Spring Break here we come...

Another picture from the tidepools!

I am wondering what everyone's plans for Spring Break are! We leave on the 12th of April, but I am hoping to take some field trips with the kids before then. Shelby is going with a friend to Magic Mountain, Garin is participating in a climbing merit badge, I think we are going to have to head to the park a lot, maybe swim some (our new pool isn't quite as warm as our old pool was), I would like to go to Sea World or the zoo. I really haven't given it much thought yet, but I would love to hear what everyone else is doing! :-)

For me, here are several things that I am very excited about:

1. I can run on my treadmill at 7 am instead of 6 am
2. I can organize my closet.
3. The kids and I can have a little more fun. I feel like I am constantly yelling to get ready for this or that!
4. I am baking cookies-lots of them!
5. I would like to try a couple of peruvian recipes before we go, just to give the kids a glimpse!

Okay-so here is what I am thinking will be fun! I know that blogs aren't always a conversation type thing, but I am curious to see what everyone else is doing.

Ryden is worn out

The other day we came home from a very long day at the park. Ryden was so tired he fell asleep in the entry way because he couldn't walk any farther. One minute he was behind me, the next he wasn't and I turned around to find him like this!! (He is using Starlee's dance bag as a pillow.)

The kids thought this was the most hilarious thing. Here he is from the other angle. You can see he didn't make it very far in the door! Silly kid! Maybe next time we should shorten park day! ;-)

Garth & Brady

Since I probably don't need to state the obvious fact that I love pictures of Garth because he is so cute ;-)-I will instead mention that we took this picture because we have pictures of Garth asleep with ALL of our kids and now we are onto the nephews! ;-) Brady slept right next to his uncle looking as cute as could be. So-those of you that have our nieces and nephews-bring them over to us when they are babies! Garth has some incredible talent to get them to sleep (of course he has to sleep right along with them!).

60 Minute Rolls

One of our favorite family recipes is called 60 minute rolls. We had them for Jenna's Birthday Dinner and then again last night. I got the recipe from a Laurel Activity (when I was in Laurels, not serving in YW) and we have used it ever since. The recipe is simple and fast-does it get any better? Below is a picture of the dough after you separate it up (I did a triple batch-so only 3 blobs for 1 batch!). If you look closely you will see the dough cut into the "pizza shape" right before making it in its crescent roll shape! :-) And then of course the finished product-just so you know what you are making!

60 Minute Rolls

3 1/2-4 1/2 c. flour
3 T. sugar
1 t. salt
2 pkg. Active Dry Yeast
1 c. milk
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. margarine

In a large bowl thoroughly mix 1 1/2 c. flour, sugar, salt, and undissolved yeast.

Combine milk, water, and margarine in a saucepan. Heat over low heat until liquids are very warm (120 to 130 F). Margarine does not need to melt.

Gradually add wet mixture to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electic mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add 1/2 c. flour. Beat at high speed 2 minutes, scarping bowl occasionally. Stir in enough flour to make a soft dough. Turn out onto lightly floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. (I usually put the greased bowl in another larger bowl that has VERY HOT water in it so that it has a moist environment. I also put a towel over it!) Let rise 15 minutes (or until about double).

Turn dough out onto floured board. Divide into three and shape. Roll each "blob" into a circle. Cut each circle into 8 wedges, like a pizza. Then start at the wide edge and roll to center. The end result looks like a mini croissant. Cover; let rise in warm place free from draft (about 90 F) for 15 minutes.

Bake at 425 F for 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheets and cool on wire racks.

Is anybody else ready for a break?

I thought this picture of Starlee & Casey was so cute! He is so patient with the kids and they (and Garth and I) absolutely adore him! Probably because Jenna did such a great job picking him out! ;-) Casey has been helping me organize my office (he is great at organizing and has skills when it comes to office stuff-must be the masters accounting program at BYU or his terrific Mom or both) and I will be eternally grateful for all of the help that both Casey and Jenna have given while they have been here! How did I get so lucky?

Is anybody else ready for a break? I AM!! Between dance, preschool, gymtrix, softball, and scouts I am just about done with everything! :-) I am so ready for a break from the chaos that we call 6 kids! ;-) I should also add that I am so thankful for my blessings in great family that help us out so much-Garth, the kids, Casey & Jenna, Jaleen, Joanna & Broc, Jonathan, Moms & Dads, Trevor & Jocelyn, Chad, you get the picture...! I can't wait to go to Peru and see some of the sights! We are leaving the kids with Casey & Jenna for 12 days and as crazy as I know it will be for them-I am so thankful! I am looking forward to a vacation with Garth AND to where Garth served for 2 years and I am thankful that I won't have to worry the entire time we are gone because they will have an AWESOME aunt and uncle here! Yeah for us! We will get to see the sights with Mom & Dad Isom and visit all of the ruins. I can't wait to post pictures to the blog...now if I can just get through the next few weeks!

Have a great day everyone and I hope everyone is feeling a little less worn out than I am today! ;-)

Shelby's Birthday Party-Manicures & Midnight Breakfast

Shelby had her first Slumber Party this year! The pictures are backwards (because I am too lazy to fix them), but we started the night with manicures for all, then headed home for some pizza, presents, & cake, and then about 10:45 pm headed for breakfast in our pajamas! The next morning we had an oh-so-healthy breakfast of doughnuts and played in the front yard. We had the greatest time! Shelby had a blast and she has great friends!!

Below are pictures from out Late-night PJ breakfast!! :-) Starlee came too since she is our other princess and her wonderful Aunt Joanna & Aunt Jaleen came along for the craziness as well! :-)

Not the best picture (immediately below), but here is Shelby with her birthday cake and a little messy fun afterwards with her friends! Aren't they silly?

Presents- Shelby loves to write & color (Kirra pegged her perfectly) & Noel knows she LOVES to jump rope (double dutch jumprope set) & wear jewelry (a flip flop necklace for a CA girl)! She also received the book Little Women, which she has already started on, another jumprope, and a Target giftcard (perfect since she LOVES Target too-like mother like daughter)!!

One of the activities we did was to go and get manicures~ The girls looked so cute while they were getting their nails done! (I had a pedicure thanks to getting my nails done by Jocelyn that morning!) The technicians were great and the girls seemed to have a great time!

Kirra's Birthday

Shelby and I had a chance to hang out for Kirra's birthday! She and a few of her friends (thus the Shelby and I coming) went out to Souplantation for lunch. We had a great time and I for one am glad that Kerity needed another driver so that I could come too! :-)

Happy Birthday Kirra!

Jenna's Birthday-just a few pictures, check out her page for more!

How many guys does it take to light the birthday candles on a cake? (At our house-3!)

Isn't my sister beautiful! It was a lot of fun to spend her birthday with her!

Jenna & Casey are the cutest! I love watching how sweet they are together!

Our new nephew Jared

We have a new nephew! He was born December 29th, 2006 and his name is Jared Michael. He joins his big brother Jon! My sister Jocelyn and her husband now have 2 boys! Yeah for them! See the pictures below of the cutie patootie! :)