It's Good To Be Queen

Belated Happy New Year

2012-01-03T15:50:00.000-08:00

Goodbye to 2011 and welcome in 2012!

What a great New Years Eve Day I had. I had 2 massages and the clients were so much fun to work on. It was a fun way to finish off the year.

On New Years Eve Alan and I just couldn't stay awake to ring in the New Year so, we asked the girls to get us up at 11:40 so we could celebrate with them.

Alan had bought some fireworks for them and they couldn't wait to set them off.

They woke us up and we went outside where a lot of our neighbors were already letting off fireworks.

This is Gabby lighting the first of the little fireworks

This is Gabby running with a sparkler down the street.

Fireworks in the street

You can see on the ground all of the fireworks

On Sunday the 1ST day of January we headed up to Pinetop to celebrate a late Christmas with Coco and her family.

Dallas wasn't thrilled with me taking a picture but it is kind of my thing on every road trip

Our goofy kiddos. I love them!

This is Talmage, Kyle's legs, Naima, Gabby and half of Coco.

It was so great to spend time with Coco and her family. The grand babies are so much fun.

Naima, Coco and Faith

One of the reasons Kyle is such a perfect son in love for our family is this.

He is such a fun person. Naima had gotten a hair extension from Gabby so she could play Repunzel. Anyway, Kyle put it on and was goofing around. I went to the bathroom and came out and he was wearing one of Talmage's Army hats and being so funny. We all got a good laugh out of it.

This was outside the bedroom window. I loved how the frost looked on the shingles.

I sat in the second story room looking out and thinking about all the great & not so great things that had happened in 2011. It wasn't the worst year but a challenging one of growing and learning.

I am so excited about this New Year I have felt for the past few weeks that this year is going to be an amazing year. I have set my goals, the steps to make them happen and I am ready for this year.

Wishing everyone an amazing 2012!! Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Bouncing Fun

2011-12-30T12:24:00.000-08:00

We got the kiddos a trampoline for Christmas. We gave it to them Christmas Eve and set it up (almost).

We didn't get the outside safety net on it so Christmas morning we went out and worked together getting it put up.

The girls have been enjoying going out and doing flips, making up little dances and just bouncing on it.

This is Gabby (yellow shirt) Faith (green shirt) and E'lyse (white shirt)

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Hope everyone had a good Christmas. It was quiet and very relaxing for our family.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Christmas Morning

2011-12-25T14:03:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

These pictures are from Christmas morning 2011.

We slept in a little longer than normal this year. We got up at 5 am

This is the view from the top of the stairs

Faith and E'lyse opening gifts

Gabby and Dallas opening gifts

Dallas smiling even though he had only had 2 hours of sleep before us waking him up

Faith holding up her gift from Gabby of an 8 pk. of Dr. Pepper

Alan got each of us girls a stone pendent of our favorite color with our initial on it (perfect)

I also got 4 hematite rings, a Harley Davidson calender, Pittsburgh Steeler glasses, Snow White glasses , a Snow White mug and chocolates.

Alan got me some new p.j.'s They are so soft and pretty color.

It has been a very laid back Christmas. Fun spending time at home with the kiddos.

We took naps this morning then set up the protector net on the trampoline. Pictures to come on that later.

The girls are sleeping out on it tonight.

So blessed and thankful to have such wonderful people in my life.

I was sad that Coco and her family couldn't be down her but we will be going up to visit next weekend and stretch Christmas out a little longer.

Wishing that everyone is in good health and enjoying this Christmas Day! Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

It is Christmas Eve!

I am glad that it is almost Christmas. It has been a very low key, and low stress Christmas season.

I didn't stress to get out Christmas cards or anything that was too much extra this year.

The two younger girls are making plates of goodies to give to a few neighbors & husbands home teaching families.

Right now the house smells like brownies.

Below is the pile of Christmas gifts Gabby built.

Black Friday brought us the opportunity to get a new trampoline for the family. The price was great & it is one of those things that get's used year round. So yesterday (Friday) Alan brought it home from work. He had been storing it in his work trailer. The girls are so excited about it. We thought since Christmas is on Sunday we would give it to them early so we can set it up today.
Tonight the 3 girls that are still home are having a Christmas Eve party in their room. Watching Christmas movies, having munchies and exchanging small gifts to each other. I am sure not much sleeping will be involved but I know they will have fun.
It use to be tradition for all the kiddos to stay in the same room on Christmas Eve. What fun memories I am sure they have of those long nights.

Tomorrow morning we will be getting up (early I am sure, we usually do) we will open gifts. Then I will make a Hootinani for breakfast. We will eat and get ready for church.

