conference

does your conference look like this?

ours sometimes does

 this year i bought the kids a loom to make the elastic bracelets. score. totally helped them keep quiet and listen.

 this little one even gave it a shot

it goes from this.....

to this so quickly... this glue was all over our family room and our furniture. a little water and elbow grease and we were good to go

 love baking delicious treats to feast on while we are being spiritually fed.

baked french toast casserole. raspberry rolls and cinnamon rolls. mmm

b was found here a lot. our treats when certain words our said over the pulpit. 

no, he wasn't being an amazing listener. just an amazing snitcher ;)

totally unrelated note. 

we had these cookies for family home evening treat the other night. they are the kids absolute favorite. forget homemade, made with love. give them pillsbury holiday cookies and they are singing my praises and dancing through the kitchen. love their excitement.

 c has figured out how to use the corner lazy susan as a step ladder. he world (and diet) have reached new heights.

 b snitched these cookies and he and c were having an impromptu picnic. 

boo to mom who stopped it quickly-it was 9 am.

look who's 7!!!

this sweet girl of mine turned 7.

man, i feel like time is slipping away.

this year, she wanted a party. she hasn't had one for a few years with her friends.

we decided on a baking theme.

i made these pom poms from cupcake holders.

she wanted a 3 tiered cake. 

didn't turn out looking so nice. (a little ashamed i even posted this on here)

luckily, a very kind friend who makes cakes beautifully came to my rescue.

we decorated aprons.

then we made homemade pizza- the girls all making their own and adding toppings. 

i accidentally shaped one girls pizza (who wasn't there yet) into a heart.... so then ALL the girls wanted heart shaped pizza dough.

after pizza, we decorated cookies.

they each had 6 cookies i had put into a bakery box.

we had tons of sprinkles and 7 kinds of frosting.

i had a headache just from looking at it all.

it was so fun.

little j also wanted a piñata....fits right into the theme of baking, right :)

we did the pinata and presents then finished off with the cake. it was such a fun night. i really had  a great time with the girls. 

it was so fun seeing J's smiles.

sunday was her actual birthday.

we took the family to a little preserve.

we enjoyed the fall weather 

i love this girl of mine. 

she is the sweetest  and most kind little girl.

she always has a hug or kiss for someone feeling sad.

she loves to do crafts.

she loves corn chowder. 

she loves to help cook, and loves making yogurt and cream for everyone.

she loves pink.

she loves to dig in the dirt and find creepy crawlies.

she has the sweetest personality.

she loves her younger siblings.

she is very responsible.

she is pretty easy going-unless she is tired ;)

she has been a joy since she first came to our family.

i love this girl so much!

birthdays galore

these small kiddos have been busy baking birthday cakes

singing happy birthday

and blowing out a lot of candles

my sweet sis sent me these 

best surprise ever

this spunky two year old found packaging bubble wrap, put it on the table and stomped it all over.

the fair is a veritable schmorgasboard.....

we went to the local fair a couple weeks ago.

i felt like meet me in st. louis when the dad says, 'it's all anyone sings about or talks about' minus the singing.

everyone asks, 'have you been to the fair?'

we have lived here 4 summers and been once. 

we went the first year and i didn't really get it. 

you pay admission, pay to eat tons of fried foods and look at a few animals.

this year the kids begged to go. 

we paid admission, paid to eat fried foods and looked at a few animals.

actually, this year, we went with a different perspective, 

people kept talking about how good the food was.

we saw hand dipped corn dogs- now, i'm a sucker for a good corn dog. my hubby and i shared and it did not disappoint. sooo tasty.

we also got some kind of delicious pile of fried potato. mmmm.

topped it off with fresh salt water taffy.

kids loved this baby calf

hooray for ribbon fries.

the corn box was fun until my kids started throwing it around. kids booted out my mean mom. i actually might be the worst mom ever- my kids have mentioned that once or twice 

this may look like nothing, BUT, this bull is actually 2,700 lbs!!!

it's a small elephant.

J saw these and said, 'I found the ghosts!"

highlight of the trip- tram ride to car

next years plan- 

i ride around the dusty parking lot on the tram with the kids. 

daddy runs in- 

grabs corn dogs, ribbon fries and salt water taffy for everyone.

happy cheers from everyone.