Operation Bridesmaids Dresses!!!

I took Friday, Monday and Tuesday off to tackle the project of making 5 bridesmaid dresses. I had hoped the task would be fairly simple but it was anything but that. I have decided that the people responsible for creating the instructions for the patterns we purchased smoke crack!!! I think my Mom and Jenn would agree. We have adapted these dresses so much from the original pattern, that I am confident in saying they are our own creations! My Mom and Jenn have been my lifesavers through this whole process, spending hours upon hours of their time helping my accomplish this task. My Mom has been by my side from morning till night for the past 5 days, only taking breaks here and there to keep us with sustenance in the form of food and water. I figure Mom and I have both logged about 55 hours over the past 5 days. Jenn has been there for more than half of that. When Mom and I were about tapped, Kris showed up to help out. I am probably the luckiest lady in the world to have been born into the family that I have. They are my salvation!!!

This experience has taught me that I am definitely not a quitter, nor is my Mother.  I know she was tired, sore, and at times frustrated, but she endured it well.  Jenn is our entertainment!  She can make us laugh even when we have "stingers" in our neck, are starving to death, and about ready to drop from exhaustion.  Sydney was with us most of the time, acting as our mannequin and cutting out fabric, also watching Bella who spent several days hanging out with the "girls."  Troy is my rock, holding the fort down at home while I spent endless days at my Mom's sewing.  We are quite the team, all of us.  It is amazing what you can accomplish when you all work together.   Thanks to all who came to my aid, I will never forget what you did for me and Chelsey (its a good thing we all adore her)!  I think everyone will be surprised when they see how beautiful the dresses turned out and how beautiful all our bridesmaids are!

Saying Goodbye to Bella's Binkies!

Stuffing the binky in the stuffing!

"Mary" Bella's little lamb!

Putting clothes on Mary

Bella has been our binky baby ever since she was born.  Max never liked them, the only time he wants one is when he takes Bella's to tease her.  We have been talking about getting rid of the binkies for quite a while now and decided it was time.  A few weeks ago we started talking about going to "Build-a-Bear" as a reward for giving up the binky.  Bella seemed excited about it, but was always apprehensive when we told her it was in trade for the binky.

My friend Lindsey gave me the idea about "Build-a-Bear" but they actually put her daughter's binky inside the bear.  What a great idea!  Today was the day so we got up, got the kids ready and along with our entourage of moral support, headed to the mall.  Chelsey, Kasey, Sydney and Max were all there to help Bella through this difficult time.  We helped her pick the animal, out of all her choices she decided that the lamb was the cutest!  Sydney took her and got in line to have it stuffed.  When it was her turn, she held her binkies and as they stuffed her lamb she put the binkies in one by one.  She had a very difficult time and several times she seemed very sad.  They finished stuffing "Mary" the little lamb and closed her up.  I felt Bella's sadness several times and I tried not to shed a tear, she was so brave!  We then went to the washing station where you brush your animal to get off all the "fuzzies!"  Then the girls went shopping and picked out a few outfits for Mary.  Chelsey typed up a birth certificate for Mary and we were done!  Bella wanted to carry Mary in her "house" all by herself!  

I am so proud of Bella, I know giving up her binky is giving up her security, the thing that gives her comfort. She was so brave, we tell her that every time she misses her binky that her precious binkies are close by.  Now she can hug Mary when she needs comfort, but I hope she will always remember how many people love her and who are always there for her.  We will always be close by to hug you Baby, and give you comfort and all the love you could ever need!

"That's all angels can do"

It seems as though life is harder these days, everyone seems a little more stressed, a little more cautious, a little more scared. Life is unsure for most people without an end in sight. I was watching 20/20 the other night, they were talking about the economic situation. This topic is of great interest to me due to the effects I am experiencing in my own life. I have accepted the fact that my life never has been, nor never will be easy. I know my Heavenly Father is always giving me "character-building experiences" which I know are for my own growth. Someone once told me that he believed that we chose our own adversities. I wondered if when they were throwing those things out in the pre-existence if I was saying "I'll take that one, I can do that! Oh, give me that one too, no one else will want that one." What in the world was I thinking? I read this quote, it had special meaning to me.

"There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed and healed, done with." ~Harry Crews

When Bella was born I had to have an emergency C-section because the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. My doctor asked me if this was okay with me because I would have a rather large scar. I looked at him and said "I am missing a leg, I really doubt that a scar will affect my self-esteem." It makes me wonder if people are so scared of adversities that they would go to any length to avoid them. In the play "Man of La Mancha" Don Quixote sings To Dream the Impossible Dream, there is a part that says "...and the world will be better for this that one man, scorned and covered with scars, still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable star." This song always gives me such hope and courage, and at this time in my life I am searching for anything that gives me courage, hope and ultimately peace.

