Let the Crafting Begin

Here are some pictures of all of the different components before and I will post some after soon!

Fantastic Giveaway

If you or anyone that you know loves video games, you have to enter to win here. You could win one of six fantastic new games. Head over to Natalie's Sentiments and check it out. Good Luck!

Please keep voting!!!

Here is the link again to vote for my sister-in-law. There are only a few more days and she can use all the votes we can get her! It takes a minute or two, please vote.

Thanksgiving Table and Piano Scapes

I have very few decorations for Thanksgiving, so I got creative this year. Michaels was having all their fall decorations for 66% off. I got all of this stuff for like $20. Totally worth it for me. The stand I made from the $1 store and some gorilla glue. The green plate I saw and loved, but the bowl was hideous, with garish, ugly leaves. A little spray paint later it was Krylon glossy Ivory and beautiful. I inverted the bowl and gorilla glued the plate on top. Instant cake or decorative plate. I think it works for this. My mom gave me the pilgrim candle holders on the piano. I messed around with that one FOREVER! I think I can finally handle how it turned out. So, that is it. I think they turned out great!

Project Pictures Coming!

The loft is finished. I will be posting some pictures soon. I am uploading them right now!

Vote for Becca and Beat Breast Cancer!

Please go to this website and vote for my sister-in-law, Rebecca's, breast cancer video. If she wins, some of her medical bills will be taken care of and this would really help her out. You have to register, but it doesn't take very long. You can vote once per day, so it is a little effort for big rewards. When you vote, it will show you an error page, but it is okay, you still voted. I would appreciate any efforts that you can give. Thanks so much!

http://kxly.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?p=A&c=18323&s=5361070&i=1&m=X#SD

The New Me

Here is the new me. Kendra cut my hair off and gave me a pixie cut like Carey Mulligan's. I really loved her hair cut and decided I was ready for a change. I am still getting the hang of it, but I really love it!

The Chicks

These are our newest babies. Let me start at the beginning and then you will understand. We went up on Saturday and purchased 3 tiny three day old chicks. The blond is Mrs. Buff, who is a Buff Orpington, Kelly who is the darker Americauna on the left, and Isa the other Americauna. The Americaunas lay blue and green eggs, while the Buff lays brown. I told the kids over and over what to do and what not to do. I specifically told them that if the birds got their wings out of their grip to put them down so that their delicate little wings wouldn't get broken. During lunch, Sarah was holding her chick Kelly and Kelly got her wings out. In her haste to not break Kelly's wings, she dropped her on her neck and broke it instead. However, much to my dismay, the neck broke, but didn't sever and so the chick remained alive and suffering. After severe trauma to all of us, 3.5 hours of hysterics and several calls later, Kelly passed away on the way to be euthanized. It was a small blessing for me. Thursday, we took Sarah up to pick out a new chick and she decided to get a Buff like Mommy. We now own Noodle and she is the cutest little thing! We are excited that they are getting their elder feathers and soon will be able to graduate from the bin in the laundry room to their coop outside. I will post a pic of Noodle soon. We had a funeral for Kelly in the backyard and hope that she is having better days.

Canning

I have been on a canning kick lately. I borrowed my sister-in-law, Sarah's, pressure canner and canned 17 quarts and 27 pints of pinto beans with yummy seasonings. I also helped a friend can beans and another can chicken. It is actually easier than I had thought, but kind of time consuming. For one batch of beans it takes the prep time, about 30-45 minutes, plus heating time which is about 20 minutes, then canning time, 90 minutes and cooling time which is about another hour. So between 3-4 hours depending on how organized and prepared I am. It makes me feel good to know that I have a good protein in my food storage! I also took a small foray into salsa and made 7 pints. There is a lot of vinegar in the recipe in order to make it safe, but both Brady and I like it, so it works. Sarah also will eat it with chips, which is pretty cute to watch.

Pinto Beans

The Pressure Canner

Salsa

Queen Creek High School Cheerleading Performance

The girls got to participate in a cheerleading camp held at a local high school at the beginning of the month. I know, I am just getting pictures up. They had a practice and then the game was the next weekend. They had a blast and were excited to go out and perform.

Catherine and Sarah

Cat and Sarah with Emily, their special helper

Dancing with Emily and Alejandra, a girl from our ward.

Cat and Sarah with Casey, a little friend from our ward.

The girls shaking it out on the field.