Pears and Dots

I finally finished my 1st quilt! Yeah me!! Thanks to the help of my friend Gwen (gave me the pattern idea and helped me do the binding) and my mother-in-law (who quilted it for me). I have always wanted to make a quilt and this one is for Connor. I love it!! Hopefully this will be the first of many. I have already found another one that I can't wait to make...that one will take awhile...but it is super girly, that way maybe none of the boys will want to use it:)

1 Month Old!

I can't believe my baby is already one month old! The time has already gone by so quickly! He is such a good baby (except for last week when he decided that he didn't want to go to bed until 1 or 2 am...we nipped that in the bud real quick;)

Here are his stats from his 1 mo. check up:

Weight: 9 lbs. 6 oz. 25-50%

Height: 21 3/4 " 50%

Head: 14 1/2" 25%

Happy 4th Birthday Noah!

Today is Noah's 4th Birthday!! I can't believe my little guy is all grown up! He planned out the whole day for us! It started with some sugar...lots of doughnuts. We went to our favorite place and he picked out all his favorites.
Then he wanted to make some cupcakes all by himself...from start to finish. He did a pretty good job! Not too messy either!
Next came the decorating. Beautiful cupcakes with tons and tons and tons of sprinkles. I mean tons of sprinkles.
Next up...T-shirts. He wanted me to make a t-shirt for him. So last week we went to the store, he picked out his t-shirt, his fabric and his design. We had fun making it. (Unfortunately this shirt is Cadens...when we were about to eat pizza...his dinner choice...he spilt garlic butter all over it. Hopefully it won't stain).
Then we had a photo shoot with all of his projects for the day. His real celebration b-day will be on Sat. when we go to G'ma and G'pas house and go horseback riding, splash park, open presents, eat the cake he wants me to make and sing. Then we will celebrate again in Houston in 2 weeks. The boy is not lacking for b-day parties!!!

Happy birthday sweetie! I sure love you and all the randomness that comes with you:)

Family Tray

I made this project the other day and I love the way it turned out! I got the idea on a blog that I just love...Livin' Life. The one she shows is a Christmas Cookie Tray. Just think of all the possibilities!! You can change out the paper for Birthday, Summer Time, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc. These were so easy to make. If you have a Cricut (which I just got one:) Yeah!!) You can do even more!!
This was so easy to do. Just get an 11 x 14 picture frame, make a cute scrapbook page depending on the season and then frame it. Get 2 pieces of cabinet hardware and then screw them into the picture frame. You might want to make sure that the picture frame is wooden...

Its a fun, quick craft you can whip out in no time!

Lemon Buttons

I think by now you all know how I feel about "mini" things. I don't know why...but when desserts are mini I love them even more. So, here is another "mini' dessert. I love these! It was hard to not eat just one...I had to pass them on to Ben's work because I have a good 15 more pounds of baby weight to loose. I got the recipe from Mmm...Cafe. Enjoy!

Lemon Buttons

Muffins

1 yellow cake mix
Small box (3 1/2 ounces) instant lemon pudding mix
4 large eggs
½ cup natural applesauce
¼ cup vegetable oil

Glaze
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
Zest of one lemon
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons water

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Spray MINI muffin tins with cooking spray. Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, applesauce and oil and blend well. Fill each muffin tin half full with batter.
Bake for 9 minutes.
For the glaze, sift the confectioners' sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, oil, and 3 tablespoons water.
Dip the cupcakes into the glaze while they're still warm, turning them to completely coat. Place on wire racks with waxed paper underneath to catch any drips.
Let the glaze set thoroughly, about 1 hour. These are to die for FROZEN! I know, it sounds crazy, but give it a shot, we actually prefer them that way!

Yeilds: About 60 mini buttons.

Brown-Sugar Glazed Bacon

I know...kinda wierd blogging about bacon. But that should make you realize how yummy this is! This stuff is like candy! Try it for your next brunch or put it on your burgers. So good! It came from Martha Stewart.

