Cinnamon Rolls

Once upon a time I promised a cinnamon roll recipe that was super duper delicious and oh so divine. 

And then I didn’t deliver. 

Am I too late?  I think not.  It’s never too late for a delicious recipe! 

I got this recipe from a blog that I follow called 71 Toes.  I already had a recipe for cinnamon rolls that I loved and adored but when I saw this recipe I just knew I had to try it.  Boy, am I glad I did!  I just knew it would be good because of the sheer fact that it’s got a whole cup of butter just in the dough!!  Butter makes everything better.  Just sayin….

The only thing I changed was the amount of filling in the dough before rolling it up.  Hers was pretty skimpy on the filling… so I just beefed it up a bit ;)

• 2 sticks of butter, melted
• 2 c. milk
• 1/2 c. warm water
• 2 heaping T. yeast
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 7 c. flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water and add just a teaspoon of sugar, set aside until bubbly and foamy. Melt butter and let cool slightly.  Warm milk slightly.  Combine butter and milk and add the yeast to the milk mixture until well mixed. Add the egg.
Add sugar and salt then slowly add flour until soft bread dough consistency.  Knead for about 5-10 minutes by hand or about 2 minutes by machine.  Let the dough rise until doubled.

Filling:

• melted butter (to make cinnamon/sugar mixture stick)
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 4 tsp. cinnamon

Once dough has doubled in size, roll out into two rectangles. Butter dough and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. 

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  And no, you don’t have to let the dough rise a second time.  It will rise plenty in the oven.

Butter-cream frosting:

• 1/2 c. butter
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 c. powdered sugar
• 3-4 tbs. milk

Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla. Add milk slowly and mix until smooth consistency.

H’s Birthday Post

It’s been over a month since my little H turned SEVEN years old.  My baby girl… another year older.  Weird! 

I think I say it’s weird every time any of my kids have a birthday.  But Wowsers!  Time sure does fly!  Not really a fan of the flying time thing. 

H celebrated her birthday with a few friends in the neighborhood and some family… those that could make it.  While there were lots of fun things that went on that day including a pinata, presents, and lots of laughing, my very favorite picture is the one below.

Such an H face!  Love those thin little pencil line lips and those bright blue eyes standing out from behind that dark hair.  Sometimes I find it odd that my lightest eyed child has the darkest hair.  I love that combo!  And although you can’t see it in the picture, I also love and adore that little munchkin voice she’s got.  Unless she’s talking like a baby… then it’s not so cute.  But when she’s doing her darndest to use big girl words and talk like a grown up it’s so sweet. 

H, I love you so much!  I hope you continue to grow and prosper both physically and spiritually.  You have so much love to give and so much happiness to share!  Your sweet, loving ways have touched so many around you.  I can see the desire in you to learn more about the gospel and the role it currently plays and will play in the future in your life.  Please hold on to that desire and nurture it.  Seek out only the best of influences in everything you do.  Make great friends who have standards and morals similar to your own, read only the best of uplifting books, and always seek to gain knowledge from great mentors! 

You are such a great example to those of us around you.  We all love you so very much.

Love,

Mom 

Just For Fun… Can’t Believe I’m That Far Behind!!

Umm, yeah… it’s a bad sign when you look back at the pictures on your computer and realize that you forgot not only Father’s Day but your own child’s BIRTHDAY as well.  Not really forgot… just never blogged them.  Let’s not get the two confused.

And those cinnamon rolls I promised… yeah, so, I hope you weren’t holding your breath on those.  ;)  They’re still coming.  Eventually. 

But for now let’s backtrack and take care of some unfinished business.  FATHER’S DAY!  The Birthday post will have to wait… gotta do this chronologically.  I’m weird like that. 

This year we didn’t really buy anything (other than junk food ;)) but we wanted to do something more than just cards and well wishes for Anthony.  I found this idea on Pinterest…… about a billion times.  Seriously, I think I saw hundreds of different versions of this and I just thought it was so stinkin’ cute we had to give it a go.  It didn’t really cost a whole lot.  Just bought the sodas, some candy, nuts, and sunflower seeds.  I already had the scrapbooking supplies so there was no added cost there. 

I had told Anthony a few days before that I was going to get a ‘treat’… SODA!  He requested root beer so off I went.  He had no idea that I needed the bottles for his gift.  Unfortunately, when I went to grab the root beer I realized that the bottles weren’t clear. 

We just couldn’t have that.  So, I bought a different flavor and told him they were out of root beer. 

He was bummed.  So, the next day what does he do?  He goes to store to find that the shelves had been ‘restocked’ with the root beer.  K was with him and tried to convince him not to get them because she knew we still had 3 bottles of red soda at home that needed to be drunk (?).  But, he’s a man…

Men don’t listen to reason  ;)

And so, I forced the kids to share two of the bottles and dumped one down the sink.  Who am I kidding?  I didn’t have to force them.  They would have happily downed the third bottle as well but I just couldn’t bare the thought of that much sugar and red dye in their little bodies. 

That night (the night before Father’s Day) we set to work.  Anthony knew we had a project going on and that he was not allowed upstairs.  He had been banished to the dungeon for the night.  Fortunately for him the ‘dungeon’ is his happy place… there’s a TV, I mean, c’mon! 

This story is getting pretty long.  I know it could have been shorter but remember, this is my journal.  You may not need all the details but I do.  :)

Let’s get to the pictures, shall we?

We had so much fun making this!  And the girls thought writing on the tags was so fun.  Anthony originally took this to work but found that customers were so intrigued by it they wouldn’t leave it alone.  So, three days later it came home again. 

And now, just because I feel the need to share… LOOK AT WHAT B DID TO MY (uh, I mean OUR) COMPUTER!!

Good thing we have a wireless keyboard, eh?

Friday the 13th!

I am not a superstitious person.  Not usually.  But man, oh man!  This past Friday… the 13th, did NOT go my way! 

Actually, I hadn’t even thought about it being Friday the 13th until about noon when I posted this on my facebook wall, “Wow! Barely noon and already we've had our washer overflow, 3 bee stings, and a curtain rod bent and pulled out of the wall. Awesome!”

