Back to Life, Back to Reality.

(I don't know Why that song popped into my head) Christmas vacation in OVER. We drove down to Texas to see all sorts of extended Family. Woo Hoo was it fun! We had a lot going against us this trip. Out of nowhere a pipe had burst in our basement, which pushed us back about three hours from leaving (not a happy Brandon, at least it happened before we left town, and not after. This way we could stop the water from ruining Everything in the basement.). We were experiencing freezing rain that evening we were supposed to leave Missouri, we were advised by many to stay here til morning. Luckily Danielle went into labor that night and I was here to witness the birth of my newest niece Kinzley Evelyn Gorham. What a cutie. On the way down to Texas there was alot of construction, no wrecks though (thank goodness). We made it with a few minutes to spare so I could get Ryann dressed up for a Christmas Service that her dad picked her up for (whew). Then the Brandon, Seiler, and I took showers and got ready to do some last minute shopping. This was fun. Brandon and I forgot it was Christmas Eve, and Every store would close early. We couldn't get in ANYWHERE. Freaking out always helps in situations like these. Thankfully Tom Thumb was open and we picked up a few GC's. Crisis averted. Spending lots and lots and lots and lots of time with family, we saw Four Christmases (hilarious), attended the Temple, ate at all the awesome restaurants in site,crocheted a whole baby blanket, and spent more time with family. We went to pick up Ryann, that was fun. She had some interesting news to share- Nothing I want to discuss. Some how we came home with more stuff than we took down, that never happens. Brandon and his mother cleverly loaded the car to its maximum capacity, we all hopped into the car, and someone said "Oh no, everyone out. . . . " Not what I wanted to hear. The rims on Brandon's left rear tire were showing through the tire. Two hours later, we were on our way Home. Hallelujah! 7 Hours, one food stop and 4 bathroom emergencies later, we made it to our house that the smell of moldy garbage knocked you over as you walked in. . . . . . . . . . . No Place Like Home. So we went over to my mom's house to play with the baby. Good times. Good Times.

Merry Christmas

Hope you all have a Fun, Safe and Happy Holiday!

OKay. . . . .So I watched "The Biggest Loser"

Finaly last night and I want to look like Heba! Anyone want to help me get there? in exchange for cookies? or a homemade purse? crocheted baby blanket? my bedroom furniture? my second born? we'll talk. . . . let me know.

What have YOU Done?

This is very easy to do and pretty fun. I hope everyone who finds it interesting copies and pastes it, then highlights what they have done :)
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain ( climbed up to the B in bountiful)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (do herbs count?)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. HAD enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant4
4. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
4. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

This was too much fun, I guess I need to travel more, to accomplish all these things.

I feel Like a Cry Baby. . . . . . .

Or a retard, what is the difference?

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Ok. . . so I am not complaining, let me explain. Everybody has little quirks, and I have lots(depending on what mood I am in.), my husband is OCD Major(not as crazy as monk). And in the begining of our marriage I bought four different color bath towels, and as we moved and decoarted new bathrooms, new colors were added. Now in the begining, I have thought it to be fun to color organize everything from the coat closet, hall closet, to the kids closets and drawers(so I knew where everything was, and if they grew out of something in one color, I could replace it in a bigger size!). As the years have gone by, and the millionth load of laundry folded and put away. I am OVER the whole color organizing thing! Anyway, back to the towels. It is well passed time to renew them. All of them. As I got more efficient in my folding and putting the towels away, I STOPPED putting each towel in its same color pile(much to Brandon's dismay). I will spare you all the details for my husbands sake, NOW I want forty new towels ALL the SAME color!!!! He can't handle them not being in color order, even when the door is shut & he can't see them. I can't endure this situation any longer.

The WHY question IS Why don't people just want to get me what I ask for? Not to be selfish- Just to save my Sanity. I just might be a better mom. (Icouldn't think of anything I wanted or needed for Christmas this year, and for what ever reason, people refuse to buy "couple", or "family" gifts, and have to buy everybody something) SO I Want a Walmart GC, so I can buy a bunch of the same towels. Not everybody buy different towels but in the same color, Because then, we JUST MIGHT have the same problem!!!

Royal Icing

I simply made some Royal Frosting.
Whip three Egg Whites until it starts to get frothy. Add in 1 Tablespoon of Cream Of Tarter, and continue whipping. Add one 2lb. Bag of Powder Sugar. Keep this way if you are making ginger bread houses. Use this for your "Glue". Also for making Flowers for cakes and cupcakes, this will dry Rock Hard.
For smoother frosting Pour in two Tablespoons of milk, and mix until all the lumps are gone! I added Maple flavoring, this makes the frosting taste better and adds a tea stained color.
I put this into a pastry bag, and piped an outline around the cookies to make a barrier. Let stand to harden 10 minutes. Then I added more milk to the frosting one Tblsp. at a time until thinner than spreading consistancy. I used a butter knife to spread the thinned frosting on to the cookies, making sure there wasn't too much to overflow (because I couldn't find any of my decorating supplies). I put in chocolate chips for eyes and buttons( I guess Iforgot I was making gingerbread men & thought I was making Snowmen?) This frosting levels itself out, Awesome.I let dry for 10-20 mins. and added food coloring to the frosting and with a wider tip and a pastry bag, I made a line around the neck and two off to the side. Whala. . . . .

Christmas Cookies

I just love to make Christmas Cookies! I just ador how cute and yummy they look, more so than just eating them. Often times I leave them out on plates for decor, and they go bad before I have a chance to nibble on them. However they do get taken by little hungry hands.



I made this batch for my acheivement day girls. This week for an activity I made little gingerbread houses out of grahm crakers and royal frosting. I gave each girl one to decorate with more royal frosting and tons of little colorful candies. I made these cookies for them, so they wouldn't too tempted to eat all the other candies, until everyone's houses were done....... too much fun. (messy, but fun).

Kids Say the Darndest Things

A few weeks ago, Ryann and I were watching a Taylor Swift Special on T.V. and a Macy's Commercial came on. The new one with the "Beleive" Campaign with a mailbox. Ryann asked, with a little attitude, "Mom, Can we write letters to Santa- so we don't have to go sit on his lap this year?" Of coarse I said yes. She never has liked that big red guy.

A few days ago it snowed about 1 1/2 inches. And has been could enough to keep it here. Until this morning, Seiler was SO sure it is melting, "Because the teachers at my school are so mean they would'nt let us go out side to play in it. So It is mad and going away! I just want to make a snowball!" I haven't heard brandon laugh that loud in a while.