Our Little Snow Bunny!

Last Saturday, Justin, his bro- Jon and his dad- Dave... took Caitlin skiing for the first time! These are a few of the pictures Jon took to capture this fun event! We can't wait until next year when we can all go again!! (Mommy and Will included!)

Caitlin with Daddy riding the rope tow

Caitlin with Jonny!

Great job on the pictures "Unka Jonny!" (Check out more of "Unka Jonny's" work at http://www.jonathancracroft.com/ )

Ms. White... in the Study... with... a NEW chair??

Yippy! Justin decided to up-grade his "Study"... with this stylish brown leather chair! It helps him endure all the long hours spent studying for school! (and I must say... this is a lot nicer than what he was using before! see below!)

Yeee- Hawww! Round up Yu'r books, lets study some business management!

Fellow "Twilighters"-- Check this out!!

Click on the link below, for 4 cool video clips for 'behind the scenes' on Twilight movie!!!
Ahhh, 12-12-08!!!!

http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1585900&vid=224215

Watch This!!

Hey Pals, My little bro entered a music video contest... he made this video for a local (PA) band, and the video that has the most views get's $500.

Watch and have your buddies watch too! My bro is the one in the video, What a handsome guy!!

(click here if you'd like to leave feedback or watch it directly off youtube!!)

Thanks guys!
-Amanda Panda

Day at the Zoo!

I took the kids to the Hogle Zoo and on Friday... it was such a beautiful day for it too! There were a lot of people there, so I was lucky I got there at 9:40 and got a good parking spot. It was nice that there wasn't a lot of pressure see everything that day... you know... to get our money's worth... we'll go a lot more this summer I'm sure, (Daddy got us a season pass!!)

This is a really cool ball fountain, that is right at the entrance... the kids could stay here all day long... and we almost did. You know Caitlin and water...

American Family Insurance, had a doggy that Caitlin just fell in love with... i was really surprised she gave it a hug... Will, decided he was a little too manly for hugs...

This was the high light of our trip, and Caitlin is still talking about it... (she even had a nightmare about this crocodile last night...) but she's funny, she loves it even though it scares her... First time though... He was a sleep under the water... then second time... all of a sudden He came up out of the water... like it was going to eat us...

Ahh, the Monkeys! Oh and a real monkey in the back ground there...
I didn’t take a stroller, i knew it would only get in the way. I really had to watch Will because he kept running off when Caitlin was 'making friends' with all the animals. It was a bit challenging... and my arms are killing me by the time we left. Will's not the best about holding hands when he wants to run off in the other direction... etc... but there was no way he was going to sit in a stroller...

In this picture (above) Will was about to go go rade someones stroller for snacks while all the moms and kids were busy looking at the monkeys! What funny kid he actually grabbed a bag of fish crackers and headed off into a corner to open and eat them... ahh!

The giraffe on the right is a baby...

Before we left, we had a picnic on the wall just outside the Giraffe house... Poor Caitlin didn't want to leave and it was just the end of the world. She wanted to stay... "and sleep with the animals and take care of the Rhinos..." All I said was, "we'll come back next week... and I'm sure they will not forget you..." She cried all the way home!

This is funny...

So, on our way home I was at the intersection of 21st South and 21st East... And I saw this little gray fuzzy shag of a dog... just strolling up the sidewalk and then weaving it's self in and out of traffic... I thought...

'Oh no... He’s going to get hit...' So, I pulled over and approached him... he was so happy to see me... (Yeah, he was also SO smelly... and no identification...)

So I picked him up... put him on the floor of the passenger side of the car... (he was really good, calm and happy...)

Oh, boy... Caitlin and Will's faces lit up with joy... they were so happy! A new puppy to have and enjoy! (Yeah, this dog would need a serious bath... for me to even consider keeping him... Caitlin must not have a good sense of smell... because she just loved this dog. Eek.)

We got home... and I left 'Fuzzy' in the garage and called Justin... asked him what I should do... he went on the Internet... and read 'what you should do if you find a stray' (Internet is great!) He told me that keeping a stray is like 'steeling' (I didn't know that. But if no one claims him... you can adopt him later, if you want...)

So, he told me I did everything right... but the next step was to call Animal Control with in 24 hours, so I did and they came and got him. (Bye, bye Fuzzy!)

So, after all that adventure... I was so beat... I had to take a nap... ahh. What a day!!

Appetizer that will make you want to throw a party!!

Celebrate spring with this tasty treat and trust me... your party guests will want this recipe...

Fruit Salsa!
1 apple, cut into very small pieces
2 kiwi, cut into very small pieces
1 cup frozen mixed berries, thawed and put in blender just enough to break into small pieces. note: i use a blend of Raspberries, Blueberries and Blackberries
Sugar (to taste- maybe a few tablespoons)
Mix all together in a bowl and let “marinate” for a few hours in refrigerator before serving
ChipsFlour tortillas
Margarine or butter (can also use a spray bottle and use water)
Cinnamon
Sugar

Butter the tortillas and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar, then cut like pizzas. Bake in the oven until slightly crispy. 350 degrees, 5-8 minutes.
So yummy and SO EASY!!!

Salt Lake City's getting "Wicked" April '09

CONFIRMED!!!

