Thanks Annie...too good not to post! :)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Carnival Fun
The best thing about halloween besides the weather cooling down are the carnivals!! Last night my sister and I headed over to a carnival nearby and it was just perfect in all aspects. There weren't any crowds and the weather very agreeable.
This ride was actually really fun, and I recommend it to everyone...I had a total blast and felt like a kid again, screaming and giggling...
And of course, the favorite, the Merry-go-round. Maddox cried when I took him off his horsey, but then again, what little boy wouldn't?
The three stooges...Bryanna just eats up every second she gets to spend time with her favorite cousins!
This was taken as we were heading out, and Bryanna stuffing popcorn in her mouth with Maddox showing off his cute little tummy...LOL! Kids WILL be kids!
My precious cargo...love this little kittens to pieces!
Abby, the dare devil, on the yo-yo! Even her older sister said no to this ride!
Tell me, what child doesn't love a ride involving a miniature car??
Maddox also cried when we took him off of this one...poor kid!
And you see the lights on...
And poof...they're off! Yep, that's right. The main power generator that supplied all the energy for the carnival died...just as they were starting this ride! Oh well, we were practically done and ready to go home anyway!
At least we were able to get our tickets back, and guess what!! We are going back today after the kids get out of school to use them up!!
This fun carnival is located on the Northeast corner of the 215 and Rainbow for any of you wanting to go...it was so fun!
This ride was actually really fun, and I recommend it to everyone...I had a total blast and felt like a kid again, screaming and giggling...
And of course, the favorite, the Merry-go-round. Maddox cried when I took him off his horsey, but then again, what little boy wouldn't?
The three stooges...Bryanna just eats up every second she gets to spend time with her favorite cousins!
This was taken as we were heading out, and Bryanna stuffing popcorn in her mouth with Maddox showing off his cute little tummy...LOL! Kids WILL be kids!
My precious cargo...love this little kittens to pieces!
Abby, the dare devil, on the yo-yo! Even her older sister said no to this ride!
Tell me, what child doesn't love a ride involving a miniature car??
Maddox also cried when we took him off of this one...poor kid!
And you see the lights on...
And poof...they're off! Yep, that's right. The main power generator that supplied all the energy for the carnival died...just as they were starting this ride! Oh well, we were practically done and ready to go home anyway!
At least we were able to get our tickets back, and guess what!! We are going back today after the kids get out of school to use them up!!
This fun carnival is located on the Northeast corner of the 215 and Rainbow for any of you wanting to go...it was so fun!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
McCain/Palin
Did that get your attention? I have tried to keep my opinions to myself during this presidential race to the White House, but I've had it. The straw that broke the camel's back...was when I had the CARTOONS on for my kids, and I see a frickin' add about Nobama! (opps, I mean Obama). YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!! I have a very big opinion about who to vote for this year, for many reasons. Two of the reasons are 1: Prolife...for you members of the church or anyone who has a strong moral background, did you read the article in the Ensign about ABORTION this month? read it, hopefully that will change your perspective on who to vote for. 2: Marriage between a man and a woman and PROTECTING what is ordained of God. MY VOTE WILL NOT BE NOBAMA!! (I think I already made that statement loud and clear without havin to type it...oh well, it doesn't hurt to say it twice! I am a mother and it seems that's what mom's do best...repetition is needed!) Obviously, the economy is in trouble...and whoever is in office the next four years will not be someone who can change anything over night, this horrible slump has got to run its course, whether its McCain or the other guy. Yes, there are issues in Iraq. Yes, there are issues about Homeland security. Yes, issues with gas prices. Yes, the Housing Market is totally awful. To me, the biggest issues are protecting life, and protecting marriage. All the other stuff is somewhat important.
I had a good friend send me this article and I would like for you all to read it. Orson Scott Card is a democrat and a newspaper columnist, and in this opinion piece he takes on both while lamenting the current state of journalism.
Give it a good read! This article has nothing to do with Prolife or Protecting marriage. It takes a deep look into the REAL differences between McCain and Obama besides the two most important issues I named above. Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?
Normally, I love to just blog about my cute little family and take my kids' pictures, or make something delicious and share it with you all. But I have too many strong feelings to not say something about the Presidential race right now.
I had a good friend send me this article and I would like for you all to read it. Orson Scott Card is a democrat and a newspaper columnist, and in this opinion piece he takes on both while lamenting the current state of journalism.
Give it a good read! This article has nothing to do with Prolife or Protecting marriage. It takes a deep look into the REAL differences between McCain and Obama besides the two most important issues I named above. Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?
Normally, I love to just blog about my cute little family and take my kids' pictures, or make something delicious and share it with you all. But I have too many strong feelings to not say something about the Presidential race right now.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Picture Tag
Ok, Mark here. Chandra tagged Stacy for this, but I am doing it. I have to confess though, that I cannot exactly follow the rules. The fourth picture in fourth folder is a picture that Bryanna took with the camera of Stacy, and let's just say it is not for ANYONE's eyes...except mine :-) So, I am doubling it. I am taking the eighth picture in the eighth folder.
