Cookie Fest 2009- Utah edition

Madison and I spent the day Friday baking and preparing for our big Cookie event that was to take place that evening.

The Party was a huge success!

We had about 30 people attend- bringing with them in total, 22 different types of cookies.

We had 2 categories: Chocolate Chip and Specialty Cookies

Each guest's cookies were confiscated as they entered the house where they were taken and given a secret name so that they could be judged anonymously: The chocolate chip cookies were given the name of a spice and the Specialty cookies were given the name of a tree

All of our delicious cookies!

Our guests!

I tried to get a picture of everyone in attendance but by the time I was free to take pictures some of our guests had already left. Sorry guys!

This is a plate with all 22 cookies on it! Remember each of us had to try them all, that's a lot of cookies! Most of us chose to share our cookies between a few people.

After trying every cookie, everyone cast their vote as to which cookie they truly thought was the best.
We came out with 2 winners

Christian and Jamie won for the best Chocolate Chip recipe

(we still need to get a copy of the winning recipe)

And my SIL, Katie won for the best Specialty Cookie with her Chocolate Rolo cookies- all I can say is YUM! We will have to post the recipe for hers later as well.

Really I don't think the night could have been much better. Thank you everyone for coming and for all the yummy cookies. The only problem I have now is that some how we ended up with at least 80 different cookies left at our house. I know I am pregnant and eating for two, but really, I don't think I should be eating THAT many cookies...

Anyone want some CoOkIeS????

Reminder- Cookie party tomorrow!

(Picture from bing.com)

Just a quick reminder. The big CoOkIe BaKe oFf party is tomorrow night at 7 pm at my house. If I didn't happen to get you an invitation you are still invited just let me know and I will get you my address.

Hope you are all perfecting your secret recipes: we can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. Remember there will be a prize for the winners of the best cookies!!!!

Getting baby ready- or in other words- getting ready for the baby

Today I finally decided to pull out all of Maddie's old baby clothes so that I could try and figure out what we have and what we need to get for the new baby. Madison had a lot of fun helping me go through boxes and was enjoying trying on every pair of shoes and hat she came across.

These are the boots she wore last winter. They were just a little too small.

And then we opened the box of 0-3 month clothes. I found this skirt that Nana gave Maddie when she was a baby. I looked at it and thought to myself that Madison could probably still fit into this skirt. So we tried it on. And she could. Not only could she fit still, it actually goes all the way to her knees.

After seeing that she could still fit in this skirt, Madison decided that she wanted to see what else she could fit it. It was quite funny actually. Keep in mind these are all 0-3 month size.

Maddie today...

And Madison over two years ago

Madison today...
Two years ago
Today...
Two years ago

Today...

Two years ago

Today...

Two years ago

Unfortunately while trying on baby clothes Madison decided that she really wanted me to relive the baby months over again. Ironically, Madison decided to have a blow out diaper. All I can say is WhAt???? I can't even remember the last time she had one of those.

Moral of the story... if you are going to make your two year old try on baby clothing, expect baby results.

Need to blog... just don't know what about.

I sit at my computer right now, realizing that it has been almost a week since I last posted and know that I need to blog... I just don't have much to blog about. I guess we really have been pretty busy this past week or so and have actually even done some really fun things, I just haven't brought my camera along. So instead, here is a list of some of the fun things we have done this past week.*Went on a DaTe without Maddie to the Aggie Auction*Went to our new ward for the first time and met lots of great new people

*Went to our friend Claire's third Birthday Party

*Painted my kitchen cupboards*Made homemade aPpLe PiE- with apples from our yard

*Finally chose a day and made invitations for our Cookie Bake Off party (it is this coming Friday at 7 Pm for those of you I have not seen to give you your invite!)

*Went to Salt Lake for a short visit

*Got to go to Gardner Village to see all the fun Halloween decorations- Maddie even wore her costume

*Ate my Mom's yummy homemade scones and chicken noodle soup

*Went to see the Scarlet Pimpernel at Hale Theater with Karl's family- It was incredible!

*Got to eat at Five Guys Burger and Fries

*Actually got to spend time with my husband where he wasn't doing homework

Over all, it has just been a great week.

(thanks to Michelle, Katie and Lacey for letting me steal your pictures from your blogs)

Halloween is just around the corner!

Since I'm really hoping to be a little busy around HaLlOwEeN this year (you know hopefully either having a baby or just have had a baby) I decided to get started a little early on Madison's Halloween costume. I know it probably doesn't save any money to make it yourself these days but I sure do enjoy having projects to work on, so I decided to make her costume.

It doesn't have an official title but here it is.

This was the original dress... following the instructions with the pattern for a size 1 dress (which is for a 31 inch tall person- Maddie is about 35 inches tall) Oh and it's supposed to be a knee length dress. It also had way too much material to gather around the waist.

I took 18 inches off the width of the skirt and 6 inches off the length so that you could actually see the cute bloomers that go under the skirt. I love how the pants turned out and actually plan on making more to use as pajama pants for her.

There is also a fun hat that goes with the outfit as well.

And here is the finished product.

From where I stand

Right now I am in my new kitchen... trying to figure out how I can manage to get the dishes out of our sink and into the dishwasher, which is seeming a lot more difficult then one would expect. My belly is too big and our sink is too deep.

Any ideas of how to pull this one off???

(side note: I measured a new string today to compare to THIS string from the end of my last pregnancy and... the string is already 2 inches longer... and I still have 2 months left to grow!)

But I have to admit, I really love the view from where I am standing right now.

Madison LOVES our new house- especially when we let her snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie

But even more then getting to watch a movie on the big comfy couch she loves getting to watch a movie on the big comfy couch with her daddy!

Gotta Love It!

Self Propelled Mower???

Day Five in our new home: Yard Day

Along with the wonderful space that comes with our new home also comes a whole lot of yard. Today we (as in my sister's, Maddie and I- Karl was inside studying) spent a majority of our time outside grooming and watering our lawn and boy was it an adventure.

So you know those mowers that you are supposed to just be able to walk behind and the mower does all the work? Well our mower is supposed to be one of those... all I could say was

"Are you serious???"

That thing was so heavy I could barely push it. I only mowed the front lawn (and not even all of it at that, Katie did part of it too) and I was dead!

"Wait. What is that red bar on the handle supposed to do? Haha, you mean I was supposed to be holding that down in order to make the mower actually pull itself?"

You wouldn't believe how much easier that thing was to push once I discovered this secret.

Just as I discovered the secret of the mower, my wonderful father-in-law showed up on his brand new bike he had just bought. I'm sure he didn't have any idea what he was getting himself into. Thank you Pop pop for saving the day.... We really do have a lot of grass to mow and I was exhausted after doing the little patch of grass in the front yard.

The Front Yard

The Back Yard

While we all worked hard mowing and watering, Madison decided she wanted to have a little bit of fun for herself.

Although the yard is a lot of work, we have loved having a place to play, where I don't have to sit on cement steps that are covered in ants and Madison doesn't have to play on a ten foot patch of grass that hasn't been watered all summer long.

And another perk. Fresh Produce!

P.S. Friends, we are finally feeling like we are somewhat getting unpacked. Feel free to come visit us as soon as you can. We love visitors! (even if everything still isn't perfect) and the little ones will love our yard.

P.P.S Big shout out to my Dad, sister's, brother and SIL for coming up this weekend and helping me get SO much accomplished. I really couldn't have done it without you!