And the Winner is...

Ryan! Ryan won the ward chili cook-off. I was really excited for him, but jealous because I did not even place. What's up with that? So he got a bottle of sparkling cider and his name will go up on the plaque in the hall. He said that next year he will not enter so that I have a chance of winning. Thanks. My spider-web cupcakes turned out really good, way better than I expected. They were gone in two seconds, so I did not even get one. Oh, well.



Jayna dressed up in her little pretty witch costume and I did her make-up, but by the time we got there she had smeared it all over her face. Guess mascara and a 19 month old don't mix. What can I say I was a makeup artist for 7 years, you need mascara. She loved putting on the make-up though. I could not believe how well she sat there. She would even close her eyes for me while I put her eyeshadow on. I think I should do her make-up during church that way we would be able to sit the whole time.

Jayna loved running around with all the kids at the party. She thinks she is such a big girl when she is around all the older kids. It's cute.

Chili Wars

The chili war has officially begun! I am laughing my head off right now, because it is 12:00 at night and we are having chili panic at our house.

When we went to our new ward we noticed a plaque in the hall next to the bishops office that was titled Cimarron Ward Chili Cook-off Winners. It has engraved plates with the winner of each year on it. We were excited that our ward was so into their chili cook-off, because Ryan and I both come from families that have ward award winning chili recipes. So when the sign up sheet went around in church to sign up to bring chili to the cook-off / halloween party I signed both of us up. So not only are we in competition with the ward, we are in competition with each other. I don't know what's worse.

Ryan started his chili tonight since the recipe calls for it to sit over night in the refrigerator which is what has triggered the chili panic. Earlier this week I told Ryan that we needed to get another big soup pot so that we could take both the chiles to the party. Then I decided that I wanted to get two cheap pots since ours are new and I have had whole crock-pots broken at church events. So when we went to Walmart the other night I saw some of those kettle looking pots (almost like the ones you do canning in) that are speckled, so I bought two. They are kind of tall and are 12 quarts, but I did not think anything of it.

Well, Ryan has made a single patch of his chili and has waited two hours for it to simmer and then transferred it into one of those pots and it only fills it about 3 inches. Now he is running to the store to buy more ingredients for his chili, because in his words "It looks so stupid". It really does look stupid though. It looks like he made enough chili for two people to eat it. I am having him get more of my ingredients too, so that I can double mine. A single batch of my recipe is a pretty good amount (way bigger than Ryan's single batch), the Lund's always make big serving of food for some reason.

I have a feeling it is going to be a very late night, since he is planning on making another batch and it has to simmer for two hours. Now I hope he wins so that my lack of sleep will have been for something. I already caught him trying to put my dried onion flakes into his chili, so I better keep at least one eye open tonight so that I do not get sabotaged.

Tomorrow I will be making my spider web cupcakes for the ward party too. So I will be posting about that on the Bird and the Berry. Cross your fingers that we make it through tonight and do well at the chili cook-off.

Double Trouble

I'm not sure we are headed in the right direction here.

Weekend in Review: Walmart / Leaves

Walmart Experience-

Walmart has to be one of the most frustrating places to shop especially when you have a kids. Saturday we all went to Walmart to pick up our groceries for the upcoming week. I knew it was going to be a great trip when I pulled into the parking-lot and saw a full grown women in a superman shirt and matching cape. We had a long list, but were confident we could bust it out before Jayna would get stir crazy. We cruised through all the isles and the produce department and had one last stop at the deli to pick up some lunch meats and pepperoni for homemade pizza. It took forever! We waited so long that we even had to resort to getting Jayna one of those little cartons of fishy crackers and let her open and eat them before we even bought them. There was only one person in front of me that ordered two things. The problem was that there was only one old lady working the whole deli and she was slow as molasses. I was frustrated, but at the same time felt bad for the poor grandma that she even had to be working at Walmart in the first place, and that they had left her there all alone. It seriously must have taken me at least 20 minutes to get the 3 things I needed from her, and that was after I had already waited 10 minutes for the person before me. I could have gotten through a cutting table line at Joanne Fabrics on a sale night faster. Half way through my deli experience I told Ryan to go get inline at one of the checkout stands, because we all know how fast those go. When I met up with him to my surprise he was close to the front of his line. We got all the stuff up on the belt, and then something strange began to occur. Something that has never ever happened to me at Walmart. The food started flying of the belt and into the little plastic bag carousel with record speed. Ryan and I both immediately noticed the strange phenomenon we were witnessing. Ryan hurried over to grab a bag and upon touching it the bagger said very seriously "I'm not done with that one". Ryan took a step back and was like okay okay I will leave you to your work. Then upon permission we loaded our bags into our cart. Ryan told the checker that he had never seen anyone at Walmart bag that fast, there was a big pause and we thought he didn't hear what Ryan had said, but then he replied "I'm only going half the speed I usually go." We were trying so hard not to just bust out laughing. It was so funny. After we left we thought that we should have given him a tip for doing such a great job. The other thing we noticed was that all our bags were evenly distributed, which again never happens at Walmart. Usually I find every can I bought in the same bag. So if you ever find yourself at the Walmart off Redwood Road I highly recommend getting in my man Kevin's line.




