TWO WEEKS!!!

In two weeks from today we will have our first visitors from the States. How fitting that it should be Grandpa John and Grandma Susan who love Australia as much as we do. 10 years ago they served a mission for our Church in Melbourne, Australia in the mission offices. Now they are coming back to see us!

We can't wait to see you and are counting down the days!!!

MY MOM WILL LAUGH...

...BUT I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE ONE OF THESE:

OR ONE OF THESE:

I found this shop, Nuxie Made on etsy the other day and I am in love with these hats. For a while now I have thought I could make some, but I don't really know where to start. My mom tried to teach me how to crochet when I was little - I never got past how to make chains, but I did make really long chains all through the house.

So anyone who knows - where do I start?

I probablly need to find a book to teach me some bascis - any good ones out there?

What kind of needles and yarn do I use?

What is the difference between crocheting and knitting anyway?

I see big things in my future if I can learn this - scarves, hats, hair clips, and bags. The possibilities are endless!

More Cooperisms...

C: "Mom, do you know why Friday is my favorite day?"

S: "No, why?"

C: "Because I get to untuck my shirt!"

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C: "Dad, look! Right here on my arm. Can you see it?"

K: "What is it?"

C: "I'm starting to get little hairs on my arm!"

S: [Eye's tear up as she is trying to control the tears from laughing]

K: "You are now a man!"

C: "Why is mommy laughing?"

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S: "Kev, ask Cooper why his favorite day is Friday." [Referring to the above conversation.]

K: "Coop, why is your favorite day Friday?"

C: "Because it starts with Fry!" [Apparently we have been to Macca's way too much!!!!]

LOST

credits

WE MISS OUR LITTLE KITTY - CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE. LUCKILY SHE MOVED ON PRETTY QUICKLY. WE MISS LITTLE KITTY!

VAMPIRE SAGA

I will be the first to admit that usually I am not a big vampire person. When Twilight came out I didn't rush out to buy it. In fact I didn't read it until the movie was about to be released a few years later. Last year when Rylee and I were getting ready to travel to the States I saw a copy of Twilight at the store and decided to read it on the plane. Although I didn't get much time to read on the plane due to Rylee's inability to sleep during the long flight - I soon got sucked in while at my parent's house. I read it whenever I had a spare minute, and bought New Moon while in the States. When I got back to Australia I bought the other two books and was soon finished with the entire series. I saw the movie on opening weekend when we went back to Utah and loved it. Now I am on my second read of all the books. I am halfway through Eclipse. I am still enthralled and fascinated by the storyline. My sister Julie sent me the DVD for Twilight and I have watched it a half a dozen times already. I am not sure what it is about this vampire family, but I am loving my vampire saga. Sometimes it is fun to just dive into a world that is not your own and use your imagination.

ABC book

I just finished a huge project that I have been working on all week. Of course if I would have started earlier it wouldn't have been so stressful. My goal this year is to make most of the presents that I give away and since Rylee's b-day is coming up next month I wanted to make her something. A quiet book came to mind so I begun making one for Church. I soon realized that my idea ( a really good one I might add) was going to take more time than I had - hopefully by Christmas (maybe some of you will get it as well). Then I thought an ABC book all about Rylee would be fun. Not only for her to look at but to document some of the things she likes right now. So I have been scrapping away. I just sent it all away to be bound and sent back with a hard cover. I think I may be cutting it close. I have never done any of my stuff in a hardback book so I am super excited.

Now the other kids want one of their own and are already thinking about what I should do for each of the letters in the alphabet for them.

Here are the pages of the book:

FRIDAY NIGHT IS PIZZA NIGHT!!

Come on over if you want - Friday night is pizza night at our house. A new pizza joint opened up at the train station months and months ago and we decided to try it out because it was cheap. Well the taste was good as well so pretty soon Fridays became pizza night at our house.

Then last month for book club we read this book called Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It was so interesting. A book about a family who decides for one year to only buy local produce, meat, and grains and live off the land. Only eating foods when they are in season - yes that means no watermelon in the middle of winter (it doesn't taste good then anyway). Not only did they reduce their carbon footprint, but they survived and ate well. This book made me miss home and my garden. I read it just when I should be getting my garden ready for planting. I haven't planted a garden here and I truly miss it. I miss getting my hands dirty and watching things grow. I miss walking outside on a summer night as the heat of the day is fading and picking peas and eating them right then and there fresh from the garden. I miss bottling, canning, and freezing things and eating my own produce through the winter. I miss all of those things and keep telling Kev we better be settled and in a house by Spring next year so I can plant a garden - a girl can always dream right?

