following pictures are all I have. We spent a couple of hours Thanksgiving night just taking silly pictures. Oh wait - we spent most of the weekend being silly! What do you expect when all the sister get together. Alan's girls are hilarious & they make me laugh. I truly am greatful for them & the fun weekend we had together. They are my sisters even if it's not by blood. Alayne came up from Vegas for the day on Thanksgiving & it was so good to see her. It has been a couple of years since we saw her. Anyway, here's some of our silly pictures....

Allison's never looked so beautiful as she does in the above picture!

The next pictures are what happens when Stephanie's around when Erik's getting set up for family Christmas Card photos in front of my Mom's house...

BIRTHDAYS

This month 3 of the most influential women in my life have birthdays. So, here's to them..
First, yesterday was my stepmom Mignon's birthday. (aka "Migmommy") She is one of the most hilarious women you'll ever meet. She doesn't mess around - she gets things done. Not to mention the fact that she will do anything for you & rearrange her entire schedule to help people out. She's definitely one of those "give you the shirt off their back" kind of people. I love you muchos Mimi!! **By the way, she rode this horse like no other! You would have thought she was a rancher the way she just hopped up & rode off into the sunset.**
Second, is my sister-in-law Rennie's birthday on Sunday. If you've ever had the priviledge of meeting her then you know what an amazing women she is. I admire her in so many ways & learn from her daily. Many don't know, but this past year has been one of the hardest of my life. Rennie was my rock. She was always supporting me, always worried about me & always helping me out in anyway she could. I only wish that someday I can be as wonderful as her. She's definitely one of a kind. I am forever indebted to my brother Luke for marrying her. Or I know I would not be where I am today! I love you Ren & am counting down for your return! ('Cause you know you have to come back to the valley!)
Third, is my Mom's birthday on the 30th. WOW! What can you say about your mom? She's unbelieveable! She's a true example of faith to me. When times get tough - she may stress quite a bit (Thanks again for passing on that wonderful trait to me!), but she always knows it will work out in the end. She never gives up. This was a hard summer with my brother's passing. In fact, that whole week I couldn't even look at my mom. I just couldn't imagine now that I'm a mother myself what that would be like. But, she's handled it tremendously. I love you mom!!


Lastly, I must end on a more sad note that is completely not related to these birthdays. I was in the kitchen yesterday filling up a water bottle when Jadyn got ahold of my camera. She took a picture of me, looked at it & then said,"Mom, you look like you're fat." THANKS!! That makes my day! As if I wasn't self conscience enough already. I love my kids!

SUCCESS

YEAH FOR ME!! Today my sister Allison & I went hiking up Camelback again. And today, I made it to the top!! I had to go really slow (thanks again Allison for being so patient with me), but it paid off in the end. What a gorgeous sight! It's hard to believe we live in the desert when you look down & see all of the trees. I can't wait to go again. I'm going to get my tired, old body in shape if it kills me. (And it just about has with these two hikes!)

P.S. - We missed you Ren! Next time for sure! And Robin, what are you talking about rubbing it in? Have we forgotten that I'm not the one that lives in Hawaii?!

RUBY!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY!!!

OK - so, I'm a day late. But, I didn't have time to look at my blog yesterday. So, here it is a day late!! My little sis RUBY (aka Robin) turned 24 yesterday!! CRAZY!!! She'll probably kill me for putting this picture up of her, but I LOVE it! Here's the story behind it...

When Erik & I went to visit here in August (WOW! Has it been 3 months already? NUTS!) we had so much fun. Luke & Rennie came, too & we had a blast. Well, upon waking up the first morning we were their E & I decided to go for a walk before anyone woke up. When we came back from our walk we heard someone playing a Ukelelie. (I don't know how to spell it right - sorry.) We both stopped & looked at each other & thought how cool that was, but yet crazy. People in Hawaii really just sit around & play the ukelelei? Why yes they do! Then, we turned the corner & saw our very own Ruby was the one playing! I was so impressed - I had no idea she knew how to play that thing. It was so cool.

We love you so much Robin & can't wait to see you for Christmas!! Also, thanks again for the fun trip - much MAHALO!!!!!!! It will be hard to top that one.

Cutest Sister

OK - this is what happens when you have one of the world's cutest sister's! While I was teaching tonight my husband went over to Jack & Allison's house to help Jack out with iTunes. So, what does Allison do? Watches (or plays as she so nicely put it tonight) with my girls. And what do they do? Oh, not play games or or read books (that one was also for you Allison), but they bake cookies & scrapbook. (Which my kids love!!) If you don't know Allison - see her blog - she's one of those that always looks cute, her house is always perfect, has the cutest craftiness & you just want to smack her! Really - we love her & here's what she helped my girls create tonight...



Love these!! We're going to add more fun photos & save them forever! You're the best Alli!!!