Rice Pilaf with Shrimp

One of my favorite "recipes" if you can call it that. Such a fabulous side dish. We cook it frequently and on every special occasion. It is easy to make, delicious to eat, and adults and kids love it.

This is how easy it is.

Buy a package or two of Rice-A-Roni Rice Pilaf.
Cook with their directions.

Sautee shrimp (I prefer salad shrimp) with some butter.

Sautee onions--don't forget the butter..

Put them all together. We always try to be friendly with the butter, and wow!

Devour.

After you have made it once, I guarantee it will become a regular entree in your family. It is one of our family favorites.

Don't leave your laptop open ......

on your bed, when you have a 2 year old and 2 three year olds. Although, Dylan (2) and Maddie (3) were solely responsible for this escapade. If you do happen to leave that laptop open, the 2 and 3 year old may pull many of the keys off. Getting the little white thingamujiggies back on and trying to place the keys back on......hateful. So, like me, you can just ignore it, and see how good a typist you are with some of the keys missing.

My children always are stretching my limits. Don't be too jealous. Coveting is a sin you know.



Anyone wanna' play some Scrabble? I have a few letters.

Picasa 3 & Christmas Cards

I just had an epiphany. How dreamy would it be to use the new Picasa 3 software to create your customized Christmas card with pictures of your kids. Get a picture of each of your children, make a collage----the new Picasa 3 also lets you add text to the picture, so you could write "Merry Christmas", "Happy Kwanza" or whatever you want. Then have them printed off at your local photo shop. Poof, you are done. You seem like a superhero. It will look like you spent hours on it. Cheap. Easy. Custom. Too bad I have already done all my Christmas cards! Sometimes procrastination has it's rewards.

A Park City Thanksgiving

I know you are wanting to see us up closer, you can't get enough of our family. No worries, you can just click on the image to see us all closer. Sorry, there is no function to make us go farther away.

 

Using this new Picasa 3 collage software. You just choose the pics, it makes a collage. Dreamy. New blog headers---of all your kids, so easy. That may be my next project. A good one. Accomplishable. Easy. Fast. Then I can say I did something worthwhile today.

Picasa 3

Have you all uploaded the new Picasa 3? The google picture service that is fabulous and free?

I just love some of the new features in Picasa 3; especially their new collages-----way better, and easy to use. Such a great feature. Plus, they have touch-up now, to help take distasteful things out of the picture. So fabulous. I think I am in love. If you haven't already checked it out, you really need to. Their cropping and other great features are so much fun. I just love it. But then again, I love pictures. But seriously, try it out. You will love it too.

Time to Give Up the Goods!

For all you Black Friday shoppers, I am dying to hear about your great finds. I didn't get up till 8am, and didn't get out there till 9am. We were in Park City, and we hit the Walmart there. I have decided Black Friday in Park City is about my speed. Like I said, we got there at 9am and all the deals were all still there, the $30 Leapsters, the big, life sized Barbie doll (was it $30?), The Thomas Tank Engine railway for $15, Air Hogs ($20), the Nerf guns, etc, etc, etc. And, it was calm. Easy to find parking, no long lines, pretty dreamy. Probably most people in Park City don't shop at the Walmart, and definately do not feel the need to shop early morning hours for a sale. Grateful. My gain.

Since we often have the kids with us when we shop, we always tell them we are buying gifts for their cousins. Ethan was so beside himself with grief that the toys were not for him.

Then, what is any trip to Park City without a stop at The Children's Place. Oh my gosh. They had racks of things at $2.99. Then, if you bought before 11am, you got another 20% off. (And then don't forget your Place Perks card).

Luckily, I got there before 11am and so I got so many great items for around $2.39. I spent $90 and got over 40 items (including dresses, skirts, dress shirts for the boys, casual long sleeve shirts, etc.) My favorite may have been the 19 cent baseball caps for the boys. So cute. They had many other great hats for 99 cents. Anyway, it was a Mom's heaven. Some of my finds (all $2.39 or less):

Click on it to see closer....(also, the hats shown were 99 cents. The 19 cent hats were brown and say NYC. So cute.)

