Happy Father's Day To You!

Happy Father's Day to all you dad's out there. There are a few super special dad's that we like to celebrate at our house. I took turns asking the kids questions about their dad and their grandpa's and we have a few video's to share with you.

(Please note that my voice is super, I mean super annoying and I apologize. Hey, I'm the one stuck with it. Turn your speakers down PRONTO!*warning... screeching tones and patronizing voice may leave you slightly nauseous.)

 Happy Father's Day Scott!!!  

Happy Father's Day Papa Robert!!!  

Happy Father's Day Grandpa Blake!!!

We sure love you awesome Men
and we are so blessed
to have you for our own.

Happy, Happy Father's Day.

How To Soften Butter Fast

*I posted this image on Instagram and have already had several phone calls asking me how I do it. So here are the super-dee-duper easy instructions.

• Put hard butter into mixer.
• Beat for a few seconds. Stop.
• Blow hot air from hair dryer onto butter for 5-10 seconds. Make sure to move it around as you do it. you will see that the very thin top layer of the butter will start to melt.
• Beat again to check for consistency. 
• Repeat steps carefully 1 or two more times.
• It doesn't take much so go easy.

And that is how you get soft butter on the fly. (Without melting the heck out of it in the Microwave!)

HAPPY BAKING!

60 second catch-up...

All of a sudden I feel really busy...like BUSY.

My sleeping baby, easy two year old due has turned into...2 crazy toddlers. I'm not kidding. All of a sudden it seems like I just can't keep up. I'm behind in everything. School homework with the kids, laundry, spring cleaning, cooking, shaving my legs, getting dressed...it all seems to NOT be happening. I swear I'm busy with projects all day long...and at the end of the day I don't feel like I have enough to show for my labors.  And as you can tell..blogging is not happening either.

Update:

1. I have an engaged 22 year old living with me. Do you remember the pure giddiness of when you were engaged? It's like living with a ten-year old on Christmas Eve.
2. Dylan is in baseball. His little bum looks so cute in his pants. (Hollie, remember Nate Huntsman and Matt Evans in their baseball pants...what where we, 12?)
3. Scott is excited about a new company in Colorado that he has invested in. More details to follow.
4. Paid my taxes. Super painful. OUCH.
5. Pitched my old couches and my front room is EMPTY. I actually like an empty room. It could be like this for years!
6. Kimm moved to Idaho. SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS. I've missed her bunches. She even offered to give Scott and I a Temple Night each month and watch the kids for us. YES PLEASE.
7. The gym hasn't happened yet this week. I'm promising right now that it will happen today, tomorrow and Saturday. I give you my WORD.
8. My little brother has accepted a job with a Law Firm in DC. So proud of him and really excited for him.
9. I just found a pile of Kate's clean clothes in the Laundry room. WHY IS SHE SO LAZY??? This tic's me off so bad.
10. Sawyer pooped in the potty last night people. BE VERY HAPPY!!!

Love to you all. And how are you?

April 2012 General Conference--No Ordinary Blessing by Dieter F. Uchtdorf: (How to prepare for General Conference)

***Make sure to become a follower of this blog so that you can check back for Deseret Book Giveaway's, Visiting Teaching Handouts, and Free LDS Artwork! 

I am really excited to share this message with you. It is a great reminder of three important points we can remember and apply as we prepare and participate in General Conference.

This First Presidency Message was first published in the Ensign in September 2011.

You can view it {Here}

General Conference—No Ordinary Blessing

A fine member of the Church was talking with a neighbor who was not of our faith. When the topic of discussion turned to general conference, the neighbor asked, “You say you have prophets and apostles? And twice a year in a worldwide conference they reveal the word of God?”

“Absolutely,” the member replied with confidence.

The neighbor thought about that for a moment. He seemed genuinely interested and then asked, “What did they say in the last general conference?”

At this point the good member of the Church went from feeling excited about sharing the gospel to feeling embarrassed. Try as he might, he couldn’t think of the details of a single talk.

His friend found this troubling and said, “You mean to tell me that God speaks to man in our day and you can’t remember what He said?”

The brother felt humbled by this exchange. He vowed that he would do better to remember the words spoken by the Lord’s servants in general conference.

We all know how hard it is to remember every message of general conference, and I’m confident that we need not be embarrassed if we don’t remember everything. Nevertheless, there are messages in each general conference given as a gift and a blessing from heaven specifically for our personal life situations.

