Aebleskivers!!!!!!!

BIG deal here. This is an old family tradition
from my Dad's side - *the DANISH side* - of the
family. I grew up having these on special occasions. MMMMM.
But, I never had a pan or a recipe to make them. So, this
year for Christmas hubby got me BOTH! Tonight I made them
for the family for dinner and they were a HUGE HIT! :O)
They came out perfect and wonderful and I am simply in
heaven! What a fun traditional awesome blessing in our lives!

Loved this local Christmas Story on News 8

Christmas Angels Pass Out Hundreds At Idaho Falls Dollar Tree

Posted: Dec 23, 2009 11:13 PM



By Megan Boatwright, Local News 8 Reporter

It's the season for miracles, and it seems we have one happening in Eastern Idaho.

For the past two days shoppers at the Dollar Tree store in Idaho Falls, have had random encounters with a group of people intent on passing the Christmas spirit to those in need.

It's a busy time for the Dollar Tree with lots of shoppers picking up last minute gifts. In the last two days four people have spent a lot of money at the store, the only catch is they haven't bought anything.

"I walked out of the store in tears," said Melissa Lopez.

A single mother of two, Lopez was shopping for last minute Christmas gifts with her children when a well dressed man approached them Monday night.

"He said Merry Christmas and slipped me a $100 bill," Lopez said. After recovering from the initial shock of the experience, Lopez realized she wasn't alone.

"This lady came up to me and was mumbling under her breath," said Dollar Tree Cashier, Monica Villanueva. "I couldn't understand what she was saying."

Villanueva has worked at the Idaho Falls store for two years. The cashier says she's never seen anything like this before.

"The woman said, ‘those people are angels,' I didn't really understand what she meant," Villanueva said. "Then the woman said, ‘I've been struggling with Christmas this entire year. I haven't had any money and that man just gave me $100'."

In Fact the entire Dollar Tree staff has witnessed the same group of people give away hundreds of dollars. The employees say the ‘Christmas Angels' are calculated. The good Samaritans look at what people are buying, and only give money to those purchasing necessities.

"It gives you have hope that there are good people out there," said Villanueva.

For Melissa Lopez the encounter was nothing short of a miracle and once in a lifetime lesson for her children.

"My kids witnessed the whole thing," she said. "I hope they remember it forever and remember that Christmas is a time of giving."

Even though Monica Villanueva didn't get a hundred dollar bill of her own, the mysterious strangers made this Christmas one she'll never forget.

"It made my night," Monica said. "I almost started crying. I kept thinking if we don't help each other then who will?"

SWEEEEEEET! Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

I am spending my Christmas Eve morning at work (mean boss lady!) with Robin and the boys... we are having a very relaxed morning and I am loving her boys company and energy! :O) I have a few things to do before the BIG GUY visits tonight but nothing too stressfull so I can enjoy this evening with my hubby and kids. SO BLESSED. So very very blessed this year.

Our good friend (like a lil' sis) had a baby boy last night - born at 4 a.m. on Christmas Eve and he is beautiful! SO EXCITED for the family... again, so blessed.

Sis in law is in the hospital in Boise - went in for a planned day surgery that went rough and now she'll prob be in over Christmas - sucks :O( but glad she is doing OK.

Just feeling very peaceful and graced today. Love my family, my home, my friends, my job, and am SO grateful for all the things that make me feel so loved and safe.

Merry Christmas wishes to you and your loved ones this season. XOXO

Darla

(Photos are of our food drive at work - TWO FULL BOXES we took in! Breakfast at my sister Carlee's with Tony and Teddy. Also my JOY that Robin made me for Christmas that I LOVE LOVE LOVE!)

My Kids

Just wanted to take a time out and update on my kids.
I LOVE THEM.
I am the most blessed Mom in the world.

CHRISTOPHER
I love this boy! Chris is 18 now, a young man.
Chris is amazing, he is a hard hard working, strong,
ethical, honest, unbelievable loving person. I
appriciate his place in our family and the example
he is to his sisters and brother. XOXO Christopher!

DANI
Crazy girl! Dani is almost sweet 16 now, and has the
boys going nuts. Tall, blonde and beautiful - she knocks
em' all dead. Dani is in Drivers Ed this year and has
also been kickin' her grades up like mad - she is loving
H.S. and makes me so proud as a true blue Grizz girl!

TIFFANY
Tiff is still our scholarly, organzied, by the rule girl.
However, she is also driving the boys wild and loves it!
Somehow she is all the boys friend and they are all crushed
in the process LOL!
Tiff is busy at school with choir, drama, track, cross country
and honor society. She is an amazing kid and we love her!

