Sushi...oh so YUMMY!!!

Mike and I love to go to Blue!! It's a Shushi place here in Omaha and it's so yummy! (Not fishy what so ever) This is called Edamame (Soy Beans) and is a rather great and healthy snack as well as appetizer! We also make this "snack" at home and the kids get into eating them as well. You should ALL try it!! Super easy to make!! Here is the link on You Tube on how to make Edamame...about 5 minutes a tada...a healthy snack!!
YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VPp6cB9qMc&feature=PlayList&p=24FE740EC28691FF&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=29
Edamame health benefits link:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56288

We got together with some friends. There were five of us and between us we got about 18 sushi rolls. This is what the bulk of it looked like! YIKES!! It was SOOO amazing! There were some other plates off to the left that you can see that had some that they brought out first! So VERY VERY Good! You have to try it!! It's not what you think...I promise! I'm so addicted if you can't tell!!!

Here is a plate and an upclose shot of a sushi roll!!

And here I am ready to eat an Asparagus Roll! OH I would love to get some Sushi RIGHT NOW!!!!

And to top off the evening...Here is some Fried Ice Cream...never have been a real fan until NOW!! OH ya! And this thing was HUGE!! I think I gained like 20lbs!! WHEW!!! What a night!! Thank you BLUE!!!

You've Got a Friend in ME!!

So Mikey has been into Toy Story for a while now. He got these at Christmas and he totes them around with him wherever he goes. I love how he talks and plays with them. He had to sit in his "Beep Beep" bed and read a story to "Buuuttzzzzz and Woooeeeeee". I couldn't resist the moment, so I grabbed yet again what I had the closest to me and that as my cell phone and snapped a couple! He was so tired and ready for bed. I love his snuggles and hugs! What a good boy!

Winter WHAT????

We have had some CRAZY weather this winter and just to show that, I took a picture of a tree in our neighborhood that looked SO COOL!!! I was on my way to get my hair cut and saw the tree and had to turn around to have a gander at it closer! I was very bummed without my camera in hand so I pulled out the closest thing...my cell phone! It took a couple great shots of these babies! I LOVE IT! So beautiful. I have never seen the trees do that before! So far we have had a blizzards, ice storms, freezing rain, loads of snow, rain, some sun, lots of fog, and basically the worst winter I have ever seen in all my life! Oh and it has got so cold here, feel like temperatures of -30's (that means with the wind chill) Although with all the craziness, I got this great picture and had to share!!

Grandmother's are so very Special!!

I have been thinking a lot about my Grandparents lately. I'm not sure exactly why, but I just know that I stand in amazement of them and their unique talents and qualities, and testimony's. I find those same qualities in my parents and hope I can be half the person those before me are. I was going through Joanne Fabrics a couple days ago and found those plastic yarn grids that my Grandma Bleazard use to use. I remember going to her house and sitting by her chair watching her fingers work so fast making these beautiful things. I would ask her what she was making and who they were for. Hoping she would say they were for me. She would gently reply for a birthday, or a lady in my ward, or a friend I know that needs some cheering up. Those selfish thoughts would go away immediately thinking of those people that could use something like this more than me. I would find myself staring at all the beautiful colors of yarn. I think she knew what was going on in my mind and in she would reach and find a small ball of yarn and some scraps of the grids and let me create and imagine away. When I got older, she would have me sit on her lap and she would show me how to crochet. I thought that was the best thing ever! She would make afghans that were long, beautiful, warm. I love to snuggle in them and watch a movie with them while eating popcorn looking up at the ceiling with the silver sparkles that looked like stars! She was an amazing cook and such a comfort! I would sit on her lap during the 4th of July fireworks that would be outside the kitchen window because I was so afraid. She would hold me close and I can still to this day remember how her arms felt around me holding me close and I could smell her perfume and just feel at ease. This is like something that she would make. I only mention a few of her many qualities I adore about her.