There will only be one hour of church tomorrow so I am sure we will be coming home, eating lunch and having a short nap. (At least Alan & I) while kiddos enjoy what they got.

From our home to yours we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Start on Monday Diet Mentality

2011-12-21T15:39:00.001-08:00

In case any of you don't know I have OCD ( obsessive compulsive disorder) Or as I like to say CDO the letters should be in order. he he I have to work daily on this issue because it can cause me more work, frustration and problems.
One of my OCD issues is I have always had this mentality of okay I will start the diet on Monday, or the beginning of the new week or year. This has gotten me no where other than when I decided for my new years resolution to lose weight.
The one problem with this was I lost a good amount of weight almost 60 pounds but then I stopped watching what I ate as closely, I never did kick the habit of cutting out the sugars and sticking to a healthier life style. I also failed at staying active. I let a couple days of not working out into a couple months then here and there I would do something.
Then when I decided to go to massage school I let it consume me. I didn't continue to take care of me. I did good for the first 3 weeks then it was just too much between cooking, cleaning, studying and the hour drive to and from school my days were just full. LAME excuse!!! Now that I look back on it. I could have done it all had I been eating healthy and exercising I would have had the needed energy to keep up on it all.
I had read a quote on Facebook the other day that said " A year from now you may wish you had started today! " by Karen Lamb. YES I DO!!! I have gained back some of the weight not all of it but I think of "if I had kept up the great work I was doing I could be so much better off ". Then I beat myself up verbally then physically buy eating junk food. This is a very bad cycle that has to be broken.
I have suffered in the past with major depression. I am not talking oh I am so bummed and I don't want to do this or that. No mine was clinical depression to the point of suicidal thoughts and attempts. The attempts were made but Heavenly Father was watching over me and apparently has a purpose for me not dying. I had gone through 6+ years of counselling, antidepressants, more counselling and learning how to deal with things a little better. I still suffer from anxiety and depression once in a while. Now I tell my husband when I am feeling it coming on and he helps me out.
I was anorexic for 2 years and then went bulimic for 15 years due to I LOVE FOOD! This disease ruined my metabolism so much. I ended up with a mitrovalve prolapse and a prolapsed stomach. This means my stomach had dropped and turned (this is the explanation that my Dr. gave me.)
The point to all this is being open and honest with you as the reader and even if no one reads this it is my way of sorting things out to make sure I am changing what needs to be changed in the right way.
I don't think I have ever learned or dealt with the portion control issues I have. So last week after thinking about what my issues are and needing to make changes. Now mind you I was thinking when the new year comes but that mentality is leaving and changing. I signed up for Weight Watchers Online.
I have done it one week so far. I did not weigh myself for the start of the second week. But I am liking that when I go to eat something I think to myself " Wonder how many points this is going to cost me?" For me this is a start to what I want and what needs to change with me.
I was reading the blog Roni's Weigh and she wrote a great article called "3 Steps to a Healthier YOU!" it is under the link there. A MUST read for us who are struggling to get healthy.
I am currently working on making small changes. These are 1) slowly weaning myself off of sugar. So hard this time of the year when there are so many goodies being brought to our house. For this reason I have decided to go slow at this. I do have to admit that I have come a long way on this one in the past year. 2) Learning to except me as I am and not beating myself up. 3) Moving more. Now I just went in today and had some more vein work done on my left leg. I am not aloud to do any exercise other than walking for 2 weeks. 4) Working on my goals -short term & long term. 5) Studying and learning all I can to better my health not just for myself but for my family. These are just the 5 I want to share right now.
Hugs, Bobbi Jo
For those of you who read my health blog this was posted on there too.

Random Pictures of Life

2011-12-18T17:02:00.000-08:00

Last Monday night Faith had an orchestra concert. I knew I wouldn't be able to get near the stage to get a good picture of her while playing so I needed to get one before we left the house.

Faith (front with blue shirt)

E'lyse (to the left looking like she is in pain)

Gabby (in the back ground)

Gabby came into my room before starting school last Tuesday looking like this.

She took blush and covered her face in it because she was bored.

E'lyse had started this stocking in Young Women's a little while ago and finished it at home.

Decided to give it to her guy-friend Drew.

E'lyse also made 2 pillow cases for her guy-friend Drew for Christmas

Alan had a Birthday on December 16TH. He and Dallas went varmit hunting all day and had a blast.

This is one of Alan's favorite things to do. He called in a bob cat and shot it.

Poor BOB! The cat actually looks like it has a smile on it's face

I had found this recipe on a you tube that I have been following called "Debtisdum"

It is called a hootanani or a German pancake . It is really yummy!

Recipe for this is:

1 cup white flour

1 cup milk

6 eggs

3/4 tsp. salt

Pour into greased 10 X 13 pan.

