Back to School is a bitter sweet time of year for me.  I love summer and not having a set daily schedule. But, How nice it is tho be able to have a quiet home, a clean home (at least until the kids get home from school) and accomplish things on my own "to-do" list.

This is Diego's first year in middle school and he is loving every minute of it!  He gets to go to 8 different classes that he chose, he gets a locker, and he said there was a lot of cute girls.

Tori is now in 5th grade and she got so lucky with getting the teacher that she did.  Her teacher was hired last minute since the school had so many late registrants they had to hire another teacher the day before school started and she was one of the lucky ones that got her.  woohoo!  Tori is now allowed to wear clear mascara and shave her legs.  What an exciting time for a girl.  (I hate that she is growing up!) Not so exciting for a mom.

The best day of Scotti's life is the first day of school.  She absolutely loves going to school and being social.  3rd grade is going to be fun for her.

I always go to post pics on Facebook and then I don't because I just want it to be a little video that I can watch (with music) and so I just do it!  

We caught a chipmunk and saved a duck.  We saw hundreds of birds and wildlife right outside our condo balcony and the window.  We absolutely love going to Eagle Point.  This trip was everything it looks like it was...SO MUCH FUN!  We road the Razor, went hiking, Kayaking and Canoeing, and Mountain Biking.

But, going on vacation with three kids can be a total nightmare...planning, packing, food shopping, food packing, loading the car, making sure the car is mechanically ready, gas tank full, snacks & movies for the road and then actually getting on the road at the time planned is absolutely impossible for us!  But the anticipation of the fun, the excitement and the memories we are going to have is the motivation.

Family vacationing on a Team USA Bobsledders dime can be a challenge but we got creative & made it happen! Thanks to my brother, Matt, for letting us crash at his house and being the best host ever!

This is what we did...

We plan, prepare and are so excited to go back even as we are driving away... the excitement never ceases.  There is something special about Pinto and especially the Memorial Day weekend reunion.

This home has a long history in our family.  It was built by my great, great grandfather and is now owned by my Aunt and Uncle who have upgraded it (installed bathrooms, running water, and so much more) to make it more accommodating for our large gatherings.

Book Of Mormon Read-a-Thon




When we decided to do this with our youth, I was a little hesitant and was trying to come up with reasons why we might not be able to attend.  I have an 8 and a 10 year old that I thought would hate something like this and complain the entire time and I didn't want to hire a babysitter or leave them home alone.  Regardless, I didn't give my kids the option to not come and be a part of it.  I told them that we were "DOIN IT!" and to get excited.  Everyone gathered their pillows, blankets,  Book Of Mormons and treats and off we went.

This Challenge is a great way for the youth to accomplish their already set goals in the youth program, possibly multiple goals.  It's cool for them to do something they have probably thought impossible.  It's not an easy challenge and it requires dedication and enduring to the end, but it is worth it.

Cameo's:
After the schedule was created, we asked members of our families and ward to come to dress up and act, dramatically read or sing parts of the book to make it more fun and exciting. Each cameo is different depending on the person doing it.  It's important that some thought and preparation go into each cameo. If you watch the video below, you will see that the first cameo was Lehi and Nephi.  Nephi was playing the guitar and it was so cute and was the most fun of all the cameos.  I suggest to incorporate music if possible.

Food:
We asked different people in the ward to be in charge of preparing and delivering the food at the designated time.  (Paid for by the ward budget)

With the schedule that we followed, it took about 24 hours to accomplish.  But depending on your group, other options can be done.  It can be done in as little as 12 hours.

Sound:  We hooked an iPad up to an iHome speaker system for all to hear.

Things I observed at our readathon:

• Breaks are needed to stretch and help with restlessness.  
• Change of scenery is good.  Taking a break outside & reading in groups or individuals help with that.
• Food & treats are something the youth look forward to. 

Heart Warming Gift - Rice Bag Warmers
So I wanted to do something fun for the girls that I visit teach and this just popped into my head. So I did it!


How I did it:
1) I free handed a heart shape on a piece of card stock paper to use as a pattern.

2) I Used fabric I already had, laid it out on the floor and pinned the paper to the fabric.

3)Then I cut out the heart shape about 1 inch larger than my pattern so I would have enough for the seem allowance.

4)Then on the sewing machine stitched the two pieces together right sides out.  make sure to leave a little spot not stitched to fill it with rice. (You can do it either way you want depending on of you want the stitching to be visible or not.) I chose to do it right sides out to save time.