To which one of my friends replied, “It's a Friday the 13th kinda day!!!! Lol!!!!” 

That’s when it hit me.  No wonder it’s been a crazy day!  And that’s when I decided that I was homebound for the day.  I was NOT about to go anywhere.  Who knows what could have happened! 

So, let me set up the scenario.  All of the above happened within 15 minutes! 

I had just gone downstairs to change the laundry when I noticed the laundry room floor was covered in water.  NICE!  What had happened?  I knew when we acquired the washer from my sister not to turn it to the Super setting.  She warned us that it would overflow.  Other than that, everything worked great.  Then just last week it started acting funny when I put it on the Small setting.  It would just keep washing and rewashing so if I didn’t catch it right after it’s spin cycle it would fill up again and start over. 

Hmm…

The only setting left was Large.  I remember teasing Anthony about it, “Well, once the Large setting stops working I guess we’re sunk!”  And then Friday it happened.  The large setting overflowed the machine!  Luckily, the next day, after a little probing of our good friend Google, we found a youtube video that allowed Anthony to locate and fix the problem.  Only the Large setting works still.  We don’t know what the problem is with the other two settings. 

Anyway, as I was surveying the damage done by our not-so-good-friend, Mr. Washer, when I heard C come in from the backyard. 

He was screaming!  K went up to see what the fuss was all about and brought him down to me saying that she thought he had been stung by a bee.  Sure enough there was sting to both the back of his head and his hand.  Though I think it was a hornet or yellow jacket because there were no stingers in his skin.

The next thing I know B came in screaming, too.  The same scream, which most likely meant another sting.  Yep, on the arm. 

Right now I am going give a little shout out to some of my BESTEST friends in the world… Melaleuca and Lavender! 

We’ve had stings before and done the ice cubes, meat tenderizer, mud… nothing takes the sting away and nothing helps the swelling go down very quickly.  K and A both had stings on the same day several years ago and both were in pain all. day. long! 

I decided to try one drop of Melaleuca on each sting (to prevent infection), followed by one drop of Lavender (to take the burning/stinging/itching sensation away).  The boys were ready for play within seconds…. literally. 

No sooner had I done that than I look over and they (along with H and A) are playing in the kitchen curtains and have pulled out the rod was bent.  UGH!  Luckily I’m married to a handy man! 

One hour later, this is what the stings looked like! 

C wouldn’t let me take a pic so I had to sneak that one in.  For a minute I thought I had taken a pic of the wrong hand but it’s not!  B just had a red dot but no swelling.

Luckily, the rest of the day went pretty well!  And no, we didn’t end up going anywhere.  I was scared, I admit it. 

 

Life’s Not Fair

I had a battle within myself about posting this.  On one hand I know there are people out there who will judge Anthony and me and therefore my children as well.  We’ve experienced it… not fun!  **Don’t post it!**

And on the other hand, I know that we are not the only ones going through a rough time needing encouragement and support.  **Post it!**

Since I pride myself on being forthright and honest on my blog I decided that I would post it.  Sure we have sunshine, rainbows, and butterflies much of the time but life isn’t just happy, sunny times.  Opposition in all things!  And right now I’m feeling discouraged and sad. 

I may lose readers over this and that’s ok.  For those that I can resonate with, that’s what I want.  I want people to know that Anthony and I are human.  We have rough times just like everyone else.  We battle our own demons and have to find ways to come out on top.  We always do but man, it’s not always easy!

So, right up front I would like to let you know that I know how blessed we are.  With almost 6 kids it would be nearly impossible for me not to acknowledge the fact that we have little blessings all around us.  I can’t imagine my life without a single one of my littles!  Yes, we are blessed beyond measure to live in the neighborhood we live in.  To have the church leaders that we have.  To have made the friends we have made.  And there are so many more blessings which we enjoy. 

However,….

Life just isn’t fair!! 

I look around me and I see people thriving in this horrible economy.  And then I ask myself, why aren’t we?  Why must we struggle through this?  Why is it so hard to get food on the table and eat the way we want to?  Why must we downgrade our food supply to processed crap that we tried so hard to get rid of?  (Because it’s less expensive, that’s why!)  Why must our washer decide to go out on us when we’re already 2 months behind on our car payment and all the other bills?  Why did the car battery have to die when we’re already behind on everything else?  Why is the dog deathly ill at a time when we can’t afford to take her to the vet?  (She’s lost over 20 pounds and keeps throwing up and having the runs.)  Why were we doing so well just five years ago and now we can’t find a job that will cover all the bills?  Right now we’re just waiting on an answer from our mortgage company about a loan modification.  If they don’t modify the loan we have nowhere to go because both our families are struggling as well.  Why, why, why? 

This is the part where some of you are judging and saying, Why in the world would you be having another baby when you’re already struggling to support the five that you have?  The only answer I have for you is… the prophets and authorities of the church have always said NOT to wait until you’re financially stable to have a family.  If that were the case, we would never have kids at all.  The other answer I have… it just felt right.  We prayed because we knew there was another one waiting to join our family and we received confirmation that now was the time. 

NONE of our kids have come at ‘the right time’.  There is no perfect time to have a child.  There just isn’t.  And yet, somehow, they all come with the blessings and the spirit we need at the time that they come.  Does that make any sense?  They come on the Lord’s time… whatever that may be.

Some people may think that because Anthony never received a college degree that he is less adequate, that somehow that makes him less qualified in the workplace.  We started our family very early in our marriage and it just wasn’t feasible for him to go to school AND try to make a living AND try to raise a family.  He did go to school and completed some courses but never got a degree.  I know many will say, people do it all the time.  And yes, they are right.  But it wasn’t right for our family to do it that way.

He ran his own business for several years and it was very profitable.  Then, down went the economy and so did the business. 

And you know, I know many people that do not have college degrees that are doing very well still!  I also know many people WITH college degrees that are struggling just as much or worse than we are. 

It’s not fair and I don’t have the answers.  All I know is that right now I’m feeling discouraged!  Is this how our life is going to be for the remainder of our time raising these kids?  Will we ever get to take them on the vacation they’ve longed for?  I hate that many families get to go out of town and on fun vacations while we have to tell our kids no.  They ask all the time when we will ever go on a vacation.  The only answer I have for them is, “I don’t know.”  We may never get to go on vacation.  I just don’t know.  It’s not the end of the world if we don’t but man, it sure is hard to see the disappointment on their little faces when we tell them it probably won’t happen for many years. 