Then add a half a cube of butter (don't stir this in the mix)

Then cook in preheated oven 400* at 25 minutes.

Serve with syrup & powder sugar.

Next time I am adding a can of the apples for pies in it.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Christmas Tree

2011-12-18T16:38:00.000-08:00

This year we down sized our tree and our Christmas decorating.

I have had a 12 ft. tree for the last 7 years. The problem with my massive 12 ft tree was the guys that I need to help me set it up didn't like doing it too much.

So Coco offered to sell us her 9 ft tree that she got on clearance a while back but couldn't use, due to her ceilings being to low. She sold it to us and it worked out just great.

The downsizing of the decorations have come due to me just not feeling like decorating everything this year because of other (what I feel more important things) needed to be taken care of.

So not all of my trees got up and not every room is decorated this year.

This is Gabby who requested that she put the topper on the tree this year.

This tree has mostly homemade or ornaments that family & friends have given us over the years.

There is 24 years of love on this tree.

The pretty tree topper that Coco & Kyle got me a couple of years ago.

Another angle of the top of the tree.

Our display of the three trees and a picture of the in the process of being built Gilbert Temple

9 ft, tree with gifts under it

My girly tree that Faith and Gabby decorated for me.

My dog Nellie is on the left side of the tree. Guess she thought she would sneak in for a picture.

More Christmas to come a little later. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thanksgiving Temple Trip

2011-12-18T16:22:00.000-08:00

My posts are somewhat out of order due to me feeling like my life is a CRAZY out of order place.

Trying to play catch up is a challenge but I am determined to do so.

On November 26 Th, 2011 we made our annual family trip to walk around the Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latte-Day Saints .

Coco, Kyle, Talmage and Naima had come down to spend Thanksgiving with us.

I mad hot chocolate and we put it in our traveling mugs and went on our way.

This is the Temple view that I think is so beautiful. This brings back a fond memory of when my oldest brother Cecil and his family had come out from Pennsylvania to visit and he had taken a picture of the Temple similar to this.

Anyway this is behind the visitors center and the side of the Temple. The entry to the Temple is on the right side of this picture.

Below is Naima and Talmage. I don't think Talmage wanted his picture taken to bad.

This is Faith in the purple, Talmage balancing himself and E'lyse

Kyle and Coco sitting in front of one of the many beautiful tree areas.

One of the manger areas. There is a tape playing the scripture reading of Luke 2 of Jesus birth in English and Spanish.

This is Joseph and Marry as they were headed to Bethlehem

They figures are so beautiful and amazing the details.

This was a view of some of the thousands of lights as I looked across the area behind the visitors center.

If you get the chance to visit the Temple, especially at Christmas time do so you will not be disappointed. Even the business of all the people there it is calming and so pretty.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Snow Bunnies

2011-12-11T21:07:00.000-08:00

After going to bed late Saturday night I had woke up when the alarm went off at 6:15 to get up to get ready to go to church. Well I started to stretch and next thing I know Alan wakes me up at almost 8 (this is when church starts) and says, "Um hun we overslept!" He climbs back in bed and then as I am still trying to pry open my tired eyes he says that today would be a fun day for a short ride. So twist my arm... I LOVE road trips. So we went over and woke up the girls and told them we were going on a short road trip to see the snow and maybe play in it. They agreed so we had breakfast together and then got ready for the day.

We decided to drive up to Payson then maybe a little further up the Rim to get to more snow. So we drove past a beautiful little town called Strawberry and to the top of the rim and the snow way beautiful, fluffy and perfect for making a snow person.

This is my three snow bunnies with Snow lady

E'lyse, Faith and Gabby

This was on our way up. Gabby took a picture of me as I took a picture of the girls in the back seat.

E'lyse at the beginning of the snow lady

Gabby making snow angles to mark her territory as she played out in the snow

Faith trying to get a brain freeze

Mrs. Snow lady

Mrs. Snow Lady with her new eyelash extensions. (Sorry we didn't call you Janel for this one!)

The snow bunnies posing E'lyse, Faith and Gabby

Me and Mrs. Snow Lady

Snow bunnies throwing snow balls

Gabby, Faith and E'lyse

Alan was with us but chose to stay in the car for a nap while I took pictures of the girls. We had a good time. We miss living in the snow and the beauty of it.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Not Much

2011-12-09T09:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday as Dallas, Gabby and I had gotten home there was this little gecko in our garage. Not uncommon but not usually this tiny. Dallas caught it and it is on his finger here.

I started to say "I will hug it, love it, feed it and call it Herbie and he will be my friend", then as I started the kiddos are like yea right Mom. These little guys creep my out something fierce.