I saw this in Sunday Paper... (which i just happend to read... only 3 days late!) Anyway... and got the info off line... HOW EXCITING!!! Justin and I cannot WAIT to see it AGAIN!

'Wicked' is coming to S.L. in April '09
By Erica HansenDeseret Morning News
Published: April 6, 2008

Broadway Across America is bringing one of the biggest Broadway blockbusters to Salt Lake City during the 2008-09 season.

"Wicked," the story of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, is the back story to "The Wizard of Oz."

It follows the two witches as they grow from young girls to college roommates. What happened? When did the two become enemies?

Filled with melodic, singable Stephen Schwartz tunes, "Wicked" has become a musical phenomenon, winning over critics and audiences alike worldwide.

"Wicked" will be at Capitol Theatre April 8-May 3, 2009. Single tickets are not available for purchase until later this year.

Salt Lake Deal or No Deal Casting on April 12!!!

OK, A friend of mine... (who has alot more faith in me than she should...) sent this to me... and said i should totally try out for this! I just laughed... and then actually concidered it! What fun would this be!!

Anyway, If i didn't have like a million and a half things going on that day... AND my two adorable children... i would be all over this. I thought i'd spread the word... to all my Utah friends... You should do this if you get a chance...

Any-Hoodle here is the link with all the info... Go for it!

BAG IT!

Hey, I found this cool site on my friends blog... to learn how to make a bag. I've wanted to try making one ever since Christmas when my sister Emily made me the cutest bag!! She said it was easy. PLUS I've had this really cool button I've wanted to put on a bag for as long as i can remember... and i just love this fabric (two best colors, green and blue...) This is a different pattern from the one my sister made me but it's way cute and is pretty simple...

So, i thought I'd try it... I made it yesterday, and it was so easy! What fun! Now I've got another cute bag to add to my collection! This one of course will carry my new TAP SHOES!!

(Oooo, That's right... My new skill that i'm learning is Tap Dancing.... that story to come later.... with pictures, and maybe a youtube... haha. Yeah, so pat yourself on the back if you guess right!)

Try making your own bag... it's fun!
(the last picture is the inside of the bag!)

The Ultimate Gift

This is a GREAT movie! Justin and I saw it with my family over our Christmas vacation in PA... and we loved it so much we bought it! We watched it yesterday inbetween conference sessions... and i was just reminded what a wonderful movie it is... you laugh, you cry, and it's just SO great! Good FHE movie for the Fam.

It's also based on the novel 'The Ulitmate Gift' by Jim Stovall, great for book groups

Free at last!

Yea! So, Mr. Fix-it came home last night night from work and rescued my ring... Caitlin helped of course, and redeemed her self! "Look Mommy, a Ring!" (yeah, like how did that get down there?)

I don't know why this surprised us... because when ever we do anything in our little house... it usually leads to another 2-3 hour project... and that's just what happened...

Turns out the pipes under the bathroom sink were ... well, leaking... and needed to be replaced... so we loaded the kids (and the dog,) and headed over to "Home beep Oh" (a Cracroft favorite) the kids cheer when they see the orange building... ANYWAY... so it took us about 40 minutes to find what we needed... and then as we are walking to the check out... Justin looks at me... and says... 'Oops, i forgot my wallet!' (HA)

It took us forever to find what we needed... so there was no way we were just going to leave our basket for someone to run away with. Justin stayed behind to guard our goods and i took the kids (and dog) home to get his wallet!)

It was super fun.

So... after another hour we have new pipes, that don't leak... a new 'water stopper' thing... (it was broken before... aheam... that's how the ring fell down there to begin with... aack!)

Anyway, this has been another episode of "Fix What's Broken... and Everything Else Around It" ... Join us next time when I'm sure something in the kitchen or the OTHER bathroom breaks... I'm your host... Amanda Cracroft... We'll see you next time!!

Pack your bags Honey!!!

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

solve THIS equation!

A three year old + bathroom sink + Mommy's wedding ring=

We are a smart species...

OK, another one of these ... my dad sent me this in an email... I was laughing so hard... i thougth everyone needed to start their day off like i did... enjoy!

Standing on a bucket on TOP of a ladder, brilliant

Ummmm….at least someone's holding the ladder steady

Isn't this a violation of the seatbelt laws?

Shouldn't he be wearing a lifejacket?

Wonder what HE makes an hour? It can't be enough.

Who needs a truck?

I get by with a little help from my friends.

Oh yeah, THAT'S safe!

HMMM, maybe he couldn't see the huge yellow sign that said CLEARANCE.

Hey, I strapped it down.

Maybe we shouldn't have parked it on the side of a hill.

No problem, I can see through the holes

It starts at a young age and men just get worse.

You hold it while I whack it with this hammer.

A new OSHA approved substitute for ladders.

Ropes are for sissies.

Kubota's new tractor mounted scaffolding.

Always follow traffic signs.

All I wanna know is, HOW?

Now I wanna know why

In a hurry?

I can cut it down AND load it in the truck!!

Ahh, the magic of duct tape!

8 Words Women Use

My Dad sent this to me in an email... just made me laugh...

1.) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2.) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3.) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

4.) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

5.) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)

6.) That's Okay /It's okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can say to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7.) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question or faint. Just say "You're welcome" .

8.) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking "What's wrong?" For the woman's response refer to #3.