It has been a crazy couple of days. As I said before, my beautiful niece suffered a MASSIVE stroke on Sunday. She was in the ICU in St. George, but on Tuesday they decided to life flight her to SLC for surgery. I am scared for her. Her body has already had to endure so much and this is just the very beginning.
Isn't their little family so beautiful? They deserve a happy ending., and they damn well better get one.

Perspective

It is amazing to me how quickly your life can get put into perspective.
Last night Mike called me while I was at the grocery store and said that our patio table and umbrella had flown over and shattered all over lawn. I was sick to my stomach. I loved that table. I loved eating dinner with my family on that table. I loved sitting at the table with friends enjoying a nice evening in the backyard.
Makes me feel kind of dumb now. I just got a call from my mom and my sweet 25 year old niece had a stroke today, and is in the ICU in St. George. She is an amazing mother of two beautiful little girls and an amazing massage therapist, who loves her job. And now she is in the hospital and is paralyzed (for right now) on one side. They got her to the hospital quickly and they were able to treat her and we are praying with all of our hearts that she will recover completely.
Now back to me. Seriously a TABLE. I can eat dinner anywhere. I am so grateful for so many things. I don't want to waste time being sad or upset about stupid things. What a waste.
Here's to being grateful for every beautiful simple thing, like the memories that took place around that table. But it was just a table.

Mission Accomplished! (well almost)

I found this darling cradle at a garage sale. Of course it wasn't painted this adorable red, but you know me. A couple a cans of spray paint and a little elbow grease, and I can't wait to put the little dude in there.
And then for some reason I was feeling really ambitious and two trips later and more hours than I thought I had in one day with two busy boys and I have a pretty damn cute quilt top. Who knew I could figure it out. I don't think I have ever unpicked so much in my life. I have decided if I attempt another one I am going to ask a few more questions before I start.

You've gotta be kiddin' me!

There is no picture, but just imagine a very happy mommy. My children are so hard to please when it comes to food. I must say that is really the only part of being a mom that I really don't like,breakfast, lunch AND dinner.
Anyway this morning I turned the tv on while I was making beds, and Nigella was making these fabulous looking pancake things that she said were like a breakfast cheese cake. I hurried downstairs to quickly put the recipe together before I forgot it. I thought I might be able to pull one over on my youngest and he would just think they were pancakes, but I knew my 5 year old would take one bite and he would say, "DISGUSTING"!
Hallelujah, I was wrong they both snarfed them down, my oldest was even ok with seconds.They are super easy to make and they are especially delicious with just syrup. ( I didn't go to the trouble with the strawberries.)
ENJOY!!!
Cheesecakelets
Recipe courtesy Nigella Lawson
Show:
Nigella Feasts
Episode:
Breakfast All Hours
Serving suggestion: 2 cups strawberries, chopped into quarters 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar 1/2 to 1 teaspoon sugar
3 eggs, yolks and whites separated 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon best-quality vanilla extract 1 cup cottage cheese 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Put the strawberries into a bowl and sprinkle with balsamic vinegar and sugar. Stir before covering with plastic wrap and leaving to steep while you make the cheesecakelets. Mix the egg yolks with the sugar, beating well. Add the vanilla, cottage cheese, and flour. Then, in another bowl, whisk the whites until frothy with a hand whisk and fold into the cottage cheese mixture.
Heat a smooth griddle or nonstick skillet and dollop the batter onto it make cakelets of about 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Each cheesecakelet will take a minute or so to firm up underneath, then you should flip it and cook the other side, and remove to a warmed plate when ready.
Turn the strawberries in the ruby syrup they've made and squish some pieces with a fork at the same time. Serve with the hot cheesecakelets.

Nine years down! Forever to go!!!

I am so glad I snagged him while my breasts still looked so good.
It has been a crazy nine years, but I wouldn't trade it.
I have a husband who loves me and the extra pounds I have acumulated over the last nine years, I have a beautiful eternal family, and we have a gazillion great memories.
Here's to a gazillion more.

Speaks for itself!

Our real ultra-sound isn't until the end of the month, but Mike and I decided to pay $50 bucks and just find out the sex of the baby. And it was worth it. We are so excited to meet our little Stellar R. Lloyd!!!

Project Complete!

Here is a picture of my mom's table all done. She is still working on the chairs, which I am sure will turn out incredible. It turned out so awesome. I wish I could take a better picture. There is so much detail lost in these photos. I wish you could see all the beautiful distressed spots. It looks very well used and loved, just like we like it.