House of Seven

Boise

2011-02-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

We took a little trip last weekend to check out what will probably be our next hometown.

The Capitol

Waiting for some good grub which Boise seems to have plenty of - important to the Estes' family

A cool building downtown

Outside the Basque District. If you don't know who the Basque are you can google it !

Silly Ruthie

Downtown Boise
To quote the girls: "It was better than expected"
See Idaho is not all potato farms!!

This restaurant was on the Foodnetwork show Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. Tasty.

Why is deliberate tackiness cool?

We also checked out a Pizza place that was featured on another Food Network Show Man vs Food.

Like I said the Estes Family likes to eat food and talk about food!

We will keep you posted on our plans, which we are still trying to figure out. In the meantime the girls are making a "Bucket List" for Provo. Anyone want to buy a house?

Homecoming Pictures

2010-09-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Abigail, her dress, shoes, and of course her date from Homecoming. Abigail found her dress at a vintage clothing store in Salt Lake. We were in SLC for a family wedding and literally had one hour to find the store, find a dress, and get to the reception on time. And we did it! We LOVED the store and plan to go back soon without time constraints. When we found the dress (it was only $35!) I do wish Emily could have been there to take the pics though!

Check This Out

2009-11-06T17:01:00.000-08:00

I promise this will not turn into a button blog, but . . . I was featured on this blog today. And in the blogging world, when featured on someone else's blog, proper blogging etiquette dictates that I should feature their blog. And I am happy to oblige since I enjoy finding great blogs out in cyberspace. I think you will like it! Also, check out Amy's blog. Apparently, many 11 year olds have blogs! PS I promise to post Halloween pictures soon.

Upcycled

2009-10-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

These earrings were posted on this blog about upcycled earrings. The earrings were made using security envelopes (you know the envelopes you receive to pay your bills with?) I do most of our banking online, so I always toss them, until I recognized the print inside and thought, "these could make cute earrings!" So, take a look at the blog and see many more creative and beautiful earrings.

7 Alternatives to Candy

2009-10-19T22:41:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog where our buttons were featured. P.S. You can also enter to win this pocket mirror!

87 Days Until Christmas

2009-09-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

Participating in all these boutiques around Utah, we are finding lots of cute things! Here are some of our favortie vendors from the Checkered Umbrella. Its never too early to start shopping for Christmas gifts, right? You can check out their etsy stores and see more of all the great stuff they make. www.mydearclementine.etsy.com www.MDsparks.etsy.com www.emilymaysparks.etsy.com

Top Five Things

2009-09-16T20:09:00.000-07:00

I have been absent from the blogging world for quite some time. So, rather than try to fill everyone in on what has happened the last couple of months, I will instead tell you five new things currently happening at our house. 1. Camp planning has begun. I thought I just finished with camp, however, tomorrow I am going to a Stake YW meeting to discuss and begin planning for 2010. I am not emotionally prepared for this. 2. Steve was called to be a first couselor in the bishopric on BYU campus. The 151st ward to be exact. This means that on top of meetings 5x a week, the girls and I go to church alone, my Sunday chef is gone, and He now has more friends on facebook than I do. 3. Abigail was nominated to be the Sophmore Homecoming Princess. We don't think she won, but thats OK, because now we don't have to buy a new dress for a dance she can't even attend. 4. Lydia made the JV Tennis Team. She practices for 2 hours after school everyday and she has a tan. She isn't sure she likes high school yet. (It has something to do with the fact that she now at the bottom of the food chain.) 5. The girls and I have been very busy with our "button business". We attended the Women's Expo last week and currently have 4 boutiques lined up in the next 6 weeks. Who would have thought I would be making so many buttons. This list was inspired by my niece Elise! Thanks for the inspiration!

At Our House

2009-06-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

At our house Amy came home sick from 5th grade camp. She is still sick. They thought she might have Swine Flu. Now she has an ear infection too. She can't be around anyone until the coughing stops. We think that is going to take a while. At our house we spent Tuesday night in the ER with Eliza. We thought she had appendicitis. Instead they think she has a viral infection in her lymph nodes in her abdomen. Now she has strep throat and a possible UTI. At our house yesterday, Ruthie threw up and had diarrhea. At our house we are trying to get everyone healthy before I leave for girls camp, keep everyone healthy, and keep our sanity. Aren't you glad you are not at our house? And you should probably stay away from our house.

Spontaneity

2009-06-08T19:51:00.000-07:00

Abigail and Lydia decided to start a blog today in order to document their many summer adventures. Be sure to take a look. abbeyandlydia.blogspot.com

Oh What Do You Do In the Summertime?

2009-05-21T20:32:00.001-07:00

Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green? Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by? Is that what you do? So do I! Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green? Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool or swing in a tree up high? Is that what you do? So do I! Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green? Do you march in parades, or drink lemonades or count all the stars in the sky? Is that what you do? So do I! I have a confession. I really don't like that song. Whenever, we would sing it in Primary it would depress me. I could never figure it out. Why didn't I like it? Everyone else seemed too. Then just recently I figured out why: those things sounded like pure torture in AZ. First of all, my world wasn't green. At least not then. It was green during the winter when the grass was soft - not summer. Summer grass was hard, pokey, and filled with ants. And streams? Where? You mean the canals? And to lazily dream as the clouds go by? Is that a death wish? The only line I could relate to was to swim in a pool to make yourself cool. That I understood. Don't get me wrong. There is nothing like AZ winters. I long for them right around February. And sunsets? I have never seen one that rivals a desert sun. But Utah summers - my favorite! Our garden is growing. Leaves are coming back on our trees. We have biked through Provo Canyon,climbed along the rocks at Bridal Veil Falls, picniced in the park, had a bonfire in the backyard,slept on the trampoline, and played night games. Welcome Summer!

Stupid

2009-04-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

A can of coconut milk + a chefs knife = stitches. My bottle opener is broken, has been for a while. But no worries, I have just stabbed the cans with a chef knife instead. Except this time, I stabbed my hand. Stupid I know. My brilliant stunt resulted in one trip to urgent care, one tetanus shot, three stitches, and a very sore hand. Tomorrow I am buying a bottle opener.

Winger's Sticky Chicken Salad

2009-03-04T16:31:00.000-08:00

A while back Steve and I ate at Winger's. Steve ordered the Sticky Chicken Salad. It was good. In true Steve fashion Steve said, "I bet I could make this." He did. Since then it has become a favorite. It's ridiculously easy if you buy the chicken already breaded. However, you can always bread and fry the chicken yourself. I like to skip the mess. This isn't really a recipe as much as a "how to" since we never measure. (Sorry!) Ingredients: Chopped Romaine Lettuce - Craisins - Shredded cheddar cheese- Cherry tomatoes (optional)- 1 bottle of Lousiana Style Hot Sauce (like Frank's Hot Sauce) - Brown Sugar - Breaded Chicken strips - Ranch or Bleu Cheese dressing - In a saucepan combine equal parts hot sauce and brown sugar in order to make the amount of sauce you want. I always add the whole bottle, make the sauce, and then put the leftover sauce back in the hot sauce bottle. Then next time I can even skip this step! Heat it through and let it thicken a little. Toss the sauce over the breaded chicken. We like to assemble the salads individually, since some like more craisins, some don't like tomatoes, etc. So in each bowl, add chopped romaine lettuce, craisins, cheese, tomatoes, and top with chicken strips. Serve with ranch or bleu cheese dressing.

Playdate

2009-03-03T15:47:00.001-08:00

This is Ruthie's and her buddy. Every Tuesday and every Thursday they have a date. It is one of Ruthie's highlights!

Spelling Bee

2009-03-02T13:23:00.000-08:00

On Friday, Amy participated in the school spelling bee. She studied until I thought my brain would explode. She studied in the morning before school. She studied in the afternoon after school. And she studied in the evening until it was time for bed. Amy placed in the top 10 of the school. Her missed word was ninja. She actually spelled the word correctly, but before she began to spell she said the letter "i". Once you say a letter you can't "take it back". There was some controversy concerning her incorrect spelling. Previosly, another speller made the same mistake of saying a letter that did not belong, but his was in the middle of the word. However, he challenged the judges and so did his mom. The archiac tape recorder used to tape the spellers for such challenges did not provide a clear answer, so the speller returned to the competition and ultimately took second place. Apparently, there were some teachers who felt Amy's dismissal was unfair. Yet, Amy did a fabulous job and handled her defeat gracefully. Her parents were very P-R-O-U-D. (I would have posted a video, but blogger doesn't seem to like mine)

For the Love of Chocolate

2009-02-17T09:50:00.000-08:00

We made chocolate cupcakes on Sunday for dessert. After mixing, I gave Ruthie a choclate covered beater to lick. Some chocolate dripped on her foot and this is what I found her doing. . .