Playing in the Leaves-

Sunday afternoon we all went out front to play on the lawn since the sun was out and shinning. Ryan got Jayna her little rack and he grabbed one for himself and started showing her how to rack up the leaves. Jayna looked so cute all bundled up trying to rack the leaves. Ryan would fill his rack up like a shovel and toss the leaves up in the air so that they would rain down on her. She loved it! It was a real moment for me to see her experience the fall leaves for the first time. She play in them and was curious about how they felt and what she could do with them. She would crinkle them up in her fists, or throw them up in the air like she had seen Ryan do. She would jump in them or bloop herself in the middle of the big pile laughing. It was so cute and beautiful to have my whole family just outside playing with the leaves in the crisp autumn air. I realized that this was what it was all about. I brought Jayna here to this earth so that she could experience wonderful fun things like playing in the leaves that she just wouldn't be able to experience anywhere else. I hope I will remember my fall leaf moment when I get those nervous thoughts about what this world is going to be like for her and her family, because Heavenly Father has given us so many beautiful and wonderful things on this earth, and they are still here and still stand as reminders of his love for us.

Wouldn't We All

I have a little cupcake making play kit that I have Jayna play with while I am making cupcakes in the kitchen. It is really cute. It has eggs, butter and the works, so she has everything mommy has to make cupcakes. This-morning we were doing our cupcake making routine and she was begging for batter while I was scooping it into the cupcake liners. So I poured some into her little cupcake pan and she began licking it out. Wouldn't we all like to fill up a cupcake pan and just like it out? I know sometimes I would like to. Lucky chick!

Does Anyone Think This is A Problem?

My child likes to walk around the house every once in awhile with the ziplock bags I use to organize her toys over her head. So strange.

Will one make me taller and one make me smaller?

So these are the pills that are suppose to change my life. They don't look like much but they must be made of gold because I payed over $100 for 30 days worth. This is a compound medication because like I had said before the "real thing" is on a world wide shortage. So maybe you could consider these pills to be fools gold. It is crazy to think that a man made pill could fix so many problems. I guess I should just be grateful that I live in the day in age I do. That way I do not have to be like the women on my mom's side of the family (that she has been finding out about while doing genealogy) who were bedridden most of their lives never knowing why.

Oh, I found a doctor who I think can help me better than the one I have, that is if you can call him a doctor. He does everything via email and phone and it is $100 an hour. I will have to be sure to cut out all my "chatterboxing". It is kinda weird, but I got a good referral to him. And if weird gets the job done than bring on the weird. So here goes nothing.

Sunday Happy Moments

This last Sunday our ward had regional conference and it was not being broadcast at the stake building. So going to the conference center was the only way to attend it. Since we did not think the busy body 19 month old would sit nicely for two hours we sadly opted not to go this time. So we had a lazy dazy Sunday just enjoying each others company. I was trying to video Jayna pretending to talk on the phone, but as soon as she sees the camera she stops what she is doing and wants me to show her pictures. She got in a really funny mood after looking at pictures and started making really funny faces at the camera. I would take her picture and the flash would go off and she would laugh really hard. She did this for awhile and it was just one of those sweet more than perfect moments in life. I snapped off this cute picture off her leaning on my shoulder and one of her showing her teeth. She has way to much personality for the little girl she is. I love waiting to see what she will do next.

Pumpkin Fun

For the past couple of weeks I have been looking forward to the Saturday that we would go to a pumpkin patch and pick out the perfect pumpkins for our front porch. I kept imagining Jayna in a cute little outfit trying to pick up pumpkins and me taking great pictures of her doing so. That is not quit how it turned out this Saturday though.



I decided that we should go to Thanksgiving Point to pick out our pumpkins because we had never been there before during Halloween. I thought it would be really farmy, but it really wasn't. It was more like a carnival or fair. They just had piles of pumpkins for you to choose from, which was far from the vine filled field I had been imagining. They did have white pumpkins though and I love those. So there I was the stupid mom with her kid all dressed up in leggings, a little plaid shirt, and shiny black boots that I made the whole family go out and get the night before. All the other kids where in play clothes which were appropriate since the whole place was filled with nothing but, slides, bouncers, and jumpy things. Oh well. At least I was not the mom that dressed their kid up and did not want them to get the outfit dirty.



Jayna had a blast on the slides. I still think she needs to have someone ride down the big slides with her, and my thoughts were confirmed as I saw mom after mom go down the big slides with their kids. I was out numbered though since Dad and Uncle Devin were there. So I had to watch my baby get laid down on the top of the slide and let go. She really does love it though. She only had a scared look on her face the first time and then she just wanted to run right back up to the top for more. Ryan even put her down the big tube slide by herself too. That is what dad's are for though, other wise moms would be going down the slides with there teenagers.



