...........Are You Kidding Me?

My Little Christmas Mobile

2012-02-07T11:12:00.000-08:00

I guess it is time to take down the pics on my little wire mobile. I got it at Shop-ko for $10. I love it. I used it to display some of the family photos I got at Christmas time. It hangs from the vaulted ceiling. I think I'm gonna use it year round for special occasions. It is out of the way and adds interest to that part of the house.

P.S. I know my pics are lame. I only have my i-phone right now.

The sewing condition....

2012-01-29T18:36:00.001-08:00

Sew I decided to kinda clean up my sewing area in the basement.
Here are some before pictures : Stephanie had been occupying the larger room, but she actually has an apartment so we decided to move the sewing to the big room to give me more space for my new Babylock Ellisimo embroidery machine and also so my HQ long arm would have room too! BeforeAnd before
After only 3 hours work because thats about as long as I had. I managed to at least pick things up and throw trash away. Next I will try to organize. Cause you can't do both at the same time it is just to overwhelming.
The photos wer an after thought and taken on Garricks old iphone.
Much better
And better.

ERG!

2011-12-27T22:07:00.000-08:00

OMG. I was trying to remove one blog from my list and everyone got removed so if you visit and want to please leave your blog address so I can get them back. Tanks

It has taken over 6 years........but finally

2011-11-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

So it has taken forever to choose window treatments for the family room. Awhile ago I was at IKEA and found some sheers that seemed right. They were simple and light with a cute little design on it. I had five windows to cover and weird ones with arches and stuff. So, on a design show they said to start at the top of the arch and match that with the other windows. Made sense so thats what I did. Then, we got this fabric in at the store that just made me happy. It makes my heart sing. I bought some coordinates to make some pillows and maybe a throw quilt.
I love how the embroidery design at the top of the sheer reflects the fabric and in just the right colors. I love love love it.
I couldn't have done any better if I had planned it. I LOVE FABRIC.

I'M JUST SAYING

What are those world balls doing

2011-08-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

So for my primary class, the lesson was that Jesus loves all little children around the world. One of the examples was about children in Mexico and that they have pinatas.I was trying to think of something fun for the kids and I found this craft idea. Easy paper mache' with tissue paper and starch. So I made little world pinatas.It was so fun and easy I wanted to share this with everyone. There is no limit to how you could use this idea.The starch is so much better than flour paste. It dries pretty quick. Then you just open them add treats and paper mache over the cut. And thats it.

So I got a little sun kissed

2011-07-02T17:48:00.001-07:00

So we went to Utah Lake to join Kyle and Shay to play with their jet skis.
I got a little red and I really didn't think I was in the sun that much.
Steph came. Shay and her had a great time hoggin the machines
Garrick had fun too, even though he forgot his phone in his pocket and it got wet.
Steve even had a great time. He held down the fort and visited with Shays dad, Greg
Alex and Jodi, my nephew and his new wife joined us. It was great to see them.
Alex looking very... what ever.
Shay pulling Kyle. I was on the inner tube for awhile. OMG can I say I felt beat up. My armpit hairs hurt. After 5 minutes (probably really just two) I was done. Then Shay stopped and I got dumped and then had to be pulled back in to dock. Im pretty sure I am not going to be able to blow dry my hair tomorrow. My arms and shoulders are so wrenched(good thing I have been humping bolts of fabric for the last 6 months and have a little muscle). But I will do it again.
Just Kyle cause he is such a good kid.

Another 3 quilts down

2011-06-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

So I know I posted already about making a quilt for a child in my primary class.

Well I wanted to do it for all the kids in my class.

Sadly for 3 of the boys their birthdays came when

I was trying to make bridesmaid dresses for Kyle's wedding,

a two week trip to Hawaii and then the wedding.

Well, I finally got them finished and gave them to the kids on Sunday.

I actually made all three in about a day and a half. I used a lot of scraps

and I am feeling great that they are done.

So what is a girl to do......?

2011-04-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

When you need a dress for a cruise to Hawaii and you find one at Dilliards for a really good deal but it is not exactly as modest as you would prefer?

You buy two of them. And use one for fabric to alter the other one. So I went from the dress above to this one below.