Anyway, why am I telling you about this book? Well they had a Friday night pizza night as well and a recipe for pizza dough. For those of you who don't know all through high school. I worked at a pizza place and even know how to throw the dough in the air to stretch it out. My parents used to always make us homemade pizza growing up as well. That week I tried out the pizza dough recipe and we made our own pizza from scratch. Well now that has become the tradition for Friday night pizza night. Homemade pizza and sometimes a movie. It has shown me that cooking isn't always a chore. The kids love to come put their own toppings on and boy does it taste good.

Here is the dough recipe if you want your own pizza night: (better yet if you want to join us give me a call bring your own toppings and we can have a big pizza night party!)

makes 2 12" pizzas

3t yeast

1 1/2 c warm water

3T olive oil

1 t salt

2 1/2 c white flour

2 c whole wheat flour

(I don't just use 4 1/2 cups of white flour as I don't' have wheat flour)

dissolve the yeast in the warm water

knead everything together

let raise 30-40 minutes

then you simply roll them out into pizza shapes and add your toppings

bake pizza 425 degrees for 20 mins

I do realize that it probably isn't saving me any money by making my own pizza - but the memories I hope my kids will treasure for a lifetime. Maybe in 20 years we will be sitting around and they will be talking about fond childhood memories and our Friday night pizza night will come up in conversation. That is my hope.

SINGING DEBUT

Madi had her singing debut yesterday at Church. She, along with two other girls in our ward, Natasha and Antoi, Sister Brown and I, sang "A Child's Prayer" in sacrament meeting. A few months ago the music coordinator in our ward asked if the Primary would sing in sacrament meeting for Mother's Day. She only wanted a small group and she wanted them to sing "A Child's Prayer." I turned this assignment over to our music leader and she picked the group (I told her that she had to sing with me if she wanted me to sing). Madi and I practiced every day for a week before the big debut. She was so nervous - but excited to sing with her friend Antoi. We had to do her hair all pretty and put rollers in the night before. She did so well and sounded so good.

I on the other hand spend the entire song trying not to cry. Somehow the Spirit and my tear ducts are attached to one another. I can try really hard and not think of the words, picture a dog running in the back of the chapel, or any number of things I have tried it never works. Don't get me wrong I love to sing and I am so happy that I have been blessed with music as my talent, but I get so embarrassed in a new ward when I sing for the first time (I guess this was my debut as well). They don't know my crying and singing history. In fact I don't sing much in Church anymore. I am not sure that most people know that I play the piano and sing at all. Gone are the days when I move into a ward and they give me a calling to play the piano - that hasn't happened for two wards now.

Madi made us so proud of her. She has a good voice and loves music so she may have more performances in her future.

A TRIBUTE to the mothers in my life.

It has been a lovely day so far - complete with breakfast in bed and lovely gifts. I have been thinking about the women in my life a lot today and how they have helped me to become who I am today.

I just wanted to say thanks to my mom (not sure she actually reads this but that's okay). Although we didn't always get along I have always appreciated the example my mother was to me. I wanted to be a stay at home mom because of her example. I remember coming home from school and there she was to comfort after a hard day or to laugh with. I wanted to be there like that for my own children. We may not always see eye to eye, but she has raised an independent, strong daughter and for that I am very appreciative. I don't know how she survived raising seven children, but due to her example she has a righteous posterity anyone would be proud of.

Thanks mom for all you do for me and for my family. I love you very much and miss you every day!

I also wanted to pay tribute to my mother-in-law. Here is a woman who consistently puts others before herself. I love her because of the son she has raised and the example she is to those around her. I am honored to be a part of this amazing family. My mother-in-law has always excepted me for who I am and for that I am very blessed.

Susan, thanks for all you continue to do for our family - can't wait to see you guys next month!

May we all remember the women in our lives on this day. They have helped to mold us into who we are.

52 BLESSINGS PROJECT

A scrappin' friend of mine was doing this project last year and I really wanted to do it. However, because I am a bit anal I couldn't start it in the middle of the year - nope had to wait until the beginning. I do a LO a week that is a blessing in my life. Because Sunday seemed like the best day to think about my blessings that is what I do. Every Sunday night I sit down at the computer and scrap about a blessing in my life. It has been really nice. By the end of the year I will have 52 blessings which I will make into a book. I wanted to share a few of my favorites so far.