I remember this like it was yesterday ~

and I'm telling ya,

it is going too fast!

And one thing is for sure.

This birthday boy knows how to play the angles...

Come on, what Kindergarten gal can resist a

Kindergarten guy with a couple boxes of KKs!!

And a chocolate mountain cake for the monster trucks

is about as six year cool as you can get!

Cooper, my raucous redhead ~

I wouldn't change anything about you.

From our morning snuggles,

to our night time finger kisses,

and all the crazy times in between.

You LIGHT up our lives!

I love this picture!

It really nails your personality.

Like ~ Come on! What are we waiting for?!?!

And because you laugh hard,

I know you love hard.

And I'm grateful to be part of your

six year old wonderment!

Happy Birthday!

I love you 17.

~ Mom

We have something in common. . .

I watched my friend Josh the other morning.

We usually get along really well.

But he has become such a mama's boy.

But really, isn't he a gorgeous baby!

Even with "I want my mom!!" tears streaming down his cheeks,

he is beautiful!

I tried to console him. Love him, squeeze him, cuddle him.

When it was clear that nothing was going to stop the tears,

I went and got my camera.

Josh was really sad.

It's okay Josh.

I know how it feels to miss your mom.

Say it with me. . .

Awwwwww!!!

Yeah, he's sweet like that.

And we enjoyed our traditional Valentine's Day chinese take-out.
It has been a standing tradition since Maddie was a baby.

And another long time standing tradition. . .

my mom's scrum-dilly-umptious

Cherry Torte Cake.

And the kids couldn't wait another minute to break in the fire pit.

So we slammed some S'mores too!

We had a lovely Valentine's Day!

Go Lady Canes!

There really isn't a better feeling for a parent than when the

hard work and diligent efforts of a child pay off.

When we picked her up from the final night of tryouts

she ran out in front of the car, bounded over to

my side and flung open the door. She threw her arms around my

neck saying over and over "I did it Mom! I did it Mom!"

I didn't think I'd ever be a basketball fan but I am now!

Congrats Sis! I love you.

Okay, so my wish is a day early ~

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Nobody can say it better than these funny little creatures.

The Wheels on the Bus

Kindergarten has got to be one of the most wonderful grades ever!! Thanks for wanting me to come along Cooper.

Hold it right there Mister!!

I came home from bookclub last night and went into the

kids bedroom to do the final check. You know ~

make sure they are breathing : )

make sure the blankets are tucked around snuggly,

place a final kiss on their cheek

and whisper I love you in their ear.

When I peeked in on Cooper. . .

this sweetness about made my heart burst.

Don't grow another inch Cooper.

My heart can't possible bear it.

I played with the color and I'm in love either way!

A boy of his word

I'm grateful that my cubscout is true to the words he repeats.

It all started when. . .

...I asked to put new carpet in the house.
Which I love.

But with that project came the tearing out of the carpet in our master bath.

Which led to a tile project because who wants carpet in their master bath??

So my "I'll do it myself and save us some $$$" husband rolled up his sleeves and embarked on a whole new understanding of manual labor.


He became a tile mason and













he also became a plumber during this project as the toilet had to be removed and reset once the tile was in place.













Then we decided why not redo the backyard and make it a more useful/family friendly space.

My awesome tile mason husband rolled up his sleeves again and decided to do it himself.

He then became a one man demolition/excavation show.


















Is is too much to say that I love a man that isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves and get to work!!


















Not only was he lifting huge chunks of cement with his pinkie finger,
















but he let the kids help, no matter how much it slowed him down.


















Then the work on building the bench and fire pit began.

He became a precise cement mason.

















And I saw this happen over and over...














...which really made my heart happy.

My handsome cement mason is still smiling!


















Then he became an expert brick layer

















and paver installer.













And also an electrician.













And the backyard overhaul is complete!


















With the exception of some patio furniture and some potted plants. But that's another day and another dollar!!













So what do you call a man that can do all of the above and still have a happy marriage to show for it??

I call him all mine!

I love you honey!
Thanks for your endless hours of hard work, repeated smashed fingers, and the list goes on.
I think I'll keep you around. : )


















Oh, and this beauty you ask?? The incredible pergola was built by our master craftsman Jeff Nicholls. I can give you his number. He is such a great man. Except, of course, when he wears this get up! : )

I can hardly wait for beautiful blooms and vivacious vines to be climbing this canopy!

Perfectly put

Having served as a primary chorister for almost three years I have been blessed to witness some great moments where you learn that a child's heart is just about the closest thing to heaven that you can find.

I'm no longer singing with the primary kids but Brent happens to be teaching them right now. He shared one of those moments with me today.

During singing time the children were working on the Hymn

"How Firm A Foundation".

Our excellent choirster stopped and asked the children,

"Why are we singing this song?"

Seven year old Jeremy raised his hand and said,

"So that Heavenly Father

can hear us!"

I couldn't have said it better than Jeremy

and Brent didn't think so either.

"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart;

yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me,

and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."

D&C 25:12

Welcome. . .

...to my heaven!

These are a scratch cupcake that come from my friend Mendy.

There is an OH SO YUMMY difference between a scratch cupcake and a box cupcake.

Hence, the reference to HEAVEN.

Enjoy!! and I know you will.

Lemon Cupcakes

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 eggs

2 (8-ounce) cartons dairy sour cream

2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel

I added a bit of the lemon juice from the lemon I just zested too!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line thirty 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and vanilla; beat until well mixed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and sour cream alternately to beaten mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. (The batter will be thick.) Stir in lemon peel. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the batter into each prepared muffin cup *(See Tip Below). Bake in preheated oven about 18 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting and topping cupcakes with lemon or orange zest (optional). Makes 30 cupcakes.

Lemon Frosting

3 tablespoons butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Milk (2 to 3 teaspoons if necessary)

1 teaspoon shredded lemon peel

Garnish with grated lemon or orange zest (optional)

In a medium bowl, beat butter with 1 cup powdered sugar, beating well. Gradually beat in lemon juice and vanilla. Gradually beat in additional 1-1/4 cups powdered sugar. If necessary, beat in enough additional milk (2 to 3 teaspoons) to make of spreading consistency. Stir in shredded lemon peel.

*Tip: If all of the cupcakes do not fit in the oven at one time, refrigerate the remaining cupcakes while the first ones bake.

Oh how lovely was the morning...

The First Vision

by Cooper Brown

age 5

Through my eyes, I don't think the actual scene was anymore beautiful than this.

Give 'em FITZ!

Pre-game pep rally

Pre-game huddle

That play to Fitzgerald near the end was so much fun to watch! We were running with him all the way to the endzone.
Let's get 'em next time Cards!!!

It's been awhile...

...since I've been tagged. Here we go ~

Six names you go by:
1- Andrea
2- Sis (I love that my brothers still call me this)
3- Sweetheart (still makes my heart go pitter-patter when Brent call me this)
4- Andie (but only allowed by my childhood dentist - mom was very adamant about this)
5- Sister Brown (by my 20 Beehives)
6- Mom or MOM!!! (depending on the need)

Three things you are wearing right now:
1- earrings that Carrie gave me
2- My wedding rings
3- my toe ring

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1- a get-a-way with my husband
2- to loose 20 pounds

Three of your favorite things that you did last night:
1- went out for a treat with just my boyfriend
2- Played Wii with my THREE boys
3- went to bed early and fell fast asleep

Four things you ate today:
1- chips and homemade salsa
2- lemon melt a way cookies
3- pringles
4- axiously awaiting dinner with the Slade family

Two people you last talked to on the phone:
1- Mom Slade
2- Maddison

Six things you are going to do tomorrow:
1- work on YW in Excellence stuff
2- go to a YW presidency meeting
3- walk Cooper to school
4- read
5- make a new recipe for dinner
6- hug my kids and kiss my sweetheat

Three Favorite Beverages:
1- ice cold water
2- cherry coke zero (but it is a rare treat now)
3- Goofy's Kitchen hot chocolate

Five things you are grateful for today:
1- My family
2- Our home
3- My testimony
4- My friends
5- The talk that Brother Woolsey gave in Sacrament meeting today

I tag: Rachel and Hannah

Collette: If I added a question about Top 3 favorite U2 songs, would you participate?? If so, consider it added. : )

It's HOT in here!

Standing in the kitchen moments ago, Brent and I were locked in a warm and passionate embrace. The kiss was. . . well. . .
spectacular!

Maddie and Cooper come around the corner and happen upon the scene.

Maddie shouts "Come on children!"

In chorus they exclaim (with much drama and peril)

"My eyes! They burn!"





Life is good!

She's like that...

I have a friend. Her name is Cathy.

I have been blessed by her thoughtfulness many times. The first Mother's Day that my mom spent at a nursing home, Cathy brought me flowers and a note that was not only kind but insightful and wise.

She is like that. Insightful and wise.

