FLASHBACK FRIDAY

For my flashback friday photo I had to post this one of Matt multitasking.
March 04

Staring Contest

It's just me and Powder at home these days. When I am not working at A.G., Powder hangs out with me at home. He sits patiently at the sliding glass door staring at me with big droopy eyes until I let him in. I pitied him today as it was pouring rain outside. So I let his stinky self in, dried him all off and told him he had to stay on the bath mat, he agreed. Did you know that if you have a staring contest with a dog, he usually wins? I have a lot more uninterrupted time now than before...I didn't say more time...just uninterrupted, hence the staring contest.

A Revolutionary Time

Whether you voted for him or not, you have to be inspired by how far America has come. When we woke up this morning and talked about this with the kids, I was moved to tears. I have never been able to tolerate segregation of any kind. It hits me deeply. Today when we were explaining to the kids that not too long ago, when their Grandpa Matkin was a small boy, black Americans were not allowed the same privileges they have had, I could barely gets the words out. Putting political issues aside, we really have come so far. One step closer to one nation. It gives me goosebumps.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." -
-- Martin Luther King Jr.

Baptism According to Logan

Picture One

Picture Two

Logan and I were waiting in the car the other day and we struck up a conversation about baptism. Seeing that Hunter was baptized a couple months ago, he wanted to express his thoughts on the topic. He told me that when he gets baptized he isn't going to just hold his nose like Hunter did. (Refer to picture one) I said, "Well what are you going to do?"
So he showed me. (Refer to Picture Two)
I said, "Whats that?"
He said, " I am covering my whole face so that no water will get in my eyes or mouth."
Makes sense.

Takes over!

Our business has taken over! The house that is...no more room! We finally realized when we were averaging 40-50 orders a week it was time to move our operation elsewhere. ( I don't have that many stairs to put the orders on to!) I didn't get the picture of the garbage vinyl that is the size of a mountain!
Camilla (my business partner and best friend) has been renting out the cutest little house at the back of her property. It was perfect! We moved in a couple weeks ago. We painted, put down new pergo flooring and moved all that vinyl in. Now with three large tables set up I now have room to spread out! (pictures will come soon) It is absolutely wonderful to go in on Tuesdays and sometimes Wednesday's to get the work done, be finished by three and back home for the kids....AND the house stays clean! Just wonderful.

What an exciting time!

Obama or McCain?
Who do you choose?

Me? I can’t vote because I am Canadian. But nevertheless, I am completely enthrawled with this election. Much like anyone else. This is the going to be the largest turnout to vote since world war two in 1944, with 85% turn out. It is exciting because...

1. Hilary Clinton, the first woman ran to become the next President

2. Mitt Romney who was a Mormon, ran to become the next President.

3. Barack Obama who is the first black man, is running to become the next President.

4. Sarah Palin who is a woman, is running to become the next Vice President.

5. John McCain who might be the oldest running to become the next President.

Wooh! How exciting! I know our house is buzzing about it. However, after I was telling the kids there was only one more day left to vote. Hunter says, "Finally! I am getting tired of you guys watching it all the time!"

Now, I am not saying who I think should win, but I am going to predict Obama will win.

Candy Cauldron

What always precedes Halloween is the big candy box (or cauldron in our case) that becomes the new hot topic.. the kids say all day long...

"mom, can I have some candy?",
"mom, after dinner can I have some candy?"
"mom, can we bring some candy to church""
"mom, can you pack some candy in my lunch tomorrow?"

Sigh. I am tired of the dang candy already. And they got a lot of candy! Some mom's only allow one piece a day. But then it lasts FOREVER! Then you have to hear about it forever. So I say give it in reasonable quantities and be through it quicker, less damage done.

I am not a huge candy fan. I think my taste buds have matured for I no longer crave that stuff, if the cauldron was full of dove chocolate or Lindt chocolate I'd be more excited. And I wouldn't share.

Makin' Cookies

Last Sunday Jess and I thought it would be a good idea to make some Halloween sugar cookies. Sugar cookies are my ultimate favorite. Making sugar cookies always have had a bad wrap that they are difficult to make. But actually we succeeded at it quite nicely. For once. They make a big mess, and we even had two colors going. Orange for pumpkins and white for ghosts. Oh so adventurous. Baking doesn't come that naturally for me...you can add cooking in general in fact. So Jess and I are learning together. Practice makes perfect.

