Home By the Creekside

So, last night I called Brayden to come inside because it was late. I thought Lyndee was out there as well. I started to panic because she did ask me if she could go to her friend's house down the street and I told her no. She doesn't listen to me very well. As I was upstairs, I started to call her name and she answered me faintly. She finally came out of my craft (or should I say my crap storing, piles everywhere room). She told me that she was organizing it. Awesome! I told her if she did it on the sly. I would pay her $20 bucks. It is a mess. I am going to hope when I look in my room next week. It is cleaner. I love her for her weird oddities and I am finding out that I am just as OCD as she is but in different ways. :)

2 cubes of butter or margarine (softened) 2 eggs 1/4 cup white sugar 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 tsp of vanilla 1 package of instant vanilla pudding (the smaller package) 2 1/4 cups flour 1 tsp of baking soda 2 cups of 1 minute oatmeal.  I put the 3 first six ingredients in a bowl first and then I use my electric mixer and mix it up real good. Then I stir in the flour, baking soda, and oatmeal. I use my pampered chef scooper and scoop them on a cookie sheet. Then I make a well in each cookie (it should like a nest) and last I add my professional filling in and top it off. I used apple filling from the Prepared Pantry. I tried taking a picture of  the package of apple filling but it looks like one of those fake chickens. Maybe I add it in later.  Then I bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes depending on your oven. 

 We painted and dyed our Easter eggs. The kids enjoyed it as always.  Even one of my parents got into it, yup, that's my mom and dad. Yes, you can never be too old for this.  Here are the cool eggs. The kids painted them and dyed them. The kids asked for summer clothes for Easter. Although, it has not been consistent in the weather department. They were able to wear them during Spring break. They look so cute and I love them. They got a long really good during Spring break...no fighting.

 So..this is in the Pocatello mall and it is a Hurricane simulator. The winds went up to almost 80. I tried it but Lyndee's pic looks better with her hair. :) Hi, this is Lyndee and she did a very good job at her clogging competition. They did so great that they got 1st place and we now get to spend money to go to Lagoon in May. I am so excited not as much as the kids as they have never been there before. Lyndee did two dances with her team: Girls Wanna Have Fun and the Lion Sleeps Tonight. The last one is one of my favorites and they did so much better on that song. I have video of it but it is too big of a file. 

Clayton, my awesome of almost 17 years, turned 40 this March. Yup, we are getting old. I am next and in August. Ick! I can just feel my hair sprouting more grey, hot flashes on the horizon, and emotional meltdowns. I am so excited and I can't wait. Clayton needed to head into his 40s in style so we got him gussied up in a fancy suit. Ain't he pretty?

In  February, Brayden and Lyndee had pictures so I had them pose at home in case they had some type of wacky smile in their photos.    February was a blur because I had bronchitis. My bestie from Arizona came and stayed with me for several days since her two oldest went through the temple for their future mission. One is currently serving in Fresno and the other in Mexico and will be leaving in May. I am so proud of those kids. It was super cool to see her and spend some time with her.

Conference weekend is almost upon us. I love the inspiration. Most of all, I love lying around and relaxing. :) This is one of my favorite messages from one of my favorite. I love to hear what he has to say.  I love the feelings that I feel when I hear something so meaningful and powerful to the things that are going on with me and my family.  And..we are getting a new puppy this weekend. I so miss my Merlin. I am ready for a new buddy. Pictures soon. Possibly.....

Lately I have been a roller coaster. Maybe it's the impending menopausal doom or just pmsing. I don't know and if it is ....heaven help those around me. Here is the trap that I am in. I go on Facebook (which is the reason for some of my doom)  to check out pictures and friends' statuses but it becomes one big nasty web of reading opinions, ads, and what-not. I am sick of it because it gives me feelings of anger, depression, and guilt. And that is with me lessening my time on it as well.   1. Those that make uneducated opinions about public education. The whole common core standards, homeschooling is the key, and public education is crap. My thought here is if you are an educated adult in teacher education with at least 5 years experience in public education, then you are entitled to an opinion about pubic education/common core standards.  If you do not, then keep your uneducated opinion to yourself because it has no basis. I have taken more classes than what is requi