You know you've made it big when...

Your picture is on the Rock' n Style Microphone box at every Toys' R Us worldwide. Come on, you know you want one? ;)

Best Waffle Recipe, EVER.

(take that Bisquick)

Because I'm crazy and have 6 children at FIVE different schools, mornings can be a little chaotic here on Sunnydale. I stumbled upon this fabulous recipe found at Annie Eats. It is meant to be prepared the night before so that in the morning all you have to do is flip the on switch to the waffle maker, throw in 2 eggs and a dash of baking soda and voilà! You've got piping fresh, hot waffles that put IHOP to shame. The best part for me is smearing on a little butter and apricot jam and handing them over to my teenage girls as they run out the door in three different directions. Your family will sing your praises. They are seriously that good!

Ingredients:
½ cup warm water
2¼ tsp. active dry yeast (I use instant – either is fine)
2 cups milk, warmed
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
¼ tsp. baking soda

Directions:
Combine the water and yeast in a large mixing bowl. (If using active dry yeast, let stand to dissolve 5 minutes before proceeding.) Add the milk, butter, salt, sugar and flour to the bowl. Whisk until well blended and smooth (you can also use an electric mixer.) Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature overnight. Do not put in the fridge!

When you are ready to make the waffles, preheat the waffle iron. Just before making the waffles, whisk the eggs and baking soda into the batter until smooth. The batter will be very thin. Fill waffle wells and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Cook until crisp and golden. Top as desired with butter, syrup, or fresh sliced strawberries, etc.

drama queen

On second thought, make that Lady of the Theater.

At the end of last term and as part of her theater grade, Sarah was "forced" to audition for Shakespeare Competition which her school takes place in every year. Belonging to an Arts school she felt pretty confident that the parts would go to the seasoned, thespians of the group. Not the opera loving, musical theater type of gals. To her utter dismay, she landed a role that would take her places completely OUT of her comfort zone. She would be playing Queen Elizabeth in Richard III soon after her husband and sons had been murdered. Rehearsals were held every morning in September beginning at 6:30am. Getting into this character was not her ideal way of starting the day! She fought against completely giving in to the process til just a few weeks leading up to the big day. The director called her bluff in front of the entire company which forced her to dig deep and discover ways to conquer the whole miserable experience. She spent hours in the basement, shouting out lines, mastering the iambic pentameter of the scene and lowering her voice to the right tone to fit the mood of her character.

Brett drove down to Cedar City to support the team and watch our baby girl in action. I held the down the fort on Sunnydale and got word through text on how she was holding up.

This was her a few hours before competition


This was her during rehearsal








The team took 1st place in their division. A great accomplishment for a work well done. But not one she'd want to repeat anytime soon!

chick magnet

I observed dozens of squealing girls chasing him around the playground today. And I must say, I did not like it. One. Little. Bit.

bitter sweet victory

If you get the Deseret News, you might turn to the sports section and see this!

Skyline's Analisa Nielson competes in the first doubles finals at Liberty Park, helping the Eagles claim the 5A team title.

I mean seriously. Couldn't she just she just quit tennis and get a few endorsements from say Nike or Wilson? Tough stuff, girlfriend!!

I am a fan of any sport that let's a gal get away with hair-bows, pearls and yes, even...

Gold Spanks

She and her partner, Syd, fought their way to a third set in the finals! As can be seen from their cried out puffy eyes, they came just a little short that day, and took 2nd, but boy were we PROUD!

Due to some amazing wins earlier that day on their part, Skyline took State which was a huge accomplishment in and of itself. Congrats on a stellar season Lady Eagles!
You AMAZE ME Analisa... just the way you are!

a true story

Once upon a time there was a little girl that loved tennis. At first, she admits, it was all about the outfits. But soon it became more than just the newest pleated skirt and more about how hard and fast she could wack the ball over the net. She spent tireless hours perfecting her strokes, moving her way slowly up the rankings when a silly fall down some stairs landed her with two fractures on her left wrist. "Who needs a backhand anyway," she thought. "I'll just work on my forehand and footwork and continue improving my game as best as I can." And so she did. Three to four hour work outs became her norm that summer. A dumb sweaty old cast wasn't going to slow her down. No sir-ee-Bob. The cast finally came off and life as she knew it was sparkly and new again. Til one day, the little girl who loved tennis, while in a third set tie break match, heard a pop on her right wrist which forced her yet again to the inside of an all too familiar Instacare. Severe tendinitis was the new diagnosis. "No more tennis til it all heals up. Could be weeks, could be months", she was told. With the start of High School tennis a couple weeks away her dream of playing Varsity seemed impossible. Driving to and from physical therapy with her love being put on indefinite hold she leaned over to put her broken little hand on her mother's hand and said, "Thank you. Thank you for driving me to and from all these visits and caring so much for me. I don't know what I'd do without you." At that moment, the girl who loved tennis and her mother just cried and cried. And her mother knew that even more than a love for tennis the girl had developed a grateful heart.

Her coach saved her spot on Varsity until she was well enough to hold a racquet again. Last week she and her doubles partner who went undefeated the entire season, won Region.

Tomorrow and Saturday... STATE!!