Picture Download Friday

I decided that I will have download Friday on my blog

I love taking pictures even though I am not a great photographer but I do enjoy it taking pictures.

Now for this weeks download:

Talmage (he wasn't thrilled about his this, as you can see)

He made the moose antlers at pre-school . I love them and he is such a sweet cute moose.

Faith giving me the cross eyed stare 

Gabby with her mustache 

 Gabby giving the creeper face

 E'lyse as a Subway Unicorn 

 Bean bag pile up with E'lyse and Gabby

 E'lyse at ASU for the state playoff game .

E'lyse is a volunteer for the sports teams First Aide Team

The football teak went to state and won. 

E'lyse was so excited to be there. 

 I was behind this school bus when I noticed it's pretty star lights

I want star lights on my van! 

Hope you enjoyed Friday's downloads. 

Come back tomorrow for Pink Saturday.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thankful Day # 30

Today I am thankful for this month of thankfulness

As I did this I became more aware of what I was thankful for 

I could continue daily for the rest of my life for the little things daily that I am truly thankful for

But instead of posting it on my blog daily I will keep it in my journal

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thankful Day # 29

Today I am thankful for the opportunity to attend the Temple with my eternal sweetheart

When Alan was out of work for a while we had frequent trips to the Temple 

I know this is a big reason that at the time helped us to pull through

The Temple is such a wonderful place 

It is a place to go where you can get away from the worlds problems

To get answers to personal problems

And a place to be enlightened 

Hugs, Bobbi Jo 

Thankful Day # 28

Today I am grateful for being able to read

I have always loved to read

I love reading my scriptures, especially Doctrine & Covenants  

I very rarely read a book that isn't of benefit to me learning something 

I enjoy self improvement books a lot and books that motivate me to be a better person

When I do read a leisure book as I call them I enjoy reading books about the Amish 

Books by Beverly Lewis kind of books

So thankful that I can read the words on the page or out of my kindle and use my 

imagination to play the movie in my head

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thankful Day # 27

Today I am thankful for things that are organized and being prepared

I wish I could say I am always organized and ready for what comes my way but then I would be lying 

I do love having things neat and in their place 

One of my favorite sayings is"A place for everything and everything in it's place"

I try (sometimes harder than others) to have thing organized and things ready for a just in case moment

A daily struggle of my to work on this but not be overly excited about it

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Menu Plan Monday

I am joining in with the Organized Junkie  on Menu Plan Monday

This weeks menu will be as follows:

Monday Meatless: Tomato Soup & Toasted cheese sandwiches

Tuesday Date Night: I will make something for the girls & Alan and I will do date night at home

Small steak, small potato, Swiss chard & olives

Easy Peasy Wednesday: Cabbage casserole w/ rolls, green salad

Traditional Thursday:(This means I use up leftovers) Turkey Tetrazzini, Asparagus Casserole  

Friday Pizza : Homemade Pizza , green salad

Saturday: Grilled chicken breast, corn & fruit 

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Making Your Home A Haven Week ~4 Decorating

This weeks challenge is:

 Decorate! The holidays are upon us. Ann Voskamp says “Creating is good theology. In the beginning God created.” Be creative as you make your home warm, cozy and inviting for the holidays. Think about ways you can keep Christ in Christmas even in the way you decorate.  Decorate – to the glory of God!

The decorating of our home for Christmas will be done a little later this week.

Normally Dallas and Kyle would have put up the outside lights on Thanksgiving but it didn't happen this year

Alan is at the end of the building he is in charge of building is having the open house this Wednesday so he has been working so hard to get it done with little extra time to help get the decorations out of the attic 

Today I did get all of my Fall/Thanksgiving decorations down and house cleaned and ready for the Christmas decorations.

I am looking forward to the house having the beautiful glow of Christmas throughout

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Pantry Challenge Week # 4

This morning I went and did the grocery shopping for this week.
I could have been just a little cheaper but we really needed lunch supplies

Here is what I got:

 I went a little over the budget I spent $56.53

Not bad though.