The past couple of days have been full of tears on my end.  Yes, the crazy pregnancy hormones are kicking in.  I just don’t understand why it’s all happening.  I know there’s a lesson to be learned and it just gets frustrating not knowing what lesson it is.  Haven’t we learned enough yet?  Will there ever come a day that we can just plan something spontaneous that isn’t FREE?  Even driving somewhere takes planning because we have to decide whether it’s going to be worth the gas $$ it will take to get there and back.  Will we have enough to get through ‘til the next paycheck? 

I don’t write this to make people feel sorry for us.  I want others who might be going through a similar situation to know that they are not alone.  It’s happening all over and to people you may not even realize. 

This is only temporary!  Even if it lasts the whole rest of my life, I know that these worries will not be with me on the other side.  Things will look up for us at some point.  I know it!  There are lessons to be learned.  In the meantime, I’m just trying my darndest to stay positive. 

Was it a mistake to have started spent the money to start as a consultant for Shelf Reliance?  Some may say yes because as soon as I did that, things really started to fall apart.  However, I believe it to be a tool of the adversary.  He’s got me discouraged and wondering if it really was a mistake.  And yet, I know that I got a positive confirmation when I prayed about it.  Have I made any money yet?  No, but it takes time.  I won’t let the adversary win!  I’ve done a couple parties and they’ve gone alright.  Looking forward to doing some more with even more success!  I absolutely believe in the products and I know things are going to work out. 

We’re not asking for a hand out, we just need a BREAK!  Just a little breathing room would be nice.  If you’re feeling the same way, I hear ya! 

I’m sorry for the rant.  Please forgive me.  I’m human and need an out once in a while.  We’ll get back to our regularly scheduled programming in the very next post, I promise.   

      

Liberty Lee

I was asked to be on a book tour by TLC Book Tours to review the book, Liberty Lee’s Tail of Independence. 

It’s about a mouse named Liberty Lee and his point of view in helping with the Declaration of Independence.  When the book first arrived my girls snatched it up right away.  I didn’t even know where it was for a couple of days.  They’re hoarders! 

When I finally did get a hold of it we decided to read it as a family.  I already knew that my girls really liked it.  Their favorite part?  Searching for the eagle in each illustration.  Kind of like a Where’s Waldo.  That was fun. 

The boys weren’t really too interested.  It’s more for the 5-10 year old range if you ask me.  Of course I can’t get the boys to focus on much of anything… including books geared to their ages. 

I asked the girls what they liked about it and their responses ranged from the facts, finding the eagle, and the poetry feel to the text.  I think that’s what I liked as well.  Poetry is just fun to read.  Love the rhythm!  Anthony really liked the fact that kids are learning something and that it’s done in a fun way.  We did have to explain to H that although the main idea of the story itself is real and that those things really happened, the part about the mouse is fictional.  Thomas Jefferson didn’t really have a mouse sidekick.  ;)

In the back of the book is a section for teachers and parents.  Short descriptions of the different battles and things that lead up to the American Revolution.  Even I learned new things! 

All in all I think this book is a keeper.  I don’t know that my kids will asking for it to be read to them every day but it’s definitely worth revisiting from time to time. 

Recommended?  Yes! 

Thanks, TLC, for having me on your tour.  We enjoyed it and hope to do more in the future!

Why We Found Out…

Anthony and I were so determined to be surprised with this baby.  We’ve found out with all our other kids what they were at the 20 week ultrasound.  This time we figured we’ve got all the stuff for either one so it really doesn’t matter. 

Ok, I admit to wanting to have a baby girl.  My boys are great fun, don’t get me wrong but have you seen all the darling girl stuff there is for babies these days?  When I had my first three, the trend was little, skinny headbands with little tiny bows or flowers.  So cute but now it’s the gigantic flowers the size of the baby’s head!  I LOVE IT!  I so want to dress a baby girl again.  Anthony was positive this was a girl!

I won’t go into too much detail as this is really not my story to tell.  Anthony had a dream one night about a baby (this was just after B was born) and it was a girl.  She called him Daddy and so we knew there was another baby waiting to join our family.  He’s been talking to the baby since we first found out and asking how his little princess is doing. 

I wasn’t so sure it was a princess.  I’m always wrong so I thought, if I think ‘boy’ it’ll be a girl!  Right? 

Now, let me paint the picture…

- Anthony is the ONLY boy out of EIGHT kids!  And he didn’t come along until #6.

- I have one sister and one brother.

- After having three girls in a row, we thought it was pretty amazing that we could have a boy, C, with #4.

- Then B came along and we knew it was a fluke/miracle! 

And now I’ll tell you why we found out. 

Anthony was unable to go with me to the ultrasound this time.  First time ever which would inevitably mean that there would be something wrong and I would have to learn about it all by myself with no one there to dry my tears, right?  That’s what I thought.  I was genuinely worried.  But K wanted to come.  Then I worried that she would have to hear about it with me and not know how to console her uncontrollably sobbing mother. 

**Thankfully nothing is wrong.  All the worry was for naught.**

So, we told the u/s tech that we didn’t want to know the sex of the baby.  She told us to look away while she found out the gender first.  Once she determined the baby’s gender and wrote it on piece of paper (for my mother who insisted on knowing… silly mom) she told us we could look.  She was about to snap the pic of the top of the baby’s head to measure it and baby did a flip.  At that point, I saw!  There was no denying it… she grimaced, hoping I wasn’t able to determine what I had just seen. 

Um, yeah, with 5 kids already under my belt… I’m pretty good at knowing the parts of a baby via ultrasound.

I mentioned that I had seen and said, “Oh, it’s a boy, huh?”  She apologized profusely.

And I know it’s awfully selfish of me to say that I was ever so slightly disappointed… but only for half a second.  Where was the little girl from the dream?  Does that mean I’m supposed to go for number seven? 

Then it hit me how fun and exciting it would be to have three of each.  WOW!  I am blessed beyond measure.  We may not be rich in the world’s eyes but I am filthy rich in blessings!  Each new child that has joined our family has brought more blessings with them.  

