i heart ... this nerdy boy

one day,

while my niece sierra was at school,

i picked up her camera and started looking

through her pictures.

i know,

i'm terrible!

i should not have done it without her permission,

but i just didn't think about it at the time.

as i was looking through her pictures

i came upon this one

and could not stop laughing!!!

for the rest of the day i laughed every time

i thought about it!

thomas just looks like such a nerdy little boy

in those thick coke-bottle glasses

and dinosaur pajamas.

love it!

p.s.

no baby-eyes were harmed

in the taking of this picture.

those are play glasses

that just have the appearance

of being thick.

.

i heart ... scotch koreans

i wish all commercials were this funny.

then maybe i'd actually watch them.

.

i heart ... my mom's mud pie brownies

every time my mother makes

these brownies

i just die!

i could eat all of them!

(and i almost do)

this recipe was given to my mom

by her friend debbie.

they are so perfect!

the coconut

the pecans

the chocolate frosting...

everything i love!

mississippi mud pie brownies

1 brownie mix (9x13 size - and hershey's is the best)

1 and 1/2 cups coconut

1 and 1/2 cups chopped pecans

1 jar marshmallow cream (a million times better than marshmallows!)

make brownie mix as instructed on box.

add in coconut and pecans.

bake as directed.

when done,

spread 1 jar of marshmallow cream

over top.

(dollop by the spoonfuls

over the entire top,

then spread evenly)

let cool completely before frosting.

frosting:

1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup cocoa

4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup evaporated milk

mix butter and vanilla with beaters.

in separate bowl,

mix powdered sugar and cocoa.

beat in powdered mix with butter mix

alternating with the evaporated milk.

spread.

refrigerate a few hours before serving.

keep stored in refrigerator.

i heart ... the temple

mesa, arizona

i was lucky enough

to go to the temple today.

there is no place on earth

more peaceful

and calming

and beautiful.

don't you just wish

you could live there?

i heart ... the tortoise and the boy

my nephew thomas

this is thomas and kyle.

kyle is the family tortoise.

thomas and kyle have a

love/hate relationship.

thomas loves kyle.

but kyle...

well, let's just say

he doesn't exactly reciprocate.

every second monday in september

my family gathers at the cemetery

to celebrate our grandpa's birthday.

today is the second monday.

we want to celebrate

his life, rather than his death.

monday, september 10, 2001

was our first such gathering.

it was a completely average day.

we had no idea what was coming our way

the next morning.

i've thought about this often.

enjoying a nice, innocent september 10th

with my family

and then in a snap of the fingers

a handful of murderers

took away that innocence.

how i wish we could be living in a

september 10th world.

how i wish september 11, 2001

never happened.

but then i think,

i don't want to take back

who we became on september 12th...

...united.

prayerful.

full of love for one another.

we were all just americans,

not republican, democrat...

i wish we could all remember

who we were

on september 12th.

i heart ... how this boy loves salsa

my nephew thomas

yes, it's true.

thomas loves eating salsa by the spoonfuls!

no chips necessary.

just a bowl and spoon.

(and please don't worry.

it's baby-safe salsa.

homemade by stacy)

i heart ... eli

aren't those lips kissable???

introducing my new nephew

eli

he belongs to russ & jenn.

oh,

and he belongs to clayton and ava too.

they love him to death!

when they get anywhere near him

they start giggling with delight.

he's a very advanced baby.
he already knows how to play peek-a-boo.







p.s.

i had to include these pictures

of clayton's many costume changes

during our day together.

he began as a cowboy...

... then covertly snuck up on us

in his spy gear...






... and lastly,
batman!