Grandma Hallmark was like a whirlwind of getting things done. There was never a dirty room, window or closet. She would press her sheets and the beds would be made to perfection. Her home always smelled of things she was canning or cooking for dinner. She was the worlds best multitasker ever! She would have so many things going on that I could sit at her table and color and watch her fly around. And she would always have such a good attitude about it. She loved her home, she loved welcoming others into her home and made each person feel so special. Some of my most cherished moments were trying to sneak sweet pickles from the 5 gallon buckets that were pickling. I loved getting suckers from the cupboard. Her dried fruit was the best I have ever had, even to this day. I loved running through the sheets in the back yard. Smelling that clean fresh cotton is still one of my favorite smells. I would spend the night with her and felt so special that I could stay with her. She would tuck me into a perfectly made bed and I would lay there and just smell the sheets as I lay in the most comfortable cocoon! She would sing me a song and help me pray and I can still hear her gentle voice. I loved helping her pick things in her garden. Oh her garden was amazing! I don't think there was ever a weed that ever had a chance to even come up before she was plucking it from the ground. She would open her home so others could enjoy the blessings of going to the temple by letting them stay there since they had to travel many miles. I loved to help her get the rooms ready and welcome them there. I still remember her telling me, "Loralee, you be polite and on your best behaviour. Make sure you don't make lots of noise. Run along and play like a good girl." I loved all the many trinkets that she would pack away. She loved Avon and I loved all the shades of red nail polish in her bathroom. She always had her toes painted. Ice cream at her house was the best. I wish I could find those ice cream bowls from so long ago. I have so many fond memories they are just spilling in my mind and overflowing my heart with longing to see them and wrap my arms around them and Thank them for the many things they taught me. Mostly love and patience and always open arms no matter what. They were always delighted to see us. Here is something like what she would make. Her jars were much more beautiful!

I am sad that my children are missing the time and memories like I had growing up and being close to grandparents. I miss our families so very much my heart aches! I hope the times we are together have a lasting impact on my children as my grandparents had on me. I will have to write about my Grandfathers and the hero's they are in my life as well. If you have Grandparents that are still alive, sit and listen and cherish every moment. Soak up every opportunity to learn from them that you can!! Love EVERY Moment!! My arms reach up Grandmothers and I am holding you very close to my heart! I will have to post pictures of these amazing women when I find them and scan them into the computer.

Apple Picking at Kimmel Orchard Sept 2009

What a wonderful day in Nebraska City!!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!!! Oh kids you are so precious!!!

You are so clever!! She thought this was so hilarious! She kept calling my name..."
"mommy mommy look what I can do!!" I turned around and laughed and snapped a picture of her silly moment!

What can I say...ADORABLE!!!

You are so beautiful my girl...what pretty flowers... always finding such pretty and cheerful things!

What did you find little man? BUGS MOM...WHAT ELSE!!!

Love this picture of Hailey!! What a poser!!!

Another Beauty Kaitlynn!! Yummy!!

Oh my sweet boy!! Good apple little man!!

Kaitlynn was very particular with the apples that she picked...they had to be the one that she wanted and had to be very pretty and without any markings...Much like her Daddy, she was very selective with her choice and picked some of the BEST apples!

Oh yes, I had fun too!! Reminds me of the days picking apples with my Mom and Aunt Lorrie!! Wonderful memories!! Wish we could pick again together...someday?

Love this one of Hailey!! This is the first one she picked and was so over joyed with being able to pick apples off the tree! Reminds me of when I was at Mike grandparents house and I picked Lemons for the first time!! I too had this look of joy on my face...wonder where she gets if from!!!

Mikey loved being lifted up high to get the apples!! He makes quite the apple picker because he would grab more than one at a time! I love this picture of my BOYS!!!

Hailey LOVED to pick apples...All the kids did!! They were so excited! We should have bought more bags...we would have had apples for months!

Kaitlynn getting face painted Kimmel Orchard Sept 2009

There are moments that they are so sweet to each other!!! I have proof!!! LOL!!!


Kaitlynn was so excited to see that she could get a dolphin on her face!! She loved the sparkles and when it was time to wash her dolphin off, she cried so hard thinking that she would never see her "special dolphin again"!!! It was quite the emotional moment for her. We told her she would see her dolphin anytime because we would print a picture just for her to have! That seemed to fix the problem!! Our little sensitive one!! ;)

Hailey getting face painted Kimmel Orchard Sept 2009

Hailey loved getting her face painted!! She picked a rainbow which I think suites her perfectly because she is such a joy and wonder! Much like Cheer Bear she can brighten any room with her smile and when she laughs and gives hugs its the best feeling ever!! That's our little energy child, Hailey!!!