But hey, I am DYING to know what you all found out there, what deals you got on Black Friday. So, share away....

Black or White Friday?

What a beautiful sight. I just love Park City. So pretty, especially with a dusting of snow.

Thanksgiving Day '08

Thanksgiving in Park City

Thanksgiving in a Box

Since our family is away this Thanksgiving, we are trying "Thanksgiving in a box" from Target. Here is the menu. Looks good for $69.99. I will let you know how it goes!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Turkey brought to you by Ethan (6) who is in first grade. Gobble, gobble.

Check out my Black Friday survey in the sidebar!

Black Friday (A mini-manual)

My friend Jen suggests we all go GREEN this year for Black Friday. I agree, but my idea of going green, is spending a little of that green. I mean, don't we all want to do our part to help the economy? Here is the manual, as I know we all need some lead time.

How to do Black Friday (my manual for newbies!)

1-You must get the paper at least a week in advance so that you can be collecting and perusing the ads for Black Friday.

2-Get a notebook. Each store gets a page---you list any items looking fabulous for Black Friday! At the top of each "store" page you write what time this place opens. On each line for each possible wanted item, write the price in one column. Then you can easily compare prices of different stores!

3-Keep all the ads together! Walmart is one of the few left that price-match on Black-Friday (most stores now tell you in the fine print they will not price match on Black Friday!) So, if one store runs out of the item, Walmart is great for plan B! You can usually find it there, and if you show them the ad they will match the price!

4-You must be at a store by at least an hour and a half before it opens if you expect to get the "doorbuster"---maybe even more time. This usually means you must be up by at least 3am, and out the door soon after!

5-You have got to double-team or triple-team this event. Many people are needed to get the various doorbusters. Sometimes bribes and incentives must be used. For teenagers, (as I learned this year) taking them out for breakfast is a great bribe!

6-You will be waiting in the cold outside for at least an hour, maybe longer. It is cold. So bring your jacket, earmuffs, and I always bring some drinks as you often get so thirsty! During that hour, you can be talking with your crew about who is going to get what, where to run first, and making short-term friends in the line! Does it get better than this? Well, yes, much better, but this is the price of the harvest!

7-If you have small children, you must plan the babysitting for this event WAY in advance, as not many people are willing to come babysit at 3am. Having parents sleep over is a great way to handle this one. (Thanks Mom & Dad!!!!!)

8-The rules of the "playground" are not in effect at 3am, 4am, and 5am. Playground rules are not in effect until at least 8am, so don't expect the "Christmas spirit" to abound on Black Friday. They are nowhere to be found. So, you must have your defenses up, riot gear in place, and be ready for anything.

9-If possible, forget the cart! Carts will be a block between you and the item you desire. If possible, run to what you want and get it. However, for people like me, you have to have a cart. This is why it is great to bring a teen or two with you---they are great with their speed and agility to get your "doorbuster". If you have someone with a cart off to the side, and several people as "runners", you will do fabulously well!

10-Watch your cart and items in it at all times. As I said, the "christmas spirit" does not abound and people will be so brazen as to grab stuff out of your cart. Kourtni, who I was with this year, had this happen to her! After all that work, you definately don't want people to take it out of your cart! You can ask my brother in law about this one. Just don't ask him if he was the "taker" or the "loser" of the item.

11-Watch your purse and wallet and beware of random questions or people. Theives abound! People are so concerned with "doorbusters" that they forget about their purses, and leave them in the cart as they shop. Last year, my mother-in-law and I were at Target, in the late afternoon, and we had already made our purchases. As we were leaving the store after checking out, but still in the store, this lady kept "engaging" me about my cute baby. It seemed so odd and unnatural how she kept talking to me, so close to me. Turns out, I think, she had a friend grabbing the camera out of my bag as she was "engaging" me with her nonsense! So, do beware, people can be evil!

12-Keep your cellphone on vibrate and in your pocket. I promise you will not be able to hear a thing! You also need to check with your crew about what they have gotten, so you can make sure you are not double-shopping!

