Christmas Card 2010

Hello my friends!

I know it's terribly lazy of me to blog my Christmas card, but Christmas is stressful enough without worrying about cards. So there.

This year has been a year of many blessings. It started out on a pretty bad note, so it really had nowhere to go but up. Steve started his new job in February as the Facilities Manager of Fort Douglas. It's great because it's all of 6 minutes from home and a low stress job, not to mention an income once again! Steve has also been busy with reffing lacrosse and working on the basement of our house. Hopefully by this time next year we can boast an additional bedroom and bath!

Stevie has been growing up fast. He turned 8 this year and was baptized last month. He also got his own room (finally) and LOVES to kick his sisters out of it. Most days he shuts himself in there reading or playing with legos...that is, when he isn't playing the wii. He is still learing French in second grade and has taken on the chess club as well.

Riley started first grade this year and is following her brothers footsteps with French and chess club. She has also taken on the piano and is doing fantastic! She cannot wait until she is big enough to play the flute. Riley has officially passed Stevie in the tooth losing department and seems to lose one every month. She is a huge help around the house, especially when I get sick like I am now, and loves to vacuum and sweep. These just happen to be my least favorite chores, whoopee!

Natalie is now in her second year of preschool and has blossomed into a social butterfly. Her teacher (Grandma) says that everyone loves her and wants to play with her. This is a huge releif because last year she cried every time she had to go. She is bound to be popular, for who could resist that infectious smile! Natalie and family participated in our second walk for diabetes this year and it was a huge success. We raised more than $500 this year and hope to double it next year. Natalie remains a positive, happy child that loves life and everyone in it.

Emma is our little angel who is learning quickly from her older siblings how to get into mischief. Her personality has exploded this year and she makes us laugh daily with her grown-up comments. She loves to sing and dance, especailly to Barbie's Princess and the Pauper. I admit, I too have now memorized the songs. Emma loves playing with the big girls and most of their friends treat her as a little sister too, in a good way.

As for me, I have been plugging along this year trying and failing to keep my house clean, keep on an exercise program, and cook dinner for my family. Instead, my house is always trashed, I weigh the same as last year at this time (I hope) and we eat out more than I care to admit. Oh well, I have a loving family who are all in relatively good health. What more could I ask for?

May you all have a Merry Christmas and may all your New Year's resolutions last far longer than mine ever do.

Love, the Niederhausers

We Made a Cookie Christmas Tree!!!

Going...
...going...

...gone.

Quilt

It has been a great many years since I have made a denim quilt, so this is long overdue.

This one is a Christmas present for Natalie.
Natalie picked out the adorable little owl print sheets.

Christmas Lantern

I have done a lot of paintings lately for preschoolers, and I really enjoy it. However, when I was asked to do this lantern, I was so excited to get back to my first love, pencil.

Here is the picture I was given.

Here is the drawing I did.

Blizzard!!!

Happy Birthday Jesse!!!

(and there is going to be a huge blizzard tonight)

BAPTISM

Today was a very big day for Stevie. He made the decision to be baptized and we are very proud of him.

Stevie was baptized and confirmed by his dad, Steve.


We were fortunate enough to have lots of family in town. Grammy and Papa came from California. Em, Alan, Sam, and Clark came from Idaho. Jesse came from...Provo.

Before

After

Stevie was baptised along with a very good friend, Ellie. They have been playing together since they were 3 years old so it was cute to see them baptized together. (Emma sqeezed in the picture as soon as she saw the camera.)

Here was the reason for the irreverent nature of the entire service. Especially note Natalie's mischevious smile and Emma's tear-stained face.

Gathering my children in a chapel is always a recipe for disaster. This was no exception. But it was still nice to have the milestone reached.

I'm officially old.

Happy (Belated) Halloween!!!

Bizarre Coincidences

This was so bizarre I had to share it.

I got an order this morning on ETSY. This is ordinary. I scrolled down the email to record the name, address, and any message they leave for me, when I
found that the lady who ordered it was as follows.