I added some sleeves and an extra placard to the front.

I added the skirt of one to the bottom of the other to give me the length I wanted.

And wha la I have a dress for the cruise and even buying two was still cheeper than half price.

A Blast from the Past.......

2011-04-05T21:48:00.001-07:00

So I ran across this pic while looking through some old photos. Can anyone really identify who is in this. Oh to be young again.

Haven't been fond of the new owl craze, until................

2011-02-24T07:09:00.000-08:00

I love this owl satchel( pursey thing). I made it like under an hour. Hardly any fabric, just used scraps and an old zipper I found in a box. And some old buttons from my collection. Hoot! Hoot!

What I have been up to.

2011-02-16T04:32:00.000-08:00

So since I love my new job I have been able to get some things done. I am super busy but it is a good busy, not the stuck in a hole by yourself all day long picking boogers and listening to myself sigh busy(you thought I was gonna say fart). Anyway, life is good not as much expendable income as I usually enjoy but hey, you know.I made this quilt for a friend whose birthday is on Valentines Day, made it in a day. Its from a jelly roll so the strips were already cut. Super easy.

I made two of these boat quilts for my little grandboys, no pics of the finished product cause I was too excited to send them when they were done.
Made this quilt for a little guy in my primary class for his birthday. I love primary and I only have five little ones so it will be easy and inexpensive to give them each a quilt.
I have also made a quilt for the store for display but of course I didn't take a picture of it.

Skiing, Cocoa and a Day Off

2011-01-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

Today I have a day off during the week. YES!!! I haven't had a day to myself outside of work in a long time. A day off that is not spoken for is amazing. I just wanted to post this pic of my favorite morning drink. I love coffee. I know, I don't drink it. But I have this concoction of Pero, cocoa, cinnamon, creamer and sweetener that just is wonderful. And only about 25 calories. Love it.

Steve went skiing so I truly have a day to myself.

OMG.......

2011-01-08T22:53:00.000-08:00

So I have been lost to my job the last 5 months. 8 hours a day 6 days a week. Good money, but really? Not worth it. Guess what!! I got a new job.... at a fabric store, YES. I am so excited, who actually lands a job at a fabric store. But it happened, I'm so stoked and no more 6 days a week, no time off garbage. I start Monday and I am so hopeful that I will love it.

Keagans Journey

2010-12-02T00:55:00.001-08:00

Keagan at the Provo Temple after his "first visit"Thanks to Amberlyn who came to support him and me. Steph watched grace.
Our last Thanksgiving with Keag for awhile.

Missionary Cookies I made for his farewell. Sadly I forgot to take pictures of all the people who came to support him.
Just messing around after Keagan was set apart.

I so totally love this pic.

Some of my Halloween projects

2010-11-06T22:28:00.001-07:00

So I made these like hanging pictures. I want to make one for each person in the family and hang them as portraits for Halloween.

This is a quilt that Sandy and I saw at a quilt store and I copied it. Its just a fun one that holds candy. I liked how they used hankys as the ghost.
This is my favorite. I made a bunch of these witch hand towels. They are so cute. The picture doesn't do it justice. I have also been busy making things for new babies and babies to be. But no pics until the recipients get them.

Keeg turned 20

2010-11-03T22:14:00.001-07:00

So for Keagans birthday Kyle, Shay, Taylor hidding Steph and Garrick were the ones at dinner. Everyone hates me to take pics so the family looks so handicapped.

I made a quilt for Keag to take on his mission.

I made it big enough that he could really tuck it in and be comfortable. The squares are light fabric so that if he wants people on his mission can sign it. But he is a boy and probably won't get anyone to sign. Maybe i'll have it out at his farewell so people can sign. Maybe......

My Weegan is called on a Mission to England

2010-09-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

So freaking cute!!!!!!!!!

So Keagan got his call to serve in the Leeds England Mission. He leaves on December 3rd. We have plenty of time to get stuff together and Keag has lots of time to prepare. I was looking through some old photos of the family and saw all these pics of Keag. They bring back such good memories of life with weegie.

He was so bright eyed when he was little.

