Curt and Whitney Gillis...It's Official!

My younger brother Curt got married on August 15 at the Seattle, WA temple. We are so excited! His new wife is Whitney...check out her dress...isn't it AMAZING?? It was a wonderful ceremony.

I thought this was such a sweet picture. This is my niece, Taylor, hugging Curt.

This is my nephew, Brent...causing trouble. He decided to get into all the bushes, I think he was even trying to strip down...not sure though!Ben and I at the temple. It was a beautiful temple, lots of flowers and "foliage" (did I get that right Mom??). Isn't Ben handsome? He is one of the groomsman.
The Girl Cousins...minus one. Summer, Leah, Jennie, and Sharlyn. What's nice about a Gillis wedding is that everyone comes! It's a great family reunion!


This is a Gillis famiy picture...Ben, Summer, Whitney, Curt (brother), Mom, Dad, Katie and Eric (brother).
The Groomsman...Ben, Brandon (Whitney's brother), Whitney, Curt and Eric
Most of the cousins...Eric, Katie, Jennie, Ben, Summer, Leah, Austin, Sharlyn and JustinAfter the wedding we all went to Maggiano's...an Italian restaurant. It was some amazing food. After the dinner, all the guests lined the hall and sent them off with some bubbles. The funniest part was that they couldn't leave b/c my dad had the car keys! We had to track him down to give the keys to them. Talk about a smooth get away!

Congrats to you both! Were excited for you!

Sleepless in Seattle

This last week we were in Seattle, WA for my brother, Curt's wedding. We got there on Wednesday and came home on Sunday night. It was so fun! On Thursday we went to Pikes Place (or Market??) and did a little tour. We started with the throwing fish. We didn't see too much throwing though. Still, it is quite a site! The above picture is Curt, Eric and Ben.
Here is all the fish...I don't think I will ever forget the smell there...
Look how beautiful these flowers are! They had so many flowers there! And talk about cheap! These flowers were only $7. I would have flowers in my house everyday! The smell was amazing...

I love photographs like this...this place is basically a farmers market, so everything was so fresh! We ate all sorts of fruit, tried some smoked salmon (sooo good), bought some chocolate fettuccine (I can not wait to try this! It really tastes like chocolate...you top it with ice cream, whipping cream and chocolate sauce. No worries it will totally be on the blog).
I don't know why, but it totally bugged me that they use Washingtons face...you can't even tell it is his face until it is too late, it looks like a big tree. Why not use the regular interstate sign? I'm not an analytical thinker...this one had me thinking and it is such a stupid thing to get all thoughtful about....I'm just wierd I guess.
They had beautiful flowers EVERYWHERE. I loved them! Washington makes Dallas look really bad! Everything is so green, tons of trees and flowers!
Ben, Curt, Taylor, Katie, and Eric.
Myself and Ben...
On Saturday I was able to see one of my best friends from High School (there was three of us...Heather, Laurel and I), this is Laurel. She happens to live in Seattle and we were able to hang out for a few hours. This is at Pikes Market
Laurel and I on the roof of her condo...what a view! It was beautiful there! Thanks Laurel for such a fun time! It was so good to see you and Andy!

This is me, Ben, Andy (Laurel's husband) and Laurel by the Convention Center.

Paper Bag Scrapbooks

Just wanted to share a fun idea with you! I'm sure you have all seen these and probably made one...but, I was excited with how cute this turned out! We were making these for YW and I needed a sample for them so they could whip them out quickly (because with out a sample, it would take forever!!). So, this is what I came up with!
I used lots of rub-ons...those are great! My new favorite thing!
I must say that it is all about the ribbons! Lots and lots of ribbons, and buttons, and crystal brads.
On the right you can see a little tab...you just pull it out of the paper bag opening and you can journal on that.
Just as an FYI and you are going to make one: make sure that when you are putting the bags together, lay them going alternate ends. (Opening on the left and then on the right). A good resource is here.

Muffin Tin Monday

Apparently I am the last mom to have "Muffin Tin Monday" with my children! Thanks to sycamorestirrings who invented this fun day, my boys have been loving it! On Mondays you get your muffin tin and fill each cup with some fun food. The sky's the limit. You can check out her blog and see all sorts of creative suggestions. This is what we came up with...hope you have fun creating your muffin tin Monday!
Here are the boys enjoying their lunch...(btw, it appears that my boys never have shirts on. I don't know why except that we live in Texas and it is HOT. Other than that, we usually DO wear shirts. Sorry.)