In preparation for general conference, let me suggest three basic concepts that may help us to better receive, remember, and apply the words spoken by the Lord’s servants.

1. Members of the Church are entitled to personal revelation as they listen to and study the inspired words spoken at general conference.

As you prepare for general conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered. For example, you might yearn for direction and guidance by the Lord regarding challenges you are facing.

Answers to your specific prayers may come directly from a particular talk or from a specific phrase. At other times answers may come in a seemingly unrelated word, phrase, or song. A heart filled with gratitudefor the blessings of life and an earnest desire to hear and follow the words of counsel will prepare the way for personal revelation.

2. Don’t discount a message merely because it sounds familiar.

Prophets have always taught by repetition; it is a law of learning. You will hear repetition in themes and doctrines in general conference. Let me reassure you: this is not due to a lack of creativity or imagination. We continue to hear messages on similar issues because the Lord is teaching and impressing upon our minds and hearts certain foundational principles of great eternal importance that must be understood and acted upon before we can move on to other things. A wise builder first lays the foundation before erecting the walls and the roof.

3. The words spoken at general conference should be a compass that points the way for us during the coming months.

If we listen to and follow the promptings of the Spirit, they will serve as a Liahona, guiding us through the unknown, challenging valleys and mountains that are ahead (see 1 Nephi 16).

Since the world began, God has raised up prophets who speak the will of heaven to the people of their times. It is our responsibility to listen and then apply the messages the Lord provides for us.

Our merciful and loving Heavenly Father has not forsaken and will not forsake His children. Today, as well as in times past, He has appointed apostles and prophets. He continues to reveal His word to them.

What a marvelous privilege it is to hear God’s messages for each of us during general conference! Let us prepare well for this great blessing of divine guidance delivered by His chosen servants.

For this is no ordinary blessing.

Only The Strong Survive

The past week has been a difficult one.
Like...really, really hard.

Shouldn't there be a rule that mom's and kids cannot be sick at the same time.

Me: Double Ear Infection, Double Ear-drum rupture, Pink Eye, Upper Respiratory/sinus infection, Cough.
Wyatt: Double Ear Infection, Pink Eye, Upper Respiratory/sinus infection, Cough.
Sawyer: Pink Eye, Upper Respiratory/sinus infection, Cough.
Dylan: Upper Respiratory/sinus infection, Cough.
Kate: Cough.

Scott: NOTHING. He is the Last Man Standing. (Lucky Husband with the Immune System of Steel)

Last week was suppose to be rocking.

Wyatt Turned 1.
Valentine's Day.
Dylan Turned 8.
Lance & Terry came to town.

I did my best, but I was SO miserable.

The babies and I are on Anti-biotics but we still feel terrible. The best I felt all week was after I took Mucinex-D last night. My friend Shawri talked me into it and it really did make me feel better. Not even drinking the bottle of NyQuil helped this girl. Bummer.

It is so hard trying to take care of a family when you are sick. BOOOO.  Not to mention I am pretty much deaf right now and can't hear a thing. Not the phone ring, not the baby cry, not the kids fighting. And I missed another week of Church which really stinks. I so needed it yesterday. Scott & Dylan were the only one's that made it.

The good new is that the world goes on and somehow we make it through and forget it all. And I'm thinking a little bit of Spring could do that for me right about now.

And...

I miss the gym. (Crazy)

Death By Cupcakes...

When your new neighbor that likes to make cupcakes becomes your friend Becky that likes to make cupcakes...

You end up with TONS of cupcakes.

I couldn't believe my eyes when 

I received a delivery of 26 cupcakes.

26 people!

I immediately had to sample the three different flavors and then I had to call 911 for emergency transport of remaining cupcakes.

Lucky for me I have several neighbors that were more than willing to take them off my hands.

Spreading Joy through cupcakes is the best feeling in the world.

Coconut Kiss

Vanilla Cake

Coconut Cream Filling

Almond Coconut Butter-cream

Love Me Lemon

Lemon Cake

Lemon Curd Filling

Lemon Butter-cream

Razzmanian Devil

Devils Food Cake

Raspberry Reduction Filling

Raspberry Butter-cream

Love Me Lemon was my favorite-

Such Amazing Deliciousness

And then this nameless friend showed up on 
my doorstep a week later.

Mint

Ganache

Need I say more????

An End In Sight...

