What's Cookin'

So, my beautiful friend Brynn sent me a surprise package! What a treat! She told me she was going to send me a homemade Chic Boutique Wipee Case for a class I was going to add with the Enrichment classes for our Ward. I had no idea she would send this darling holiday apron along with it! Check it out! So sassy and cute! I love it, Brynn! You have a fun talent with fabrics and a sewing machine! Your apron gave me some extra spice and sass needed in the kitchen!

Close up of the apron...

And, for the record, it still adds some spice and sass when I'm in my daily "mom uniform" (yoga capri's and any tee) cookin' it up in the kitchen!
Thank you, my friend! I made a Sopapilla Cheesecake that was divine...and didn't get a thing on me! You rock! Here's the recipe for anyone interested: (soooo easy and soooo good, great dessert for parties)

Sopapilla Cheesecake

• 2 (8 ounce) cans crescent rolls
• 2 (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 2 teaspoons vanilla, divided
• 1/2 cup margarine or butter (not spread or tub product)
• ground cinnamon
• Optional, 1 cup blueberries, raspberries or strawberries

Directions:

1. With one (1) can of crescent rolls, line the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan sprayed with Pam. Stretch dough and pinch holes closed to form a crust.
2. Blend together, with mixer, softened cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoons vanilla.
3. Spread cheese mixture evenly over the dough but not too close to the edges.
4. (Optional) Add berries of choice spread evenly over the top of cream cheese mixture.
5. Stretch the second can of crescent rolls over the cream cheese (and berry) mixture to form a top crust.
6. Melt butter, blending in 1 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoons vanilla.
7. Pour evenly over the crust and sprinkle generously with cinnamon.
8. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes until bubbling and bottom crust is slightly browned.
9. Let cool and refrigerate before cutting into squares.

Monkey Boy, Down for the Count

Caden is constantly climbing up anything and everything these days. On top of bunk beds, counter tops, hanging from pool ladders (no pool), tops of boxes and cabinets, barn loft stairs, you name it. Always into mischief...here are a few pictures of such adventures that I could find right away...
OK, admittedly this was a lame attempt on my part to try and keep him from coming into the kitchen while mopping...but still!

I love the fury in his eyes in this picture! He does NOT appreciate being kept from food!

Yes, he found himself inside our top loading washer! This was around Halloween after some party, obviously, with the face paint.

On the counter top...

Inside cupboards!

So, image my surprise when walking into the family room and being greeted with this face...

and this right behind him...

Yes, that would be the 4th time Caden has tried to climb our Christmas tree and had it fall on him. However this time he just giggled with delight instead of screaming... this has become a problem, no doubt!Only leaving behind him a mess of fallen tree needles and ornaments...and his signature tell tale sign...Ginger Grahams, Gavin's Lego's and a tree bell ornament (that always seems to be in his hand at some point during the day) all clumped together as evidence left at the scene of the crime.
The tree is now anchored to the window walls. I tried to make it not look as ghetto as possible, but what can I do?At least I was able to do it with ribbon, instead of the black twine that Christopher was going to use!! Hopefully that will keep the tree up a little longer...just in time for me to round up Caden from another venture up the tree! Silly boy!

LOVIN' IT!

Can't get enough of this album at the moment! Feelin' the Christmas Spirit all day long! It's such a refreshing break from Alvin & the Chipmunks and dogs barking Jingle Bells! Thanks to my Goosey Love for allowing me to purchase yet another Christmas CD! Love ya!

It's Christmas TIME!!

It's official! It's Christmas TIME at our house! I love the day after Thanksgiving b.c I can finally freely express all my Christmas holiday cheer without the "not before Thanksgiving" people wishing me to stop and wait it out. I get more and more anxious for this holiday each year as my children get older. Having a family of my own definitely makes the season more meaningful and bright.

Caden, Gavin, Reese and Daddy hanging ornaments on the tree!

