The Dragon, The Ladybug, and The Jedi

Little Dragon with his glow sticks and loot

Ladybug sans wings

The only picture I have of the Jedi, horrible I know

Happy Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!

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Some days if I stop and think about it I am blown away that I get to be their mom.

It is HARD, and amazing, and such a privilege. They push me to the edge of my limits and sometimes I think that I may not survive, but they teach me everyday a little more and once they are safe and QUIET in bed

I feel so blessed.

Uncle Mike

I got a cute book a few weeks ago called Hello Cupcake. It has some adorable ideas for cupcake decorating. My favorite thing about it is that you don't need any special equipment to make any of them. No frosting bags or tips required!

Mike had a birthday so we just had to try out the Spaghetti and Meatballs cupcakes. I made the cupcakes and Neil and they boys had a blast decorating them. They were so excited to show Uncle Mike when he came over for dinner. Mike is a great friend and I am sure that he and Neil must be brothers someway somehow. We love you Mike, you are the best uncle ever!

Cutsie Cakes

My sweet Aunt Shelly treated us to Cutsie Cakes cupcakes last week. We were in heaven! We had a peanut butter, chocolate cherry, strawberry filled vanilla, and red velvet.

This wasn't even posed, he must be my child!

Thanks Shelly! You're the best!

Homemade Power Bars

A friend recently gave me a recipe for homemade "power bars". They are DELICIOUS and my kids love them too! They don't look appetizing but ever since I started making them I can't keep our freezer stocked and Fischer is always asking if he can have another "bars". Here is the recipe:

1 cup oats
3/4 cup dried fruit (we have used apples, raisins, craisins, mixed fruit, pretty much anything works)
3/4 cup almonds (we have used mixed nuts and they taste great too)
3/4 cup chocolate (chips, bars, for us the darker the better)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 scoop protein powder or 1 Tablespoon flour

2-3 Tablespoons juice (apple, orange, any kind works)
snack sized ziplock baggies

Place all ingredients except juice in a food processor or heavy duty blender and blend until ingredients start to form a fine paste. Add juice and stir together. Place in clumps in snack sized ziplock baggies and mash down, pushing the air out and flattening the bar. Store in freezer. They thaw out very quickly and are a super snack!

makes about 8 bars

The White Sharks

Beckett started playing soccer this year. He is on the "White Sharks" and is loving it.

Taking the ball from anyone is fair game, even your own teammate.

The great thing about soccer at this age is that the field is small, the teams only have 5 players with 3 on the field at once, and they don't keep score. It is so funny to watch, like a swarm of bees.

Inspiration

We spent the weekend listening to General Conference. It was inspiring, especially this talk by Jeffery R. Holland. He has been a favorite of mine ever since he gave an amazing talk about mothers while I was on my mission in Argentina. Back then it made me miss and appreciate my mom so much. Now it means even more because I am a mother.

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I am motivated to do and be better after hearing the words of the leaders of the church. I feel so blessed!