We got a little messy.

Not a very good picture of the finished product...but they were yummy!!

First Fire of the Season

I love our fireplace. I don't love our small kitchen, haven't fallen in love with the layout of our house yet, I don't love our old doors, our ceiling is still 80's popcorn, not so keen about the house paint peeling and I am still trying to figure out where things should go even after we have lived here for 2 1/2 years... But I LOVE our fireplace. I love sitting near it for hours and just enjoying it thoroughly. It isn't exceptionally beautiful, but it is wonderful. You have to start somewhere right?

Happy Halloween!

One Werewolf
One SpaLady
One Ironman
One Hulk
+ One Veterinarian
One Superdog
_______________
The West Family's Halloween 2008


We all started out early and were excited to go...then after two streets, Hunter wanted to quit, Logan was tired, Mommy was starting to hurt, Daddy was getting frustrated and Powder was tired of listening. (Jess had no problems) So we headed home, took a break, gave them all a pep talk and then tried again a little later. All was well after that, they stayed out until 9pm!

Leaf Beds

I saw the boys outside today working hard raking leaves into a pile. I peeked my head out the door and asked if they were making a big pile to jump in. They said, "Nope, we are making leaf beds." Oh, okay.
Sometimes you ask them what they are up to, and you leave more confused then before.

A Werewolf or Brigham?

Okay let me give you a little background. For the last couple of weeks Matt has been growing his hair, sideburns, and goatee. It gotten so long it drove me crazy! He got a thrill out of how nuts it made me until finally when a buddy at church teased calling him "Brigham Young" I said THAT'S IT! So he finally told me he was really growing his hair for his costume. A werewolf...Ohhh....well he could of gone as Brigham. Anyways tonight is the YM/YW Halloween party so we got him all ready. He even has werewolf teeth (His real teeth aren't that yellow).

Shop Day

I stay away from the stores on most days. Too much temptation...and it goes against my frugal ways if I spend time hanging out in a store. But twice a month we do a big shop of all the household things we need. The kids LOVE these days as they can finally take their allowance and spend it. (so we try not to invite them, I like them to keep saving it) But once and awhile the little angels need to come to try on new shoes or whatever. They run and grab their savings bag. I gave each of them 3 plastic pencil bags to keep their money in. One for savings, one for tithing, and the last one for spending.
TIP: I have found that to keep that savings bag growing, is to sneak a few dollars once and awhile out of the spending bag when they are busy doing other things...You may think this is outrageous...so sue me. I am simply creating one less whine fest when I tell them they have to put money into their savings bag. They will thank me for it later.

Jessica does not play with toys...(a whole other post) So she decided to spend her hard earned spending money on a new fish and new bowl. (she already has one, Bubbly) Meet Speedy.

Carving Pumpkins

We carved pumpkins for FHE tonight. Okay... I know it is a fun family activity. And I am all about creating memories, I am actually quite obsessive about it. But carving pumpkins are my least favorite activity. It is hard work! It is messy. The guts gets all over your arms and then it starts to sting...you all know what I am talking about. The knife goes in an out all slippery and fast like at any moment you are going to stab your arm...Thank goodness Matt enjoys it each year. Whew. I try to hide. But I don't get far.

I love the picture of all of them because of Logan's face. I said to him afterward, how come he didn't smile. He said, " There was something shaking in the bushes behind daddy!"

I be bloggin'

Okay... I actually have been blogging/journaling all my life... to myself. I have kept it soley for me. I chose to move it to a private blog, so I can journal with pictures and eventually I hope they will come up with really cool printing options. I didn't want have to sensor my blogs or proof read or worry about any of that. However, I am realizing how much I enjoy reading my sisters blog who lives in Canada. I want my family and friends who live far away to be able to check in if they want to. Let me tell you though, I am not the best writer and I may not make sense half the time, but oh well. So you will see posts way back from January but I am just "going public" now. If you are bored, you can read back. Then might really be bored.

It is sad really, how quickly we forget things. Even the simple mundane things. All the experienced mamas all say, how quickly time goes, I agree! I can't stop time, nor do I want to, I just want to jot down some of those memories, so I can revisit them someday.

Rolls

Fresh homemade rolls are like candy around here. I make them every once and awhile, but when I do I hear how much they adore them. They skip around all happy with excitement.
"Were having rolls tonight!" Isn't it wonderful how bread can cause such joy and happiness? Whatever floats your boat.

My Roll Recipe

• 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups bread flour

Add water sugar and yeast, let sit for 10 minutes.
Add oil, salt and flour to kitchen aid with bread paddle, mix for 5 minutes. (Or if you really want to knead by hand for 5 minutes)
Rise for 1 hour
Roll and cut out rolls with glass or put in bread pan for bread. Then rise again 1 hour.
Voila! If you are making bread, right when it comes out of the oven lather top with butter. (it keeps it nice and soft!)

Ski Season's a Coming!

Ski season is coming! Matt is starting to drool as it gets colder. I can tell we are getting closer because Matt starts pulling out all the kids stuff to see what fits and what they have grown out of. I just love seeing their little boots and skis. So cute and tiny. I convinced my sweetheart hubby let me keep their first pair of skis that they all first started on. Okay, I am done tearing up. We got the kids ski passes last year, it works out financailly a lot better so we did again this year. Also if one of them tuckers out early, it is easy to take them home without losing any money...I don't mind stepping up to the task of taking them home early. It is tough, but someone has to do it.

Girls Weekend Getaway

Last Christmas my mom and dad gave the whole family tickets to Celine Dion's concert. I was excited... Matt not so much. Mom quickly told Matt he could do what he wanted with his tickets, sell them for ski tickets or whatever. She just wanted to include him...just in case! Well we weren't so successful selling them after many efforts, so he offered them to my dear dear friend Camilla. What a sweetheart! (he would rather have his teeth pulled than go to Celine Dion) We jumped at the chance and made it a girls weekend getaway! We left Sunday morning and got back on Tuesday night. It was a blast from the minute we took off. I have never left the kids overnight before. I knew Matt was more than capable, but it still felt a little weird. I missed my family a lot, but I enjoyed the time to just not think about work or kids. Time with Camilla just flies by! We took our time shopping and enjoying the simple things like eating meals without having to fix three more plates.

Watching a superstar in action was was incredible to see live. Do you what to know what is even more entertaining? Superstar fans. Next time you go to a superstar concert, take a moment to look around at the audience. You will find a couple die hards that look very ordinary and regular when the lights are up. But as soon as the lights go down...oh boy! The tears, the jumping up and down, the singing at the top of their lungs, and even the bowing down to the superstar begins! Now THAT was entertainment worth seeing.

Don't Ever Give Up

Today we went to the corn maze. Oh boy was this ever a maze! HUGE! They asked us if we would like to play the game while we went through, and if you got all the letters on your card your name went into a drawing to win 100 dollars. Hunter's ears immediately perked up and he set his eyes on the prize. We all gave an honest effort until Jess and I got tired and our feet hurt so we bowed out, then Logan was hungry (no surprise there) and he joined us in the van. But Hunter was NOT giving up. So Daddy and him spent another 45 minutes working to get the answers. They finally finished finding all 9 stations in this HUGE maze. So Proud!!

At the end he told me he would keep 50 dollars if he won and give dad and I the other so that we could go out for dinner.

I kept trying to tell the kids that if you keep your eye on the prize in life you can achieve it with hard work. Jess said she was too hungry and tired for this prize.

Just call me June.

With the economy going in a handbasket, the price of cereal is astronomical. (I never use that word) Anyway, I have decided to eliminate it to weekends only. Seeing it costs me 5.00 a box, they go through a box every 2 days and it is just sugar. (that is 75 a month) So what does that leave me...pulling a June cleaver. I have decided to make breakfast each morning. Today was french toast. It went well, kids ate it, I didn't die. I think the key is to start with a clean kitchen. A challenge sometimes. However, I think this just might work. Other ideas are oatmeal, cream of wheat, muffins, eggs and toast, and the oh so ambitious pancakes. So there you have it. I have officially entered 50's house wife mode. Well at least for breakfast.