5) Fill it 2/3 way full with white rice and then stitch up the little section either by hand or machine.

6) Then I just trimmed the edges and taped this little note (I designed up real quick on the computer to the front) and whalah!  So simple, so fast, so heart warming!  Download the note for yourself here.

My mom made this for our family while I was growing up and I always looked forward to it every year when winter was in season.  The best part of the soup was the homemade noodles. I loved them as a kid and my kids totally love them now.  There is something special about homemade noodles in homemade chicken noodle soup!

This picture was take after we had already devoured most of it... when I make it, the pot is totally full.

Recipe:


1 Roasted Chicken (Costco or any Grocery Store)
Celery
Onion
Chicken Bouillon (if needed)
Carrots
3-5 Cups Flour
4-5 eggs

Soup:

Remove most of the chicken from the roasted chicken and set aside.
Put the whole chicken into a large pot and fill with water totally covering the chicken.
Slice the onion in half  and put in pot.
Also put 3-4 celery stalks in with onion and chicken bones in the pot.
Bring to boil then reduce heat to low and let it boil for a few hours. (sometimes I boil it all day if I am busy)
strain juices off of the boiled chicken bones, onion and celery. You may separate the chicken from the bones if you want more chicken in the soup. Then throw away the bones onion and celery. with the strained juices in the pot add the previously separated chicken, chopped carrots, new sliced celery ( not the boiled celery from before) and noodles to the soup.  Enjoy!

Noodles:

Beat the eggs in large bowl. add flour one cup at a time to form soft dough.  Spread lots of flour out on counter then put half of the dough on the generously floured counter.  Roll it out as thin as possible adding flour to the top of the dough so it doesn't stick to the rolling pin. Roll the dough up and then slice it the thickness you want you noodles.  unroll them and add them to the boiling soup.  Repeat with other half of dough.  After all the noodles have been added to the soup and boiled for 5 minutes, it is ready to serve.

I Would Have Refinished This Bedroom Furniture Sooner If I knew how easy it was going to be.   It literally was not hard and with the awesome supplies we can get at Home Depot, Lowes, and Walmart now days its easier and so much more affordable than ever before.
Supplies:

1. TSP (use this before painting any surface - no sanding necessary)

2. Rustoleum 2X Spray Paint (its a primer & paint in one)

People always ask me if I'm in the gym all the time or if I eat enough... I'm not super strict about my nutrition and work out schedule but this (below) is basically what I do with at least 1-2 hours at the gym 4-5 days a week.  I love to have dessert and I might get a Big Mac every once in a while but since the normal routine is good, it makes it ok to "break the rules" when I want to. haha

1) Drink lots of water throughout the day. always have some on hand.
2) Eat small portions.
3) Eliminate refined sugar and grains. Instead eat whole grains and foods that don’t have added sugar. (always brown - not white...wheat bread, brown rice etc.)
4) Avoid sodas…diet included. (my favorite is... Clear American from Walmart)
5) Eat more often, 5-6 times each day. Remember, meals should not be the standard restaurant portions but rather mini meals. Eating on salad plates instead of dinner size plates is a good start.
6) Eat breakfast and you’re more likely to stick to a smaller portions throughout the day. Try the Skinny Ms. Smoothie recipes.
7) Work Out! Get cardio and weight lifting in 4-5 days a week. You will find lots of routines at Skinny Ms. 

UPCOMING POSTS:  My bootie workout! & My Before and After Home Salon Makeover.

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Adri is our favorite photographer and "Shoot Me" Video designing knows how to put it together on video! Adri is great to work with & always captures great photos and makes sure we have pix to treasure forever! This shoot was fun for me to make into a video...since that's what I do! Love to watch it!

Papa D (Dallas) and I took the kids to California for 5 days! We had the time of our lives!  Here is a little video of the highlights from Sea World and Oceanside Beach...and a few extras!

 

A few Tips For Sea World/Beach trip
We spent extra on a few things but saved more! (see below)

We wish we would have:
-Brought our own Ponchos to Sea World. If you buy them there $8 each.
-Had a wagon to haul our stuff from our car to the beach. Each of us had arm loads of stuff to carry that would have easily been pulled down in a wagon.  Next time for sure!

