Grandpa Hamblin feeds his newest grandchild. Josh is Ben and Heidi's third boy. They are all a little wild and crazy and we love them all.
The wild and crazy boys of Holly and Shon and Ben and Heidi. Holly will have one more boy in February to add to the wildness of the situation. Josh is the most smiling baby ever. This is the best picture of him and Grandma Hamblin.
Playing Carcasone. I don't especially like this game, but everyone loves it. It takes and long time and involves a bunch of strategy. I can't take it. I need easy clear cut games that are short like Tetris :)

Christmas Eve Breakfast cont.

Baby Josh playing on the floor.
Jake taking care of his little brother.
Jake giving little Josh a Christmas Eve kiss.
Poor, poor Zacky. He didn't want his picture to be taken. He wouldn't tell us why, he just said he didn't want any pictures.

Christmas Eve Breakfast

Christmas Eve breakfast of biscuits and bacon gravy. Ben and Dad made this for us.
Close up of the chef enjoying his masterpiece.
We were practically forcing all the boys to eat breakfast. Jake was the only one who ate semi-willingly.
Holly's cute Christmas pj's.
Just force the biscuits down with some apple juice and you can't taste a thing.

Hello To The Kleins

Zachy and Tyler sleeping on Grandmas floor. They were so very excited to see their cousins. They have been playing and fighting ever since. Tuckered out little boys need to take Sunday naps because they get a little crabby if they don't.

My beautiful graham cracker house. I made this at young womens this Wednesday. It is probably the best one I have made ever.

The Hamblin boys taking a sunday afternoon nap in Grandpas office. We didn't pose this at all. They had a really fun time last night and today, but didn't get to bed til late last night. We had a house full of pretty grouchy boys. Sitting at the table after everyones woke up from Sunday naps. Mom and Dad got tons of treats from the branch members at church this morning. This is only a portion of the goodies we have been eating. Mom has been baking us all sorts of goodies. We love and miss you Emily, Jake, Taylee and Rohne. You are in all of our hearts. Mom wants me to tell you that she is reminding everyone how much they miss you just as you requested. But, she doesn't have to remind them, because we miss you still. More pictures to come!

I DID IT FOR SURE

131.827!!!!! I beat the high score! I did it. HOORAH for all and to all a good night.

Close, very very Close!

If I may direct everyones attention to the Tetris high score side bar. As you will see, Bryce is still the current high score. However, just beneath him, closing the gap tremendously between opponents is his Wife Natali with a whopping 97,044 points! I am so elated. I have been playing a little everyday and my scores keep getting lower and lower I swear. Until this afternoon, when I was totally in game prime mode. Look out Bryce, here I come.

Watch Out Below! Here Comes ICE

We had a tremendous ice storm in Iowa today. I ended up not going to work because everything was closed down. I expected Bryce's school to close too, but to my dismay, it didn't. So, since we are only blocks from his school, and our car was a big huge ice block (that Bryce broke two ice scrapers in the process of trying to clean it off), Bryce just walked to school this morning. Branches were so heavy with ice they were falling off trees and power was out all over the state. I'm sure Dad just cringes when he reads this because the ice storms cause quite the trouble for power companies. Luckily, our power was only off for an hour or less. Some are out of power for a few days at the least. BUT, while Bryce was trecking to school through the ice and snow, he ran into a Newspaper reporter taking pictures for the Des Moines Register. He took this picture of Bryce before he even knew the reporter was in front of him. It was on the internet site for the newspaper and I wanted to share with everyone how famous and brave my husband is for going out in this terrible storm. P.S. He got to school, just to find out they were canceling classes and closing the school down for the rest of the day! He had a good friend who gave him a ride home though. Thanks Ben.

We Need a Little Christmas NOW

I love Christmas for so many reasons. I love the music and begin listening as soon as I can. I love to make and receive goodies from neighbors and friends. I can't wait to decorate my home and send out Christmas cards. I LOVE LOVE the decorations at the Mall. I'm not a really big shopper, but I love to go to the mall at Christmas time. This display was where Santa was visiting all the Children. The Tree is huge and i loved this golden reindeer. Bryce said he felt like we were steeling because just around the corner people were paying to get pictures with Santa by the same tree.

Young Women in Excellence

This is Jessica and Grace. Jessica is a Laurel and she received her Young Woomanhood recognition award. She recently moved out of the ward, but came to this to receive her award with us. She really is an amazing young woman. She also has a "weakness" for country boys and she loves Wyoming and Montana so we became quick friends.

We had Young Women in Excellence at our Presidents house. She has such a beautiful home and here is our elaborate dessert bar. There was cheesecake, chocolate chocolate chip bunt cake, nut cookes, TRUFFLES, and a chocolate fountain with all sorts of fruits and pound cakes to dip into it.

