Chore Chart

This is our much needed chore chart.  To make this I took pics of all the chores my kids regularly do.  Using Picasa I wrote the name of the chore on the pic and printed 6 pics onto a 4x6 pic so each was a small square.  I cut them out and glued them to small tiles and glued magnets on the back.   Each time they get 5 Magnets they earn a Fake Dollar which can be used for a treat or saved for something bigger.  If they are naughty, thye lose a magnet.  It works great.

Halloween Pumpkin Vinyl

 These Vinyl Stickers for Pumpkins are a hit.  You can arrange them any way you want.  My favorite are the Polka Dots.  Get the Vinyl Here.

Dinosaur party

My sister-in-law, Nichole,  made these yummy foods for her son's dinosaur birthday party. So cute and a big hit!

Diaper Cake

 Make an easy diaper cake for the perfect baby gift. You only need one package of diapers.  Any size is fine, I used size 2 so they could enjoy the cake for a little longer.

• Simply roll each diaper and put a clear small elastic hair band around each to hold
• Tie ribbon around each tier to hold in place (tie it tight)
• Stack them on top of each other
• Add a flower on top and stick small lotion, shampoo, binkie, onesie, washcloths etc. throughout

Back to School

Took these pictures of my two boys with this old bus. They thought it was super cool because they don't actually get to ride a bus to school {we live too close}.

However you capture your child's back to school year, the important part is that you make it fun and memorable.

We hope you have a fabulous school year!

Tami's latest creation

Meet Trey Kacey, Tami's newest creation

6lbs 5oz.

Congratulations Tami, he is so adorable!

 Love, Julie & Kelli

Car Seat Canopy with Window

I am having my baby in just a few days.  I finally got up some energy and made a new
Car Seat Canopy.
 I found the idea to make a peep hole HERE.  I sewed clear plastic in mine instead of leaving it empty.  It turned out better than I ever thought.  I really love it.

Live What You Love Vinyl

Hey Everyone, as you know it was a rough, heartbreaking summer for our family with the loss of our sweet brother, Kacey.  I also lost my nine year old nephew Dylan to an illness.  Enough already.  I am finally trying to be creative again to keep my mind busy and happy.  :)  This is my newest Vinyl Decal.  If you would like one, you can get one HERE. 

We will be making more posts soon I promise.   

our Brother

 On July 18th, we lost our big brother, Kacey in an airplane accident. He left behind a wonderful wife and  adorable kids. Click here for an online auction to benefit his wife and kids. 100% of proceeds go to them. There are some really fun items to bid on.

Words cannot express how much we love and miss you Kacey.

Julie, Tami, and Kelli

Radley's Root Beer Party

So, this year as we were trying to think of a theme for my son's 3rd birthday, I kept thinking "Root Beer." It is afterall his FAVORITE drink ever and he's been asking waitresses for it since he was one. With Root Beer at the back of our minds, we kept finding Root Beer things, like taffies, jelly bellies, barrels, and more, so before we knew it, we had enough Root Beer paraphernalia to have a party. :)

For his '3' shirt, I bought the blue shirt and fabric at Hobby Lobby. I cut out a three and hand sewed it on. The total cost of the shirt was about $3.50.

We had a great turnout and ended up having the party at a park. We had pulled pork with Root Beer bbq sauce. (it is made by A&W and I found it at Lee's Marketplace)

 This is the 'Root Beer Smorgasbord' table. I got these root beer mugs at Hobby Lobby and filled them with Root Beer float taffies, root beer dum dum suckers, root beer jelly bellies, root beer barrels, and gummy soda pop candies, which are actually coca cola. (shhh...) The kiddos had fun filling up a little treat sack to take home.

 We also sent the kids home with their own glass Root Beer bottle. I labled them "Radley's famous Root Beer" and tied a tag to each saying "Thanks for Celebrating with me! Radley" I taped an old fashioned paper straw to each. I ordered the straws here. (they deliver super fast)!

