Happy Halloween!!

My trashy man. Pony-tail and all.



My hilarious brother-in-law Levi trying to eat with his scissor hands.  And my gangsta sis, Steph.



Last night we went to the Casperson's Annual Halloween Party and had ourselves a wonderful time! We all got dressed up in our fabulous costumes, danced around a bit, and just enjoyed watching eachother look incredibly funny. For some reason, I just absolutely love Halloween. It's such a fun holiday. I like the costumes, the food, the music, the scary movies, the parties, and just the social experience. I can't wait to get to take my adorable little kids trick-or-treating.



I got everyone's hopes up with this belly. They said now that I got them excited I'd better get started for real....



My dad's amazingly creative He-She costume

Fall is in the Air...

My toesies and the beautiful
fall leaves.

The beautiful, vintage bottles on our headboard.
Cozies up our room just lovely!

Holy cow. This is one of the nicest fall seasons in Idaho that I can remember in...well...ever!! Last year our first heavy snow was the first week of October! This week, the days have been in the 60's still and last week was in the 70's and 80's. Fall is my very favoritest season. So, even though it doesn't feel particularly fall-y, it looks rather fall-y...and I'm loving it! The cool breeze; The swaying, fluttering leaves that look like orange and yellow flecks of glitter topping all the roads and roofs; The pumpkin patches and booths throughout town; And of course you can't forget the sweaters and hot chocolate and blanket cuddling! 'Tis the season -for pumpkin, orange, baking, and slippers!!

Looking up the skirt of a giant mushroom.

It still feels as if October is just starting, but I can't believe it's almost over. I'll miss you October! I don't even know what I'm going to be for Halloween yet. I think Tys and I will be a zombie bride and groom. Tyson's momma is playing with her band, The Hot Flashes (so clever!!) at the Casperson's halloween party. So we'll get dressed up and get our groove on there!

Now that it's getting chillier each day, I'm really wanting to sew and craft more. I have an unfinished quilt that I'd like to finish here soon, or at least pickup again, but I haven't had the mulah to get any more fabric! Sad. But I get paid on Friday, so I'll get going on it again. After that one is finished, I think I'm going to try to sell it, and get some money to buy new fabric to start a different quilt that I'd like to keep. I don't know if I'll be able to do it, but I guess I'll take on th challenge. It's a beautiful applique Wishing Tree Quilt. Oh my goodness sakes, it is one of the most gorgeous bed sets I've ever seen. We'll see if I can figure this out!!

Weekend Ventures





This past weekend I traveled up the two hours to Boise with my sister while she attended more Zumba training and certifications. We thought it would be fun to get away together, and I was in dire need of a break from my weekly routine and such. That night consisted of Texas Roudhouse (Yum!), hot tub with our steak-bloated bellies, King of Queens and AFV.

Mm-hmmm....Jealous!!

Saturday morning, I took Steph to her training at 8 in the morning. I had the rest of the day to myself and to do whatever I wanted! I went to an adorable cupcake shop in Eagle, Lilly Jane's Cupcakes. I went to the Boise Zoo and started wishing I had my own pet giraffe, tiger, and human baby to see his/her excited reaction like the rest of the adorable children there. I did a tid bit of shopping and playing and, well, just enjoying my R & R time.

I had a splendid time with my sister and thought I'd share my weekend with you..!

How Long is a.....?

So....
I had recently heard of someone running a 100k race. I wasn't quite sure how many miles that was, so I decided to look it up on Google. I started typing it in at the top search bar, "How long is......." and noticed all the other options it came up with before I finished. I thought it was actually quite funny.

For example....

How long is Starcraft 2 Campaign?

How long is Sex and the City 2?

How long is strep throat contagious?

How long is Shutter Island?

How long is Shrek Forever After?

How long is soccer game?

How long is shingles contagious?

How long is summer?

How long is Shrek 4?

How long is summer school?

Lol. This is actually really funny! It comes up with the most popular searches that start with those words, and this is was came up. Looks as if people are spending a lot too much time worrying about movies and summer......and diseases. Which I guess in the end could amount to the poor souls at the bottom who take summer school.

Again!!

How long is Bronchitis contagious?

How long is basic training for the army?

How long is breast milk good for?

How long is bioshock 2?

How long is beer good for?

How long is borderlands?

How long is boot camp?

How long is bayonetta?

How long is bacon good for?

How long is whooping cough contagious?
How long is world cup halftime?
How long is warped tour?
How long is weed in your system?
How long is wicked?
How long is world cup?
How long is watermelon good for?
How long is wine good after opening?

How long is  jiffy?

How long is a justin bieber concert?

How long is a john mayer concert?

How long is a job interview?

How long is a jewish wedding?

How long is a jewish funeral?

How long is a judgement good for?

