Belle's Bazaar

Baby William Blake is here!

2012-05-18T09:30:00.001-07:00

I will always consider William Blake to be our reward after our big move and all the changes we went through this year. Nothing like a sweet little 8 lb. 7 ounce baby to ease the pain!

Here's the story:

We had decided to be induced because our insurance was ending March 31st. William was due April 6. Honestly, I would have loved to have a baby born on Easter, but paying an additional $5,000 was not worth it to me! We went to the hospital March 30th, well, we went to the wrong hospital. Luckily, this area isn't that big and they sent us to the right one! Around 10:00, I was all set up and ready to be induced. We hung out for 3 hours watching reruns of The Office and nothing was really happening. I was getting a little anxious, because Brooke had been born in 6 hours and was hoping that he would come as fast! Around 3:00, Dr. Naylor broke my water and the pain began! The contractions weren't that bad, but then they were. I was trying to tough it out, but you really forget how much labor hurts until you are doing it again! Blake suggested I at least call for the epidural, so just in case they are held up. So, we did. Boy, was I glad! A painful hour later, I was at a 6 and all comfy. So comfy that I told Blake to go get dinner downstairs because it wouldn't be for awhile. I tried to take a little nap when suddenly I woke up feeling like the baby was coming RIGHT NOW! I called the nurse and I was at a 10. I went from a 6 to a 10 in 30 minutes. Crazy! I was calling Blake on his phone nonstop hoping he would make it. He did.=) The chord was wrapped around William's neck so we had to use the vacuum to get this little cutie out.

Can I just say that there is nothing like the moment when your sweet little baby is laid on you. After all the hard work, heartburn, back pain, every pain, exhaustion. And you just look at the baby and he looks at you and knows you. It is magical.

Poor little purple feet!

First bath. Love the hair and the lips! Brooke/Spencer combo!

We made it home after 2 days because I had strep b and they wanted to keep William to make sure he would be fine. Nanah had watched the kids and they were all sure happy to see us! Sadly, the camera was misplaced, so we didn't have any "meet your brother" pictures. But I don't think you ever really forget that!

Living in Iowa: We made it!!!

2012-03-18T18:33:00.001-07:00

We made it to Iowa a few days ago and have been adjusting and unpacking. Baby boy decided to stay inside while we traveled, so that was good. We have plenty of pictures from the past few months: birthdays, traveling, odds and ends. Hopefully, I will get to them soon.

Here is what we see outside our front window every day. Through the trees is the Mississippi River. It is pretty cool. After living in Las Vegas for the majority of my life, I feel like this is a time warp! Or that I am on vacation! Or camping. But it is a welcome change! We have met our neighbors, "Grandma Barb" and Daryll. They are really nice and love our kids. Our landlord has a 5 year old grand daughter who is more than excited to have kids around the area.

Here is our little house. We are calling it "adventure house". It has attic rooms for the kids and a cool windowed porch that we turned into the play room. The yard is huge and open and far enough away from the road that I'm not worried about the kids getting hit by a car. Honestly, there have been very few cars to pass by!

Pretty sunset

A creek we saw that runs into the river

Throwing rocks into the river. We went for a walk in the town about five minutes from us. It is full of antique shops, neat cafes and cool little stores. Blake was pretty excited that The American Pickers have their headquarters here. I think it's hilarious. But we're hoping that will be some motivation to get his brother Spencer out to come visit!=)

I am just amazed that we get to live here in this beautiful place after desert living for so many years. There is nothing like waking up to birds singing in the trees and fresh air. Letting the kids run outside and not have to yell at them to get away from the road. We are grateful for the chance we have to live here and try something new!

The garage has this broken down tractor and the kids totally love it!
We didn't have a dryer yet so we hung our clothes on the clothesline for the first time in my life!! This is baby William's blanket that my mom made.

Martha Stewart Meatloaf

2012-03-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Bad picture. Moving on to the best meatloaf ever!! I found this six years ago from a Martha Stewart magazine and have never tried another. There is no need to! My only other meatloaf I love is my moms, but I can never get hers to stick together. She can.

