The Latest...

Last night we decided to finally sit down as a family and write down what we would like to accomplish in 2010. Everyone wrote down personal and family goals and we posted them in the kitchen as a daily reminder. There were some really fun goals posted, like create a family garden and eat from it, Ride my bike so many miles each week, eat more healthy, curb unnecessary spending, put more in savings accounts. After all of the goaling, we decided to create a reward wish list if we are staying on track with our goals then we would get to take a camping trip, visit the zoo, have a family movie night... All in all it was really fun and everyone was able to participate!

After we has such a tremendous brainstorm session everyone was tired and lounging around. I was so happy to be able to snap these few pictures. Although she is still really skittish and fearful, and tries to avoid and hide from adults, our Roxy girl is warming up to the kids and still just loves our Alex!

Here she is with McKaleigh - resting...
Kissing Alex...
Posing for the camera!

Cousin FHE

Last night we ventured down to Utah County to see our cousins. It is a trip that I should make more often with the kids and maybe I will this Summer. It just seems like the LONGEST drive to me. Aunt Katie made a wonderful Mexican feast for all of us and Aunt Sheri brought the fruit salad - which was a hit with the little boys.

We were able to get all of the kids together on the couch for a cousin picture - not the most organized photo, but with this many little ones, that would be a great feat!

Here are the 3 little boy cousins, all a month apart. They are just the best buddies when they get together. We just saw a blur of them as they ran through the house!
In true Uncle Eric form, he brought out a pinata and candy for the kids to beat in the garage after dinner. He always try to do something fun and thoughtful for just the kiddies.
McKaleigh and Colton helping ready the Pinata - Uncle Eric could not find any string, so he used phone cord to hoist the dragon pinata.
Maggie taking her first swing, with some assistance.
Alex did a great job swinging at the dragon - his first pinata!

After the first two kids, they natives started getting restless and moving closer to the swinger - so Uncle Eric drew these boxes to keep them out of harms way!
Cousin Elliot taking a swing - minus his pants!
Cousin Ben taking a good whack!

Ellie took a dainty swing - she wasn't too sure about beating the dragon pinata...but
Cousin Mal sure knew what to do!
Colton took the final swing that sent candy flying for all the kids!

Little Maggie tried to sweet talk anyone who would listen into opening some candy for her!

What a great, LOUD, fun filled night with family! Thanks Aunt Katie for hosting!

Roxy Cushing

I wanted to introduce everyone to the newest Cushing family member - Roxy.

We (I) have been looking for a Boxer for a very long time, and when I found this one, I knew she would be great for our family and our family would be great for her. Roxy had a rough past and although she is only 22 months - she needs lots of tender loving care. She has a birth defect, as you can see...her jaw is off, which causes her tongue to hang out the side of her mouth, but that makes her really precious. She spent most of her life outside in a kennel, so she is very timid, she loves Alex and is warming up to the rest of us. She is testing our her new freedoms, roaming through the house, and pacing up and down the fence in the back yard...she is happy!

Here is a shot of her just chilling -
Alex showing off all of the new toys he bought his Roxy dog with dad. He is very possessive of her and does not really want to share her with the other kids.
All 3 kids and one dog - our family is complete!~

Valentines Cookies

I almost never make cookies, because they just don't turn out right for me. I am more of a cake, brownie, peanut butter rice krispie treat kind of mom, but I decided that this Valentines Day I was going to give my mom's sour cream sugar cookie recipe a try. Its funny, because I have probably spent an accumulation of days in my mother's kitchen frosting these cookie cutouts, but have just never made them.

I took an afternoon and rolled and cut these cookies out - and found that I should have been doing this for years! It was so cathartic to be in the kitchen by myself, creating these little masterpieces with a little bit of music to keep me company (I cannot say the same for the frosting of the cookies!).

Here are the kids, gathered at the bar waiting to frost their heart or lip cookies.
Colton had a rough time getting just the right amount of frosting on each cookie!
Alex loved the container with all of the different kinds of sprinkles.
Dad and Alex thrilled about the cookies they created!
A great shot of mom - covered in flour, powdered sugar and frosting!
The final masterpiece. We made quite a few plates for the neighbors. Not to shabby!
Happy Valentines Day Everyone!