TagGeD!!! 10 Things I Can't Live Without!

Tasha tagged me (thanks Tash!;)
10 Things I Can't live Without!
This is a tough one because I have more than 10!
P.S. I will try to catch up on the other tags this week Melissa and Libby;)

1. Heavenly Father. I've had some tough times here and there and I don't think I could have made it through without Heavely Father, and knowing that there IS a hEaVeN and life after death.


2. My Main Squeeze Big D! He is the BeSt hubby and a great dAd to the girls! I don't know where I'd be now if I hadn't met him. Probably be a lonley old widow somewhere! Hehe. Dave has always been my RoCk and he is the BesT! He works about 80 hours a week and we don't spend alot of time together since he is never home, except for Sundays, but I really don't think I could survive without him. Love ya Big D!!!


3. My GiRLz!!! I CeRtAiNlY couldn't go one sInGle day with out seeing my little baby birdie. She keeps me going everyday and brings alot of fun and laughter into my life. We spend AloT of time together ( Dave is always at work, and Tay is only here on the weekends) so I think we have a very sPeCIaL bond. I could NOT live without my wittle bAbY!!!
The first time I met TaYLoR she was just a LiTTle baby at 10 months old. Now she is a BiG giRl at the age of 10!( that makes me feel so old:) She is GreAt helper and a GrEaT big SiS and we couldn't imagine not having her in our family! Love ya GirLz!!!


4. My Debit Card. It is my life line. I lost mine last week and had to order a new one. It took 5 days to get here and I was LoSt without it.


5. My cell phone. A must have! Need I say more???


6. My computer. Another Must have! Its another life line of mine. I have to have my eMaiL, my mSn messenger to chat with family, my yAhOO, my bLoGGiNg, ect ect. You get the picture.


7. Diet Coke baby! I know I drink WaY too much but I can't help it! I love fountain soda's from Freddy's, and I'm usually there every morning. I have quite a few through out the day. Dave quit drinking soda a few months ago and he thinks I'm horrible because I can't quit. Oh well. Gotta have my diet coke!!!


8. My Ipod. I don't think I could do my cleaning and household chores with out it! I like to get my gRooVe on when I'm scrubbing toilets and doing laundry;) Who doesn't?


9. My bed! I love my wArM cozy bed and I love to sLeeP!

(sure wish this was my bedroom:)

10. Last but not least, My cRaZy dogs! They drive me nUtS most of the time and they bArK like crazy, but there my dogs and we love them!!!


There you have it! 10 thing I CaNnOt and wiLL nOt live without!!! This was hard to do! You have to go find all the pics and then upload them! It took forever!!!
Now I tag Jackie, Melanie, Libby, Laura, Lyndi, Melissa, Tyler, Loney, Christi and anyone else who hasn't done it.

Brookly's Tips

So I was cleaning Brooklyn's bathroom this weekend and I saw this paper sitting on the counter. I thought it was pretty funny!!!!

TIPS ON HOW BOYS SHOULD BE

1. He should be funny
2. He should be kind
3. He should be cute
4. Always be early for dates
5. Never be mean to girls
6. Never leave early when you are on a date
7. If you are a good singer and so is your date, sing to her
8. Never take your date to a bad restaurant.

I thought they were some pretty good tips coming from an 8 year old! I told her she is way too young to be thinking about dating, but I still thought it was cute. She is growing up way to fast and I keep telling her to stay little!!!

cHiCkEn N dUmPLiNgS!!!

I have been posting so many recipe's lately, I might as well start up a recipe blog! Just call me Betty Freakin Crocker!!! Something about the "fall" in the air has gotten me into a cooking and baking fReNzY! A few weeks ago when I was in the hospital for ovarian cist and a horrible bladder infection (which I still have!) Miss Amanda Johnson brought us over dinner. She made cHiCkEn n DuMpLiNgS and I think it was one of the bEsT things I have ever had in my entire life! Next time I saw her I was like ok honey, you have GoT to give me that recipe, it was too die for! Well, I got the recipe and I made this on Friday night, AND Saturday night! We had it on Fri, and Sat morning Dave was asking me to make it again! Its really really eAsy and really really GoOd! I thought I would share the recipe with everyone!