This is a fall aparty, yummy meatloaf that must be served with mashed potatoes!

1 lb. hamburger

4 oz. tomato sauce

½ medium onion, chopped

½ green bell pepper, chopped

Seasoning-I use seasons all

1 egg

½ c. bread crumbs

Meatloaf Sauce:

2 ounce tomato sauce 2 oz. cold water

½ t. vinegar ¼ t. mustard

Brown sugar

Mix but only use half can of tomato sauce. Make sauce and pour half on meatloaf. Bake 40-45 min. at 350-375.

Really Good Meatballs

2012-03-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

I was part of a freezer meal group for a month, but my kids are so picky that they wouldn't eat anything! And the food was good too! This was one of the favorites though from my friend, Valerie who is such a go-getter in so many things!

2 lbs. ground beef

1 pkg. Stuffing mix for chicken

1 1/4 c water

2 eggs

1/3 c. parmesan

Heat oven to 400. Mix ingredients and shape into 32 balls using 1/4 cup for each. Place 16 meatballs into 15 by 10 by 1 pan lined with foil and cooking spray. Bake 16 to 18 min.

See, easy!!!

Moving and Baby Time!

2012-03-04T22:04:00.002-08:00

Wellllll, the craziest part of my life is occurring right now! My husband got offered a great job in Quad Cities, Illinois and we are taking it. We are moving this Saturday across the river from Illinois to a cute little town called, LeClaire, Iowa. It is going to be an adventure. We are going to drive there over 4 days with our 3 kids.....

And yes, I am 35 weeks pregnant. No, we don't have any family out there. Yes, we are still looking for a renter for our house in Las Vegas, NV (Here's the link: http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/apa/2869720200.html) Yes, I know everything will be ok! Times of learning and growth are good, although hard. For a long time, we knew a change was coming, just weren't sure what.

So, here we are heading off in a few days. Recipes will not be coming for awhile unless I have a free night to upload and schedule all the recipes and pictures I have saved. Maybe, yes. Maybe, no!

I love all your comments and glad to hear you are enjoying the blog. Hope to be in the blogging arena again soon!

Thinking Thursday: Fun Bookmarks

2012-03-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

I am by no means a creative and crafty person in this crazy craft world! But I did make these for some friends at Christmas and I loved doing it. I have always thought bookmarks are so personal. There are so many different kinds! I love the pretty ones! I love the weathered ones! I love the ones with charms and jewels! I am no prejudiced!

These were so easy. I thought of this quote one day while I was standing in the bank:

"Writing might seem vast as an ocean-the expanse unbearable. Dip your toe, then submerge yourself."

It pretty much summed up how I was feeling about writing at that time. I know after a lot of research that it is how many writers feel!

So, I typed it up, cut it out, put it on some cardstock I had sitting around and slapped on some contact paper. I loved how it looked old and weathered.

Happy Leap Day: Honey Lemon Glazed Carrots

2012-02-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

These yummies will make you "leap" with joy. haha. Not only are they super tasty but they are pretty much healthy. When my husband and I were first married, we lived in Idaho. This wonderful older couple, the Seiperts took us under their wings. They invited us to the most delicious roast and potato dinners. She made the best honey glazed carrots. They were like candy! I have never had any as good since. These are a close second. I love the lemon zing. It's a nice twist. I got this recipe from Food Network.

1 pound baby carrots
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions

In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add salt and then carrots and cook until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain the carrots and add back to pan with butter, honey and lemon juice. Cook until a glaze coats the carrots, 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with parsley.

Lasagna Soup

2012-02-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

Lasagna in any form gets a thumbs up in my book! Soup form is ingenious! It was so much faster and it was even better the next day! Get some crusty bread and soak it up! I got the recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe. The girl rocks!