All for the love of chocolate!

Talent Show

2009-02-08T17:17:00.000-08:00

Lydia had the privilege of hosting the Centennial Middle School Talent Show. She and a boy named Que were asked to be the MC's. This was no small affair. It required a formal dress, new shoes, a tux for Que, and staying late after school for a week. The show was performed three times, Thursday evening for the parents, and twice on Friday for the students. It was a lot of fun, not only to watch Lydia and Que charm the audience with thier smiles and humor, but those kids truly were talented. There was a Led Zepplin drum solo, ballroom dancing, piano playing, juggling, singing, etc. etc. It was quite entertaining! If only I had been so brave (or so talented) as these kids when I was young! ( Am I sounding old or what?)

My Dad

2009-02-04T14:01:00.000-08:00

Grandpa taking Ruthie to see the stream at a park in Provo Canyon Summer 08'. Ruthie is trying to sign "water" to Grandpa

Today is my dad's birthday. If you don't know my dad, then I believe you have not met one of the great men of this world. Here are five things I love about my dad:

1. My dad is an incredibly hard worker. He is constantly doing and often doing things for other people. He never stops (think Energizer Bunny) He has painted for me, done my dishes, vacuumed, taken out the garbage, babysat, vacuumed, wash my windows, mowed my lawn,repaired things around my house, cleaned my car, ran errands for me, and I believe this was all in one day. I could go on and on and on.

2. My dad is courageous and bold. He is a true missionary. He is never embarassed or timid about sharing the gospel with others, even total strangers. When he traveled a great deal he would always try to keep an extra copy of the Book of Mormon with him. If he had a copy when he left, it was sure to be gone when he returned. I loved to hear his stories he would share when he returned. From those stories I learned to never judge someone by their outward appearance and we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father.

3. My dad is wise. I still like to counsel with my dad and ask his opinions regarding the direction of my life. I trust him. I know that when he gives advice in a certain way and with a certain tone, I need to listen and take note.

4. My dad is loving. I grew up with my dad always saying, "how are my little sweethearts?" He always told us he loved us. He was affectionate and kind - "squeaky kisses and body crushers." I have no recollection of my dad ever critiquing or criticizing my choice of clothes, hairstyle, or makeup - even when there was plenty to criticize. He only complimented. He is the same with my girls now.

5. My dad is generous. He never hesitates to help others and to share. He often shows his generosity anonymously or very quietly. I have often been the recipient of that generosity.

So, Happy Birthday Dad. We love you and we are better people because of you!

Drum Roll Please. . . .

2009-02-02T18:39:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have two big announcements! (No, I am NOT pregnant!) The first is we have our home listed for sale. I know, I know . . .I said we weren't moving, but the house we LOVED is going into foreclosure and we decided we just couldn't resist! If our house doesn't sell or we just don't get the home, then I will accept the fact that "it wasn't meant to be". If you want to see our house or know someone who might be interested, you can see it here: http://www.cherrylanehouseforsale.blogspot.com/. (Make sure you scroll down to the bottom of the page for all the info) The second announcement is that I finally have our etsy shop up and running! This would not have happened if it wasn't for the very talented Emily sharing her incredible photography skills with me (she took all the pictures of our house too!) She truly is amazing! THANK YOU EMILY!!! I do not have all of my items listed yet. . .(who knew this would be so time consuming) and it is still a work in progress, but I do have a few Valentine's Day items . . .so take a look if you like! http://www.mybuttonboutique.etsy.com/

One Request

2009-01-21T08:14:00.000-08:00

Eliza got her cast off on Monday. After we left the doctor's office she had one request: A shower. A long, hot, steamy shower.

Translation

2009-01-18T22:19:00.000-08:00

I always worry about my children's behavior, especially when I am not there, and particularly Ruthie's behavior. You know the youngest child - likes to be the center of attention, gets anything they want, a spaz, etc etc. At least this is what I am told. So when I have the opportunity, I often ask the nursery workers on Sunday how Ruthie is doing. I honestly have no idea how that little girl behaves and it scares me. In this process, I have come to realize that when adults say one thing, they often mean another thing, particularly on sensitive topics such as your children's behavior. Here are some examples with translations: She sure is a lot of fun: She's out of control. I bet she keeps you busy: She's totally out of control. She sure likes cheese: She ate all of her cheese at snack time and all of the other kids' cheese and still wanted more. She certainly has a mind of her own: She doesn't share and/or doesn't listen. She certainly likes to stay busy: She won't sit down, unless its snack time (especially if cheese is involved.) And oneI heard today: She is starting to get better: She will finally sit down for longer than 10 seconds. So, to all of those nursery workers out there: past, present and future - thank you for being so kind and patient. And I will try to remember she is still a work in progress.

A Distracted Mind

2009-01-15T18:46:00.000-08:00

I have been slow on posting lately. Occasionally I have thought, "Oh, I should put this on my blog!" but now I can't remember what that was. I have been distracted. Very distracted. Lots of things going on in my unorganized mind. We have been looking at houses, mainly forclosures. We have been thinking, analyzing, dreaming, and wondering what we should do. And of course, shortly after we began to look, the rumor mill began and our phone began to ring. We have shown our home a few times, but nothing has come out of it except decluttering and cleaning on my part. Maybe I should list the house for sale - I might get some things done. On top of that, there is girls camp to plan, which in all honestly intimidates me. So, I like to look at real estate instead. A good distraction. I've also decided to set up an etsy store - just to see if I could do it. Not sure I can yet - although I have had one sale. I have learned two things during the process: 1. This is another good distraction. and 2. I am not nearly as technically savy as I thought. Just another thing to keep me from thinking about girls camp. I did tell Steve that I could get out of this calling by either moving or becoming pregnant. This might explain his sudden interest in real estate. However, we have finally concluded that moving is not going to be in our forseeable future. So, that really only leaves me one option. . . . (That of course is a joke)

The Snowy Day

2009-01-07T12:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, It snowed, and snowed, and snowed. We shoveled and we played.

Then we ate Snow Ice Cream.

What the World Needs

2009-01-06T22:24:00.000-08:00

The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity. - The Joy of Womanhood, Margaret D. Nadauld Young Women General President, November 2000 Ensign

Christmas Morning

2009-01-05T22:38:00.000-08:00

I am a little slow to post this. Steve told the girls that they couldn't get up before 6:00am. I heard them talking and giggling at 5:30am, I am sure it started sooner. I watched the clock turn to six and the girls came running in our room shouting, "Merry Christmas!" You gotta love their excitement!

Christmas Break Highlights

2009-01-05T22:15:00.001-08:00

Steve and the girls skiing at Sundance

Snow, lots of snow.

More and more snow.

New Years Pom Poms, Waffle Parties, and Dances

Christmas morning, Brunch at Snows, and dinner at Grandma E.'s

Hambugers at the Creamery and the Spanish Fork Festival of Lights with Ruthie exclaiming, "Wook at Dat!" every two seconds (We decided Ruthie made it much more entertaining)

Notes of apologies for a broken arm Lots of messes to clean up with everyone home. And Puzzles by the fire.

Tissue Paper Pom Poms

2008-12-31T15:17:00.000-08:00

We made some New Year's Eve party decorations from a Martha Stewart Kit I bought after Halloween on sale. I thought silver and black would work for the New Year. I love them. But you don't need the kit to make them. They are super easy, you just have to be careful not to rip the tissue paper (at least not too much)

Supplies: You'll need tissue paper and floral wire.

Here are the steps:

Stack eight 20-by-30-inch sheets of tissue. Make 1 1/2-inchwide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.

2. Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, and slip over center of folded tissue; twist. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes.

3. Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time. (Be gentle and patient, the tissue tears easily)

4. Tie a length of string or fishing line to floral wire for hanging.

As you can see you can do any color. I think these would be darling for a birthday party!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T19:07:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to wish everyone a very, Merry Christmas! We miss seeing our friends and family far away. We send our love and best wishes for a Christmas full of peace, harmony, and love. And may we all remember the wonderful blessing of the Savior's birth, His life, and His atoning sacrifice. Merry Christmas

All I Want for Christmas . . .

2008-12-22T13:18:00.001-08:00

Is a broken arm? That's what Eliza got. Today we spent the morning at the doctor's office, who confirmed that Eliza's arm is indeed broken - both bones as a matter of fact. Fortunately, they were both a "greenstick" break. In other words, not bad and the doctor was able to cast her arm in the doctor's office. It all started this morning. I had a 9:00am Camp meeting at my house. Steve had not left for work yet, and Amy had a great idea. Amy gets lots of great ideas that she likes to try out on her sisters, mainly Eliza. Today it was doing "airplane". Eliza would lay on Amy's feet, who would launch her off and onto the floor. Unfortunately, the last landing was a crash one. I of course was oblivious to what was going on. Apparently, Ruthie tried to tell me that Zsha, Zsha (Eliza) was sad and Amy was sad. But, I was in a meeting and paid no attention. So after Eliza countinued to cry for over a half hour, Steve decided she was really hurt. When I finally realized what was going on, my meeting ended abruptly. Steve and I loaded a sobbing Eliza into the car and left a sobbing Amy at home, and drove off into the very, very, very snowy morning. (So glad Steve was home to drive). So you see, its nothing that a Jamba Juice and a trip to Blockbuster can't make a little better.

Pretzel Turtles

2008-12-17T18:47:00.001-08:00

The girls and I made these delicious little treats. They are yummy. Instead of pecans (not everyone in my family is a nut fan) we used Christmas colored MnM's. You can make a lot of these quick.

Preheat your oven to 250

1. Upwrap your Rolos. Place pretzels on baking sheet. Top with a Rolo.

2. Bake in oven for 3-5 minutes, until the chocolate just begins to melt. The Rolo should be soft but not completely melted.

3. Remove from oven, place on cooling rack and immediately squish the chocolate with a nut or MnM.

4. Allow time for them to set by letting them cool for a couple of hours or by putting them in the refrigerator.

Ideas, PLEASE!

2008-12-16T15:54:00.000-08:00

I recently got a new calling, Stake Camp Director. Not sure what they were thinking, but that is beside the point. This year we are going to a new camp and doing everything differently. They want the Girls Camp more stake oriented. We are going to be dividing the girls by levels. But they also want to schedule ward time.Has anyone ever done it this way before? Does anyone have any ideas on how to do certification, how to use ward leaders, etc, etc? Suggestions? ideas for a theme? I really am a little lost right now, so ANY thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-15T19:28:00.000-08:00

Today I learned that our Christmas cards will be arriving from shutterfly on December 22nd. This means that if I send out Christmas cards, you would receive them after Christmas. Kinda defeats the purpose of a Christmas card, doesn't it? Oh well. So, I decided to post our Christmas picture on my blog and wish you all a Merry Christmas. (Just pretend you received this in the mail.) Thanks - I feel better now.

Hot Chocolate Cones

2008-12-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

We have made these for the past three years. They are really easy and turn out really cute. They make great little gifts. I often get asked how to make these, so I thought I would post the steps. Here you go:
Supplies: (for one hot chocolate cone)
1/2 C hot chocolate - any kind you like

2 T mini chocolate chips
1/2 C mini marshmallows (aprx)
1 red Hot Shot candy (this is a generic brand candy at our grocery store, its like a giant red hot. If you can't find it a regular red hot will do)
2 cone shaped cellophane bags (I buy mine online)
2 clear hair rubber bands (you buy these on the same aisle in grocery store where hair clips, hair bands, etc. are. They work well because they are smaller than regular rubber bands and easier to conceal. )

Steps:

Fill cellophane bag with the 1/2 C of hot chocolate and tie off with one rubber band. Next, cut off the top of the cellophane bag just above the rubber band Next place the cellophane bag filled with the hot chocolate into the other cellophane bag Then fill with the 2 tablespoons of mini chocolate chips Top off with the marshmallows and the red hot Finish by securing with another clear rubber band, then add ribbon and/or tag, etc. Each cone serves at least two. You can make these super fast if you enlist the help of others and do it like an assembly line.

The Flu and a Really Lame Toothfairy

2008-12-09T14:34:00.000-08:00

We have the flu going around at our house. It started with Lydia and now Ruthie has it. I started feeling achy Sunday night and have been fighting aches and coughing for a couple of days now. Fortunately, I don't have it as bad as Lydia or Ruthie. Now Steve is starting to cough too. Poor little Ruthie is kinda miserable, I don't get much done, but I get a lot of cuddling time with her since she just wants to be held. And Thursday night Eliza lost her front tooth. She was very excited and left her tooth under her pillow for the tooth fairy. Unfortunately, the tooth fairy was really tired that night, forgot about the tooth and fell asleep. So, the next morning I explained to Eliza that sometimes the tooth fairy gets pretty busy and needs an extra night. By that time the tooth was lost, but I reassurred Eliza that she could leave a note and the tooth fairy could find the tooth. So, she left a note Friday night, and the tooth fairy didn't come again! Well while we were at a 6:00am tithing settlement (no, that is not a typo - it was 6:00AM on a Saturday) The tooth fairy realized she had neglected to pick up Eliza's tooth again! So, the tooth fairy quickly went to her bank (aka Steve) got some cash and then enlisted the help of other fairies (aka Abigail). So, upon arrival home Abigail quickly darted out of the car and up to Eliza's room. When we got home I asked Eliza if the tooth fairy had come yet, to which she replied "No." (I was really hoping she hadn't checked yet.) So, I told her I thought she should check again, because sometimes things get lost in your covers. She did and the tooth fairy had finally come! We have a really lame tooth fairy. PS The Beehive Bazaar went great! And the girls are assurred a lot of spending money.

Sneak Peek

2008-12-03T21:33:00.001-08:00

Here is a sneak peek of all the goodies the girls are selling. We set up our display at home to make sure it looked OK and we had everything we needed. Here is a list of what was made: Hot Chocolate Cones (Amy)$3.00 Hairbands(Abigail/Lydia) $3.00 Ornaments(Eliza)$3.50 Pocket Mirrors (Abigail/Lydia)$3.00 Magnets (set of four) (Abigail/Lydia)$2.50 Earrings (Abigail/Lydia)$3.00 Although the girls had their own items to sell, it really was a collective effort. And yes, I did end up helping A LOT! Tomorrow night the Bazaar starts. I will post some "how to's" in the next day or so, plus some other ideas I had, but just never got around to.

Quick Update

2008-12-03T08:42:00.001-08:00

I figured I better post something so people would know we were still alive. We made it home safe from AZ, sans no wrong turns landing us in Wickenberg and no car problems. (Both which happened on the way down.) However, Lydia is still sick. We are going on four days of no school. Not good. But I do believe she is on the mend and I am hoping she will be able to make it tomorrow. She tried to go this morning, but taking a shower wiped out all of her energy. So, this means that I am taking her spot making all of their "stuff" for the Beehive Bazaar. I have been so busy "helping" that everything else has been neglected. I told the girls that they need to give me a large cut of the money they make. Let's just hope things sell or I will be sending you all earrings, pocket mirrors, magnets, rings, and hot chocolate cones for Christmas. My goal is to have enough finished today that I can clear off the dining room table, so we can acually eat dinner there tonight. Wish me luck. I promise to post pictures soon. Although my camera is still gone. . .starting to get worried. . .I will use my old one which means the pics won't be so great.

You Should Listen

2008-11-21T06:03:00.000-08:00

The other day Steve and I listened to a BYU forum. The forums and devotionals are held every Tuesday at 11:00am at the Marriott Center. If its a visiting authority, they are called a devotional. If it is a professor they are called a forum. In October (Oct. 28th to be exact), they had a visiting professor from Princeton come and speak. His name was Robert George. His speech was entitled "On the Moral Purposes of Law and Government". It was excellent. You can listen to it here. I highly recommend it if you have the time.

