Daphne+scissors=Bob

Daphne decided last week that since I was busy baking a wedding cake hence leaving her to her own devices, she should get a hold of my scissors and give herself some baby doll bangs. She is so thoughtful I definitely wasn't busy or stressed enough! After a few frantic phone calls to all the stylists I know I finally got in touch with my friend Beth and she kindly agreed to squeeze her into a 15 min slot. Here are the lovely results

Leave it to Beth to make lemonade out of lemons. Tristan said wow Daphne it actually looks really cute (compliment indeed!) after which she perked up and said, "See I can cut my hair!". Um yeah sure Daphne it was all you. She had wanted to grow her hair like Rapunzel, like every other 4 yr old I know, but I think she likes her short sassy little do it matches her even sassier personality.

Spring Break

So we didn't go out of town but we did have as much fun as possible this spring break. We/the kids....

• camped in a tent in the living room and ate microwave s'mores yum.
• Braved the dollar theaters and saw Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked from the front row
• Had a picnic and played at the park with our cousins
• Played at the park with our ward friends
• Played and had dinner at Grandma Eyestone's with Uncle Zach and Uncle Taylor
• Saw The Lorax on Dad's day off.
• Ate at IHOP in honor of seeing the Lorax with Aunt Randi and Uncle Warren
• Had Pizza at Grandpa and Grandma Johnson's house
• And plan to meet more cousins at the park today.
• Ate lots of candy and junk
• Ran around the house screaming many many times
• Alternated fighting and playing with siblings.
• Played basketball, baseball, and soccer indoors even after being told a million times not to.
• Annoyed mom and destroyed the house so much that mom chose Violets nap time as her personal time out just to spare herself the sight of all the destruction and thus spare our small lives.

Okay so it wasn't all bad I did enjoy staying up to late with Golden and "sleeping in" If 8am can really be considered as much. It had it's good moments and I really do adore my children, but one week is definitely enough and I am very grateful to live in Mesa where we are not crazy and realize that two weeks of spring break is just insanity! Good luck to all you suckers who still have another week of this;)

Best Pesto Ever!

So for a few years I have been experimenting with different Pesto recipes that all turn out great but a little too strong to eat plain on pasta. I have tried using spinach, arugula, and thinning it with chicken stock to no avail I end up making Alfredo to mellow it out. But I finally found a winning combination and so I just have to share/ record it here so I remember how to make it next time. No pics sorry but it was super green and yummy.
3/4 of an asparagus bunch ( I blanched them in salted water for 4 minutes first)
2 C baby spinach
1 C Basil
6 cloves garlic
3/4 to 1 C good olive oil
1/2 C Parmesan cheese
2 Tbs cream cheese softened
1/2 C chopped Walnuts toasted in a dry pan over medium heat ( traditionally it calls for pine nuts but I am too cheap for that)
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp lemon juice
Heat 4 of the garlic cloves with the 3/4 C olive oil over medium heat for about 5 min to soften the garlic without burning. Add all ingredients besides olive oil into a food processor and blend on high while slowly streaming the olive oil until well combine. Serve over your favorite pasta.
Tips: do not heat the sauce instead pour it over the hot pasta using a little of the pasta water to thin the sauce if needed. Can be served hot or cold and makes an excellent dip.

I'm working on it

...I'm working both on my design and on actually blogging more often than just holidays. I guess I will just have to live with the fact that I will never be the type of mom with a camera on her at all times, capturing every inch grown, tooth lost, and haircut. That being said I have decided not to feel guilty for having a barely illustrated blog and I will write on, with or with out pictures of my rarely camera ready life. Phew that took a weight off. So here's to new entries in the New Year to be written when ever I feel like it. And to lower but attainable expectations ,"Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.” 
― L.M. Montgomery

Christmas

  It has been an insanely busy couple of weeks which have included 3 Christmas parties 2 of which were at my house, a missionary farewell and open house, family in town, a kitchen "remodel/mold removal" which displaced us from our home for 3 days, a new babysitting gig, and one less car all in the midst of Christmas shopping/present wrapping/treat making. Phew I am exhausted just talking about it. With all this going on I have somehow had time to reflect on what Christmas really means to me. And I find that I am amazed that for one month out of the year everyone is just a little bit more generous and thoughtful. Whether people acknowledge Him or not, everyone who celebrates Christmas is truly celebrating the birth of Christ. The tradition of Christmas lives on and though it may be a more commercialized version, many unite in celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world. I feel so blessed to be living the life I have, though I experience struggles and challenges which sometimes feel unfair and overwhelming. I have known and experienced my Savior's love for me. I have time and time again received blessings and answers to my prayers right when I needed them most. And I know that when no one else understands me, He does and He truly knows my heart and intentions. I am exceedingly grateful for the Birth of Jesus Christ and for his life and mission here on earth. Words cannot express my gratitude for Him and His humble birth.