Chicken N Dumplings

1 pound chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces
(I cheated here and got a whole chicken (baked and ready to go) at Smiths deli, you can also get them at Walmart. I got the seasoned, just don't get the BBQ! I just cut all the meat off and measured it up to 1 lb, it was so easy!)
1 cup slivered onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cans chicken broth
2 cups (1/2 inch thick) sliced carrot (I cheated here and just used ready to go baby carrots)
3/4 teaspoon dried thyme, divided
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups bisquick baking mix
1/3 cup milk

1. Coat a skillet or soup pan with cooking spray, and place over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken and onion, saute` 5 minutes. Add celery, saute` 2 minutes. Sprinkle flour over chicken mixture, saute` 1 minute. Gradually add broth, stirring until well-blended. Stir in carrot, 1/2 tsp thyme, and pepper. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Combine remaining 1/4 tsp thyme(I added exta thyme), baking mix and milk in a small bowl; stir well. Spoon dough by tablespoons into 12 rounds on top of chicken mixture. Reduce heat to meduim-low; cover and cook 15 minutes or until dumplings are done(do not boil). EnJoY!!!
When I made this for us 4, we all had about 2 servings and there was none left over, if you are cooking for more than 4 I suggest doubling it. Let me know if any of you try it and if you love it like we do!!!

CoLd!!!

I just have to say that it has been so DaNg cold here the last few days!!! I think its been colder than an winter day last year, or at least it just feels like it! We had to pull out all of our jackets and then realized it was so dAnG cold that we needed our coats! For the past few years we didn't have to pull out our jackets until the night of halloween or later. It seems like its getting wAy to cold wAy to early! Not to mention we have been going thru the hot cocoa like CrAzY! Brooklyn has been requesting it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! We just can't seem to get warm here in VeGaS!!!

BrOoK's CoStUmE

BrOoK wants to be a "gOoD wItCh" this year and I haven't been able to find anything. If I do find something she likes, they never have her dang size! So a couple of days ago I went to Target.com and we found this cute little get up. Brook picked this one and another one, and then finally decided on this one. I think its pretty cute! She will make a very cute "GoOd WiTcH"! I just have to find her some high black boots and a broom and she will be all set! HaPpY hAuNtInG!!!!
ps. I scanned the pic and then uploaded it and it didn't turn out very well:)

ThAnKs 4 ThE bLiNg SisSy!!!!

Well, a few days ago my sIsSy in St.GeOrGe called me and asked me what colors I wore most. I simply replied, "black or pink" and left it at that. She said she was sending me something and I insisted that she didn't. Well, today I went to check my mail and I got her beautiful package! I opened the box and there was the cutest thing ever! Its a bEaUtIfUl handmade watch! I have actually been looking for a CuTe watch to wear to church, because we can never seem to find a clock! Anyhoo last week I went to a couple of stores watch hunting and came home empty handed! My SiSsy had no idea I had been looking for one, it must be that SisTeRlY instinct!!! Anyhoo she gave it to me for my bday gift and I sure do love it! I still have all my old jewlery making stuff and I really want to buy some watch faces and make some of these! I will be heading to michaels tomorrow to see if they sell the supplies I need! Anyhoo, I uploaded a pic, but its much prettier in real life! Its taken from my phone cam so its not the greatest. Thanks SisSy for the beAuTiFul watch!!!
Love, SiSsY in VeGas!!!

BrOoKlYn'S eSsAy.....

Brookie had to write an essay in school yesterday and I thought it was so cute and funny I had to post it...

MY MOM IS MY HERO
1. When I am sick she makes me feel better.
2. When I am hungry she makes me food.
3. She helps me clean my room.
4. My mom makes the best cookies.
5. My mom always lets me get a smoothie on smoothie Thursday.
6. She always buys me mini cereal boxes.
7. My mom makes the best brownies.
8. She always knows when I'm supposed to go to bed.