Honestly I have not had much to post here. Life is going along day by day. I was talking with hubs about this, this morning and told him I have lost passion for things and I don't know if it is just feeling under the weather lately or what? Just puzzles me. I love Christmas but I just don't feel like doing all of it. We have our shopping just about done I am talking there is maybe 3 more things we want to pick up and we will be done.

I started back on call last week at the spa. Sad to say but my main focus has been on trying to get Gabby all caught up on her school work. She has fallen behind in math and I am the WORST ever to help teach math. It has never been my strong point nor have I ever enjoyed it.

We got our tree set up on Thanksgiving Day. Kyle put it up for us but it was missing the screws that go on the bottom to keep it in place. So I waited and got the girls to try and help me but I couldn't lift the 9 ft. tree up to get the three little screws in the bottom base of the tree. ARG!!! So I waited some more then finally Alan and Dallas got it done. Guess what the tree still isn't decorated! I know shocking. We did get the white tree up it is 6 ft. Actually Gabby set it up when I was at work last week and her and Faith decorated it in all pink. LOVE IT!! So maybe just maybe tomorrow the big tree will get trimmed.

Well now back to working with Gabby and housework. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thanksgiving...Can I have a do over?

2011-11-25T12:37:00.000-08:00

So yesterday was Thanksgiving. Coco and her sweet family came down to spend it with us. I have been excited about this holiday it is my favorite. But come the night before Thanksgiving I wasn't ready.

Coco and her family got in late. We stayed up WAY too late. Woke up Thanksgiving morning not feeling so great. Besides the recovery process I have been going through from the surgeries my body is fighting or going through something else that I haven't been able to figure out other than a little depression.

Anyway so I get up and things were going a long and I had assigned some chores to be done and they weren't finished due to some change of plans of those who were assigned and I lost it. Unfortunately not one of my best parenting or mothering moments. I yelled. I was so upset and tired and didn't seriously f eel like cooking or doing anything but going back to bed. There is more to the story but to protect the others I will only say it was not good. Not trying to make people get down just trying to keep it really.

I cried, child cried, we talked, husband came home I cried more and hubs went and talked with crying child.

All was taken care of but boy what a terrible memory maker this one was.

Then as I am preparing dinner I come to find out that I am out of a bunch of things that I needed. So sweet Al went to the store for me and got them.

Dinner was made and eaten but not the greatest I would have to say.

Then a little later I found out that Coco had told Gabby that Santa wasn't real. Poor Gabby! She keeps saying that Coco ruined her child hood because of it.

So in a nut shell this is one Thanksgiving that will go down in the books as the one that was the worst disorganized Thanksgiving in our family history.

I guess it could be worse my Father had a Aunt die right at the table on Thanksgiving when he was a kid. Gotta look on the bright side.

So can I have a Thanksgiving do over?

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Not Much

2011-11-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

I haven't been blogging due to not much has been going on. Well things have been going on but really nothing that I felt I wanted to blog about.

I went in on Tuesday the 15Th and had my leg worked on. I didn't ask what they were going to do because I really didn't want to know in case it would freak me out even more than I already was. I know this was WAY less invasive than the bladder lift or the hernia repair but I was really scared. So anyway I went in and they started with laying me on a table and rubbed me down with freezing cold iodine from bottom of left foot up to my belly button. The Dr. then came in and said he would be giving me numbing shots so I would feel a pinch. WHY DO THEY SAY THAT? So he started there worked his way up the leg as they had lifted the table and had it at a tilt that I felt I was going to slide down and off of. Weird feeling! I won't go into great detail but I kept feeling what they were doing so he would numb me some more. I was given about 42 shots the entire way up to the groin area. WOW talk about weird. On top of that they had me on some loopy narcotics so I would relax. It ended up what they had done was a striping of the vein. I go back in on Dec. 21St for a different procedure for the rest of the veins on that leg. Merry Christmas to me!!! he he Actually I will be glad to get this all done and feel better. The vein that was first worked on wasn't even the one that causing me pain.

This week is Thanksgiving and is my favorite holiday. Coco, Kyle and her sweet kiddos will be coming down on Wednesday to celebrate with us. I am excited to see them all.

So off I go to take kiddos to where they need to be and back home to work on what needs to be done here. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Goofy Things

2011-11-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

It has been a somewhat not super busy but fast week for us. I have been frustrated with my workouts or trying to work out. Finding out that after two or three weeks of not using muscles they start the process of disuse atrophy. Well during the first 4 weeks of recovery the muscles I used were for walking, going to the bathroom, eating and talking. Needless to say these last 2 muscles are in great shape. My endurance just flat out stinks and I tire out going up our stairs in our house to our room. NOT COOL!! But I will chug along and it WILL get better, regain my strength, stamina and energy again.