13-If the early hours scare you, just remember it is just once a year, you go "Doorbusters" crazy and hopefully you are done with all your Christmas shopping for the season!

14-More and more stores are open on Thanksgiving, so you have got to figure out the mini-plan of shopping for Thanksgiving Day. (this year it was KMART and SHOPKO) Brandon wanted to go, so he fit that in after putting the turkey in the oven.)

15-Becoming a "Black Friday" nut is HIGHLY addictive. Once you have done it succesfully, your life will never be the same. You will never go on vacation Thanksgiving weekend, so be prepared for what you might be starting for your life!

16-If you leave out any of these items, and you are UNSUCCESSFUL, you will hate black friday and be resentful of the item you missed out on, especially since you got up early. So, don't forget any of the steps, be succesful, and have NO regrets!

See you at 5am next year, waiting at Target!

(This is my post from last year, but if you are going to do it, you've got to do it right ladies and gentleman, so here are some tips. Some of the specific info is from last year, so you may want to check who is price matching this year, etc.)

After Black Friday, we will all have to share some of our purchases. So fun to compare good deals! Or compare our views of the Provo river.....if you "go green".

Here are some of my FINDS from last year!

P.S. I forgot to tell you, don't forget about random specialty stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond, etc. They often have toys on Black Friday for 50% off (great for some of the more expensive toys), toys you often can't get that cheap at other stores. Most people don't go there, so there is usually great selection.

HAPPY HUNTING!

Benjamin's First Talk

I love Primary. In Primary, Benjamin (3) was able to give his first talk, "I am thankful that we are all children of God." I also love technology. Thanks to the iphone, Brandon was able to record Benjamin's first talk in Primary. I was teaching a lesson to the youth, so I couldn't hear Benjamin's talk, except through this recording. Thanks technology, thanks church, thanks Primary, and thanks to my husband for delivering this moment to me. Fabulous. As you can hear, his Daddy helped him. So cute.

Need a sensory experience?

Try a lasagna foot soak.

Here's a little hint I learned the hard way: If you are a Mom, you cannot excuse yourself to use the bathroom. Learn to hold it all day long. If you do take a 2 minute potty break, you may return to your little 2 year old son Dylan, up on the counter, placing his feet in the lasagna. Don't look inside my unorganized messy cabinets----that's why they have doors that are usually closed. Anyway, I love his look of triumph. Luckily, I had placed a portion in the microwave already, that we could eat for lunch. The rest, trash. Work on holding that bladder, then you can avoid some of these "fun" incidents.

After eating the lasagna, all 3 babies were quite messy. Maybe there is a reason chicken nuggets are a staple in the diet of children.

Mom, what do ya' expect, ya' gave me lasagna!

My Little Cowboy

My Benjamin is almost four years old. He loves to dress up. He is such a handsome little boy, my baby Benjamin. Or cowboy Benjamin. His brown eyes always melt me into nothing.

Deck the Halls

And the stockings were hung---just not by the chimney!

Our tree! We had to resposition all our furniture---but it all worked out.

A chunky girl likes her some chunky ornaments!

Another tree in our family room---still needs some work

What is Christmas without poinsettias?

And clearly, I like stockings. I found these at the Dollar Store....not too bad for $1.00 each.


I have been decorating a lot this weekend. So fun to put up the tree, and feel that holiday cheer. The kids were all getting excited as were Mommy and Daddy. I have a new Christmas theory. Do all the work in November, so you can enjoy December. For us it takes a couple weekends to do the outdoor lights and inside. And hey, you get to enjoy it longer.

My Little Princesses

Sorry Dylan, I couldn't resist documenting your princess moment.

Maddie, helping Dylan with his dress. She is such an expert on princesses, just trying to help out her fellow man.

Benjamin was trying to get the dress off of Dylan as Maddie was trying to put it on him. Dylan is caught in the middle. Benjamin found it really wrong that his little brother is wearing a dress!

Over the river and through the woods..........

will be a lot cheaper this year!

