Today's Project...

Riley picked out camo fabric for me to make him a bag for his piano books. He got the idea from seeing his friend's...whom has piano right after him. I just finally sat down this afternoon and got it made after weeks and weeks of him asking when I would be able to get to it. I cannot wait for him to come down to practice piano and see it there for him. This was very simple and of course I will do a few things different next time...like not buy Wonder Under from Hobby Lobby. But I do love how it turned out!

A little Family Fun...

Well this all started with Joe wanting to get a hotel and go swimming. Joe hates to swim

and has not ever been a fan of water even when he was little. But one February when

Riley was just over a year Joe came to me and said he needed to get away and wanted to go to a

hotel with a swimming pool (ODD). It happen to be Valentines weekend that year and we have

always tried to make it a goal to take a weekend each year and go swimming, by mid Feb

we are all tired of the weather and ready for a little break. This year was no different...

We have had this weekend planned for quite some time but never told the boys what

we were going to do we just told them we needed to go to Kearney and pulled in to the hotel parking lot. They were both quite excitied! We went to the Holiday Inn for a little Family Fun

of swimming and relaxing. This was the first time Joe nor I had to go up and down

the water slides with the boys, they both could do it all by themselfs :( Not sure

I like all of that...but this tired body really did enjoy the hot tub!

Sending our Love...

I was feeling sad and the questions of why running through my mind. It was a beautiful day one that Ethan would be playing outside from the moment he came to Gwennie's. I would have to bribe him to come in and use the potty :) Ethan loved playing outside digging, collecting rocks (once he even stuck one in his nose and I had to take him to the Dr) riding his scooter, anything outside he loved! I love those sweet memories and thoughts and am so blessed to have had the time with him, just at times I am sad we have to stay there on earth without him. I know with all my heart we will see each other again.

I ordered balloons for each of us and we went to 'Ethan's Park' wrote little love notes to our sweet friend and sent them up. The kids had a wonderful afternoon playing at the Park.

Chandler, Riley, Me, Hannah, Drew, Avery, Dylan and Maxx

Easy Granola...

Joe's favorite breakfast ceareal is Granola and of course it is so high priced and I just will not buy it all that often because he can only get two bowls worth out of a bag that cost over $4. So last week I decided to start looking online for granola recipes. Last Tuesday I made Peanut Butter Granola (my fav) and a normal honey granola with cinnamon (Joe's fav). It is really easy and probley an 1/8 of the price to make. I made granola bars with the peanut butter granola and added chocolate chips (pretty tasty)!! We have also made bananas dipped in yogurt, rolled in peanut butter granola then froze (taste like a banana split). This morning I made 2 more batches of the cinnamon granola...we like to eat it with milk poured over, in our yogurt, or just grab a handful and eat! It is SO YUMMY and now probably a must have around our house.

Easy Granola

2 cups rolled oats

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon milled flax seed

-in bowl toss oats, cinnamon, flax seed, and salt

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

-Preheat oven 325. In bowl stir oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Pour over oats, use your hands to coat and mix. Spread oat mixture on a baking sheet (I use my stoneware) spread it out evenly but leave a few clumps

here and there for texture.

Bake for 10 minutes flip granola

Bake for 10 minutes flip granola

You can add anything you would like into the granola, we have added things like chopped almonds, dried cherries, or chopped bittersweet chocolate. Whatever sounds good to you!!!

Our sweet Valentine's...

if only this is how they were torwads each other every morning :)
For Valentine's Day Joe and I worked on a special valentine for the boys. I cut out a bunch of paper hearts and we split them up for the two boys then Joe wrote love notes on half and I on the other half for each Riley and Chandler. I sewed them to a piece of ribbon and Joe hung it over the boys bedroom door. We made a trail of "KISSES" from the door into the livingroom and made a huge heart of kisses and put there Valentines gift in the middle. (the kisses thing I have done every year) Then we had heart shape choc chip pancakes for breakfast. Though it was Grandpa Gascho's funeral and a hard day I am so thankful we took the time to make this Valentines Day a fun and speical one for the boys. They are the true love of our lifes and I thank Heavenly Father everyday for alowing me to be their mother. It was a DAY OF LOVE!!

His sweet word...

The Next American Idol...

from lazy summer days in Nebraska....


to Hollywood!!

John Shulz is a close friend of our families, he served his mission in Nebraska and while in the Kearney Stake he became very close to our family. I can honestly say John is like another child to my parents and if I was not mistaken probley checks in with mom and dad more than I do :)

Him going to American Idol has been such a hush, hush thing and we have not been able to speak a word of it for months. Then we were not allowed to put anything on Facebook...AAHHH it was killing me! I wanted everyone to know so that we could get the word out and so people will watch and VOTE!! John is an AMAZING singer and a very talented musician! I cannot wait to see what will come of Idol.

We got to spend some time with John this summer, he was able to come to Joe and Chandler's Birthday Party (Pirate Birthday I might add), then he came back for the weekend of Ben and Lisa's wedding, that is when he was able to teach Joe a few cords on the Bango...OH JOHN PLEASE, THIS GIRL CAN ONLY LISTEN TO THAT SAME TUNE SO MANY TIMES.

We are so excited for our dear friend and he really does have a God given talent, we cannot wait to see where it takes him!!!