Steph always touched his forehead.

He seemed so fragile.

One of my favorite pictures of Keagan and his dad.

I actually found several pics of Keagan riding a horse. I didn't think we did that very much.

We didn't know what a goof ball he would grow up to be. He has a keen sense of humor.

Once he ran away to the big street behind us in Corcoran. The cops brought him home. Ya on his big wheel.

First day of school Kindergarten

Still looking innocent. Who knew the kid who only ate potatoes and weighed 50 pounds till he was ten would grow to be 6 foot 5.

Quick, while I have time....

2010-08-24T21:09:00.000-07:00

So after I got over the shock of being laid off I decided to get some stuff done.
1. I made a quilt for Cara's baby. My most favorite to do for baby girls. I need to post this one on my quilt blog cause it represents several quilts I have made for baby girls.

I love repro fabrics.

Garrick turned 13. So I practiced on his b-day cake using fondant. Not my favorite. I apologized to Garrick for the juvenile looking cake. I was practicing because I was gonna make a cake for my niece Ali's bridal shower. Fondant still not my fav, but I did like modeling chocolate. I'll will stick to frosting for decorating.

Garrick looking good on his bday.

The dress skirt was fondant it worked pretty good.

So I was at a quilt store and saw this quilt pattern I loved it. You are to use repro fabrics which are my favs. So I actually came right home and started on it. Here are few of the ones I have done so far. I have 27 done, it needs 30, but I'm gonna make 42 so the quilt will fit on my bed.

Lots of geometric stuff but it is quite easy.

Close up of one of the fabrics I'm using. I love the elephants on it.

So since I'm back to work, ugh, I'm limited on my time for quilting and blogging.

My New Fav Thing

2010-07-30T20:01:00.001-07:00

I am having lots of fun making these pot holders. They are stinking easy to make and they work really good. I have been collecting this chicken fabric for quite some time.

Close up.

This fabric is some old time kitchen fabric I have had around for awhile. I am going to make a quilt table cloth out of it. I love it for pot holders to.

I am thankful for..........

2010-07-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

So I explained on my other blog that this week I was going to be grateful for everything in my life. So the first easy thing to be grateful for is my obsessive need to make and create things. I saw this little pillow thing in a magazine and I loved it. So I made my own pattern and embroidered the picture and saying and made a little hangy thing.

I am also grateful for my strawberry patch in my back yard. Now, most people who know me know that I don't really like the whole garden green thumb thing. I got these 6 strawberry starts the first spring we moved in to our house. My sister Candy basically made me plant them. And now 5 years later I have a beautiful patch of strawberry plants. And every time I go in my back yard I am reminded of my sister and her memory and her love of plants.

They have taken a hard hit the last week because Steve was gone to California and there was no one here to remember to water them. I am thankful for a husband who automatically takes care of the yard so that I don't have to.

Side note I am not grateful to the annoying wasp that stung me in the ear this morning when I went out into the yard....yah, it's gonna take a while to be thankful for everything.

I love fat quarters (and thats not a body part)

2010-07-15T17:28:00.000-07:00

When my friend Carol found out I had lost my job she came to my door with a bundle of flowers. Carol is the relief society president in our ward and I am the secretary. I know that Carol frequently shows at the doors of members who she might be concerned about or maybe she just knows they need a visit. She often takes them flowers to brighten their days. So she showed up on my doorstep with a bundle of the funnest flowered fabric in a fat quarter style with a note expressing her sympathy for my situation. When I opened the door she said, "I thought about bringing you flowers and so I brought you these cause I thought you might like them." OMG does she know me or what? I love my flowered fat quarters. Carol is a very special person and I will always remember her thoughtfulness.

So I have succomed

2010-07-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

So I was let go from my job on Wednesday. It was kind of a shock. I worked there for 5 years.

So I am now a victim of this lovely economy. I do have great pictures from our trip. But right now I dont feel like posting anything. The colosseum has survived imagine so will I. :~(

Please check out my new blog!

sAN dIeGO AND PriCe Line

2010-05-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

So we went to San Diego for a long week-end. Love, love priceline. 4 Star hotel on the waterfront for $86.00 a night. I had to take a pic. The kids stayed with freinds and were complaining we should have gotten 2 rooms when they saw the place.
Fun BBQ place across from our hotel. The hot links about killed Steve they were so hot.

