It's the start of something new!

Aaah, so as you can see I'm starting to move away from the Christmas theme of the blog and I'm currently trying to make my header, but it's taking forever!! So be patient. So I noticed on Facebook that a friend of mine had signed up for a free photography class - FREE!! and I just couldn't resist clicking on it for more info.

This class is being offered by Willette Photography & More and it looks really fun - and did I mention it's Free! I've read so many posts by some of you who are trying new things and I thought, "this will be my new thing to try" so here we go - I'm excited - I've never been much for photography, but since Brigs landed on the scene I just can't stop taking pictures and would LOVE to have some advice on taking better ones.

The class starts February 1st so there is still time to sign up!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

WHAT! Only a few days till Christmas?!?

We better stop playing around and get some things done!!

We'll put up some festive decorations like: the ULTRA cute sign that I bought this year (Ryan wasn't too thrilled) and the home made wreath that Brenda made (I have been the lucky recipient of her homemade floral arrangements ALL year long!)
And put up the Christmas tree!! Meet Evelyn the Evergreen. For those who are new to us: each year we name our tree alternating between male & female names (we tried peeking under the boughs, but we couldn't see much) WE LOVE Evelyn!! Wilbur was great last year, but a bit too bushy, Evelyn is juuuuust right!
This will be the last year that we can decorate the tree down to the bottom!

Start making Christmas treats!! I went to my first cookie exchange this year. Sadly the cookies didn't turn out the way I wanted them to. Don't worry Cookie Swap Ladies after the new year I will make my Chocolate Chip Pretzel cookies again and you'll see what an awesome cookie it is when it's done right. As you can see Brigs has really become interested in food!

We had to see Santa!! Brigham did very well and didn't cry at all. He even boldly tugged on the "old guys" beard. There must be a reason he felt so comfortable....ya better look twice at Santa he looks oddly familiar!

This year I decided to be frugal and send out Postcards instead of cards, letters & envelopes. So far they have been a hit! I need to make sure to get more next year- we've run out already!!

Merry Christmas to all of you! We have truely had a very blessed year. Our sweet little Brigham brings us more joy than we could even imagine. We thank our Heavenly Father for him daily. We are thankful for our home, Ryan's job, church callings that keep us on our toes and of course our Family & Friends!!

Thank you for being a part of our lives. We hope that you have a peaceful Winter,

a Merry Christmas & a very Happy New Year!!

My Oatmeal Souffle Recipe

I shared my Oatmeal Souffle recipe on She Said today! Make sure to click over there and check it out!

The Mormon at the Catholic Christmas Bazaar in the Baptist Church

Burns doesn't have alot. We are a pretty rural place....well really rural, we are two hours from any big shopping (i.e. Target, Wal Mart, Costco, etc). But there is one time of year that it's really quite fun to be in Burns and that is Christmas Bazaar time. There are three major bazaars that happen here: The Golf Course, The Catholic Church & The Fair Grounds (there are a few other smaller ones, but we'll focus on the top three). The Golf Course bazaar happens before Thanksgiving and has a lot of really cute, nice stuff - however it's really pricy (sorry, that clutch purse is really cute, but it's not worth $24). The Catholic Church Christmas bazaar has been around FOREVER and is really the fore-runner of the bazaars. Everyone goes and you get a really nice range of crafts from really cute and cheap, to really cute and expensive, to totally ugly & tacky. I've had alot of friends do this bazaar and I love going every year. The Fair Grounds bazaar is the same weekend as the Catholic Church and honestly I only went once, they cater heavily to cowboy country themed crafts and as one friend kindly put it some tables looked like personal yard sales.

Well this year I was going to be crafty, this year I was going to make some moolah, this year I was going to do the bazaar!! So after sorting through lots of craft ideas I settled on my tie-onesies:

And my friend, Leah, showed me these cute kid super hero capes! I was surprised at how easy they were to do and quite fun too! (that wasn't intended to rhyme)


(As you can see I had a really cute model for the capes!)