Time for a road trip! Didn't they say we would never see gas below $2.00? I don't understand how it goes from so high to so much lower within a couple months. What is that about? Hey, whatever the reason I am feeling grateful. Maybe it's our Christmas present for being good little boys and girls this year. Or maybe they started investigating some of the naughty little boys and girls.

Stripe of Ice

Watering in winter creates a beautiful sight of ice. Ice stripes.

BYU vs U of U Rivalry Fun

When you have friends who are U of U fans, kidnap their flag, put up a BYU flag instead, and don't forget the signs on the garage. Our neighbors just did this and we had a good laugh from the sidelines. This should turn into quite an amusing neighbor prank game. Sorta' glad we don't have a flagpole about now.


Payback Time!
So, it was payback time. Too bad BYU lost! Bummer! It was time for the "U fan" neighbors to have some fun. They put the BYU flag at half mast. Poor BYU!

The "U fan" neighbors posted this sign on the garage of our "Y fan" neighbors.

Till next year-----

Gotta' love rivalry fun!

BYU vs. U of U Football

There is a big game today. BYU vs. U of U.
I think my little Ethan summed it up so well:

After drawing this, he showed it to me and said, "Dad will be so proud of me."

Gluttons for Punishment

So, after the park, being the brilliant parents that we are, we decided to hit the Target with all five kids in tow. Not the smartest idea at around 5:00 pm. About 10 minutes later, my husband informed me he was taking four of our whining children to the car. I wouldn't suggest this activity. Ever. There's no amount of popcorn, even from Target, that can make this a positive situation.

Dog Behind the Wheel

So, our whole family pulls into the parking space, and right in front of us, is this image. I had to do a double take. Some animals seem so human, and if I didn't look twice, I might have thought it was a person behind the wheel. This dog made me smile. Luckily, (I know you are so shocked) I had my camera with me. Love that camera. I love it so much I should have named it by now.

On a random side note, my camera is a Canon Powershot S5IS. I would definately recommend it, it has lasted through thousands of pictures and since last Christmas (which prior to this I have been going through 2 cameras a year). This camera has fallen on the ground, kids have kicked it (can't imagine why), and it usually stays in my purse (which is a TOTAL danger zone). I bought this camera for the zoom lens which can go up to 12 megapixels, and the camera takes 8 megapixel pictures. If you are looking for a good Christmas gift, I guess they have a new one out-----we checked out Consumer Reports last year and it was the best rated camera in it's category! It has proven to be DREAMY. Thank you camera for all the fun you have given me. This year I will try to get a life that is not behind a lens. Well, maybe. No promises.

When I write random blog entries like this, I imagine what my grade on an essay like this would be in an English class. Not good. So glad this is not being graded, so glad I can be random. The joys of blogging.

Father-Son Football

What do you do when you have four boys? Yeah, football in the park.









And Maddie and I got to watch and play with a Pink Pony and weeds. It was so freezing cold, we could only play for about a half hour!

Volunteering at the School

Ethan

Brandon

Brandon and his friends

Ethan and friends---Classic schoolyard moment

Ethan and his missing tooth.

Well, since my husband has Friday's off, I decided I would volunteer at the school some Fridays. Little Brandon and Ethan have made it VERY clear they want me there, and were so excited for me to go to their classes today. Being in 3rd grade, I have been worried that I may not have that much more time until little Brandon doesn't want me to come to his class and help. It warmed my heart to be in the classroom with my babies, meet their school friends and help out the teachers a bit. All the kids are so cute; and it was fun interacting with them all. Little Brandon begged me to stay to eat lunch with him----so I did. And right after Brandon's lunch, Ethan has lunch, so I was able to eat with both of them. Little Brandon even wanted me to come play with him on the playground during recess with his friends. So cute. I am really glad I was able to spend some time with them during the school day and see their every day environment. We found out at parent-teacher conference that Ethan is doing great in school, and has LOTS of friends. It was cute to see him interacting with everyone. Brandon is also doing well in school, has lots of friends and really loves school. It is great to see them thriving! And they even let me give them kisses and call them "my baby" at school. I am going to enjoy that as long as I can get away with it.