I hate this family! :)

I know it's a day late, so please forgive me.

Lindsey, Lindsey, Lindsey...

You're my youngest sister, and you've gone from borrowing my clothes (well, that was mostly Michelle) to a great friend. I'm so glad that you've become the person you have. You have the patience of Job--really you do! I'm in awe of what you do with your kids every day. It would EXHAUST me!!

During the past few months, as we've dealt with a lot of extra-fun family drama, I have grown to appreciate you so much. I appreciate that I have a great friend to call and talk to when I'm feeling down.

I wish we lived closer, but if we did, we probably wouldn't see our husbands very often... Kohl's anyone? :)

Love you lots!
Your big sister

Death and Destruction

So my little girl has had a doll since she was born. Literally. She received it from her Aunt Spring when at her baby shower. I think she may have been two weeks old.


Anyway--it's her constant companion. She is named Sallie. Once, when we were visiting Lindsey in Utah, we accidentally left her behind (Sallie, not Courtnie.) Courtnie cried for weeks and weeks until Lindsey sent her back to us.


There's really nothing special about Sallie. She was probably an inexpensive Wal-Mart purchase, but Courtnie sleeps with her every night and they are great friends.


Enter Polly.


Our dog chews on just about everything. Her favorite chew toys are the ends of new hairbrushes. (Rather annoying.) We woke up one morning to find Sallie's face chewed up. It was pretty bad, but I was able to "Frankenstein" the mouth back together.


Last week Ian found Sallie outside and it was even worse. Polly had taken Sallie outside and was gnawing on her. I thought I could cover it up by pretending Sallie was "lost" and asked Ian to throw her away--quickly. Nothing doing. Courtnie asked where Sallie was...looked everywhere and cried and cried when she couldn't find her. I finally caved and told Ian to get her out of the garbage.


What a scene! I told her that I was so sorry and held her for a while. Courtnie said she didn't care what Sallie looked like, and..."Could I fix her?" I told her I'd do my best, but I'm not sure what I can do at this point.

As you can see--she's missing an eye, has only 1/2 an arm and has even more of her face chewed off.

Courtine has now taken drastic measures to protect her precious Sallie. I think she has her wrapped up in at least four blankets and has tied her robe around her as well.

When I had cancer, my mom took my doll, Sarah with me to the hospital. While I was undergoing surgery to remove the tumors, my mom took Sarah and made her a new body (or gave her new stuffing...I'm not sure which.) My mom told me Sarah had surgery just like I did. Kinda cute. I wish I could do this for Sallie. We've tried making her a new doll, buying her a new doll, and nothing can replace her Sallie doll.

What's a mom to do? :)

Band Geeks ROCK!

This past Tuesday was the first band concert I was able to attend featuring my son, the trumpet player! (I was in the hospital having kidney surgery during his December concert.)

I was the proudest mama in the room, I'm sure. How cool is to perpetuate the band geek gene! :) He's improved so much this year, and it made me remember what it was like to teach beginning band. It's amazing how they grow from barely being able to put their horn together to actually making decent sounding music in just a few short months.

I'm looking forward to great things to come! He loves it, and so do I! :)

Happy Birthday, Joshie-Squashie

Today is my "little" brother, Josh's birthday. He's 29--the last year of youth.

Since he was only 10 when got married, I missed out on a lot of his growing-up time, and don't have a whole lot of memories of him as a young person. I do remember travelling to Roosevelt to watch him play football. He was (and continues to be) a great athlete. He is proof to me that you can overcome your genetic make-up when it comes to size and weight! :)

I also remember the few months when he came to live with my husband and I in Arizona. He was struggling with a lot of things, and just seemed unhappy. I remember very fondly the Sunday when he had what I can only call a "mighty change of heart." He worked out his issues with the Lord and became the man he is today.

When he returned from his mission, he found an AMAZING woman. I don't know if he tells her often enough how lucky he is to have her. I'm so grateful that they live close to us so that I can call her a good friend. Their kids are the cutest on the planet--I mean it!

Anyway--I'm glad they're here now. We have a few years together to make some great memories. One of them was last night when we went to dinner together. We went to Texas Roadhouse, and I "let it slip" that it was Josh's birthday. Towards the end of dinner, they brought out the saddle for the birthday boy to sit on. His face was priceless. My Blackberry phone camera can't capture it, but I tried.

Love you, bud. Happy Birthday! :)

Your "big" sister, Amie

Homemade Oreos

One of my fondest "pre-marriage" college-life experiences is living with my Aunt Sarah. She was awesome.

A few fun memories...

Watching her create her "Seven Wonders of the World" shirts for her fashion show collection.

Eating Ben and Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream--back when it was the ONLY cookie dough ice cream.

Trying to figure out new cuisine creations that you could make with whatever was in the fridge at the time.

Trying to understand our Chinese roommate. (?)

Making homemade oreos.

I absolutely love these oreos, but I don't make them often enough. (Probably because I eat them!) I have made them for my band students and they always beg for more. One student actually offered me $20.00 for a batch. (I didn't do it...too weird!)

I'm making some today for our marathon 5 hour "Guys and Dolls" rehearsal. It makes me miss my Aunt Sarah. :'(

Anyway--they're so delicious that I thought I'd share the recipe, along with some helpful tips I've learned along the way...

For one batch:
1 Devils food cake mix
3/4 cup shortening
2 eggs

Mix ingredients together--it will form a thick, easily handled batter.
Roll into 1" balls and place about 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. My original recipe says 7-8 minutes, but in my oven I have to cook them for 10 minutes. You'll know they're done with they start to "crack" on the top. They'll look a little doughy still. I leave them on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before letting them cool on a rack.

For the frosting--you can make your own cream cheese frosting or buy it. (I buy it--it saves time.)
Here's a cream cheese frosting recipe:
8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 lb. powdered sugar

When the cookies are cool, match up two "sides" and frost one side.

These are really good the next day...the cream cheese penetrates the cookie and makes it oh-so-yummy.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

You Found Me!

I'm hoping that changing the name of my blog and/or email address will stop the hurtful comments.

I'm glad you found me! Stay in touch! :)

Words I'm Striving to Live By

And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy;

But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.

Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled.

Old things are done away, and all things have become new.

Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.