Life is a Bowl of Cherries....

So sorry I'm a slacker of a blogger.  Here's a quick update:  

Miss Hope got her new brace and loves it.What a difference!

Front (the new one latches in the font!)                        Back

Check out her Converse shoes.  Her friend Mason did the artwork.  I love the detail and there are little stories and innuendos that go along with  the drawings.

 

We took these pictures while we were waiting for the doctor.

Scott smashed his hand between two 100 lb. dumbbells.  The last time he hurt his hand and told me it was fine it was broken.  This time we played it safe and went to Urgent Care to get an X-Ray.  We spent what seemed like forever waiting.  No break this time, just a severe contusion. 

I was bored waiting for the doctor again 

so Scott posed for a picture.

Orders and Projects from last week:

 

  

 

Mack and Cheryl came for a visit 

and we soaked up every minute we could!

Dinner at ChaChos

Pictures via Marci

And the traditional SCUM game.  We laughed so hard my side hurt!

As long as I'm stealing pictures..... aren't these kiddles cute!

Tomorrow I'm making Sprinkles Strawberry Cupcakes and  catching up with all of YOUR blogs!
Can' t wait ♥

And the verdict is.................

GUILTY as charged.

A couple of weeks I found a recipe from my old cookbook collection

to make Kayley an Ice cream Cake for her birthday.
Peanut-Butter-Swirl Ice-cream Cake
How could I go wrong....
with ingredients like these:

 Oreo Cookie Crumbs to be used for the crust and 
Peanut Butter sweetened with some Honey

 then swirled into Blue Bell Vanilla Ice Cream

then around the oreo crust,chocolate dipped wafer cookies

 We decided this ONE is a keeper.

picture via Marci (my favorite source)

I was actually more excited about Kayley's gift than her cake.

Years ago after my grandma passed away, my mom found sweet little love notes she, "Flora" had tucked away. They were precious notes she and my grandpa had written to each other long, long ago. That year for Christmas my mom gave each of us(kids) a picture of my grandparents with the notes beautifully matted in different frames that matched each of our homes and personalities.
I was really close to my grandma.  Last year I had so much fun when 
we did a tribute to our grandmothers in Relief Society.

These were some of her things I had sitting out on the dining room table 

before packing them to take to the church.

this is it....not a very good picture

I love that picture and so do my kids as they have grown up with.  As were transferred to different locations around the country there was always a perfect spot to hang that picture.

After my brother, Mike, passed away, I gave Marci his copy and she was so happy to have it.  She has it displayed on her family room wall with black and white photographs.  I'm sure there is a picture of it somewhere on her blog but I couldn't find it.  Sure had fun looking for it though!  Grand-babies are soooo fun to look at.

Long Story Short

Kayley was visiting with my mom one day and told her what she really wanted for her birthday was a copy of that picture. My mom has the original pictures and notes framed and told Kayley she really hated to take it apart for fear something might get damaged.  Later my mom mentioned it to me and I just knew that was what I wanted to do for her.  It was hard not to tell Kayley about it and I even worried I'd run into her at Hobby Lobby  ( we love that place) where I had it framed.

ONE MORE THING

We, NC YW Leaders, are all working on Personal Progress goals  right along side our girls.

For the Virtue Value Project I am making 100 Days Closer to Jesus Christ calendars for the YW to do this summer. Our Presdiency and Advisors are reading  the Book of Mormon for the Next 100 Days. 

Join in!

100 Days Closer to Jesus Christ

Book of Mormon Study

The following are suggestions to assist you in

"100 Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

1.   Arise early and invite the Spirit daily:

• through humble, fervent, vocal prayer
• by praying for a burning spirit of testimony to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon
• by meditating about yourself and your family
• by pondering the thoughts and scriptures of the day

2.  Organize your day and include the following:

• daily scripture reading
• family prayer
• commitment to say only positive and uplifting statements about others
• serve one person daily

3.   Attend the temple or prepare to obtain a temple recommend

4.   Try to obey all the commandments.

5.   Participate in Seminary/Do quality home/visiting teaching - 100% every time

6.   Hold/Participate in Family Home Evening

7.   Go the second mile in your Church callings and assignments

8.   Live by the Standards for Youth/ If married, plan a date with your spouse once a week

9.   Attend all Church meetings and diligently study the conference talks

10.  Share the Gospel and help the missionaries

You can go to Day 1  - here

Every day I will add a new scripture and references to our YW Blog.

Mindful Monday

"Countless people have testified about the wonder that fills their hearts and minds and the joy that fills their lives as they conscientiously try to love all people. A change actually occurs in them. A miracle happens.

Thinking love, feeling love, sharing love, being grateful to God for love's warm healing comforting spell actually bring a change in one's physical appearance, behavior, and general health."

~Elaine Cannon

Happy Valentine's Day

Thank You Thursday

This is so fun!

THE RADIO

Just type in any song that was
ever played, and see what happens. 
Then, following the end of the song, it
will keep playing songs
of the same era forever. 
The best part is that you
can continue with
working on your computer
and the music will
play in the background.
Enjoy ♥
http://www.theradio.com
via Susan's Daily Dose

Kayley started a new modeling job that she does on the side from her regular job at a law firm.  It  is for Francesca's Collections and she is on their home page right now.

They have really cute things and the prices are very reasonable. 

I can't and I want

I can't sleep 
and 
THIS 
is what I want . . .