I'm Back!

2008-11-19T08:02:00.000-08:00

Yea! I finally have my computer back! There are still a few things I (really meaning Steve) needs to configure. I still can't send emails. And I can't find my documents or picutres. However, Steve reassures me they are there. I will take his word on it. Here are some pics of what we've been doing \: We have been raking and playing in leaves. Apparently, Eliza was doing more "playing" than helping because I don't have a picture of her. I think they are finally done! The few that are left won't kill the grass, so I think they may be mowed up in the Spring. Let the snow come! We have also been doing some sewing and making lots of crafts for the bazaar. I actually did some sewing and made new Christmas stockings! Yea for me! I feel so domestic! The toe looks deformed in the picture (maybe it really is)and I admit that I did use some fabric glue during the process. But I found the secret to sewing: patience and having a sewing machine that works! I am still working on the patience. I will post pictures of the girls items for the Beehive Bazaar soon. Eliza wanted to get in on the action, so we found some ornaments that she can make. They have turned out pretty cute! Now I want to make something for the boutique, but I have given away my best ideas to the girls! Maybe they will share. PS. Is any one else having problems with posting on their blog or is it just me? Its me isn't it?

Technical Difficulties

2008-11-10T14:41:00.000-08:00

My computer is sick. It doesn't want to turn on - at all. So, for the next few days I will not have my computer to check email, finances,post pictures etc. Its amazing how dependent you become on technology. Hopefully, I will have it back up and running soon. In the meantime I am using one of Steve's laptops.

The Beehive Bazaar

2008-11-07T20:14:00.000-08:00

The girls are going to be selling their jewlery and things at the Beehive Bazaar again this year. If you are in Utah or will be in Utah on these dates, you really should come and check it out. I doubt you have ever been to a boutique like this before! We will post pictures of thier things later . . . when we get them finished.

Leaves, Leaves, & More Leaves

2008-11-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

Although this picture was taken last year, this is a glimpse of what our yard looks like daily. Our trees' leaves are always the last to fall. We have begun our daily raking and mowing leaves routine. We blow leaves, we rake leaves, and we mow leaves . . . a couple of hours later it looks like this again. In the front and back yard. It won't be long before the leaves fall too thickly and we can no longer mow them up. That's when the serious raking starts. This can go on for weeks. However, it snowed today. This usually means that as soon as it warms up again and the sun hits the leaves - they ALL drop. Think raining leaves.

The Infinite Power of Hope

2008-11-05T14:25:00.000-08:00

Hope is a gift of the Spirit. It is a hope that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of His Resurrection, we shall be raised unto life eternal and this because of our faith in the Savior. This kind of hope is both a principle of promise as well as a commandment, and, as with all commandments, we have the responsibility to make it an active part of our lives and overcome the temptation to lose hope. Hope in our Heavenly Father’s merciful plan of happiness leads to peace,mercy, rejoicing, and gladness. The hope of salvation is like a protective helmet;it is the foundation of our faith and an anchor to our souls. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency General Conference October 2008

Halloween Review

2008-11-03T21:12:00.001-08:00

A picture of the table before our Halloween Feast, which has become a tradition thanks to Grandma C. Abigail informed me that this was her favorite part of Halloween. We ate Goulash in pumpkin bread bowls, with veggies and dip, plus a warm artichoke dip for the bread from inside the bread bowls, and juice with dry ice. Steve had been out of town until 5:30pm Halloween Night. He got home at 6:30 and we quickly ate so they could be trick or treating by 7:00pm. Oh! and he did get my old camera working for me- see he is good at fixing things! And I did find the pedal and power cord for the sewing machine an hour before dinner. No, I did not get them finished, but I used them anyway! I finished them 2 days after. Oh well!

The girls having fun carving pumpkins. We decided to have a theme for all of our pumpkins. We chose to carve words into them instead of faces.

Unfortunately, Steve was out of town when we carved pumpkins, so no power tools were involved this year. (This was taken last October - and yes he really did use his power tools) An example of our "word pumpkins"

Eliza, who was Little Orphan Annie. She was the easiest one to please in regard to her costume. I said, "Eliza, how about you be Annie for Halloween?" Eliza said, "Sure, I don't care. Who's Annie?" Then I sang. She got it.

Somehow this is the only picture I got of Amy in her pirate costume, which is covered up with her jacket and backpack. All the elementary school children wore their costumes to school so they were ready for the Halloween Parade.

Ruthie's 1st costume for the day, before we left at 8:45am for the Halloween parade at school. The ponytails were gone before we arrived, but I do have proof that I really did try to do her hair. 8:45am is too early to put a Halloween costume on a 2 year old, by 11:00am it was dripping wet (she was trying to help me with dishes) and was dirty as well. It didn't get washed in time for trick or treating.

Ruthie's 2nd Halloween costume for the day.

Lydia was a Greek goddess. We had an impromptu party with a bunch of her friends Halloween Night.

Abigail who kinda dressed up. She didn't like the eyeliner that I helped her put on before school. She thought it was "too much", so she took it off. Then on her way to a party that night she called and said, "Mom! I'm afraid I didn't dress up enough!"

PS Sorry for all the sideway pictures. Too tired to figure out why my computer is not cooperating.

Her Dad Would be Proud

2008-10-30T23:02:00.001-07:00

Abigail came home from school today and said, "Mom, guess what happened on the bus today." Her eyes started to light up, so I knew it was something she was excited about. Apparently, on the way home from school today some kids began talking about poliitics. Now, Abigail's dad talks a great deal about politics to the girls. He feels like it is important for them to understand the different party platforms, as well as explain our personal political beliefs. Yesterday as the girls were helping me, politics came up again. Steve wasn't around, so I took the time to talk to the girls about our political beliefs and specifically about being courageous and standing up for one's beliefs - something that has been on my mind lately. I talked to the girls about the recent articles in the Ensign regarding abortion and gender. I thought it was a good discussion. Surprisingly, the girls listened rather intently and asked a lot of good questions.

The political views discussed on the bus were different political views than ours. Abigail bravely began talking to them about how she believed differntly and explaining to them why. She told me, "Mom! They didn't know what to say!" It turns out Abigail stumped them. Eventually, someone did pipe up and said, "But shouldn't homosexuals have rights too?" Again, Abigail explained to them that yes they should, but also explained how the prophet has counseled us to defend a traditional family and why it is so important. She also explained that we should support a candidate that shares our same moral values. I think it was a brave thing for Abigail to do today. Some of those who were in opposition to her were her very good friends. It wasn't just her political beliefs she expressed, but more importantly it was that she stood up for her moral beliefs. Her dad would have been proud, just like her mom.

Stressed

2008-10-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

I am a little bit stressed. A few days ago my camera broke. I am trying to get it fixed, but of course that means I have to ship it far, far away and I won't see it again for at least two weeks. I found my old camera, but I can't get it to charge. So, that means that I won't be taking pictures of:

our pumpkin carving
all the beautiful leaves that are about to fall in our yard
The Halloween Parade at school ( Yes, we still get a way with Halloween parties, and Santa even comes to school at Christmas!)
Halloween Night
Our Halloween Dinner that has become a tradition
the 162 cans of wheat, flour, sugar, and oats I canned at home today
And Ruthie's very dirty, sticky face from eating the sugar off the table that spilled as I filled the cans

So, to say the least I am disappointed. Maybe Steve can work a miracle for me. He's good at that. Then tonight I sat down to sew napkins to match my table cloth for the Halloween Dinner. (I know what your thinking - napkins?! Why?! But I really needed a creative outlet and decided to attempt sewing napkins) However, my sewing machine is very old and now broken. Abigail's sewing machine (yes, she has her own and yes she is a much better - I ask her for help. ) is missing the pedal and power cord. Can not find it anywhere! We took it to be serviced a few months ago and haven't used it since. It's possible it could be at the repair shop, but I doubt they will have a clue.) I Don't mean to sound like I am whining, but I suppose I am. Do you think I can make napkins with fabric glue?

Boo!

2008-10-22T07:36:00.001-07:00

Okay, before I say anything about my silly cookies you really must see Melissa's cookies for Christian and Stephanie's benefit concert this Saturday. Most of you have probably seen them, but if not take a look. Unbelievable!

