Family Pictures 2010, among other things....

I know...don't have a heart attack.  I'm actually writing on my blog.  I should be sending out my Christmas cards, and wrapping presents, and baking....but I keep having this nagging feeling to update some things around here!  And by "here", I mean my poor, neglected blog. 

For an update....things are busy, busy, busy.  We've spent the first two days of break at one appointment or another.  Then running kids all over the place.  What kind of "break" is that???  I want to sleep in and do things around the house!  Geez!! 

The girls' room is 90% finished and it looks incredible.  I have 5 boxes of junk that needs to be gone through, and I'll hopefully get it down to one box of semi-junk.  I'll post before/after pics once it's totally finished.  Hugh did an amazing job.

Work is great.  How can it NOT be great when I'm getting a trip to NYC for Christmas from my fabulous boss??  TomKat Studio has some big projects in the works, and they will all be revealed in due time.  Kim, Andrea & I leave for NYC on January 16 and I can't wait!!! 

Speaking of Andrea, she took our family photos this year and did such a fantastic job!  Here are some of my favorites.

TomKat Studio Holiday Gift Guide (with a special note to Heidi)

My sweet Heidi...I'm sorry you miss me so.  My life is a little topsy turvy at the moment.  I'm a working woman, you know.  But, I promise to be more faithful to my blog so you can keep up with me and the fam. I do miss you to pieces. 

Ok....so, this is a little project that I got to help work on.  Kim (my uber fabulous boss lady) created this beautiful gift guide and I was asked to create a page of gift ideas for Tween & Teens. I, of course, enlisted the help of my kiddos, and they were excited to be a part of it.  So, take a peek at this awesome gift guide.  Who knows, you may find something in there that you can't live without!!

 

I will be back to blogging soon.  I promise.

I'm Thankful....

As I was driving around today, I was thinking of all of the things I have to be grateful for and my list is long and I love that!!!  So, I decided to share what I'm grateful for.....

...First and foremost, my family.  Hugh, Courtney, Connor, Caitlin - the best family a girl could ask for.
...My dogs - Griffin & Zoey - they make me laugh everyday.  Love them to pieces.
...My parents.  All five of them.  They are the best.
...And, of course, the rest of my family - Scott, Kim, Wayde, Ashley, Elby, Jordan, Kacey, Kailey, Taylor,  Chase, Kolby, Lynette, Cooper, Karlie, Kammy, Mo, Demetrius, Malachi, Robert, Rocko, Matini, Kort, Amy, Emmi, & Claire.  I love each of them.
...My ward family.  I go to church with the best group of people.  They are truly family. 
...My girlfriends - you know who you are!!! 
...My JOB!  The best, most fantasic job a party girl could ever hope for! I heart TomKat Studio.
...Kim & Andrea...the best two ladies to work with.
...Facebook. I'm seriously so thankful for Facebook!  I love being in touch with my friends and family on a daily basis!
...Modern Family - greatest show on tv
...My blackberry
...NYC
...Chick-fil-a sauce - yum!
...Red Velvet Cake
...80's on 8 on Sirius Radio
...that my jeans still fit
...that it is Thanksgiving time and I get to spend the day with my very large extended family
...that it is almost Christmas!  And that brings on a whole other list of things I'm grateful for.  :)

Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you!  I truly love you all!!

What are you thankful for?

Who wants to Hula?

Caitlin started taking Hula lessons about 2 months ago, and last weekend was her first performance!  It was so fun to watch.  My little girl can shake her hips!  She is now gearing up for her next performance in December.  Now, we need to go to Hawaii....

Kid #2 in Braces

Well, actually, it's Kid #3, but #2 for braces.  Follow me??

Caitlin before.............

 And after!!!!

Halloween 2010

I'm so behind!!!  Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!!  Anyway, we had a fun Halloween, as always.  The ward Trunk or Treat is always a blast. 

This year, Courtney was.....

Her own (completely created by her) version of the Mad Hatter.  Here she is with her friend Madi.

Caitlin was.....

A Cupcake!!  Isn't this adorable??  And she MADE it!  Well, I made the bottom part.  You know, the part that looks like it was made by a 4 year old?  Ya, I made that part.  But she sewed the "frosting" and picked out the other elements of her costume.  Totally adorable.