A few weeks ago I got my hair cut but 2 short days later I was getting what I call the dog ears in my hair. This is when the hair right around the ears starts to stick out and on me it looks like dog ears. So I called my sweet friend and neighbor who cuts & colors my hair in trade for massages to cut my hair again. I told her I wanted it short, spiky and sassy just how I was feeling. So she did! And this is an view of it at the spikiest points.

I don't think hubs likes (nothing was said and he was home when I left to get it done & there when I got back.) He likes hair flat, and due to the party moving from the back to the top but I like it. It can be dried with my hand shaking through it and a blow dryer. How easy it is to fix. LOVE it! I kind of wish I had my maroon hair coloring on it though.

Gabby likes to play with things while she is doing school and she sometimes get's a little distracted making things. Today when she was working on it she came in a plopped this little guy down on my desk.

I think he is cute! It helps that he is pink

Again today as Gabby was doing (supposed) to be doing school work she comes in and says to me ,"Mom, I have a lazy eye."

She is such a goofball. I guess that is one of the reasons I get along with her so well.

Hope you all have a great Saturday. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Some Home Ec

2011-11-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

Today at lunch time Gabby said she was hungry and wanted a Big Mac. I told her we weren't going out to eat. She said well can I make my own here at home. I said sure so we got patties out of the freezer, she chopped up some spinach instead of lettuce and I always keep secret sauce in the fridge. (Doesn't everyone? )

We proceeded outside and I taught her how to fire up the grill and cook the perfect (or what we consider perfect for us) hamburgers.

This is what it looked like when she got it all put together

Pretty good job huh?

I know you are just dying to sing the theme song out loud.

Go for it, it will make you feel better.

This Gabby and her homemade Big Gab Burger!!

Can't wait till the next cooking, grill or baking class.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Home Schooling

2011-11-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

I had been doing online/homeschooling (using an online school program in our state) with Gabby since the beginning of the year. She has not been super thrilled about most of the work being on the computer and in her words it was boring, until last week.

After doing some research on programs that would give her the hands on that she wanted, the knowledge that she needs to get a good education but not cost a lot of money if any at all I found one. We are now using the K-12 program. After registering her into the school and filling out the needed paper work to get her started up the school was in touch with me through emails to get started right away. Supplies were sent within 4 days and continuing contact on all that was suppose to be happening.

True we are only a little over a week into it but it is so organized, all the supplies were delivered to us, they have online training for the Learning Coach (me), continuing learning classes to help me be able to help her learn and understand the material and a teacher ready to help at any time. LOVE IT!

The program is so organized and Gabby seems to enjoy it a lot. As her elective she is taking French as her foreign language (how fun is that!)

This is Gabby on Thursday morning as she was doing school work. The house was cold & I startled her when I took the picture

I Want To Marry You Cookies

2011-11-02T15:26:00.000-07:00

I have a friend Melissa Stadler who I met a while back. She was a neighbor and my oldest daughters Young Woman leader. Melissa is not only beautiful inside but outside as well.

She had made my family some sugar cookies once and they were PURE heaven. Anyway Melissa has had a dream to be cooking contest winner. She was a finalist in the Pillsbury Bake-Off contest in March. Recently she won another contest for the TV show called The Perfect 3.

I just had to share this with you wonderful blog followers.

Melissa was the winner on the show The Perfect 3. Take a few minutes to watch her segment. She did a great job!

This was posted on a wonderful blog written by Mary Younkon that I follow called Barefeet In The Kitchen. She has so many yummy recipes on her blog please go check it out.

When I asked Mary if I could post her post on my blog she said yes and that she has made these cookies twice and they were a hit both times.

I Want To Marry You Cookies

First of all, this is NOT your average chocolate chip cookie. I have run across several variations of this cookie in the past few months. This past weekend, I finally had the perfect opportunity to try them. I stayed as close to the original recipe as possible, in an effort to see what the fuss is all about. (As far as I can tell, the source below is the original author of this recipe.)

The thing that sets these cookies apart from every other chocolate chip cookie I’ve made is the melted butter. Such a small thing, but it has an enormous impact on the flavor. The best part of making these? Everything happens in a single pot. Easy cleanup makes this girl very happy.

The warm butter is blended together with the sugars and it creates a rich toffee flavor that I have never before tasted in a chocolate chip cookie. The cookies positively melt in your mouth. This is the BEST second day cookie I have ever made. They taste phenomenal warm from the oven and they taste ever better the next day. I froze several of them to see how they would handle it and they were excellent as soon as they thawed.

