Christmas Spirit

Its a BOY... Its a GIRL

These are the words we are now saying of the twins that we just adopted on Wednesday. They are about 8 month old and just as playful as ever. Now introducing Maggie, with the red collar and Marley is the one with the blue collar. WHAT ARE WE THINKING??? or more WHAT WAS I THINKING?????
Mike said to me a couple of weeks ago that he really wanted a dog for Christmas, after Addie had been trying to get us to buy a new dog for about 3 months. I just wasn't ready to take on this task again. Losing Ginger was really difficult for me and I just don't want to do that again. I was really enjoying not having land mines outside anymore. But I gave in, I couldn't be the Scrooge in the house.(now I am the best mom ever) We looked on KSL for older dogs, we just didn't want to do the puppy stage again. This add came up for 2 Black Labs but they need to go together. I called my mom and she said she would be interested in one of them, perfect we thought. This way they are still in the family but not both at my house. After less than 24 hours at my house I now have 3 kids and a husband saying we have to keep them both. They really are good dogs, they are just going to need a lot of attention and training. Merry Christmas

A Healthier Me

Several years ago I tried a health program called Isagenix. This product is a Nutritional Cleansing and Replenishing product. I have suffered with Migraines for years I would have 3-4 a week and I was told this product would help me. It is designed to rid your body of all the toxins that we put in ourselves daily, and as a side benefit it helps you to lose weight. So I started this product for a quick weight fix before Mike and I headed to Puerto Rico. I did what is called a 9 day cleanse, for someone that LOVES to eat this was a challenge for me. But I did it and in 9 days I lost 10 lbs. But I also got rid of my headaches, I had energy, and I was feeling great. Well, I have started to eat healthy and exercise daily, but I havent had any energy I havent been feeling all that great, losing my hair...all sorts of things and come to find out that it is because of all the Aspartame that is in all of the "Sugar Free" foods I have been eating. I love Crystal Light and I was drinking 2-3 liters of it a day. It is loaded with Aspartame. I started having Kidney problems and the doctors couldnt figure out why. After looking on line at all the side effects of Aspartame I decided to give up the "Sugar Free" the Crystal Light and just eat better. So I have gone back on Isagenix to get rid of the junk in my system. I also share this with you because I have become an Associate and if anyone is interested in their products I am selling them at my cost. I am not in this to make money, just to help my family, myself and others. I have a website www.leilanilamb.isagenix.com. Let me know if you have any questions. I really am not one that gets into this kind of stuff, but this is a product that I truly believe in. I have seen it work for others and it has worked for me.

Only 3 ingredients

You read it right, only 3 ingredients for the most amazing Pumpkin Chocolate Chips cookies. You will love them. Enjoy

15 oz can pumpkin mix
1 Spice Cake mix
bag of chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients together. Do Not add oil, water or eggs. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for approx 20 minuets. This makes soft, round, cake-like cookies

Weekend project

So I have started getting into Garage Sales. I am trying to use my creative side and see someone else's junk as my treasures. So a couple of Saturdays ago Mike and
I went out in the pooring rain to see what we could find. I found this white cabinet and thought this would be easy to sand down and re paint black, So I did, after painting it black I sanded a few spots and then put a red stain on it. Not to bad for only $10.00.

Egyptian Funeral

Brianna has been doing a unit on Egypt. At the end of the unit they do an Egyptian Funeral, the kids all get a character and then they dress up and walk the halls as if there were having a funeral. The get very creative with their costumes, they actually wrap a child as if they were a mummy and pull them in a box that they decorate up, the other kids cry and carry on as the walk the halls. It was great.

Halloween.......

Many of you know that I dislike Halloween, more than anything I think. Well this year I decided to have a "Change of Heart" I actually purchased costumes for my kids, put out all my Halloween decorations and enjoyed the season. I am really trying to do things for my kids that we didn't do when I was growing up. Halloween wasn't my mothers favorite holiday either, and I think that has rubbed off on me. But since it is something that my kids enjoy I figured I would try my hardest to enjoy it also. BUT...I did NOT dress up. I wont go that far as to liking the holiday. This year we were really lucky to have Kim and her family in town. My mom, Dave, Jessica and Kim's family all came down to do the Trunk or Treat deal, which unfortunately got rained out and we had Trunk or Treat in the church through the classrooms. Then everyone came back here for homemade soups. What a great time we had, it was wonderful to see all of the cousins playing.

Family Pictures

Growing up we never had family pictures done. So when I got married I promised Mike and myself that we would always have a family picture. Now I am not the best at doing it every year but there is always one up. This was the year, I figured everyone had changed so much over the last 2 years, it was time. I don't know how many of you struggle with doing picture, but we sure do. Trying to find the right outfits, the right location, making sure every one's schedules work etc. This time we managed to get through everything without to many glitches. A special thanks to my cousin Shellie for taking the pictures and for being so patient with us. They turned out amazing.