We took the transit to Old Towne and visited the Mormon Battalion Center. Very interesting. Only $5.00 all day pass.

So we went to a Mexican resuarant in El Cajon with some friends and these guys were hamming it up. And I totally uploaded this pic out of sequence.

This was were we stayed. So much fun. Had the best book store ever

Steve, me and Teresa

Al, Steve , Robert, and Keagan

Garrick, Steph and Ashley, under is Kyle, Shay and Keeg
Most of my pics of Seaworld were of the back of everyone.

Counted as one of my best days of 2010

2010-05-08T13:04:00.001-07:00

I have to say Friday was a great day. It was my day off and Steph had planned a mothers day lunch outing for us at Sundance. We also had lunch with my sista Penny and Amberlyn and Grace. We went to the Foundry Grill. Sooooo much fun. We ate and visited, enjoyed little Grace ( she is quite funny). We met some of Stephs co-workers and got to see where she works.(She works at the Deli at Sundance). After I met up with Sandy and we went to a quilt show in Sandy and walked around and just looked at all the stuff out there for quilting. I picked up the funnest fabric it was themed Monopoly. Loved it. Found some books and patterns. Great time. Came home. Waiting for me at home was a package from Melodie. I love unexepcted fun things. It had a bunch of little ladybug things. LOVED IT. Then I was told we were celebrating Mothers Day today and I was given a mini mac computer. Yay. We are now a MAC family. The computer is on my kitchen desk. LOVE LOVE IT. Happy Day
Arent these little guys cute. Mel knows I love little toys and lady bugs. I started keeping little toys at work, cause sometimes kids come in and need to be entertained. Ya, I stopped when the guys at work kept playing with them and breaking them, then hiding them. Really? So these new little gems stay at home.

gARRICK GOt bRACES

2010-04-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

So Garrick got braces on yesterday. He was afraid they were gonna hurt to much for him to back to school. Funny cause the kid never misses school. So I told Steve let him stay home. Steve says" What? When I got my braces I had to ride my bike 6 miles to the dentist and back all by myself" Really? So here is a pic of the boy with his braces on.

My Stash

2010-04-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

Went to the Bay area this weekend all by my self to visit Lottie. We had a blast visiting the old town centers of Danville, Pleasanton and a great quilt store in Livermoore. This is a pic of my stash of all the fun stuff I found.

We ate at a little place in pleasanton that had great pizza. But we found out later that the place we should have gone for pizza was the place called Gay Ninties. We parked right across from it and we avoided it because we had no idea what was inside. Old foggies

Loved this shop in Danville. I bought a fun purse there.

2010-04-20T08:33:00.001-07:00

wHAT I sEE AT WoRK

2010-04-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

So the other day I looked up from my desk and saw one of my owners barrel sighting his new rifle on my counter. Only in Utah and only at Freeway.

nEW wOOD fLOOr

2010-03-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

the upstairs hallway

the master bedroom
sO We had Deven my nephew put a new floor in for us before

he left the state(for a new job). We love it. He did a great job.

Yay, not as much dust and the old carpet was

discusting from the previous owners. The wall color really is a soft green.

Dont know what happened in the pic.

2010-02-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

Our most gracious hosts. Love them.

So this last September we took Steph to New York City and Washington DC. I was looking through my sd card and found the pics. I have not enjoyed blogging really since my new camera that I can not get to just take a simple clear shot. I took my old camera on the trip. These pics are totally out of sequence but I decided I needed to get them on the blog and get on with my life of blogging.

It was raining so it was like we had the monument to ourselves.

washington dc

2010-02-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

National book festival. Steph loved this soo much.

Getting her book signed by Shannon Hale. Lucky girl.

New York City

2010-02-07T18:22:00.000-08:00

Subway Columbia University. We had fun visiting the campus.

Market on the street in NYC. Steve had to have his apple.

Walking down to wall street

Time square with Steph.