Jennifer Daley
Livermore, CA 94550

I omitted the street address for her privacy, however it was not on Arbor Ave. The message she left said she needed the birthday banner by Nov 6th. I promptly contacted her and left her the following message.

"This is the most bizarre order I have ever received. I grew up in Livermore, my parents still live there, my maiden name is Daily, my siser-in-law's name is Jennifer Daily, she lives in Livermore, and my birthday is also next week. Are you by chance married to a Steve?!!!"

She was not married to a Steve.

Pumpkin Patch

Before

After

LOOOOONG Weekend

This was a very loooooong weekend.

Stevie's birthday landed on a Monday this year. This in not a big deal unless that same Monday Natalie has a JDRF trunk-or-treat as well. Naturally, Stevie got bumped, making this past weekend really interesting.

The kid birthday party was on Saturday. 1.5 hours before it started, I went to the store for some last minute things and it was pouring rain. I was in a total panic. I had 15 kids coming and my living room is very small. Thankfully, the rain stopped 15 minutes before the party started and didn't start back up until 15 minutes after it ended.
Stevie got wrapped as a mummy for one of the games. It wasn't a complete disaster.

Once the first party was over, I had to switch gears and immediately get ready for the family party on Sunday.

Here is Emma showing off Stevie's presents.

This picture was taken the day I made Stevie's cake (Friday). It looked alright then. I made Mario out of gum paste. I don't think I'll use gum paste again.

Here's what it looked like on Sunday. Stevie says it looks like Mario is asleep at the wheel. He still liked it though.

As if 2 parties in 2 days wasn't stressful enough, in the middle of the family party, we had to have an intermission and go to Riley's first piano recital.

When Riley learned about her recital she was so nervous. She cried and yelled and refused to do it. But like most things, if you tell her it's ok and she doens't really need to do it, she will usually decide on her own that she does want to do it after all.

Riley was amazing. Her piano piece was all of 24 notes and super simple, but Riley has been playing piano for 8 weeks total and she played like a pro. She marched up there like she owned the place, played her piece perfectly, and left without crying. Whew. We got it on video...sort of. Really we only got the last 3 notes and the aftermath, but I'm posting it anyway.

I Scream

This is what happens when you order ice cream that doesn't match the outift.

What Could I Say?

This evening I was getting frustrated with Natty and I asked, "What am I supposed to do with you?"

She thought about it for a moment and said, "Um...Let me be bad and LOVE ME!"

Okay, I thought.

NUTS!!!

I posted this cake on my other blog but I didn't want to tell the story there. This blog is not on my business card so I think I'm safe.

I donated a cake for the silent auction at the kids school last month and the winner contacted me shortly after to order the cake.

But...they have a "deadly" nut allergy.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING!!!

Who bids on a cake at a silent auction at school for a donated cake from somebody's random kitchen when you have a "deadly" nut allergy???!!! I understand having a child with special dietary needs, so go buy a cake from a bakery where they have regulations for this kind of thing! Why would you risk your child's life buying a cake from a random auction? I didn't donate a nut-free cake!!!

I was told I needed to thorughly wash all pans, tools, racks, tips, utinsils, and countertops thoroughly in hot soapy water to sterilize. Then I needed to use all new ingredients that were not even made in a plant that processes nuts.

Everything was going to be ok.

Oops, the FOOD COLORING is made in a plant that processes nuts. AAAAAHHHHH!!! I can't color fondant with regular food coloring, it breaks down the proteins and makes it tear. I had to go buy powedered food color, which I have never used, and it made the fondant look grainy. Oh well.

This person had better appreciate what I have done for them. I am going to rethink donating next year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARK!!!

I am sad to think that we will not be seeing you as much any more. I hope you will visit often so that you don't foget us.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

My Pointless Rant on the Internet

I don't get it. I just don't see how some people, ok many people, can spend so much time on the internet.

