My Fifth Child

A few years ago my sister and I started a new business that we named " Upon the Shelf ". We sell home decor including furniture, linens, shelving, baby gifts and a lot of other cute decorations. After 1and 1/2 years in business my partner moved south to Utah and here I am, left with all this fun. We are doing well and I wanted to share a part of this with all of you. Above are some pictures of the store. The witch outside is part of our Witch-A-Palooza event where we decorate the store and ourselves in witch attire and have great sales especially for our customers who shop in costume. Fun things are always on the go. An Upon the Shelf website is currently under construction, thanks to my sister Karli, so look for its link on my blog soon. Anyway, when I complain that I am busy this great little shop is one reason for the craziness, but I like being crazy.

Emergency Room Visits

Boys, I love them but... Why must they be so rowdy? This week I took Mckay (12) back to the emergency room for the third time in just five months. In march he broke his nose and had to have surgery to have it straightened. His Dad told him it was cool to have a crooked nose like Peyton Manning but thankfully he didn't want a Peyton Manning nose so it was fixed. In April he broke his wrist playing dodgeball. "He's a little aggressive." says his P.E. teacher, but he did get an A. Sunday at Grandma G's he lept over a flower planter, walking around it doesn't occur to boys I guess. We're not sure it was the smacking it on the planter or the landing that did it but indeed he has broken his toe. Two weeks out of football should slow him down, yeah right. Just needed some advise on convincing the four to walk not jump, and tone things down, I am tired of the emergency room. HELP!!!

Oscar Meyer and Stinky Stella

I have a soft heart for the underdog so when my Dad offered me a calf who's mother had died and was heading to the cow palace himself, I said I would take him. We have named him Oscar because I thought it was a cute name and Russ said it would keep us focused on what Oscar was going to become, (think Oscar Meyer). Oscar is spoiled, the other day he was heard bellering for us and we found him with his front feet perched on the front steps. After Oscar was with us for a week we were offered calf number two who as you can see looks alot like a skunk. She was named Stella, if you've seen Over the Hedge you will understand why. Anyway our farm continues to grow one orphaned animal at a time. By nephews and neice are enjoying helping to feed them when they visit aint Jana's house.

Gardening 2008

My summertime love is gardening. I love weeding, the smell of wet dirt and spending time with my boys ( Nobody fights when we are gardening). I guess I love it because weeds stay away for weeks and watering gives instant relief to the plants. The Vegetables are just a nice little bonus. Laundry and cleaning on the other hand never stays away and I just don't get the same sense of gratification from a clean sink. I get this gardening bug from my sister Kara, who also dislikes housework. Anyone who knows Kara knows that this is an outright lie but it should get a response out of her. Let's just say Kara could help me housekeep and I could certainly help her garden.

Piece of Cake

I have been making wedding cakes for a few years now. This Spring and Summer I have done six of them. I really enjoy the creative side of it and I especially like it when a bride gives me her colors and says, "Do whatever you think looks good, I trust you." Yipee, it keeps me up nights planning and scheming in my head. These are the latest cakes I have done, also the only ones I have pictures of. Thanks to my Aunt Laurie I am also making some money doing what I love. Two more cakes in Aug., oh what fun.

Hooked on Fishing

Well, fishing isn't my first love, actually it doesn't even rank in my top 10, but my boys and husband love it and I love them, so I fish. Our favorite lake is Camsel and we like cooking over a fire, feeding our pet squirrel (affectionately know as Hamey) and laughing together. How blessed we are to live here in this beautiful part of the world and enjoy the sparkling blue water and green trees and yes even the stinky fish.