How long is a javelin?

How long is a jersey shore episode?

Whew!!

That was fun.....

Thou Art a Teacher...

A few weeks ago Tyson and I were set apart in our first calling together: 15 and 16 year old sunday school teachers. I'll admit, I was, and still am, a little shocked. I can't help but think of all the other people in the ward who would be so much more knowledgable and experienced teachers than I. Luckily I do have Tyson to lean on for help, but I still struggle. I taught my first lesson alone yesterday. And really, it was alright.
I taught all the material I was supposed to.
                                        I taught from start this finish.
                                                                  And no one fell asleep on me.....

The scriptures are such a wonderful and precious tool. However, it can sometimes be difficult for someone to understand scriptures in Nephi or Genesis, let alone Isaiah. Which is precisely what we're teaching out of right now...


And I get frustrated.


I don't always understand what I'm reading and at times have to go over the scripture 5.....10....times for it to start sinking in. Afterward, I still need to go to Tyson for him to explain it to me. I was really starting to get discouraged. I feel like, in order to be a good teacher, I have to completely understand what I am teaching.


While preparing for next weeks lesson, I went to LDS.org to read over it. While there, I decided to start reading the newest General Conference talks. So I started with Saturday morning's first talk, and ended with the last one of that day. One talk really stuck out to me. For those of you who watched conference, it was the talk given by David M. McConkie about teachers. As I read through that talk, I had a feeling of comfort flow through my mind and my body. I knew that the Lord is all-knowing, and that he put me there to help me learn and grow. But I was feeling inadequate. I don't know much more about this doctrine as the teenagers in my class do!

"It is natural for teachers to have feelings of inadequacy. You must understand that 'age and maturity and intellectual training are not in any way or to any degree necessary to communion with the Lord and His Spirit.'

The promises of the Lord are certain. If you earnestly search the scriptures and treasure up in your minds the words of life, if you keep the commandments with all of your heart and pray for each student, you will enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost and you will receive revelation.^"

Surprisingly, I hadn't thought about that part yet. I have prayed for myself in teaching and learning the lessons. And I have prayed for my class to recieve and understand the lessons. But I just didn't really think about praying for each student personally and spiritually. I really enjoy the kids in my class and think they are very smart and sweet kids. I can't wait to get to know them better as time goes on.

"Successful gospel teachers love the gospel. They are excited about it. And because they love their students, they want them to feel as they feel and to experience what they have experienced. To teach the gospel is to share your love of the gospel."

Pizza Party!

I did it! I'll admit, I was a tad worried about the homemade pizza. I guess I just grew up thinking what a horrible thing homemade pizza was when you could pick it up so much easier and faster. I don't ever remember having my mother make homemade pizza while I was growing up. I do, however, remember her always saying how hard it was to make a good pizza crust. "The outside is always burnt, and the middle is always doughy!!" But mine turned out delectible! I was so proud. :)



Before Product....(LOVE my heavy duty Pampered Chef pans. Got them for my wedding!)



And the After (Cheesy-Goodness) Product!



So there you have it! My pizza experience turned out to be a success. And mostly, I know it was a success because Tys liked it. Otherwise, it would have been a failure, even had I loved it. He's the pizza king. If anyone knows whether or not a pizza is good, it's him. Over and out!

Home with Mr. Clark

Last night was a nice little date night with Mr. Clark. He didn't have to work and I chose not to go to the gym. (It's starting to show after this last couple of weeks of choosing that.)  So, we ate Chicana for dinner (meat was a little chewy) and watched the Karate Kid. It was slightly lame-r this second time around, but still good. Then Tyson got out the Cookie Dough Ben & Jerry's, of which I was good and had only two bites despite the fact that I could have devoured half of it.

Mr. Clark and his red beard

I love home-date nights with the hubs. It's just nice. We don't get to spend a whole lot of time together during the week (that isn't sleeping, lunch, or the hour before sleeping), so I love those nights that we do get. And last night had sort of a warmcozyromantic feel to it because there was thunder rolling in the distance and big billowy clouds lurking. So I turned off all the lights, and just lit our lamps and candles. LOVE THAT.

Tonight I'm going to attempt to make homemade whole wheat pizza. Sounds goooood....but will it be? We know not. I've never made any type of homemade yeasty bread. Only banana or zucchini. But I'll let you know how this turned out tomorrow!

NieNie

I feel so incredibly inspired right now.

I have "met" the most amazing, and profound woman. I cannot even begin to explain the impact she has made in my life. Her name is Stephanie Nielson. Below is a picture of her a few years ago with her husband, "Mr. Nielson". She has four beautiful children. She is an amazingly dedicated, patient, and loving mother and wife. She works hard in raising her family to be close to eachother to their Heavenly Father, like she herself is.



