Amy's Baby Shower

Ok, here they are. Phew! I took a lot of pictures!!! The shower went great. There were a lot of people here, which was great! Amy was surrounded by people who loved her. Kim & Kammy (Hugh's sisters, and my partners in crime) showed up early to help set up. Kammy made ALL of the food....and it was AMAZING. She could totally start a business! (On a side note, let me just give a SHOUT OUT to Kammy who is Wonder Woman.....6 months pregnant with her FIFTH son, full time mom, going to school, being the most amazing wife, and still has time to make this spread that was off the charts! Kammy...you ROCK!!) Kim & I just sort of waited for Kammy to tell us what to do! We were ready to go by the time the shower started at 10:30. People started coming and kept coming and kept coming! I loved it!! Amy got lots of great things to help her and Kort get ready for this Baby Girl's arrival in June. Each guest left with a beautiful dark pink gerber daisy that Lynette brought, and I think everyone left happy. So, here are the pics:

Amy...the guest of honor

I tied the utensils with white ribbon and this cute mini pink pacifier.

These dress forms were awesome.

We had a "Sweet" table and "Savory" table, and I made menu cards for both.

This clothesline was Grandma Pam's gift to Amy. Hugh and Courtney did the hanging and arranging. Didn't they do a great job?

Roses & Gerber Daisies were the flowers in the centerpieces.

Each guest was asked to write down some advice or a wish for Amy & her baby and put it in the "Advice Jar".

This was the note that I put by Kort & Amy's baby and wedding pictures.

The pictures I just mentioned above.

The completed centerpiece.

The Savory table....two egg bakes, quesadillas with homemade salsa & tossed salad

These grilled quesadillas were awesome!

Raspberry Lemonade

French Toast Casserole...my favorite

Ricotta cheese blintzes & mini lemon bundt cakes

Strawberry bundt cake with strawberry glaze

Courtney & Baby Bou

Aunt Susan, my beautiful mother-in-law Pam, Aunt Peggy & Aunt Patsy

Time to open gifts!!

I've NEVER had this many people in my home!

Modest Milker from Wendy! So cute.

Me and my girl Wendy

Amy's mom made her a blessing gown out of a piece of Amy's wedding dress and it is stunning.

The inspiration for this shower was found at Stem Parties with this adorable baby shower.  Amy at Stem was so great and helped me find what I needed to pull this off.  So, hats off to you Amy!!

Just a teaser....

Amy's shower was today. I don't have time right now to post a bunch of pictures, so I'm just posting this one for now. It was a beautiful shower. Lots of friends and family attended. And lots and lots of gifts! She opened gifts for an hour and a half!!! Now we're getting ready for our annual Easter Dinner and Egg Cracking Competition with the family! Happy Easter everyone!!

Barton in Rehab

Barton just posted this video on his blog 52 Weeks. Totally made me cry. He's on the mend, but it's going to be a long road ahead.

You can see the video here.

Griffin's First Haircut!!

Before....

After....

Isn't he handsome!!!

Isn't She So Cute????

Here's Amy. Isn't she so stinkin' cute? Where were those cute maternity clothes when I was preggers? Her shower is this Saturday and I can't wait!!!

Bye-Bye Queen Palms

Two weeks ago, we had to cut down our 5 Queen Palms in the backyard. This made me so sad. We planted them when we moved into our house 14 years ago, but for the past 5 years, they have been a mess. We tried everything we could to save them, but we (actually, Hugh) decided that they needed to go. Now, my backyard looks naked. I don't like it. Hugh has some ideas about what he wants to do back there, but unfortunately, I have different ideas. I'm sure we'll come up with some sort of compromise. It seems like out backyard has been under construction ever since we built our pool 3 years ago. Someday, we'll have it all finished. And then we'll invite you all over for a big backyard bbq!!! Don't hold your breath though......

I didn't start taking pictures until they started working. So, I don't have a full "before" picture, but you can get the idea. So, here's before.....

And the sad little after.....

Before....

After.....although this one doesn't look too naked thanks to my neighbor's trees.