I’m not going to bother saying that these are the best chocolate chip cookies in the world, because everyone has their own opinion on what that would be. However, these are truly some of the best cookies that I have ever made. I can hardly wait to try a whole wheat variation.

I Want To Marry You Cookies

recipe just slightly adapted from Melissa Stadler, 2011

(The original recipe stated that it makes 2 dozen cookies. Apparently, I like very small cookies, because I wound up with 5 dozen small 2-3" cookies.)

1 cup butter

1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups AP flour

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats (my note: the oats are not a strong flavor in these cookies, they provide a great texture, but they in no way make this an oatmeal cookie)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (my note again: this is barely discernible, but is adds a unique flavor to these cookies)

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (the original recipe called for 1 cup semi-sweet and 1 cup white chocolate, however we are not big fans of white chocolate, so I simply used all semi-sweet)

In a large saucepan (I used a 6 quart pot), melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, remove from the heat and add the sugars. Stir until the sugars are well-incorporated and mostly smooth. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

While the mixture is chilling, mix together the dry ingredients and set aside. Remove the pot from the refrigerator and stir in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Add the chocolate chips and use your hands to make sure they are evenly distributed.

Roll by hand into 24 medium size balls or 50-60 smaller ones. Chill for at least 30 minutes. (I simply rolled them into balls and placed them on a couple of plates. Then I stacked the plates in the fridge until I was ready to bake them.)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Remove the cookie dough balls from the refrigerator and place them onto a large baking sheet a dozen at a time. Bake for 10-12 minutes, larger cookies will require an extra minute or two in the oven. Remove from the baking sheet immediately and cool on a wire rack.

When you make these I would love to hear how you liked them. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Proud Momma

2011-11-02T12:25:00.001-07:00

Faith came home yesterday from school with two awards. The first was for Outstanding Student Class Award for Math and the second is for the Dean's Honor Roll. So proud of her!

I told her this is what she need's to keep doing so she can get her scholarship to BYU. Since she was little she has wanted to go to BYU and I think she will make it there!

2ND Award

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Halloween Wind Up

2011-11-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am not a huge fan of Halloween. I use to be but it has got way out of hand with the grossness and money that it costs for candy & costumes. I would be just happy going to the Trunk or Treat and our church and calling it good. But that didn't cut it this year for our youngest Gabby. Faith opted out for this years Trick or Treating. So Gabby and 2 of her BFF's went with us walking around. We went to our two neighborhoods and it took us 2 hours of walking.

There was one house that is set up super gross with a guillotine, electric chair and gross bloody fake people in their front yard. EWW! I won't even look at their yard if I am driving down the street.

The girls insisted on going down the street. I told them as long as it was right as it was getting dark. So we did. The girls went up in their pretty costumes and said trick or treat. The owner lady who was wearing a bloody shirt said to the girls "Oh you want a treat! ", and proceeded to pick up a chain saw & start it up as she chased them. I was a little more than ticked off that someone would do this to three 11yr.old girls. I was so upset. She proceeded to tell the girls that the blade was taken off of the saw ( oh that is comforting). Anyway we kept on walking down the street to houses and all of the sudden we hear the chain saw close to us and the idiot lady was walking down the street with it firing it up. Now I don't mean to be a stick in the mud but not everyone likes this kind of terror especially little kids or whimpy Mom's like me.

So we got done and back home where I felt safe and secure.

Sorry about the rant I just don't think some people get it. To me Halloween is no longer for the kiddos it is for adults. It is now the #1 adult holiday passing up New Years Eve.

Now for pictures to wrap up this holiday.

This is a picture of Gabby with the eyes she made at Ainsley's house out of bendies. She likes to creep her sister out with them.

Naima in the bathtub pretending she was Santa with the bubbles on her face

Faith carving her pumpkin

E'lyse and her super hero pumpkin Spider Man

Talmage making a scary face

Cute pumpkin Gabby made at Achievement Day

Naima isn't scared of much but this silly paper spider she didn't care for

Talmage the night of Trunk or Treat as Batman then about 15 min. before we left he decided to be Buzz Light year (sorry no pics of that one!)

Naima as a pretty girl pirate

Gabby as Pumpkin Girl

Sara as a Bumble Bee and Dallas as a Biker

I may be a party pooper but not sure if I will be celebrating Halloween next year. We will see! Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Candle Time

2011-11-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

I will posting more of an update a little later (I HOPE) but wanted to share this with you. I think this is a wonderful idea that I will join in yearly now. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Please check out the link to join in Christmased.com

Pink Saturday & Poser

2011-10-22T09:29:00.001-07:00

It has been a while but I decided to do a Happy Pink Saturday post.

For this Saturday I am posting a little flower pot with paper flowers that Gabby made a while back for me.