INGREDIENTS

Soup:

1 1/2 pounds Italian sausage

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed through a garlic press

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1 (28-ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained

2 bay leaves

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil or 2 tablespoons dried basil

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 pound fusilli noodles, cooked and drained

Cheese topping:

1 cup ricotta cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, for sprinkling

DIRECTIONS:

In a large 4-quart pot, add the Italian sausage and cook over medium heat, breaking the pieces up with a wooden spoon or spatula while it cooks. I prefer the sausage in fairly small pieces. After about 3-4 minutes, add the onion. Cook the sausage and onion together, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is cooked through and the onions are soft,a bout 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease, if desired. Stir in the garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes and tomato paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the diced tomatoes with their juices, bay leaves and chicken broth. Add the basil, if using dried (if using fresh basil, add it in the next step).

Bring the soup to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste and the fresh basil, if using.

For the cheese mixture, in a small bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and basil. Set aside.

To serve the soup, add a scoop of cooked pasta noodles to a bowl. Top with a ladle or two of soup and dollop with a generous spoonful of the cheese mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Serve immediately.

7 Layer Dip and a new twist

2012-02-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Is there anything yummier than a 7 layer dip? It is so good any time of the year! And there are so many different versions. I threw one together the other night for Bunco night.

Refried Beans

Sour Cream

Green onions (my favorites!!)

Sliced Olives

Tomatoes

Cheese

Ok, so mine is only 6.

There is a recipe I would love to try when I have the time from The Farm Girl Recipes. It is the 7 layer dip with a twist and a lot of flavors!

Thinking Thursday: I Open my Eyes and See

2012-02-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here is another little something I wrote. I hope you don't mind. I am trying hard to update and increase my writing abilities.

I Open My Eyes and See 11/15/11

I open my eyes an see my dreams for the future. My children grown, beautiful, happy together at Christmas, in the temple, reunited for births, birthdays, reunions. Older and wiser and loving.

I open my eyes and see Blake and I at last in Spain, London, Ireland, Italy for starters. Then North Carolina, Hawaii, New York, Seattle, Atlanta, Maine. Traveling and exploring the world together after years of hard work and waiting. Trying new things, trying new foods. Having memorable and life changing experiences.

I open my eyes and see my future home full of love, Adirondack chairs and a tub big enough to lie down in. Décor that can’t be destroyed by grandchildren but can be enjoyed by all. A gazebo, a swinging porch swing, a flourishing garden where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables. A tire swing, a wraparound porch. Laughter, tears, secrets shared and memories made.

I open my eyes and see a classroom full of college aged students awaiting knowledge and inspiration I hoping to instruct and inspire them in good directions and paths. Projects, late night gradings, conferences, expanding knowledge of the love of literature and writing.

I open my eyes and see daughter/mother reunions, fishing trips, camping trips, Disneyland. Late movie nights with popcorn and early morning snuggles in a bed that is too small for so many growing children. Game nights, crafts, stories read, make believe, dancing. Prep for dances, dates, weddings, funerals. College farewells, graduations, missions, good byes, but not really. Kitchen dates with plenty of cooking and experimenting. Messy faces, messy hands, grubby fingerprints.

I open my eyes and see my future, my past and my present and know that my life and love is where my family is. Their goals and dreams are my goals and dreams. Together through tears, smiles and life, we will walk together and say “Wasn’t that a great time?” “Wasn’t all the work worth it?” And we will smile and say, “Yes.”

Breakfast Burritos with velveeta cheese

2012-02-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

My college roommate, Sherise, introduced this to me ten years ago. She had just gotten married and invited my husband and I over to dinner. This was a fun breakfast for dinner!

It is a nice mixture of eggs and sausage and has a great little kick with the salsa. You can switch ingredients up however you like to. I have used bacon before too.

This can be doubled with no problem.

Cook half a roll of sausage. When it is done, add 6 scrambled eggs. While they are cooking, melt half a cube of velveeta cheese with 1/2 cup salsa in a separate pot.

When they are done, add about a half cup of the egg mixture to a flour tortilla and a spoonful of the cheese mixture on top. Roll up and place in 8 by 8 pan. Makes about 6 tortillas. Add remaining cheese mixture to the top. Cook at 400 for 10 minutes or until crispy.