Anyway, if you are not quite as talented as Melissa (like myself) in the cookie department - try this. Steve's mom, a cookie master herself, made these with the kids one year. I thought they were so cute. Plus they were so easy. And if something is easy and cute, I am all for it! However, doing anything with a 2 year old really isn't that easy I've decided. My quick, clean, easy project turned into a little more time, mess, and work with the help of my dear, sweet Ruthie. Note the hands in the picture - she attempted to snatch the cookies while I took a picture. The little stinker! You gotta love her. So here it is:

Ghost Cookies

1 package of Almond Bark (could use white chocolate, or white chocolate chips - Almond bark is just cheaper)

1 package of Nutter Butter Cookies

Mini chocolate chips

Melt the Almond Bark according to package directions. Dip the Nutter Butters in the Almond Bark with a slotted spoon. Place on wax paper, parchment paper, or a cookie sheet (whatever you have) Use mini chocolate chips to make eyes and mouth. Allow to set.

What We've Been Up To

2008-10-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

So Fall Break officially started Wednesday night. I had promised Amy she could have a "late nighter" with her friends for a loooong time. And Wednesday night she finally did. They decorated sugar cookies, laughed, watched a movie, and laughed some more. . . .

It wasn't long before Abigail and some of her friends joined in the cookie decorating and then Lydia. Abbey and her friends decided to "door bell ditch" some boys in the neighborhood. Shh....don't tell!

Then Friday late morning, Steve called from work and said, "how about we go up to Park City for the night!" I was game. So, I booked a condo, told the kids to pack, and in a couple of hours we were on our way. We went shopping, we ate dinner, spent some time in the jacuzzi, had ice cream and cookies, and watched a movie. The next day we shopped and ate again. Steve said he didn't know our get-a-way was going to turn into a shopping trip. Poor Steve, it is really becoming more and more apparent how out numbered he really is. He was a very good sport!

And then on the way home we stopped in Heber at Granny's for a famous Granny's shake.

Okay, I am a little embarrassed . . . It looks like all did was eat!

PS Sorry for the pictures, I don't know how to work my camera. The color is messed up.

Heartache

2008-10-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting experience, one in which I am having a hard time shaking off. Not that anything terrible happened to me, nothing did, but it was a painful reminder that everyone has heartache. Eliza has a friend from fist grade whose parents are going through a divorce. I will call her friend "Jill". Currently, the kids are spending one week with mom and one week with dad. Recently, the mom moved into our neighborhood which means Eliza's friend is now in close proximity every other week. Yesterday, Eliza came bounding through the door and announced, "Mom, Jill is at her mom's this week, can I see if she can play?" After a snack, homework, and a little laundry I agreed to walk down with Eliza to her house and invite Jill over. I don't want to go into all the details, but something wasn't quite right when we arrived. I ended up coming inside and visiting with her for over an hour and all the while trying to understand what was wrong. The mom talked about the burden of being a single mom. Her feelings of inadequacy, the heavy load of providing, missing her children, worrying about them, and the apparent devastation of a failed marriage. I came home with much on my mind. There is more to the story, but its not necessary to elaborate. However, it was a heartrending reminder that we all have heartache and struggles. Its so easy to look at others and pass judgement, to be critical, or even oblivious. Yet life has its difficulties - for everyone. I just hope that I am not so caught up in my own life, my own stress, and my own disappointments that I neglect reaching out to someone else. And I fear I have. I think of the words which Elder Holland spoke , . . In the process of praying for those angels to attend us, may we all try to be a little more angelic ourselves—with a kind word, a strong arm, a declaration of faith and “the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted.” Perhaps then we can be emissaries sent from God.

More of My Girls

2008-10-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

A Note

2008-10-09T21:51:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to bed feeling discouraged. I suppose I was feeling sorry for myself because I was exhausted from lack of sleep. I had a mountainload of laundry waiting to be folded, my husband had been working late all week, and my teenage daughters were acting like teenagers. I went to bed wishing I could just "get a break". Yet, I realized that even if I had a break, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. In other words, I was having my very own pity party. Then today, Amy came home from school and handed me a folded up piece of paper. I teased her and said, "Oh, is this a love note?!" Fully expecting it to be something from her teacher. It turns out it was a love note - from her. This is what she wrote:

Dear Mom,

you are a great mom. I know you try really hard every day. You are a great example. I hope you know how much I apreciate you and your hard work. Thank you so much for showing me your love to me. thank you for helping me with my homework.

(heart)

Amy

It made me wonder, why did I have a pity party in the first place?

Good Advice

2008-10-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today was 5th grade Maturation. After "the speech" and cookies, each girl was given a "goodie bag" filled with essential items. Later that day Amy, Abigail, and myself were returning home from having our haircut when Amy began to examine the contents of her "goodie bag". She pulled out the "Kuku Coco Butter"deodorant smelled it, examined it, and commented on its fragrance. It was then that Abbey offered this advice: "Amy," she said. "Only use deodorant under your arms." to which Amy replied, "Why?" With that, Abigail proceeded to tell Amy that when she was in 5th grade she realized that sometimes she was sweaty behind her knees. And sometimes during PE she was sweaty on her back . And sometimes during recess her arms were sweaty . So because deodorant "helps you stop sweating", Abigail came to this conclusion: she would put deodorant all over her body. The result: an itchy rash and an important lesson learned: "only use deodorant under your arms!"

Something That Made Me Happy Today

2008-10-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

My sweet neighbor Brother Nelson (who is now in his 90's) brought me these beautiful Dahlia's today. They are from his flower garden. Flowers make me happy!

6:30am

2008-10-06T18:19:00.001-07:00

A glimpse of the Estes' family this morning . . . I am sure Ruthie is getting a lot out of scripture study.

It's Going to be a Great Weekend

2008-10-03T12:46:00.000-07:00

I am really looking forward to this weekend for many reasons. It means my husband will finally be home from his business trip (he had to delay his return an extra day). It also means that I will get a break from teaching eleven 10 year olds ( half of which are very rumbuctious boys, who I think are funny, but make me tired) in primary. And it is Conference weekend!

Unfortunately, Steve's aunt passed away Thursday and his parents will be traveling to Northern California to attend the funeral. This means that we will not be able to get together as a family and Grandma (Mom Estes) will not be making her decadent cinnamon rolls. (an Estes family tradition on Conference weekend). I know the college grand kids are very disappointed. So, I did invite them to our house and told them I will bake cinnamon rolls, and try my best to make them as good as Grandma's, but there are no guarantees. I figure if I have a lot of icing anything will taste good.

But I think that it will be a great weekend even if the cinnamon rolls are a flop, just because we get to listen to the prophet and apostles. I look forward to hearing their counsel and attempting to better myself and strengthen my own testimony. I look forward to being reminded that we have a divine purpose and there is an eternal plan. I look forward to hearing testimonies that we have a Savior who atoned for our sins and a Heavenly Father who loves us. It will be a great weekend!

This One's for Mom

2008-10-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

Here you go Mom. Serving it with the cole slaw is a southern style bbq sandwich, if its not your thing just leave it off. I used a pork loin roast (from Costco), not a shoulder pork roast. And thank you Paula Deen

BBQ Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients Dry rub: 2 tablespoons salt 2 tablespoons black pepper 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons paprika 1/2 tablespoon cayenne 4 pound shoulder pork roast 2 cup apple juice 1 cup apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons Worcestershire 1/2 tablespoon liquid smoke 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder 6 soft hamburger buns with seeds Bbq sauce Cole slaw

Directions Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Mix the dry rub ingredients in small bowl. Sprinkle dry rub all over the pork roast, pressing into the pork. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Combine liquid ingredients and the garlic powder in a medium bowl and pour into a large Dutch oven. Place pork in the oven and tightly cover with aluminum foil then lid. Roast for 4 hours or until fork tender and shreds easily. Brush the roast with cooking liquid every hour. Remove from oven and let stand until cool enough to handle. Shred the pork with a fork or tongs into bite size pieces. Serve on hamburger buns topped with bbq sauce and cole slaw.

Is it Possible?