Dining in the street at Wall street. They fill the street with tables. It was most fun pizza lunch ever with my nephew Barrett.

new york city

2010-02-07T18:14:00.000-08:00

Barrett Richards, Steph and Steve. Wall Street lunch.

Stanton Island Ferry

Subway- way cool loved it.

Time square

Waiting for Broadway show Mary Poppins. So much fun. We were on balcony and she come uo in the air right in front of us.

What can I say

2009-10-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

So we have been so busy this last few months. First our trip to Europe. Just a few pics. This is us at a cathedral in Dublin.

This is the wall in Ireland that divided two cities during the war between the prodastants and the catholics

Scotland

Again Scotland

France

Stephs graduation

2009-07-30T06:45:00.000-07:00

Stephanie graduated from BYU-I last week. We had a fun
time and I am excited for Steph to move on.

Steph outside the Hinkley building where she received her
diploma cover.

The temple looked so pretty. I wanted a pic closer but
no-one would co-operate with me.

These are the only pictures of the family. I HATE my
camera it takes horrible pictures. But it is suppose to
work well. But not for me. How hard is it to focus and
take a snap shot? EEERGGG.

Wow, when reading this, I kinda sound angry. I just hate

when special events have crappy pictures.

Happy late B-day to my brother-in-law Rick Weiss

2009-07-15T18:16:00.001-07:00

Hey, just a quick shout- out to Rick on his after the fact b-day. He has always been so good through the years to let us invade his space on our visits. I'm sure he's glad we live near now just so we can leave and go to our own house. The kids remember him fixing breakfast for them when we would visit. We love you(funny thing he will probably never see this post or the spectacular old pic I found)

Remembering my sister Candy

2009-07-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

Today would be my sister Candy's 53rd birthday, sadly she is not here with us to celebrate her life. One thing about CAndy I miss is her interest in me and what was going on in my life. She always wanted to be there to enjoy events. So here are a few random pics I found to share.
Candy helping me get ready for my wedding. Making sure I looked just right.

I found these in some old slides. I thought they were fun to tribute her with my folks too! It's hard to see how beautiful she was on her wedding day.

Funny old pic of the whole fam damly.

I love this one. Look how cute the boys are.

One of the funnist trips. We went to Catalina with Lottie, Chris and Damon, Mom and Dad, Candy , Val and the 3 boys and Audra we sure had fun in the sun that summer. Audra's taking the pic.

Mom, sparklers, patriotic clothes and 4th of July

2009-07-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

So I found these pictures of last years 4th. Garrick and I went to moms assisted living home to help them celebrate. My mom love everything patriotic. I am glad that we were able to spend that night with her and her peeps.

The funny thing was that you really should not give old people sparklers. Because when they are done with them they just keep holding them till they get burned or they just put them in their lap.

I know my mom had fun watching all the kids play with the fireworks. Garrick wasn't to sure of how safe it was to be around the old folks and their sparklers.

Happy Father's Day to my husband Steve

2009-06-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

FATHER'S DAY 2009, unmarried kids came home for fam, fun, and food. Pretty good pic except I don't know what Keegs doing, its not like he can hide.

Steve when we were first married. I'm pretty sure he didn't know he would end up with six kids.

Steve with Garrick taking him snowboarding, always holding Steph, KYle still likes his naps as much as his dad, Steve showing Keagan the Lion at the zoo.

The whole amily in Alabama a few years ago. Tye, Haley, Zach, Steph holding Wyatt, Garrick, Kyle, Keagan, STeve, Jer, Eli, Amber, Lindsey and Gaye.

Little did we know we would be adding another child in the next few years.

To all those who have been there

2009-06-21T18:07:00.000-07:00

Mostly I just want to do a big shoutout to all those that have been there for me. Of course to my dad. I really cannot articulate his caring influence on my life.

To Eldon Hilliard who was always there for support and his caring made Steve the man he is.

To my brother Barry I think sometimes he was the only one who thought I could be better than I was.

To Gene Hart who was always there when we needed him. He was a caring person towards me and my children. I want to wish all my brother-in-laws a Happy Father's Day.