Rigatoni with Roasted Broccoli and Red Onions

2012-02-21T05:00:00.001-08:00

This was a really fun and easy dish to make with so much flavor!! It had a nice mix of onions, broccoli, bacon. Just so simple and yummy! The whole family ate it without complaint! I got it from Womans Day Feb 2012.

4 cloves garlic, smashed

1 head broccoli, cut into small florets

1 red onion, cut into 1/2 inch thick wedges

2 T olive oil

4 slices bacon

12 oz rigatoni

1/2 c. grated parmesan

Heat oven to 425. On a rimmed pan, toss olive oil, salt and pepper with the broccoli, onion and garlic. On another pan, place bacon. Cook on separate racks at same temperature. Broccoli pan for about 25 minutes and bacon for 15 minutes. While those are cooking, boil pasta. Reserve 3/4 cup of the water after the pasta is cooked. Mix it with 1/4 cup. parmesan in a separate bowl. Drain pasta. Mix pasta with pasta water and parmesan mixture. Add the vegetables and remaining 1/4 cup parmesan.

There was an option to add 1 T lemon juice, but I forgot about it. I am sure that it would be delicious!

Pizza Bites

2012-02-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

This was a mish mash of lots of recipes I came across and I kind of just tried my own thing on it. It was supposed to be made in a bundt pan and have the bundt shape but it didn't really work out that way. Oh well, it was still yummy!!

I used this pizza dough recipe from squidoo. I still love my go to recipe, but this was perfect for the calzone, so I thought I would try it out here too.

2 1/2 to 3 cups flour (can use a combination of white and whole wheat if you prefer)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) yeast
3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
1 cup very warm water

Combine yeast, sugar, 1 cup of the flour, and salt in a large bowl. Add the warm water and oil and mix. Stir in remaining flour slowly until dough is soft but not sticky. Knead until smooth. Let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes before making the calzone.

Then I rolled them into 2 inch or so balls and made an indentation in the center and added a 1/2 inch cube of mozarella cheese and a quarter of pepperoni. Then I rolled it in some butter and bread crumbs. Talk about yum!

I was Featured!

2012-02-18T22:02:00.000-08:00

I like blogging my recipes for the sake of blogging them. It's just fun. So, it's great when other people can use my recipes for their families and friends!

Six Sister's Stuff featured my chocolate chip cookie bars on their site today. They really are the chewiest and yummiest and easiest bars ever! So, thanks to Six Sisters! I love their site!

Blissful and Domestic featured these super soft sugar cookies which I originally found on Four Sister's Kitchens. These sites are both great and cute!

Check them out!

Fat Friday: Best Ever Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Cups!

2012-02-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

I originally posted this with Heath bars, but made it for my 7 year old's birthday with pb cups because she loves them! It was just as delicious as the first time!

THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE EVER!

cake recipe from: Kevin and Amanda

1 box Devil's Food cake mix
1 small pkg Jello instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F.

In large bowl, mix together everything except for chocolate chips. The batter will be thick.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Pour batter into two 9-inch cake pans. (You could use whatever cake pan you choose. Just follow cooking time and temperature on the back of the Devil's Food box and add about 10 additional minutes to whatever the original cooking time requires.) Make sure to do the toothpick test to check if it is done or not. It usually takes about 45 minutes for two 9-inch cake pans.

After cake is baked, let cool completely. I usually plop the two cakes onto a wire rack and stick them in the freezer. It is so much easier to cut them when they are a little frozen and they don't crumble as much. Once cakes have cooled completely (or are slightly frozen if doing my method) cut in half width wise so you have 4 equal circles.

While cake is cooling prepare the frosting.

BEST CHOCOLATE FROSTING

2/3 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chocolate syrup
2 Tbsp boiling water
8 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa
1 cup butter

Mix milk, vanilla, chocolate syrup together

In a large separate bowl, beat softened butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa together.