Then I got all the lunch supplies put into the containers 

to make it super easy for packing lunches in the morning

The top container has the cheese crackers, pretzels, stuffed Ritz and whales

The second container has fruit snacks

The third one has breakfast bars

The girls usually get a cracker type treat, fruit snack, breakfast bar, pudding or yogurt, 

a fruit of some sort and a sandwich. 

This way they have items to snack on before lunch or on the bus ride home.

 Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thankful Day # 26

Today I am thankful for productive days

Today has been an amazingly busy and productive day

I got so much done, this hasn't been the case as of the past couple months

I have been having to push myself to get things accomplished 

Today was different I felt like getting things done

I think that praying and asking Heavenly Father for help in this was a major difference

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thankful Day # 25

Today I am thankful for yummy fruits and veggies

I love these amazing foods 

When I eat them they give me a kick of energy

I don't feel heavy or sleepy when I eat them

I love them raw or cooked but mostly raw

I love what they do for my skin it helps to keep it glowing and clear

I love that it helps to keep things moving regularly (if you know what I mean)

They are truly amazing for the body

Hugs, Bobbi Jo 

Pink Saturday Giving Thanks

Joining in on Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound  that Beverly is hosting.

Today's Pink Saturday theme is Giving Thanks

I have been doing a Thankful November where each day I put what I am thankful for

I am so grateful for all the many gifts, talents and blessing that the Lord has blessed me with

At times I get down but I am truly blessed with so much in my life daily.

This Thursday we celebrated Thanksgiving with the family as many did in the US

It was a good day filled with family, fun and good food.

I am also thankful for wonderful cyber friends who create beautiful blogs that entertain and teach me.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo 

Thankful Day # 24

Today I am thankful for family traditions throughout the year

Tonight we are going to the Temple lights

Going always sets me in the mood for Christmas and the time to be thankful for all that we have
The tradition will be waiting until later in December.
Gabby got sick yesterday and still isn't feeling so great
I do love our silly family traditions though
Hugs, Bobbi Jo 

Thankful Day # 23

Today I am thankful for leftover turkey 

One of my favorite meals ever is leftover turkey sandwiches

YUM! 

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thankful Day # 22

Got a little busy so now I am catching up.

Today I am thankful for 

This was a very busy day of preparing food 

Family was here to celebrate this day of thanks

The food was yummy and I think everyone had a good time

I loved having the family here

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

AMA's And A Whale of a Time

Sunday night was the American Music Awards. 

I was watching it to left Faith know if One Direction was on.

You never know what they are going to show or say on it.

At the end of the show the last performance was Psy  & McHammer performing 

Gangnam Style

I yelled for the girls and of course this made us brake out in a dance in our room

Of course if you are dancing to Gangnam Style you have to get super serious 

 Woop.. Woop.. Woop.. Woop.. Woop..

I love these impromptu dance parties 

Gabby has been working on a whale at school in her art class for a few weeks now

Yesterday Gabby brought it home and painted it yesterday

Here it is 

It's name is Whale Bubber Blubbery Jefferson Wantay-a Waleashes Star Qunnetoo Whaley Blubber Budy The Third.

 Here is a side view of it

 And the other side with Gabby peeking through

Faith making the whale face

Faith and Gabby with the whale before school today.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thankful Day # 21

Today I am thankful for all of the trials I have gone through in my life

At the time not all the trials were fun or easy

But I have learned so much
Many tears cried at times, stressed out at times and smiled like crazy at times

They have made me into the person that I am

Discovering I'm not all that bad

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thankful Day # 20

Today I am grateful for yummy smelling pumpkin candles.

I have one in our bedroom and one down stairs

The candles smell so good but they also make the home feel more welcoming

The glow constantly catches my eye as I am working throughout the day.

The house smells so good when everyone comes home

I love that

Hugs, Bobbi Jo 

Making Your Home a Haven ~ Week 3

Joining in with Courtney over at Women Living Well

This week’s challenge:

Focus on the kitchen, the heart of the home. Cook things with pleasant aromas – like homemade bread, pies, and cookies. Don’t wait to have a reason to make something special – do it simply to show love to your family. Invite your kids and/or hubby to cook along side of you – make memories in the kitchen – test tasting, being creative, laughing and loving. Remove discontentment and give thanks to God for the home God has given you in which to create a haven for your family.

