Prom

My stepdaughter Madison is going to prom. So today we went looking for the perfect dress. We tried on some that were cute and some that were well not so cute. It's amazing to me how much they charge for a dress you only wear once. The funny thing is the dress we ended up buying we found online for $17.00. Mandy would be proud! I'm so glad that Maddie let me take her.


These dresses fit so cute on the girls, oh to be a size 2. They were only $178.00

These dresses were over $300 each, we decided that long was not a good look for Lizzie and Maddie. Can you tell how much they loved these? LOL

Pink is a great color on Madison and this dress is very similar to the one we ended up buying.

This is the dress we ordered....what a steal!

The Joys...

Salem decided to be a puke tonight and scratch her friend Barrett. So of course she got sent to her room. When I went to talk to her this is what I found on her white board.

It says "My mom is sad, My dad is sad" It made me laugh. As the night went on she got out of trouble and this is what I found on her white board.

She maybe be a puke but I love her...

Happy "Easter"

This is one holiday I have a hard time getting into. I just hate trying to make my kid believe there is this huge bunny who hops around and leaves eggs. Chickens lay eggs not rabbits, rabbits poop pellets. Nasty!!

Anyway we had a great day! Steve's sister Amie was in town so we spent the weekend eating and eating and eating. We did the family trip to the Rio Grande Cafe on Friday, we saw Horton Hears A Who on Saturday, and then we had Brunch this morning. I'm feeling the need to purge after the weekend binge but it was worth it.

My in laws Steve and Cheryl. Cheryl is an amazing cook, and I love going to her house. She makes Martha Stewart look bad!!

Steve and Amie....I love Amie she is just like one of my sisters! I've already told Steve if we ever get divorced I'm keeping his family.

My darling niece Ella, my beautiful stepdaughter Madison and her cute friend Lizzy!

Amie's husband Ike, now he is usually a happy person. So my guess is he either needs to purge after the weekend binge, he didn't drink enough or he feels the same way about the Easter bunny!

I told you everything is always wonderful at Cheryl's house, the bunny there poops money, candy and movies. Salem got Enchanted which is the cutest movie!


And last but not least the Easter Gingerbread house we made. Some people really take this holiday to the extreme. (Just a side note, I took the day off on Friday and this was what Salem and I did together. Working mom's guilt)

So no matter how you feel about this holiday, love it or hate it. Happy Easter from our house to yours.

Need your opinion

Okay I decided to redo the girls bathroom upstairs. Salem told me I was freakin her out with polka dots. Tell me honestly what do you think.

Slumber Party...

Just a reminder that my slumber party is on Saturday. No this is not a sleepover but a girls only toy party. It should be fun to sit around with girls and just laugh. Neighborhood ladies, I didn't send out invites to you but please feel free to come. I wasn't sure who would be up for coming or not. Really this should be a lot of fun! So please if you are reading this and want to come grab a friend or two or three and come down to my place. It's at 6:45 pm and no kids or men are allowed.

http://www.slumberparties.com

VOTE FOR SALEM!!

I entered Salem into a KiddieOkee contest. The winner gets to go to Disneyland. Copy and paste this link and vote for her. She is #27!!

http://www.971zht.com/pages/kiddieokee/vote-5-7.html

Disney on Ice..Princess Wishes...Priceless

A salted pretzel $3.00



A Princess Snow Cone $12.00 (this really is what they cost)


Yet another stuffed animal $24.00


Seeing a grown ass woman dressed like a Princess....PRICELESS


My mother in law is wonderful, she always plans the funniest things to do. Tonight we went to Disney on Ice. She happened to be out of town and couldn't even go with us...so thanks Cheryl for the tickets! We had a great time, these shows are really something to see. And yes there really was a grown woman dressed like a princess. Now it's cute when you are under 5 but when you are over 30 it's pretty pathetic.

GOOP!!

Salem has to do show and teach each month. This isn't just show and tell you have to teach the class something. We have done everything from kool-aid playdough, to state quarters to chicken trophies. I was all out of ideas when Trandon and his girlfriend Jansen came to the rescue. They bought everything and came over to teach Salem how to make GOOP! Tran and Jansen saved Show and Teach..Thank you!

Bedroom Makeover

I found the cutest bedding set, and decided to give my room a little face lift today. I love how it turned out!

Bowling for Charity

My company participated in a Bowl A Thon for Big Brothers Big Sisters. My team was made up of all ladies that I work with. We were the Sister Strikers, however we didn't get many strikes but we sure looked cute in our bowling outfits. Salem brought her friend Riley so we made a day out of it. It was really fun and for a good cause!
Tiffany, Trish, Tasha, Me, and Karen

Salem and Riley had a good time, playing in the aracade and getting balloon animals.


It's amazing what $25 at the aracade can get you. Fake vampire teeth and slinkies. Steve is a good sport.

Sweet Niblets!!

Salem finally earned enough chips to get her Hannah Montana doll. Pretty sure by the end of the day if I hear "Nobody's Perfect" one more time I might be glad to hear Achy Breaky Heart.



DISCLAIMER:
Okay Sweet Niblets, is not a cuss word we used while growing up in Clarkston. It's from the Hannah Montana show. Also for those of you who either live on another planet or don't have a girl who is between the ages of 3 and 14, Hannah Montana is the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus. Yes the mullet wearing one hit wonder of the 80's!

I've Been Tagged!!

What is his name? Stephen Paul Bender Jr.

How long have we been married? 2 1/2 years

How long did we date? Now we never really dated, we lived together for a year and half before we got married. But our relationship really is not typical.

How old is he? 41

Who eats more? I would say Steve but only because he works out so much.

Who said I love you first? I honestly can't remember

Who is taller? Steve is but just barely

Who sings better? I don't sing....so I guess Steve even though Amy and Shannon have heard his "Three French Hens' which doesn't say much for my singing.

Who is smarter? We compliment each other very well on this one. There are things I am smarter about and things that he is smarter about.

Whose temper is worse? ME ME ME

Who pays the bills? We tag team this one.

Who does the laundry? I do most of the washing and I have never once picked up an iron. Steve irons everything and he is awesome at it.

Who cooks dinner? We tag team this one as well. One of us cooks, and other cleans up it.

Who drives when together? Steve, I hate driving when he is with me. He kind of backseat drives. And ya'll now know I have a temper.

Who is more stubborn? ME ME ME

Who is the first to admit when wrong? ME because usually I am because I am stubborn and have a temper. I know there are times when Steve is wrong but he never admits it.

Who wears the pants in the family? We both do, I think it's pretty even.

Who eats more sweets? Ummm we both like them but we don't eat a lot of them.

Who mows the lawn? Steve is a freak about the lawn. Our rule is he takes care of the outside I take care of the inside

Who kissed who first? Steve kissed me...I think

Who asked who out first? Like I said we didn't really date

Who proposed? Steve proposed to me at Christmas, it was super sweet. I had to sit on Santa's lap. The funny thing is he was nervous and being a jerk. So by the time we got to the family party we were pissed at each other.

What is my favorite thing about him? There are a lot of things I love about him. He really takes good care of us. He's a good dad even though he teases the crap out of Salem. He loves to have fun, and he loves me.

I tag Heather, Ginger, and Callie

Callie Ann

WOOHOO I have found my bestest friend Callie Ann. I wish I could take credit for my blog but Megan does it all for me. She is wonderful so thanks to Megan. She said to call her or email her and she will make your blog beautiful.

NVFI@aol.com
563-6006

Anyway Callie and I became friends in the sixth grade, we lost touch after high school. I free so bad about that, we have both missed out on so much in each other lives. But I have always loved her and think about her often. I am so glad we have finally reconnected.

My love....

I know sometimes I can be miserable to live with so I just wanted to give a shout out to the love of my life. Our life started out like a soap opera, some days it still is. But it has been worth every second. He makes me happy and completes me. I love you more today than I did the day I met you. Thanks for the wonderful memories.

Our anniversary trip to Carmel.


Hiking the slot canyons at Spooky Gulch last summer.


Glacier National Park


Easter in Zion National Park


Our amazing trip to Seattle


Last but certainly not least, our honeymoon in Zion. For those of you who don't know, we got married in Zion. We planned our wedding in two weeks, really didn't tell anyone and just went and got married. It was completely perfect.

C-O-O-K-I-N-G

Salem is at such a fun age, I have forgotten how fun it was to learn how to spell. Tonight we made peanut butter bars and she decided to help me out, just in case I didn't know what the ingredients were. She either has me spell the word to her or she copies them off the package.


This one cracks me up...(no pun intended)



As if I could forget who or what this is..



Just in case any of you want to make the peanut butter bars. They are the kind from grade school, and the truly are evil. I will share the recipe but not the scribe.

1/2 cube butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
5/8 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup flour
1 cup oatmeal

Mix ingredients together and spread in a 9 x 12 pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 (Do not over bake) Cool slightly and spread 1 cup peanut butter over cookie. Frost with chocolate frosting.

Frosting
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cube butter
1/3 cup cocoa
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 pound powdered sugar

Mix together except powdered sugar, bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar and beat with mixer. Spread over cookie and of course EAT!

Salem or Cyndi Lauper

Salem may only be 5 but she acts like she's 15. She will spend forever in the bathroom doing her hair. Here is what she came up with on Sunday. All she needs is to layer some socks, put on her LA Gear's and sing Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

My kind of camping...

Salem wanted to camp out in her room last night. I have to say this is my kind of roughing it..warm and clean not mention the video ipod and idog.

Sweet Sixteen

Salem was in heaven today, she got to play all day with Riley. They are 5 and 6 going on 16. I guarantee we will be seeing this again in ten years. Pretty sure neither of us will be buying them an Escalade so they better live it up now.

Finally

Steve is such a good sport, he is taking down the Christmas lights today. It's the first Saturday we have had a little good weather. He is a modern day Clark Griswold. Our Christmas lights look so good. The front pillars are striped red and white like candy canes, it looks like a gingerbread house. My crazy idea that somehow he made come to life.






Steve and his trusty side kick Daisy

Pizza...Yummy!

I have been trying to make an effort to eat better. So a few months ago we decided that instead of ordering pizza we would make our own. I found a wonderful pizza dough recipe, it's quick and easy. Making your own pizza is not only better for you but way cheaper.

3/4 cup warm water
1 envelope active dry yeast
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil

Pour 3/4 cup warm water into a small bowl, stir in yeast. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes.

Brush large bowl lightly with olive oil. Mix 2 cups flour, sugar and salt add yeast mixture and stir until dough forms a sticky ball. Transfer to a floured surface. Knead dough until smooth adding more flour if dough is too sticky. Transfer to the the bowl that has been oiled and turn the dough in the bowl to coat with oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.


I keep all the stuff on hand so we can make pizza any time we want. Salem loves being able to make her own with lots of sauce and cheese!

Family Night....

We may not go to church but we do enjoy family night now and then. We made pizza and played Chutes and Ladders. I loved this game as a kid, we used to play with my Grandma and Grandpa Goodey. The older I get the more important those childhood memories are to me.