Christmas cookies 2012

Well it is that time of year again. I just love to have the kids over to make a huge mess making Christmas cookies. I have an easy recipe that was given to me from a coworker and it makes a huge batch. It is enough for everyone to take a plate full.

The planning that goes into this is not so bad now that I have done it for the last few years. The night before I made lunch I cooked up hamburger meat to make sloppy joes in the crock pot. This works well because the oven and stove are usually crazy busy. I also make sure to make the frosting and separate it into baggies to squeeze out of bags on to cookies. This year I decided to add a veggie try to snack because we have so much sugar when we are making cookies. This morning when I got up I cut the veggies for the try and got the kids and myself ready for everyone to show up. I put the cookie recipe together so that as soon as everyone showed up we would be able to get things going. This year we did little balls for everyone to roll and cut. So much fun and with that no one was in a hurry to get the dough cut thinking they were going to miss out. Also we did sprinkles this year.
Every one showed up just after ten am and so did the fun.

I just hope that everyone has as much fun as I do. I love you Mom, Barry, Jamie, Marty, Jordan, Madison, Korbin, Janacy, Trisadee, Taigyn, Traclyn, Patrick, Gabriel and Foster. Thanks a ton and it was nice to meet Holly Ann. I can not wait til next year to do it again.

What a mess

The boys decided  they needed to get into the powder for chocolate milk.

What a mess!

My I am thankful for. November 2012

Every year people post their thank yous on Facebook so I need to catch up on my blog.
November 1, 2012

I am thankful for my hubby Patrick  for giving me the opportunity to stay at home with my boys while they are young. They grow so fast.

November 2, 2012
I am so thankful that I am a mom. Gabriel and Foster complete my life! I thank god everyday that he let Patrick and I have these wonderful little boys. even the challenging moments they are worth all the fun special moments

November 3, 2012
Today I am thankful that my hubby Patrick  is home with us with only a scratch, a bruise, and a small burn from the airbags. I am so thankful that he had someone watching over him. I am so thankful for everything that he does for the boys and me. I Love You Patrick  more then you will ever know.

November 4, 2012
I am thankful for my mom! She is my best friend and my hero. She is supportive in any decision I make but will also help me with other options to think about. she loves my kids and spoils them rotten. I love you Mom Ruth  you are the best mom/Nana a could could have.

November 5, 2012

I am thankful for my sister Jamie. She is also my best friend she encourages me and loves me and my family. We love being able to spend time with her and her family and have such a close relationship. I love you Jamie.

November 6, 2012
I am thankful for the man that took the role of Dad in my life Tom. He has always been there when needed. He took Jamie and I in to his home and treated us as if we were is own Children when he married my mom. He is great with my children and they love him dearly. I love you Dad Thank you for being there.

November 7, 2012

I am thankful I live in America. The UNITED States of America.

November 8, 2012
I am Thankful for my Father-in-law. Barry  He comes and helps me at my home with my projects that I can not do myself. He is kind and caring. He spoils me and my boys rotten. Gabriel and Foster just love their Grandpa Braley.

November 9,2012
I am thankful to live in a day and age that has technology where I am able to talk to, see , communicate, keep track of, all the fun things that my friends and family are up to. It sure would be sad to not to have the ability to keep in contact with my family and friends that are hundreds of miles away.

November 10, 2012
I am thankful for my family not only am I thankful for the ones everyone thinks of but I am thankful for ALL my family. My Family in SLC, my family in Idaho, my family in St. George and my family that I married into. All my Aunts, Uncles, Cousin, Grandparent, Nieces and Nephews, As well as ALL my MOMS and DADS, and my sisters and brothers. You all touch my life in ways that only I know and am very thankful for all of you. I would not be me without you. Even though we do not see each other enough. I love ALL of you!

November 11, 2012
I am thankful for all the men and women who have chosen and are yet to choose to serve our country. I am thankful that some one is brave enough to help defend our country. Thank you all the service men and women. And their families that make the sacrifices.

November 12, 2012
I am thankful for snuggle time, the ability to start a fire to keep my home warm and cozy. To have my little family to share my life with. I love you Patrick, Gabriel and Foster.

November 13, 2012
I am thankful for my home. It is not the newest or the best but it keeps us safe and warm, it is cozy and a place of our own that we are able to call home.

November 14, 2012
I am thankful for the furry family that we have my dog Katie, my cat Pawdashaw. They keep us warm at night. Tubby my mom and dads dog he loves to come visit. The deck meows they are the cats that we inherit because our house is cool I let them live on the deck not in the house. and my sisters dog chip and kittens sporty and sticky. Our family would not be complete with out these spirits in our life.