2008-10-01T16:17:00.001-07:00

Today Eliza got a letter in the mail. It was in a long blue envelope, with a return address I didn't recognize. I thought, " Who could be sending her a letter and why?" Then we opened it up. Eliza was being invited to a Stake Bapism Fireside for all children turning eight years old by December 2009. For a split second I thought that they had made a mistake. Eliza is not turning eight years old! Then my stomach dropped and my heart ached a bit. Yes, she is turning eight, on July 10th!I felt my throat tighten up. Eliza is growing up. Eliza who was my "baby" for almost five years. My sweet, chubby, lovable baby, who would snuggle on command. My baby who didn't fight me when it was time to sleep, but instead would lay her head on my shoulder. I loved every second of it! I had always longed for a really snuggly baby and I got one with Eliza. I am not one to get emotional when my kids go to preschool or kindergarten. They are always so excited to go, so how can I not be excited for them? But thinking of Eliza turning 8 tugged at my heartstrings today. It won't be long before she doesn't need me to hold her. It won't be long before she realizes her mom doesn't know everything. And it won't be long before she's gone. Everyone use to tell me to, "enjoy it while it lasts". I think I get it now.

My Girls

2008-09-30T14:12:00.000-07:00

I recently had the girls pictures taken. Here are a couple of the pictures. You can see a few more here. I hope to get the rest soon! I will post more then.

Pancakes & Plumbing

2008-09-29T07:13:00.001-07:00

Steve left on a business trip yesterday. He will be gone until Thursday night. It's always a bummer when he is gone. Other than the fact that it is lonely being a single parent, it also means that I stay up too late (who likes sleeping alone?), something breaks, or I get sick. (Because that only happens when your husband is gone, right?) Since I drove Steve to the airport yesterday, that meant we couldn't have Steve's parents and the college kids over for dinner. My girls are always disappointed when no one comes over for Sunday dinner. They claim they are better fed when company is here. Its probably true. Case in point, I fixed Whole Wheat Pancakes for dinner yesterday. However, they were delicious. We ate them with fresh peaches our neighbor sent over, and whipped cream. I know most people probably have a recipe for Whole Wheat Pancakes, but I will post the one I got from Taylor Cropper (a former member of the Oak Hills 2nd Ward, who now lives in Oregon and is a great cook) on his blog Feed Your Family. Here it is: Whole Wheat Blender Pancakes Put in the Blender: 1 Cup of wheat berries 1/4 cups of water 1/4 cup dried milk Blend for three minutes 1 egg 1 tbsp. honey/sugar 1 tbsp. oil 1/4 tsp salt Blend to combine everything,then add: 1 tbsp. Baking Powder Pulse it a few times. As I mentioned, things seem to only break when Steve is gone. Last night as I was brushing my teeth and washing my face, I noticed the sink wasn't draining. So, I tested the other sink - it wasn't draining either. So like any good wife, I called my husband, who then told me I needed to snake the drain. Ugh! Steve then proceeded to coach me on the phone, while I snaked the drain. (I have seen him do this plenty of times - we do live in an old house - but of course I don't usually pay attention). I snaked it, thought I fixed it. It didn't work. Started to snake again, but this time the pipe that connects to the wall came off! I explained to Steve what just happened. He tells me I have two options: 1) Call a plumber or 2) Wait till I get home. Then he says, "Just wait until I get home." (Steve is a very handy guy, which is something I love about him - he can fix things!) So, for the next four days I will be brushing my teeth in the kitchen sink. And so I won't forget to NOT turn the water on in the sinks, I taped them off. (I tend to forget important things, like - there are no pipes connected to your sink - unless I have a visual reminder.) Plumbing problems always make you appreciate the little things, like running water. Thankfully I can still take a shower! Let's hope I don't get sick!

It's a Party. . . . . Again

2008-09-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight we are having another party! This time it is for Lydia and the girls in her American Studies class. This "tradition" started last year when the girls in Abigail's class started getting together on a Friday night to work on their class packets. They would study, eat dinner, and then watch a movie. The girls had a lot of fun. Apparently, word got around and this year it started again. Tonight it is our turn to host. We are going to make individual skookies. (I talked Lydia out of dinner and convinced her to do dessert.)

And then they will watch the movie Penelope.

P.S. Late Tuesday night when we realized we needed to get the invitations out, I was tired - very tired (which means creativity was lacking) I came across templates for invitations. We used the wedding ones, since they were the cutest. And we deleted the places for pictures.I thought it was pretty cool and so easy to use. You can find them here.

It's a Party

2008-09-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

Tonight we are having a party. Brittany (Steve's niece) is turning 22 today! Happy Birthday Brittany! Brittany is inviting friends to our house to eat mud pie and watch the season premier of The Office. How can it not be fun when you have ice cream and a lot of laughs.

ICE

2008-09-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

Maybe you already knew this, but ICE is an acronym for In Case of an Emergency. I just learned this not too long ago. (I'm a little slow) Apparently, you should have an ICE number on your cell phone. Well today I have been working on an ICE folder. Since I handle most financials at our house, get the mail, pay the bills, etc. I sometimes worry that if anything happened to me, would Steve be able to figure everything out? We always discuss our finances, so I am sure he would. However, I imagine that if I was unable to handle those things, something incredibly stressful would probably be happening at our house. And maybe this folder would help. An ICE folder would be a place where someone could look and find all the vital information they would need in case something happened to me, Steve, or the both of us. There is a great article in the NY Times about getting your documents together in case of a natural disaster, but the same information can be used for "hit by a bus" scenario. If you read it, don't let it overwhelm you. This is what is going to be in my ICE Folder: (for now)

Information about reaccuring bills we receive, how we receive them (for example some of our bills are automatically deducted, some received in the mail, and one even by email)the amount the bill usually is and when its due.
Employment information
Where to find important documents such as: Life insurance, Wills, SS cards, birth certificates, passports, etc.
Retirement and Life Insurance information
Account information for Checking and Savings
Usernames and hints for passwords since I use online banking, bill pay, etc.

This is just start. Who knows maybe I will even get technical (since that is Steve's expertise) and have it all digital someday. Maybe. Someday

Lunch Labels

2008-09-23T12:43:00.001-07:00

I should be folding laundry, but instead I am making lunch label stickers. I found these on Martha Stewart, you can find them here. I thought they were cute and the girls love it when I do things like this. - one of the many advantages to having so many girls.

Road Trip

2008-09-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

Steve's old car has officially retired. After 16 years on the road and 175,000 miles, it was ready for a rest. Steve found his ideal car - in Sacramento, CA. Abigail was the lucky girl who was able to accompany her dad on the road trip. They flew into Sacramento Friday night, but not before they attended Wasatch's Fall Festival for an hour or two. This is where I was stuck doing my treasurely duties. (Remember: I am the PTO treasurer, because I can't say "no"?) I tried really hard to be a good sport while I was stuck counting money, which wasn't even mine, while they were heading to Cali.

Steve did a lot of this.

And this. They spent a lot of time in the car and decided to take a detour to San Francisco. They ate lunch on the pier. Then headed to Chinatown They saw a lot of strange food. And 5'5" tall Abigail was taller than most people there. According to both, Chinatown was a cultural experienceAnd no stop would be complete without Boudine's sourdough bread. They broght home five loaves to share.

Salad Anyone?

2008-09-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

I really don't mean for this to be a recipe blog, but since I spend a great amount of time each day cooking food and cleaning up food, its only natural to blog about it. Right? Plus if you are an Estes you talk about food. And I am not kidding. So, let me talk to you about a salad that Lydia and I came up with. There is a pizza place in town that serves a Greek Salad. We (Lydia and I ) thought it was delicious - we like salads. I thought it was so yummy that I would actually find myself craving the salad dressing. Really. And if you are an Estes (a Steve Estes that is) you think that anything delicious at a restaurant, you can cook it better. And I admit he usually does. So, Lydia and I attemtped to create our verision of a Greek Salad and we think it turned out pretty good. So good, that we fix it a lot and even serve it to company. So here it is: (Please keep in mind that we don't really measure, but for duplicating purposes I will attempt to.) Greek Salad Hearts of Romaine lettuce, chopped (However much you need) Cherry tomatoes (Again, however much you want) 1 peeled and sliced cucumber 1 can black olives 1/2 C Feta cheese thinly sliced purple onion (However much you want) Dressing: 1 C mayo 1/2 C white vinegar 1 T chopped oregano (you can use dried oregano, just reduce the amount to 1 tsp) 2 cloves of garlic minced 1/4 C sugar 1/2 -1 C Feta cheese (amount depending upon how thick you like your dressing) Mix together in a blender and chill until ready to serve. And just in case you might need something to go with the Greek Salad I will try to post a BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe later, if you want. But right now, Ruthie needs me.

