Wanna see what buying for 10 kids looks like?

Yeah, the next photo will astound some (those that don't have a lot of kids) But this was actually pretty darn good this year. We had a budget and I'm not gonna lie, I went over a leeeeettle bit. Not much....just a little. I think I did awesome. We were trying not to put anything on a credit card. I did almost ALL of it with cash and a small amount on a credit card. It was that darn last minute shopping. You know, the kind where you wrap and look and realize you forgot to get someone something and they're gonna think they were gypped. And you always have one that complains and tells you how they asked for a particular item and someone else got it. What is up with that?....


I think I did pretty good all in all. I'll post more later. (I know, you've heard that one before! Right?) Don't forget to leave your email address if you want to view my blog when I go private. Even If I don't know you, post a comment. How will I get to know you if you don't post? (Besides, I love the attention...!)

LOSER??? WHAT?!!!

So I read the last couple of lines of my post and it looks like I'm calling my wonderful friend Lynn a Loser...Oh my gosh, I did NOT mean to do that! I was calling myself a loser because no one reads my posts anymore! Sorry Lynn...no wonder the last lines threw you for a loop. Mea Culpa. I would never call you a loser on my blog...(If I felt that way, I'd tell you in person!...LOL)

I know, I know...It's been a while...

I realize that it's been a while but I'm hoping that I still have friends that will comment when I post cuz I love it when you do.
Will it help if I post a lot of pics? O.K.! I'll do it!

Here's one of Brynleigh at Joseph and Emma's preschool Christmas party. She was a little bit afraid of Santa! Wait til you see Jo Jo! He was a hoot!
Jo Jo was so excited to see Santa but when it came down to it, he wouldn't even get on his lap. He was hilarious to watch. While Santa was talking to other kids in his lap so was edging closer and closer, until he was sitting in the chair right next to Santa. Then he moved the chair closer and was practically in his lap when the other kids were. I could not believe that he wouldn't go get in his lap. This was the best I could get with Santa for Joseph!
Emma was funny too! She is usually very outgoing and has not a fearful bone in her body, but when Joseph wouldn't go to Santa's lap, she got on but wouldn't talk! And both her and Jo Jo have this nervous thing they do when they are really scared or nervous. They pinch their cheeks under their eyes. LOL! Where did that come from?....
The next pic is actually from Thanksgiving. It's my 18 year old daughter Beth and her boyfriend Will. He's a pretty nice guy.
Here's some photos when we were decorating the tree. My husband does not do anything for Christmas. I don't know why, but he is the biggest scrooge when it comes to Christmas (Probably the buying of the presents for 10 kids!) It makes me really sad to tell you the truth because Christmas is the most wonderful experience for me. I love it. Every single moment is awesome!And the one and only ornament that Kelvin put up because I asked him too. Wasn't that nice of him? I wanted a picture of him pretending to like Christmas!
Chase, my 10 year old has just completed his Webelos badge and we're at pack meeting for his awards. We were only 1/2 hour late...(the missionaries came over for dinner) I thought we did pretty good for only being 1/2 hour late!.... Here's some pics of the event...

I had a lot of pictures of my sister and her new baby but she decided she wasn't comfortable with everyone seeing her son out there on the worldwide web. I didn't want to go private yet, so I removed them. I'll probably go private soon so give me a comment with your email if you want to be added. Thanks Lynn, I know you will!!! I don't think anyone else comes here anymore! LOSER!!!!..LOL

Did you see that?!

That's right people, I changed my background all on my own! I feel so independent right now...! I think that I'll be back tomorrow with lots of great pics of my sisters baby! He's here and soooooo beautiful! I wish I could have another couple of babies. Mmmmmm....don'tcha just want to eat them up!?

Awesome giviaway!

Isn't this necklace gorgeous?! You can enter to win here: www.webme.com/christinacurtis/curtis_family/blog/blog.html. I know, you'd think I would know how to make a link! But Wade only showed me once and I'm a three times kinda girl! He's coming home for Christmas, I'll ask him to show me some more technical stuff!

More shower pics...

Tara asked that I post some pictures of the women in our ward, so here they are! I didn't get pictures of everyone because I was too busy to take the pictures and my daughter was doing the picture taking. I'm really bummed that I didn't get more of the set up of the shower too. It looked awesome! The first picture is the best in my opinion! It's me with my niece "L". I should probably ask if I can say her name here.Isn't she absolutely adorable?! And she looks even better with ME in the background!! LOL! Just Kidding! She really is a beautiful little girl, who looks just like her mama! Sorry I don't have any more Tara. I do have one of Sis. Shiles, but she would kill me if I posted it. She already instructed me to destroy it when I went home!
Susan Cortez, she's my co-Activities Days Advisor. And she's really fun too!
Penny and Camille, two of the nicest ladies you will ever meet! They're in the Young Woman's Program with my girls. How lucky are they?
Gloria, Becky's mother-in-law and Amber, Becky's sister-in-law
Charity, Julianne and Heather!
One of the ladies in Becky's ward and her daughter. Wasn't that clothesline a cute idea?

Only for you, Sister!

This is for my sister in Canada. (You know who you are!):

Pumpkin Bread

1 cup Crisco Oil
3 1/2 cups flour
4 eggs
1 1/2 teas. salt
2 cups pumpkin
2 teas. baking soda
2/3 cup cold water
1 teas. cinnamon
1 teas. nutmeg
3 cups of sugar

Beat all ingredients together for 5 min. and put in greased bread pans. Bake 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees. Optional 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans.

And just for good measure, I'm gonna give you the best Banana Bread that I have ever tasted. And my awesome sister-in-law Christina, gave me this recipe.

Banana Bread

6 large bananas or 8 medium bananas
4 eggs
2 cups of sugar
3/4 cup oil
4 cups of flour
1 teas. baking soda
2 teas. salt
2 teas. baking powder
Optional: 1/2 cup walnuts/pecans

Mash bananas (leave chunks, that's the secret). Keep a little aside in another bowl, and then add eggs, sugar & oil. Mix together. In another bowl combine all your dry ingredients and give it a little stir. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients 1/3 at a time. Do not overmix, it will become stiff. Stir in the little bit of banana that you left on the side and pour into greased and floured bread pans. Place in a 325 degree oven and bake for 45-50 min.

I'm telling you, these recipes were sooooooo good! And tomorrow, I will give you a recipe that will astound you with how good it tastes. It's Pumpkin Carrot Cake! Yup, you heard right! Pumpkin Carrot Cake! You can't even taste the Pumpkin in it! My sister made it for the shower and man was it yummy! The best Carrot Cake I've ever tasted! Who-da thunk pumpkin would be good for carrot cake?....