MICHEAL
Currently our little man is a bit of a monster. Seriously.
I have to keep reminding the other kids that he is at a
stage - we all need to be patient with him. He is a tender
hearted love bug but MAN can he get on our nerves LOLOL!!!
Micheal is still ALL boy - trucks, bikes, mud, all that stuff
he is 100% there. He has tons of friends at school and
around the neighborhood too. Also doing well in school and
finally "getting" the reading down - silly boy. He is also
in Cub Scouts and loves going to those activities!

AMAZING kids we have.
So blessed.

DarlaLOU

Saaaaaaaaaturday

Made it through the baby shower - wow what a long day! It
went well though and I have lots to post about - however -
I am totally pooped out and going to lay down for a while
since we have Ed's work party to go to as well tonight.
I will update EVERYthing tommorrow sometime.

DarlaLOU

lots to be thankful for

I have so much to be thankful for -
today I am whiney about my sinus
and headache but really, under all
that boobing, I am very thankful.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:- my home, warm and cozy this a.m.
- my kids, who have been so helpful
this week while Dad is gone
- my hubby, who is off doing boring
training in SLC for a week for work
- my friends who support me and lift
me up and make me believe in myself
- my sisters who just love me no
matter what - always - so blessed to
have them (both my real and in-laws!)
- my awesome minivan that defrosts
and warms up quickly in the winter
and cools down with a/c in the summer
- my job that I love so much and offers
me so much versatility and opportunity
to learn and grown and be flexible
- my scrapbook stuff (I KNOW!) that
allows me a creative outlet and down time
- my happy lil' runnin' feet that carry
my fat toosh all over when I actually
get out there and RUN
- and so so so much more that I could
go on and on about... I am very blessed
and very grateful!

25 Days Book!

Finally getting them on the ol' blog-
Here is Day 1 and Day 2 pages.... they aren't very
good photos but you get the idea!
Darla

**I finished my little paperbag book tonight too!
It is full of photos of many of my favorite
Christmas decorations I've collected through
the years... I will share more of it later!**

Ewwwwwwwwwwww!

I woke up at about 3:30 a.m. with a sinus
headache and stuffy nose.
I HATE that! Ugh!
Now this morning I am
doing the every 2 min nose wipe!
Ugh! I HATE that!
I hope it does not turn into anything
serious bc I have
way too much going on this upcoming
weekend to be sick.
Dumb nose! Grrrrrr!

I am working on my 25 Days Album
"officially" now. Yesterday
I just did journaling for Day 1 but today I hope
to get some sort of photo to document the days
events?
We will see.

LOVED watching Biggest Loser last
night - watching them
all do a marathon - FREAK that inspires me!

I can do this.
I SO can do this! Need to get to
the gym and out for some running today sometime
myself. The weather is BITTER COLD though
so outdoors is the pits.
(Anythingunder 30 degrees I usually bag out...)
I have been on my food plan though so that is good!

OK onward and forward for the day
- tissues in hand.
Praying I won't have to resort to
sinus meds too :O(

HAPPY WEDNESDAY everyone! Happy Dec 2nd!
DarlaLOU

Love and Misses!

Missing this guy big time
- he is out of town for the
week in a work training and
I am missing him a bunch!
Be safe honey!








Love and Misses!
Hugs and Kisses!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Darla


Awesome photo taken by Robin! LOVE it!
Check out her photo site here:
http://heartfelt.typepad.com/robingibbonsphotography/

Christmas Lights ala' Christopher!

A Christmas Project

I have been working on a little project for myself
for the Holidays - it is a 25 Days of Christmas
book - an idea that Robin gave me that comes from
Ali Edwards blog site http://aliedwards.typepad.com/
and it just looked so fun I had to give it a try!
My book is all put together and ready to start
playing with it come Dec 1st!! I can't wait!
Tiffany and Micheal both made a book as well to do.
Should be fun! Here are a few photos of some of the
pages from mine... soon they will be full of photos
and journaling and other tidbits of things to keep
a little of each day of the season alive all year!

Darla :O)

PS Ed hit the road for a weeks worth of training
in Salt Lake City today - I am already worried and
missing him so send me strength please!

A Long Time Blogging

So I realized today that I have been doing
THIS blog for several years now. Like 4 years
plus actually! So cool to be able to look back
at what has been going on... So, just cuz' I can
do it, I am going to share the past 4 years
worth of blog entries (on or about this same
date each year)Enjoy! :O) Darla

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2005
LET IT SNOW...
Let It Snow - Let It Snow... oh the weather outside is frightful, but the FIRE is so delightful, since I have no car to goooooooooooooo...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

THE SNOW HAS ARRIVED! I have such a love/hate relationship with winter. I hate the HOT HEAT of summer and it makes me literally sick, so you'd THINK I would love winter and the cool days. However, I don't like to be too cold either! Tsk tsk fickle aren't I? Well, snow is grand, and pretty and oh so season inspiring, but it is also a pain in the rumpus to SHOVEL and keep from freezing to the steps! MORE than once I have fallen victim to our not foot friendly front steps, even in the summer! LOL Winter is bad on Darla's back :O(

I am in the beginning planning stages of our Christmas lists and gifts and things. Nothing like waiting till' the last minute egh? Well, it should get me in the spirit quick so I guess there is some good that comes from procrastinating? Right?

