My favorite Valentines!

These sweet faces are tops on my list!

But without this handsome fellow, those sweet faces wouldn't have been possible!

Oh, how I am blessed!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Holiday Cookies!

If you really know me, you know that I'm more of a "chips" girl than and "desserts" girl.  So all the holiday baking is not really a huge deal to me.  There are several things that I definitely LOVE, like my friend, Nicole's chocolate covered snack mix!  She dropped off a bag a week or so ago on a crazy afternoon and I think the kids and I ate the entire bag before she even pulled out of the driveway!  The pretzels are the best part in my opinion.  (It's the salty and sweet that do me in!) 

Last Saturday morning while Andy was out biking, the kids and I stayed in our jammies and baked all morning.  Andy loves oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, so we made a batch of those.  We also made a batch of cranberry walnut cookies, which is a recipe I got from Andy's mom, Joy.  I always make them because they remind me of her. 

Then we made these.  Thin & Crispy Oatmeal cookies.  I came across the recipe a while back when I was hoping from blog to blog.  I don't know why they looked so good to me, but I printed the recipe and put it in my recipe binder. 

I followed the recipe exactly.....and oh my goodness!  They are wonderful.  They have a little bit of sea salt on the top which honestly, is like frosting to me.  If you like oatmeal cookies, these are the BEST.  Now, they are exactly what they are called, thin and crispy, so if you are looking for a soft, chewy oatmeal cookie, these are not that.  But I don't think you will be disappointed.  Try them.....they are fabulous.  This is the only recipe I've tried from Allie's Clean Plate Club, but I think I'll be trying more very soon.

Another Christmas Tradition!

My hubby is lucky enough to get some extra time off at the holidays.  He always gets the week between Christmas and New Years off and usually a few days before Christmas too.  It's nice to have him around to help keep the kids entertained, or even run errands for me if need be. 

When the kids were just little bitty, we started a tradition where we take the kids to my parents, the two of us go out for lunch and then together we finish the shopping.  We continued that tradition today.  Went dropped the kiddos off at Grandma and Paca's house and then headed out to lunch.  In the past we have always gone to Red Lobster, so I suggested some other options for our dining pleasure.  However, my hubby is ALL about the tradition part and drove us right to Red Lobster.  I then remembered that it's not about where we go, but that we are together.  We had a great lunch and then headed out in the crazy madness of holiday shopping (which is NOT my most favorite thing!)  Our shopping was pretty much complete, there were a few odds and ends to pick up, so we pretty much just shopped for him.   The rule however, was that anything he got had to be wrapped and he would act totally surprised when he opened them on Christmas day.  It was a nice afternoon and I will look forward to this same tradition next year and maybe even the same ol' Red Lobster.

Holiday fun....

is making Cool-Whip gingerbread houses with our cousins.  And more importantly, a big "Thank You" to Papa and Jane for having all this messy fun-ness at their house! 

 

  

 

More of what we did over our break!

Let me take you on a tour of the kid's snow fort. Of course, the snow is gone now (I actually think it all went into my friend's newly finished basement...sorry Mary O.) but while it was here...Andy (my first child) made an awesome snow fort for the kids. Check it out!




My kids are big fans of the show "MythBusters" and when Santa found this little gadget, I guess he thought that my kids just had to have it. It was a big hit!



The fun is now over...Mags just left to go back to school.

What we've been doing....

over our Christmas break.

Andy did a little sewing! (More on that later!) Can't wait to hear the comments from Tim!

Visited old friends....no pun intended...but this sweet lady will turn 99 in March. She was our neighbor in our first house, and it's been too long since we've seen her. She is such a delight and sharp as a tack! We will be seeing her again soon!

We spent New Year's Eve with friends (and kids) for our 2nd annual trip to a total dive restaurant, where we ate great salad, greasy onion rings and yummy pizza. We then went back to our friends house and played a few games and laughed a lot at the kids new fart machine. Thanks Aunt Jodi!

Both big boys grew out the facial hair over the break. I guess that's a manly thing to do!