On Tuesday we went to the Cardon Children's Medical Center for Gabby's remicade treatment. We had some time to kill due to the prior authorization not being made so we had to wait to get word if she would be able to get it or not. So we get there at 8 her appointment is at 8:30 and I finally remembered to take my camera with me to snap a picture that she and I had talked about when there before.

Luckily I usually have a book in my purse so she posed with the girl reading bronze statue that is in the lobby area of the center

Gabby and girl reading

We still had time to wait. Gabby had bought some toys for donation to the hospital so we went up to the floor that she stays on when there to deliver them.

One of our favorite Child Life Service workers, Meredith, came out. It was so great to see her. We have missed her. When Gabby was in last year she would constantly bring Gabby crafts to work on and invite her to the special room they have to have craft time or music activities with her.

The hospital is amazing and so are the staff there.

Gabby is going to be holding a toy drive for Christmas to take to the hospital. More on that to come very soon.

This week was going by very slow then all of the sudden it is Saturday again.

I will hit 4 weeks on Monday of recovery and just 2 more weeks of wearing the brace and depending on people to do so much for me. It is making me a little crazy.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Eggs

2011-10-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

This morning I went to make my breakfast of two eggs and a piece of wheat toast. I get the pan ready and crack one egg then I get out another egg and try to crack it. It won't crack to I tap it a lot harder. It turns out someone put a hard boiled egg in the carton. So I call up stairs " Gabby did you put a hard boiled egg in the carton?" With a devilish voice she says "Maybe?". Little turkey. She got me good. he he

So I put it aside thinking I will have the egg white for lunch. At lunch time I go down and get in the fridge to get my egg. Gabby had eaten it! Guess I should have ate it while I could have.

I love my kiddos.

Speaking of kiddos Coco and her kiddos are going to come down and stay with us for a week or so. I am so excited to have them here. I miss them even though I talk to Coco almost every day it is so much fun to have her and the children where I can hug them and kiss them in person. Too bad Kyle can't come down to but work calls. So I will enjoy them while I can.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Fall Wanted

2011-10-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

I just love a pumpkin patch so Gabby knowing this drew this for me

There had not been much going on since my last post on October 10TH. I am still recovering and trying to not over due it. I had done that 2 days in a row and ended up hurting and learned my lesson. (I hope!)

I am so anxious for the weather to cool down. We are still in the 90's + here in the valley of unending heat. It is 99 today and I am so in the mood to turn off the air conditioning and open windows.

Enough complaining though. I have been watching a couple series on Netflix this week. Yes this is what you do when you really can't do too much. In between dishes here and there, a little more cooking, word search and reading. The two that I would suggest is called Heavy and the next is Ruby. These are both a year old but I have enjoyed them and getting motivated to work out. I forgot how much I missed exercising until I really can't do it. I have been walking and finally got my treadmill moved back in the house so I can walk even more.

During my time of recovery this girl has been my constant companion. She has always been by my side and followed me everywhere as I go about my daily tasks from room to room. But I have had to tell her to go out side to go potty. The first night & day I was home she stayed by my side of the bed and wouldn't go outside. Now that is loyalty.

Although she does look a little spastick here in this picture.

I found this note hanging on my desk from my sweet Faith. Love it!

Last night our steak had it's Halloween Dance for the youth. E'lyse and her BFF Alise decided to be Leiser 1 and Leiser 2 (instead of Thing 1 & 2)

They got together and painted their shirts & hair bows. Planning out their costumes.

I think they did a good job.

Of course the big thumbs up picture

And a close up of the pretty Leisers!

Now just a random thing. Last week I made a dish I saw on the Food Nanny. The show is on the BYU channel. Anyway she had visited a little town in California that is all Danish. She visited a little place that made the traditional Danish dinner called Frikadeller. It is basically a Danish meatball that is shaped like and egg. Boy oh boy was it good and easy to make.

Recipe in case you want to try it.

2 lbs. of fine ground pork

2 eggs

1/2 cup of milk

1 T. salt

1 T. pepper

1 med. onion finely diced

3 T. flour

Mix by hand and form using a spoon and your hand into egg shapes.

Cook in olive oil in a pan till crisp and no longer pink inside.

Make a

I also made a dish that I don't know the name for. I will call it Red Cabbage side dish.

1 head of red cabbage, shredded into med strips & chopped.

Put in large pan and cover with white vinegar.

Add 1 cup sugar

A pinch of ground clove to your liking

3 Bay Leaves

Pepper to taste

Put lid on and let boil down. It will take about an hour or two.

When done pull out Bay Leaves and serve with the Frikadeller.

We will be having this dinner again. The family enjoy it.