This is a picture of the best cookies in the whole world. The sad thing about this picture, though, is that she made them for the choir that day, and DIDNT LEAVE ANY AT HOME FOR ME!!!
I tag Kaerlig and Annie...
You have the choice, either take the fourth photo in the fourth folder in your my pictures folder, or the eighth and eighth...depending on appropriateness
This is a picture of the best cookies in the whole world. The sad thing about this picture, though, is that she made them for the choir that day, and DIDNT LEAVE ANY AT HOME FOR ME!!!
I tag Kaerlig and Annie...
You have the choice, either take the fourth photo in the fourth folder in your my pictures folder, or the eighth and eighth...depending on appropriateness
Dance Class, Carving Pumpkins, Best Homemade Bread EVER!
Bryanna had Parent day at dance class on Monday, it was so fun to watch her dance, she is always dancing, singing...so it was great to watch her be apart of the class and take her turn doing all the fun moves. Her teacher is due to have her 6th baby right before thanksgiving, and I really hope she will want to keep going after she recovers...but if not, I don't blame her one bit!
Mark carved this really cool spider web and spider on Saturday. I love Saturdays when daddy is home and playing with all of us. He's such a great hubby...love you Mark!
I have to share the most delicious homemade bread recipe originally from my cousin Trachelle who lives in Anchorage, AK...and then I got from Kaerlig my other wonderful cousin in Provo...Thank you to both of you...I have enjoyed having the yummy smell of a bakery in my home ever since! It's addicting...I seem to be on a homemade bread kick lately!
Using a bread machine on the dough cycle~
here is Trachelle's recipe for one loaf:
1 cup hot water
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 T. oil
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup wheat flour
1 cup white flour
3 T. gluten
1 T. yeast
Add them in that order. The breadmaker stinks for baking bread, but it is good for mixing dough so I let it do it's job and when the timer went off, I took it out, punched it down and put it in my bread pan and let it rise again and baked it at 350 for 25 minutes and it's perfect.
I have a bread machine, but not a kitchen aide mixer...so this is such a great alternative! Thanks Trachelle and Kaerlig!
Mark carved this really cool spider web and spider on Saturday. I love Saturdays when daddy is home and playing with all of us. He's such a great hubby...love you Mark!
I have to share the most delicious homemade bread recipe originally from my cousin Trachelle who lives in Anchorage, AK...and then I got from Kaerlig my other wonderful cousin in Provo...Thank you to both of you...I have enjoyed having the yummy smell of a bakery in my home ever since! It's addicting...I seem to be on a homemade bread kick lately!
Using a bread machine on the dough cycle~
here is Trachelle's recipe for one loaf:
1 cup hot water
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 T. oil
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup wheat flour
1 cup white flour
3 T. gluten
1 T. yeast
Add them in that order. The breadmaker stinks for baking bread, but it is good for mixing dough so I let it do it's job and when the timer went off, I took it out, punched it down and put it in my bread pan and let it rise again and baked it at 350 for 25 minutes and it's perfect.
I have a bread machine, but not a kitchen aide mixer...so this is such a great alternative! Thanks Trachelle and Kaerlig!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Carmel Apple Party
Yesterday was our annual Carmel Apple making party. It was filled with lots of fun, creativity, and most of all, great company! Thanks Jen for letting us use your beautiful kitchen again this year!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Best Darn Cookies
On Sunday, our ward choir sang in Sacrament meeting. So to help get people to come to choir practice, a little incentive helps, right? As the ward choir director, I'll do anything to get bodies there! I made these delicious cookies for those who came on Sunday, and just to give you an idea, I made 5 dozen cookies and came home with 1 dozen! There are only 20 in the choir...and that's on a really good day!
I got this recipe from my mom, she is the author of this recipe. I'm SOOO grateful, because they are so darn good!
Christyn's Cookie Recipe
2 cubes butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 cup veg. oil
1 T vanilla
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups flour
12 oz. pkg milk choc. chips
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans toasted
2 1/2 cups oatmeal
Cream together butter and sugar. Then add eggs, oil and vanilla to creamy mixture. Add dry ingredients, mix well and fold in the last three ingredients. Bake @ 375 for 9 minutes.
Enjoy, and just a warning, you might have to make a double batch, they go VERY fast!
I got this recipe from my mom, she is the author of this recipe. I'm SOOO grateful, because they are so darn good!
Christyn's Cookie Recipe
2 cubes butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 cup veg. oil
1 T vanilla
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups flour
12 oz. pkg milk choc. chips
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans toasted
2 1/2 cups oatmeal
Cream together butter and sugar. Then add eggs, oil and vanilla to creamy mixture. Add dry ingredients, mix well and fold in the last three ingredients. Bake @ 375 for 9 minutes.
