Christmas Lights

If you knew how many times we have had lights on this tree you would laugh...
okay, here it goes...
TWICE
The first time the boys put them on. And yes, It was a great effort, you could see who did it at each height.
The second time, my husband tried and failed. We had both females ends to the lights at the top and bottom of the tree. (we are still not sure how that happened)
So as I sit here in my living room, smelling my pot roast in the crock pot, listening to the boys watch "the Santa Clause" and Emma selfishly guide Mikey through the house all the while bossing him around, (yes, i am in for a treat with her), I am avoiding the unavoidable.
Jeff refuses to put the lights on the tree...again.
I have never in all of our 16 Christmases together, ever put the lights on the tree.
Jeff is sooo good at it, and I HATE doing it.
This year I have to do it.
I have to put these lights on the tree.
UGH....
I have already decided the day after Christmas I am going to get up early and go and by a Pre-lit Christmas tree.
You bet your holly jolly, I will be there when the doors open.
I am not sure what we will do with all of our lights we already have....
Anyone wanna guess how long it will take me?
Anyone wanna guess how long it will take me to get motivated to actually put the lights ont he tree?
Do we really need lights on the tree?
yes, we do.
*deep deep sigh*
I don't wanna do it.
I have soooooo many other things to do. I have cleaned the kitchen and bathroom and I don't know where this weird smell is coming from.
My house stinks!
Yes, I live in a house with boys, but something smells and dang I will have to re-scrub everything.
Okay, still avoiding the tree....
Okay, off i go...
wish me luck.
Hopefully I wont fall off the ladder.

Bahh, merry humbug

So I am in the mood for Christmas and then..... I really am not.
It has been a crazy few weeks.
Jeff got back from his trip with his dad and he worked 3 days of overtime on his last week of vacation, yes, I guess I am a mean wife and I made my husband work over time to cover the furloughs and to have a little left over for Christmas. I will be danged if my kids have to suffer and not have a nice, decent Christmas, just because Daddy went to help Grandpa and stupid whats-his-face Arnold and the stupid furloughs.
I am evil, lets move on.
Well, on Jeff's last day of vacation he came down with a raging fever and chills and he slept most of the day, I myself was sick too, his leg on his right shin began looking red and splotchy and his leg swelled up and was very hot and tender to the touch He went to the doctors on Monday.
Cellulitis.
It seems while he was working over time (to pay our bills), Jeff was working in a very infected, germ infested part of his work, I should tell you that, there was was a few other employees that were hospitalized. We got lucky. I give credit to the blessing he had.
His dad and my dad came over and gave him a priesthood blessing.
In the end, with vacation and being sick, except for the 3 days he worked over time, he didn't work his normal shift the whole month of November. He was on 3 different kinds of antibiotics and watched a lot of TV.
On top of all of this, I was sick too, 3 of our kids got sick too. and My 2 oldest boys had to work most of their Thanksgiving break just helping out.
Bonus, I got to read 4 books and we saved $80 on gas.
Then just as Jeff is getting better, I fracture my toe.
I dropped a ceramic serving patter on my toe. I have never seen a toe so purple, front and back. (I have pictures, I will post it later)
I did host a Turkey dinner with the Bigney Family. Then I made my Oreo Cookie Pie and homemade rolls for my mom's house on Thursday.
(I will post recipes soon)
I got up EARLY on Turkey day to get some Christmas presents and stayed up until 4 am on Thursday night/Friday morning. and up again early Saturday morning.
Our craft fair didn't go as well as planned, but thanks to my sister Sarah and her co-workers we are selling some stuff.
I need to figure out how to sell the rest of these hair pretties. It would take too long to take pictures and upload them on to here, I don't have that kind of time.
I don't even know why or how I am here blogging.
I have a MOUNTAIN of laundry to fold and put away (that's what happens when you are sick), then I have to do the dishes, which I never really got a break on, and then there is the whole house. I was able to get the Christmas decorations up, but not.
I have to take all the stuff off the tree and rehang the lights.... the boys did it crazy and it is driving me crazy.
I have all the Christmas presents decided and on a list, but now getting it shopped and funded????????? lol
So I hope your Christmas season starts off better than mine....
I am tired, stressed, in pain and busy, but merry.