Happy 50th to Mel

2009-06-04T06:07:00.001-07:00

Well it's Mels 50th today kinda interesting that her mile stone b-day is the same year as a mile stone b-day for ali, just saying....

So I wanted to wish Melodie a happy birthday. I’m excited to be able to reach out from my blog. What a wonderful thing to have. Who would have guessed that Mel would end up being a great sister and my friend. She was always patient with me growing up. Me being 31/2 years younger we really didn’t have that much going on. Since she married while I was still in high school who would have known we would have raised our kids together. I remember New Years Eve Parties done together, trips to Utah, camping, canning, 4th of July"s, Bishop's summer program, and now especially our shared interests in quilting. I am especially grateful for her and Steve taking care of Stephanie for the last 4 years. So to Mel, Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Ali

2009-06-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

So since its Ali's 18th Birthday I thought I would post some pics I have of her. This is Ali at Jessica wedding shower

These are pics I could find real quick. The first one is fun because it reminds me os all the time spent at Grandma and Grandpa Edwards. The one of her in the chair is her first camping trip. And then just a baby one. Happy Birthday Ali.

New Blog

2009-05-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

I have a new blog. Its basically a blog so I can show what quilts I've been doing. Or anything I make that I might want to share. Hope you look in on it its quiltedsweets.blogspot.com, you can acces it from my blog too.

My Mother's Day

2009-05-20T18:14:00.001-07:00

My Mother's Day started with a cute little flower bouquet from Lindsey and Jeremy and the kids. It certainly surprised me and brightened my day. Thanks

Then Steph called and said she was on her way home from BYU-I, so that ment all the kids would actually be here for dinner. Cool.

Dinner was simple and my fav, tri-tip,

butter and garlic roasted asparagus

artichokes

2009-05-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

Baked Potatoes

Just some fun green salad

the family

The cake I didn't have to make..love it.

Flower sugar cookies I made for my sisters

Happy Mother's Day to All

2009-05-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

Charlotte Lee Edwards

I wanted to honor my mom Charlotte Lee Edwards this mothers day. First with some pictures of her when she was young and younger and some thoughts on how she was a good mom to me. I remember always being able to talk to her. She was patient with me and long suffering. She always had wonderful food for us. I was lucky because she sometimes worked at the grammar schools I went to so I got to see her during the day. She was quite forgiving.
She loved her children, then her g-children and then her gg-children.

She loved the beach. She didn't like to swim but made sure we all learned. She was always up for an adventure. Ready to go where ever we wanted to. Sadly she didin't get to go everywhere she would have liked before she died. I want to put a shout out to all those who mothered me.

Look at me. How cute, who wouldn't have wanted to mother me.

To My sisters whom I love very much and have been able to see them take care and love their children. They have been examples to me.

To Lottie who was my second mom and pretty much my best friend for many years, she loved me and my children and I love her.

To Gwen who shared her amazing sewing skills with me she is quite clever and creative.

To Penny who has always been there to talk to and keep your confidence.

To Sandy who is an example of happiness and friendliness.

To Mel who has always been a second mom to my kids, she is just nice.

To my sister Candy who sadly has passed on. She was smart, witty and friendly. She had an awareness of Jesus Christ that we could talk about. She accepted my faults. I miss her.

To my Sister-in-law Rolaine her insight to things always amazed me. I can always count on good conversation with her. I appreciate that.

2009-05-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

Carol Jean Hilliard

I am thankful to my husbands mother Carol. She passed away when we were only married less than two years. She loved her Grandchildren and we are sad she was not able to spoil all the kids. I am grateful to her for raising Steve and his brothers with love, kindness and compassion. My husband is the special man he is because of her.

The Days Of Easter Past

2009-04-20T15:11:00.001-07:00

Well I was thinking about this past Easter. It was so quiet for our family mostly because Garrick is really the only dependant child at home. No more big tahdoos. The days of matching outfits and new clothes long gone for me. The big boys stayed at Kyles apt, Steph was in Palm Springs and of course with mom gone it was really mellow. I started thinking of Easters past when mom use to make new dresses for everyone and make us stand there for pictures and I use to make outfits for the kids when they were little. So here is to Easters past I thought it would be fun to see these pictures.