I thought it was so sweet and cute! I loved number 6, about the mini cereal boxes!!!

SuGa CoOkIeS!!!!!!!!!!!

pic taken from phone cam, not that great. Much yummier in real life!

If any one knows my sissy Casey, you know she makes the BeST dArN SuGa CoOkIeS ever!!! Well, yesterday I made her famous recipe, which she got from her mother in law, and boy were they YuMmY! They were aLoT of work and when I was done I was covered head to toe in flour and icing, but it was all worth it in the EnD!!! This recipe calls for SoUr CrEaM, yes sour cream! It makes the cookies very soft & moist and they are to die for! Mine never turn out as well as my moms or my sissy's, but they are still pretty good! I got some really cute fall SpRiNkLeS and made OrAnGe icing, and they were very cute if I do say so myself! Anyhoo the cookies are so GoOd I thought I must post it on my blog so here it goes!


Caseys Famous Suga Cookies

1 cup margerine
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups flour

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. Add sour cream and all dry ingredients exept for flour and mix together. Then add flour. Mix together. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Use more flour as needed for rolling out dough. Bake at 350 for 8-10 mins.

I make homeade icing and add food coloring. You can also buy store bought. Sprinkle and decorate and WALA!!!!

ReTrO bAkErY....

So I think I've found my new favorite place! Tonite Dave and I were going out to dinner alone (once in a life-time), so I headed over to Little Cesars Pizza (only pizza the girls will eat, I think its yucky!)to pick up some din for the girls. As the kiddos and I were walking to the pizza place we passed this new cupcake shop, Retro Bakery. I took one look and I couldn't help myself! I said, girls were going in and getting some cupcakes! They all looked picture perfect and they had so many fun flavors to choose from it took us awhile to decide. They have tonz of fun and yummy flavors. Here are just a few:

Chocolate Fountain
Red Carpet
Apple Cider
Glazed Doenut
Blueberry Pancake
Cookies & Creme
Mint Chocolate Chip
Pink Lemonade (very good!)
Sprinkled Doenut

And the list goes on! My sis will probably think I am really lame for blogging about this, but once she comes to town and we head to Retro Bakery, she will be obsessed just like me! So for all you people in Utah, next time you come to vegas, hit up Retro Bakery! And try the pink lemonade cupcake, its my fav! And I just live right up the street so stop and say HI!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S. you can also check out their website at
retrobakerylv.com

PuMpKiN bReAd!!!!

I made this tonite for the first time and it is SO SO good! It made my whole house smell so "pUmPkInY" while it was baking! This recipe is really easy and it only took about 10 mins to make and it bakes for 1 hour. ENJOY!!!

Pumpkin Bread
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
3 1/2 cups flour
3 cups white sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 c chopped walnuts (if desired)
Milk chocolate chips (if desired)

Directions

Combine pumpkin, oil and eggs. Sift together dry ingredients. Combine the two mixtures, blending thoroughly.

Pour into greased loaf pans and bake at 35o degrees for 1 hour, or until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean! Before putting pans into oven, you may also top with some chocolate chips! WALA!!!

LoNdYn SkYE

My little neice Londyn is the cutest thing. My brother just took some recent pics of her and she is so cute I had to post some and give a little shout out to Londyn.
We still have not met yet (TYLER!!!) And we can't wait to see her and squeeze her little cheeks and give her hugs n loves! Hopefully we can make a trip to SLC this fall and finally meet little Londie Loo!

My NeW tHaNg!!!!

Well, now that the twilight series is over, and I'm down to one babe, I have some extra time on my hands. I have been very crafty lately (if I do say so myself:) These hair clips are my new thang! I am making the silk flower clips, as well as the ribbon clips. All of the flowers I have found so far have been 1/2 off and I get my silver clips at Sally's, and they are pretty cheap as well. I have a few burns from my glue gun, but its all worth it in the end! I have made a clip for every girl in our fam so far, and can't wait to give them out! ps. Sorry the pics are so dang big!