Rachael Kae Lamb

I cant believe that my baby is going to be 8 on Friday. Then she is getting baptised on Saturday. I really am not old, at least I don't feel it and I hope I don't look it. I don't have gray hair or wrinkles. But having her turn 8 makes me feel old. It seems like yesterday I was working my hardest to get her out. She was late to my standards and I was done being pregnant. Now look at her, this little girl that is all grown up. I do have to say, what a joy Rachael is. There is never a dull moment when she is around, either she is trying to play a joke on someone or just saying one liners that make you laugh. She is our "Tom Boy" don't say that to her or she will deny it but she doesn't like anything girlish. I was very surprised we got her in the dress she is wearing, and she even picked it out. She is always the first one in the water at the lake and then on the knee board. She is the first to go out and help with the yard and get her hands dirty. She loves to help Mike fix ANYTHING she can, and he loves it. We are very lucky to have her in our family. We love you Rach! Thank you Shelli for the beautiful pictures.

You know you are getting old if....

This is what you get for your birthday! Mike had a birthday this week and he had a great day. First he went golfing with Scott Nielsen from Service Masters, then out to lunch with the "GUYS" from the office. We had some friends over for presents and treats. I think Tami's kids had more fun with the presents and bows than Mike did. Dinner at Olive Garden with Dave, Jessica and Tami. What a day. You have to make it good when this is your last year to celebrate the 30's. Oh I forgot to mention. The night before our washer broke and I told Mike that I am done fixing it. We have fixed it at least 3 times. So after lunch we went washer and dryer shopping. So I guess the present was more for me then him. But hey I will take. Happy Birthday sweetie, we love you.

Timpanogas Cave

We took the girls and went on a hike to Timp Caves. I had forgotten what a hike it is up to the top. But we all managed to make ii. It amazes me how the cave was discovered and how the minerals form such amazing art pieces.

16 Years

Mike and I just celebrated our 16Th Anniversary. I cant believe we have been married for 16 years. It seems like it was just yesterday that we got married. Mike surprised me with a nights stay at the Somewhere Inn Time bed and breakfast. Such a nice place and so relaxing and peaceful. We went to dinner at PF Chang's and had a wonderful meal. We sat at our dinner table and talked about our most memorable memories in the last 16 years, so many good and only a few bad ones. I am one lucky girl to have such an amazing husband and best friend. I love you forever and always.

Labor Day weekend

What a great weekend. We had a Nelson family day at Deer Creek. We had so much fun, the water was perfect along with the weather. Dave rented a second tube so we could get some competition going on. The kids (OK and the adults) have fun jumping from tube to tube. Mike did great on the wake board jumping the wakes. Well, now it was time for mom and dad to go out. I though for sure they wouldn't, mom is a little nervous of the water and dad cant get his hair wet and messed up. But out of no where before I new it they were putting on life jackets and climbing on to the tubes. The bigger tube out of the two if you aren't careful and lie back then the front will go under the water when you start going. Well mom wasn't back far enough and before we new it she was submarining underwater. We all go a good laugh at her expense. But I think she drank more of the lake than ever before. She only lasted a few minutes, but dad on the other hand wanted another turn so he could try to get of of the wake. I dont remember the last time that we ALL laughed this hard. Dad was having a great time teasing everyone. What a great memory that we will never forget and we have pictures to prove it. The afternoon was followed up with a BBQ of Teriyaki beef and BBQ ribs. Thanks everyone for a great weekend.

Sunset!

Today we decided before the weather gets to much cooler we were going to hike to the big "Y" on the mountain. The girls did great, it is a fairly easy hike. We left late enough in the day so that we could get to the top, have dinner and watch the sunset.

First Day of School

Summer went by way to fast. I felt like it was just yesterday that we got out of school. But I have to admit, I was ready for them to go back and so were they. They are getting so big, Addie just started 8Th grade, I am not old enough to have an 8Th grader. Brianna, is in 6Th, next year I will have two in Junior High. Then Rachael started 2ND grade. They are all very excited about their teachers and a new year.

Caribbean.......Bear Lake

We planned a last minute family reunion of sorts to Bear Lake, Thanks Aunt Janette for the idea and for letting us shack up at your house for a couple of days. We had an amazing time. Bear Lake is beautiful, I really felt like I was on a Caribbean Island. The beaches were wonderful, especially for the kids. They were able to go at least 200 feet and still touch. The little kids loved playing and eating the sand. This definatley needs to be a yearly event.

Jewelry!!

I have been making jewelry for about a year doing watches and bracelets. I have really enjoyed it and now Addie is wanting to try something of her own. She has created the necklaces that have the beads in clusters at the bottom and is doing really well at it. Please check out her blog, to see the things she has been making, and yes they are all for sale. My watches to come soon.
www.justforgigglesjewelry.blogspot.com

Mother of the Year "NOT"

OK so I am not "Mother of the Year" but I try. So I have been collecting film from my point and shoot camera for oh lets say 10 years. I finally decided that I was going to take it to Costco and have all the pictures put on a CD. Well, I had 22 rolls of film! I know! I know! they have been sitting in my fridge, I heard they will last longer if you put them there. The sad news is that I had 7 rolls that were blank, who knows if they were unused or if they were over exposed. We will never know. We sure had a fun time looking through 370 pictures tonight for Family Night. Here are a few for your enjoyment. The thing that makes me sad the most is how young the girls are in the pictures, they are growing up way to fast.

