My little pumpkins

Here are a few pictures of my pumpkins at the pumpkin patch today.

Eating Krispy Kreams
Claire carefully choosing out the best pumpkin. She had to do the drop and bounce test on several of them before she found the perfect one.

Bailey hard at work decorating her pumpkin.

Claires farm themed pumpkin.

On the hayride that was somewhat lacking in hay.

Our big girls!

The crazy animals I live with everyday!

Why we need to protect marriage

I have been asked by several people why it is important to support propositions that protect marriage becuase they know how active my mom has been in this important issue. Today I found an article that is very easy to read and gives 8 clear reasons to protect marriage. Many of us of the LDS faith know several reasons why traditional marriage is so important but this article gives secular reasons that may help you when talking to some not of our faith.

http://www.familywatchinternational.org/fwi/policy_brief_manwomanmarriage.pdf

Vote YES on PROP 102 (AZ) or PROP 8 (CA)!!!!

The Tale of Two Shoes

Last Christmas my mom bought these for Bailey

a set of six Disney princess shoes. They were an instant hint. Actually that is an understatement, they became my daughters life. They LOVE the shoes. They wear them ALL day long. I have even found Bailey wearing them to bed. And Claire, who isn't going to miss out on an opportunity to be beautiful, learned to walk in them only weeks after learning to walk.

Then last month tragedy struck our house, one of the Snow White shoes broke in half due to a long hard life of tiny little feet stomping on wood floor. Bailey was traumatized, we weren't sure she would make it. Then to make life even more unbearable, the Bell pair followed suit a week or so later. Then a few others began to fall apart, but I will save you from the gruesome details.

Needless to say, I was becoming a little upset myself. How could I be happy when my miserable daughters happiness hinged on uncomfortable plastic princess shoes. So like any good mom I went to Costco, were they were bought last Christmas, to find a new box. No luck. I looked online but couldn't find them for a price I was willing to pay, I admit I am cheap. I even asked a few friends to keep an eye out for them for me. Still no luck.

Then yesterday, as we were walking down the aisles of Sams Club, the heavens suddenly parted and angels began to sing. There, right in front of Baileys free sample covered face, was another box of princess shoes. Without even looking at the price, I threw them in my cart and ran to the checkout line for fear someone was playing a cruel trick on me and the shoes would suddenly disappear. While in the checkout line I kept my eyes on a very suspicious looking 7 year old girl, eyeing my shoes from over in the cafe and held my breath until the cashier handed me the receipt. They were MINE!!!

Well, life at the Sherwood home is as it should be now. Both girls are properly shoed and I might add, looking fabulous. I am now on my way to Sams Club to buy one more box of princess shoes because we have another little princess on the way and I don't want her to go through the pain and suffering her older sister had to deal with.

HELP!

I have two things I need help with and was hoping someone had an answer.
1- Does anyone have a good way to clean bath tub toys? Ours are getting a little on the slimmy, yucky side (even though I drain them everytime they bathe.) I looked around on the internet and most people say to put a little bleach and water in with the toys but I am worried that will ruin or fade the toys. Has anyone ever done that?
2- Does anyone have a really yummy recipe for granola? I have had a the biggest craving for granola but it is so blasted expensive at the store, I would go broke supporting my habit. I have looked up a few on recipe websites but I am a little scared to put all the time and ingredients into making it and have it fail. Does someone have a recipe they have made and really like? Also a little side note. I am not a huge nut fan, they are ok but in moderation. So if you have one that doesn't have a ton of nuts would be even better.

The day!!!!!

Today was the day! One of my favorite days of the year. PLANTING DAY!!!! I love the day in late early October when the weather has cooled off and it is finally time to beautify my yard and plant flowers. While most of the country is tearing out their gardens and flowers beds, getting ready for winter and snow, here in AZ we are breathing a sigh of relief because we made it through the summer and now we can enjoy the beautiful weather, flowers and grass the rest of you had all summer.
One of my favorite places to go is A&P nursery. I could spend hours and lots of money there choosing out the perfect flower or plant that would be perfect in my yard. Today I decided to take my girls with me to the nursery to control myself a little. It is hard to enjoy a nursery when your kids are picking all the flowers and knocking over plants with wheelbarrows. This year I also let the girls pick out all the flowers, a little scary but we ended up with beautiful red geraniums, pink, purple and white petunias and fall colored mums. Nothing fancy but will be perfect non the less.
Then we headed home to plant our loot. It took about 2 x's longer than it should because I had so much help but we now have all the flowers in the ground, Claire and Bailey both got to run around naked in the back yard and take baths in buckets outside and all my sidewalks are covered in mud. What a glorious day!!!
Now tomorrow I get to hack all my bushes way down to get rid of all the burnt stuff from the summer, another activity I LOVE to do and scalp my grass to put in the winter lawn!

Our California Adventure

Thanks to the generousity of my parents, we just got back from a week long trip to S. California. Here is a quick run down of our trip.

-One week at a gorgeous Mariott resort, over looking the ocean, in Newport Beach. All this curtiousy of my parents. THANK YOU!!!!!!
-Sunday was spent going to church and visiting the Newport Beach Temple. The temple is brown rather than white, which I thought was pretty cool.

-First part of the week was spent with a sick Bailey who had a cold, pink eye and threw up several times. FUN, FUN, FUN!!!!!

-Monday we went to Sea World. The highlight of the entire trip for Bailey was "Breakfast with Shamu." If you have never done it before, I would recommend it. Bailey loved it becuase she got to eat a chocolate muffin and be only a few feet away from Shamu as he did tricks. Claire loved it because she got to eat eggs and watch pigeons fly around, she couldn't care less about Shamu.

-We spent Wednesday at the beach. Bailey loved the sand and hated the water. Claire loved the water and HATED the sand.

_Tuesday and Thursday we went to Disneyland. Boy, that is a big park when you are pregnant! Bailey loved meeting her favorite pricesses, Claire loved the Tiki room and the birds, Scott loved the scary rides and I loved sitting in shady areas.

_Friday we went to the San Diego Zoo. Scott was in charge of the camera that day and only took pictures of animals so I will refrain from showing those.

It was a fun and tiring week. Thanks mom and dad for helping us stay at the condo. We love you!