Indulging

This is what Ben found after he came in from mowing the lawn (mind you I was gone...of course). Noah and a million Starburst wrappers. I had bought a package of them for YW and Noah just couldn't help himself...they are his favorites. He ate every single one of them (around 20 of them). Needless to say he was up until around 10:30 pm due to the sugar high he was experiencing.

Noah's 1st Day of Pre-School

Noah started Preschool on Monday! It was kind of a whirl-wind getting him ready! Ben and I got back from Seattle (we were at my brother, Curt's wedding...blogging that will come soon!!) on Sunday night at about 7:30 and then we had to go and pick up the boys (they stayed with Ben's brothers) and by the time we got home and put the boys to bed it was about 10:30 pm. I had to get Noah all ready for school and there by 9am the next morning. (All you mother's out there know how stressful it can be to get kids all ready for school!) We did it and he was all ready. Doesn't he look handsome in his little outfit? He looks so grown up! I can't believe my baby is 3!
I love this picture of him with his crooked little grin. His teacher said he did great for his first day. When I went to pick him up he was the only little kid asleep still. He was out like a log. Not too surprised considering he got to bed so late! His little folder has a paper that says what he did that day and what he needs to work on...his teacher says he needs to work on "listening...he talks way too much when the teacher is talking". So I guess we have to have a little talk about that!

Caden's Last T-ball Game

T-ball season is over (well, it ended like 2 weeks ago, just a bit behind on the blogging thing)...thank goodness! It was way too hot! It was always around 105 degrees! Plus some of the games started at 8:15 pm. A little late for us since they go to bed at 7pm! But...it was so fun to see him play! For the last game Caden got to be pitcher! He was so excited! He did a great job...he got all the balls and knew to throw the ball to first base. Way to go Caden!
Here he is day dreaming. In a picture I didn't post he was picking his nose. I guess he got a little bored when he didn't get the ball:-)
It's too bad that on the second to last game I finally figured out what to do with Noah during the games instead of chasing him everywhere. If I sat on the top of the bleachers, I can see him the whole time and I can watch the game and let him do his thing. Here he is climbing the bleachers and being silly.
After the game the team went to CiCi's for some pizza and the boys got their TROPHY's! I think he was playing just for the trophy. He was a little too excited!
Noah was happy as well...

Fun in the Sun!

On Monday we went to Lewisville to have some fun with Alma and Hannah. We went to this cute little waterpark that is over there. The kids had a blast and Noah actually went in and played, he put his face in the water and did all these "tricks". I'm very proud of him, (this is a big deal because this whole summer he just walks around the pool or will just sit and put is legs in, which is wierd because he is our little daredevel). Caden has been swimming like a little fish all summer, without floaties. He loves being in the water! Above is a picture of Caden, Hannah and all sorts of other friends that Alma knows. Caden keeps talking about his new friend...the girl in the yellow swim suit.
ONE, TWO, THREE, JUMP!!!
Caden swimming around.
Noah and Caden playing on the water park (I don't know what to call it...it's like a park in the water).
Hannah and Caden...had a blast! Thanks again for the fun time!

Breaking Dawn Party!

On Friday night, my friend Sharla, my cousin Jennie and I went to Barnes and Noble for the Breaking Dawn Prom (I know...the Prom? As my friend Sharla said..."That was so 3 books ago".) It would have made sense to have the theme be a bridal shower or something, but whatever. Anyway...we went, we had our picture taken, we made these lovely picture frames and then we got a corsage with a black rose, and we made "Bella Bracelets". Great fun. Especially when we were the only adults there....mostly kids around the ages of 12-16. Boy did we feel pretty cool, let me tell you! Oh well! We got there pretty early because we were told that if we didn't get a bracelet, we wouldn't get a book! So we got there around 9pm, and there were PLENTY of bracelets...so we went to Red Robyn to stuff our face with appetizers and desserts. That was the best part. I wonder what our boy waiter thought of us with our cool corsage's? Now, this picture is pretty special. It only took about 10 times to get it. Sharla had a hard time keeping her eyes open (not sure if it was because it was WAY past her bedtime??) and I couldn't seem to get us all centered. So, here we are.
Jennie didn't want a prom picture (I can't imagine why not??? There were only a million teeny boppers around looking at us funny...), so we settled for this...