Look at all those gangly kids

more and more

2009-04-20T14:34:00.001-07:00

Richards and Kyle at Grandma Edwards house in Squaw Valley

Grandma at our house in Corcoran helping dye Easter eggs.

Hilliards and the Perkins at the Edwards in Ridgecrest Ca, this is Kyles 1st Easter 1989

Here we are. I sometimes wish I could go back and start over. Little kids are so amazing

Keagan digging his very own found egg

More pics of Easter Past

2009-04-20T13:38:00.001-07:00

O.K. this may be Christmas but it is still a funny picture, love the hair.

Mom always tried to make us look good.

This is at Grandma Akers

I love this one, Barry's kids dont look like him at all do they.

And especially ths one cause it shows our true colors.

Damon Barrett Edwards Jr.

2009-04-07T11:15:00.001-07:00

So tomarrow is my dads birthday. I wanted to show some pics and share some thoughts about him. When we found out he was dying of cancer my brother said to me that he was sad for me because I didn't get to be around him as long as everyone else because I was the youngest. I've thought about this off and on since. I might have been short changed in length of time spent with my father but certainly not in the quality of time. My dad took me fishing countless times, he caught the ball while I practiced pitching, he helped with lizards, snakes, he taught me to use power tools. He was in my life a concentrated amount of time. He build an addition to my house. Steve and my dad worked together on construction clean-up. My children new him and loved him. We went to the beach, to Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, camping, to Utah all the time. The kids shot guns with him, played pool with, fed the horses. My mom and dad were with us on every holiday from Halloween to Easter. We are lucky to have known him.

Alice Clay dads mom.

My dad at bout 8 years old with his twin brother Raymond. Dad reminds me so much of Barry in this picture.

MORE PICS OF MY DAD

2009-04-07T11:08:00.001-07:00

Dad showing of his amazing headstand skills and his six pack.
Doesn't he look dashing in his uniform. This picture of him reminds me of Jeremy Richards

Kyle and Steph just having fun with Grandpa

Steph using a tooth pick just like Grandpa

The last family picture just before my dad passed away

Orange Chicken and Brownies

2009-04-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

Easy Panda Express Orange Chicken
My kids love the orange chicken from Panda. I found a great recipe that was really close (only all white meat) Though it was relatively inexpensive to make it was time consuming and messy to make the sauce from scratch. Sooo Guess what, you can now buy Panda Express Orange sauce at your grocery store, making home made orange chicken a fast and easy meal.

2 lbs boneless chicken pieces

1 egg

1/2 t salt

white pepper

oil (for frying)

1/2 c plus 1

T cornstarch

1/4 c flour

Cut chicken pieces in 2" squares and place in large bowl. Stir in egg, salt, pepper, and 1 T oil and mix well. Stir cornstarch and flour together. Add chicken pieces, stirring to coat.Heat oil for deep-frying in wok or deep-fryer to 375. Add chicken pieces, a small batch at time, and fry 3 to 4 minutes or until golden and crisp. (Do not overcook or chicken will be tough.) Remove chicken from oil withslotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.

Clean your fry pan, heat pan add chicken, then add bottled sauce and heat through until well coated. Wa Lah Serves 4 unless my house then only 2

LOVE THESE BROWNIES

I was watching a show where they were discussing what is better, chewy or cakey brownies. I like cake brownies and I have a recipe that will give you the biggest nicest ones ever.

2 Boxed Brownie Mixes (for 13X9 pan)
2 tsp vanillia
1 cup semi sweet chip

Follow the directions on the box

(dont forget to double everything), adding 2 extra eggs if it only calls for 2 eggs per box you want 6 eggs total.
Add vanilla and chips. Dont beat the batter to much.
Put in 13X9 pan and bake at 350 for 45 to 50 min.
Cool slightly and then cut, then cool some more. Yum Yum

Surveillance Really?

2009-03-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

So yesterday they installed a video surveillance camera in the front office. Which is activated by movement. It shows everything I do while I'm at my desk. They say its to watch customers who visit but I think they are trying to keep on eye on me. Just kidding. But for now no more nose picking, they can now see how much food I really do eat and how many times I roll my eyes at the customer and my bosses.