Halloween (belated)

In case you were dying to know what my kids were for Halloween.....
Tristan- Clone trooper NOT to be confused with storm trooper
Morgan- Young Anakin  Sky walker not to be confused with Obi Wan
Daphne, Violet (and me)- cheetahs not to be confused with leopards( according to Tristan the pattern of our markings was more leopard than cheetah. Whatever!)

We had a great night we ate homemade Navajo fry bread with Randi and Warren and Papa J and Grammy Linda before heading out to our favorite neighborhood to trick or treat. Violet was a pro and walked to nearly every door bucket in hand where she expertly selected her treat before depositing it safely into her green jack o-lantern. She seriously cracked us all up as she practically ran to each door she even knocked on a few with her puny fists. After Trick or treating we visited Grandma Sheila who gave us cute bags of goodies before racing home to our cozy beds. Anyway our Halloween was a success hope yours was as well!

Blog updated: Check

Violet says HI!

Last week we all took a much needed hiatus from Internet, TV, and movies. So of course that means that i had a good excuse for not blogging and also means that I have spent too much time this AM catching up on FB and my favorite blogs. So here's a list of the notable highlights of what you missed.

• Tristan smashed his CTR (choose the right) ring on his finger so much so that it was pinching off his circulation and his finger turned purple. Whilst Golden ran to Lowe's to find a tool which could cut it off,  I tried my best to keep Tristan calm and convince him that his finger would not die and fall off, as he supposed it would. I also had to stop myself from panicking and running around yelling ahhhhhh his finger is Gonna DIE and fall off!!!!! I succeeded in keeping both of us calm long enough for golden to get the tool and cut it off. It was crazy smashed and in no way resembled an object that had ever been a circle!!!
• Golden's little sis, who is my age, moved back to AZ from OR so we have had a good time with cousins around here. Braelynn who is 6 months younger than Daphne was able to spend the night and the girls had a blast.
• We  also got to play tennis for the first time in years! Tristan had been bragging that he was so good thanks to his practice time on the Wii. I had to inform him that it was not the same and I even told him that he probably wouldn't be good (aka you are gonna suck and I am gonna beat you). I should have bit my tongue. Having been an Eyestone for 8 years now you would think that I would have figured out how athletically talented they are. Tristan was amazing and actually excelled in a game of doubles on Golden's team against Randi and Warren. He quickly figured out how to serve and was pretty accurate. Then of course Golden and Randi had to compete and both of them played so well (what else would you expect?). I always forget how good Golden is at well, everything. You might not be able to tell but Golden is really good at sports especially basketball, baseball, and tennis. He also could have quite a career as a pool shark if he wanted to.
• Weirdest story ever: I was at the grocery store and decided to write a check which I never do. I handed the cashier my check and ID knowing he would need it. He runs the check and then looks for my ID to process my payment and he can't find it. So he is panicking and looking everywhere assuring me it's not in his pocket (haha). I finally hand him my backup ID and step aside while he helps the next customer so we can look again. The manager comes over and we are all searching everywhere the garbage, bags, everywhere . Finally the manager gets a flashlight and looks down a crack that leads down into the kiosk where all the wires are hidden and what do you know he finds my ID.They have to take the front panel off of the register just to fish it out. Things like this ONLY happen to ME!!

Daphne the chicken

• Or ward had our primary program yesterday and my boys did GREAT they had their parts memorized and even sang a song in front of the microphone. Daphne however..... I practiced, begged, and bribed that child and still her tiny teacher had to carry her to the microphone and tell her what to say and she still only said 2 words and not even into the microphone!!!! I guess I should be glad she chickened out since I'm pretty sure I would have had to cough up a pony or something.
• And last but not least my amazing husband Golden finished his associates degree in business whooohooo. And the best part is he gets a week off for good behavior before he starts his bachelor's. Better late than never right.

Well have a good week I probably won't post again till after Halloween when I have fun pics