Christmas this year is a little different than traditionally done in our family. Putting up all our tree and decorations has been a 3 day affair. And we aren't all the way done yet. Christopher has yet to finish all the lights on the house top and trees! That hasn't changed much from previous years, however, we went with an artificial tree "FAKE" this year. I'm a snob when it comes to my Christmas tree being REAL....that's the only way I'd ever have in my house. I mean seriously, check out LAST YEAR'S REAL TREE (so full and vibrant) verses this years fake....sad day. However, we opted for a borrowed tree from Granna (thank you Cristi) this year, as I try to learn to live on a strict budget (for reasons we still have yet to be able to share).

The kids trying to help that fake tree look something like a Christmas tree.

The kids did all the tree decorating this year. And I mean ALL. I spent and hour doing the lights and then let the kids go to town on the tree while Christopher made a fire in the fireplace and I did decor around the house. It's just so cute how all the ornaments are on the bottom of the tree. Gavin did go and get a stool to try and get close to the top as he could, and Christopher helped them with the star on top. It was so fun watching the kids make memories and feel the spirit of love and friendship and family while decorating. LOVE IT!

So much fun!

Here's what the tree looked like the day after and fully decorated (below). You might notice that the stockings hung over the chimney look familiar, they are in fact the same ones from last year. Most people do use their stockings more than once a year, but we have a tradition of making new ones each year. You can read about this tradition IN LAST YEAR's POST. This year, in keeping within my budget, we are just using last years. However, we are still stuffing some old stockings and giving them away. That part of the tradition is living on. Can't really cut on charity budgeting b.c it's just so fun to give until it hurts and is so important for the kids to be a part of something other than themselves.

Tree by day...notice we added a few mini decor trees to help out the fakey.

Tree by night. The fakey still puts of the right glow and warmth.

So many people tout the added beauty of a fake tree is that they don't drop needles (which would only happen on a real tree if people didn't take proper water and nourishing care of their live tree). WHAT IS THIS?!?!? (See below!) I had to do several vacuum trips under the tree while stringing lights and then again after the kids put up the ornaments! These didn't have a nice smell afterwards either. Do all fake trees do this? Oh, and once more when Caden pulled down the tree on top of himself! Really, I have no problem with other people having and LOVING their artificial tree, it's just not for me. I mean, I have several of them up around my home as decoration, just not as my main tree. Can you tell I miss my Frazier Fir....freshly cut with love from a farm?!? Now everyone else has to post a picture of their beautiful tree on their blog....except you Marni...cuz' you wont make a blog yet!! ;-)

Merry Christmas!

Turkey Trot 2007

This Thanksgiving we participated in the 40th Annual Dallas Turkey Trot...along with 35,000+ runners once again. For a refresher on what the Turkey Trot is, please see THIS POST from last years race. Of course this years race was just as fun...we could have did without the 49 degree weather however!!! A northern cold front hit us Wednesday afternoon taking away our 85 degrees and bringing us into the depths of winter. AGH! (I hope it doesn't last long! I'm such a wuss in the cold anymore!) Besides feeling a little unprepared weather wise (we still haven't bought out our winter jackets) everyone had a great time. This race has been the best start to our Thanksgiving mornings for the last two years. We hope to make it an annual Thanksgiving tradition in the years to come.

This year instead of the 5k, Christopher and Gavin did the 8 mile run.
Here are a few pictures:

Reese all ready to meet up with the Turkey Trot fun!

Gavin's ready too!

Loaded up with lots of blankets, hats, gloves and jackets. Ready to go!

Reese and Daddy. Reese and Gavin had fun on all the bouncy houses at the race. There is always a wide variety of things to entertain ourselves with while at the race.

Reese and Caden enjoyed (from afar) the petting zoo animals brought in for The Trot fun. Reese had some snacks on her stroller tray which led to a rather excited time when the sheep and goat below started to push over the fence to get to her food!

After loading up on all the free yogurts, smoothie drinks, Starbucks hot chocolate, sports drinks and fruit and radio station give aways (we always go home stocked!) we went to the last stretch of Christopher's run (up a hill no less!) and cheered him on! He had a radio on the bottom carriage of the stroller playing the radio station that was broadcasting the Turkey Trot. Fun!
After getting lost in the mobs of tens of thousands of people downtown, we finally found each other back at the car. Until next year....