Another shot of the dessert bar. I ate so much sweet stuff is such a short amount of time. I came home sick. I told Bryce that I wish I had a way to spoon out all the sweets from my stomach so I could feel better. He then explained to me that all the calories were probably already digested. I felt a little less prone to over eat sweets since this night. OH, and the drink was sparkling egg nog.

Here is Jessica and I. We matched so beautifully we just had to get a picture together. Usually she is quite taller that me, but I had on heels and she didn't. GOOD JOB JESS. She is such an example for all the other girls.

Truffle Recipe
1 bag semisweet choc chips, 1 bag milk choc
4 T butter
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
2 T shortening

Line cookie sheet with foil.
Melt milk choc. chips over low heat. Stir constantly. Remove from heat, add butter and cream at the same time. Stir until smooth. Add chopped ande's mints (or desired filling) opt.

Put in fridge for 10-15 minutes until the mixture can hold shape. Stir every once in a while to keep mixture creamy.

Spoon onto cookie sheet. Put in Freezer for 30 min.

Heat shortening and semi sweet choc chips over low heat.

Use toothpicks to stab truffles and dip into the semisweet choc.

Roll in any topping desired.

Let sit in fridge till set, then store in airtight container till served. Let sit out for 10-15 minutes before serving so they can be creamy and delicious.

(A close up picture can be seen on Emily Kleins blog. She has the recipe there too)

Santa Clause is Coming to Town!

Myah is the little girl I nanny for. She is six years old and loves to do crafts. Her brother Myles takes a nap every afternoon after lunch, and that is Myah's special time. She and I make decorations for the house and draw pictures or any sort of craft. She helped me with my Christmas cards and we had made this mask the day before. She wanted to wear it while we worked on my cards.

Snow in Good Old Iowa

It snowed about five or six inches here today. It is the most powdery beautiful snow. Bryce affectionately called it "Christmas Snow." He didn't really want to play in it as much as me, but he came out and I attempted to make a snowman. I wanted to be cool like Emily and have snowman pictures on my blog, but powder doesn't make good snowpeople! But I loved this big snowhill just the same.

I Sure Do Like Those Christmas Cookies Sugar . . .

Bryce and I made Christmas cookies to take to friends. It was so fun I was jumping up and down and constantly exclaiming "Bryce, this is so fun, I love this." WE, meaning both of us, decorated the cookies after painting them with a edible food paint made of egg yolks and food coloring. I only had summer paper plates so we covered the plates with foil. It made for a nice festive display. I enjoyed myself every minute of the 3 hours it took us to finish them all, not counting the hour last night preparing them. Then the eight or so hours they had to sit in the fridge overnight before we could make them. IT WAS ALL WORTH IT! We listened to Christmas music and just had a Holly Jolley time.

Hey! Cool Shades

Zack and Tyler tried on my sunglasses on the way to the movies over thanksgiving. Zacky wanted them because he was sad that he forgot his and the sun was so bright. Tyler wanted to try them on because I took a picture of Zack while he had them on and he had to be part of the action. Who wouldn't, they are really awesome sunglasses. They both look like Super Stars!

Oh Christmas Tree

My Christmas Tree for this year. I wanted to get a whole new set of ornaments and do my tree silver, blue, and black but I couldn't justify it when I had perfectly good ornaments already. The Angel on the tree is an Angel Barbie Emily gave me last year. I am a Barbie collector and I am still a little girl about it. I can't stand to see the Barbies left in the boxes. I want to take them out soooooo bad. I've been getting better at leaving them in the boxes, but I wanted an angel on my tree and this gave me an excuse to take one of my Barbies out to play with. It felt like Christmas morning opening her up. I could be happy with no presents this year, because opening that little angel gave me so much fulfillment.

Thanksgiving FUN

The Jolley boys in their Shelley jerseys getting ready to play some awesome Mario Cart. They look so handsome. Bryce's favorite part of thanksgiving was spending time with his brothers. His little brother Dallin, the other red head, just got home from his mission in New Jersey this August. Bryce and I hadn't seen him since he'd been home. I actually only just met Dallin before he left, so it was nice to get to know him. Bryce got to reconnect with him and give him all sorts of advice about BYU-I, girls, finances, and life. He is probably the best big brother anyone could ever have. (I guess we'll have to ask Dallin if that is true, or if I am just being a little biased) Steve, the one without red hair, had a new baby girl early this fall and we hadn't been able to see her yet either. So it was a Grand Jolley Reunion. It was the best Thanksgiving. The food was fantastic and the company even better. Thank you Ivan and Lori. Oh, and Kailey.