There is a light at the end of the tunnel!!! I am almost finished with my 2011 book-work and taxes. I'm trying to ignore everything else until I am done.

Well, not the kids of course.

But EVERYTHING ELSE.

It will feel so good to be finished!

It won't however feel so good to be writing a 5 digit check to the IRS in April. Ouch.

Side Note:

***So happy about Romney taking Florida!!!

How are you World?

1. I guess it is time to take the Christmas tree down when undies start replacing the ornaments.

2. Wiggles is going to be 1 next month. I can hardly believe it. He is still so tiny. I love it.

3. Scott took Kate to her Snowy Night activity at the Kindergarten center. I love it when she gets to do fun stuff with her dad.

4. I have such a hard time getting Sawyer to eat. Kate has more luck than I do because Sawyer worships her. What kid doesn't like mashed potatoes? Weirdo.

5. Scott, Dylan & Kate are Crazy about veggie platters. I think it is just an excuse to drink ranch dressing.

6. Yum!!!

7. Sawyer loves the nasty Acai berry juice that Scott bought at Costco. It is so gross, but he loves it. Look how thick it is. It leaves a huge mustache on him. I'm glad he likes something.

8. Returned my Dyson to Costco and purchased this baby. Oh Riccar how I love you. Oh Dyson how I now know I hated you. SO MUCH BETTER IT IS BEYOND WORDS!!!! Shawri, you were right!

 9. Wyatt is the EVER mess maker. Into EVERYTHING.

10. Made a Strap for my Camera. Super easy project. 

And now Scott is out of Town for the weekend and I've got to get our business books finished for 2011, the W-2's in the mail, taxes filed, and have a birthday party tomorrow for Sawyer he is turning 3!!!! I'm a wee bit BIZ-ay. Can't wait for my girl date tomorrow night with the kids. At least something good comes from the husbands being out of town and working. Can't wait.

Peace out World.

Hope you are doing excellent.

Are you?

Wednesday: Did You Know?

1.  I took the kids swimming on Saturday night. I sat on the edge of the pool with some friends and watched the kids swim. The Blackfoot Pool is trying to come up with 200,000 dollars to make some renovations and I have mixed feelings about this. They sincerely need to renovate, but I wonder if the building is a lost cause. I'm not sure that it would be enough money to  really do what needs to be done. Let's just say that pieces of the ceiling  fall on you sometimes. You heard me right. My kids love it there, but it needs some SERIOUS work. 

 2. Dylan turns eight next month. He is so excited. He will be able to be baptized and he is really looking forward to it. He also can't wait to get the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

3. Wyatt is crazy. CRAZY. He is so busy I don't know what to do. He is all over the place and into EVERYTHING. I have a hard enough time keeping the messes to a minimum. Sheesh.

4. Dylan and Ryan are the same age and have the same teeth. Isn't this stage adorable. Oh my heavens those huge teeth in their little cute mouths crack me up. So Fun.

* Free Printable {Here}

5. I love Grey and Yellow and this free printable from Persnickety Prints is adorable. You can find it at the link above. Tell Chari that I sent you!!!

6. I need to get to the gym today. NEED TO.

7. I almost have sugar out of my system. I'm feeling so much better. Why couldn't I have just said NO to the Christmas goodies?

8. I am not too into politics, but I am behind Mitt Romney at this point. I like Newt Gingrich, have a crush on Rick Perry (the same one I have on George W. Bush. It must be that Texas Blood and slow accent.) I think Ron Paul is smart but crazy, and John Huntsman comes off so arrogant to me. JUST MY OPINIONS.

9. I am about ready to rip my hand-me-down couches out of my living room. I can't stand them anymore. Scott has told me about 10,000 times to go and buy new ones, but I don't know what I want. I am TOO Indecisive. 

10. I love my husband. He loves me. We have 4 crazy kids and I feel really busy all of a sudden. Why do I feel so busy? Oh ya, because this is my busy month for work. I do the accounting for our businesses and I need to get out all the w-2's, finish my year end taxes, and get the books ready for the professional accountants.

Bonus: Downton Abbey

I may have watched the entire first season and the newest episode in two days. SO GOOD. OH my starts I am a sucker for stuff like this. Love it!

Have you seen this Show?
Did you like it?
Are you busy this time of year?

Wednesday: Did You Know?

1. It is awesome to see the kids do things together and actually get along. I feel like I'm usually diffusing a bomb between them most of the time. You never know when the tension is going to explode. I know they love each other a bunch, but they also try to get each other in trouble and it drives me crazy.