November 15, 2012
I know I have already said it before but the truth is I am extremely thankful for my Husband Patrick Braley. On his birthday I feel it is appropriate to say I am thankful for him again. He loves me unconditionally. He is the father of my children, my best friend, my lover, my one and only. I am more thankful for him as time goes on he will never know the love I have for him. I LOVE YOU PATRICK!

November 16, 2012
I am thankful for my education. As for now I have it and I only use it occasionally but I am very thankful that I have it and I will always have the memories made and experiences I have from school. I am thankful with the education I acquired a skill and with this skill I have meet so many neat individuals that have helped me grow personally. I miss the time with people. Even though it is hard some times I am glad I am home with my boys and one day I will return to work and be able to do so easily because I have an education that has given me a good skill. I love to learn, and grow my horizon.

November 17, 2012
I am thankful to be active. I just love doing 5Ks! I am thankful that I can do this and that I am always improving with it. I am thankful that my mom and my sister enjoy doing this with me as well.

tutu made as turkey tail feathers

November 18, 2012
I am thankful that my boys are individuals! They were born as twins. Or as I say brothers born on the same day. They are so different they do not look like each other and they have their own interests. Own personalities. They will never be the other they will always be them self. I love watching their interests. Gabriel is active moving non-stop til he sleeps. He love dancing, jumping, doing flips and playing superman with Dad. Foster is into the Video games (Kindle) YouTube, cars and trains he likes playing superman with Dad too. We are so blessed. And they are not even 3 yet.

Foster playing on the Kindle

November 19, 2012
I am thankful I live in the country. I live close to family so we are able to enjoy each others company here in the country. I really love the space, quiet and beauty of the nature. I love the views I have of the mountains. I love the trees that surround me and that I can do and change what I want at my home. I love the areas for the gardens and  all the places I can put animals even thought they are just a thought.

November 20, 2012
I am thankful for transportation in all forms. I am so grateful that we are able to own a car of our own and it able to get Patrick back and forth to work. I am thankful we have a family vehicle that we all are able to get into and get around safely.

November 21, 2012
I am thankful for paint. It makes old things look new again. I love the transformation it can make to a home a piece of furniture and even old toys.

November 22, 2012
THANKSGIVING DAY!  I am thankful my Husband can cook a good turkey. I am thankful for days we can get together with family and enjoy each others company and eat good food. I am thankful we are able to see family even if it is not ALL the family. I am thankful that the relationships we have are good so that there is no drama during theses days and I am thankful that there is a Holiday called Thanksgiving so that I can remember why I am thankful. AND eat good food. BEST HOLIDAY EVER!

November 23, 2012
I am thankful for all the modern convinces. Like running water, flush able toilets, electricity, cars, ovens, computers, TVs you know the things that make life a little easier.

November 24, 2012 
I am thankful for family and nature. Jamie and her family invited us to go cut down their Christmas tree. We were able to spend time with family in nature. I just love hiking around with the boys and look at all the pretty trees even though we were cutting one down for it just to die. The good thing about trees is that they seed and grow new ones.

November 25, 2012
I am thankful for a good night sleep. I do not think I have slept that good in about 4 years. Before I got pregnant is for sure.

November 26, 2012
I am thankful that I am able to go do little things with my mom.

November 27, 2012
I am thankful for modern medicine and for alternative medicine. My arm/hand has been hurting so bad lately I took my sisters advice and went to see a Dr. she gave me a shot of an anti inflammatory and told me to go to the chiropractor. So did my mom. I went and by the end of the day I was feeling better.

November 28, 2012
I am thankful for a routine. Even though I need to change it up by exercising more. Like 5 days a week because a Dr. recommended it. I am thankful that I have  a routine to keep me moving daily.

November 29, 2012
I am thankful for my spirituality. fully believing in the power of prayer and when asked God will help show you the right path. I fully respect every ones beliefs even if they are not the same as mine.

November 30, 2012
I am thankful that we have time in our life to think about what we are thankful for all the big and little things. It all counts I am very thankful for the life I have and that I have such a wonderful family. I am thankful for everything that makes me me!

I hope it has been a great November for everyone.

A day of Doctors

On November 27, 2012
I had a Doctor appointment to make sure the pain in my had and arm would get better soon it has been bugging me for about 2 weeks now. I went to a new Dr that my sister recommend. She was very kind and listened to me and my woes. She then sent in her Medical Assistant who proceeded to give me a shot of an anti-inflammatory. Come to find out the medical assistant use to work with me at the salon doing nails. She was almost unrecognizable because she had lost weight and grew her hair long.  It was interesting to be able to ask her a few questions about her new job vs her old one. It got me thinking maybe I should look into becoming a medical assistant.