Whitney stayed with the Jolley family over Thanksgiving. Here we made a quick stop at Holly and Shon's house to visit. Zachy was telling Tyler, the photographer, how to run the camera. "Push the button on the top!" I wish I wouldn't have deleted the pictures Zacky took. Tyler managed to get us very centered and our heads weren't cut off. Lets just say that Zacky took less time to look before he took.


Holly took this picture. We were on our way to see the movie Enchanted. We got the boys excited about it by telling them that there was a queen that turned into a dragon in it. They were asking the whole time when it was going to happen. Unfortunately for Zacky, the transformation didn't happen until the end of the movie. Tyler was more patient in the waiting. The movie was very cute and entertaining. I would recommend it to anyone. Bubber, Whitney, loved it the most I think.

NEW HIGH SCORE!?

I just scored 78,000 in Tetris! Oh how wonderful my fingers were moving along those keys. Oh how beautiful those numbers on the screen as they got larger and larger. My heart raced faster and faster as the levels of the game progressed and the pieces came down like a downpour. AND, OH the triumph when in the end I saw that score and I got to scream it to my handsome husband.

BUT

"By the way Natali, I got 79,000."

Yup, 100% gaurantee.

P.S. My Dad's face is there to show the extreme dismay I could not show you about learning my hard work wasn't actually my triumph. Dad displays the emotion so well.

I've added a little sidebar to keep you all posted as to whom has the high score as of late.

Happy Thanksgiving From #16

I know that the 1 is covered, but Bryce and I live @ 4222 Grand Ave. #16. Now I know you all wanted to know that so badly, so I told you. You are welcome. p.s. this is my 1st attempt at wreath making.

Why I Love Thanksgiving

This is why I can't wait for thanksgiving. Five pies for about 10 people. I know for a fact that there was a triple chocolate pumpkin cheesecake in the fridge, along with a coconut cream pie. I really, honestly, gained about 10 pounds over the last holidays. I am still struggling to get those pounds off, but now that I see how wonderful these look, how could I ever have thought of taking it easy this year. BRING ON THE POUNDS!


Here is the remainder of our feast from last year. Mom looks a little surprised, Whitney looks adorable, and Dad looks threatening. HOWEVER, the food looks like Thanksgiving.

CELEBRASIAN summer 2007

At Des Moines Fantastic CelebrAsian. Emphasis to be put on the Asian. It was complete with Asian food, clothing, dancers, art, and my favorite, asian RAP!

Family Picture February 2007

I DID IT!

Well, well, I decided to join your ranks all you bloggerific bloggers. My sister Emily's blog is my favorite thing in the whole world. I frequent her site about two - three times a day. I can't let her go and have all the fun. I don't have as cute of children as Emily though, I actually have no children, but I was feeling left out and HERE I AM!

Bryce and I are living in Des Moines, Iowa. Bryce is a student at DMU (Des Moines University) He is studying Podiatric Medicine, or podiatry. Yes, he is going to be a foot doctor. We have been here for about one and a half years now and we love it. The mid-west is quite the place. The people are friendly, the weather is nice, and its not too big. I have my doubts when moving out here from Rexburg, Idaho that it would be too much of a city for this small town girl. At first I almost thought that it was too big, but I am slowly getting used to the amount of people and I am trying to get used to the drivers.

One little confession I have to make is that the most exciting part of my life lately is that I love to play tetris on-line. I will play for hours and I can't stop. We had tetris on our computer as a kid and I remember loving it, but I have relived this love lately. Byrce and I go back and forth trying to beat eachothers high score.










I am legendary for being very unlucky and horribly poor at games. Allllll games. Board games, card games, video games, computer games, you name it and I will have lost that game at least 10 times. Bryce always jokes that everyone loves playing games with me because they are almost 100% guaranteed to win. I am extremely competitive as well, and I HATE losing. But, I am slowly getting used to it. However, when I began playing tetris I had the long standing high score for quite a while. I was, of course, very proud of myself and I admit that I loved to gloat about it when the opportunity arose.

I am the second counselor in my young womens presidency and I was at an activity Wednesday night that required a lot of set up and clean up. I ended up being at the church from 5:30 until 9:30 that night. I get home exhausted and I was ready to play my nightly tetris to wind down. I come home and my husband is on the computer, and announces to me that he has beat my high score.

"By how much," was my timid reply.

"I got 76,000," he says smugly.

My high score had been a measly 36,000. My eyes become wide and pools of liquid began to pool threateningly at the bottom lash lines. I looked up to the ceiling to try and force the tears back into my eyeballs. I composed myself and then my competitive nature took the reigns. I plopped down on the couch, took the computer from Bryce and started playing. I would love to say that I came out victorious that evening, but going back to the 100% guarantee that I will lose, I lost. The closest I got was 53,000, and I still haven't even got that again since.

P.S. The link to my favorite tetris online games is : http://www.freetetris.org/