Well, I guess I can non prematurely say HAPPY HOLIDAYS now to you my friends! May you have many wonderful memories and happy times to remember and share! Darla

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2006
It's the hap- hap- hapiest time of the year....

Oh, that should read the buz- buz- busiest time of the year.... Happy Holidays!!! I can "officially" say that now, right? Thanksgiving is over and CHRISTMAS is next, then a whole NEW YEAR too! WOW!

Well, things around here are MORE than crazy these days. Just tons going on, kids activities, preparing for the Holidays, and more. Today I have a 4:00pm Dr appt, Parent Teacher Conferences for the kids and a7:00pm meeting for Church. Crazies! Upcoming week will be just as crazed as we need to get out and put all the Holiday decorations, prepare for dh's surgery next week, we also have a Church family party and clean house and prep for a big family get together in 10 days and so much more. Cooking and baking, card making, shopping, gift wrapping.... Just the normal hustle and bustle of the Holidays I guess?
One thing I did want to share is our newfound love of the old cardgame UNO! A couple weeks ago the kids friends brought it over to play, our youngest ds Micheal always gets left out bc he can't play the games.......he totally picked RIGHT up on this one and it has been non stop ever since! While SIL and her family were here over Thanksgiving they bought us our own deck of the cards and now Mr Micheal thinks we ALL need to play UNO with him 24/7 !! (oh and he also calls it "dos" as in uno, dos, tres... LOL) So, I included a photo of the kids all playing UNO over the Thanksgiving Holiday too. FUN times. So glad we have family to share the holidays with and make memories with. How blessed we are.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2007
Crazy sort of Thursday here....


Well, let me tell you, I am no longer a "night owl". Last night my friend Lisa and I went out to hit the big 50% off sale at Khol's (midnight shopping, gotta love it!) and after being up since 4:45 a.m. I was getting a little punchy come 11:00pm. I had a time getting to sleep and although I slept HARD through the night, I am still tired. I allowed myself this morning "off" from the gym and slept in, but still feel like I am dragging.
Had a Dr appt this morning too - some oddball stuff and also my test results from my thyroid bloodwork I had done this week. VERY weird stuff I tell ya, I don't know what is going on, but my levels were all wonky again and so he decided to up my meds and then we'll recheck in a few weeks. TSH (thyroid stimulating horomone) is way high again and we are not sure why, and the T4 is off too. They were coming under control and now they have gone whack-o. *ugh* I told the Dr I was finally starting to feel normal again, whatever that is, but he just said this is a fine art trying to get things leveled out and regulated and to be patient. OK. Like I have a choice?
Weather is still being weird too - just cold. No snow. No winds. Just cold. So odd for Idaho this time of year... not that I am dying to drive on icy roads or anything but a little snow is always festive and fun ya know?! I am dying to go take sleds out behing the 4wheelers again like we did up at the cabin. LOL It was SO stinkin' much fun! (photo is of Lisa (all in black) and Blake (in brown) on the sleds, even the adults took rides!!! but no one got pix of me, however, I DID do it, TWICE, it was so fun!) So, yes, I am wishing for a "little" bit of snow, not a blizzard please!
That's about it for me. Got kids here needing attention and laundry that never waits too... Parent teacher conferneces tonight (student led, HATE that) and Survivor and ER on tv this evening as well as taco's for dinner. Should be a good one!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2008
Wer'e Home!!!!


Hey all - we finally made it home from Island Park and our Thanksgiving getaway with the VERY BESTESTEST FRIENDS IN THE WHOLE WORLD, the Browns - it was awesome fun and lots of great memories! My camera was LESS than cooperative but I did manage to get a few shots taken to share. Right now however, I am wiped out tired and going to bed! (me and my whining sore tailbone that is...) So for now, you just get these two wee wittle glimpses of fun... the kids adoreable crazy lil' snow buddy and ME in the car on the way home! (I know, what a ham and oh! don't I look lovely after a day of hot tubbing, playing, cleaning, no shower and loading up to go home? HA!)

Toodles! And Happy LATE Thanksgiving to all!!!!
XOXOXOXO!
Darla

PS I promise to share more photos tommorrow! PROMISE!

grrrrrrrr ----

trying to change out my background format and it is not working

grrrrrr...

