And like that...he was gone...

I knew this day was going to come sooner or later. I just didn't realize it was going to be so hard. In fact, I kept trying to deny the reality of Jeff moving to Salt Lake to start his new job, even up until the minute he drove out of the driveway. Luckily, the week before he left, he was able to take a lot of time off work to spend with me and the boys. Then on Friday, we decided we had procrastinated enough and started packing his car. We took all his clothes and shoes and put them in the trunk. Everything for his office (all his work trophies and plaques that he's been awarded, as well as his framed pictures of the family and the boys) was put into a box in the back seat. His "toiletries" we packed into a tupperware box. And last but not least, he packed his favorite pillow, which is more like a flat rock, if you ask me! I had to laugh because if that was me packing all the necessities to live alone for two months? It would still have taken a U-Haul! Gotta love men.

Anyway, this morning we all took our time waking up and then decided that we'd spend our last morning together eating breakfast at (my favorite restaurant) IHOP. I told Jeff he'd drive better and longer on a full stomach. Really all I was trying to do was prolong the goodbyes.

Needless to say, they came. And he went...

Shout-Out to Chatterbox Designs

I have to send a shout-out to my friend's darling and creative company, Chatterbox Designs. My old roommate, Joy McKinley Cottrell, from Ricks College (I just won't ever get used to calling it BYU Idaho) recently started her own business, which specializes in selling a "collection of unique, trendy and affordable project kits that are a must-have for your home decor or as heartfelt gifts!"

For Valentines Day, I just couldn't pass up purchasing these blocks for my kitchen.


And as a V-Day gift to Garrett's teacher, I purchased these darling magnets for only $7.00!


For my next purchase, I can't decide between these 3 items. Shoot, maybe I'll just get them all!

I'm so in love with these blocks!

Take a minute and check out Chatterbox Design's darling items. You won't be disappointed!

Valentine treats...Martha Stewart style!

So for Valentine's Day, my sister-in-law, Natalie (who used to be my college roommate and is one of my BEST friends) thought it would be a great idea to make some sugar cookies for her husband's (my little brother) dental office and staff. Now when I say sugar cookies...I don't mean just simple heart-shaped sugar cookies covered in red frosting. No, no...that would never do. I'm talking about a serious Martha Stewart-inspired creation. Surprise, surprise. I don't need to tell those of you that know Natalie, that she is one of the most creative people I know (just check out her blog)! Don't you just hate people like that!? Anyway, she provided this picture as her outline for divinty, and then proceeded to somehow talk ME into making some of my own. Hmmm...

For those of you that know me even slightly...you know that cooking, let alone baking, is not really my thing. But considering the fact that it was Valentine's Day, I thought, "what the hell." Not to mention with Jeff leaving soon, I figured it would be a nice "goodbye" gesture to take in some lovely baked goods for his team of loan officers at work. Nattie and I also figured that if both of us were taking on the task, we could call each other for advice, as well as bounce ideas off each other.

In the end (9 hours later), I have to say that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I followed Martha's sugar cookie recipe precisely (minus using the flour sifter....a flour sifter?) and ended up with a pretty great tasting cookie!

From there, Nattie and I independently created our finished product based on our own interpretation of Martha's example.

So, here is Nattie's:

Beautiful! Even the picture is perfectly staged! I love that girl! Nattie kept the idea of using the sucker sticks, dipped the corners in white chocolate and topped them off with red sprinkles.

And here is mine...I lost the sticks, made my cookies each a little larger, dipped half of each cookie in white baker's chocolate (by the way DO NOT add food coloring to bakers chocolate....it DOES not scientifically work...thank you trial and error) and then dipped 1/2 of the batch in chocolate sprinkles and the other 1/2 in red cinnamon sprinkles. Wallah!

Nattie and I had so much fun seeing what the other's finished product looked like. So great! Thanks, Nattie for encouraging me to take on my Martha-side. Oh yeah, and Jeff's employees LOVED them...but were a little shocked to see Jeff walk in with baked goodies. What, could they not believe that HE made them? Or that I did!?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to my sweet Love.

AND...happy birthday to my darling little sister-in-law, Cassie! What a great day to celebrate YOUR day. We wish we could be there to celebrate with you. Hope to see you soon! Garrett and Isaac miss you...

The Greatest Commercial

Love it!

(pause my music below for best viewing)

Happy Birthday, Anne!

On Saturday night, we celebrated Anne's (my sister-in-law) birthday at Jinbeh, a great Hibachi & Sushi restaurant in Frisco. It was nice to be out with so many of our good friends, some of which we've known for almost 5 years! It reminded me how hard it's going to be to leave here. They all have no idea how much they will be missed.

New Church Presidency

Thomas S. Monson is the new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was announced today at a news conference in the Church Office Building. President Monson, 80, succeeds President Gordon B. Hinckley, who passed away January 27th.

The new world leader of the Church has called to serve with him in the First Presidency, the top governing body of the 13-million-member faith, President Henry B. Eyring, 74, first counselor, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 67, second counselor.

President Boyd K. Packer, 83, is the new president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be filled later.

Love and Logic

Since I moved to Allen almost 2 1/2 years ago, all I've heard about through the grapevine, is how great this Love and Logic parenting class is. With my boys getting older and discipline needed more and more, I've been wanting to take a really good parenting class. So when I heard that there really was one out there, I was sold on the idea. The thing is, I couldn't seem to make my schedule work for any of the 6-week courses...until now!

So last Thursday, I finally started my once a week, 6-week course. And can I tell you, just after one two-hour class, I'm hooked! I came away with so many great ideas, with the main one being..."don't focus on trying to change your kids...instead, focus on changing the way you interact with your kids, and positive behavior will follow suit." The L&L's main philosophy is two-fold: teach with experience and by example (this will bring about a child that is respectful, responsible and fun to be around); and don't forget that YOU are the parent! I love it.

Check in your area to see if this philsophy of parenting classes is taught. You will not be disappointed! For those of you in the Dallas area, email my istructor, Amy Egan (a.egan518@sbcglobal.net), for her schedule of courses. There is even a condensed 6-hour course (offered 2 Saturdays, 3-hours each) for husbands! If Jeff wasn't leaving soon and having to work on Saturday, I would forsure make him go!

Sooooo worth the wait!