After that, our new baby BOY was determined to show himself off time and time again.  He would not sit still for anything.  The tech said, “I’ve never dealt with a baby so determined to show himself off.  He’s naughty already!”

Indeed, he is.  ;)  There was no way I could have not found out unless I had not watched the whole thing.  But that’s no fun!

**The pic above is one of my favorites.  I can’t decide if he’s telling us he’s number 1 or if he’s confused about which finger to use when flipping us off for thinking he was a girl.  Hmm… Or maybe, just maybe he thinks WE’RE #1.  Eh?**

At one point I asked the lady if they did 3d ultrasounds.  I’ve always wanted one but never had one. 

THEY DID!  But she warned me at only 19 1/2 weeks the baby would look… alien-ish.  They don’t have enough meat on their bones to look good yet.  30 weeks was the best time.  But she obliged and let me see my baby in 3d.

YIKES!  She was right!

But we were able to get a couple of not so scary shots.  Maybe?  Ok, still a little… different.

Anthony’s reaction was the best.  When I called him to tell him I knew he asked why I found out.  I told him, “It’s kind of hard not to when your SON likes to show himself off!'”

His exact words were, “WHAT!?  Are you freakin’ kiddin’ me?”

I think he was sick of his dad calling him a princess.  He was going to let us know that indeed, he is NOT a princess!

Hooray for a new baby boy!!

 

We’re having a….

BABY!!

Remember me saying that we weren’t going to find out what we are having this time?  Yeah, well, I lied.  We know what it is.  More on that later but first I want to know what YOUR guess is.

Are we having a boy or a girl? 

Mom, Kortney, and other family members and friends on facebook…. you know I love you but you’re not allowed to guess.

Blintz with Blueberry Sauce

I promised this recipe a while back and have yet to actually post it.  I’m awesome!  But I got a comment from a friend requesting it soon because she is going to be acquiring some blueberries in the very near future and wanted to try this out. 

So, LeShel, thanks for the kick start.  I needed it! 

I watched Ina Garten make this on TV and knew that I had to try it.  My very favorite breakfast item on the Village Inn Menu is blintzes.  But what turned me on to this particular recipe is that I didn’t have to make a ton of crepes and roll them all up with the cheesy stuff inside.  Instead, it’s all made in one 13x9 baking dish.  LoVe it!  So easy.  I adapted it slightly because I didn’t have extra large eggs and I also used frozen blueberries.  My whole family loved them!

Batter:

• 1 1/4 c. milk
• 2 T. sour cream
• 4 T. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 5 large eggs
• 1 1/3 c. flour
• 2 T. sugar
• 1 T. baking powder

 

Filling:

• 3 c. (24 ounces) ricotta cheese
• 8 oz. mascarpone cheese
• 3 large eggs
• 1/3 cup sugar
• zest of one lemon
• 2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. salt
• Fresh Blueberry Sauce (recipe follows)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray or butter a 13x9 baking dish.

For the batter, mix all ingredients in large bowl (you can use a food processor or a blender if you prefer).  Only pour half the batter into the prepared dish and bake for 10 minutes or until set.

Meanwhile, whisk the ricotta, mascarpone, eggs, and sugar in a large bowl.  Add the rest of the filling ingredients and gently spread the cheese filling over the baked pancake.

Using the back of a large spoon, slowly pour the rest of the pancake batter over the filling keeping the spoon as close as possible.  Spread as evenly as possible. 

Bake for another 35 to 40 minutes, the top should be lightly golden and the filling almost set. Allow to stand 10-15 minutes before cutting into squares. 

Blueberry Sauce:

• 3/4 c. orange juice
• 2/3 c. sugar
• 1 T. cornstarch
• 4 c. (give or take) fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
• 1 T. lemon juice

Bring first three ingredients to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Once mixture is thickened, stir in the blueberries and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes.  A few berries might burst but most will be whole. Stir in the lemon zest and juice.  Serve over blintzes! 

Recipe Source:  Slightly adapted from The Barefoot Contessa 

Why Essential Oils?

Disclaimer:  I highly recommend you use doTERRA essential oils whether you buy them through me or not.  Why?  Because they have the highest standards in the industry.  You will always get the best quality… no fillers, no weeds, no pesticides, completely organic.  DoTERRA uses 3rd party testing to ensure the quality of their oils. 

I just have to let you know up front that I am NOT against doctors or modern medicine in any way!  However, I believe that we (especially Americans) have this idea that modern medicine is the answer to everything and that there is no other way. 

Ever noticed the long list of side effects listed in pharmaceutical commercials?  Liver damage, numbness, blood clots, kidney failure, vision damage, hearing loss, etc.  Some even include DEATH!  Umm, no thanks! 

I absolutely believe that God put certain plants and herbs here on this earth for our use.  In fact, the scriptures even say so.  And what did the wise men bring to Jesus?  Frankincense and Myrrh (and gold of course ;))!  So they’ve got to be of great value.  You wouldn’t bring the Savior a twig.  I mean, really. 

And yes, like many of you I was a huge skeptic at first.  I thought they were silly and nonsensical.  But I’ve changed my tune.  They’ve proven themselves to me time and time again.  Do I still use and need doctors?  Absolutely!  Do we still take over the counter medications and prescriptions when needed?  Absolutely!  But I have found that we need the doctors and meds less often with the use of essential oils.  Most of our mini- ‘medical emergencies’ can be taken care of at home.  We have treated everything from pink eye, fevers, aches/pains,

and ear infections to common colds and flu.  The cost is much less than going in for a doctor visit every time (often to just have them tell me it’s a virus and I just need to let it ‘run it’s course’) or buying over the counter meds for every little thing. 

That’s another thing.  Most meds are unable to treat viruses because the virus lives inside your cells.  Essential oils are small enough in molecular structure that they can actually penetrate the cell and fight the virus.  How amazing is that?  LOVE IT! 

