Annelle saves the day!!

Winter has struck here in Herriman! We are all white with drifted snow as far as the eye can see. I love winter, and snow as long as I don't get stuck in my car in it, which was the case today. I had to get to SF to show our house today and thought on my way out of Herriman I would stop at a friends and drop a little Christmas surprise. She lives in a cul-de-sac which on a normal day would be an insignificant detail but today is different. Apparently the City of Herriman feels that those who live in a cul-de-sac should dig themselves out of a winter storm rather than the snow plows removing the snow. As I pulled into the cul-de-sac (that is getting annoying to type) I was surprised that it was such a mess of snow but thought since everyone else had made it out onto the main road I to would have success....not the case. I about tore the oil pan off the bottom of the Accord due to over sized, jagged, iced over snow balls in the middle of the road, thank you nice snow plow man for all of your good work. Then when I went to leave I got stuck! I am cursing everything in complete anger, call Darin at work--because he is a lot of help at this point 45 min. away--angry because I don't have an SUV-because if I did I wouldn't be stuck-and even more ticked at the SNOW PLOW-or lack of snow plow. As I am crying to Darin, literally, I hear Madalyn in the back seat. She asks Maile why I am sadding. I don't know what Maile's response was but a few seconds later I hear Maile (Annelle) say "I know! We can say a prayer and Heavenly Father will help us get out." Then, she proceeds to pray. Honestly, I had very little faith at that point. Darin had given me the number of a guy in our ward that works from home but of course I got the answering machine. I thought I will try one more time. I threw her in to reverse and PUNCHED it!! As we are cruising in R, Maile is cheering in the back seat: "Mom, I prayed! Heavenly Father heard and he is answering my prayer!! I prayed twice but he only heard the second one!" Thank goodness for tender prayers.

Love Connection

I have this really hot friend that is completely single!! She's an absolute doll and I just love her to death. I set her up and she is going out with him tonight! I really think this is going to be a love connection! I am so excited for her and hope she has a super good time. I am a little jealous of her I must say...for lots of reasons but especially because this beau is taking to a Christmas Ball so she had to get..... "Cinderella for the ball" (I stole that one from Harry Dunn, I don't think he'll mind!) and went and got her hair and make-up done!! Lucky girl!! I love a good excuse to look smashing!! I'll give you the up to the minute report on the outcome. :) BTW, I told her to take a quick trip to the powder room so she could text me....something tells me it's not going to happen!

My sweet Annelle

Annelle: [stands up after praying] Amen.

M'Lynn: [looking confused at Truvy] Was she just praying?

Truvy: [rolling eyes, frustrated] Yes.

M'Lynn: Why?

Truvy: Maybe she's praying for Marshall and Drew and Belle. Maybe she's praying for us because we're gossiping. Maybe

she's praying because the elastic is shot in her pantyhose!

Who knows! She prays a the drop of a hat these days.

I think Maile very well could be Annelle. She is ALWAYS praying. The latest was earlier today during a conversation with Madalyn. She suddenly bowed her head and closed her eyes. I asked her why she was praying, she said: "because Madalyn said she hates Santa. So I prayed that she would love him because I do and I think everyone should love him."

My Special Day

When I got the mail today there was a special surprise inside! My sister-in-law subscribed me to Taste of Home Magazine! I am super excited. I love the magazine, there are so many yummy recipes and fun things to try, and they are generally at my level! Thank you, Kristi! You really shouldn't have!!

Cooking Class

Waaaaayyyyy back in October a friend and I took a cooking class at Thanksgiving Point featuring Kelsey from last season's Next Food Network Star. Lisa and I kept up on the show together so it was so fun to get to see her live in action! When it aired and hoped Kelsey would win she didn't but she is plenty busy otherwise. She told us all about everything she has going on including an Internet cooking show. She also gave us a little insight on the show and some behind the scenes info. Kesley is a super cute girl, she is so normal, she even suggested buying appliances from Wal-Mart which shocked me coming from a real chef.