Slowly add in wet ingredients until you reach desired consistency.

Beat an additional 5 minutes to get a fluffy consistency.

Thinking Thursday: My Make Believe Life

2012-02-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

I wrote this for fun....I am sure some of you out there can relate!

My Make Believe Life

For starters, I get dressed on a daily basis. Not just dressed but hair and make up done as well. Lotion, perfume and jewelry are part of the ensemble. Sometimes I wear heels just for fun. My eyebrows are perfect. “Bad hair day” is not in my vocabulary. My nails are unbitten and lovely.

I sit down at a clean table with fresh wildflowers in the middle and eat a breakfast of warm homemade waffles and syrup-made by someone else. Fresh strawberries, blueberries and bananas included. A mug of steaming hot chocolate (not the cheap kind) with fresh whipped cream awaits me.

In my make believe life, my house is clean, organized and decorated with a mish mash of items that wouldn’t seem to go together, but do. I have floor to ceiling bookcases filed with the best unripped books from Wordsworth to Shel Silverstein. There is enough space for everyone and everything and all bins are labeled and once organized, stay organized.

We go on quarterly vacations. Sometimes the beach, sometimes Europe, others Disneyland and Hawaii. The kids are always happy and never cry because they are tired or hungry. They love walking for miles and never complain about seeing historical sites. We have a scrapbook of our adventures where we are color coordinated, smiling and looking at the same camera. Everyone is potty trained!

I can run marathon! I have my 20 year old body again, which could go for hours on end without needing a break. I can go through a day without needing caffeine or a nap or the restart button pushed on my temper. I can actually do the move from tae bo without looking like an idiot! Saddle bags and spare tire are things that belong on horses and cars, not me. I eat healthy and only indulge in treats sparingly because I have no cravings for chocolate.

I have reading days where I read the books from the Newberry and Caldecott award winning lists. Also, from the “100 books everyone should read” list. And the books never bore me-classics included. I feel so uplifted by the books that I write a book of my own to critical acclaim. I do not need the praise, however, because I have merely written the book for my own enjoyment.

My husband makes enough money for us to pay off our debt in a short amount of time. He has a normal work schedule, gets home early on Fridays and never has to work suddenly on the weekends. He loves his work and feels fulfilled every day. We have a regular date night where we have no budget and a perfect babysitter who cleans the house and requests to babysit for free because my kids are so enjoyable.

In my make believe life, my children don’t fight and always listen the first time! They don’t cry over going to the bathroom, eating dinner, doing homework or bedtime. We do a daily craft where they make little mess and happily share the supplies without loss to limb or bloodshed. They happily complete their chores and do extra just to be helpful.

In my make believe life, I am pretty selfish and boring. I don’t have time to take care of other people because I am so busy taking care of my needs and wants. I am a rather uninteresting and unhappy person. I haven’t had stretching or learning experiences to help me grow and become better. In my real life, I am grateful to have dreams and hopes for my future. Some I will get to and some I won’t. And that is ok. I am grateful that my real life is more exciting and unexpected than my make believe life. I wouldn’t trade my real life for my make believe life for anything. Except I think I will take the reading day.

Easy Calzone!

2012-02-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

I tried to be fun and make this look like a Christmas tree over Christmas break and it did not turn out that way, but this was delish anyway!! The dough was perfect (and I am picky!) The prep was easy (and I am picky!) The kids loved it (and they are picky!)

The recipe came from Squidoo

Dough:

Here is the step by step instructions for making a calzone.....

But here's a quick version,

1) Roll out like a rectangle

2) Cut about 2 inch lines on the sides of the dough. Make sure they will pull over the top to keep the filling inside.

3) Pull over the top criss cross alternating.

4) Bake 375 for 25-30 minutes.

Valentine's Day Food!

2012-02-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

I am not going all crazy on Valentine's. Maybe I should? Or maybe I am 7 1/2 months prego and I am feeling pretty good about any creativity! So, I will be making overnight french toast in my heart shaped pan. Think it will be pretty great! Dinner will probably be lasagna because my whole family LOVES lasagna! And I truly have the best recipe for it, but we'll see how things are going around that time of day! Might just settle for heart shaped grilled cheese.=)

1/2 cup melted butter

1 loaf french bread cut into slices

1 cup brown sugar

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. nutmeg

1 t. vanilla

5 eggs

1 1/2 c. milk

Melt butter and pour in 9 by 13. Mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg. Whisk eggs, milk and vanilla separately. Layer bottom of pan with half the bread and Sprinkle half brown sugar mix over the bread. Layer second layer of bread. Pour egg mix over the bread making sure all are covered. Sprinkle remaining brown sugar over top. Cover and refrigerate. Cover with foil and cook for 30 minutes at 350. Take off foil and cook for 15 minutes longer.

Chore/Reward Charts

2012-02-13T05:00:00.001-08:00

I am a slacker mom and not much for chore charts. I just say "Help now!" But something has got to change around this joint with baby 4 approaching. We are trying to teach our kids more respoinsibility while rewarding them with privileges instead of Target $1 toys!

So, here it is.....

Usually, I would forget to print the list each week, forget to get the prize, forget there was even a chart and then be really annoyed when I felt overwhelmed!

I made each kid a chart off the computer. Easy peasy. Took 2 minutes. I know what I want them to do!!

Then, I covered them in contact paper and put them on the fridge. We have markers they will "x" out each job. Then we can erase and start over every week. If something changes, we can just change the chart on the computer and done.

We even made one for our 2 1/2 year old. More of a behavioral chart than anything. The girl is crazy!

Here are what ours look like:

(2 year old)

Brooke!	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed
	No Scratching	No Scratching	No Scratching	No Scratching	No Scratching	No Scratching
	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night
	No Hitting	No Hitting	No Hitting	No Hitting	No Hitting	No Hitting
	Job	Job	Job	Job	Job	Job
	Homework	Homework	Homework	Homework	Homework	Homework
	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer

(7 year old)

Hailey!	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed
	Practice Piano	Practice Piano	Practice Piano	Practice Piano	Practice Piano	Practice Piano
	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night
	Job	Job	Job	Job	Job	Job
	Job	Job	Job	Job	Job	Job
	Homework	Homework	Homework	Homework	Homework	Homework
	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer

(4 year old)

Spencer!	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed	Get Dressed
	Share Toys	Share Toys	Share Toys	Share Toys	Share Toys	Share Toys
	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night	Brush Teeth Morning Night
	Job	Job	Job	Job	Job	Job
	Job	Job	Job	Job	Job	Job
	Homework	Homework	Homework	Homework	Homework	Homework
	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer	Scriptures Prayer

REWARDS! If you get 30 x’s each week, you get a reward!

· Stay up 30 minutes later on Friday or Saturday night

· Ride bikes with mom

· Play cars with mom

Play do with mom

· Get 2 extra books before bed

· Game night with dad

· Special sweet treat

Etc....

I am hoping and praying! that I can make this last this time! Do you have any tips?!

Fat Friday: Nanah's Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

2012-02-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

Blake's mom makes the most delicious chocolate chip cookie bars. They are so fast and easy and buttery. And if you don't hurry and have some before the five boys get to them, good luck getting some!! So, if you're ever not in the mood to roll out cookies, these are the match for you!

PS. I had to borrow this picture from this website because I keep forgetting to take a picture of these when I make them! But these are pretty much an exact match!

Nanah’s Cookies

Cream together:

1 c. butter

2 eggs

2 t. vanilla

2 c. brown sugar

Add:

3 ¾ c. flour

1 ½ t. salt

1 ½ t. soda

½ bag chocolate chips

1/3 bag coconut (can leave out if you don't like)

Press into sprayed 15 by 1 pan.