As I encounter individuals in my life who are struggling and suffering, whether it be due to looming unemployment or financial hardship, know that I am praying for you and your families. I am praying for all of us. We all need to hang in there and try to help each other by a kind word, a listening ear, or a shoulder to cry on. Remember "a hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer" --Norwegian Proverb.

I hope we all have courage to smile and face each trial head-on, that is my goal these days. Sometimes I do a good job and sometimes I fail miserably. I am blessed to have wonderful people around me who give me inspiration and buoy me up when I'm feeling low. It means everything to me to have the people in my life that I do, and when I want to give up I remember my Mom telling me "just try your best, that's all angels can do." I do know that no matter what, we will be fine. I just try to face each day with as much courage as I can.

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow." ~Mary Anne Radmacher

I love all of you. Thank you for being in my corner. LCF

Wedding Plans on Track

Just an update for everyone, the wedding plans for Chelsey and Kasey are on track for July 16th. We secured the venue last week and we are working hard on the plans. It is a tricky time to be planning a wedding with the economy the way it is, but we are so blessed to have friends and family who are willing to help us however they can! We appreciate all of you and love you all so much! We can't wait to see all of you in July, so save the date of July 16th!!!

Cinnamin Bundt Cake

Many of my friends have been asking me for some of my recipes so I thought it would be fun to post some of them on my blog.  This recipe for Cinnamin Bundt Cake is a favorite of my friends and family and is always a hit!

Cinnamin Bundt Cake

1 Yellow Cake Mix

1 small vanilla instant pudding

1 small sour cream (8 oz.)

3/4 c. water

1/4 c. cooking oil

4 eggs

3 Tbls. flour

Grease bundt pan thoroughly.  Sprinkle cinnamin sugar all over the pan.  Pour 1/4 of the batter in the pan.  DO NOT STIR!!  Use a spoon to even out batter without mixing cinnamin sugar into batter.  Sprinkle with cinnamin sugar.  Pour 1/4 batter, repeating previous instructions.  Continue making 4 layers of batter, ending with cinnamin sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Cool.  Turn onto plate.

I hope all of you enjoy this recipe, it is so good and so EASY!!

Junior Prom

Sydney was asked to prom this year by cute Spencer Steadman.  He is such a hotty and a really good guy to boot!  She was so excited!  He asked her on the marquis at school and she was giddy with excitement.  She and Chelsey went shopping and picked out the perfect dress.  Prom is always a project with many people involved in the preparation.  Thanks Chelsea Hawkins for making her hair look so fabulous!  I thought she looked beautiful!  She had the most amazingly fun time and has such wonderful memories of the evening.  Thanks for asking her Spencer, she had a blast!

Sydney looked so beautiful for prom!

Chelsey and I helped Sydney get ready.

Whitney came to help too.

They look so good together!

Sydney pinning on the boutinniere, careful!

A stunning couple!

The promise of a fabulous evening!

Open Sesame!

About a week ago I was trying to figure out how Max kept ending up in the bathroom after I could have sworn I had shut the door.  I thought Bella was opening it and allowing him to get in and ransack my cupboards.  I couldn't figure it out so I sat and watched and then I saw it, Max reached up on his tippy-toes and grabbed the handle then pushed the door open!  I was in shock!  I told Troy to come in, I grabbed the camera and told Troy to jiggle the handle, getting my baby boy's attention.  He walked over and did it again.  Troy and I were in histerics!  He is such a smart boy!  He never ceases to amaze me!

March Birthday Shoutout!

Mary Derr (sister-in-law) - March 12th
Chelsey Clement (my sweet girl) - March 15th
Logan Kay (nephew) - March 24th
Claire Derr (niece) - March 27th
Charlene Jenson (my very special aunt, I need a picture!) - March 27th

ATTENTION: We have changed the date of Chelsey's wedding to Thursday, July 16th instead of the 17th. We can get the venue for 1/2 price by moving the date up 1 day!!!! Hope to see you all there!

Bath time makes me smile!

Life at the Fisher house is always hectic!  There is never a dull moment around here whether its babies running around, getting into EVERYTHING, a house full of teenagers watching a movie, or planning a wedding with Chelsey.  Life comes at you fast and is full of unexpected twists and turns.  As the day comes to an end, bath time is one of my favorite times of the day!  It is so full of joy and fun!  Bella and Max both love the water, the toys, and most of all the bubbles!