Parker's Proud Moment

As I mentioned before, Parker received 100% in Math on the CRT test.
The School gave him an award for his efforts.
Here is a couple video clips from his Awards Assembly at school. He had an excellent 4th grade year. We're so proud of his great achievements. And he's cute too! He thought I was taking a picture with my camera when I was actually video taping...that's why he posed for me.

Summer is Here!

Kids are out of school, Barbecue is warmin' up, the pool is crystal blue, now all I need is a pedicure to peek through my flip flops.
Tomorrow will be the official first day of Summer Vacation and I'm sooooo ready!
We don't have a ton of vacations planned, just Tuachan in St. George, Girls Camp, Family Camping and Ryan has his trip to Africa the end of June.
We may throw in a surprise trip just for good measure, but the kids are perfectly content just hanging with friends and lounging in the pool!
I have my cousin's wedding to attend to this weekend... so lots of flower arranging, finish the cake, decorating and favors then it's PARTY TIME!
Hope everyone has a Wonderful Fun-filled summer!

Lots of Stories to tell....

So please bear with me while I tell about our weekend.
Saturday was quite the exciting day for Miranda.
First of all....it was the release of the special edition of Eclipse, the third book in the Twilight series. This edition had a preview of the first chapter of the fourth book coming out in August, as well as a picture of the book cover. Since Miranda already owns the 3rd book, I wasn't about to let her buy it, so at 9am we drove to Barnes & Noble to sit and read the preview chapter. Of course I sat down and read it as well.
She's super excited for the 4th book. Miranda and all her Twerd buddies are planning to attend a Release Party (aka Vampire Prom) the night the book comes out.












Miranda has also been wanting to get her hair cut short for quite some time. I suppose if she's ready then I'm ready. But it's sooooo hard to let her do it. I'm still holding on to that little girl with long golden ringlets cascading down her back. I guess once she cuts her hair she'll seem too grown up. We both had a hair appointment yesterday so while I was being a human TV antenna with all the foils in my hair, she was getting her hair CUT.....and I do mean CUT!!!!!
Just look at the length that was cut.
It took all my strength to keep from grabbing the scissors out of Debbie's hands. And here I thought she was my friend. There was seriously enough hair on the floor to
make a new wig!
Miranda was actually enjoying seeing me squirm each time a length of hair was cut. In the end...it did turn out very cute. Miranda, of course, would not pose for a picture for me. So I snuck in this shot telling her it was of the back of her hair.
Debbie did a great job, I love all the fun layers. Hopefully Miranda will be able to style it by herself easily, that's what she really wanted. She is really starting to look like a teenager (which she will be in one month!)
Next it was my turn to get my hair cut....and I guess Debbie was in a short hair mode that day because WOW......my hair is short! I'm having a harder time adjusting to my hair than Miranda is to her hair. I will admit, it was easier to style this morning, but still need to adjust since I've been trying to grow it out for so long now.
(Don't worry Debbie, I didn't cry too long this morning.... he he)

Parker and Ryan went to Cedar Friday and Saturday. Parker had a great time with his cousin Walker and Grandma Dennett. He finally got to go to the Pawn Shop in Cedar...a dream of his. He showed me his treasure this morning and it will totally fit in his collection of "Useless Junk" (that's his name not mine)
The funny thing is.....when I arrived home late last night after being in Henderson making the Wedding cake,(photo's will be coming soon) I saw this GIANT zucchini sitting in our driveway. My first thought was..."why in the world did Ryan agree to let Parker buy this at the Pawn Shop".
Come to find out.... this zucchini is being passed around the ward to unsuspecting families. It was started by Parker's Webelo leaders (they also have a giant muffin that Parker wants badly)
Now, much to Parker's dismay, we get to pass along the zucchini to someone else ...whew!
So if you find a giant zucchini on your doorstep do NOT return it to me or it may come back to haunt you! Maybe I should just make zucchini bread to pass along instead, hummm.....Now I'm off to make 200 chocolate dipped heart cookies for the wedding next Saturday....I may even sneak a few for myself....they are soooo yummy!

Spare the rod....

Spoil the Child....I think that's how the saying goes.
In case you haven't heard (or received a text)
Parker now has his own cell phone.
Now I don't want anyone to think that we spoil our children for no reason.
We have a very good reason for doing it this time.
Let me back up a bit to one year ago when we found out that Parker received 100% score in Math and Reading in the CRT tests at school. We were so proud of him that we let him pick out a lizard that he had been wanting. (I need to post a current picture of Godzilla...oh I mean Clev)