Now, as I mentioned before, modern medicine certainly has it’s place.  In fact, I would not be having baby #6 without it… LOVE me some epidural!  And there is no oil in the whole wide world that is going to put a broken bone back together.  There are also plenty of diseases and ailments out there that require medicinal intervention.  But I also know that there are oils to help aid in the healing process and with regulation of those ailments.  For example, certain oils have been known to help regulate blood sugar in diabetics.  Some help to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.  And I even know of some people who no longer need an inhaler for their asthma.  They are able to instead use an oil called ‘Breathe’.

There are even options for ADD and ADHD which I am so excited about because I am 99.99% sure that C has ADHD.  He hasn’t ever been officially diagnosed (too young) but we’ve had several people agree with our opinion.  People that have kids who have been diagnosed.  All I know is that if something natural can help him I’m all for it over the medications. 

I think it’s nothing short of miraculous!  Nature has it’s healing properties and I believe we should use them when we can.

Certainly I am no expert but if you have any questions about essential oils or how to use them please feel free to contact me.  If I don’t know the answer right away I promise to do my best to find out.  Also, visit my website! 

Want to know how you can get your oils at significant discounts or FREE?  Contact me for more info. 

 

Catching up is hard to do

Whoo-ee!  Do I ever have a lot to catch up on… I’m thinking it’s probably not going to happen.  At least not in full posts of their own.  So here’s a preview of what’s to come. 

I made this the other day and it was to. die. for!!  You’ve gotta try it!  (Recipe to come)

And I made this, like forever ago and never blogged it… Best cinnamon roll EVER!!  (Again, recipe to come)

And this is something you probably don’t want to eat.  And truth be told I probably shouldn’t be putting this picture up with pictures of food because, EW!  It’s pretty disgusting.  This is Anthony’s toe after his last marathon. 

Weirdest blister I’ve ever laid eyes on. 

And I have a post I want to do on essential oils… who loves essential oils?  ME!!!  I do, I do!! 

Never tried them?  I highly recommend it.  And I can help you out if you have questions.  Just ask. 

I think I’m going to start a new blog where I post all of the recipes I try with my new Thrive foods.  So far it’s been extremely tasty!   

I’ll be back tonight… promise!

Gettin’ Down to BIZ-NESS!

I know I’ve got like a gazillion other things to catch up on but I’m so stinkin’ excited about my new adventures that I just can’t wait to tell you about them any longer!!

So, here’s the deal…

We all know that Anthony and I have struggled financially for years now.  Or maybe you didn’t already know that but now you do.  :)  You see, once upon a time, when we had our own business, things were going GREAT!  And then the economy took a nose dive…

and took the business with it. 

Stupid Economy!!

And ever since then it’s been a battle.

Ahem… anyway, back at the ranch… a couple years ago I signed up as a DoTERRA consultant.  (You can find my website here!)  Ever heard of DoTERRA and their amazing line of essential oils? 

I admit I was a HUGE skeptic at first but they have proven themselves to me over and over again for the past couple of years and now I am 1000% a believer!  If you’re not already using these oils to better the health of your family you ought to give it a try.  My family ADORES them!  Even little B asks for them when he’s got an ailment of some sort. 

My girls ask for the oils almost on a daily basis.  C agrees that they just make things better and Anthony can’t get enough of them.  His favorites?  Frankincense, Lemongrass, and Deep Blue (great for sore muscles)! 

Some other favorites of the family include OnGuard, Lavender (we go through it quicker than any of the others), Lemon, and Breathe!  But there are so many more that we haven’t even tried and others that we love but don’t use as often.

Ok, kind of a tangent there.  Where I was going with this was to let you know that while I started as a consultant just to get the oils for my family, I am now going to do it as a business!!

EXCITEMENT!!!  You’re excited too, right? 

Well, save the applause until you hear the next part……

I’m also going to be a Shelf Reliance Consultant!!  WOOHOO! 

**Now you can clap** 

My cousin started doing SR about a year ago and I’ve tried some of the crazy concoctions (surprisingly not crazy at all but delicious!!) and I’m sold!!  This is food storage like you’ve never seen before!  Or maybe you’ve seen it already, then I would be wrong to say that ‘you’ve never seen before.’  Anyway, if you have ever tasted this food you know that it is absolutely DIVINE!  I never knew food storage could be so FUN and DELICIOUS!!  Did you?  Oh and I forgot to mention HEALTHY!!

Here’s my website… to get the best pricing you’ll have to get in contact with me.  If you order straight from the website you won’t get party pricing.

So, as you can probably tell, I’m trying really hard to supplement our income so that we can actually LIVE!!  And do you know what else?  I could really use some support. 

This is completely out of my comfort zone and I’m maybe just a tad bit nervous… but TOTALLY excited! 

If you live in Utah County, Salt Lake County, Davis County or surrounding areas I would absolutely LOVE to do a party for you.  We could totally customize it to what you want for your group and it would be a blast!!  Whether I already know you or not (because I love making new friends!), I’d love to have you contact me to set something up for either DoTERRA or Shelf Reliance.  Please click on my contact info (at the top) and email me.  LET’S DO THIS!! 

You’d be doing me a great favor and I promise I’d be doing you one, too!  These products are truly phenomenal and I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t believe in them.  **Plus there might be a little ‘incentive’ for booking a party ;)**

Just a mom of (almost) 6 kids trying to make things work!  (Not a sob story, just the truth)

And if you have any questions about anything, products etc., please feel free to contact via a comment left here on my blog or by email.

Now I want to know if anyone has had any experience with these products.  If so, what did you think of them? 

I’m Alive!

Did you miss me?  Did you notice that my blog was GONE for a few days? 

NICE! 

It’s a lovely thing… my domain name expired and I had to wait for Anthony’s paycheck to buy it back.  Sheesh!  But no worries, we’re good for another year.

Lots of updates to give.  Things like “Beepio” and ‘bad guys’ and dance recitals and solar eclipse, and the time that the bug guy (pest control) came to spray and I totally forgot they were coming so I was in the shower (yeah, that was lovely) and oh so much more!  But not now.  It’s after midnight. 

Seriously I’ve been a major blog slacker and I’m kicking myself for it. 

OH!  And my new adventures…. gotta blog that, too.  So exciting!  And scary…  But I can do it, I know it! 

