Yummy Goodness!

I made these Oh so yummy ginger snaps last Thursday - it made 6 DOZEN!! I froze about 2 dozen and gave 1 dozen away...so that left us with 3 dozen. Well, I think I've eaten 2 dozen just by myself (we took the frozen ones out to entertain friends Sat night - bad idea!) Igained 3 lbs since Friday - and I'm not happy one bit. I've been able to maintain my weight thus far into my pregnancy, but it's pretty easy when you start 20 lbs overweight! Well anyway, enough of my sad story - here's the recipe:

Ginger Snaps

1 1/2 cups butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
4 1/2 cups flour - gluten free flour works great too (that's what I used)
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs and mollasses, mix well. Add dry ingredients. Roll into balls and roll in sugar. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets at 375 for 10-12 minuntes - I did 9 minutes. Once cooled, dip one half into melted white chocolate!

Snow Princess

We made our first snowman or snowoman today, it's probably been 15 years or more since I've done that. It's been snowing since last night, everything looks so beautiful and white.
Alex wasn't too sure about the snow or the cold, I brought her outside to help Daddy shovel and she headed right back for the door. She was freaking out when we put her gloves on - I don't know what she thought we were doing. She finally warmed up to the idea when Chris showed her that she could eat the snow - she loves ice.
Daddy's (pretend) helper!
Snow Bunny!

The Great S.E.M

This picture was just posted on my mission website (clydera.com) from our reunion in October- I served in the Scotland Edinburgh Mission. I loved my mission for so many reasons - the things I learned about myself, my testimony, faith and my ability to lead, the people I met, loved, taught and helped convert. I had the best companions and leaders that I served with. My mission president is like a father to me, he's even close with Chris. For those of you that didn't know me 10 years ago, I called off my wedding 10 days before I was to be married to a great guy but just knew in my heart that is wasn't the right thing for me. Two months later I was in the MTC on my to Scotland. I look back on the courage I had to do that and the 7 years after my mission before I met Chris and all the experiences I've had, the people I've met and I'm SO grateful for all the blessings I've received because of that decision (a huge one). I followed my heart and most of all the Spirit - i have no regrets! For those people that might be in a predicament - my advice to you is to have courage and trust yourself to do the right thing, even if it might seem hard.

Tag, I'm It!

I've been tagged by my friend Lisa, so here it goes.....
* Each player lists 6 little-known facts/habits about themselves.
* At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. I read magazines back to front, even People magazine with all the juicy goss and pics in the front! I don't know why I do that, I noticed it a couple of years ago.

2. I went skydiving in 2002 in Maryland with an old boyfriend, had the thrill of my life! I even have a video of it for those that are interested in seeing the adventure for yourselves!

3. President Boyd K. Packer married Chris and I in the Salt Lake Temple in 2005. The room was packed, he said it looked like Stake Conference, I think the word got out and everyone showed up for the Mormon celebrity appearance. He lives next door to Chris' parents.

4. I worry too much what other people think about me, it's silly I know. I just want everyone to like me. Is that high schoolish?

5. I am impatient by nature and therefore do things quickly which can be good when getting tasks done but bad when being rushed and careless and break things ie. camera, video camera, glasses, plates, toenails, jewelry, stroller etc. Drives Chris crazy!

6. Broken each arm twice. I was a huge clutz growing up (probably stems from being in a hurry), not to mention all the stitches I've had from random accidents in my life. I really hope I don't have a child like me!


6 people I tag

Kelly
Charlene
Cheryl
Holly
Emily
Kari

Trick-or-Treating with Dad

I just wanted to blog Alex's first time trick-or-treating. A few of the dad's in the ward all with little girls of about the same age went out while the mom's maned the candy. At the first house we went to, Alex was sort of giving the questioning look she sometimes gives. What were we doing at this stranger's house? There were several kids at the same door. They all said "Trick-or-treat!", got their candy, and left. I helped her raise up her little pumpkin and she was given some candy too. She looked into the pumpkin to see what was now in there, and then looked up quizzically at the person. I told her to say thanks, which she did ("Tanku") and we held hands to the next house. The little girls were all alone this time. We knocked on the door, said trick-or-treat, and the lady put a piece of candy in each of their pumpkins.

That's when I saw the light go on in her eyes.

She got it. She knew exactly what the heck all these kids were doing all over the neighborhood, and I think I could almost see her tallying up in a flash the sheer enormity of the number of houses she could see. I don't know how she knew so fast, but I know that she knew. She turned to me and said two of the ten words she knows in the most serious and heartfelt manner I can describe: "Dad! GO!"

She practically leaped off the porch, and RAN to the next house. Now, she can climb stairs, but she usually uses her hands. At the next porch, she one-stepped the porch, pounded on the door with her little open fist, dug her hand into the bowl when it was lowered down to her, threw some candy into her pumpkin, and repeated the previous words of encouragement: "Dad! GO!"

That's how it went. We pretty much left all the other kids in the dust except for one. If she wasn't telling me to go, she was grabbing my hand to run with her(actually, I think she was just using me for balance so she could go faster). She only let me carry her if I was slightly jogging, otherwise she wanted me to let her down so she could run. I manged to get her to say a quick "tanku" to a few people, usually after she was already off the porch and on to the next house. Sometimes she would grab a piece for her one friend who was keeping up with her, throw it in her bag, then grab one for herself. If other kids were there, she would squirm to the front and then squirm back out of the pack after she collected her treat.