My partner-in-crime, Candace, joined me in the fun and made some really cute headbands and bows (I own a few of her creations myself!) Now back up a few weeks before the bazaar. Sadly a juvenile who didn't have much to do decided to set the Catholic churches Parish Hall on fire. It burnt down to the ground. Luckily no one was hurt and the Catholic churches chapel wasn't damaged, but where would the Christmas Bazaar be? The Faith Baptist Church, just across from ours, offered their building and the Catholic Christmas Bazaar was saved!!!

So after furiously sewing days ahead of the bazaar (because I'm that good at procrastination) and setting up a really cute table; Candace and I were ready for business (not in the slutty way)

I have to admit I had alot of fun with Candace and seeing everyone, but quite dissapointed in my sales. I didn't make as much as I thought I was and didn't think I was asking too much for a good, quality item. I did get alot of compliments, but just not enough people that were buying things for kids or baby boys (I kinda had some specific merchandise). I have to admit defeat to the "it" thing this year: Cow Skin purses.....yep that's what I said, Cow Skin Purses....with Rinestones no less!!

The humiliation. To be out sold by something so......ugly?tacky?rediculous? (if you are looking at these items and thinking they are cute, please keep that opinion to yourself)

I guess it's just the demographic. Maybe if my onesies were cow skin with rhinestones they might have gone faster.....mmmmmmm....

Anywho, it was fun to do. I'm glad that I did it, but I don't think that I will be doing it again.

I still have capes and onesies that I would like to sell so if you are interested just let me know!

Snow

It's landed...there is no going back. We are now covered in snow *sigh*. As most of you know I'm really not too big on snow. Sure, it looks pretty when it's: 1. It's Outside 2. I'm Inside 3. I don't have to go out in it

I have to admit though, I don't mind it too much this year because I LOVE watching Brigham look at it

He just stares with those big blue eyes with an expression of wonderment & "that looks different. What is going on out there?" We have yet to throw him in a snow suit and stick him in the middle of it, but I have a hunch he's gonna love it!

For breakfast this morning I wanted something cozy, warm and filling so I made an oatmeal souffle. What is an oatmeal souffle you might ask? Well just just say that it's warm, light, filling and has a crunchy brown sugar topping. Recipe to be shared soon!

I'm getting ready for my in-laws to come up for Thanksgiving. Menus are being planned and some much needed cleaning is happening upstairs. I'm grateful for all of you this year and our friendship through thick and thin, long distance and short distance. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Upd8ed

Alright, sorry for the incredibly long voids of time where all my blog consisted of were me trying to win a Sillhouette and inviting you over to my new blogging endevor with Nan.

There are Eight (8) new posts for you to read. There are many more that I could have done, but alas I wanted to get current and fast so I bit the bullet and gave you the highlights of what has been happening in our little hamlet of life for the past two months. So enjoy the attached picture of Brigham and his new hobby and start scrolln' & readn'!

Brigham in his city

I think when we are asked what our baby's name is people just assume "eh their Mormon. It makes sense" Well while yes we are Mormon we didn't really name Brigham after Brigham Young - I guess you could say that we were influenced by Brigham Young...
A few years ago (yes we've planned on this name for awhile) we were traveling back from Utah - or Portland - one of the two and to help the time pass we talked about names for our future children. We jokingly went through some prophet names like: Lorenzo, Ezra, Gordon... all nice names, but again - we were joking and then I said, "Brigham" and we back tracked a bit. I wanted a name that was: Classic, unique and not over used. Ryan wanted a name that was "Manly". The name "Brigham" oddly fit the bill and felt ...dare I say...right? Granted we know that his full name will span the entire width of his kindergarten desk, but we love it and Brigham he will always be!

Last weekend we happend to be in Brigham City. We came down for the burial of Ryan's Grandfather who passed away a few weeks ago. While we were there we had lunch with my parents:
And made sure to take a picture of Brigham under "his city's " sign:

After dinner we headed up to Pocatello to be with with aunts & cousins for the Halloween weekend. While we were sitting in Shelley's front room I realized that Brigham was surrounded by all of his aunts! So we had to take a picture! We love our family!! What a great weekend. So WONDERFUL to be allllll together!