Hope everyone is doing well. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Debt-DeTangler

2011-10-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

This week was a restful I just took it easy. My recovery is coming along but have had some pulling/stinging sensations lately.

I drove myself to the Dr. on Thursday and Friday for my legs. On Thursday I went in for an ultrasound on my legs. Friday I went back for the results. The Dr. who looked like he could have been 15 (very young looking and wearing braces) said that the procedures they could do he felt would be beneficial to me and the way my legs feel. So now the wait for insurance to give the okay and they will call me to schedule the surgery.

Over the weekend I was watching a show on Hulu Plus (we don't have cable or regular tv) and watched a show about Simplifying your life. Most of it was good a little to preachy in some parts as far as environmentalism. Don't get me wrong I do care about the earth but some things are a little too far out there for me to agree with. Anyway it got me to thinking about wanting to simplify my life more. WAY MORE! This will include further de-cluttering and slowing down the pace of life to enjoy the great things around. One of the things I did love was how the lady said ,"Do you work to keep up the standard of life you are use to just so you can't enjoy it? " WOW! That was so true a while back and I think this is one of the big problems with me and many others. We had things that take time, money & maintenance that we just work to pay for them. Yet we are unable to truly enjoy them fully due to working all the time. Vicious circle!

I have been thinking down sizing for a while and being more self-sufficient. I love this idea and this is the direction I am heading.

Now for the de-cluttering. The big part of this will have to wait until I can lift things heavier than a bag of apples. So I am working on the things that take a little less physical muscle.

It just so happens that today I came across this blog called Canny Women.Com . Cindy just started today what is called the Debt De-Tangler . What a great day to find this blog. I think that finances are one of the biggest things that weigh us down and cause stress & unease in our lives. I urge you to check out her blog for daily tips and information on this. If you are going to join her and I in this I would love to hear from you and what you are doing. I think we could be a great support and listening ear for each other.

So off I go to read up a little more on her blog and start moving forward. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Driving With a Permit

2011-10-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

Last week I decided it was time to take E'lyse out to do some driving since she had got her permit almost 2 weeks ago and hadn't been behind the wheel. On Thursday afternoon we went out. The day was overcast and finally lovely temperature. She drove for almost an hour through neighbor hoods and different directions to get a feel for driving my van. My van is a GMC larger van with a truck engine so other than not having a long front end it is like driving a truck with a slight lift kit. She did really well. When we got home she was talking with Dallas and they said that I make them nervous. I don't know why this is?

So everywhere that we need to run siblings throughout this weekend she has had the opportunity to drive.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Wednesday Gabby's Sewing & Update

2011-10-05T11:20:00.001-07:00

Gabby has started working on Christmas presents lately. She made some pottery last week while I was in the hospital. I apologize I don't have a picture of those.

Knowing her friends don't read my blog I figured it was okay to post these sweet little "Stuffed Thingies" as Gabby calls them.

This is the one she made & gave to me

Below are pillow's she mad the pink ones are for her bed

and the Halloween one is for our couch.

These are the other ones she made for gifts.

I think they are super cute!

Yesterday I went to the two Dr.s that did my surgeries. I went in to the first and they removed my catheter. They checked to make sure it was awake and functioning and all went well so I was able to have it permanently removed. YEA!! Yes I did a happy dance and even gave the nurse a hug. I am just weird that way I get happy and celebrate. I go back on Nov. 11TH for the 6 week check up to get full clearance.

Alan and I went to lunch to a restaurant called Smash Burger . I had been hearing about this place since I was in the professional program and it was so yummy! Of course I have been eating very light and not very much. So I would suggest if there is one near you go on a day date and have a yummy burger and smash fries. SOOOO good!!

Then Alan had a few stops to make for work and I just sat in the truck enjoying being out and about with him.

We then went over to the Dr. who did my hernia repair. He checked his work and said it looked great. He gave me medical clearance to do light house work, no lifting , no heavy housework, no bending, no twisting, and a few other things that have left my mind right now.

YEA!! I was super excited to have this great news from both doctors. I feel better each morning and throughout the day I see little differences of progress.

I will not be able to do massage till after the Nov. 11TH clearance also depending on what happens with the Dr. on Thurs. & Fri.

I will take this time to recover and enjoy my progress that I make.

One more to share of big news. I actually got sleep last night. I have been off pain medicine since Sat. evening and I have been having to sleep on my back all nigh. I am not a back sleeper at all. Last night I carefully rolled myself over to my right side, this took a while then placed a pillow under my ab area and slept! Talk about feeling so much better. I actually slept in till 4:20 this morning. Felt so good!

My midsection is still very swollen and huge but this too shall pass. Happy to be doing better and able to sleep on my sides.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo