Shutterfly - My eHome away from Home

I have decided to set up housekeeping at ONE place on the internet instead of hopping from place to place in a mad frenzy and getting lost along the way. I spent one entire day studying out the different options and finally came to the conclusion that Shutterfly is where I need to rest my weary head.

Reasons:

With my blog at Shutterfly I have access to all of my pictures and videos that I have uploaded.
I can pick and choose which pictures/videos I want to display from the entire file.
Placing photos in a post is a breeze compared to working with Blogger's picture importer.
I have options to display pictures, singly, in groups, slideshows and moving filmstrips.
On my Share Site I can show off the photobooks that I have created (with Stephanie's help).
I can be very organized and have a place to highlight all my favorite people.
I can bring all my previous posts (from blogger and wordpress) to Shutterfly.

I shared my find with Stephanie, Elizabeth and Jennifer and they are now doing the same.

My Share Site at Shutterfly is password protected so if you would like to have access, send me an email and I will add you to my members list. Bonnie that means YOU!!!!

Christmas Treasure Hunt

This year we decided to get a family gift instead of trying to figure out something individual for each person. We told Alex about it and he decided to help make it more exciting than just opening a gift on Christmas morning.

He came up with the idea to turn Christmas morning into a treasure hunt. In two days time he turned some PVC pipe and fittings into a Kryptex (think DaVinci Code). He made up a page of riddles and clues and then Addison and Amberlyn had to follow said clues to find the family gift. While Alex had Addison and Amberlyn running all over the "hundred acre wood" collecting clues, Forrest and I set everything up in the basement.

The barn was the location of the last clue. It was quite a journey at 10 below zero to walk out there but they did it!

We pulled it off without a hitch. They were actually shocked that we had purchased a Wii gaming system. We also set up a old fashioned popcorn popper and a fridge full of treats. The treats didn't last more than a day but it was fun while it lasted.

Alex deserved a rest after all the hard work he put into an EXCELLENT Christmas Treasure Hunt!

Merry Christmas to ME!!!!

My MOST EXCELLENT husband gave me the BEST Christmas present in the world. I have been so impressed as I have watched him take each challenge and find a viable solution. I now have a beautiful soaking tub in my bedroom.

This saga began over a dozen years ago when we purchased a home with a master bath which did NOT have a tub! Can you believe that anyone in their right mind (I think that was the problem) would create a master bath with a shower, NO TUB and with carpet on the floor. I immediately started searching for a shower/tub combo which I could put in place of the exiting shower but discovered that not only did the builder NOT put in a tub, but he made the shower opening 1/2" too narrow for the length of a tub. Basically we would have to tear out the wall between the shower and toilet room to add 1/2" to the dimensions. I thought we could just cut into the studs by 1/2" (surely 1/2" of support isn't THAT IMPORTANT) but was advised against such action by people in the KNOW!

When I graduated with my bachelor's in Natural Health several years ago, Forrest promised me a tub to soak in. The problem was that I couldn't figure out exactly how to do it. In my mind I have redesigned the bathroom several times trying to put in a tub. I have considered changing the closet to add more space to the bathroom. All because I needed 1/2" for my tub. However, each time I was stopped by the overwhelming task of tearing my bedroom, bathroom and closet apart.

After several stays at the Big Yellow Inn in Cedar City, where I thoroughly enjoyed my accommodations with a large RED clawfoot tub IN the actual bedroom, I came up with the GREAT idea of putting a soaking tub in OUR BEDROOM. I was VERY happily surprised when Forrest agreed immediately. I was VERY shocked when the same afternoon he ordered the tub. He made plans to spend his Christmas break installing my tub AND he did just that.

The installation required tearing the ceiling out above refrigerator to tie into the existing hot and cold water and also the drain. Thankfully there was a cupboard above the fridge which was easy to remove.

It was VERY dark and scary up inside the kitchen ceiling so Forrest called upon his McGyver ingenuity and solved the problem by wrapping a rope around his head to hold the flashlight in place.

After tearing out the offending carpet, Forrest cut holes in the floor for the plumbing. He made the holes VERY small because he wanted to minimize the work for Kelton who so graciously agreed to lay the tile. The holes actually had to become bigger and bigger as Forrest realized that the pipe had to be able to come through the holes. Make note of Forrest's work pants. They have certainly seen better days. He calls them his "Corey Pants" because he wants to be like Corey who wears jeans with holes in them.