375 for 12-17 minutes

Thinking Thursday: Notes She Wrote

2012-02-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy these ladies. They are just too cute. I knew Marie in college and loved her then and love her now! And she has a whole bunch of fun sisters and they are just full of talent and entertainment. Every Friday, they choose a word and use it as a prompt for photography. It is a fun way to start the weekend. Plus, they are great at photography! You would be pretty happy to check their site out.

Notes She Wrote

Plus, one of the sisters made these absolutely adorable monsters and lace frames and I love them!!! They are on my to-make list if I can figure them out!

Ham Chowder

2012-02-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

My first born turned 7 today!! Happy tears! She is such a wonderful kid. Full of life and great ideas and beautiful red hair. I am so happy that she came to me first because she is such a great help to me. Going to make the best chocolate cake ever for her. We are true kindred spirits because she is a chocolate fanatic!

On a side note: Let me just tell you that this is the most delicious ham chowder ever! I was so excited that there were leftovers for two days. It was so easy to make and most of my family loved it. (My 7 year old doesn't like much of anything!) I got this recipe from the site Eat Cake for Dinner. This place is awesome!! One of my new favorites!

Ham Chowder

From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner

1 Tbl. Butter

1 Tbl. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/3 c. onion, finely chopped

3 carrots (about 1 1/2 c.), chopped

2 large russet potatoes, diced

garlic, minced

1 1/2-2 c. leftover spiral ham, chopped

1 can low-sodium chicken broth

4-5 c. milk

4 Tbl. cornstarch dissolved in 1/4 c. water

1 can corn, drained

2 tsp. Italian seasoning

salt & pepper

1 1/2-2 c. Cheddar cheese, grated

Heat butter and oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, chopped carrots and diced potatoes. Saute for about 10 minutes or until onions and potatoes are slightly translucent. Add the garlic and ham and cook another minute or so. Add one can of chicken broth and bring up to a boil. Boil until potatoes and carrots are tender. Add milk and stir to combine. Dissolve cornstarch in water and add to pot. Add the can of corn and season with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper (you might not need salt depending on how salty your ham, broth and corn are). Stir to combine. Cook until thickened, stirring occasionally. Last, add shredded cheese and stir until smooth and melted. Serve with sliced baguette. Serves: 5-6.

My attempt at a cute treat......Don't laugh too hard!

2012-02-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

It was supposed to be a sun with a smiley face. Ha! But the kids loved it and they ate it wonderfully. I am a little too lazy to be creative with snack time, but I am going to try to be more fun in the future! Meet the Dubiens has cute snacky things down! I think she deserves to have a cookbook!

Super Bowl aka Who cares bowl

2012-02-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

I don't care about the super bowl.

My husband doesn't care about the super bowl.

But lots of you care about the super bowl.

And the food.

So, here are some ideas from the archives, if you are having to feed some people!

Pupu Platter (aka bacon wrapped chestnuts)

Best Ever Baked French Fries and Fry Sauce

Snickers Popcorn

Everything Except the Kitchen Sink Chocolate Cake

Heavenly Peanut Butter Bars

Indoor S'mores

Asian Chicken Salad

Grilled Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich

Enjoy and keep the Tums on hand! At 32 weeks pregnant, I am living on Tums recently!

Fat Friday: Everything Except the Kitchen Sink Chocolate Cake

2012-02-03T05:00:00.001-08:00

Honestly, I am not much of a cake person. Give me brownies any day!! But today during church, I was really hungry and wanting ice cream and started thinking about yummy stuff. I know, I was in church, but it didn't take long to come up with this concoction!

Cook a chocolate cake mix according to package.

Poke holes all over it while it is still warm.

Pour caramel topping in. Hershey's has a new one that is more like syrup, rather than topping.

I used two snack pack chocolate puddings over the top (sugar free ok!)

Half a container of cool whip on top of that.

Heath pieces on top of that.

Done!! My kids loved it, loved it! My two year old put her hand in it, she was so eager!

Other options I thought of:

different flavors pudding

Hershey's chocolate syrup

Chocolate chips mixed into cake

Peanut butter cups

Broken candy bars on top

Everything but the kitchen sink!!!