Our Anniversary!

Sunday was Tony and my anniversary...12 years baby!!:) We celebrated by going to Ouray (the switzerland of America and one of our favorite places) for a night. (you might remember when Tony took me there a couple of years ago for my birthday!) It was great to get away and relax...and get in a little last minute Christmas shopping!

We stayed at the Wiesbaden (pronouced vee-spa-den). That's the same place we went to for my birthday. We were able to soak in the vapor cave (for only minutes at a time because it is SOOOO hot!!), but then we'd go to the outdoor pool where it was about 40 degrees outside and that felt so nice!! What a relaxing day we got to spend together!!

I teased Tony before we left that I booked us a room that didn't have a TV in it...I had him going for a little bit, but just couldn't stop from smiling. Well, when we got to our room, this is what we found (and incidentally it was the very first thing Tony noticed!):)
...and he wasn't too pleased!:)

Breakfast with Santa

After a fun breakfast with Santa of snowman pancakes the kids all got to sit on Santa's lap (except Kyla who was too embarrassed...she thinks she's too old!)

Rhett was so excited to see Santa...he even brought a candy cane from home to give to him. He was so disappointed as we were walking into the Rec. center his candy cane broke, so we went and asked for some tape and fixed it all up so he could give it to Santa.
He asked Santa for a Steelers Helmet. He's been talking about it for at least a month now!
Eli was a little shy (which is NOT like Eli at all) when it came to sitting on Santa's lap, but he did and asked for a nintendo DS.
Caleb also, like Kyla, thought he was getting too old to sit on Santa's lap, but I talked him into it anyway. He asked Santa for a ripstick.

Wish I would have at least thought about getting a picture of Makyla...even if it wasn't with Santa!
But I'll tell...and show...what she did for our dinner this evening. We had a big turkey dinner with all the fixin's and so Kyla set the table and made cute little place settings with everyone's name on them.




Didn't they turn out so cute. She really is a pretty creative little thing and she is a major crafter!!

Our Nativity!

When Dad & Mom first got their call to South Africa Tony and I knew that one thing we wanted them to pick up for us was an African nativity set. So last Christmas time while they were still out we let them know that that was what we wanted. So when they returned in June we were so pleased to get just what we wanted (it was a wonderful early Christmas present!) and we really wanted to just display it right then but decided we needed to wait.

Monday night for FHE we were able to set it up and I LOVE having it displayed! All the pieces are hand carved from jacaranda wood and hand painted in Swaziland. They are very unique and very beautiful! (We had to freeze them for 24 hours after we recieved them just in case there was a certain kind of bug in them...can't remember what it is called...because the bug would eat them and we'd be left with sawdust! But freezing them would kill it if there was actually one in there! Isn't that fun...we might have an african bug frozen inside our nativity!!:))


Isn't it beautiful??!!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Potter!

We always have the most interesting discussions at the dinner table. Tonight I told the kids that it was my Grandpa Potters birthday today and they started asking all kinds of questions about Grandpa. I told them that I didn't even get to know him all that well because he died when I was 7 and one of the kids asked how he died so I told them he died of a heart-attack. Eli...who was dead serious...then asked "What scared him so much?"

Recipe Blog Giveaway!

We're (Kyla and I) are celebrating our 100th post over on our recipe blog with a GIVEAWAY!!

Head on over and maybe you can be a winner...pass the word around!:)

What's important to a 3 year old!

Last night Tony had the lesson for FHE and taught the kids about "when you are warned, warn your neighbor". Rhett usually just runs around or just sits and doesnt pay much attention but last night when Tony asked the question "What's one way you can show Heavenly Father that you love Him?" (trying to get the answer...warn your neighbor or share the gospel) Rhett's hand shot up in the air so Tony called on him and his answer: "Flush the toilet!"

Guess that's what's important to him at the moment! He gets reminded of that quite a few times a day!:)

Kyla's 11th Birthday!