Thankful Thursday - Lots of Thankfulness

I logged on.
I scrolled down to see who has updated their blog and I read them. (sorry if I have not left a comment, my time online is few and precious)

but today I am grateful for a great many things....
(in randon order....)
1. I am grateful for Bloggers.
Yes, most of us complain and whine about the irritating things that happen from day to day. (mostly me)
Some of us use the blog world as a family or personal journal. (which I love)
Some of us, brag about our kids and how cute and smart and wonderful they are...(and you should!)
Some of us have profound things to share and help other readers not feel so alone in this crazy world.
Life is SOOOO very different from when I was a kid and I thought it was crazy then. I am so grateful for everyone of you bloggers out there.

2. I am thankful for music.
I am also thankful that I can put it on my blog.
I absolutely love music. I have said it before on a previous blog post how much I love music.
It makes me happy.
It just makes me happy. I love that it makes my kids happy. I am grateful that I can share my love of music with my kids.
I can not play, read or sing music, but I can listen to it. I love almost all music!!! (except Gangster rap)
It would take all of a post to describe my love for it, and I don't have time today.
It fills my heart and makes me smile.

3. I am grateful for family.
I love my family. They will always be the most important people in my life. I have THE best family.
No brothers or sisters will or ever could compare.
And don't get me started on my nieces and nephews!!!! (I am gonna cry.)
I have 17 nephews and 6 nieces!!!!!!!!!
I never ever thought I would be so in love with 20 boys all at the same time. (Jeff was counted in that number)
(don't bother arguing, cause you just wont win)
They too make me smile...and tear up a little.

4. My boys!!!!!
I know I shoulda put them first, but I am going in order of what I am remembering. I had a list in my head, and I was gonna put them first priority next Thursday, that and the fact they they were driving me crazy when I first started this blog post.
Each one of my boys is awesome.
Each one completely adorable.
Each one just as frustrating as the next.
And each one hold a piece of my heart.
They are messy and stinky and wonderful
They have really begun growing up to these wonderful young men. And I am not just saying that. If I had a million dollars for every teacher that has said...and I quote..."If only I had a room full of Nathan's in my class room", ..."Caleb's..." or "...Sam's... or ".....Matthew's"...and that would really mean I was 3 million rich as of today. Jeff went to 3 parent teacher conferences today and each teach said they same thing.
Nathan and Matthew have taken Mikey and are pushing him around the house in a little basket that usually holds Emma's precious play dishes. Jeff was on the phone and I sit here..(i did make Mikey and Emma lunch)...which is actually the reason I am adding the boys today...they stepped up and helped. and they never once complained.
Okay, maybe once or twice....
I am not sure what I would do if I didn't have the boys in my life.
4. facebook
I know, I know.... facebook.
But I am.
The friends I always wondered about and didn't know (or have the guts) to contact them and find out how they are... but they are on facebook.
I love the friends I have in Susanville. My second favorite place...(okay more like 3rd...Disneyland is 2nd)...in California. I love staying in contact with them though facebook. ( i wish they would stop bragging about the snow)
I am grateful my friends on facebook.
They have helped me and my self-esteem.

5. (and last one today)
The Awesome-ness that is Aunt Kathie
I have been hanging out with her alot in the last few months.
We like to do the same things, we like the same things and I am sorry, but we have so much fun.
I love hanging out with her. She is one of my top ten favorite people. She is #6 on my speed dial.
She never makes me feel bad about myself. She never makes fun of me when I am not so smart.
She is just awesome.
I am so glad I moved out here and that I am only 10 minutes away from her house.
(I am quite sure I drive her bonkers)
I am grateful she tolerates hanging out with me. :)

Thankful Thursday - My Hunny

Jeff is the best guy.
My Hunny spent his vacation in North Carolina with his Dad, helping to fix their house.
We didn't go any place fancy or fun for his vacation.
I have my craft fair tomorrow (at Rosemont High school, stop by if you are in town) and Jeff has spent the rest of his vacation working overtime so we will have money for Christmas and helping me with the kids so I can finish up what I need to do for this craft fair.
Yes, I do have the best guy.
I am grateful for Jeff and the simple fact that I was lucky enough to be picked to be his wife.
I am grateful for everything he does for my family.
I am grateful for everything he does for his family.
I am grateful for the sacrifice me makes every time he walks through the doors at work. His life is on the line everyday.
I am grateful for the 6 beautiful children he has given me and that he is such a great dad.
I could go on and on....
I do have the best guy.