Thanksgiving at Granna & Pa's

After coming home from our Thanksgiving day race, The Turkey Trot, we went down to Granna and Pa Lloyd's house in Tyler for our Thanksgiving feast. Christopher's sister Cori (with her delicious rolls) and her family were there to celebrate as well. Wish I could have gotten more pictures, but I still wasn't feeling too well. Besides, it's completely impossible to get these 5 young boys and the sole princess to sit still in one place for a picture.

Here's what I do have:

Reese waiting patiently at the kiddie table for over a half hour for the food to be ready!

The table setting at the kiddie table. Nothing got broken this time around...only a few salt shakers that ended up in the bathroom toilet or shatter on the kitchen floor.

This year there were 12 place settings at the adult table. Scott, Cristi, "Mom" (Cristi's Mother), Christopher, Myself, Cori, Trent, Trent's sister, brother in law and mother, Tyler and his soon to be wife, Amanda.

Cousin's Russell and Carter ready for Thanksgiving chow time!

Gavin and Russell being the silly boys that they are. Of course they are both with suckers...what else would be at Granna's!

We had a fabulous time being with family and stuffing our bellies with scrumptious food! Let us not forget that their were 9 different types of pies to be eaten! 5 pumpkin, 2 apple, 1 coconut creme and 1 cherry. Yes, the feast will live on for DAYS!!! Thanks to Granna and Cori for all their efforts in pulling off Thanksgiving at da Lloyd's of Tyler 2007!

Helpful Holiday Shopping Tips

Thought I might pass along this bit of helpful holiday shopping tips for all you shoppers out there today. Brought to you by BECAUSE I SAID SO...click here. (Make sure you're on the post titled "33 more shopping days until Christmas")

What not to buy or recieve for that matter, for Christmas this year!


Hilarious woman! Love her. Every post of her's is so fun to read. I get loads of laughs from her blog weekly and soooo plan to buy her book once published! Check it out!

Happy Birthday Pa Haslam!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PA!! WE LOVE YOU!

Have a great Thanksgiving! Hugs and Kisses from all of us in Texas!

Family Fun Gobble Gobble

Well, the bug the kids had mutated and finally hit me. Sorry, I have been MIA for a few days. I've been ill since Sunday evening and just wish I could get over it already. Especially with tomorrow being Thanksgiving!
Speaking of Thanksgiving, we did manage to get a Thanksgiving FHE in and made some Turkey Cupcakes from our FAMILY FUN magazine. Here are a few pictures:

I asked Gavin and Reese what they are thankful for this year, this was their response:

transformers. daddy, caden, mommy, gavin. reese. my house. legos. hello kitties. electricity. madison. friends. race cars. prophets. windows. dance class. gavin's school. halloween. doors. music. and the list could go on and on. Happy Thanksgiving!

Women Who Know

I came across this article on a friends blog (I even stole her title...thanks, Michelle)! I want to make sure I post it on my own for a much needed reference in the not so distant future, when I'll need to be reminded once again on how much I really love my children! And to gain some perspective! I love you Gavin, Reese and my baby Caden! You never cease in teaching me!

A Parent's Thanksgiving List
by Janene Wolsey Baadsgaard

I’m grateful my children demand I talk to them when I don’t feel like talking, feed them when I’m not hungry, and change their diapers even when I’m all dressed up and ready to go somewhere special. I don’t think I’d discover the world outside my own needs without them.

I’m grateful my children haven’t learned how to hold back their tears when they’re sad, laughter when they’re happy, or screams when they’re frightened. They constantly remind me that emotions are for sharing.

I’m grateful my children have broken nearly everything in my home and used a crayon or ink marker on the rest. They’ve taught me that things aren’t important, but people are.

I’m grateful my children start out small and helpless so they don’t become aware of my incompetence until they’re teenagers. By then, we’ve both grown so accustomed to each other, we somehow manage to make it through the rest of life together.

I’m grateful my children get their pants dirty, pick their noses, burp without saying “excuse me,” and quarrel in public so I’ll never be able to get too arrogant, proper, or judgmental of other people’s children.

I’m grateful my children sometimes call me names like “weird” because sometimes I am “weird,” and it helps keep a person humble to be told they’re “weird” when they’re acting weird.