Well, yesterday I received another call from his principal telling us that he received another 100% score in the Math portion of this year's CRT test. He was one of 5 out of 170 students. So not wanting to break tradition....we gave in to Parker's 6+ months plea of wanting a cell phone. "But mom, Everyone has one". Or the time I thought the carpool was picking up Parker from school, but they picked their kids up early. When I found Parker, already walking home...he said, "See, that's why I need a cell phone".
Ryan and I have held pretty strong through the past few months, but just between us, we were about ready to give in anyway. So when we heard the news of his wonderful test scores, we caved!
Parker is so excited and has been texting his buddies that have phones non-stop. Good thing we have unlimited texting. He even sent me a text last night after he went up to bed to tell me goodnight. Ahhh ...nothing like technology to bring a family together. LOL
Ryan has been VERY clear about not wasting minutes by calling friends when he's at home. He does have permission to call anyone on the Verizon plan all he wants (so look out everyone)
When Parker showed up with a new phone, we thought Miranda would want to get one herself. She has a hand-me-down of Ryans (from a couple phones back). But we were wrong. She wants nothing to do with a new phone. She likes her "vintage" one just fine. (her words not mine).
Miranda rarely uses her phone, and never seems to take it when she may actually need it. One time Ryan gave her a hard time because she only used 2 minutes that month. Such a rare breed indeed!
So yes, there are times we spoil our children, but they are both such wonderful students and really don't ever give us too much trouble, so a little spoiling once in a while can't hurt. TTFN

Darn it....

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!
When I started my blog I knew there was this "game" lurking among all bloggers. I had so hoped to avoid being tagged. Since not too many people read my blog I figured my chances were pretty good. However....thanks so much to my once dear friend Sommer.... I now have the chance to participate in this blog ritual. I know....I could just ignore it. I'm always the one who ends the chain on those emails that says..."do not delete or your computer will explode" or seven years bad luck if you don't forward this to 20 people (honestly I don't think I have 20 people in my contact list). BUT.....guilt and blog buddy shame would get the best of me if I didn't comply with the Tag rules. So....here goes

How To Play This Game of Tag: Post these rules on your blog. List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the
end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!

3 joys:
1. Seeing my family happy and healthy! Definitely the top of my list!
2. Having a perfectly clean house in every way possible. Right down to ironing, clean sheets, baseboards, the works. Doesn't happen often but I get pretty close sometimes.
3. Being in COMPLETE Creative mode...in whatever means possible.... cards, scrapbooks, cake making, baking, flower arranging anything that I can just lose myself!


3 Fears:
1. Being Tagged (Thanks a lot Sommer for making me face my fear)
2. Driving next to Semi Trucks ..... (especially on a curve in the road...at night...in the Gorge!)
3. Not doing enough as a mom....(you know, perfect children, Teaching them all they need to know, clean house, home cooked meal every night, Always happy) We can only do our best right?

3 Goals:
1. To go to Hawaii (been trying to get there since my 10th anniversary)
2. To be published - (oh wait...I did that one.. he he)
To finish the remodel plans for our house especially bathrooms.
3. To finally see a difference with all the exercising I've been doing......still waiting...and waiting

3 obsessions:
1. Time (Just ask my family how I get when we're late)
2. Details - I like every last little tiny detail to be perfect... so much so, that I know I can be annoying. (thus my Martha Stewart nickname)
3. Scrapbook supplies....I just gotta have MORE! I'm such a sucker for a new line of paper! (good thing I have an understanding hubbie...love you babe!)

3 Random surprising facts:
I'm such an open book, but lets see...
1. I always check the backseat when I get back to my car after a late night shopping trip.. (you never know)
2. I have crazy craving for Cafe Rio salads all the time! Thankfully there is one opening near me soon!
3. I've never touched one of Ryan's mounted animals. They are beautiful to look at, but touching them gives me the heebie jeebies! Ok, one time I rubbed my arm against one of them but I seriously about jumped out of my skin! I can't even walk on the zebra skin rug with my shoes on!

So that's it....that wasn't so painful.....it only took me HOURS to come up with these lists.
I get so caught up in spending time on my blog....hey maybe that's another obsession, can I have more?
Hopefully the people I tag will enjoy the torture I'm sending their way.
I tag, Natalie, Stacie, Miranda, Nicole, and Stori. (sorry guys...don't hate me)

I can't believe it!

I'm being published again!
My Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie favors are going to be published in the Oct/Nov issue of Paper Trends. This magazine is created by the same company as CARDS.
I created 35 little pie boxes for Thanksgiving last year filled with little candy treats for everyone.
When I read the email I couldn't get hold of anyone to share my excitement. Ryan was even gone on the Rhino. Finally Nancie answered then Heather called me back.
I'm gonna need to get my creative juices flowing and see if I can go for 3!

S'More Fun

Today at Parker's school they had Solar Power Hour!
They turned off all the lights inside the school and the classes went outside to "cook" hot dogs or s'mores using only the sun. Parker's class made S'mores. Miranda and I went in to help out.
Some kids used glass containers other's used metal cookie sheets and others just put them on foil. The results were pretty much the same. The large marshmallows were just too big to melt in the sun, the mini mallows did much better. The chocolate, however, had no problem melting in the 85 degree weather no matter what method they used. There could have been different results if they had started the marshmallows first then added chocolate later. The mallows definitely take longer to soften than the chocolate. The kids weren't too patient.. once the chocolate was melted they just wanted to eat it.Who needs campfires when you've got the sunshine, and we're definitely not lacking that in Vegas. What a fun backyard activity to do this summer when the kids complain they are bored! I hear Peanut Butter cups are a great substitute for chocolate bars too! Hummm....might have to do some experimenting myself.