I realize this statement is coming from someone who spends most of the day conversing with customers, listing new items, and taking orders on the internet. But on slow days like today, I tried piddling around on the internet and was only able to entertain myself for about 5 minutes.

It's just not entertaining!

Facebook is a random drivel of stupid comments people make about the minute details of their lives. It's SO STUPID!!!

You Tube is the same thing, only in video form. LAME!

Blogs are unentertaining, unless they are friends and family. And my friends and family don't post often enough to keep me entertained. COME ON PEOPLE!!!

News and Media sites are a load of crap about celebrities I care nothing for.

What is everyone doing all day on the internet??? I hear girls all the time talking about all the time they waste on the internet and how they wish they could get away from it so they could get more done. What am I missing?

The internet is a tool to get things done. It's a means to an end. I have tried on several occasions over the years to "surf the net" and have not been successful as yet.

I'm not some grandma who is intimidated by technology. I love the things the internet brings.
Email, very practial, I don't know how we lived without it.
Walmart.com, for those hard to find items, and they take Paypal.
Paypal, love it!
Online banking, never had it so easy.
ETSY, nuff said.

But I certainly don't spend all day with these tools and am not having trouble getting other things done because of them.

What am I missing here?
(Would you look at that? I just spent 5 minutes on the internet writing this and procrastinating housework! I'm getting better already!!!)

ZOO

Steve was gone all this week so when he got back, we had a family day at the zoo.

There is no such thing as the terrible 2's. I LOVE 2 year olds. They love everything. Emma by FAR had the best time! She jumped, clapped, and squealed at each and every animal. Everything was her favorite. Even the bronze rhinocerous was so exciting she gave it a hug and called it her "hung-y hung-y hippo".

It was just a nice day to spend time with the kids.

My Family

I always have to laugh at the little stick figures that some people adhere in the back window of their vehicle. I am undecided on them. They are part cute - part really lame.

So, when I saw these on etsy, I had to have them. I bought them over a month ago and set them aside and forgot about them...until Jeanne. She inspired/reminded me to put them on. So I went out today and finally got them on.

If you do not know what these are, you do not deserve to know.

note: Why do they always line them up in a nice neat little row? This is supposed to be a representation of my family. If I wanted them to know this much about me I should scatter them all over the window, partly peeled off, and somehow fighting each other.

Fair Game

Every year around this time I start getting excited for the Utah State Fair. I know it's not Disneyland or anything, but there is something about tube tops and mustaches mixed with fried Snickers and funnel cakes that makes my summer complete.

This year we went on free kids and half price wristband night. That means we only spent enough to purchase a 22" plasma TV instead of a 52" one. I was hoping I would be able to get away without buying a wristband for Emma but we put her on one ride and she cried and cried when it was over to go back on it again. The days of individual tickets are over.

Emma was super helpful.

Clark was super cute.

It was fun to watch them all have so much fun together.

Take Me Out...

Last Friday Steve was listening to one of his radio shows and they were giving away 2 tickets to the UofU football game that night. All you had to do was be the first to answer a football trivia question. If any of you have ever played Trivial Pursuit with Steve you will know that it is nearly impossible to win simply based on his knowledge of "useless" sports trivia. So he called in and answered the question correctly but before he could give them his contact info, his iphone, which is notorious for dropping calls, dropped the ball and his tickets were given to the next contestant.

Long story short, he was given tickets to a Bees game for our entire family. We picked up the tickets at will call and had no idea where they were. Turns out they were excellent seats in the 4th row behind 3rd base. However, my kids could see the outfield "seating" and badgered us till we gave in after the 5th inning and went to a more kid friendly seating area.

As you can see, Stevie is dancing around to the music. He was so wild that we was featured on the Jumbo-Tron.

Here's all their best moves.

Who would have thought there was a game going on in the background!

Then, just as our kids were starting to drive us crazy, some parenting GENIUS brought out bubbles and entertained the masses for the entire 9th inning.

I've got to remember that trick!!!