Thankful Thursday - Matthew and Mother-in-Law

A new post I decided to start.
It is all thanks to this wonderful month of Thanksgiving.
But I also wanted to do it to help remind myself of the things I am truly grateful for.

I am grateful I have my son Matthew.
He is 14 almost 15 years old. (man, I feel old)
He is such a great kid.
He has ADD and something else, we are going to have him tested, if only to get a name for his unique yet frustrating thing he has.
He is so fabulous with little kids.
I can trust him to give Emma and Michael a bath. He doesn't complain and he loves it. I think he has more fun than they do.
He loves black...mostly clothes and not for any dark reason, just a phase.
Somedays, he makes me feel like a great mom.
I am grateful for the things he has taught me and for everything he is.

My Mother-in-law has been over twice this week.
I LIKE HER ALOT!!!!!
Which if you knew me 16 years ago, you would not believe me.
I do. She is wonderful.
Jeff left town Halloween night to join his Father in North Carolina, to help fix up the house they own out there. They have been renting it out for years....20+ years.
It has gotten so bad from the last renters they have to fix it up and sell it. (the previous renter was deployed and his wife did not take care of the place)
My mother-inlaw has been here FOLDING MY LAUNDRY.
Yes. She washed,dried and then folded it.
You should see the beautiful stacks of laundry sitting on my couch.
I dont even want to move it. It willnever be the same. It will never be as nice.
She has done my least favorite chore.Several times!!!!!
She graciously came over just to help me out.
Thanks Mom, I love you.
She knew I would be overwhelmed with out Jeff here. And she was right.
I am so grateful for her and my father-in-law. With out them, I would not have the husband I have, and the life and family that I do have.
Now, go back to your blog and post what you are grateful for.

Tasty Tuesday - Mini Cinnamon Ginger Sandwich Cookies

Just in time for the Holidays.
I got this from a magazine called LDS Living. (I forget what issue.)
But they are soooo good.

Cinnamon Ginger Cookies
1 cup
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp light corn syrup
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1 cup quick oats
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 ground cloves

Cream butter and sugar.
Add corn syrup and eggs.
Mix well.
Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and mix well.
Roll into teaspoon size balls.
Bake at 350 for 6 minutes or edges are brown.
Remove cookies from oven and use glass dipped in sugar and flatten cookies.
(spray bottom of glass with cooking spray and then dip in bowl of sugar.)
Let cookies cool one minute and then remove to a cooling rack.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/4 cup butter
8oz cream cheese
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Mix well and layer one cookie with desired frosting, top off with another cookie. They freeze well too! Enjoy. Trust me the smell in your kitchen alone when baking them is worth it.