This picture reminds me of the superbowl commercial where the guy has the back end of the moose on his desk. Actually this is a pic of Hank supporting the moosehead while they drill the hole for the camcorder

The number 3

2009-03-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

Bandit had to see what was so fun for Wyatt to look at

The 2 of them soon 2 be 3

Wyatt is always up to something

Bandit our dog being silly and trying to show who is boss.

Jeremy, Eli, Kyle, Garrick, Keagan Steve holding Wyatt

So this morning I woke to a picture message of a pregnancy test thingy, the messgae was from Jeremy and he was announcing number 3 baby on the way. Cool, can't wait. Here are some pics of their visist here while on their way back to Georgia after being in Monterey for the last year

Broken arm

2009-03-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

I wanted to give tribute to Garrick who 10 days ago broke his arm during a ice hockey game. Well it wasnt like he got checked or anything graphic. He was just setting up for a face off and his skate got caught in a rut and down he went. (kinda like getting hurt during timeout in basketball) I didn't actually see it. I had gone out to the car to get something and when I came back in everyone was off the ice and there was a bunch of guys hunch over a player in the corner. I was like did someone get hurt and the lady standing there said yes but she didn't know how bad. They took the player off the ice. I am standing there and looking into the stands for Steve and I dont see him. Dah! It was Garrick. So he has a little cast on but the next week he was smashing his hand into the glove to play in the last tounament of the season, good kid.

MORE ANIMALS

2009-03-18T10:16:00.001-07:00

Notice the mounts on the far wall, and the other animals at the counter. Lunchtime at freeway is a social event. Most of the work here is laborous and these guys can get hungry. Thats one of my managers at my desk . At the counter is Mark(owner), Clay(owners son), B.J. shop manager, Brad service tech/driver and Joel ( owner).

This is what a customer sees when entering the office. Notice the lovely lotions we offer and of course the basket of candy bars for sale. Its amazing I'm not 600 pounds with major big meal lunches and candy bars at my finger tips all day, not mention that I mostly sit at the computer all day.

The Office

2009-03-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

O.K. it has taken me a freakishly long time to figure out how to get pictures from my easy share camera to the computer to down load, can I say, I hate easy share. That said I wanted to show some pics of my office. I work for a company owned by 3 brothers who have been in business for over 20 years. Great people with the same employees who have worked for them for over 10-15 years, I'm the baby in here only worked for close to 4 years. sO this is what I get to look at all day.

Customer Surveys

2009-02-18T09:14:00.000-08:00

O.K. I work for a propane company which supplies fuel to commercial and residential customers in a limited area. Right now we have sent out surveys to customers to help improve our service and to get a feel for how we are doing as a company. This was brought on by the owners own brother starting up a new propane company and trying to steal customers by lying and manipulating and installing sub standard equipment at a lower price. So basically the fun part of our day right now is opening and reading these returned surveys. There are about 45 per day so far, we all stand around and wait to see what comments are made. So I thought Iwould share a few of the comments we have recieved. For the most part good reviews. Customers answer on a scale from 1 to 5

Question: The people who answer the phones are polite and courteous. (this is my job)
Various answers: Very rude you could improve your service by getting new office help (ouch)
Very polite, they are my friends (love her)
Question: Driver is proffessional when entering my property.
Answer: The driver is lazy he won't crawl thru our fence to reach the tank.(REALLY)
Your diver is not allowed on our property.(they must not like to pay their bill)

The title is Africa Speaks

2009-02-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

So I already messed up,, the movie name is Africa Speaks.

inspiration

2009-02-04T07:46:00.000-08:00

O.K, I couldn't sleep last night so I decided to start this blog, the name is because my moms uncle made the first sound movie from africa back in 1930, titled Arica Speaks, the strangest adventure ever filmed, pretty much describes my life at home, at work and in general. So the uniqueness of the place I work compells me to blog about it. I am a secretary (Ha) at a company where there are only 2 female employees, and we dont get to work together because we work different days. So if you can imagine its kinda crazy here with all guys and it might be fun if I wasn't older than all of them and so I am a mom at work and at home.