What we are glad we did:
-Brought snacks and drinks in a backback to Sea World. (we didn't spend any money at all on snacks or drinks.  we only bought funnel cake on the way out of the park at the very end)
-We brought a big ice chest full of our favorite drinks we bought at the grocery store at home.  The drinks lasted the whole trip. (huge $$ saver for us)
-Brought Cereal for breakfast and PB&J for lunch.  We only had to buy dinners. lots of savings there too.
-paid a few dollars extra for VIP parking at Sea World.
-paid $10 more per person at Sea World for VIP tickets that got us to the front of every line and preferred seating at all the shows!  (Totally Worth it 100%)
-Helped the guy that worked the Surrey rentals at the beach put all the bikes away at the of the day.  We now get free Surrey rentals anytime we are there.  It was a lot of fun too!

I am so glad that we can have fun together as a family!  Thanks to my cute kids and hubby for being awesome and to my parents for being the best!  Congrats to Tailor for graduating from high school in Carlsbad!  

Love YOU!

Compilation of a few of the events that happened in the lives of my 3 adorable children this past school year. Even tho they each missed over a month of school due to the many travels that have fallen into their lives this year...and even though their mom gets them to school 2 minutes after the bell rings instead of 2 minutes before...they are all 3 the top students in their classes. They are all teachers favorites. They are all exceptional students, kids, examples of Christ, and are loved by all.


After I made this video they have watched it over and over and have shown all their friends.  Its a hit and will be forever.  I love making videos.  Its my thing.  

My family gathers every year to build relationships, memories, and remember our loved ones that have passed on.

Some people say its the journey...We say its "The Place". My great Grandfather built this home in the 1800 in a small town in the Mountains of Southern Utah.


Cousins, friends, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas come closer together just being in Pinto. The Spirit that dwells at our Pinto home is so strong that nothing can compare to the love that is shared there.

Sunday morning the whole family dresses with respect to Heavenly Father and we individually stand and share our testimonies of Christ and our love for each other. You will never see more grown men, women & children cry because their hearts are full of love for their families, moms, dads, wives, children and most of all their Savior Jesus Christ. What a neat tradition and family bonding experience it is for all who attend this celebration and all the Mormon and non-Mormon people that do similar gatherings with their families and friends.

Thanks to my Aunt Mary and Uncle Paul (who now own this home) and their family for all of the work, time and money spent on the home. We all appreciate it so much!
Love you!!!!

1 Minute could CHANGE YOUR LIFE as it has mine. Some people say that its his personality...some people say it's his knowledge... others say it from his personal experience or thru his personal trial and error. YOU DECIDE!

This is one of the coolest ways to announce an engagement!  I love it!  It is short and sweet and shows personality and lets everyone kinda get to know the couple.


If you didn't notice...I love creating short, but sweet, videos for EVERYTHING!  Check out My work at Shoot Me Video Design Blog.  

Family Video shoots are so fun and cool with scrapbooking turning to the internet.  This is an awesome tradition for families to do to remember the love, personalities and relationships in the family.  This is a must have for your blogs!

I love to sleep with a pillow between my knees and between my boobs.... don't laugh cuz i do it for more reasons than the comfort.  I love the pillow between my knees because it keeps my hips in line while sleeping on my side.  I like a pillow between my boobs to prevent the deep V shaped wrinkles on my chest & neck that I notice on so many women.


I am so much more aware of the little things we do that cause wrinkles and premature aging than I was in my 20's.  I realize that some aging we can prevent without expensive surgery or injections!  hahaha!  If you have any of your own anti aging secrets let me know!


I recently replaced my favorite king sized snuggle pillow with this super soft giant teddy bear.  He is so comfy and does the same great job as my king size pillow and its just more fun to have a big super soft teddy bear to snuggle with every night! You can buy one too @ a Rite Aid near you!

Escaped to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!  Santa Monica is amazing.... espeially if you get to crash at this beach house.  Walking distance from everything you would ever want... beach, Santa Monica Pier, great food, shopping and driving distance from Hollywood, LA, and Disneyland.  Funny how there are so many options for enertianment but the kids are totally happy with going to the beach EVERYDAY!

I have spent every Memorial Day of my ENTIRE life in Pinto, Utah as have most of my aunts uncles and cousins have as well. This home is more than a place we go to enjoy the outdoors and have fun. The Knell place in Pinto is an old pioneer home built in the 1800's by my great great grandfather.