Long Time Gone

It has been a long time since I have posted.
Sorry, it has been a crazy few weeks.
I am still doing a craft fair with my awesome Aunt Kathie.
Ribbons and hair clips.
Very excited. I hope we sell them all.
I had my birthday.
Which was more than fabulous!
It started on Tuesday, Jeff let me go out with my Aunt Kathie and we had lunch and shopped.
And then Wednesday on my birthday, I got to sleep in. I got breakfast in bed. All my favorites too. I got to hang out with Jeff. (I insisted on doing the dishes, I can't believe I actually like to do the dishes now)
My mother-in-law came over to hang out. (My father-in-law is North Carolina fixing up a house they rent out).
She brought THE MOST FABULOUS CARMEL I have ever eaten.
What a treat!
Then my sister Carrie comes over to highlight my hair. (so bummed, we didn't have time for the Pink I wanted.
My mom came and picked me up for shopping and lunch.
Back home and Jeff dinner ready....pizza, my favorite, and then off to the movies with my mom and some gal pals.
Halloween Carnival at the church on Friday was the best I have ever been too.
LOVED IT! Kids had fun.
The day getting ready for it was CRAZY!
Saturday night was a trunk or treat at my mom's church building and it almost made me insane. I lost half of my kids in the first 15 minutes. I hate doing that stuff with out Jeff.
Be grateful your husbands have a 9 to 5 job ladies, mine works 2 to 10pm. (except for my fellow Correctional Officer Wives, I know you totally get it)
We went to my Mom's for a fun open house.
My mom decorates beyond normal. It is awesome. (see previous October Posts for pictures)
Sunday we had a blast. I woke up with a breast engorged...I know TMI, but I think it is infected....Then flu like symptoms. I feel fine today.
It was awful trying to get Jeff ready to go, feeling worst than sick, and getting ready for Halloween.
We carved our pumpkins and we decorated the front of the house with spider webs and bat lights. A light up skeleton too. The boys had fun with Jeff. I was mostly on the couch feeling awful.
As soon as we got home Saturday night I took the kids candy away. I went through it all and picked the stuff I know they won't eat and will be tried and thrown on the floor.
I set it aside for our Trick or Treaters.
I made 66 bags, each bag had a penny candy (tootsie roll-like) and a small candy bar or bubbles and a spider ring.
Then I opened a box of Halloween shaped pretzels (40 individual packs... 2 left and 2 eaten) plus some of our candy...we had about 110 trick or treaters.
I didn't take the boys because it was Sunday. I don't let them swim or play with friends on Sunday, so they knew trick or treating was not happening.
They didn't even complain.
They had so much fun passing out the candy.
I say, every 6 years or so, isn't gonna kill them to miss out on trick or treating.
It was a good day until Jeff had to leave. His mom took him to the airport where he will be gone in North Carolina helping his dad with the house.
I had to call for help. feeling as sick as I was, the boys being bad, my sister Carrie came to the rescue and helped get them to bed.
I feel much better today, except for the boob pain.
I let Matthew stay home in case I felt terrible. I guess he didn't need too.
I need to get back to work making those flower clips.
We will be at Rosemont High school for a craft fair on November 13th. Come and see our stuff...and buy some too. It is for a good cause..... the Bigney family Christmas Fund. lol

Tasty Tuesday - Carrot Cake

*Edited*

Okay, It took a few days longer then I wanted, but I can finally get this recipe down.

This is a recipe from a book my wonderful mother-in-law gave me for a wedding present. I have used it several times. (both the recipe and book)
The Cream Cheese Frosting is a recipe form a friend from Susanville. Dana Draves. (AWESOME lady) She used it for her Homemade Oreo Cookies.

Jeff asked me to make this for the other officers he works with and I decided it would be easier for him to take cup cakes and a bowl of frosting to frost the cakes them selves.
I ran out of cup cake papers for my cupcake tin, but this recipe probable makes 36 cupcakes if not more.
I made 24 mini cupcakes, 12 cupcakes, a small 8x8 pan of cake mix, and 3 heart shapes mini cakes.
This is the moistest carrot cake I have ever eaten.
Just thinking about this makes my mouth water. I wish I had some of the stuff for this recipe, I would make it right now, and take a picture of it for this blog.

Carrot Cake

Mix together:
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
*set aside

Cream together:
2 cups sugar
1 cup cooking oil
2 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped nuts (recipe calls for only 1/2 a cup, but I like more)
1 small can crushed pineapple (8 1/2 oz.)

Combine dry ingredients with creamed ingredients and Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes in a 9x13 pan.
Ice with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 8 oz bar cream cheese; softened
1 cube butter: soften
4 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon( I added that)

Cream together and frost cooled cake or cupcakes
Enjoy...I know I will.

It takes Magic

I finally got my Internet up and running again. ( I was late on my payment...did I mention I was sick and tired?)
I have been sick with a annoying head/sinus cold and the only thing I wanted to do was sleep. or veg on the Internet.
Since I am a mom and not allowed to do either... I suffered through the last 2 days as....
a mom.
You aren't allowed to be sick when you are a mom, and I know I have complained about this before. So I am annoyed with my self that I am complaining again.

