End of year Bake-A-Thon!

With it being the last week of school, preschool, seminary and H.S Graduation...my kitchen was in a constant state of cooking! Cupcakes to help celebrate Colton's "pretend" b-day at school , since his birthday always falls in the Summer--we did red, white, and blue for a July theme!
The cake I decorated with all the leftover goodies this week... it was for Sterling's end of year potluck
The cookie bouquets I made for Dan's seminary seniors, and a few other graduating friends!
Because of this our kitchen was in a constant state of chaos this week! Look out BELOW...

DAY 4 SPRING BREAK (3/20/08): Easter Prep!

Two holidays and a birthday in one week can be pretty stressful for a celebratin' family. Thank heavens we had plenty of helping hands to decorate BUT mostly CELEBRATE!(Ryland and Uncle Brendon)

Down came the clovers and up went the eggs, and bunnies!
Plastic eggs are a perfect 1 year old toy!Thank heavens for a cool, strong uncle to help decorate the tree at the TOP!
(Colton and Uncle Brendon)
After a watching the new movie BEES and a nap...it was TiMe to Dye THE EGGS!
Think we had enough?

Little Ryland made this face every time grandma helped pull his eggs out of the dye. He was so surprised at the pretty colors you could turn them!
The whole dying bunch!

After a yummy dinner of my infamous meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green veggies, salad and dump cake...

The NON RV sleeping cousins (the younger crowd) went to bed while the others of us headed out to the backyard for a FIRE and some s'more making.

It was a perfect night full of stars and the moon. (below)

That is definitely one thing I enjoy living in a small town, the starry skies! There is no competition from street lights or sounds of cars and traffic. You can just lay on your back and stare up all night.

The whole clan singing some girls camp songs.

(cousin kayden roasting a mellow!)(Colton enjoying the fruits of the fire-check out the marshmallow all over his mouth)
Oh, and IF girls camp songs are too much for you, you can always join Dan for some serious games of Sudoku! Ha ha
After we sent the RV cousins to bed--the adults made it a late night of Phase 10, That I WON!
SPRING BREAK is a celebratin' , game playin' , holiday havin' TIME!

You Know It's a Great Day When....

Your hubby comes home by suprise for lunch to just be with you a little more that day AND you have had time to MAKE 4 DOZEN COOKIES on top of: getting your kids to school, lunches made, the other kids dressed, yourself dressed and showered, volunteering in the class, feeding the heel biters at home, boiling chicken for dinner, and a BLOG! (Of course, in my mind I feel like I have so much more I can do and should do BUT I really have to put it all in perspective).

The reason for making the 4 dozen cookies is that tonight I am going to a cookie exchange for the first time. I was a bit leery about making that many cookies and having that many cookies in my home. But, then I started thinking of everyone I could take them too, as an early holdiay 'kick-off', instead of when their homes are already FULL of too much sugar-and I decided to dig in! I was in a cooking mood today anyways-so that has helped the whole situation.I will let you know if I am a fan of cookie exchanges after.
IT IS A GREAT DAY!!! YEAH!!!!

Dacie is for sure a GIRL! She LOVES CHOCOLATE. Today I introduced her for the first time to a chocolate chip or two-and her response was such a deep, warm sounding "mmmmm" that we have all experienced in our girly chocolate love hearts. I felt her happiness! So did her smile-check out the melted chocolate and one little curl on her head. I am in LOVE with having another girl to hang with in the house!