Photo Sharing: Simplicty At It's Best

"Let's eat outside!" The kids pleaded. I sighed wanting to resist. Then I thought, why? Why am I resisting? Just so I can be in control and say no? Just because I want to be a Scrooge? "Okay", I agreed. I finished preparing our lunch and we headed outside. The sun beat is warm rays on the glass top table. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the warmth around me.
"It's too hot" Lucas complained.
"It's not hot, it's only in the 70's", I replied.
"It's still too hot!"
"Should we go back in?" I questioned, not wanting to lose my spot in the warmth.
"NO!"

So instead a compromise was made. Lucas and Alex carried their plates to the bench in the shade. I remained at the table and enjoyed the sunshine. I heard their voices talking kindly to each other and looked over and saw this...

that is when the photographer in me
knew I couldn't miss this moment.It really is the little moments,
the little times of saying yes that make it all worth it.

See more great pictures at

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

The Second Time Around: New Moon

So last night I saw New Moon, for the second time. One of my good friends hadn't seen it yet, so I graciously agreed to go with her. The theater was a lot less crowded, probably only about 15 people total and you know it lost a little something the second time....

The first time, I saw it with Eric on opening night. No, we did not go to the midnight showing, we waited until an insane hour of the 7:30 PM showing. I bought the tickets several days ahead, and we got to the show 45 minutes early. We joined the line and were feeling very old. I can't imagine how Eric was feeling, very old and very male probably. Luckily some other "old timers" got in line right behind us. We commiserated on how old we felt just then.

In the theater we sat next to some other "old timers". It seemed like we all tried to join together, safety in numbers you know. And then the movie began, the clapping the sequels every time Jacob appeared with his shirt off. And you know what, I have to admit... it was fun.

So last night, the crowd, all 15 of us-- all in the pushing 30+ crowd, and there weren't any squeals, any clapping.. there were a few giggles but I was amazed at the different feel to the movie. I found myself almost missing the squeals and giggles. So as much as I DO NOT want to go back to my teenage years, last night I missed a bit of that teenage freedom and immaturity.

But it was still worth it.

December=Fudge

Since yesterday was officially the first day of December, well I just had to make some Christmas goodies. And yesterday we started off right, with fudge!

This is the easiest most yummy recipe I have ever seen.

First step: Enlist a helper

Second step: Only use the best ingredients

Third Step: Break up the chocolate and try and stop the helper from eating it all

Fourth Step: Combine Chocolate

Fifth Step: Taste test the marshmallow fluff

Sixth Step: Ban "helper" who is eating too much chocolate and fluff
Seventh Step: Take a picture of finished product, which may or may not be already missing a row
And don't worry here is the real recipe now so you can all enjoy it too!

Million Dollar Fudge
1 can evaporated milk
4 1/2 cups sugar
2 T. butter
dash salt
1 pkg (12 oz) chocolate chips
1 bar (12 oz) sweet chocolate broken into pieces ((3 boxes of Bakers chocolate))
1 Jar (8 oz) marshmallow whip
2 1/2 cups chopped walnuts ((optional--I never use))

1. Mix first 4 ingredients in pot; boil and stir for 7 minutes.
2. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl, mix well. Pour bowling mixture over this. Stir until fudge is creamy.
3. Pour into buttered 13 X 9" pan to cool. Cut when cool ((and scrape all the warm extra fudge from the bowl and eat--oh wait, I made that up))

See--simple! I usually use my pampered chef chopper to chop the Bakers' chocolate. My mom just used to cut all of the squares in half. Also, most of the ingredients marshmallow fluff, etc do not come in those sizes anymore.. but since they are all a bit smaller it works out in the end.

It's December!

It's December!

The weather is cooler (in the 60's); there's magic in the air; and our tree is up!

The last several years we have just decorated the upper part of the tree. Pretty sparkly balls are too big of a temptation for little hands.

But this year everyone could help. Unfortunately, our tree stand was not working and it took Eric a bit to fix it. In her impatience Alex started to get some decorations out herself, including one of my large blown-glass balls.Word of advice, do not drop blown-glass balls onto tile floor; they literally explode. It was loud, glass shattered at least ten feet each direction, but luckily no one got hurt.

In the end it all worked out and our tree was up and ready, with the lower branches more than heavily decorated.

Ten Things

Ten Things to Smile About This Month

1. Thanksgiving--i.e. family, food, stuffing, sparkling cider

2. The double rainbow that appeared right when the
BYU vs. Utah game was starting.. BYU won!

3. A wonderful husband who is always so thoughtful of me

4. Egg Nog is now available in the stores!
mmmm Southern Comfort!

5. Celebrating Alex's 3rd Birthday

6. Cooler Weather and an excuse to wear jackets and boots

7. Watching the hundreds of crows fly to the
trees behind our house every evening

8. Having the courage to try out for the musical
--even if I didn't make it in the end

9. Finding hours of fun using mostly just a rope

10. Picnics in the backyard

Other lists can be seen here.

Photo Challenge: The Back Side

I have recently discovered the I Heart Faces photo challenge and can't help but submit another picture for this week's challenge. This week's challenge is tooshies. Who can't resist the back side?

This picture I took during our fall walk back in September, I think, and it is still one of my favorites.

Three Years Ago-One Became Two

Three years ago today,

we went from one to two.Three years ago,
we went from three to four.Three years ago
our hearts more than doubled in size.

Three years ago
our lives changed forever.Happy Birthday Alex!
We Love You!