Anyway, just wanted to give y’all an update.  My posterity is going to go through my archives one day and see a big black hole in the timing of my writings.  They’ll be devastated. 

Can I even say… y’all?  I’m not southern.  But I did live in South Carolina for almost 2 years.  I think that totally counts.

Be back tomorrow!

The One Where I Throw Anthony Under the Bus (according to him)

Anthony has a problem.  Well, we both do really but who wants admit that when you can just blame the spouse?  :) 

But seriously, Anthony’s problem is far worse (or maybe only slightly) than mine.  You see, we’re what you might refer to as ‘People Pleasers’.  We hate disappointing people which means that if we like you, we’ll probably say yes to just about anything you ask of us.  I mean, you know, so long as it’s not something immoral or something along those lines.  But no matter how many plans we already have or how jam packed our life be at any given moment, we’re bound to add something that stacks us too high and makes us topple. 

THAT makes us TERRIBLE friends.  In our minds we have it all planned out and everything is going to run just right so that everything can get done and everyone is happy! 

The  problem is that it just never works out.  Someone is always disappointed in the end and we’re left wondering what we could have done differently. 

Take this weekend for example.  Plans have been made for several weeks to have a game night with friends.  It’s been scheduled and rescheduled four times now. Tonight was THE night!  It was going to happen! 

Then we hear a few days ago that Anthony’s sister would be in town (for only two days) this weekend.  Alright, great!  We’ll visit her on Friday, games will still be going on Saturday (after a gazillion other things, of course).  It was a perfect plan. 

Anthony’s sister called Thursday to see if we would be visiting on Friday when she got in.  Yep, plans were made.  Not even five minutes later (not an exaggeration) Anthony gets a call from some friends of ours who are in town and want to get together… Friday night!  He comes in from grilling dinner and says, “Kev and Tiff want us to go do something with them tomorrow night.  Meet at a park or something.”

I say, “Oh, did you tell them we already had plans?”

“No, I figured we could make it work.”

Umm, HELLO!! 

Silly man!  So we finagle it so that we would meet up with them Friday night and visit his sister Saturday afternoon, after dance pictures, library, an afternoon run (for Anthony) AND trying to clean the house… then come home in time for games. 

Shah… right!  And monkeys are gonna come flyin’ outta my butt!

Anyway, long story short, I texted Anthony in my overwhelmed state trying to figure out how to fit it all in and told him I was kind of freaking out.  He cancelled with our friends (easier to have told them sorry in the first place, and made plans for next time) and we went to visit his sister.  As we left we told her we wouldn’t see her again while she was here…

She was not happy!  Not mad, just sad. 

She’s only here for those two days and we bail on her.  Guess what… cancelled game night.  UGH! 

No matter how hard we try, we just can’t please everyone.  Was it the right thing to do?  Who knows!  I’m all kinds of confused. 

**FYI:  No monkeys were actually flying during the duration of this post… and certainly not flying out of anyone’s rear end. 

Yes, I fell off the face of the earth, but I’m back!

Being pregnant is hard work!  If you don’t believe me, just ask me… I’ll tell you. 

No, I don’t get sick.  Don’t hate me! 

I definitely make up for it in sleepiness, exhaustion, hip pain, anemia, pelvic pain, heartburn…..

… and EGG BURPS!  (This is by far Anthony’s least favorite symptom.  He is always the recipient of the smell.  At least he doesn’t have to TASTE it like I do… Sheesh!)

Oh, and the weight gain thing.  None of the aforementioned symptoms have hit yet, with the exception of the sleepiness/exhaustion.  And maybe a little heartburn.  But trust me, they’re coming. 

But really, I’m not here to whine.  I’m simply stating my reasons for falling off the planet.  I’m just so tired!!

And now for a complete change of subject… are you with me?

WOMEN AT THE WELL! 

My ward put on a wonderful musical program of Women at the Well last week.  K and A were asked to be a part of it because they are in Achievement Days.  They sang a song with the Young Women and also recited the YW theme.  I just have to say that I had no clue we had so many musically talented people in our ward!  It was absolutely wonderful and spiritually uplifting. 

And now let me just say… We’re in trouble!! 

Look at these beautiful girls!  We’re going to be beating those boys off with a stick.  Biased?  Nah!  Not at all. 

And now for another complete change of subject… still with me?

MARATHON!

Anthony ran his first marathon of the year this past Saturday.  He was hoping to make it in 3 1/2 hours so we (the kids, my mom, and I) were early to see him cross the finish line.  We got there at about 3 hours.  We waited, and waited….

and WAITED!  He finally crossed just after 4 hours. 

I kind of expected him to take a little longer than he had hoped because his right calf has been giving him issues recently.  And just as I suspected, he had backed off around mile 12 because his calf started tightening up.  K was able to run across the finish line with him.  She thought that was pretty neat.

He’s really hoping to qualify for Boston this year so we’ll see what happens.  Not that we could ever afford to make it to Boston but I guess just knowing that you qualified is enough.  It’ll have to be. 

And Anthony’s sister… she came across the finish line at just under 5 hours. 

A marathon at all is a feat to be proud of no matter what your time is!  Every time they run one a teeny tiny part of me thinks that it would fun to try someday. 

Fun!  Ha!  That’s funny, no?

And then I see how they’re walking around after (like they’ve been riding a horse for three days straight) and I come back to my senses. 

That teeny tiny part of me is kicked to curb in no time at all!  Anthony was hobbling around for 3 days.  No thank you!   

 

Smash Books

The first time I ever heard of Smash Books was on Pinterest.  One of the gals that I follow has a whole board dedicated to them so they kept popping up on my… ‘feed’?  Is that what we call them? 

Anyway, it looked like a whole bunch of miscellaneous papers, thoughts, pics, lists… pretty much whatever you wanted.  So, I had an idea…

My kids collect garbage!  To them it’s not garbage, more like treasures.  They get upset when I call it anything that sounds ‘trashy’.  Excuse the pun. 

They get little papers from church with thoughts and quotes on them (not what I consider garbage, it just gets cluttered), notes and letters from friends and cousins, and sometimes they like to save things like candy wrappers.  Why?  I know not.  They just do.  But I get tired of finding the trash all. over. the. house! 

Enter, the Smash Book!