2. Wiggles has been getting teeth the past week and trying to survive his first ear infection. Let's just say he is NOT happy and NOT sleeping. Poor Scott has been so awesome. This is a picture of him catching a few minutes of sleep before he left for work. He was up all night with Wyatt. What a great dad and awesome husband. 

3. I love taking pictures when I am in the car (I get bored driving) and Scott is a good sport.

4. Scott received a very generous Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse from one of his gym members. It was a Christmas Gift. The family had been unemployed for a few months during the year and Scott still let them use the gym even though they couldn't pay their memberships. (My Scotty is AWESOME) So the family gave Scott this nice gift as a gesture to say thank you. I couldn't believe how thoughtful they were to say thank you in such an extravagant way. We sure enjoyed using the Gift on New Year's Eve. Here is Scott coloring at the table. He is such a kid. But actually a REALLY great color-er. (is that a word?) 

5. This is not a super great photo, but I love Sawyer's cheeks in it. My little man. (I do not love my cheeks in it. Or my chin.)

6. Here is a picture of my little Farm Town at dusk. I love living here. There are only a handful of street lights and stores, but it is home to the best people in the WORLD. I love you Blackfoot.

7. Don't let this smirk fool you. He has been tears for a week. I'm so glad that he is finally feeling better. We missed our happy Wiggles.

8. I had a severe lapse in judgement after a phone call with Amber {my super awesome SIL} yesterday and decided I should try to potty train Sauce. He turns 3 in a few weeks and  you would think that he would be ready. In my head I knew I should wait a bit more, but then I thought...oh heck, just try. So I used up his last diaper, put him in undies and bought some pull-ups (PRINCESS ones dang it. I was in such a hurry I didn't even notice they were pink. He was not thrilled) After 6 pair of wet underwear this morning and one pair of poopy (gross) I gave up. I lasted about 15 hours. PATH-e-TIC.

9. Wyatt ate his first piece of pizza last night. The whole piece. 10 months old. Amazing. The Peterson's know how to eat!

10. Oh Kate. This girl is giving me a run for my money. I love her. I love her. I love her. {repeat to self before you explode} She is cute and naughty and messy and snotty. Heaven help me. Please?

Bonus:

Neighbor Cathy is really sick and that just makes me sad. I took her some soup and cough drops yesterday but she sounded terrible. I much prefer seeing her out in her garden that sick in bed. I told her that it would be a good break from swearing at her dogs. She mustered a small smile. I love you Cathy. Hope you feel better.

Bonus II:

I am doing awesome. I am so good. AMAZING. WONDERFUL. AMAZING. I feel great and feel NORMAL for the first time in a year. Can you believe that I was cut open three weeks ago today and I feel THIS awesome? I can't!

Scary Bonus:

Scott and I were asked to speak at a Stake Single Adult Fireside in a few weeks. I'm excited and nervous. I have to figure out what I should speak on. I'm really bad a narrowing things down. REALLY bad. Wish me luck.

Blog Design Bonus:

Don't judge the blog design. I love trying new things and well, I'm experimenting. I don't have much skill, but it sure is fun.

Any Potty Training Pointers?

Any Naughty Daughter tips or advice?

Any topic ideas for my talk?

Are you loving the NEW YEAR??? 

I AM!!!!

Wednesday: Did You Know?

1. Christmas is amazing. I can't believe how much I love ribbon, wrapping paper, and family.  The kids love it too and Kate and Sawyer had so much fun decorating Papa. My dad is a kid at heart and is so patient with the kids. Isn't he cute!

 2. How cute is Sawyer rolling out the cookie dough that came in {this amazing Christmas Cookie Basket from the Folkman's}. You have to check out the link. It is the cutest Christmas Gift idea I've ever seen. Rachel is a genius, just like her mother and always puts together amazing theme ideas. It blew my mind, and my kids were the ones that benefited from the great gift. They had so much fun making and decorating cookies with Nana.

3. Before we left Utah on Tuesday, we hit up the Quicksilver store in Provo. Everything was 75% off and we scored. My favorite purchase was this flannel shirt for Sawyer. Oh my heavens I am in love with it. It cost me a Whopping 2 bucks. So cute.

