happy 50th to my daddio!

My dad turned 50! To celebrate we enjoyed a suite at the Staples Center to watch our beloved Lakers. Jake was in heaven. Basketball, family and friends, bbq, dessert cart and gummy bears...

what could be better?!

Dad you are one studly father...a strong, spiritual, silly, triatholon training stud muffin! 

Happy Birthday!

brittany and cardon got hitched (iPhone)

Brittany and Cardon's wedding was simply wonderful. So wonderful that I only took a handful of photos and left the picture taking to the professionals. My sister looked stunning. Absolutely breathtaking. Cardon was tall, dark and handsome. The reception was g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s.

And the moments spent with my family all around me in the temple were precious. 

Heaven is where your family is and I'm glad to have Cardon join us.

*actual wedding photos that aren't grainy and dark will follow shortly :)

homemade cranberry sauce

This recipe is as easy as 1-2-3. It can be prepared a couple days in advance which is awesome. And the taste and texture compared to the monstrosity in the can, that somehow makes it way onto waaaay too many Thanksgiving tables, is incomparable. So please, just say no to ridged, gelatinous, canned cranberry sauce. You won't be sorry. Here's the recipe:

Larkins Family Homemade Cranberry Sauce

1 bag OceanSpray fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup orange juice

Combine in a medium sized sauce pan. DO NOT COVER. (Trust me here, I speak from experience.) Cook until all cranberries have burst and mixture begins to resemble jelly and coats backside of spatula/spoon. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Serve!

Easy peasy. And fancy schmancy. And downright delectable. You're welcome.

giving thanks

before i whip up the cranberry sauce and yams in preparation for tomorrow, i wanted to write a few little thankful notes. aside from the "usual generics" (ie. family, church), i wanted to get down some specifics that at this time in my life are huge blessings.

1. my next-door neighbors. for the first time in my married life i'm actually hanging out with my neighbor! and of course it helps that she's awesome and has a little boy around the same age as J. she's been a gem and has helped me settle into life here in albemarle.
2. my yard. again, this is the first time in our married life that scott and i have a decent yard and can enjoy some grass!
3. quilts and fabric. kinda silly. but they're my latest obsession. i like feeling creative and that i have a skill at something. a bundle of lovely fabrics in my mailbox makes me happy. and i'm grateful for that.
4.elder cawley. aka my best brother. and only brother. he's changed over the past two years (maturity-wise:) but is still the same goofy guy i grew up with and love.
5. the relief society manuals. i don't get to mentally attend relief society much so being able to read the lesson the night before church really helps me a part of my ward.
6. scott's job. our family has been so blessed in that area. and in these current economic times we do not take that for granted.we are very thankful.
7. womanhood and motherhood.  i'm grateful that Heavenly Father has given me the chance to be a mother and experience the joys of raising J. he's one crazy, delightful kid and keeps me on my toes.
8. skype. life-changing. getting to actually see my family whenever i want is simply wonderful.
9. missionary experiences. there is no greater joy than sharing the gospel. when i talked to my hair stylist about the gospel of jesus christ i could feel the spirit and my own testimony growing by leaps and bounds.
10. my sealing. and the chance to see my sister Brittany sealed to Cardon this saturday! being in the temple with my sister will be amazing. Brittany is such a great person. feisty, yes. but she carries the most giving and humble heart. i love her dearly. and so i am most thankful for her this thanksgiving.

happy thanksgiving!

yesterday

yesterday was downright chilly. and i was feeling a bit hermit-like since i've been practically glued to the sewing machine the last couple of weeks. and i was still in pj's at 4pm. and so for all these reasons i was feeling extremely content about staying indoors. but j was bouncing off the walls. i swear his energy level/silliness has gone up tenfold lately. i blame it on the weather. he doesn't get his "run wild and free" time outdoors too much anymore since fall is in full swing.

but i can't deny that sweet face when he's pulling with all his might on the garage door handle, desperately trying to escape to the outside. so bundled up we get, and with his trusty shovel in hand--swinging it like a samurai sword--we went outside. hallejuah!!! i could almost here the words in j's head. running this way then that way then over to the neighbor's house, then over to the other neighbor's house, then calling to the dogs "uuuuhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!" cause that's the sound a doggie still makes. (we need to work on animal sounds :)

and you know what? it was really glorious to be out. you forget what a mood changer nature is. instant happiness, instant peace, instant clarity. it's perfectly lovely. the air was crisp, the leaves crunchy, and the company adorable. it makes me think, "i am thankful for everything." truly. life is good.

oh me oh my. november.

holy smokes. it's november. and i've been sewing like crazy to finish up the kaleidoscope string quilt i'm making for my sister. it's my wedding gift to them, so you know, it's gotta be finished! like in a little over two weeks! santa maria. but i'm loving it.

and today's election day. Romney vs. Obama. and i don't know about you, but i'm ready for a little R&R :) and literally a little R&R from all the facebook rantings. sheesh. people be cranky around election time. and super sensitive. and a bit ridiculous. usually i avoid contentious political convos altogether. but the other day, i caved. eh, whatever. i was in the right :)

but i'm glad i voted early. i'm glad i get to vote. period. we are blessed country. and i pray america will always elect righteous leaders who will uphold the rights and privileges that our inspired founding fathers established. otherwise, we're screwed. Mosiah says so :)

halloweenie 2012

besides J booking it out the door and down the driveway every time i opened the door for trick or treaters, we had a blast.  and i have to admit, its hard to be upset that your child is running away from you at top speed while his puppy dog ears and tail are wagging and his pumpkin bag is bouncing with every hard toddler step. he got the hang of trick-or-treating down real quick and licked probably about 80 suckers throughout the night. and i must say, he was looking pretty festive and downright adorable in his ghost-lighted push car.

 and you know your kid's had too much candy when they go track down the toothbrush and toothpaste and voluntarily brush their teeth for twenty minutes :)