Snoop Dogg? A Mormon?? Yes, it's true...

Rapper Snoop Dogg Converts to Mormonism

By Aaron Nichols

CNNDIAMOND BAR, California (AP) --

In what some may consider an unexpected move, rap artist "Snoop Dogg" has reportedly converted to Mormonism after nearly a year of study with the fast-growing, Utah-based faith.

Snoop Dogg says he "can't get enough of the Book of Mormon."

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Snoop Dogg -- whose real name is Calvin Broadus -- said he considers himself extremely fortunate to have discovered such a deep sense of spiritual fulfillment at this stage in his life.“Mr. Broadus is also very pleased to find that his family is as enthusiastic about attending church services as he is,” the spokeswoman said.

However, Snoop Dogg has not been enthusiastic about publicly sharing his experience and declined to be interviewed by CNN for this article. In fact, he reportedly informed producers of his E! reality show "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood" that this particular aspect of his family's life was off-limits to the cameras. Still, he left open the possibility of addressing the subject in future episodes.

According to the Associated Press, Snoop Dogg was first introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Mormon Church is officially known, after attending a Gladys Knight concert in an LDS meeting house in Los Angeles.Knight, who very publicly discusses her conversion to Mormonism several years ago, invited Snoop Dogg to what is known to the Mormon faithful as “Family Home Evening,” a church program that encourages families to set aside Monday evenings for gospel-centered lessons and family togetherness.

Though Snoop Dogg has been hesitant to publicly discuss his recent spiritual journey, he commented on the experience of attending his first “Family Home Evening” in a recent interview with People Magazine.“I was hooked from the start,” Snoop Dogg said. “We talked about the purpose of life, played Mousetrap, and ate brownies. The kids thought it was off the hook, for real.”

In what Snoop Dogg now thinks was anything but a coincidence, Mormon missionaries had knocked on his door just one week before the Knight concert. He said he had initially turned them away because of what he knew about the strict Mormon health code, which prohibits members from smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs.“Y’all know me,” he said grinning broadly. “There were just certain things the old me -- the "natural man" -- needed to do. And these young guys are telling me that God’s not down with disrespecting ourselves. But it’s cool now.”

Snoop Dogg said his conversion marks the end of his old life, one that included frequent run-ins with the law. Snoop Dogg was convicted in 1990 of cocaine possession and charged with gun possession after a 1993 traffic stop. In 1997, he pleaded guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence.In 1996, Snoop Dogg was acquitted of murder after a purported gangbanger was killed by gunfire from the vehicle in which Snoop Dogg was traveling.

Snoop Dogg dismisses critics who claim his conversion is intended to placate a Salt Lake County judge, before whom he is appealing an alleged probation violation.“Listen, the haters will say what they will,” Snoop Dogg said. “I can only do what I feel is right.”

Click HERE to find out more.

Happy April 1st. :)

Lucky Blue

You know those cute Christmas cards I've sent out the past couple of years? And the cute invitation I sent out for Amy's baby shower? Well, I cannot take credit for them. I enlisted the help of my incredibly talented cousin, Charmaine, and guess what? Now YOU can have her create something FABULOUS for you!!! She has opened her own Etsy shop, and I've made it really EASY for you to find her. See that cute little button over there on the right? Click on it!!! She can create ANYTHING you want! She even has a giveaway going on right now. There are a few ways to win, so visit her blog to find out how.

Check her out here or click on the right.

Blogs that I am Drooling Over

Amy's baby shower is coming up, and to get inspired, I have been looking up cool baby shower ideas from the internet. I have come across some of the most awesome blogs for entertaining! You know, I LOVE to throw a party, and I love all of the little details that go into it to make it special. Well, these blogs make me want to throw a party every weekend!!! I'm going to eventually add these blogs to my list over there on the right, but for now, here are a few links:

The TomKat Studio

Hostess With the Mostest


Tastefully Entertaining

Stem

Well, that should keep you busy for a while. Have fun!

Twilight Tide Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Twilight Tide Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

This is a seriously cute little girl pettiskirt and a dang cute blog! Check it out!