Are You Ready To Rock?

Emma and Sophia had their 6th birthday party last night. They had a ROCK STAR party. They chose the theme because they love to play rock band and they wanted to dance at their party. We had fun planning this one! They really got into it!

The Invitation

The Decorations

The Stage

Rock Star Cupcakes

Emma posing with her guitar. She picked out this outfit herself. We colored her hair with purple and blue stripes and she got to wear stick on earrings and a skull necklace.



Sophia is ready to rock! She opted for a short sleeve star shirt and had her hair in a pony tail (typical Sophia). So we colored her hair purple with blue polka dots. She also wore earrings and the skull necklace and added her rock star ring.

Here's Ian posing with the birthday girls! He's wearing his "rock band" shirt he picked out himself. He was so excited to be included in the party.


We had 14 kids all together. It was pretty CRAZY but isn't that what being a rock star is all about? Everyone had a blast decorating their guitars! These kids are very creative. They all turned out great! They even got to take the guitars and microphones home.


Everyone got their hair colored and the girls got sticker earrings. Then they all took turns singing a rock version of twinkle, twinkle little star "on stage" while everyone in the audience cheered them on. Even Grandma Trish got into in on the rock star action!


Overall, I think the party was a success! We have such great kids in our neighborhood and I am so thankful they have so many wonderful (and well behaved) friends! Happy Birthday Emma and Sophia! My little rock stars!

Tagged!

I've been tagged by several people with several different tags--and I've ignored all of them! But the guilt got to me so I'm finally doing this post.
8 things

Favorite TV shows
1. The Office
2. Dexter
3. Pushing Daisies
4. Divine Design with Candace Olsen
5. Front Line
6. Life
7. Law and Order
8. The News

8 Things I did yesterday
1. Showered before 10 am woohoo!
2. Grocery shoppping (with the kids)
3. Clothes shopping for the kids (with the kids)
4. Laundry
5. Made dinner
6. Went to Enrichment recipe exchange
7. Ate way too many yummy appetizers!
8. Talked to my sister on the phone

8 Things I look forward to
1. Sleep
2. The girls' Rock Star birthday party
3. Midway on November 21st
4. Thanksgiving at my house!
5. Setting up Christmas
6. Our 11th Anniversary (December 20th)
7. Remodeling our bathrooms in January
8. 1/20/09

8 Favorite Restaurants
1. P.F.Chang's (pan fried noodles, The Great Wall of Chocolate cake)
2. Yanni's Greek Express (chicken soulvaki)
3. The Art City Trolley (Salads, all of them)
4. The Metropolitan (The best steak I've ever had)
5. Macaroni Grill (Pasta Milano)
6. Carabba's (Chicken Marsala)
7. Einstein's Brothers (love bagel sandwiches)
8. Bajio (lime chicken taco)

8 Things on my wishlist
1. A new sewing machine, so I can quilt!
2. New bathrooms (tile, double sink vanities, beadboard)
3. For my kids to actually eat the dinner I make them
4. A day without pain or headaches
5. An actual craft ROOM!
6. To be "caught up" on scrapbooking
7. To read more
8. To have a regular date night with my husband

So there you have it! And I'm not tagging anyone, so arrest me for breaking the Tag rules!

Fall in Utah OR Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Fall in Utah

The kids were so excited to wake up to snow yesterday morning! They begged me to go out and play. I hesitated. Not because I didn't want them to have fun in the snow, but because I HATE putting on their snow clothes. It's exhausting! The snow pants, the boots, especially the toddler mittens! You know the ones with the thumb hole that they can never find! How do you explain to a 3 year old "Hold out your thumb! Put the rest of your fingers here, Hold out you thumb!"? So after 25 tries (I'm not exaggerating), they were dressed! Once we got out there, I have to admit, it was fun. The sun was shining, the snow was glistening, and the kids had a great time!

First things, First! Snow Angels!