We hit several blocks in the space of just over an hour, and by then she was cold and boggery, but very content. The only thing slowing her down was the weight of that pumpkin, so we emptied it out at the house and she took off with Mel. I understand that she ran out of steam soon after, but I have to say, nothing brings a smile to my face these days than thinking of hers and recalling the plea, "Dad! GO!"

First Timer

We didn't know how much Alexandra would understand Trick-or-Treating at 18 months old. Well, Chris took her out last night with our friends and the two girls loved running up to the doors and picking candy out. As you can tell in this picture, her bag was pretty full! She was being so cute and silly after they came back and ate a few pieces.
Action photo at a door!
They were gone pretty long, I was getting worried about her freezing, but she could have gone longer!
Alex and Sofia, first time trick-or-treaters, and loved every minute of it!

wish I were a kid again...

... because you are always innocent of EVERYTHING...atleast when you act like it...
...you don't care about getting cold, wet or dirty or really in trouble for that matter...
...the simplest of things intrigue you and you are always discovering new things...
...and you REALLY are Daddy's little girl. Does anyone ever miss childhood? It was nice and carefree but also hard and complicated at times. I am happy where I am at, but I love watching Alexandra grow and learn and find the smallest things to make her laugh. My friend Kara said she kisses and hugs her kids 1000 times a day, I think I'm right there with her, I can't get enough of Alex sometimes.

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday we went to pick pumpkins out with my family, it was the first year we've all gotten together for the blessed fall event! We found the perfect pumpkins for the neighborhood kids to smash, atleast that's what Chris thinks - I'm hoping they last until Halloween!
Can you say like father like daughter?
When Alex gets alot of attention, she starts acting silly and hamming it up!

Love Thy Neighbor

So our new neighbors moved in almost two weeks ago and we were thrilled to have them. Chris and I went over on Sunday and met the wife for about 10 minutes and briefly (and I mean briefly) mentioned a fence and how we wanted wood or the dark tan vinyl. Real brief. Well 3 days later the fence guys show up and start putting the posts in, we thought it was awfully fast since they just moved in and never came over to discuss what we wanted to do. So, they finished it up today and it's the almond colored vinyl (our last choice)...I'm a little miffed over it because it doesn't go with our house! About an hour ago the fence guy comes knocking on our door and asks us to pay 1/2 of the adjoining fence. Chris told him that we've never met the neighbor (the husband) nor have we discussed a fence, I guess the neighbor told the fence guy he had worked it out with us. He said the people on the other side of their house said the same thing. We are irritated because now they are dictating what alot of the houses on our block will be doing for fencing. And not only that, but you don't pick whatever the crap you want and then send the fence guy over to the neighbors that you don't even know to collect 1/2 the money! Poor neighbor etiquette! Did i happen to mention that they are running a dog breeding business out of their house and have had 2 big utility trucks parked in front of our houses for the last 2 weeks? We want to call the HOA on them, is that being too vindictive? Tell me if I am overreacting and what you would do? We don't want to have bad blood between us from the get-go.

Parade Home

As mentioned, I designed and decorated a Parade Home this summer. Here is the link to view pictures, also if you are local, they are selling everything in the house this weekend if you are interested in buying anything. Enjoy!

http://www.Obeo.com/396219

An Update, finally

A book without pictures used to bore me as a child and so I figured a blog without pictures would be boring. I'm taking my friend Lisa's advice and blogging without pictures. I'm still waiting to buy a camera and some new furniture for our new house, oh and shutters (which I'm sure my neighbors would appreciate), and a king bed and I'd like a new car too! So you see, I have a lot of saving to do.

We are expecting a baby in March and are so thrilled, but I often forget because I am so focused on Alex and her cute personality. She keeps me smiling all day long. I can't wait for her to wake-up from her naps so we can play. She is learning animal sounds right now and it's so fun to go walking every morning and see dogs, birds and ducks and see her identify them. I hear they get cuter, but I can't possibly imagine that.

I am going to post some pics from the Parade home I decorated, I won Best Interior Design in my category. I wasn't expecting an award but when I got it, I was so excited to know that others like my style. It was a refreshing change from the norm. I'll try to be more consistent with blogging, I kinda got out of the habit even though I browse others all the time and think people are so creative and fun with their blogs. Until then, keep at it.

Piggies

Alex has a two-tailed mullet right now and I can't bring myself to cut it because it's PERFECT for piggies! This is her on grandma and grandpa's swing...being a big girl (I was right there). I think she was kind of scared which is odd for her since she pretty much is fearless. I love the look on her face in both pictures.
She is so much fun right now - she is so funny, holds her tongue out, talks ALL the itme in her little jibber-jabber and is just growing up so fast.


Most kids would be chasing the bubbles, but Alex is more curious about HOW the bubbles are created. Mont and Julia have a battery operated bubbles machine which would amuse most kids, but Alex was more concerned with the machine, sticking her hands in and taking the bubbles in the eyes and mouth! Silly girl!!

I haven't been very diligent about blogging lastely, I broke our camera and so I haven't had many pics to post. I am holding out for a nice Pentax or Canon or whatever is the best deal. Hopefully soon! I have also been busy doing a Parade Home, designing and decorating it. It will be done July 23rd for judging and I am excited to see it all come together, but I am also excited to have time to enjoy summer.