In August of 2008, Stephanie and her husband Christian were in a near-fatal plane crash, leaving burns on 80% of her body. She was in a coma for 3 months, while her family waited anxiously near her hospital bed to see how she would recover. I found out about Stephanie from watching a short video about her on LDS.org, and soon was completely intrigued by her and her story and testimony.

She is an avid blogger, so I found her blog, and started back to the beginning. 2004. I went through her daily entries about her childhood and about her sweet children. She wrote about her new homes each time she moved and about the cities she was in. She wrote about her new shoes and the things she cooked for dinner. She wrote about her love for her husband and about their romantic marriage. She wrote about the crafts she and her children would make together, including the messes. She wrote about all these amazing things, and also very mundane things. Everything, however, seemed extraordinary through her words. I went through her most recent child's natural birth at home. About how they ate burritos there an hour afterward. I went through the crash with her and her family, while they updated her blog. I felt her grief as she woke up after three months and cried about what happened. I felt her happiness as she realized how many amazing friends and readers loved and supported her. She has well over 1,000 entries, and I read all of them...in two days!

She has the most incredible testimony of our savior Jesus Christ, and of the plan that our Father in Heaven has made specially for each one of us. She taught me amazing characteristics in a mother. How to love and cherish your children and the little things in life. She is so talented too! She can craft and create and cook like no one I've ever seen! Unless of course they get paid to do it and it's their full-time job. But she is such an exception. I read a bit of her sister's blog for a while during the time that Stephanie was in a coma, and she said something so profound. This will stick with me for a very long time...

                "I am starting to believe that there is no such
       as tragedy. There is only opportunity for growth,
       and should you accept it, the reward overcomes
       the sailing of the hardship."

No better compliment....

In the past few months....I've come to find out that there are few greater compliments, than someone telling you they absolutely LOVE some type of food you've made. About 7 months ago, I made this amazing delish carrot cake. Which, at that time, I have hardly any baking experience. It was the first thing I'd ever made from scratch. and everyone loved it! I've had requests for it since then, but haven't made it. Then during the Saturday session of General Conference this past weekend, I finally made it again. I couldn't have been happier as I sat and listened to everyone just going on about how they could eat this all day long, and how it was the best carrot cake they've ever had! So, by request, I'm making it again tonight for Steph's birthday, and again in a month for Levi's birthday. Such a great feeling!

Now, Just to clarify, this is NOT an actual photo of my carrot cake. It is round, and 3 layers, but it does NOT have the nuts. And, it's a rich cream cheese frosting instead. I also use whole wheat flour. (And you don't want me to disclose how many cubes of butter are in the cake.) Mmmm-mm!

Letter To Me-

Tyson and I were able to go to a Brad Paisley/Darius Rucker concert a couple weekends ago. It was sooo great. And, I think Brad Paisley has amazingly inciteful lyrics. As we stood in the grass cuddling and listening to the lyrics, one of his songs distinctly stood out to me and got me thinking. It's called "Letter To Me," and I wanted to rewrite the lyrics to fit me. I really wish I could actually send this letter to myself 4 years ago. I think I would have seen and lived life a little differently....

If I could write a letter to me
And send if back in time to myself at 17,

First I'd prove it's me by saying, look under your bed

There's a box of cookies and your journal that no one else would know you hid.

And then I'd say I know it's tough
When you break up after ten months
And yeah, I know you really liked him and it doesn't seem fair
But you'll forget him by tomorrow, and the amazing man you'll end up with is rare.

And oh, you got so much going for you, going right
But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night
Your best friend spread a rumor about you, and you still feel a knife
Sticking out of your back you're wondering if you'll survive

But you'll make it through this and you'll see

You're still around to write this letter to me.

Before you do something stupid with your friends,
Stop for a second and think about if you'd be doing that with your parents.
And when you get dressed, keep on that first pair of pants,
It doesn't make your butt look big, and you just need to give in and dance.

Each and every time you have a fight,
Just assume you're wrong and mommy's right.
And you should really thank Sister White and Wilson
They spend so much extra time
It's like they sees the diamond underneath
And they're polishing you til you shine.

And oh, you got so much going for you, going right
But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night
Tonights the bonfire rally but you're staying home instead
Because if you fail Algebra, mom and dad will kill you dead.
But trust me, you'll squeek by and get a C
And you're still around to write this letter to me.

You got so much up ahead, you'll make new friends
You should see your life and husband.
And I'd end by saying have no fear,
These are nowhere near the best years of your life.
I guess I'll see you in the mirror when you're a woman.
P.S. Go hug Nana every chance you can

And oh, you got so much going for you, going right
But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night
I wish you'd study French, I wish you'd take a cooking class.
I wish you wouldn't worry, let it be.
I'd say have a little faith and you'll see
If I could write a letter to me.