Don't ask me where this came from, but my dad had it, and was sweet to let us borrow it. We filled it with ice and put the glass bottles of IBC Root Beer in it. It was the perfect touch!

Here are the Root Beer float cupcakes. They were the easiest cupcakes I have ever made. The birthday boy even got to help and he's only 3.

I got the recipe for these EASY cupcakes here.

The three items above are ALL that you need for the cake. Your kitchen will smell like a yummy soda shoppe. I also tried French Vanilla cake mix and it works too. I liked this one better because it is super moist. I just used Betty Crocker's vanilla icing, and then stuck a soda straw cut in fourths in each one.

(The best part about cooking with soda and not eggs and oil is that your cupcake liners don't get all greasy and ugly. They stay colorful.)

The cake is the same recipe, and I put root beer barrels around the outside. They did start to melt and get gooey. :)

It was a BEAUTIFUL, hot, July 9th, summer day in Utah. My biggest concern was if we should move the tables a little more into the shade so it wasn't too hot. Thats when I heard the thunder. No sooner had we heard the thunder, there was a big dark cloud hanging over us. It was exactly 6pm, time to start the party. Thankfully, I listened to my husband, and we moved everything under a pavillion that had just become vacant. And then, it hit.... the BIGGEST rain storm I've ever been in. It was raining SO hard and blowing so hard. Even under the pavillion, we got wet. My husband quoted Forest Gump and said, "It was raining sideways, and the rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath."


 At first, the birthday boy was nervous and just clung to me.....

 but then, the puddles were ALL worth it.

The party was perfect, even if we were wet, the party banner blew away, and the Root Beer bottle favors got all wet. It was a very memorable party, we were with our family and friends, and my baby turned THREE! The only thing that could have made it better, was if it had rained ROOT BEER.

Water Balloon Flip Flops

This is a craft my daughter did with her Grammy this summer.  They took a pair of flip flops and then single tied several bright water balloons from Dollar Tree onto them.  My daughter was able to tie them by herself and loves wearing them.  Super Cute.

how sweet it is

I am super excited to share my latest favest recipe website. This girl is a talented cook and writer- you can tell by how well she captivates you in her posts. Her recipes are too yummy not to make. Click here to check out How Sweet It Is.

Father's Day poem

Dad’s Hands

Bedtime came, we were settling down,

I was holding on to my dad.

As I grasped him so tight, I saw a strange sight:

My hands. . .they looked like my dad's!

I remember them well, those old gnarled hooks,

there was always a cracked nail or two.

And thanks to a hammer that strayed from its mark,

his thumb was a beautiful blue!

They were rough, I remember, incredibly tough,

as strong as a carpenter's vice.

But holding a scared little boy at night,

they seemed to me awfully nice!

The sight of those hands - how impressive it was

in the eyes of his little boy.

Other dads' hands were cleaner, it seemed

(the effects of their office employ).

I gave little thought in my formative years

of the reason for Dad's raspy mitts:

The love in the toil, the dirt and the oil,

rusty plumbing that gave those hands fits!

Thinking back, misty-eyed, and thinking ahead,

when one day my time is done.

The torch of love in my own wrinkled hands

will pass on to the hands of my son.

I don't mind the bruises, the scars here and there

or the hammer that just seemed to slip.

I want most of all when my son takes my hand,

to feel that love lies in the grip.

We Need S'more Dads Like You!

Just like the teacher idea, Here is one for Father's Day. 

They are easy and Kids can help too. 

I put in a clear cellophane bag:

4 Marshmallows

8 Graham Cracker Halves

4 Mini Hershey Bars

2 Skewer Sticks

Tea Light

Then I printed off the label and Directions as a 4X6 Photo. I folded it over the top and stapled and put it in a cute Target $1 Tin.  Also cute without the tin.  Choose Between We need more Dads, Papas, or Grandpas below.

Click below to Enlarge and Download.  Either Print it off or Upload to Walgreens or a Photo Place to be printed as a Photo.