Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Feb 8, 2012, 8:00 pm
I am head over heels in love with this little girl: Picture taken with my phone If you knew her, you would be too. She has these eyes that… Well, they remind me of the reflection pool in front of the Washington D.C. Temple. That is what they remind me of — bright blue pure reflection pools. 2...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Feb 7, 2012, 9:58 pm
Alright guys. I need help. This birthday party business just stresses me out. Not the cake, games, presents, tons of kids in my house, decorations, etc. I love that part! THE INVITING. That is the part I don’t love at all. Abby and I sat down to write down all of her friends — church friends,...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Feb 7, 2012, 8:00 pm
Abby has been a doll lately — so well-behaved, helpful, patient and caring. I just have felt so lucky to have her as my oldest the past few weeks. So I secretly made her this poster. It reads: Hey BABY (RUTH), thank you for being my LIFESAVER.  Seriously, you are a SKOR and I’d give you 100 G...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Feb 6, 2012, 8:00 pm
We have been reading tales from the Grimm Brothers before bed. The girls chant, “Grimm Brothers, Grimm Brothers, Grimm Brothers!” every night so I don’t forget! Some of the stories are lame, some of them are really weird and some of them are a bit horrifying! But lots of them are great, an...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Feb 4, 2012, 7:00 pm
Some weeks it is quite easy to write about the things I loved throughout the week. Actually most weeks it’s easy. But lately it has been a struggle and a helpful exercise to keep doing. I have been feeling so lonely and blah-ish, and I’ve just been struggling! I think, though, that when you spen...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Feb 1, 2012, 9:20 pm
Shae caught what I had and is a poor sick sick baby. This is what our days look like, poor Shae just wants to curl up right next to me sucking her two little fingers. And I let her. I realized that the croup who visited our home before our Costa Rica trip and plagued my other kids and husband was ...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Feb 1, 2012, 12:58 pm
 Helamen 5: 12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon thearock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your bfoundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty cstorm�...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Jan 29, 2012, 10:00 pm
The following list is my random tips for traveling internationally with children.  I learned this during our Panama & Costa Rica trips with our three children. Consider Renting a Home Through Vrbo.com: You could rent a beautiful, clean and well recommended home right on the beach instead of being ...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Jan 27, 2012, 8:32 am
Hey, have you read this yet? You should. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/dont-carpe-diem_b_1206346.html
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Jan 26, 2012, 8:00 pm
Anyone have The Happy Day, by Ruth Krauss in their home? It is a 1950 Caldecott Honor Book so it might be more well known than I think. Abby came home a couple of weeks ago really sad that a little girl had moved out of her class. I showed her this book that I received from my class when I sadly ha...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Jan 24, 2012, 10:50 pm
I loved the idea of this craft and the girls and I also learned a good lesson. Follow directions carefully! We were lazy with what “snow” we put in the globe and it created a muggy hot mess in the end. We semi followed the directions on the DYI: Photo Snowglobes over at Design Mom. We used larg...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Jan 24, 2012, 6:07 pm
Yesterday when my mom came to visit me (aka bring food, clean my house, play with my kids and listen to me give her bossy advice about her sons/my brothers) she told me I looked like death.   WELL MOM if THIS: …LOOKS LIKE DEATH. Then sign me up! Bowchickabowbow. Ok fine that is pretty bad, e...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Jan 23, 2012, 10:00 pm
Yes! Let’s talk croquetas/croquettes. Yes, they are easy and you can pull them off — be brave and try something new! Croquettes are a Spanish appetizer (tapas) and my husband orders them at restaurants whenever we see them. You can make seafood croquettes, potato croquettes, vegetable based, che...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Jan 23, 2012, 9:22 am
This is my last party I get to do for Abby’s class. The other one was the Halloween Party. I guess there are only two! Bummers. Well, let me tell you what we have planned for this one. I kind of went more of the way of… I will spend my money on craft supplies and let all the other parents bri...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Jan 22, 2012, 4:44 pm
Welp, my house still smells like ash. It is pretty awesome to explain to everyone who comes to my house and exclaims, “OH, WHAT IS THAT SMELL?” I am going to get the carpets cleaned this week and hope that helps. I thought it was getting better but Tyler just says I am getting used to the smell!...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Jan 21, 2012, 2:48 pm
I probably wouldn’t have known or been terribly interested to follow along with this year’s Teaching of the Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith. But while I was reading the Ensign when Tyler was driving, George Albert Smith’s pictures caught my eye. The pictures made him seem so REAL...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Jan 18, 2012, 9:30 pm
Abby & I can’t decide which Valentines to give this year. These are our top choices:   I’m Wild for You Valentines & Lollipop Valentine by Design Mom Stick ‘Em Valentine by Sherelle Christensen I Dig You Valentine by The Fry Family Friendship Bracelet Valentines & I’ve Had My Eye on...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Nov 1, 2011, 9:00 pm