Decorations! Gingerbread house and real houses!

Took a TON of photos of the kids doing the Gingerbread House
kits we got them - all the while our oldest son, Christopher,
was out crawling around on the roof decorating our REAL house
with Christmas lights! My nerves are S*H*O*T! LOL So, here is
the collage of photos - we did have fun and my kids are oh SO
creative! Love the houses, they are so cute! Chris is still
working on the real deal but when he is done we'll be sure
to share those photos too!
:O) Happy Holidays!?

DarlaLOU

Saturday Chores

Today is catch up day. After my really crazy week
and Thanksgiving celebration my house looks, well,
forgotten. So today is clean up catch up day and
I am on a laundry marathon. :O) That last part
makes me happy! LOVE doing laundry. Goofy me.

Chris is out (with lil' Micheal) working on our
Christmas lights. He bought some fun new decor
on the Black Friday sales and he is having a blast.
Hope it works out a little better than our wind
blown disaster we had over Halloween??????????????

Hope to get to the gym or out for a run again today.
Slept really long and hard last night- my back is
still out of whack from falling on the ice last
week so sleep has been not great but it did not
bother me on my run last night so that is good.

That is about it for today. More later....have a good
weekend! I am!

DarlaLOU

a little P.S.

I am going to try REALLY hard to post more often and keep
you updated on the weightloss battle. Sorry I have slacked
so much. I am going to focus on posting more - PROMISE!

struggles - a turkey friend - scares - running

LOTS of topics to catch up on but overall life is treating me well.
Can't complain about much really other than my constat battle with
the bathroom scale - *sigh*.

So, I have been struggling to keep the weight down. I am fighting to
keep off the weight and am actually up about 15 lbs from my lowest
weight and I hate that! Not sure what/why it is going on but I am
fighting like hell with it. Thanksgiving has not been a help
- or stress - but I am marching on.

I have the best friend in the whole wide world.
She gave me their turkey.
SERIOUSLY she GAVE me their turkey!
After our big scare with Ed and spending 24 hrs in
the hosptial with him, well, our Turkeyday plans were
all washed out and suddenly I was having to throw together
a Turkey dinner for my family! Lisa, bless her heart,
bailed me out and offered to give us her turkey she'd
bought since they were going to the in-laws anyway.
What a blessing!
I was able to pick it up late Wed night to get it
thawed out and then did a mad dash to WalMart Thurs a.m.
to get all the trimmings and we ended up having a beautiful
Thanksgiving dinner at home with just our little family.
Thank you Lisa!!

So, what is up with Ed? Well, long story short, he scared the
heck out of us and thankfully he is ok. There was something
going on with his heart - although all his testing has been
inconclusive he did have some sort of episode??? and it was
so scary! I am still worried to death but the Dr's have said
he has nothing to worry about. Sooooo?? trust the experts or
trust your gut?? Either way, I am so grateful they found
nothing and that he was home for THanksgiving...

Running. AHhhhhhhhhhhK! I have been trying to run as much
as possible between the gym, outdoors and Lisa's (my sisters)
treadmill - or the *deathmill* as she affectionatly calls it.
I am not doing fab but I am going at it. Tonight Tiff and
I went out and did a little 2.6 mile route and it felt SO good.
It was perfect temps at 40 degrees and no wind.
We really enjoyed it. My endurance is the pits but at
least I am going. :O)

That is about it for now...... hope everyone is feeling
good and having a healthy and happy holiday season.
We are so blessed. SO blessed.

DarlaLOU :O)

Another layout....

Just finished this tonight - a CUTE photo of my daughter Tiff
and her cousin Madison from last summer. They were doing crazy
poses all over for me and this was MY fave one!
This was done from a sketch that Robin made for me a few weeks
ago and I just now got to it... tsk tsk! LOL
Enjoy!
Darla

A few new projects I am working on ...

I have been playing. A lot.
I have a neat little paperbag
book I made and a
25 days of Christmas book I am
working on as well as this
layout I did today! Feels
SO good to create and let
some feeling out
onto paper/projects. :O)

Darla

A few more....

My BEAUTIFUL chillin's....

AMAZING FAMILY - AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHER

One of our new family photos - I am SO excited about!! My kids are all growing so fast and getting so attrative and beautiful!

I am FOREVER grateful to my good friend Robin and her photography skills - she is amazing! Check out her site - you'll LOVE her style! THANK YOU ROBIN!
http://heartfelt.typepad.com/robingibbonsphotography/

Somedays you feel :

VERY much pooooo'd on.

Bwhhhaaa haaa haaa! Happy Halloween from OUR HOUSE to YOURS!