And Connor, and his two buds, Ben & DJ were.....

The Three Amigos!!!  Ole`!  Connor has his costume off 15 minutes after we got there. 

On Halloween night, it is tradition in Hugh's family that we serve Potato Soup for dinner.  This is a tradition started years ago by our late Grandma Lope.  Yum!

Nice hat babe.

Then we settled in and awaited the Trick or Treaters.  And waited, and waited, and waited.  And then they came....all FOUR of them!  Wha???  I guess all of the kids moved out of the neighborhood!!

NYC 2011

Well, I wanted this....

 But, I guess I'm going to have to settle for this.  **Deep Sigh**

Because I am going with the other fabulous ladies from The TomKat Studio to the Martha Stewart Dreamers into Doers Conference in New York City!!!  Dreamers into Doers is an online community that celebrates the success of women who have turned their dreams into careers that they love!!!  Kim is the dreamer, and I'm just lucky enough to have joined her in her journey.  Seriously, I can't say it enough.....the BEST most FUN and FASCINATING job I have EVER HAD!!!  We'll have two days of workshops focusing on growing our business, marketing techniques, Etsy tips, and a bunch more.  And we get to attend a taping of the Martha Stewart Show.  Fun stuff!!! 

So, my Christmas list has change.  I now need sweaters and a winter coat.  Oh, and an Ipad.  Yes, I NEED an Ipad.  Can someone tell Hugh???

High Maintenance Pumpkin Cookies

On Sunday, the girls and I put on our aprons and set out to make these festive cookies.

I love anything pumpkin during the holidays, and I knew I would LOVE these!!  Let me just say that putting the batter together wasn't so bad, but they were a little high maintenance to bake.

First, you have to cut 3 inch square pieces of parchment paper.  The recipe says 24, but we ended up needing 48!!  (The recipe made far more than it said it would.  Good for us!!!)

Then, you have to fill a piping bag with the batter and pipe it onto the squares of parchment paper?  Wha???  I'm used to spoonfuls of dough onto the pan....not batter in a bag!  But, we did it anyway.

Lo and behold....they came out in perfect little circle cookies. 

We let them cool, made the delicious filling, and YUMMO!!  Awesome Pumpkin Cream Pies. 

I may make these again during this holiday season, but they definitely won't be ones I whip up on a Sunday afternoon because I have a sweet tooth.

And just to clarify, these are NOT my pictures.  (But I promise, my cookies looked just like them!)  I got them from Pioneer Woman's cooking blog, A Tasty Kitchen.  Wonderful, wonderful recipes over there.  And that's where you can find this recipe.  Gotta love Pioneer Woman!!! 

Pray for Emmett!!

My sweet friend Karla had a miracle baby just over a year ago.  His name is Emmett and he was born 11 weeks early at 2 pounds 6 ounces.  He's been a fighter since he was born.  And now he's having to fight again....

Over the weekend, Emmett was not feeling well.  Not himself.  Monday night Karla had a feeling that she needed to sleep in his room with him.  The next morning, she noticed that Emmett was having trouble breathing.  She took him immediately to Urgent Care, and was then instructed to go to Phoenix Children's Hospital right away.  It was discovered that Emmett had swallowed a quarter size battery and it was lodged in his throat.  It had already caused damage to his esophagus from the leakage from the battery, and he was rushed into emergency surgery.  They are keeping a close eye on him, and because of his discomfort level, they have him heavily sedated, and he will stay that way for the next week.  They will then do reconstructive surgery to correct the damage done to his esophagus.

Poor little Emmett, and his sweet parents, have been through so much this past year with Emmett's early birth.  And now, they are dealing with this.  It was a complete accident that Emmett swallowed this battery.  That is just what kids do!  They put things in their mouths!  It's no one's fault. 

Please, please, please pray for Emmett.  That he will be comforted while he is in the hospital.  That he will heal COMPLETELY.  And that his dear family - his mom, dad & big brother - will feel the strength of our Father in Heaven during this time. 

I Wish I Was Here.....

Central Park in the Fall.  Lovely.  My next trip to NYC is tentatively planned for October 2011 with MY MOM!!  She's never been there, so the thought of hanging with mi madre in my favorite city is very cool.  Crisp air, leaves turning color, so much to do.  I can't wait!!!