I going back to bed.

Sweet Yummy Dreams!

via Bakerella

Thank You Thursday

Tomorrow I can get this

for a REALLY good price when I use my Randall's Card.

Remember I'm making

Peanut-butter-swirl Ice-cream Cake

for Kayley's birthday.  So I NEED some for that.

Well actually I just need some! 

2 per customer...hmmmmm

I guess I'll have to make more than one trip .

Happy Birthday

Today is 
 Kayley's Birthday!

These Pink and Green Cupcakes just  remind me of her! 

Actually she has requested an 

Icecream Cake 

for her Birthday Celebration 

this Sunday.

I found this recipe and can't wait to try it!
Peanut-butter-swirl Ice-cream Cake

Happy Wishes for a Beautiful Birthday!

I love you,

Mom

♥

Cheryl Joy gave us Hope!

♥ We have Hope again ~ thanks to Cheryl ♥ 

We had so fun much in November when we went to Florida for Mack and Cheryl's wedding.  I was really excited to get a family picture with everyone in it and I was really sad that Miss Hope could not be seen. 

Cheryl Joy recently got a new camera and Photo Shop.

She is in heaven, by the way.

She was so kind to work on our family picture as one of her first little projects.

BEFORE:

and

AFTER!

I think she did a great job!

I LOVE it.

Now I can frame our family picture .

Speaking of Hope.... here's the recital video from Marci:

Hope 1/28/10 from Mike Freeman on Vimeo.

Mindful Monday

I love the idea of starting the week off with a reminder of how to prioritize things...some sort of inspiration of one kind or another. So I've decided on Monday's I'll share a thought. Here we go with the first one:

"The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. Indeed, it is easier to 'find' ourselves because there is so much more of us to find."

~Spencer W. Kimball

We made it through the "Whirl Wind Week" ! Actually I have renamed it. It truly was a "Wonderful Week"! We love the new Orthotic's Office. Thanks again to Laura for getting us there! Hope will have her new brace in two more weeks and she is really excited about it. The new one will open in the front instead of the back. That alone will make her life so much better! The whole process was completely different this time. She didn't have to be cast. I could read Hope's mind when they told her.... "yay!" Their process is more scientific. They explained everything every step of the way. It was all about measurements and balance.

On the way home we stopped at Marci's to help with Joy School. It was perfect timing.

Preston had just decided to wake up from his nap.

Those little girls are so cute and Addie was so excited to see Hope.

That afternoon the Mia Maids came over to frost the cupcakes for New Beginnings  and make little "Courage and Strenght" flags.   Miss Kayli, our Mia Maid president, is quite an amazing little baker.  She made 3 types of cupcakes and all from scratch.  She brought lemon, raspberry and peanut butter (of which happens to be her VERY OWN recipe) Yes, she is all of 15 years old.  

She had specific instructions of how she wanted each cupcake to be frosted. 

The raspberry cupcakes were frosted 

with icing pastry bags to give them a pretty ruffled effect.

   The lemon cupcakes were frosted and then the rims

were dipped in pretty yellow shimmery sugar. AND ... 

THEN the peanut butter cupcakes...

She frosted with a Gnash frosting

and topped each cupcake with a halved miniature Reeces Peanut Butter cup.

Kayli  had extra lemon and raspberry frosting and left some with me.  It was a delicious butter cream base that she added fresh raspberries and fresh lemon zest.   I had grahm crackers with frosting in the middle for breakfast ... okay .... and lunch!

I hid the cupcakes  in the oven and had to peek at them every few hours. The oven was ooooozing happiness!  I found this cute little template HERE and the girls put together the flags lickety split.

New Beginnings was BEAUTIFUL. Heidi found Jenni Phillip's website and we based our program from her script and music "Strong and Courageous". We have some very talented girls. We loved all the music and incorporated it with several musical numbers. Three duets from our Young Women, a song that all the leaders sang to the girls (we could barely get through it) the lyrics are so poignant. Heidi showed some video clips from Jenni Phillip's program as well. We have three laurels and they were asked to talk about how reading the scriptures has increased their faith and to share their favorite examples in the scriptures. Their thoughts and testimonies were so uplifting and warmed our hearts. They are beautiful girls inside and out.
Of course everyone loved the cupcakes and Heather made a delicious punch.  I don't remember what all she put in it but it was very pretty.  I'll have to get the recipe from her.  Favor bags "Live Like You Believe", the title of the song the leaders sang to the girls.  More to be posted HERE.... soon I Promise.

Hope did really well at her Ensemble Recital. Her competition is this Saturday.

She and David are the two bassoonists in the Symphonic Band.

Cassandra's wedding was wonderful.  Cynthia really should be a wedding planner.  I don't know how she managed to pull it off.  Her mom made all the table toppers, the ring bearer pillow, the flower girl dress, just to name a few with no patterns.  She is like my grandma.  Just show her a picture and she's good to go.  Must be nice!  Sharon, Cynthia's sister, made the cake.  Beautiful three tiered fondant cake.  It was very sophisticated... all cream with little edible pearls and a monogram.  She made all the beautiful picture (that her husband Scott took) ornaments of Cassandra and Dan that we hung on the branches for the table centerpieces. What a talented family!  I wish I had more pictures, but I  was busy being a worker bee.
I took a couple before we loaded everything to take to the location.