I’m grateful my children occasionally miss the bus at the precise moment I’ve stepped out of the shower, contemplating the well-planned, organized day ahead of me. Experiences like jumping into the car after throwing on whatever’s handy and racing to school have a tendency to loosen rigid plans into something better known as spontaneity.

I’m grateful my children always need new shoes, piano books, prescriptions, haircuts, fieldtrip money, tuition, food, toothpaste, and underwear. That way, I don’t have to waste my time thinking about a new sofa. It’s difficult to get wealthy and think about luxuries when you have to buy toilet paper and milk by the truckload each week.

I’m grateful my children know how to play. My five-year-old asked me to come downstairs so he could “teach me how to play” with his plastic animals. While Jacob demonstrated the subtle techniques for sinking a rhinoceros into couch cushions while pretending it was quicksand, I realized my young son was right. I really do need someone to “teach me how to play.”

I’m grateful my children question my every command and giggle when I get angry. It’s difficult to feel too powerful or self-righteous with kids around to remind you of how funny you look when you’re pointing your finger.

I’m grateful my children insist I hug, kiss, rock, or put my arms around them often. Otherwise, I think I’d forget how the sense of touch is so healing.

I’m grateful each of my children is unique when the same strange, inexperienced mother raised them. Somehow they don’t seem to let me ruin them much.

And lastly, I’m grateful for the gift of children in my life. God willing, I’d like to fill the rest of my days with those interesting people who call me Mom (yes, and sometimes “weird”) but eventually “weird grandma.”

Date Night wit da Cooks

Oh, what a night! Our good friends Aaron and Marni Cook wanted to take us out for a night out on the town this last Saturday, so we hired a sitter for the kids and ran out the door! I jump for any chance to hang with Marni. She is such a fun person to be around and always makes me feel good about being...me. They sure knew how to show us a good time. In order to truly get the feel of leaving the kids behind and having a much needed time out, the Cooks had us leave our kid mobile at home and they drove us around in a car that didn't smell like diapers or cheerios nor have row to row child carseats or soccer cleats...Aaron's Beamer baby! We went to eat at Houston's Restaurant...FABULOUS ambiance and food! Just take a look at our smiling happy faces as we awaited our food! Marni is such a hot mama!

Now take a gander at our ginormous portions of pure deliciousness! Comparable to my favorite restaurant back home, Claim Jumper!!
Aaron with the Chicken Sandwich and Marni with the BBQ Pork Ribs. Both looked so good I wanted to eat right off their plate.
Christopher and I were open to experimentation and tried a little couscous with our meal. Christopher didn't take too well with it and I thought it was interesting. I probably would not order it again however. My Pork Chop was absolutely mouthwateringly (yes, I may have just made up that word) delicious and Christopher's fish, Sole, was heavenly as well.
We must not forget the delectable Curry Squash Cheesecake with a nutty crust! AHHH! (Jarom, can you give me a recipe for this?) We went out of our mind in highly stimulating taste bud delight! Just check us out below:
Oh, yes! I wish I had a video of the trip Marni and I had at the Barnes & Noble while the boys went to fill up the gas tank...I'll let you keep the "perfect" "pearls" Marni! HA! We had too much fun and the boys couldn't quite keep up with all our girly giggles!

We had a little time before our movie started so we went and checked out Aaron's new office with Time Piece PR...ya, he has a pretty cool job AND he just happens to be a co-partner/owner!


Saw, Dan in Real Life, of which the boys called a "chick flick" and wondered how they got suckered into that one. But, I liked it. It's listed as a Comedy/Romance, I would however add Drama to that as well. I'm a Steve Carell fan (hello....THE OFFICE!) so I think he's funny. It had a thoughtful message that I left with.


In all, Christopher and I had a legendary time with Aaron and Marni. We went out to "celebrate" something (rrreeeaaallly big) that will be told once we have the OK and really we should have been the ones taking them out being that Aaron no doubtingly helped tremendously in the reason to celebrate! Are you confused yet? I promise I'll let on when the time comes...but that may be a bit. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Aaron and Marni for the fab evening and your friendships! You both are invaluable to us!

"I said, finger ELEVEN!" - Aaron

HAHAHAHA!