Addie

Yesterday was the History Fair at BYU this was for our Region, just Alpine School District. The kids had to be there with their projects set up by 8:30 so that the judging could begin. There was some stiff competition this year. Addie's project was great, she followed the directions of her teacher and did everything the way it should have been done. The teacher didn't want the kids taping two display boards together to make the height requirement, so Addie took wood and had it the height that she needed. She had nice clean lines, just very nicely done.

They had the judging, then the kids were able to leave for lunch. We were lucky to have Grandma Gary and Grandma Neice come down to support Addie. We all went to Teriyaki Sticks for lunch and then hurried back for the awards ceremony. We are please to say that Addie did win an award..."Most Creative Materials Used" unfortunately this isn't enough to advance to State. But we are very proud of her for all the hard work that she put into this project. Way to go ADDIE!!!!

FINALLY!!!

Addie is in an advanced class in Junior High and in this class they have a History Fair every year. This is a HUGE part of their grade and a HUGE project. This year the subject was "Innovations in History" the students get to choose their topic get it approved and then start working. Addie decided that she wanted to do Water slides, there is a gentlemen in our ward that works for a company that designs them for parks outside of the US. Great! he is going to be able to give us lots of information and this is going to be great. NOT!!! there isn't a library in Utah that carries anything on Water slides, the guy had nothing to give us. The Internet wasn't very helpful either. Addie spend hours upon hours searching for information to put in a bibliography, resources etc. More than half way through the teacher suggested that she change subjects. Are you kidding me? No way are we starting over again. Addie just kept plugging along, she kept searching and searching for more and more information, she emailed the Library of Congress and they sent her information. Along with the project they have to write a 1500 word essay, then they get to choose either a display board, documentary, play or write a 2500 word paper (instead of the 1500 word paper). We decided to do the display board. Now, this board has to be 6 feet tall, 40 inches wide and 30 inches deep. With lots of information etc. all over the board. The student has to do it by themselves, parents can only help with the cutting of the wood, they have to be able to assemble it by themselves. This is the most amazing project yet. Addie was carring it through the school and literally had people stopping and saying WOW!!! This project has running water, the whole works. The teacher was way impressed on the project. She had Addie set it up during first period and by the time Addie got to class for 2nd period the kids had already plugged it in to watch the water. Infact one of the kids said WOW! I have some stiff compitition. We are so proud of her. She did it all by herself, except for cutting the wood. She painted it, put it together everything. She received 100% on the project. Boy are we glad that it is over. The poor kid worked on that every night for months. We are just now waiting for State and then we see if she makes it past that. Way to go ADDIE! Then this week we got a letter from the Principle that she was student of the day, and what and example she is to the school and what a hard workier she is. She is the best. (I turned the camera so that you could see the whole board and it messed up the picuture if you can just turn your head so sorry)
The videa wont down load so sorry it is taking way to long

The Tooth Fairy is RICH

Rach had a tooth that was loose for quit a while, she was getting frustrated that it just wouldnt fall out. So she had Addie play with it a little and it just wouldnt come out and it was really hurting her. I just happened to be talking to Erica on the phone when all of this was happening, Rach is crying, her mouth is bleeding, and there was not a thing I was going to do about it. I dont pull teeth for anything. It is gross and there is no way I am going to do it. Erica was laughing at me because I was wimping out. I sent Addie in and sure enough out came the tooth. Rach couldnt have been happier. I think the Tooth Fairy gave her a dollar. Well about 5 days later, the same thing all over again, only this time Aunt Jessica was here having dinner and she pulled it right out. I dont know if many of you know this or not, but the Tooth Fairy does not come twice in the same week. (the only excuse I could come up with for forgetting AGAIN). But, she made it and sure enought there went at least another dollar. Rach is the cuties thing with both of her front teeth missing. I am surprised however how fast they are growing in. What a cutie

The Holidays

I really am alive

There are no excuses, well there are excuses but they probably just aren't any good. I have been a slacker and I apologize. We are just so busy around here and I haven't made this a priority. So to all of you that have been wondering what we have been up here you go.

Christmas 2009
We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Dick came to celebrate with us. It was wonderful having them here. The girls are so much fun to watch, they are older so it is a lot different then it was when they were younger. The only hard part is dolls and clothes do cut it anymore. This year Mike and I went a little crazy. The girls each got an IPOD shuffle.
The best invention ever!!! It is fun watching them sing at the top of their lungs while cleaning or doing absolutely nothing. We purchased the WII Fit system, Rach is a pro, and she is up for a challenge whenever possible.

Addie has a Christmas concert and it was wonderful. The teacher is a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and she is great. Very entertaining!

The Omelet Fest was another huge hit this year. It was great having Mike's dad here to help cook. We had 4 burners going at the same time. Between the two of them they made over 75 Omelets.

We then had Cameron Hodge and his kids over for New Years Eve. The kids always love this, they get to eat lots of food, stay up late, and then at midnight we let them go outside bang pots and pans and light fireworks.