Sharla and I at 1:30 am getting our book...Yeah! Let the reading BEGIN!!!
I finished the book last night, pretty good...I feel indifferent towards it. Not my favorite out of the series. Can't say that I would let my daughter read this one in particular (not that I have one, but if I did...I would wait till she was maybe 18 to read it). So, still worth the read because I read the others and HAD to find out how the saga ends! What did you think of the book??

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I guess Noah has decided that since he is now 3, he can say whatever he wants...well, for journalings sake and to prove that when he is a teenager, I have every right to embarrass him as much as I want or feel the need to. He has put me in some bright red-in-the-face moments this week:

On Wednesday we went to Chick-fil-a with my cousin, Jennie and her two boys. After we ate they of course played in the play area. Well, Noah is at the top holding his bum, walking around like a chicken yelling, "Mom! My poop's coming out!!". Yeah, not at all embarassing when there are other people in the room!

On Thursday:
We were at Kohl's checking out (imagine several boys around the ages of 10, 15, 18, 21 and some dads) and for some reason Noah yells out "OH! my Nuts!" They all just looked back and see this little 3 year old yelling this out and they all could not stop laughing. I had to explain that I don't think he meant it like that....I have no idea what he was trying to say. I just couldn't wait to get out of there!

This is a Caden one...I just think this is kinda cute:
On Tuesday we were getting some last minute things to finish our backyard landscaping and on our way to Home Depot
Caden says, "Mom, my brain talks to me all the time."
Mom: "Really? What does your brain tell you?"
Caden: "Oh, it tells me things like, that's my school that I'm going to or Oh, there's Home Depot!"
Mom: "Well...your brain will do that alot to you, my brain does the same thing."
It just made me laugh! How does he know his brain is talking to him? How do you explain that those are thoughts? He is so aware of things and catches on so quick!

Happy 3rd Birthday Noah!!

My baby is 3 years old! How did that happen? How did it happen so FAST! He already seems like a little man. It seems like yesterday that I was in the hospital! Time flies by WAY to fast when you have kids!! So his birthday was on Tuesday, July 29. He wanted a Backyardigans Party sooo bad. Everyday for several months he kept asking me about his party. So we threw one together and he got to invite 3 of his friends and then some family (my cousin Jennie was in town because she is MOVING here!!! Yeah!!). So here are the highlights of the party:The cake. Oh this cake took me ALL day to make. But I must say that I am rather pleased with the outcome. He got to pick out how he wanted his cake (he had 3 choices) and this is the one he chose. He kept bringing me the cake pan everyday until it was time. He was so excited. (I love that he gets so excited about these things!)
Noah blowing out his candles.
He didn't want his Pablo cake...he opted for the pink cupcake.
We had a little bounce house in the backyard for the kids to bounce on (we borowed it from a friend). This is the greatest bounce house. I think we are going to have to get us one.
Noah pinning the bowtie on Pablo.

Noah bouncing on the bounce house.

Pinata time! Everyone picked a string and pulled...it didn't break. Oh well!
Ben finally pried it open and all the candy came pouring out. I love that all the kids are on the grass getting it and Aliza has her bag open and letting the candy fall in her bag. Smart girl!

I think Caden was confused on whose party it really was. He was mad when we didn't do the game he wanted, he opened all of Noah's presants, he opened all the toysa up and played with them...like this fireman costume. He could not wait to give it to Noah so he could wear it. Funny kid!

Rainbow Cookie Pops

These were so fun to make! The boys loved being able to roll the dough into circles and then into snakes. It almost seems like it is play dough. It is a great little summer activity. These look really cute if you put a cookie cover over it and tie the end with a bow. The recipe came from mysisterscucina.blogspot.com. You need to check out their blog, great recipes.

Rainbow Cookie Pops

3/4 c. butter, softened
3 oz. cream cheese
1 c. white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
assorted colors of food coloring
24 lollipop sticks

In a bowl cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until smooth.

In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir till soft dough forms. Divide dough into fourths. Tint each with a different food color. (This takes some time and fore-arm muscles, so get ready! The more the food coloring, the more vibrant the color.) Wrap each color in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into 3/4 inch balls and for each cookie place one of each color and form into a ball. (Make sure they are all sticking together well.) Shape the big ball into a 12 inch long roll (like a snake), starting at one end, coil roll to make a cookie. Place cookies 3 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Carefully insert lollipop sticks into bottoms of cookies.

Bake cookies for 8 minutes of until lightly browned. cool and store in an airtight container.