Next I went to the chiropractor. On my way to the chiropractor I got a call from my ob/gyn that they needed to see me about my blood test. So I made an appointment  at 4. I was not planning on see all the Doctors I see in one day. but oh well.

The chiropractor is a big man. When I say big I mean big he is tall and has a belly on him. He has an accent. I started seeing him because my the guy i was seeing before retired and someone sent me to another guy that hurt me. SO I ask him not to hurt me every time I see him. He is big and gentle when needed but he can adjust big people too. the best of both worlds. It did give my arm some relief. I am sure it was the combination of the shot in my bum and his work on my bones and muscles.

I took the boys to the park to play. I think I picked the one most secluded park in the area. NOT one other kid on the playground. I choose it because it was close to my Dr. I had to see at 4pm and the play ground was not close to a busy road. The boys did not seem to mind they played by themselves on the play ground. We waited for Patrick to get the boys so that I could have no distractions while talking to the Dr.

So I headed to the Doctor knowing full well he was going to tell me my cholesterol is high. I asked to get my blood drawn to make sure everything was in order. I have a huge family history. Both sides. My Mom and Dad have high cholesterol and both my grandmas have had open heart surgery and both my grandpas died of heart disease. The thing I have not been ready for is the last 3 times I went to the Dr. my blood pressure has been elevated. The Dr. recommended I exercise 5 times a week and eat a better diet. BUT concentrate on the exercise it will help most. If I can not get it down in a year then meds for me. Let me tell you I am not a fan of pills I would prefer to try to do this naturally. So I pray that I have the strength to get on top of this problem and I am able to right the problems. I need to run daily. The treadmill is boring so I guess I need some music to motivate me and when the weather is good and my hubby is home running outside. Maybe it is time to set a new goal of signing up for a 10K and running it with out stopping or slowing for a walk break. That could be the motivation I need.

My numbers are overall cholesterol is 230
blood pressure 130/85

Gabriel wants to type some thing.
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 He is such a cute boy always wanting to try what mom is doing.

Christmas Tree Hunting

On November 24, 2012

Jamie and her family invited us to go get their Christmas tree up on cedar mountain. Now mind you I am a false tree kind of girl I found my tree on Black Friday on sale for $79 prelit. Yup I am a lazy butt. Truthfully I tried the real tree thing and we are just not a good fit.
9am we left the house to get headed up to Cedar of course we had to go feed animals and get gas so we did not get out of Veyo until about 915am, but Patrick knows some shortcuts to get to Cedar quicker. We headed to Parawan stopped at the Maverick. I bought the boys some suckers because that is their reward for going pee. I also found some really cool toys that they boys will love I decided to save for their Christmas.

Gabriel, Foster and Korbin

Playing with sticks

We headed up the mountain. It was a beautiful day. We only needed light jackets and thin gloves. We hiked up the boys are very slow but that was part of the fun. We were not there to find a tree we were there just to enjoy the nature. The Mathews did not like what was in the first area so we all piled in the back of Marty's truck and went all the way up the mountain to a half frozen lake. It was too far so we turned around and found a good spot. We all got out and started hiking. Patrick and Marty went with the older kids and found a tree while Jamie and I stayed back with the 3 younger kids. We were able to look at all the aspens and talk about the different kind of pine trees. The boys all collected sticks and pretend they were shot guns. Gabriel and Foster do not know what a shot gun is but they knew that when their older cousin Korbin is doing it then it must be cool. 


The Tree

Patrick helping Madi cut her tree she got scared

Marty, Patrick, Jordan, Madison and Jordan's friend Preston found The Tree. and Madi found a small one for herself. Marty cut it down with Patricks chain saw.  Patrick cut the little stump that was left I asked him if I could have the piece he cut he handed it to me and because I wanted it all the kids needed one. I just love the smell of fresh cut wood.

our wood chips

As we were hiking back to the truck I thought is would be a good idea that when we get together we could make the little stumps into a Christmas decoration. We could paint them and use our wood burners and carve our names and date into it. That is going to be so fun.

On our way back we noticed some neat things under a fallen tree was a huge mushroom. I had to take a picture. Madi thought it was neat that bugs eat wood and it made a really cool design on the wood so she took a picture of that too.

When we were done with getting the tree we headed to a campground and roasted hot dog and marshmallows. The kids played and the boys ate their giant suckers.

Foster and Gabriel playing at the campground

The boys were exhausted the slept most of the way home.