I survived doing our ward’s Super Saturday a couple of weeks ago. Also, I got released on Sunday. PERFECT TIMING. Here is the thing. This calling was fun, but it also made me cry at times. It maybe made me snap at my kids a bit more on the 2nd Tuesday of each moth. The good thing was it did hel...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 31, 2011, 9:00 pm
Logan, Utah is another place I love! Right after our trip to St. George, the girls and I ran up to Logan for our bi-annual visit to my sister & her family. My mom & sister were poking fun at me because I have a set to-do list when I come to visit my sister in Logan. #1 Eat at Firehouse Pizza #2 Go...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 30, 2011, 11:52 pm
I get so excited for you guys when I get to host a Leap Frog giveaway! As you have probably noticed I don’t do giveaways or reviews very much anymore. So you can bet when I do say yes to one, it’s because I am loving the product and can’t wait to give it to one of you! So Leap Frog came out w...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 29, 2011, 10:00 pm
I told Tyler if we both want to survive this month, we need to take time to run away as a family and just relax. He told me he really didn’t think he would have time, and he would be too stressed to actually relax. But I held strong! We were going to go to either Sun Valley, ID; Yellowstone; Jacks...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 28, 2011, 11:56 pm
Halloween!! We just got back from a cute neighborhood party (Hi Brooke!) where my girls had a ball. It was the 3rd party just for today, but WE LOVE THIS! Bring it on. Halloween is just plain fun. We have 4 more Halloween events to go this weekend, and then — ooh la la — trick-or-treating. Hall...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 28, 2011, 11:41 pm
I wanted to post about these two Halloween things a while ago. But in the past two weeks I have just been…WOW. I put too much on my plate, and even though it is all fun…it’s just too much. I tend to have to learn lessons the hard way, and my poor husband & family just know that is the way I le...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 27, 2011, 6:50 pm
“We have a choice. We can seek for the bad in others. Or we can make peace and work to extend to others the understanding, fairness, and forgiveness we so desperately desire for ourselves. It is our choice; for whatever we seek, that we will certainly find.” ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 26, 2011, 12:14 am
So many things I have wanted to blog about lately. But no time! October is the month that I am trying to just get through. No, let me re-phrase that: trying to get through, but ENJOY. It has been full of fun things, just — you know — a bit *too* many fun things that can lead to me feeling overwh...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 23, 2011, 9:00 pm
I am planning Abby’s kindergarten Halloween party for her school class. I have to hold myself back, though — can’t go overboard. I need to keep things simple — which is hard for me to do. So here is the plan, in case any of you out there are also a room parent and are working on the same th...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 18, 2011, 4:28 pm
... and now have fun celebrating his birthday the way *he* wants to. Birthday Breakfast: ... copper-cake,” or these cinnamon rolls, or the ooey gooey caramel rings or a ... we all went out that night to The Chocolate for a Cazookie…because my ... tired and missed his girlies so much from h...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 16, 2011, 9:00 pm
... have gotten carried away at the craft store. WHATEVER. It’s ... school. I went in to the class to present her poster, ... and read her favorite book. The girl was in HEAVEN, and ... in a while. These are the special things about my oldest ... cousin. Abby is in dance, karate and thea...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 16, 2011, 4:03 pm
Fall Is Not Easy, by Marty Kelley is a fall book we love. It makes us giggle — the tree just cannot get the hang of things! It feels good during the spring, summer and winter, but FALL?! Fall is just throwing the tree for a loop: I feel like the tree right now. I feel as if I am entering a new ph...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 11, 2011, 9:00 pm
I think this year was the first year we jam packed birthday celebrations into just one day for both girls. And why haven’t I been doing that all along? When birthdays last a couple of days or a whole weekend, my kids get moody. One jam packed day is fine with me — get it all done in one day! We ...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 11, 2011, 12:00 am
Psst. You guys! Yo Gabba Gabba is coming back to Utah. Yep, November 9th! Last year I was so busy I had to send my little sister with my kids and they still talk about how awesome it was to this day. They took my little FLIP video camera and recorded bits and pieces of it. All I could hear in the ...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 5, 2011, 1:11 am
... who, onto the party details! Theme: Alice in Wonderland Invite: Tied onto ... Hatter and the birthday girl as Alice. Also, we had a stuffed ... the party off by reading an Alice in Wonderland book. Then we ... Rabbit” (Follow the Leader), Rabbit-Rabbit-Alice (Duck Duck Goose), The Red ....
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 3, 2011, 8:00 am
Baby Doll Hi, it’s Mama. What name are you using today? Poki? Cameron? Shakira? Courtney the Puppy? Alyssa? As soon as you tell me I’ll make you a sign to hold so people know, just like we did yesterday and the day before. I’ll just call you Baby Doll for now. Baby Doll you are *FOUR* today....