This was so fun and her food was so good! I especially loved her Butternut Squash Soup. I was a little nervous about it but it is delish and has become one of my favorites.

Thanks for the invite Lisa, this was too fun!!

Oh, and she is tiny!! I am darn near on my knees in this picture. I don't think we could have gotten both of us in the same frame otherwise. When I stood next to her I felt as tall as Shrek!

Check out kelseyskitchen.com, she has some really simple recipes with normal ingredients!

I have really lost track of this whole blog thing! I got busy with other things and blogging took the back burner. I wanted to jot a few cute things down that the girls have said/done lately.

Faith

A few days a go the girls were playing with their babies. They went downstairs and drug nearly all of their babies upstairs and made little beds all over the place, some in their room, in the office, linen closet and the bathtub--their favorite place to put their "kids" to bed. When I inquired about the plot of their play, Maile responded dramatically, "all of our babies are so sick, they have been throwing up in the night and they have fevers so we gave them some medicine and they still didn't get better so we held them and.............." Finally she tells me they gave all of their kids blessings. So I asked how she did it, she explained and said "actually just like Daddy does, and now all the kid feel better."

Potty Mouth

Madalyn: Mom, we don't say shit, huh?

Mom: (surprised) What???!!!!

Madalyn: We don't say shit, huh Mom?

Me: No Mad, we don't, where did you learn that?

Madalyn: At Abby's (Mad's cousin)

Me: You did?

Madalyn: Yeah, but we don't say shit huh Mom?

Me: No, we don't. If we say it we will be in big trouble.

Madalyn: Abby doesn't say shit either. If Abby says shit she get 'pankin.

Me: Nobody can say it, it's a bad word.

Madalyn: Okay Mom, I won't say shit anymore.

Picture Madalyn being as calm as can be and every time she says shit she lisps. It really was so cute. FYI, she hasn't said it since.

Buns in the Oven

No, not me, had you going!! I swear we live in a baby factory. Everyone is pregnant or has had a baby recently or wants to be expecting. We are surrounded by babies!! I love it. I love babies especially the ones that are too young to care that I am not their mom so they will give me some real snuggle. Allyson's Halle is real good for that, I could really keep her for an extended stay! :) Maile has asked A LOT of questions about babies, where they come from, how they get in there, and how they get out! She has concluded that they get there because Heavenly Father puts them there via the belly button, which is also where they exit. Sounds good to me. She has also convinced Madalyn that they were in my tummy together. The story goes something like this:

Maile was in there swimming around (don't ask me how she knows she was buoyant) and Madalyn showed up one day. Maile makes it very clear that she was there first OCS (oldest child syndrome). They played/swam together and then one day Maile had to be born. So I went to the hospital and she crawled out of my belly button. She always completes the story by informing us how cute and little she was and that the nurses put a bow and a curl in her hair. That last part she stole from the actual event, yes, it is true. She also tells Mad that she had to stay in my tummy for a long, long time.---Actually, Maile is the one who over stayed her welcome and Madalyn checked out a little early, but who's counting?

Maile really wants a baby sister, another one. She has been asking when why all of her friends have babies and we don't. I guess her dolls aren't cutting it anymore. Maile is a baby lover. We were at a friends house earlier and Maile carried her baby all the way up the stairs! When we got home she told me several times that he was getting kicked and knocked over by all of the other kids so she decided to help him find his mom. She is a natural!!

If only we could have all worn a smile

All we needed was one shot with everyone happy and looking in the right direction. Well, we gave it a good shot anyway:) Maybe next year?

Madalyn, was eating it up. She came up with this pose nearly on her own, hands and all. Isn't she so sweet?!

I like this one. I know no one is looking but it is really us.

Hold the Phone!! We got a smile!!!

The uncertainty of it all is what keeps life interesting. I am laughing about our photo shoot now, last Saturday I wasn't. It makes for good memories!