Kyla turned 11 yesterday...my goodness how time flies!! I always get so sentimental on my kids' birthdays...remembering their births and cute things they used to do! One of my favorite memories of Kyla is when she was about 18 months old (during march maddness!) Tony taught her how to say "Dipsy-doo dunkaroo" as made famous by Dick Vitale, but her's came out more of "ipsy-oo unker-oo". It was about the cutest thing ever! And Tony was one proud papa!:) Anyway, we are so lucky to have her as a daughter. She really is such a big helper around the house and with her brothers! She's very artistic and loves anything artsy. She is a good friend and is usually a pretty happy person to be around. It's a lot of fun to watching her growing into such a wonderful young woman (aaarrrggghhh...did I just say that...not ready...not ready...not ready!!) We love you Kyla, and we're so proud that you're our daughter!

Birthday Party Pictures!
Kyla's banana cake...recipe over on our blog HERE!Birthday girl and her cake.
Rhett giving Kyla a hug after giving her her present. (she accidentally poked Caleb in the eye!!:))
Hugs from her brothers!
Card from Grandpa and Grandma

Last Night's Dinner Conversation!

Eli was being a goof at the table last night which is nothing new!

Tony: "Eli, the squirrels are coming!"
Eli: "What, why?"
Tony: "Because they think you're nuts!"

Unstopable laughter erupted from our dinner table. It was one of those nights!:) Anyway, after the kids finally settled down from their laughing fits this was the conversation:

Rhett (my 3 year old): "Eli, the squirrels are coming!"
Eli: "why?"
Rhett: "Because you're nuts....STILL!"

Even Better!

I looked out my window after I posted the pictures of our tree and realized it was even more beautiful today than it was Saturday when I took the pictures below so I had to take some more and show you how much it has changed in the last 2 days! I LOVE the colors!

Our beautiful tree!

When we purchased our tree this summer I made sure that it was going to turn some beautiful colors for the fall. That was one of my many demands for our tree!:) Anyway, he has not let down. The leaves are stunning!! I can't wait until next fall when the tree will be older and hopefully have more leaves that will be turning these beautiful colors!! Just look at that!

Caleb scored Advanced!

So all the students who scored advanced in at least 1 area got to ride on a float in the homecoming parade a couple of weeks ago (I know I'm a slacker blogger!!). Caleb not only scored advanced in math he scored perfect in 2 of the 4 areas in math and the other 2 were really high as well. That kid is a math wiz! Just thought I'd post a couple of pictures of the parade and brag about my boy for a minute!:)
He's the one towards the middle with the black shirt on!

Remember your childhood!

I have to write this down before I forget. That child of mine Eli is continually cracking me up and I'm going to need all of these recorded for his future family!

So Tony came home the other day and told me a funny little story about Eli and his teacher Mrs. Moore. Apparently it was recess time and Eli was hanging around Mrs. Moore talking and she told him he should go and play with some of the other kids because she isn't any fun because she's a boring adult. Eli's response..."well maybe you just need to remember your childhood."

Recipe Blog Address Change!

Just for everyone's information the address to our Recipe Blog has changed. It is now http://doublethedeliciousness.blogspot.com. The link on the side will still take you right there! Go check out the recipe Kyla made for FHE on Monday...it was a winner!

Kyla's new dresser!

I've been looking for a dresser for Kyla for quite a while now and have not been able to find anything....until last Friday. Our neighbors were having a garage sale so I just walked over to see if they had anything and there was this beautiful white dresser. I went to check out the price and guess what.........$5!!! Can you believe that? I bought it on the spot and had such great ideas for it! Here is the BEFORE picture.

Saturday Kyla and I went shopping for paints. She decided she wanted to paint it Ivory and I suggested that we glaze it (thanks to Brooke over at All Things Thrifty), and we painted the hardware as well. It turned out so nice if I do say so myself. And now Kyla has tons more room for all her clothes and hopefully they won't be all over her floor from now on! (a Mom can dream right!!?)

Anyway, here is the final product:


So break down of the cost:
Dresser: $5.00
Kilz primer (2 cans): $10.00
Krylon Ivory spray paint (4 cans): $12.00
Already had spray paint for hardware: $0.00

Total for project: $27.00

Not too bad for a beautfiul dresser like that!!

First Day of School!

Today is the first day of school. The kids have been pretty excited to start again, especially Caleb. He LOVES school more than any of the other kids. We went up to the school a few days ago and he wanted to see if he was going to be in the same classroom (his teacher moved up with his entire class this year so he has the same class and teacher!) and as soon as he saw his teacher he gave her the biggest hug and did not want to leave! I'm so glad he's got a good teacher (I should say FABULOUS!) that he enjoys and learns from. The other kids have good teachers as well. Eli was excited to make some new friends and Kyla was pretty nervous about the first day. She didn't want me to leave...and she's in 5th grade. I'm anxious to see how her first day went! Can't wait for them to get home!

So here's there 1st day of school pictures before we left this morning. They are all growing up so fast!! Can't believe I'll have a middle schooler next year!! YIKES!!



I should have taken of picture of Tony too since it's his first day of school...again!! He still hasn't graduated from the 2nd grade...this is his 9th year...he and Eli are in the same grade this year!!:)

More from vacation!

After all the fun at the cabin and my Mom and Dad's we headed up to Tony's parents house for about a week. The kids had so much fun on the four wheeler and go cart. They would ask daily if they could ride on one! Uncle Smokey even taught Makyla how to drive his sandrail!! What a scary experience!! But she had a blast!
Eli taking Jaxon for a ride!
Makyla after she'd just taken me for a ride on the sandrail! Pretty proud of herself!
Caleb driving the go cart
Eli, Anastasia, and Kyla in the back of the sandrail while Tony was driving...now that was pretty scary too!!
Rhett getting a turn!
Rhett with all the "tools" he could find around!
Tony and Uncle Smokey with thier boys!
Most of the grandkids together. Rhett, Eli, Caleb, Tyler, Anastasia, Kyla, and Bodey.

Caleb's new quilt!

Caleb had his Grandma bring him home some African material while on their mission so that he could have a new quilt (his old one...that Grandma made for him from material from Hawaii...had been washed so many times it was completely falling apart and he was pretty devastated when we had to throw it away!) So while on vacation in Utah Grandma finished up his quilt for him. He loves it! He sleeps with it every night and uses it when he's watching a movie or TV. Now all the other kids want one!! Grandma's going to be a busy lady!:)
Ready to be quilted...mom made up the pattern and sewed it all together before we got there!
Almost finished!
Caleb with his quilt!

More from the Retreat!

Our drive out to the cabin...and this is what we got to see. Wilson Peak with the rainbow right over it...So beautiful! I wish we could get out there more than just once a year!!

Pictures of the kid's relay racing. They each had to dress up like a cowboy...boots and all! They all looked so cute!
Rhett all ready to run!
Eli running like crazy!
Caleb getting all dressed up.
Kyla bringing up the rear for the Miramonsters!
My nephew Logan lookin' good! What a cutie!
Tony wanted a turn with all the get-up. Looks good on him!:)
After everyone had left Eli had time to read to Rhett...I LOVE those moments!

I was FEATURED!!

I was so excited to find out yesterday that I was going to be featured on one of my favorite blogs!! Do you remember the VALANCE that I made for Dad & Mom? It was featured on their website: www.allthingsthrifty.com GO CHECK IT OUT!!

Vacation 2010!

We just returned from our fun-filled vacation for this summer!! We had such a good time and wish we could have stayed longer!! But life has to go on I guess!:) Anyway, the next few posts I'll be doing will be about our vacation.

First off we headed out to my cabin for our family retreat. We were there a couple of days early so we could start framing up our room in the basement. That was so much fun! I think Tony enjoyed using the nail gun...boys and their fascination with power tools!:) I used it once and almost shot my Dad so that was the end of that!:) So here are some pictures of our room!





I should have taken a picture of our view from our window...I think we got the best one!!

Next summer we're planning on doing all the drywall and putting insulation in the ceiling. Can't wait to have it finished!!

More to come tomorrow!!