Witch Hunt

We have an annual tradition of going to see the witches at Gardner Village. This year we saw a new favorite.
Witchy Poo

Hey Jackson, Maybe these ladies should have played for your Rockies...


Joy was so excited to see the ducks.


My personal favorite.

I'd do just about anything for chocolate...

Such a Joy!

Here's the pictures from the big day.
The kids wanted to show off their Dora hats.

She figured out that she was supposed to blow.
She got this dolly and she wouldn't let go. She's trying to get it in the basket of her new bike.
I cannot believe my baby is two and there's not one in the oven.

Dora the Grouch

Recently, I was inspired by Mel's Elmo and Mer's Purse so I decided to take on the challenge of creating Dora for Joy's birthday. It looked so easy. Let's just say she looks like Oscar the Grouch. I am so cursing the Mexican skin color right now. I decided to let it be and not redo but she is sort of green. At the last minute I decided to add a touch of black to the frosting so she wouldn't be orange. BAD IDEA!

Conference Traditions

When we lived in California, we used to gather at Uncle Roger's house at conference time . He had the BYU channel on his satellite. It was a two day feast (spiritual and physical). I always looked forward to smoked tri-tip, jello, slush, marshmallow brownies, strawberry crepes and Susan's quiche is a MUST. I always made cinnamon rolls for breakfast. We watched all the sessions. We talked about our favorite talks. It was a time of bonding: friends and family getting together to share. So now that we're missing them, (but we'll see them next week-Hooray!) I thought about our new traditions.

I still made cinnamon rolls (with help).





I made a quiche that wasn't nearly as good as Susan's.

We got to eat turkey dinner at my parent's house with Grandpa and Grandma visiting.
You know it felt the same, yet different. It was still conference. We were with people we love. We ate food that was delish.
We feasted spiritually. My cup is full once again.

Crazy about Canning

I just couldn't help myself.

Is it because my mom did it?

Is it because of my wonderful memories with my Logan aunts? (I'll never forget where I was when I heard the Proclamation during the General R.S. broadcast. At Aunt Janette's after canning all day.)

Is it just in me? Actually maybe I'm just crazy! There's just something about the Pop. (Aunt Michelle used to cheer everytime we heard a pop. I now do it too.)
60 pounds of grapes...



42 quarts of Grape Juice...



(Canning grape juice brought back a memory from when we lived in Logan. I dumped the seeds, skins and pits or the pulp out the side of our house in a little flower bed area. The next day we looked at the side of our neighbor's house and it was covered in purple bird poop. I guess the birds really like grape pulp.)

Now some of you may ask, "What was Joy doing while you canned?" This is why I usually can at midnight.

Playing in the sugar....


Cleaning the bathtub with a bottle of shower gel...



And wearing the same clothes as yesterday, after sleeping in them. (I did change her diaper though.) And Julianne, Yes her hair was in her face all day as I didn't put it in a hair doolie.

Now if only the kitchen cleaned itself. I'm off to watch The Biggest Loser while eating a big bowl of ice cream.