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Oct 2, 2011, 9:00 pm
 
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 29, 2011, 9:00 pm
... businesses: training local dogs, training dogs of high profile clients, taking on ... poor brother who has to be the demo guy), traveling everywhere in ... the country, and traveling everywhere in the world. He used to train ... dogs about once or twice a year. People buy these dogs for .....
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 27, 2011, 9:00 pm
Here is the recipe for the Corn Avocado Relish I have mentioned a few times on the blog: Corn Avocado Relish Ingredients: 4 ears of corn 2 poblano peppers 5-6 avocados 2 limes 1/3 of a large white onion, chopped 1/3 of a large red onion, chopped 1/2 bunch of cilantro 2T. Olive Oil 2 T. Wh...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 25, 2011, 9:00 pm
Daddy having the best apps on his phone. Buying the kids junk once in a blue moon. Junk that they really, really love. Checking out what her new outfit is every time she walks down the stairs. Learning what her new name is for the day or what animal she is pretending to be. Pretty awesome imaginat...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 22, 2011, 9:00 pm
Must Do: #1 Bring something for dinner that is fresh from your garden or the farmer's market #2 Bring a talent to share Menu: Shredded Sweet Pork, Cilantro Lime Rice, Black Beans Peach Salsa, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Hot Salsa, Corn-Poblano-Avacado Relish & Chips Fresh Peach Cobbler, Apple Crisp...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 21, 2011, 9:00 pm
   
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 20, 2011, 9:00 pm
I enjoy being a “dog person” and being married to someone who loves dogs even more than I do. Both of us come from families that don’t love dogs too much, and I don’t remember really talking about our love for dogs when we were dating. But right after we got married, I begged my husband to l...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 19, 2011, 9:00 pm
If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dussen is awesome. Another author that can write like he has the imagination of a kid! In my opinion, if you don’t have that imagination, you have no business writing or illustrating children’s picture books. If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dussen follows the imagina...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 18, 2011, 9:00 pm
... and get ready for TGIF! Which shows do you wish would come back for a fun Friday night line up? Me? Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, Boy Meets World and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Side note: We bought Boy Meets World Season 1 on DVD. A-W-E-S-O-M-E.  Alright, back to the snacks. Frid...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 18, 2011, 12:44 am
I usually post about our busy days when we do parties, cook something yummy, go somewhere fun or invite people over for art projects. But there are days when we do nothing. AND ME LIKEY. Because doing nothing means we pretend we are super busy and can’t answer the door or phone. That we just HA...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 15, 2011, 10:00 pm
... GIVEAWAY at the end! So be sure to check it out and enter. Oh Sweet Sadie is an Art & Gift Show in Daybreak, Utah. It is ... missed it, don’t be sad. They are having their next one in NOVEMBER, and you can check out all the details on their site here. Also ... check out their shop/blog...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 14, 2011, 9:00 pm
I love farmers markets at the end of the summer because of all the fruit! Berries & peaches are at the top of my list. But I’m not a baker and when I come home with all my treasures I wish I was. But this Quick Peach Tart is something anyone can do! Quick Peach Tart Ingredients: 5-6 Peaches (t...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 13, 2011, 9:00 pm
Preface: You should do baby food the way you and your pediatrician feel is right. These are just my opinions and what has worked for me. Every single mama, family and BABY are so different! For about two weeks, Baby Shae has been acting like she needs something more than Mama’s milk! Silly me, I ...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 12, 2011, 10:00 pm
I put Abby into afternoon Kindergarten for a reason. Shae takes her longest nap in the afternoon, exactly during Abby’s school time, so now Poki (Cameron) and I can have the afternoon all to ourselves!! I get them both ready for school at the same time and they both pack up their backpacks. I put...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 11, 2011, 10:00 pm
Since the thought of my oldest going into Kindergarten had me really weirded out, a bit blue, excited and sad all at the same time…I decided to get busy with having fun! I asked Abby what she wanted to do for fun with JUST ME before her first day of school. I have created a monster so she wanted ...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 9, 2011, 10:34 pm
September 11th is Sunday. We have a whole new generation that doesn’t know what 9/11 means. Teach them about those who serve for our country. Teach them about those wonderful firefighters that serve us here in America. Tell them of those who lost their lives. Celebrate by being with your family...
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Vanessa B. posted an article on I Never Grew Up - Sep 6, 2011, 6:00 am
Sweet Kelly asked me to be part of the “Holiday Craft Along” again (remember I made *these* last year) and of course I said yes! Three bloggers, Kelly from According to Kelly, Rachel from A Southern Fairytale and Cindy from Skip to My Lou host this Holiday Craft Along. They find guest bloggers...
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