We went on the little train tractor ride that was being driven by a boy who was maybe 15 if that. Jayna loved it when we would go over the bumps and the little cart would wiggle back and forth. She just loves adventure. That is what I get for rafting down the Grand Canyon pregnant I guess. She is a thrill seeker. I am proud though. For having no siblings she is a pretty tough and brave little girl.




I did get these few pictures and I am pretty happy with them. And who cares if you do not get the pictures as long as you get the moments. We wore her out pretty good. She was pooped after we went and ate dinner and slept the rest of the way home. I just love her. She is the best.

Moxie: The ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage.

Last week my Grandma's dog Moxie got ran over by a car and passed away. It is always hard to deal with the death of a family pet. It is something I know I will have to face sometime in the future, and it is hard to even think about. I just feel so bad that my Grandma is having to go through this. She has had to deal with so much loss in her life. In-fact Moxie was a gift the family gave her after her second husband passed away. So this-morning when she called and I could tell she was not doing well I headed up to Bountiful with Jayna to get her out of the house and go to lunch. It is kinda neat that Jayna has a Great-grandmother that is still alive. My great-grandmother was alive when I was born, but I do not remember much about her and she passed away when I was just 3 or 4. So I thought it was cute when Grandma Goodfellow was worried about Jayna going outside without a sweater. Her solution to the problem was to wrap this large scarf around her neck. Jayna looked cute and I was surprised she left it on. It reminded me of that scene in the "Christmas Story" when the mom wraps the kid up like a mummy in winter clothes to walk to school. That movie probably depicts the same generation my grandmother is from too so it all makes sense. Grandma showed us where Moxie was buried in the backyard, which was sad. She seemed to handle it okay though. It is fun to see Jayna run around in the same places that I ran around as a little girl. My Grandma always tells me stories about how she would take me around the yard to look at all the fruit trees, and how it always amazed her how interested in them I was.





We had a good time at lunch and I was surprised how much Jayna loved interacting with Grandma Goodfellow. She played a cute little game with Jayna where she would walk her fingers across the table and tickle her. Jayna just ate it up, and giggled and giggled. I hope our visit made her feel a little better. I think grief is the hardest thing to give comfort to.

Announcement Everyone! (not what you think)

Okay, I know this is just what everyone needs, another blog to check...

I have decided to create another blog just for my projects, parties, crafts, and food. That way I can market it better and hopefully get the ball rolling a little to pick up some gigs on the side doing parties, baking, and photo editing for people. A girl can only come up with so many excuses to make cupcakes and have parties at her own house, so I need to branch out to other peoples houses.

The blog is obviously in the beginning stages and will probably go through some changes here in the next little while, but if you find it worthy ... link to it .... attach it ... blog it .... email it .... post it .... or do whatever you do with things you like and want to share. I have an image on the blog that you can copy the code for and place on your blog if you would like.

So Hutchings Home will still be updated, but will probably just be more about the family etc. I am sure I will cross post some things about house projects and family parties, but for the really crafty stuff visit the new blog.

I named the new Blog... Drum Roll Please... the Bird and the Berry, after cute Jayna Berry. She loves birds, and I often feel like I am her mama bird, and well, she is a little berry after all.

So my hopes are that you enjoy the new blog, leave lots of comments and share it with others who you think will enjoy it too.

Thanks!

* Pictures of the Dr.Seuss Baby shower are already posted on the new blog.

There's a Little Chick in My House

Jayna has been very moody lately to say the least. My hunch is that she is going through a temper-tantrum phase and is teething all at the same time. So I have been trying my best to enjoy the few moments a day that she is not upset or screaming. She was wearing her cute PJs, and then wanted to wear this hat. She looked so cute I just had to snap a few happy pictures of her. Now I can look at these pictures when she is being grumpy and be reminded that there just may be a happy moment coming soon.

All Tied Up This Weekend

Ryan had a little mission reunion that some guys had planned for this weekend. Since "guys" had planned it I was worried no-one would bring any treats so I whipped up some cupcakes for the occasion. Thank goodness I still have some plastic cupcake containers I was able to beg off the bakery ladies at Walmart. Cupcakes are the worse things in the world to transport, and the containers I have found so far are either too deep or too shallow for my liking. I found some disposable cupcake boxes and inserts on-line that I still need to order and try out, but until then I will just keep begging Walmart I guess.



Jayna and I drove up to Jared's house before the reunion, but we got there a little early. Thank goodness Jared lives right next to a park so I could take Jayna there and let her get some of her wiggles out. She loves the swings and unfortunately has only been in one three times. I loved this picture though.



The reunion was fun, not many people came, but I was glad we were there to say hi to the Ryan's mission president and his wife, they are great people. We went out to dinner afterwords and the boys even managed to get in a game of pong back at Jared's. It was a really late night for Jayna of which we dealt with the consequences of that today, but it was a fun Friday night out.