I sat down to look at a cousin's blog and I decided to catch up on every ones blog too.
As I read the posts I got jealous and sad.
I don't have what they have to keep my blog going anymore.
I don't have the magic.
It has to be magic.
And It is not the just the blogs I am talking about.
They have lives, they do stuff. I dont.
I sleep, I cook, and clean, and cook and clean, and then cook and then clean and thend sleep. (I do homework and laundry too.)
I have 2 blogs, I don't blog on either. (so don't worry, you aren't missing out on anything.)
I don't have the time, or the "want" to make the time anymore.
I have mentioned this earlier on a blog post that I LOVE blogs, but I just don't have time.
I am here again, as I listen to the music of my blog, blogging away, complaining about not having time and wondering where you all get your time to blog or even sit at the computer.
YOU MUST BE MAGIC!
Well, share this magic you have! don't be selfish or rude.
Sooo not fair.
I really don't have much to Blog about.
I have 6 kids, and I have a house to keep clean, a husband to keep happy, family to spend my time with, and an obsession with making girly hair clips from flowers and ribbons. (I blame my aunt Kathie,and plus we decided to take our talents and "hair pretties" to a craft fair and try and sell them for some scrapbook supply money..well that is why I want the money, thank you Arnold for taking my fun money from my hubby's check)
My house is far from clean today and it is no where near the organized clean I want it to be.
I know, I have made time to blog, so why am I not cleaning/organizing?
Besides, the fact that it is 12:49 am and every little or big person I have given birth to or for is asleep....this is the only time I can blog.
Did I mention I have 6 kids and a husband?
....so I is tired.
I will sum up.
My house is messy, but clean.
I am busy.
My kids are still alive.
My husband is happy.
Isn't that all that matters?
Now share your magic trick!
how do you do it?

Hello, My name is Katie

I am almost 37 years old.
I love sleeping, but do not sleep much.
I am a very creative person.
I always thought I was shy, but I learned I am just afraid.
I hate to talk on the phone. (except for 3 people, you know who you are)
I love shopping for food and things, except clothes. (especially when our budget is large and I can buy things to bake many recipes)
I love to bake. (that is why I am 100+ lbs over weight)
I would rather be at home than anywhere else.
I am a mother of 6 kids. 5 boys and 1 girl. (but not in that order)
I like helping people.
I really like having a clean kitchen, and I don't mind doing it myself.
I hate folding laundry. (that's why there are 4 loads in my family room right now just waiting to be put away)
I love hanging out with Jeff.
I married Jeff 16 years ago.
I think Jeff is awesome. (most of the time...what? He's a boy)
I LOVE the color pink. (but my kitchen is red and yellow, with chickens)
I love to read, but never have time anymore.
I think my boys are the cutest boys ever.
I think my Emma girl is the prettiest little girl ever born.
I hate doing yard work and will probably never have a garden.
I need to find out where my 2 little kids are right at this very moment, but I am not ready to stop blogging.
I challenged myself to read the Book of Mormon before my 37th birthday and I am in Helaman. ( I have 21 days to finish it.)
I am not impressed with most of the movies out there today. (not even the Twilight movies...don't get me wrong, I like them, but I have yet to buy New Moon and I haven't watched my Twilight DVD in over a year)
I often put my foot in my mouth and hurt peoples feelings.
I hate hurting anyone.
I often wallow in worry and self pity when I unintentionally and accidentally hurt someone. (I am there now)
I am avoiding the mess in Emma and Michael's room.
And the mess and Caleb and Sam's room.
And the mess in Matthew and Nathan's room.
I LOVE having my room clean. (yes, it is clean)
I hate making my bed.
I have to think of something for dinner tonight.
I hate the furloughs my husbands paycheck suffers
I miss my extra $500's in my grocery budget. (I have 6 kids to feed)
I have a screaming 1 year old hanging on my computer desk, begging for a nap...or a drink of water. (that cry means a lot of different things)
I am jealous of anyone skinny...or smart...or organized.
I regret all the times I skipped pre-algebra in high school.
I have to go now. (the screaming is getting louder)
I have a head ache.