Success & Supermodels

2008-09-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

And the winner is . . . . ABIGAIL! Yea! We are very excited and very happy to have it all done with! She will be a great VP

And just for fun is a picture of Lydia. This week is Spirit Week at school and each day is a theme day. Today was "Supermodel Day". Everyone was suppose to dress up as a supermodel, including the boys. (Where do they come up with these ideas?) Here is Lydia's interpretation of a supermodel.

Stayed Tuned. . . .

2008-09-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the final vote for freshman elections. The buttons have been a huge hit and Abigail has even had requests for more. However, with a $15 budget, we have been a bit limited on how many we can produce. Thursday, for those who were advancing to the final vote (they vote twice - with the top 2 moving on) we were allowed to spend an additional $10. So, we decided to do something different. This is what we came up with. We bought a bunch of gum at the dollar store and made our own wrappers. Thanks to Print Shop, a good printer, and a handy little machine that makes stickers, we came up with this: "Chews" Abigail E. for VP. The colors of the wrappers are Timpview High's colors and the words written in the background (in white) say, "Abigail E. for VP" The final vote takes place during lunch. We really hope they find out before the end of the day! Good luck Abigail! This is the little machine that has come in oh so handy for the elections and other school projects. It's the Xyron 5" Create a Sticker. I bought it as a frivilous little purchase, but have really loved having it. We use it a lot. The machine only cost around $20 and its super easy to use, requires no electricty or batteries. However, the big con is the refill cartridges are pricey (around $10) and I wished they lasted longer. Yet, I keep using it and I keep buying them.

Chili Queen

2008-09-12T21:31:00.000-07:00

It's good to be Queen even if it is only the "Chili Queen". Tonight was our annual ward Chili Cook-off held at Big Springs Park in Provo Canyon. Chili was tasted and chili was judged. It so happened that I won the "Chili Queen Award" for Best Tasting Chili. So, thank you Cathy for the great recipe - it made me look good tonight.

White Chili

1-2 Tbs. olive oil

2 medium onions, chopped

1 - 4 oz can chopped green chilies

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tsp. cumin

1 1/2 tsp. oregano

4 chicken breats, cooked and shredded (I like to season the chicken with salt & pepper before I add it)

5 cups chicken broth

3 - 16 oz cans of white beans, undrained

3 cups Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded (I like to use Peppered Monterey Jack Cheese for a little extra kick)

Directions:

Saute onions, green chilies and garlic in olive oil and add spices. Combine beans, broth, and chicken with onion mixture. Stir over medium heat and gradually add the grated jack cheese. Stir until all cheese is melted and combined well with other ingredients. Heat to desired temperature.

P.S . The leaves are starting to change color, the air is getting cooler, and BYU football has begun. You gotta love Fall.

Do You Remember?

2008-09-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

It slipped my mind this morning that it was September 11th. I should have known, but the Boy Scouts didn't put up a flag this year like they did last year. So, I just went about my morning routine until I was driving down State street in Orem and I spotted a flag at half mast. Then I remembered. I was getting the girls ready for school, fixing breakfast, brushing hair, and making lunches. Steve was out of town. He traveled frequently back then and this week he was in Memphis, Tennessee. The phone rang. It was Steve. "Hey!" I said, "How are you?" "Are you watching TV?" "No, why? What's wrong" Something was wrong, I could tell by the tone of his voice. "Elizabeth, turn on the TV." "Why?" I was starting to panic. Steve's voice choked up, "A plane just crashed into the World Trade Center." He had been watching the news with the other hotel guests as he ate his breakfast. He had watched the second plane crash on live TV. I remember staring at the TV in disbelief trying to get a handle on what had just happened. Why had this happened? What did this mean? I don't know what Steve and I talked about next. But I knew I was scared and I felt vulnerable. Steve was gone. I wanted him home. I drove the girls to school that day. They were late. It was quiet outside, too quiet. Where were the cars? Where were the kids walking to school? Where was everyone? The rest of the day I watched the news incessantly like everyone else, until Steve told me to turn it off. It was getting to me. Seven year old Abbey came home from school, she knew something was wrong. She could hear the news on the TV. She looked up at me and started to cry, "Mom, why would someone do that?" She caught me off guard. How do I explain what a terrorist was? How do I explain hate? How do I explain any of this without scaring her any further? Then it what I believe was divine inspiration, our family scripture study came to my mind. The Gadianton Robbers. For a few brief moments, Abigail and I talked about the robbers, about how they had "secret combinations" and how some people just want to do things that are wrong and evil. The same was true with terrorists. I went on to explain that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us, that even when bad things happen, horrible things, we can find peace and reassurance that He does have a plan for us, an eternal plan. And we can be happy. She seemed to understand. She seemed to feel better and so did I. And like the rest of the country, life went on. We moved forward, but we could never forget.

Happy Birthday Mom!

2008-09-09T20:10:00.001-07:00

Septmeber 10th is my mom's birthday, but I will not reveal her age. ( I don't think she would appreciate it, although I think if I told you, you would be impressed. She looks good. ) I was very blessed to have a wonderful mom. Since I seem to be all about lists these days, I am going to list some things I love about my mom:

My mom would often leave me notes on my pillow when I came home late from a date telling me she loved me.

My mom made me breakfast EVERY single day of my life and it was ALWAYS served on a placemat. The only time I don't remember her fixing my breakfast was when she was serving on the Grand Jury and had to be in Phoenix before I left for school. On those days, my dad made me toast and poured me a glass of OJ. And if you know my dad and his cooking skills, you would understand that he went all out for me in order to help my mom.

My mom would never get mad if I didn't make my bed. When I was running late and left my room a mess, she always cleaned it up (For the record I really tried to make my bed - most days) I always appreciated it and knew that she did it because she loved me.

My mom was always willing to drive me and my friends anywhere. One day during my sophmore year, I called my mom and asked her if she would pick me and my friends up so we could come home for lunch. (We couldn't drive and it was not cool to stay on campus and remember I secretly want to be cool.) Not only did she do that, she also served us the chimichangas she had made for dinner, and then drove us back to school! As a mom now, I can't say I would be so generous.

My mom trusted me. She let her teenage daughter take her credit card to the mall (that would be me) and even told me the pin number to her bank account. ( That would be me again and yes, I still know it!) Now that is trust!

My mom loved being a mom. She truly enjoyed cleaning, laundry, and ironing. (At least she made it look like she did.) I loved that my mom was always at home, especially when I needed her.

My mom has a wonderful heart. She is geniunely good, kind, loving, and selfless. She has a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and truly lived what she taught her children.

And I love that my mom loves me, faults and all, as well as my husband, and my own children. To this day, I know I can call my mom and vent, cry, brag, or preach and she will listen and then do anything I ask. We love you Mom and Happy Birthday!

She Would Rock!

2008-09-06T21:59:00.000-07:00

Abigail has decided to run for freshman VP. So we have been in a scramble to come up with an idea and finish it this weekend. They are only allowed three posters, 20 fliers, and $15 to spend. So, this is what we came up with:

Abigail E.

for VP

She Would Rock!

I know on the picture it say, "She Rocks!" but Abigail was concerned that it sounded a little high and mighty, so we are going to change it to, "She Would Rock!". If you can't tell, we took the images from the ipod ads and used them on everything-posters, flyers, and buttons! Cross your fingers, this is a first for us!

Lydia & Labor Day

2008-09-04T16:37:00.001-07:00

Labor Day Here is some trivia about the Estes Family and Labor Day: Steve & Elizabeth went on their first date, Labor Day sixteen years ago. Three years later, Steve & Elizabeth's second daughter, Lydia, was appropriately born on Labor Day We rarely go out of town on Labor Day This year Labor Day was wet, cold, and windy So, because the weather did not permit outside labor, we chose to find something "fun" to do. This is what we did:

We saw a 3-D Imax movie about the Wild Sea. It had a very obvious political message with no research to back it up. A pet peeve of Steve's.

