Beaded Watch Band Giveaway

As many of you may have noticed my blog has been a little slow lately. I'm not sure if it's because there isn't anything going on with us lately, or if there is stuff but I just don't think it's interesting enough to blog about.

I want to make it fun and exciting again. So here on the Shideler blog I will be doing my first ever giveaway!!

As many of you may remember from my post back in March, I recently lost a very beautiful bracelet that was given to me by Chris. Sadly, this is not the only thing I've lost that he has given to me. I also lost a cute little bracelet he got me in Mexico, and more recently I lost (actually Ava lost) a watch he had given me for Christmas. (All of which Chris likes to continually remind me of :) ).

SO.....

The giveaway is this: A beaded watch band (watch face included of course). If you haven't seen one yet go HERE.

All you have to do is leave a comment telling me about a "time" when you lost something. It could have been something important or meaningless, something you later found, or never found. It doesn't matter. Just leave a comment by Saturday at Midnight and I will randomly select the winner on Sunday!

** UPDATE: a few people have told me that they've had trouble leaving comments on my blog lately, so if you want to enter but can't seem to leave a comment go the my craft blog and leave a comment there.

"Ripe"

I guess this is why I'm the mom!Chris: "Boy, she is RIPE!"

puppy love

Or kitty love I should say. Have you ever seen anything so sweet!?

Idaho

Last week Chris and I took the kids to Idaho for a little vacation. Chris's sister Lorie and brother Ryan live there as well as my Aunt & Uncle and my Grandma. We were also able to see one of Chris's mission companions and good friend Jake and his family. They live in Idaho Falls. As I started looking at my pictures for this post I realized I really didn't take many, and the ones I did take really aren't worth posting so this is the only one you get. Pictured: Carter, Brittany, Jake, Sadie, Chris, Me. We were lucky enough to be able to leave Ava behind giving us a much more enjoying time at dinner!

We had a good time but it was also nice to be back. When Ava would get tired and needed to go to bed she would cry for "homie" (for some reason most of her words end in "ie"). I thought that was pretty sweet. It made me happy to be home.

Sadie's Blessing

We blessed Sadie in church a couple of weeks ago. I'm sorry it's been such a long time coming with these pictures but I forgot my camera (no surprise) so I had to wait to get pictures from the people who actually took them. My sister-in-law Natalie took some really cute ones but I can't figure out how to get them to download here, so these are the ones from my mom. Our little family of four!
I wish I had a good picture of Sadie's dress. It was made by my mom and she used fabric that was hand embroidered by my Grandma. It was so beautiful and really special. I also dolled her up with a bow and a bracelet. She looked adorable.

Below is a picture of mine and Chris's family members who were at the blessing. (Chris's grandparents were there also, but not in the picture) So now that I have these pictures up, hopefully it's not another two weeks before I get pictures from our trip to Idaho up here! I'm such a slacker. It's just that I have been spending my time doing something else instead. To see what it is go HERE.

Best Mexican Casserole

I've had a few requests to post this recipe so here it is. I got it from my mother-in-law and it is one of my all time favorites! I hope you like it too.


Best Mexican Casserole

2 cans chicken incl. juice (I drain some of the juice just because I don't think it needs it all)
2 cans rotel (I use the Mexican Festival one)
2 cans cream of chicken
1 1/2 soup cans water
2-4 shakes garlic powder
2-4 shakes cumin
1 bag tortilla chips
shredded cheese

Mix together chicken, rotel, cream of chicken, and water. Add in spices.

In 9x13 pan layer tortilla chips (lightly crunched), chicken mix, then cheese. Repeat layers once.

Bake @ 350* for 30-40 minutes

Last time I made this recipe I also added fresh cilantro which was really good too.

Time For An Intervention?

Ava has a really close and special relationship with her "Grammy" (Grandma Shideler). Living so close to her you can see how that would happen.
Well over the past few months she has gotten more and more attached to her (probably stems from Sadie being born). She started by asking for Grammy sometimes. Then it progressed to walking to the door, putting on her shoes, and trying to get outside to go to Grammy's. Then it escalated to asking for Grammy several times a day and trying to get out the door. But wait, we aren't done there. Even more recently she has started crying for Grammy with full on tears!
THEN: A couple of days ago Grammy stopped by to drop something off but had to leave quickly to go to a doctor appointment. So of course Ava starts the waterworks when Grammy has to leave. But then to my shock/surprise/horror/amusement Grammy starts to cry too!!!

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR AN INTERVENTION!