• 16 slices (about 1 pound) bacon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground pepper
• 1/3 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 10-by-15-inch rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper; place a wire rack on top of each sheet. Arrange bacon in a single layer on the two racks. Evenly sprinkle with pepper and sugar.
2. Bake until bacon is crisp and browned, rotating sheets halfway through, 30 to 35 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels.

Connor's Birth Announcements

My fabulous Sister-in-Law, Whitney, designed Connor's Baby Announcements for me! She did such an amazing job and I just had to share them with you all! They all turned out so cute...I really couldn't decide which one I like the best! I think I'm going to order some of each and pass them out randomly!

So Whitney just graduated from college and is starting up her own business with making wedding announcements, birth announcements, birthdays...you name it, she can do it! Everything is totally custom and you get to choose everything! I told her I wanted

everything to be in chocolate and aqua and some dots (like his room is)...she came up with four incredible designs!

If there is something you want specifically...just tell her and she can do it! I wish I had her skills!

Anyway, check out her blog and give her some business!!

Whitney Gillis Design

Give me some feedback on which one is your favorite and what you think of them!

She Did it Again!!

My friend Ambyr took some more pictures of Connor when he was about 2 weeks old. She was using tons of fun hats and props from a friend of hers who makes them (yes, all those cute hats...you can find them here). Anyway...she took some AMAZING pictures. We had so much fun on the hanging one...you'll see what I mean!! So...come and have a looksy!! Thanks Ambyr!!

Ambyr Porter Photography

Orange Cream Cheese Filled Pull Apart Rolls

On Sunday our ward split:( Our family was put into a ward where we know about 3 families. And I was released from being YW Pres. All my friends are still in the same ward. Now. having said all that...it was an emotional day for me (mostly because I just had a baby and we all know how that is). When I get sad or stressed out, I bake. I baked alot on Sunday. So I'm going to gradually post all the yumminess that I made:)
I got this reciped off a blog called Life Should be Delicious. It was so yummy! I liked the cream cheese middle, but next time I might not put as much cream cheese in the middle or I might make it more of a cheese cake mixture and add some powdered sugar and vanilla...now that would be delicious!!

Orange Cream Cheese Filled Pull Apart Rolls

3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. pecans (opt.)
2 tsp. orange zest
2 cans Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits
1 8 oz cream cheese
1/2 c. melted butter
1 c. powdered sugar
2 Tbs. orange juice

Combine the sugar and zest in a small bowl and set aside. Cut cream cheese into equal number of squares as biscuits. Place one square on cream cheese into the center of biscuit and fold over into a half moon shape and pinch the edges. Dip in melted butter and dredge in sugar/zest mixture. Place in a greased bundt pan with the curve side down in a single layer, do not stack and try not to have any gaps. Drizzle with remaining butter and sugar mixture. Bake 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Invert onto a platter. Mix together powdered sugar and orange juice and drizzle over hot rolls. Serve warm.

Oreo Cookies

I know that everyone has some variation of this yummy cookie. But I just had to post it because they are so good and its a good reminder to you to make them!!

Oreo Cookies

1 pkg. Chocolate cake mix

2/3 c. shortening

2 eggs

In large bowl, combine all ingredients. Roll into 1" balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

After cookies cool, frost with buttercream frosting between the chocolate cookies. I like to add crushed Oreos to the frosting.

Chicken Spaghetti

This is a favorite of mine...love all the chicken, all the cheese...yummy. This recipe came from one of my fabulous Aunts...either Aunt Dotti or Aunt Caryn. Who wants to claim it?? This makes a TON...so you can either half it, freeze it or share it:)

Chicken Spaghetti

6 chicken breasts

1 lb. spaghetti

1/2 stalk celery

1 onion

2 green peppers

1 lb. Velvetta cheese

1 lg. jar pimentos (opt.)