Nascar Truck Races / Worst Stomach Ache Ever!!!!

Dave got tickets to Nascar this weekend and he usually just takes Brook and they have a little daddy/daughter time. I was planning on having some good old quiet time and running some errands and making a much needed trip to the grocery store. Well, as they were getting ready to head out they kept asking me to come and making me feel guilty, so of course I gave in and went. Well, I hadn't eaten all day and it was about 4:30. I have always said Nascar has yummy concession stands, so I was looking forward to stuffing my face with some good ol greasy goodness! Well, we arrived and walked about 10 miles to the race-track and by this time I was FAMISHED! I told Dave we HAD to get food before we went in. I hadn't had a coke ALL day and I was starting to shake! Well, we found a place to eat and ordered lots of food. We got cheesesteak phillys, corndogs, cheesefries and some soda's. As we were walking past the concession stands to go find our seats I saw an ice-cream and funnel cake sign, and knew we would be coming back for some dessert! So we went to our seats and pigged out! The races began and I was so scared! The whole stadium was shaking and I felt like I couldn't even breath. The trucks were flying by so fast and I couldn't hear anything! We had pretty close seats and every time the trucks came around the turn I kept thinking they were going to crash and flip up and hit us! I'm a nervous ninny I know. Well, there were a few crashes and the fumes nearly killed me! Brook & I had just about enuf of all the fun and we decied to go hit the concession stands one last time for dessert! We got funnel cake and ice cream. We went back to our seats and once again pigged out! The fumes were making me really sick and the noise thing was driving me crazy so we decied to leave a bit early. I guess I'm not a big "racing fan". Well, on the way home I started feeling kinda icky. I thought I just over-ate and it would pass in no time. Boy was I wrong! We got home and I felt so dizzy and gaggish and I was feeling so barfy! I layed on the couch and thought I was going to die! I think it was a combo of ALOT of greasy food, too much junk on an empty stomach, stinky car fumes, and a whole LOT of soda! I went and layed down and realized I had what my mom would call a "GUT ACHE"! I finally cried myself to sleep and woke up this morning feeling so much better! So the lesson here is...NO MORE RACES, and NO MORE GREASY FOOD! Looks like I've written a novel here, but thought you'd all like to know about my horrible "gut ache"!!!!:):):)

LaBoR dAy In PaRoWaN, uTaH!

For Labor Day we headed up to Parowan, Utah for some much needed rEsT and rElAxAtIoN! We hung out with Gpa & Gma Bean and the kids had a bLaSt! We spent lots of time fIsHiNg at Panguitch Lake and caught tons of big HuGe fish! We also took part in the labor day festivites in Parowan. We went to the pArAde, went on some ScArY rides, and ate some YuMmY food! All of the apples were falling off the tree's in the back yard so the girls set up a little "aPpLe BuSiNeSs" and were selling apples. Too bad Dave and I were their only customers! The PuPs also enjoyed the cool weather and they had so much fUn running around in the grass. We had such a gOoD time and its was so nIcE and CoOl and we did't want to come back to VeGaS! GoOd thing were going back in a couple of weeks! We can't wait!

Girls in the tree house

Girls selling their apples to dad

Gma Bean, Tay, & Dave with their catch!

Brook & Dave with the all the fish

Cute pups in the leaves napping

Pups in the grass

Brook & her "apple business" cash

All the cousins at the parade

Girls roasting marshmellows in the backyard

Lookout at Cedar Breaks

Dave giving all the cousins a ride on the John Deer

Abbey & Brook

Brook, Dave, & Abbey

Girls eating dinner at sunset

So Long Pups!

Well we have sold 3 pups, and have only 1 left. Big Mambo is left. Anyone want a puppy? Its so hard taking care of them on top of everything else so we are so ready for him to go. He is the big fatty of the bunch and we just can't seem to get rid of him...Pup anyone????