Each child was presented with one of these sketch books.  ($3.?? at Wal-Mart – I don’t remember the exact amount.)

And now they can smash whatever garbagy treasures they want into their own personal smash book and I don’t have to find it everywhere.  My kids have smashed everything from church quotes and calendar pictures to lists of things they desire for their future and candy wrappers.  And there’s always room for more because they’re supposed to look cluttered. 

Gotta love it! 

This One is Going to Be Different

I had something completely different planned for today but when I went upstairs to grab my camera to download pictures, I got distracted by my bladder.  After using the restroom (something you needed to know ;)) I came back downstairs… without the camera.  I’m exhausted.  Therefore, you get tomorrow’s post today and today’s post tomorrow.

So, here goes.  

I’ve made a few changes this pregnancy. 

****First off, I’m going to a midwife.  Admittedly, I was a little nervous about this decision but I keep hearing what a wonderful experience it can be so I made the decision.  I went to my first appointment a week ago and actually really enjoyed it. 

Well, except for the actual exam part.  That’s never fun… ICK!

But the midwife actually took the time to get to know me a little bit and I felt like she really cared.  I wasn’t just another patient in room 12.  We talked about each of my previous pregnancies and she noted anything significant such as the fact that I tend to produce very short umbilical cords and C was wrapped up in his so tightly that he was unable to descend until the doctor actually reached up (inside my body!) and broke the cord with his bare hands.  After that, C wouldn’t take a breath (they tried for two whole minutes with him on my chest) and they had to rush him to the resuscitation room.  They tried everything they knew to try but it hadn’t worked.  From there they had to call a CODE BLUE… TWICE before anyone showed up and was able to get him breathing. 

Thank heavens for her!  She wasn’t even supposed to be on that floor.  She heard the code called over the system the second time and rushed up there. 

The next step they were going to take was to crack his chest.  YIKES!  I don’t even know what that means but it doesn’t sound fun.

Other than that we’ve never had a problem **knock on wood**!

Ok, so that was kind of a side note but pertinent, nonetheless. 

The midwife was so kind and I loved that she was willing to do an early ultrasound for me, just because I asked.  It was too early to hear a heartbeat but darnitall! I needed something to make it more real.  She snuck me in there and I got to see my little peanut for just a brief moment!  I also loved that they wanted to see me before my 10th week of pregnancy. 

And I don’t even have to go as often… how cool is that?  I’m on a 6 week schedule instead of a 4 week.  It was completely up to me but she said she trusted my judgment since I’ve ‘been around the block a time or two’… or five!  ;)

It’s a midwife group so I won’t necessarily see the same one each time.  And whichever one is on call when I go into labor is the one that will be there for delivery. 

Maybe I’m a little scared about that one.  What if there’s one I decide I just don’t like and she’s IT!  UGH!  But so far I like all one of them that I’ve met. ;)

****The second change that I have to make has to do with my weight gain.  Anthony has lost A LOT of weight!  So much, in fact, that I’ve never known him to be this small the whole time that I’ve known him.  Do you know what that means?  I’ll tell you!

If I end up gaining my usual 50 pounds per pregnancy (yes, 50!) I will end up HEAVIER than my husband!  That has never happened before!  I just don’t know if I could handle that. 

So, my goal is to only gain 30.  How do you other moms do it?  I always hear about people gaining only 15 or 20 pounds and I just don’t get it!  I need to know your secrets!  Maybe my tummy wouldn’t be so stretched out if I only gained that much.  I’m determined to figure it out!  Too bad I’ve already gained about 5 pounds… stupid cravings!!

****Another change that I’m making is the hospital.  Why drive clear downtown when there is a perfectly awesome (and new-ish) hospital right down the street?  I never delivered there before because I loved my doctor and he just didn’t go there.  However, the midwives I chose deliver there and I am actually really excited about it.

My due date is November 23rd, the day after Thanksgiving. 

The day AFTER! 

I really don’t want to be in the hospital for my feast… cross your fingers for me that this baby comes early!  Not too early, just a week or two would be great. 

****The final change is that we aren’t going to find out what this baby is!  We’ve always found out at our 20 week ultrasound and this time we want to be surprised.  However, we’re a little nervous that we’re going to figure it out at the ultrasound anyway.  Obviously we’ll look away when they look at the anatomy but if the baby happens to flip or change positions while looking somewhere else…. we’re both pretty good at knowing what we’re looking at now.

And just another tidbit… my very first doctor, with K, told me at my very first appointment that the first trimester is the equivalent of running a marathon EVERY DAY!!  That’s how hard our bodies work to create the perfect environment for our little ones to grow.  And boy, do I feel it!!  No wonder I’m so stinkin’ tired all the time.  You’d think with all the marathoning I’m doing I wouldn’t have a weight gain problem.  WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME?!

What experiences have you had with doctors or midwives?  Were you able to stay within the ‘limits’ on weight gain?  Tell me your secrets!  Anyone deliver at home?   

 

And Baby Makes 6

It’s true!  Anthony and I are expecting… again.  And B is going to be a big brother!  It’s probably not much of a surprise to anyone and certainly not ‘NEWS’ at number 6 but we’re excited and can’t wait to add a new little ray of sunshine to our growing family. 

Never in a million years (several years ago) would I have guessed that I would someday be the mother of six little munchkins.  This is the girl who was, first and foremost, never going to have my own kids… I’ll adopt!  Why go through the pain?  and second, Six kids?  That’s insane?  Three kids, maybe four… MAX! 

Umm, well, you can see how well that’s going for us ;)

It seems that at number three was when we were considered ‘perfect’.  No one questioned the ‘why’ of that many kids and everyone oohed and ahhed over what a cute little family we were.  And then at number four we were somewhat FREAKISH!!  That is when people started to count us when we walked into a restaurant or a grocery store or just about anywhere.  And we got ‘the looks’. 

At five is when people really started think we were weirdies!  The counting continues and now we get the awestruck question, “Are they all yours?”  When I answer yes, the usual response is one of two things, “Wow!  You’re brave!” (got that one twice in a 10 minute span a couple months ago) or “You must be really patient,” to which I give a hearty giggle and shrug.  If they only knew that patience is one of my weakest of weak points :/  A work in progress to be sure!