4. I'm going to stop talking as much about my medical issues. There will be a few more posts, but I'm sure you are all sick of hearing about 'poor' me. So here it is. It is two weeks post surgery and I am FABULOUS!!! I can't believe how good I am. Miracle after Miracle have gotten me here and I feel so blessed to be doing so well. The worst part of the entire surgery was my rash, and the first time they filled up my bladder with fluid.

My catheter got a hole in the bag the night before I had it removed and so I had to double bag it with grocery bags. SO GROSS!!! But pretty funny.

I am TUBE free, PAIN free and I have no holes in my bladder or uterus that aren't supposed to be there! AMAZING! I feel so blessed.

5. Scott and I laid in bed last night while Sawyer was sleeping on the floor. (This happens a lot. Don't ask.) He started telling  us jokes and we were laughing so hard. I can't believe that he is almost 3. I have enjoyed him so much. Everything that he says or does is just magic. I sure have a soft spot for him in my heart. I love all my kids so much, but every mom should have a Sawyer.

6. Today, when I put Kate's hair up in pig tails I made her promise me that she would wash her hair tomorrow. It has seriously been a week since she washed her hair. Gross. She sure clean's up cute though.

7. Wyatt is getting really mobile and really brave. This is him yelling at me for trapping him in the living room with stools. I'm not sure what to do with him. He is everywhere. He is hilarious. And really smiley, as long as he is roaming free.

8. Scott left the house today and exclaimed "we are going to a family movie tonight if the house is clean when I get home." I know that this incentive was for the kids...but good grief, that is still a lot of pressure on me. I better get busy!

9. On Monday, Kimm, Nana and the clan took me and my Catheter to see A Dolphin's Tale (my first public outing with my pee). I cried about 10 times.  I dreamed of being a dolphin trainer as a child and still have a love for the Sea and it's creatures. Great movie. Scott ended up driving the two babies (yes I still call Sawyer my baby) around in the car for most of the movie. Thanks Scott.

10. My first night without my catheter and my first night with a working bladder I had to use the bathroom about every 45 minutes. This is worse than pregnancy. I literally felt like I was going to the bathroom all night long. (TMI I know!) Anyway, tell your bladder that you love it!

How was your Christmas?

What is the longest your daughter has gone without washing her hair?

Do you have a extra soft spot for any of your children?

Wednesday: Did You Know? Christmas Edition

1.    It snowed today! Look at my cute little rock covered in snow! I'm feeling so JOLLY, so MERRY, so full of HOT CHOCOLATE! It is the BEST time of YEAR. I am so excited to play in the snow, build a snowman, and lick the snow off of my car window. {Yes I really do that.}

2.   Today I went the extra mile, which I don't always have time to do, and sewed this little dress so that Kate can dress up like an Angel for our ward Christmas Program tomorrow night. If I wasn't lazy I would have measured, ironed the ribbon, and used matching thread instead of Yellow. The good things is that Kate doesn't care. She told me I was the best dress maker in the entire world. That is all that counts right?

3. Girls are more fun that boys sometimes. For instance, Kate gets to be an Angel tomorrow night, Dylan is suppose to be a cow. Um...ANY IDEAS?

4.   I've started my projects. 30 yards of fabric and here we go. I only have 2 weeks to get them finished because of my surgery, so I had better get busy. I like making gifts for my nieces and nephews. It is my little way of making sure they know how much I love them and that I am the COOL aunt. ;)

5.  Sawyer is getting really good and taking all the ornaments off of the tree and putting them back on. He needs a hair cut but I can't bring myself to do it.

6.  Scott loves Christmas time. He plays Christmas music, drinks cocoa, takes baths, sits by the fire, watches  all my Christmas movies, and snuggles with me. It is fun. 

7.  I am still undecided if I am going to send out Christmas cards this year. It might just be too much for me. I am however excited to GET Christmas cards. Wow, I sound stingy.

8.  I love Christmas movies. What are your favorites? PLEASE RESPOND!!!

9.  Our stockings are hung. However, our glass is not clean. HOW GROSS IS THAT???? Little hands are allover the place here people!

10.  I'm feeling better about surgery. I've been pretty bummed about it, but I am keeping myself busy and I have a ton to do, so it is in the back of my mind and I am feeling at peace. Wahoo.

Bonus:

Make sure to stop back by during December to see all the great ideas on ways to Put Christ Back Into Christmas!!!

What projects do you have brewing?

Have you seen snow yet?

Do you find little hand prints allover?

Do you have a list of favorite Christmas movies?

Um, a cow? Any ideas?