We went roller skating a few times....I was along for this trip taking a few pictures!

We also have been working on this monster. A 1000 piece puzzle is taking over my living room, and I have wasted spent way too much time on it!

Oh, yeah...we also made a volcano. I had to stay away, as I was sure it was going to make a huge mess. They (Andy) promised to clean up...so I was able to snap a few pictures!

Oh the fun we have had! Andy is back to work today, the kiddos and I get a few more days at home. But getting back to a regular routine is high on my list of things to do.
But the memories we have created will continue for a lifetime!

Highlights of 2010

**Click on the link below to read the post!**

Lots of quality time with cousins!

Free money!

The start of a great Mommy/Daughter tool!

VBS

Getting Harvey!

Traci's Troops and the 2010 MS Walk!


Wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year!

Cherish Every Moment!

This is a story from right here in our local community! It is a precious reminder to Cherish Every Moment!

Veteran's Day!

Remembering all who have and all who are serving our country! God bless you and thank you for all that you do!

Happy Earth Day!

I can honestly say that I try to do my part when it comes to helping out our planet. And as we observe Earth Day today, I wanted to share the easiest way I have found to do that. Of course, there is the obvious, reduce, reuse, recycle...as Jack Johnson sings about. (Love this tune!)



If you have been with me from the beginning of this little blog of mine, you might remember when I first purchased these nifty little bags. I got two of them two years ago on Earth Day. One yellow and one pink....and they are still with me.

I have grown to love them so much...I now carry 6 with me at all times. I use them at Wal-mart, Target, TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, anywhere you get a bag....I get my own out.


Now, when the cashier realizes I have my own bags...(especially if I'm somewhere with a LOT of stuff) they are not the most excited people on earth. However, I have learned to inform them of my own bags right at the beginning and then I help, or even "bag" the stuff myself. The cashiers are much more appreciative if I help.

These great little bags fit right inside themselves and are so cute, great fun colors, and they hold a lot more than you think they will. I get compliments all the time. If you want to check them out...click here!

Got a great recycling tip to share?...I'd love to hear how you are helping out our Earth!

Birthday & Easter 2010

We are in Arizona, and Max has already caught a couple of fish....

I had a wonderful birthday with a lot of cards, calls, texts and facebook comments...oh, and mom got me this delicious ice-cream birthday cake, that we weren't able to eat til after brunch on Easter!


Somehow, the Easter bunny knew we were in Arizona too....he hid a lot of eggs and the kids got Easter baskets full of all kinds of goodies.

We had a wonderful brunch on Easter morning with Grandma and Paca AND Papa and Jane. It was so nice to be with all of them!

Then later last night, we went to Organ Stop Pizza! Great pizza and even better entertainment.

It's been a great few days...with lots more fun to come! Oh, how I love spring break!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Lots of Christmas Pictures!

Christmas Eve with my side of the family!

Maggie took this one...pretty good don't ya think!

Grandma & Paca (by Maggie)

4 Generations!

Max just being goofy and Maggie getting his picture!

Opening some fun new markers...(washable of course!)

Max and his new finger flashlights!

The girls opening their gift from us...personalized pillowcases...what every tween needs for their next slumber party!


Christmas Morning at home

Maggie was so excited about this do-it-yourself scrapbook
she got from some special friends of ours! She's already made a few pages!

Max loving more Legos...(thanks t,t,m& v)

Double light sabers from Santa!

Mags decked out in her new coat, hat, scarf, and don't miss the new soccer shorts!

Then...
We went to Papa's house in the afternoon on Christmas day

Here's QP opening one of his gifts from us...a Star Wars gun....he was in heaven!

Mags with one of her stocking stuffers

Max and his new "boy" scarf! Super cute!

A Max with Papa's new workshop headphones!

All my pics of Sloan were fuzzy...she's a fast one, but I'm sure Janelle will have pictures posted on her blog...you can check here!

Needless to say, we had a very nice Christmas, and as always, way too many gifts. Hope you had a great holiday too!