 Growing up my mother was an amazing cook. I really never had much of an interest in cooking. I never thought I would get married. When Dallas, our second child was born the food shows became super popular. It was at this time that I got interested in cooking and started to venture out and give it a try. Now I could make the basics but at this point I learned how to really cook. Maybe a little too good. My favorite to make has always been baking yummy desserts. When our third child was born I did some catering for husbands office once a week. That was a lot of fun! 

 As I have said before Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year so this is the perfect time for cooking & baking. 

 Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thankful Day # 19

Today I am thankful for memories 

The memories I have of growing up, getting married, 

having each of my children, memories of the mile stones in their lives and my life

So many memories. Some captured in pictures, some in notes in journals

 and some that I just hold 

in my mind.

Those memories of the kisses, hugs and sweet words

The smells of certain things can take me back immediately to a time and place 

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thankful Day # 18

Today I am thankful for our home

Our home was built in 2005 

At the time Alan was working for Shea Homes who was the builder. 

Both of our homes have been Shea Homes. 

We like the quality & styles of the homes.

This is a picture of the front during construction

This is the view from the back yard 

This was the yard shortly after we moved in when Alan decided to change the landscaping

 Another view of it

This is our house today 

Alan brought home ABC( I think that is what it is called) for the back yard, that is the pile of stuff in the driveway next to my van

E'lyse & her dog, Bella are up in the entry way area.

The flowers are waiting to be put in next to the Rosemary bushes in the front

due to Alan redesigning the front yard again.  

The back yard has been redesigned twice but on it's way to the third time.

This has been done with the changing of seasons in our lives and the kiddos

We got rid of our pool this past summer (an above ground one) so now to get that part taken care of

So little time & the funds to do all we want

But you can count on when it is in the process I will be out there taking pictures.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Spare Room Update

Thought I would share the progress on the spare room 

Alan started the painting on Friday night 

 Another wall.

He did three of the walls in Sienna Sand and the other one will be an accent color.

It will be nice to have this done for Coco & Kyle this week. 

Well not just them but it will look much nicer. 

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Thankful Day # 17

Today I am thankful for our hairy family members our three dogs

Nellie, Bella and Louie

All three are girls and such good dogs

During the day when I am working up in my room or on the computer 

you will find them laying around the room 

Nellie likes to lay on the floor on Alan's side of the bed so she isn't easily seen

 Belle (E'lyses dog) likes to lay on Nellie's bed or in the walk way

 Louie (Gabby's dog) likes to lay on the floor at the end of the bed

 They are great companions to have around. They follow me throughout my day as I work around the house. 

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Pink Saturday We All Gather Together

It's time for Pink Saturday
Joining in with Beverly over at How Sweet The Sound blog 

This themes week is We Gather Together

I am super excited about Thanksgiving and having the family together

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday

Coco and her family will be coming down to stay with us

Dallas & Sara hopefully will be coming over for lunch also.
We will be having turkey, mash potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes with pecans & marshmallows,
green beans, cranberry sauce, black olives and a family favorite chipped beef balls.
I have two turkeys to make sure there are plenty of left overs.
We love turkey!
Our plan for that evening is having pie & homemade goodies, hot chocolate and watching a Christmas movie.
I know I have said it before but I am super excited about Thanksgiving and being with my family.
My little touch of PINK 

My little cheap SD that I use for items that I just want to save  to copy then delete. 

They had a pack of three on sale before school started this year of course I nabbed the pink one. he he

 Have a fantastic Pink Saturday!

Hugs, Bobbi Jo 

Friday Night Picture Dump

 A couple of weeks ago Alan took the girls and I out to dinner to my favorite restaurant MiAmigos.

The girls are so silly I pull out my phone and say I want to get a picture of you three 

Of course they have to start being dorks. 

But I love these dorks 

 Thursday night I made spaghetti squash, meatballs and garlic bread sticks for dinner

Gabby loves spaghetti squash

Yes she ate that full plate

 Friday evening Just Dance 4 was rented and Faith didn't waste any time getting to dancing

She was super excited because it had One Direction on it

She is pretty good at this game. She got a perfect score

Gabby got busted making hot chocolate before dinner.

I love my silly girls.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo