Dancing Kids

Sorry this took me so long to post, Watsons and Walkers. My niece, Kierra and nephew, Gabe dancing away while we waited for the men to go to priesthood session. It was so cute, but they will probably be mortified in 10 years! Ha!

Blessed

I had to blog tonight on how blessed I feel. With all the changes in my life (the move, finding a new job, packing all my belongings away, saying goodbye to good friends, and etc.)
I am a happy woman!
I have the man of my dreams, two awesome kids, wonderful parents and family members who will babysit at any time for free. (And they love my kids as much as I do). I am a member of the true church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am healthy (could lose a few pounds, but I fit in my jeans well). I just feel happy. And I wanted to share. I hope and pray with all my heart that you feel the same way too.

12 days of Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GUU1YbP_E

I heard this a few days ago and had to find it again!

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Christmas time

Since we moved in October our household has been sick - we share it, and cough together. It has been pretty awful with all this sickness. I have had it for two weeks straight and the kids go back and forth. John has some kind of amazing immune system and has only gotten sick a tiny bit. But that has made Christmas time hard - no cooking, singing (unless you count froggy sounds), parties, or even church. We probably are on the inactive list since we are sick EVERY Sunday. I feel bad for Matthew because he asks to go to church, but who wants a snotty nose kid at church- not me!!! But here is a picture of my darling daughter who went to church with daddy all by herself. I have so many Christmas dresses I don't know which one she should wear! Ahh! I just want her to wear them before she gets to big!


Yes, that is a tiny smile! (dang my camera is so slow)



Fixing my shoes - she loves shoes!

Going to church in my silk dress with velvet coat - ahh love it!

Coast Trip in November

In November we went to the Oregon Coast with my sister's family (Jackson's) the weather was drizzling and windy but we went to Newport's Aquarium then to Mo's our favorite seafood restaurant and last but not least we played a little on the beach. Good times!


Matt in the mouth of a huge shark!


Izzie and the huge star fish. But she is loving her cousin Jake more!



Matt touching some starfish and other sea creatures.

Matt and Rae Rae looking at 'Nemo' fishies.

The hubby and me and the Oregon coast!

The Haps

I have been so bad on blogging. So sorry my friends and family. I have been cooking, cleaning and watching kids in order and out of order! John has taken a part time job to keep him busy while we find that perfect job. This still keeps unemployment as well as his mind busy. We have been having some FREEZING temps here. Single numbers at night and below freezing in the day - crazy! It is sooooo cold to pee at night (I have to book it down the the bathroom in the shop, which isn't cooled/heated).

We have visited the Oregon Coast (pics coming soon) and John went to the Oregon (Ducks) vs Oregon State (beavers) for the Rose Bowl game and of course my school (Ducks) won!!! We have been making a lot of cookies for the holiday's and eating them. How can you not?! All the adults in the family went and saw New Moon. Stef (my niece) and I are the only ones who enjoyed it - I guess if you read the book it helps. Other than that we are trying to stay warm, get ready for Christmas and do all the other stuff in the normal day routine. Happy Holidays Everyone!

Girlfriends

I had to post something about Girlfriends tonight. I am sitting here in Oregon in front of the computer (yes, on Friday night) looking at pictures and thinking of my girlfriends. I have been so lucky in my life to have some of the best. I can't say enough about them. I have the best BFF - Tiffani who I met at Girls Camp when we were 12 and she was wearing pink sweats (yes, they WERE!!) Then I went to college and met many awesome girls who I lived with and still stay in contact with, even with thousands of miles in between. Then I have girlfriends who I got to know in Vegas and fell in love with, as we shared stories about pregnancy/breast feedings, sharing cooking disasters or masterpieces, were my kids babysitter savers, bookworms and late night conversations. I can't tell you how much I miss you and wish the best for all of you! Here is to you my GIRLFRIENDS!!


A friend is a gift you give yourself!


Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~Author Unknown


It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friends are relatives you make for yourself. ~Eustache Deschamps

A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world. ~Lois Wyse

Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Bible: Ecclesiastes

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down. ~Oprah Winfrey

Weekend at Eagle Crest in Redmond, OR

We went to Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond, Oregon with my BFF Tiffani and her family. 4 days of playing, hot tubing with movies and Italian sodas (yes together), kids, no sleep and lots of food. It was a great place with great company. Poor John had the flu for most of it, but he was a real trooper. There was a jacuzzi tub in the master bedroom and the boys liked to take a bath in it and one time they were left alone a little to long with the jets going and you can see what happened with the bubbles. We were cleaning bubbles off the carpet - the bubbles were at least 3 feet tall. The boys thought it was the funniest thing ever.






It was freezing and everyone was dressed as Eskimos.

Halloween of 2009

Halloween 09 - Matthew was SPIDERMAN! and Izzie was Piglet (yes, I know Piglet is a boy character but it was my sisters costume and it was free). Austin was a fireman and Karaline was a pink fairy (my BFF kids). I was a blue bride and my sister Jen was 'going to the masquerade ball'. The little witch is my niece JoJo (she loves to watch Izzie).

Izzie couldn't keep her eyes open with the flash - but I got a smile!

My BFF Tiffani (cowgirl) and her two kids. They are pretty much the same age as Matthew and Izzie.


We went to the churches trick or treat day, which was a lot of fun and games. Matthew thought Halloween was the best! Then we went to my BFFs house and had dinner and gave out candy to all the kids and watched a movie. The men in our lives were at the Ducks game (which they won to USC!) It was a great day with lots of fun.

Happy Halloween

I woke up this morning to Izzie screaming (which is normal) but this time it was 1:30 am and she was sick, all hot with fever and just wanted juice, meds and a hug. Poor girl, I hate it when my children are sick. Matthew had the same thing Friday and past it on.- but he takes it better, saying I'm sick and wants to just lie down. I am hoping John and I don't get it. John is going to the Oregon Duck game tonight. Go Ducks! He is really excited and went to Gameday this morning at 5 am! Crazy, but he had fun. This afternoon the kids and I are going to the church to decorate a room with Halloween stuff and pass out candy as the kids go around trick or treating. Matthew is going to be Spider Man and Izzie is Piglet. I am going to be something-not sure what yet. I will take some pictures=promise. Enjoy some pumpkins - I love pumpkins!

Familly Pictures

Before we left Vegas we had Ashlee Bailey Photography (you can find her on the bottom of my blog under friends) take our family pics. Here are some of my favorites (okay maybe a few more).

Home Sweet Home

Our new place - small but temporary and the rent is free! No complaining there. I told you it is 2 rooms - not 2 bedrooms, but only two rooms as you will see.



Yes, our kids share a room with each other and the TV.







No cabinets = Izzie into everything.



Our room, most of our clothes are in boxes. Have I told you John has a lot of clothes?

Our office with INTERNET!! That is how we watch our nightly TV shows.

The shop which turned to apartment.

Our front door and yes fridge (we couldn't fit it in the apartment). This area is not heated and you get a blast of cold when you get something out of the fridge. To the right is the bathroom. Yes, you have to come outside of the "apartment" and go to the bathroom. At night it is a huge wake-up and VERY DARK. To the left of the picture is a huge RV (my sisters) and then all our stuff (everything is mostly packed away-as you can see only the bare essentials are out and being used.)

This is what we see when we step out of the shop/apartment. My parents house in brown or grayish, which is just newly built connected to my sister's house (green -soon to be brownish/gray too). We all live on 26 acres and so far so good. John loves to go dirt biking with our nephews (Jake 14 and Josh 7). Matthew loves to play with Rae Rae, his cousin and Izzie just wants to run outside. Piper is also doing well - sometimes we just let him out and he wonders around and can't figure out which door to go to. (There are about 5 doors - that enters houses.) We are now starting our job search, nothing yet but it is still early.

Our last days in Vegas

I should of done little journal entries, but all well - here is some info on our move.

Our last days in Vegas we were SO busy it was filled with packing and more packing. We lived in our house at Arlington Ranch for about 5 years. That has been the most part of our married lives and we had it packed full (all 1650 sqft). We believe in food storage and it fed us for the last month of our stay, and we even gave away tons of our freezer and fridge foods and the rest came with us as well as every book and toy. We rented the 26 foot Penke truck (the biggest you can get) and it was pack so full you couldn't put one more thing in it. (We had to open the back of the truck for the CA check point station and poor John was so worried that something would fall out and crush him- it was so full. Luckily nothing fell and the check point guy didn't want to see anymore either.) It was like a jigsaw puzzle to unpack. We had some scratches and dents, but John warned me before that this would happen and I was preparing myself, so I wouldn't freak out (still did a little). I wish I took a picture of the truck, but of course I didn't. I was more concerned about the two little ones and our all night 1000 mileish drive. My best friend Tiffani and her hubby Tim flew down to help pack and drive. What life savers! Can't say enough about best friends, they are angels! They drove the first 12 hours, switching to us (John and myself)and then Tiffani wouldn't let me continue and finished the last 3 hours of the drive. So my drive time was 3 hours - spoiled!!! The kids slept a lot-Thank goodness. Matthew is a stud to drive with. Izzie hates it! So we were really grateful it was night with the most part of the drive. We left around 4pm and arrived in Pleasant Hill, OR at 12:30pm - I think. It is such a big blurr to me now. I was so tired from the weeks of packing, goodbyes and stress that I was a mess.

To be continued......
Stay tuned for the next part of our story, soon to come - and pictures!

We made it!

Quick note! We made it to Oregon - it was a good trip and we are starting to settle in. I will get pictures and the story of our move soon. We don't have Internet yet and we are hoping to have it up and going soon. We are all doing well and miss our friends back in Vegas. We appreciate all the hard work our friends did to help us move. YOU ARE THE BEST and we LOVE YOU!

What are the Jaggi's doing:

We got home Sunday from Utah and have been packing like crazy. We have a house full of boxes! As for our house sale: we have our house in contract! YES! a cash buyer. We hope all goes well and we can get rid of this piece of #^&%$@#. We are having the plumbing replaced Monday (after we are gone)- something wrong with all Arlington Ranch's plumbing and it is free, thank goodness.

While John and I are packing our kids are enjoying play time at friends houses and THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT!

We leave tomorrow - sad and happy times!

Now my lunch break is over (lettuce, crushed chips, cheese and ranch dressing with a diet cherry Pepsi) I am heading back to work!

Saying Goodbye

This morning Great Grandpa Jaggi passed away. He lived a wonderful life with the love of this life, three wonderful sons and tons and tons of grandchildren and great grandchildren. He had Alzheimer's for the last 5 years or so and that was very hard on family that lived near him. This Wednesday morning we are heading up to Logan, UT to say goodbye to him and enjoy some Utah family. I am grateful to have known him and be apart of his legacy. We love you and will miss you! Until we met again.

Papa Jaggi, Great Grandpa Jaggi, John and Matthew.

The fantastic 4!

Count down

FYI:

We pack out on Thursday, October 8th, 2009.

To Oregon we go...

Sunday

I can't believe what an emotional mess I am! On Sunday I got released from my calling in Young Women's, I was the second counselor for two months. Yes, a very small amount of time. But I have never learned and loved so much in such a short time. I didn't know any of the young women when I came in and knew only a few of the leaders (except one Jenna, she has been my neighbor and very good friend for the last 3 years +). I feel I just got to know the girls and understand my calling when I have to give it back and say goodbye. I have never felt such a sadness when I was released from my calling (yes, already tears are falling!)- I know that it was called of God and I was supposed to be there, even if it was for two months. I wish I can take you all with me and grateful for all the wonderful memories.

I am so excited to go home and be with my family in Oregon, but I am going to miss this ward, specially the MOST WONDERFUL women in it. I can't say enough. I will always keep a part of you in the most dear place of my heart. Thank you so much!

Starving!

I was starving and had nothing to cook for dinner and it was late. Well as you know we are getting ready to move (October 8th) and I am trying to clean out my freezer and pantry. That is a chore - sense I am big into food storage! But here is a dinner that I made in 15 minutes and was very tasty!

Skillet Turkey Pot Pie without the Pie

Freezer - leftover rotisserie turkey (sliced from Smiths and yummy!) and smoked turkey from last Thanksgiving that I sliced and froze and forgot! About 2 cups total. (Any turkey would work - the smoked gives it a great favor.)
Cream of mushroom soup (can)
Frozen peas and carrots (2 cups)
Dried chopped onion (placed in water to rehydrate) 2T
1/2 cup pureed sweet potatoes (my kids won't get potatoes and this is the only way to get it in their little bodies - and fries don't count as a veggie. You can use cut up potato or babyfood.
2 T flour
1 T butter or oil
S & P to taste
Garlic powder to taste ~1 teaspoon

Heat skillet and add butter/oil then add flour, mix and cook for 1 minute. Add potato puree, soup mix, stir together. Add onion with water (gives good favor) Add salt and pepper, garlic powder. Add peas and carrots and turkey. Heat.