1 stick margarine

2 cans cream of mushroom soup (or cr. of chicken)

Cook and dice chicken. Let sit. Cook spaghetti in broth (add water if needed). In skillet put margarine, chopped peppers, chopped onion, celery and pimentos. Cook until tender and season with salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Cube cheese and put in spaghetti and broth. Ad everything else and mix. Bakes 2 (9x13") pans. Bake at 350 degrees fro 30-45 minutes.

Horseback Riding

Last week my sweet in-laws took the boys for the whole week. It was so nice...I was able to try and get things "back to normal" and get a schedule down with Connor. One day they all went Horseback Riding!! They went with their cousins, Molly and Will, Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Wendy and Uncle Jon. A huge thanks to Wendy for taking all the pictures and letting me steal them from her blog;)

I guess Caden and Noah loved being on the horse! I thought they would have been scared out of their mind and went kicking and screaming! Not so! Way to go boys!
Here is Grandpa leading Caden and Noah's horse










All the Cowboys and Cowgirls. Looks like they had a blast! The boys had such a fun time! They are still talking about riding on the horse!

Connor at 2 weeks

Connor is now 2 weeks old! I can't believe how quickly it is already going by!

He went for his 2 week check up yesterday and here are the stats:

Weight: 8 lbs. 5 oz. (50th%)

Height: 21" (50th%)

Head: 14" (25th%)

Who Does Connor Look Like?

Caden

Noah

Connor

The Bassinet

This bassinet is a family heirloom. I believe Ben's, Mom's, Dad made it and Ben and all of his 5 brothers used it. Now that their are grandkids, all the grandkids have used it. Connor makes grandbaby #7 and Ben's mom wanted to make some new bedding. We went to JoAnn's and had to pick some fabric that could go boy or girl. This is what we came up with. I am totally in love with it! She did such an AMAZING job on it! Thanks so much!

Mini Chocolate Mint Brownies

I have been wanting to make these little cuties for quite sometime now and finally made them for a friend. I got this really cute mini cheesecake pan from William-Sonoma and I must say...worth every penny:) This is the BYU chocolate mint brownie recipe that has been passed around for as long as I can remember. But, if you need a short-cut, just use box brownies, using the cakier brownie instead of fudgy (basically add one extra egg). I found the idea on a blog called Satisfying My Sweet Tooth.
Chocolate Mint Brownies

1 C sugar
1 1/2 C butter, softened and divided
4 eggs
16 oz canned chocolate syrup
1 C flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 C powdered sugar
1 T milk
1 tsp peppermint extract
2-3 drops green food coloring
6 oz chocolate chips

Combine sugar and 1/2 C butter; blend in eggs, chocolate syrup, flour, and baking powder. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 pan or jelly roll pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Place in refrigerator until cool. Blend in another 1/2 C butter and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl. Add milk, peppermint extract, and food coloring. Mix well and spread over chocolate brownie layer. Refrigerate until firm. Melt chocolate chips and remaining 1/2 C butter and stir until well mixed. Pour over mint layer and refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares and keep in fridge until served.

Our 1st Week with Connor

I just wanted to share a few pictures of Connor's first week of being home. My mom was amazing and stayed with us for a little over a week helping me with the boys. I am forever grateful for her help! Hopefully she's not too sleep deprived!!

First Day home from the hospital...Grandma and Grandpa Thatcher were waiting for us!
Grandma with Connor.

Here is Connor...3 days old.
The boys want to be by him every second of every day.
Mimi and Connor.
Connor's first bath.
Noah just loves on Connor all the time. The second he wakes up he wants to hold him. He also wants a picture with Connor every time he holds him.
Diane and Weldon (family friends for as long as I can remember) came for a visit and brought gifts and some amazing sugar cookies and thumbprint cookies...we couldn't get enough of them!
My Dad and Connor...such a sweet picture. My Dad came to visit at the hospital and to drop my Mom off to help me. Then he came back on Friday (July 3) morning and stayed thru Sunday. We had so much fun.
Connor at 12 days old. All my boys have done this cute little "O" with their mouth...I just love it! It's also our tribute to Michael Jackson...we are sporting the one glove thing.
What a BIG yawn!!