When I was with her the other day she said to me,

"It is always better to act more gracious than you feel."

Hmmm.

"You will have to apologize much less in your lifetime."

Oh, she's smart!

I'm sure I should apologize more than I do and I don't want to have to apologize as much as I should. So I'm going to try and save myself some guilt (I've got plenty. I could use a break) and try my hand at gracious living.

Cathy is a master teacher, much like my mother.

I think Cathy and my Mom would be great friends.

Ask. . .

. . . and ye shall receive.

Now my counter is overflowing with lemon lusciousness.

Thank you kind world!

You know who you are : )

To celebrate I am sharing two new recipes with you.

I haven't tried either but both will make an appearance on the menu soon!

Lemon Linguine
By Jeanne Dunbar

2 pound uncooked linguini noodles (fresh noodles if you can find them are the best)

1 Whole Chicken Breast

1 cup Olive Oil (the kind good enough to eat lots of)

Zest from 2 large lemons

Juice from 5 large lemons

1 cup chopped green onion

1 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Salt and fresh ground black pepper

Freshly grated parmesan cheese, to taste about 2/3 cup

Boil linguini until al dente; drain well. (But make sure the olive oil mixture is ready for the pasta to be mixed in so your noodles don’t cool and stick together)

Pan Saute the chicken breast with some (1Tbsp) olive oil until it is a little brown on the outside and cooked through.

Meanwhile, in bowl, combine olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, green onion and parsley.

Add pasta and chicken; toss well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Toss in Parmesan cheese to taste.

Serve warm or chilled. I think chilled makes a great summer time meal.I like to pour the whole mix into another serving bowl as the good stuff likes to settle at the bottom even when you have tossed it.

Serves…well depends on how much your guests like it…I would say it serves 10-12 with some leftovers.

Lemon Meltaways
These lemon-flavored cookies are so tender that they seem to melt in your mouth.

Cookies:

1 1/4 c flour

1/2 c cornstarch

1/3 c powdered sugar

3/4 c butter, softened

1 T lemon juice, freshly squeezed

1 t grated lemon peel

Frosting:

3/4 c powdered sugar

1/4 c butter, softened

1 t lemon juice, freshly squeezed

1 t grated lemon peel

For cookies: in large mixer bowl combine all ingredients. Beat 2-3 min. on low speed until well mixed. Shape dough into two 8 x 1 inch logs. Wrap in saran wrap. Refrigerate 1-2 hours until firm. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut logs into 1/4 inch slices. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8-12 minutes or until set. Cookies will not brown. Remove immediately. Cool completely.

For frosting: in small mixer bowl combine all frosting ingredients. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Spread on cooled cookies

Pucker up and enjoy!!

Optimism

Church Leaders to Attend Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama
LDS.org Newsroom01/17/2009 07:52 PM MST

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be represented at inaugural events for President-elect Barack Obama by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The two leaders, who have been asked to represent the Church by Church President Thomas S. Monson, are scheduled to attend the swearing-in ceremony on January 20 and the National Prayer Service at Washington’s National Cathedral on January 21.
“It is always an honor for the Church to be represented at the inauguration of a new president,” said President Monson. “We send our best wishes to President-elect Obama and pray for the blessings of a loving Father in Heaven to be upon him and his administration.”

This article was accompanied by a FHE lesson on Optimism.

Which is really "what the world needs now"

(please burst into song along with me)

and of course

love sweet love!

We will be having this lesson tonight.
http://ldslivingmagazine.com/articles/show/1847

Hello, my name is Andrea

and I'm a paperaholic.

I just purchased 115 sheets of scrapbook paper.

Mind you, my scrapbooks are five years behind.

I can't resist the stuff.

But hey, I'm using a good portion of it for a YW's activity and it was on sale - 7 sheets for $1.00

Now what addict can pass that up!

And please don't try an intervention.

I'm really happy this way.

It's all about the hair and nails!

I was shuffling around some papers on my computer desk and ran across these.

Too good not to post.

I'm not sure why I had these photo sessions.

Maybe I won a drawing or something.

But I remember clearly they were right before I left on my mission.

And to document our 22 years of friendship

I did a session with my BFF, Carrie.

And a session with my baby brother, Dave.

All I'm saying is that my hair and nails were a very important part of my life twenty years ago.

If you click and enlarge these, you'll get the idea.

The bolo ties are classic!!

And how come I was always the one with my hand under my chin??

Yeah, I'm letting you all have a good laugh at my expense.