I made instant mashed potatoes to go along with the meal and homemade bread. It was a big hit and took me NO TIME to make!

Rainbow Cupcakes

Okay - I didn't take the picture but I did make these cupcakes!

For the Young Women's Baby sitter's Open House we had last week I made these cupcakes. Everyone thought they were really cool. (My frosting wasn't so fluffy - but I had decoration on them!)

Take one WHITE cake mix and follow directions. When finished mixing the batter, split up the batter into four bowls (cereal size works good). Add your four food coloring (paste coloring will give you the bright colors, food coloring will give you less brightness-but still nice!) Put 2 T of each color into cupcake cups - favorite colors on top. Bake as directed. And frost with your favorite frosting. Optional but sometimes important -sprinkles!

Our last BIG night in Vegas

John and I decided to go on a date Saturday (thank you Papa Jaggi) and to make it up right - sense this is our last date night in Vegas, we decided to do it VEGAS STYLE!

We had dinner at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba -the restaurant features Spanish tapas and paella. And that is what we had. BUT - yes, there is a BUT - the dessert (to small) but sooooooo yummy! Three-milk chocolate cake. I had to find it - I searched and found this recipe that I am going to try! Believe me it was so good that I REALLY wanted to lick the plate clean.

3-Milk Chocolate Cake!!!

INGREDIENTS

· 1 cup granulated sugar
· 6 large eggs
· 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
· 5 liquid ounces vegetable oil
· 1/2 cup cocoa powder
· 1 1/3 cups cake flour
· 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
· 1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch pan. Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla until pale yellow and tripled in volume. With mixer running, gradually add vegetable oil. Sift together dry ingredients and fold into egg mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for approximately 20 minutes.

Milk Mixture

· 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
· 1 cup heavy cream
· 1/2 cup milk
· 1/2 cup cocoa powder
· 1/4 cup Crème de Cacao (we looked this up and Vons carries it)

DIRECTIONS
Combine sweetened condensed milk, cream, milk and cocoa powder in a sauce pan. Heat and stir till cocoa dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in liqueur. Poke holes with a tooth pick in the top of the cake. Pour milk mixture over the cake and refrigerate.

If you bake it before me - tell me if it is any good!!!

Then the night isn't over and we went to:

Le Reve at the Wynn- 5th row seats (there really is no bad seats in the house). It was AWESOME!! Loved every minute.





Thanks honey!!! You're the best!!!!!!

What I SHOULD be doing..

I should be packing and getting rid of stuff for our move, instead I have been cleaning, entertaining, cooking, taking and playing with my kids and READING! I just finished Summer of Monkeys, by Wilson Rawls and I really liked it. AHHH!!!!! I need to get to work......maybe tomorrow!

In house garage sale -part 1

We will be having a Garage Sale but for now I am pulling everything down and selling it to anyone who wants it early. I will take best offer too!

Cake holder -$5


Grass decor -$2 (GONE)



School bus - sings no people $1


Candle sticks with candles $3

Pitcher with matching mugs (4) -$5

Glass decor with leaves (both) -$3

Crib, rocking chair with ottoman, changing table (not pictured)

It is in great shape!$250 (SOLD)

Candle glass thing -$2

Items not pictured:

1. Books - Prelude to Glory (the whole set must sell together) $5 a book

2. Work and the Glory (the whole set must sell together) $5 a book

3. Lots of other books and some cooking! $3 for hard $2 for soft

4. toys -.50 to $2

5. table cloth $1

6. dishes .50 to $3

7. Candles $1 to $3

8. Infant Car seat Brittax holders, not car seat but the things you click into the car -I have two. $10 each

I still have:

The Fridge ($250) SOLD

Bike -very good condition and was over $850 ($350) SOLD.

CycleOps Fluid 2 Bike trainer + front tire riser for the trainer- $150.

Plants prices ranging from $10 to $20