Eating Snow!

The Aftermath

Halloween=Fun

We had a wonderful Halloween! Michael took the day off, we slept in, had cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then the fun began. We all got dressed in our costumes and headed to school for the girls Kindergarten parade. So fun to see all the little kids dressed up! Then I helped with the class party while Michael and Ian went home to play Rock Band (Michael's birthday present). Then we went to the Training Table for lunch, so Michael could have his favorite Blue Bacon Burger! We came home to relax, play a couple more hours of Rock Band and get ready for the main event--trick of treating!

Emma as LUKE SKYWALKER



Sophia as PRINCESS LEIA




Ian as DARTH VADER

Mom The Witch

Dad The Grim Reaper


Emma and Sophia came up with these costume ideas all on their own! They begged me to make them costumes so the could be Luke and Leia. They convinced me when they said Luke and Leia were twins in the movie! So it began. Then Ian, who wanted to be Batman, decided he needed to be a Stars Wars something too, so we found this Darth Vader mask. I think they looked pretty great!
We had a good turn out for trick or treaters, thanks to the warm weather! I got to stay home and do my favorite thing--pass out the candy. I was good and didn't scare any kids, well not too bad! Michael took the kids around. They had a great time going around the neighborhood and got way too much candy! Hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween!

Monster Mash

You Are A Vampire

You have a real thirst for bliss, and you consider yourself a true hedonist. And you're not afraid to walk alone in life, if it means getting what you truly crave. You truly enjoy entrancing people. Not to mention the ensuing pleasures of the flesh. Your tastes have been called decadent and bizarre. You usually give in to your temptations, no matter how primal Your greatest power: Your flawless ability to seduce and charm Your greatest weakness: Human flesh You play well with: Werewolves

What Kind of Monster Are You?

HALLOWEEN FINALLY!

The craft retreat is over and I have finally put up Halloween. I know, this is the latest I've ever waited to put it all up and it's not all done yet but I couldn't wait to share pictures!

Our Grave Yard

Front Door

Front Porch

My Favorite: Our New Witch

Entryway Display

Entryway

I love my vaulted ceilings!

Mantel Display

A lot of people have asked me why I love Halloween--I'm not sure why it's my favorite holiday. Maybe it started in my "deep, dark and spooky phase", as my brother called it. Maybe it's because I hate being scared and this is just my way of dealing with my fears...who knows! But I love dressing up, pretending to be someone else, being creative! Halloween night is magical for me. I love the crisp night air and all the kids running the streets, laughing and screaming. If I can add something to that magic, I'm all for it! So enjoy this time of year-be someone you've always wanted to be and have FUN for Halloween!

For Aunt Lisa:


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 t vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 t pumpkin pie spice
2 cups chocolate chips

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together. Beat in egg, then stir in pumpkin and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda,salt and spice in another bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

The Cast is OFF!

Ian got his cast taken off today! He was so excited to go in to the doctor's office. He skipped all the way down the hall! He was a little nervous when she turned the saw on but he was so brave. He just watched intently as she cut into the cast. He had a hard time pulling his arm out but once it was free he had a big smile.















We are so glad that everything healed well and NO MORE CAST! Which is a good thing considering what we woke up to on Sunday Morning:



We were lucky that the weather had been so pleasant the last 4 weeks, because Ian's cast would not fit in his coat or most of his long sleeve shirts! So we got it off just in time for winter to come--wait, did I just say winter? It's October! That's Utah weather for you!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Nathan and Alissa!!! They had a baby boy at 6:25 am! 7 lbs 4 ounces and lots of black hair! Spencer Stone Madsen (not Simon Moroni Digby Barack Neufatchel Jack Ryan Cowperthwaite-Madsen, thank goodness!) I'm so excited to have a little nephew! I really wish they didn't love so far away--maybe we need to plan a trip to New York! Can't wait to see him! I will post pictures when I get them! Yay for babies!