We had to go through a few days of having an unserviceable toilet in the shower, but that didn't stop us from actually using the shower. Even with the toilet in the shower stall, it was still larger than most of the showers we used in Europe. In the picture to the right you can see the beautiful tile which Kelton layed down for us. He is VERY talented and we really appreciate his hard work.

Also, our room was a bit disorganized while the construction was at its peak. We managed to stay sane (at least as sane as when we started the project). However, I am proud to say that we made our bed EVERY day despite the chaos.

Forrest literally didn't stop until the job was done. He became quite good at eating on the job.

Azure was the first to try the new tub out just before it was set in place and the plumbing attached.

And here is the finished product. I can now soak in my delightfully deep tub and enjoy my warm fire which Forrest builds for me (remote controls are wonderful creations), watch a slide show of our trip to Europe on my digital picture frame all at the same time.

Note: Fireplace and said picture frame are on the right side of the photo on the left. The door goes into the original bathroom which is now tiled and houses the original shower which hasn't been used much lately. Even Forrest has enjoyed several long deserved soak in the tub.

Happy Harvest Everyone!

Today we had ONE very cute Trick-or-Treater come to our door.

We decided to invite him to eat Dinner in a Pumpkin with us.

He thought the cornbread muffins were the BEST!

Later, while visiting Alex's room I saw that we had an illuminated masked alien.

I have been very busy with my SCHOOL assignments. One of my most recent projects has been Frog Breeding. I have taken pictures of my cute little critters for you viewing pleasure.

My frogs LOVE going to the pond and consuming dragonflies. It is always extra fun when they find tidy little presents to open.

Here is my nursery overflowing with Lanterna frogs. I earned 2000 experience points for breeding 8 of these jack-o-lantern wanna-bes.

I now have 7 habitats PLUS the nursery. I am beginning to have a little empathy for the Egyptians during their trial by frogs. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all these creatures and I am sure mine are much more cute than any that lived about 3000 years ago.

The second to the top habitat is housing my Cloudback frog family, Mom, Pop and 6 wee froggies. On the top row you will see some froggy friends. They are know as the Tree Hug frogs. The third one is my favorite. I just love his little brown pants with his green shirt.

Stephanie and I are now working in tandem so that we can collect all of the frog families. She is AMAZING when it comes to frog biology. She knows every froggy by name and puts eHarmony to shame when it comes to finding the perfect mate for each of her froggy friends. I think in her next life she should become a frog matchmaker. However, it really isn't fair. Stephanie has had Emmuska and Liberty to hop her frogs to happiness. AND if that wasn't enough she now has her sister to help hop frogs.

Well it is time to hop some more frogs to happiness. Wishing you a wonderful week. Remember to Enjoy the Journey!

Good Heavens!!!! How time flies!!!!

What on earth happened!!! I was doing so well with my blog posts. I even posted two days straight. Then, I think I entered a time warp in which I lost an entire month of blogging opportunities. However, my time was not wasted because I was able to be GRANDMA to my beautiful grandchildren. Here are some of our activities.

Elizabeth and Azure arrived on Tuesday. We headed to the library to make sure we had a good supply of books.

Azure is learning to walk at 7 months.

The cousins arrived on Thursday. Here is Emmuska holding Azure.

Emmuska was the first to see our visitor, Rainbow Man.

Thyrl and Madeline (who wants to be known as GG to her Great Grandchildren) arrived Thursday afternoon. Here is Thyrl talking with Jennifer.

Also, Jennifer brought Tiedyn up to visit. . .

. . . and to give hair cuts.

Stephanie brought her scrapbooking supplies so we could PLAY!!!! Elizabeth enjoyed some time being creative.

Samuel LOVED the train!

Mycal was in the thick of things.

I purchased an army hat for Samuel, and Mycal just couldn't resist! It helped Mycal through his Army base withdrawals.

We had a party on the last night to celebrate Liberty and Emmuska's birthdays.

They loved their fairy wings. Emmuska informed us that it was the BEST party ever!

The glow necklaces and bracelets were a hit.

Even Watson, participated!!!