I can only imagine the looks and comments we will get at six. 

Now the question is… How did we get here?  Well, besides the obvious ;)

Anthony was completely on board with the idea of 3 or 4 kids.  We had number three… a third girl, and of course we had to try again for a boy.  At this point I had asked Anthony what he would think if I told him that I might want to have six kids.  His exact words:  I would have six kids if you could guarantee me that the next three would be boys. 

Luckily, number four proved to be the winner for getting a boy.  We totally could have been done!  But it just didn’t feel right.  I’ve always heard that a mom just knows when she’s done and I didn’t have that yet.  It just wasn’t there.  Besides, little C now needed a brother!  Maybe we’d get lucky and have a second boy… (not likely if Anthony had followed in his dad’s footsteps… Anthony is the only boy… of EIGHT kids, and he didn’t come along until number SIX!) 

But TADA!!  We got our second boy!  We’re 2 for 2 on the next three.  However, Anthony is now eating his words and kind of hoping for another girl this go around. 

BOYS ARE HARD!! 

Love them to death but holy cow, I can’t keep up!

The picture at the top of the post is how we told our families.  I got the idea from my friend, LeShel, who just recently announced her pregnancy (also #6!) and that’s how she told her kids.  I thought it was an adorable way to do it. 

On our way to my FIL’s birthday party earlier in the week, we stopped by the hospital gift shop and grabbed the t-shirt.  I held it up for the kids to see and asked what they thought of B’s new shirt.  The girls all laughed and I asked why it was so funny.  A said, “Because he’s the little brother!”  Then I asked if they thought it meant anything.  A and H were clueless at first but K’s facial expression quickly went from a grin to a serious, thoughtful look as she half whispered, “Are you… pregnant?” 

When we told them I was, there were several squeals of delight.  I asked them if they were excited or scared to have a new brother or sister.  All the girls claimed excitement while C calmly sat in his carseat and said in a monotone voice, “I’m scared.” 

We all laughed!  I’ve since tried to explain the concept of a baby growing in mommy’s tummy to him but he keeps asking, “Did you eat that baby?”  Funny kid!

Oh, but anyway, once we got to the party, my SIL was the first to notice and it was right away.  She looked at his shirt, looked closer and said, “Wait, that’s not true is it?”  When we told them it was true my MIL claimed that she had known already.  She always knows!  She’s got a sixth sense about these things, I swear.

My family was out of town and I was impatient so instead of waiting for them to come home and doing the same thing for them, I took the picture you see at the top with my phone and sent it to them without any explanation.  They were quick to figure it out, obviously.

I’ve already had my first appointment and know my due date but all that is coming in a future post very soon.   

Because Every Mom Should Read This

One of my Facebook friends linked to this article the other day.  I clicked on it, not really knowing what to expect, and was moved almost to tears. 

Almost.

It’s so great to know that I’m not the only mom out there that isn’t quite there YET in the SuperMom department.  The internet can sometimes give us a false sense of what reality is for other moms, other people in general.  We only get to see such a small part of each other’s lives.  Mostly the good, the SuperMom moments! 

Please, go read this article! 

Lots to catch up on

It’s been like forever!  An entire eight days!?!  So unlike me but I’ve got a good excuse.  We’ve been sick! 

It all started last Tuesday when A started running a fever.  My mom kept her and K for sewing lessons while I took the boys to meet up with Cari again (after dropping H off at Liberty Girls) and she took some fabulous pics of us!  I needed an updated pic for my blog and honestly I didn’t look picture worthy that day.  Not that I ever really do, I’m really not very photogenic (unlike my sister who can’t take a bad picture to save her life!), plus I was running late that day.  It was hectic.

But somehow, Cari managed to take fabulous pictures of a not-so-fabulous subject (that would be me) and I must say, I’ve never looked better!  ;)  Admittedly, there was a bit of photoshopping going on but Cari insists it wasn’t much.  I’d love to take her word for it but seriously, there had to be a LOT to fix!  Honesty is always the best policy.  (Now I just need to get the pics on my sidebar.  Tomorrow’s project.)

 

I didn’t realize that she was going to snap a few of the boys also.  I’m sure it was mentioned somewhere in our emailed conversation back and forth but somehow I missed it.  So, they were both covered in lunch remnants and crumbs (face and clothes), hair was anything but done and they both needed to be bathed.  Oh, and C’s ‘outfit’, if you want to call it that, was absolutely stunningly picture worthy… NOT!  He was wearing a plain red t-shirt, a black/red/white crocheted beanie, and a tie that he found on our way out and refused to remove. 

And yet, somehow, Cari was able to make him look absolutely adorable!  It’s totally him.

B just had a snot face and lunch was dried all over his face and shirt.  But cute as can be… as always.

And after that day, it was all downhill.  We all took our turn with whatever this virus is going through our house.  Fevers, chills, croup, congestion, achiness, loss of appetite, tummy aches… it’s been fun!  It’s still not over either.  As of right now, A is just finishing up with croup, I’m still congested, and C and H are still running fevers. 

Oh, but we celebrated yet another birthday at the end of March… Anthony’s.  See, each of us girls selfishly claimed our own month for our birthdays but the boys all share.  I think it’s funny.

Come to think of it, Anthony never even got a cake.  Hmm, well that’s sad.  I better fix that.

This past weekend was conference and I loooved every second of it!  Did you?  I always think that there’s no way the current conference could ever top, or even match the last one that we had six months before. 

I’m wrong… every time.  None of them are better than the others but somehow the messages reflect exactly what I need at that time.  Love that! 

Sunday was April Fool’s Day, as I’m sure you were well aware.  I have to admit that I don’t love that holiday.  Probably because I’m no good at pulling off pranks, I’m a terrible liar, and I can’t keep a secret to save my life! 

K was able to pull off a couple good ones though.  The best was when she taped the kitchen sink sprayer hose.  She made it so it would spray when the water turned on.  Both Anthony and I were the recipients of that one at different times.  And you can’t get mad on April Fool’s Day.  You just can’t. 

And now we’re just trying to get better.  And start blogging again. 

Because 8 days is way too long. 

The end.

How was your week?