Then we took five girls (our five girls) to the world's largest dinosaur museum. Ruthie wasn't sure what to think about the dinosaurs. This is how Lydia felt about it:

I am sure she was texting all her friends about how much fun she was having! However, Ruthie really liked the fish!

Then we headed to Grandma Estes' house for steak, potatoes, and peach cobbler (eaten inside of course.) It was yummy!

Afterwards we made a quick stop here. Is that even possible? A screaming toddler always speeds things up.

Lydia

So, today (September 4th) is Lydia's birthday.

She is finally 13! The last of her friends. Here are some things you may or may not know about Lydia:

Lydia has a great sense of humor, she even laughs at her dad's jokes
Lydia is very competitive. If Lydia sets her mind to something, she does it and does it well.
Lydia is named after her paternal great grandmother: Lydia Pearl Snow
I have been told by multiple sources that Lydia knows how to work it on the dance floor
Lydia has a bubbly personality, people are drawn to her, she can make any activity fun
Lydia likes to delete pictures of herself from my camera
Lydia does very well in school and piano
She is playing league soccer this year
I don't remember when Lydia couldn't talk
Lydia is loved by many people, especially her mom & dad
Tonight we ate Thai food and mud pie (Lydia never requests cake for her birthday)
I can always depend on Lydia

Happy Birthday Lydia!

P.S. sorry for all the "lists"

100 Things About Myself

2008-09-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

1. I have five daughters 2. I was born and raised in the same house 3. I was the only member of my family born in Arizona 4. I love babies 5. I do not own my own ipod 6. I like to read novels, but I don't do it too often because I tend to neglect my children when I read 7. I feel like I am a good mom and wife when I bake 8. I probably spend too much time on the computer 9. I enjoy having company for dinner 10. I wish I was more of a morning person 11. I think it would be fun to own chickens 12. I am more of an introvert than an extrovert 13. I would be content if HGTV was the only channel on cable 14. I wish I knew how to speak Spanish 15. I hope to travel someday 16. Sometimes I worry that my two year old signs more than she talks 17. I like to plan my day the night before 18. According to my children I repeat myself, according to my children I repeat myself 19. I think labor and delivery is fun 20. I tickle my hubby's back nightly to help him fall asleep (OK not every night) 21. I wiggle my feet as I fall asleep 22. I want to travel to Guatamala and secretly I would love to adopt a baby there 23. I have a hard time telling people "no" 24. Sometimes I lose my temper 25. I don't like debating politics or any type of confrontation 26. I like to cook 27. I am now five years behind on my scrapbooks, ugh. 28. I have a hard time leaving my children for extended periods of time 29. I have never been stung by a bee 30. According to my children I give loooooooooooooooong lectures 31. I am the youngest of five children 32. I graduated from high school in 1992, I got married in 1993, I had my first daughter in 1994, I had my second daughter in 1995 . . . you get the idea 33. I have been described as "emotional" and "sensitive". I don't think it is necessarily a good thing. 34. I fix breakfast for my family every morning of every school day 35. I don't always finish my sentences and then say, "you know what I mean?" 36. I use the word "like" too much 37. I usually make decisions quickly 38. I like being at home 39. I am creative, but wish I was more artistic 40. I get grumpy when I am tired 41. I would love to fix up an old home 42. My house is 60 years old - Sometimes I would love a new home! 43. I need to get into better shape 44. I don't like clutter 45. I love to organize, but my closets don't necessarily reflect that 46. I am the treasurer for the parent organization at our elementary school (because of #23) 47. For the past five years I have managed my husband's business finance. I hope to get fired soon. 48. I have never broken a bone 49. I have only had a bloody nose once 50. I want to have lasik eye surgery - soon! 51. I don't like cold feet 52. I get very excited about holidays 53. I like to go out to dinner and a movie 54. I don't mind public speaking 55. I am the youngest in my family and in my husband's family 56. Even though it sounds cliche, I really, really like being a wife and mom 57. I am not good at keeping surprises 58. I like to eat chocolate chips 59. I love it when my husband buys me flowers 60. I think it would be fun to live on a farm 61. I can be impatient 62. I like rainy days 63. Sometimes I think I need to get a life 64. I like driving in the car and listening to the radio 65. I think its fun to shop at thrift stores, but haven't done it in a long time 66. A pet peeve: when my shutters are not opened symmetrically - does that make sense? 67. I did not graduate from college 68. I enjoy mowing the lawn 69. I can't focus when my house is a mess 70. I like paper - pretty paper 71. I think getting my haircut is relaxing 72. I have made a hobby of looking at real estate online - sad but true. I think it's a sickness(see #8) 73. I have zero tolerance for someone who is unkind to others 74. I don't like to be late. 75. I always get a little sad when its graduation time at BYU and I see students in their cap and gown (see #67) 76. I am a private person, so I am still trying to figure out why I started blogging 77. I never have a problem falling asleep 78. I don't think I am a good mother after 9:00pm 79. I don't enjoy puzzles 80. I like living in Utah 81. I really want to go on a mission 82. I am working on getting a garden setup in my backyard. I really want a garden. 83. I love the BIG trees in my front yard 84. I actually like the same music my teenage daughters like 82. I have a tendency to forget things unless I write them down. 83. I have blue eyes, yet my parents have brown 84. My hair has gotten darker as I have gotten older 85. My favorite ride at Disneyland is Tower of Terror 86. I like it when my hubby tells me I'm "wonderful" 87. I tend to throw things away, sometimes things I shouldn't 88. I am not very sentimental, except for my children's names 89. I think I am thoughtful 90. I believe that: worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but gets you nowhere. So, I try not to worry 91. I make most of my decisions based on the way I feel versus the way I think 92. I think my children are smarter than me; I know my children are smarter than me 93. I try to be cool, I secretly want to be cool 94. I like it when my girls text me. 95. Brown paper packages tied up with string, is one of my favorite things 96. I would really like to sew better. 97. I don't always wear my wedding ring, my fingers tend to swell 98. I hope to someday go back to school 99. I like watching the weather on the news 100. I play a mean game of solitare (see #12) P.S. I copied this idea

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins

2008-08-27T22:09:00.000-07:00

I made these for an after school snack. They were yummy. I didn't say they were good for you.

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup milk

1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa, sugar, and chocolate chips into a large bowl. Pour all the liquid ingredients into a measuring jug. Mix the dry and wet ingredients together. Bake for 20 minutes.

Little Ms. Troublemaker

2008-08-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

Need I say more?

Back to School

2008-08-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

Abigail is officially in high school this year. Can you believe that? Am I really getting that old? So far high school seems to be going well for Abbey. She comes home tired, but happy. I fear she has a heavy load academically, but I try to keep my lectures about keeping up on her homework to a minimum. Afterall, it is only the first week of school.

Lydia is starting her 8th grade year. She is still adjusting to her schedule. She has Dance this semester and is not very excited about that. It is a beginning ballroom dance class. This was not her first choice. I think her biggest fear right now is that she has a "test" to see if she can do the splits. If you can't, you fail the test. And apparently, she can't. Lydia is not accustomed to failing tests. I told her to start practicing. She gave me a whole list of reasons why she should drop the class. I listened, rolled my eyes at a few, and then told her she could go ahead and try to drop the class. The deal was she could try and if she couldn't, she would have a good attitude about it. She couldn't drop the class. She is trying really hard to have a good attitude.

Amy was worried about her teacher. She heard she was mean. I told her not to worry about it. She has a mother that yells, so if her teacher yells no big deal!:) I don't know how reassurring that was. However, all is well and Mrs. Lovell turned out to actually be very nice. It so happens that Mrs. Lovell is Mrs. Werner's daughter. Remember her? Sixth grade teacher at Hawthorne? I found out that Mrs. Werner passed away a couple of months ago in Finland. She was visiting with her son, got sick, and died in the same town she was born. A little ironic.

Eliza of course loves second grade and loves her teacher. Not too much drama there-thankgoodness.

Ruthie is my job insurance, for the time being. I am her sole source of entertainment from 8:00am to 2:00pm. I fear I am not very exciting. At the mere age of two, she enjoys cleaning, laundry, cooking, washing dishes, and running errands in the car. It's good to have a friend!