Enjoy, and just a warning, you might have to make a double batch, they go VERY fast!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Training
I woke up at 5 this morning to train for the Valley of Fire race in November. Let me tell you...it was FREEZING! It was 46 degrees outside!! I've been doing the majority of my running on the treadmill at the gym for a few reasons. First, there is babysitting! Second, I go with a really good friend, and that makes it fun! Third, the running group goes during the weekdays right when Mark is leaving for work, time conflict, I can't go that early!
I really enjoyed running with the group this morning, although when I heard the wind rustling outside while I was getting ready, I was having some major doubts and almost thinking of staying in bed! Isn't that how it always is? Of course its easier to stay in bed! But I felt so good when I got home...and reminded me that I still enjoy running and all the training will pay off on race day!!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Cinnamon Rolls
I love to cook, but I love to bake. When the fall weather sets in, I find myself baking more. I love to bake cookies of all sorts, cakes, cheesecakes, bundt cakes, birthday cakes...the decorating is the fun part there, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, you name it, I love to bake it!
It all started with baking peanut butter cookies when I was 11 or so, and my mom would take them into the Dental Office where she worked, and everyone raved about them. So my mom would ask me to bake them every couple of months or so, and it just became fun and enjoyable, especially when they came out of the oven!
During the month of December I do a ton of baking. This year I am going to host another cookie exchange in my ward, baking 12 dozen cookies (yes, that's 144 cookies!) and wrap up each dozen to give to the other 11 women who come with their 12 dozen. Then you get home and divide all the different kinds of cookies to give away to neighbors or to the sisters you visit teach, and save some for your own family!
We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast while we watched Conference last weekend. I got this recipe from Janeen Donat, and I think its the best recipe of all the different kinds I've baked! If you can't tell what part Bryanna like's best...well, it's the icing! Heck, that kid loves sugar!
CINNAMON ROLLS
Ingredients:
2 packages of yeast (or 4 ½ tsp.)
1 tsp. sugar
1 cup warm (not hot) water
1 can evaporated milk at room temperature
2/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
4 tsp. salt
6-8 cups of flour
butter
raisins (optional)
cinnamon-sugar mix
brown sugar
Directions:
Mix the first 3 ingredients. Add the next 5 ingredients to make dough. Let it stand for 10-15 minutes. Turn the dough onto floured surface and knead vigorously by hand or use a dough hook, until smooth and elastic. Slap the dough on the counter several times to remove air bubbles. Place in a large greased bowl, grease the top, and place in a warm (not hot) oven for an hour. Roll out the dough in the shape of a rectangle on a floured surface. Spread liberally with butter. Sprinkle with raisins (optional), and lots of cinnamon-sugar mix and a little brown sugar. Roll up & slice into 1 ½ inch slices. Heath oven to 400 degrees and then down to 350 degrees and bake for 15-20 minutes. When rolls are done, frost immediately with cream cheese frosting.
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Ingredients:
1 package powdered sugar
milk
½ cup butter, melted
8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
Directions:
With an electric mixer, combine all of the powdered sugar and butter and enough milk to make a stiff frosting. Add softened cream cheese and mix on high for 1 minute. Then add more milk for preferred consistency.
It all started with baking peanut butter cookies when I was 11 or so, and my mom would take them into the Dental Office where she worked, and everyone raved about them. So my mom would ask me to bake them every couple of months or so, and it just became fun and enjoyable, especially when they came out of the oven!
During the month of December I do a ton of baking. This year I am going to host another cookie exchange in my ward, baking 12 dozen cookies (yes, that's 144 cookies!) and wrap up each dozen to give to the other 11 women who come with their 12 dozen. Then you get home and divide all the different kinds of cookies to give away to neighbors or to the sisters you visit teach, and save some for your own family!
We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast while we watched Conference last weekend. I got this recipe from Janeen Donat, and I think its the best recipe of all the different kinds I've baked! If you can't tell what part Bryanna like's best...well, it's the icing! Heck, that kid loves sugar!
CINNAMON ROLLS
Ingredients:
2 packages of yeast (or 4 ½ tsp.)
1 tsp. sugar
1 cup warm (not hot) water
1 can evaporated milk at room temperature
2/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
4 tsp. salt
6-8 cups of flour
butter
raisins (optional)
cinnamon-sugar mix
brown sugar
Directions:
Mix the first 3 ingredients. Add the next 5 ingredients to make dough. Let it stand for 10-15 minutes. Turn the dough onto floured surface and knead vigorously by hand or use a dough hook, until smooth and elastic. Slap the dough on the counter several times to remove air bubbles. Place in a large greased bowl, grease the top, and place in a warm (not hot) oven for an hour. Roll out the dough in the shape of a rectangle on a floured surface. Spread liberally with butter. Sprinkle with raisins (optional), and lots of cinnamon-sugar mix and a little brown sugar. Roll up & slice into 1 ½ inch slices. Heath oven to 400 degrees and then down to 350 degrees and bake for 15-20 minutes. When rolls are done, frost immediately with cream cheese frosting.
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Ingredients:
1 package powdered sugar
milk
½ cup butter, melted
8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
Directions:
With an electric mixer, combine all of the powdered sugar and butter and enough milk to make a stiff frosting. Add softened cream cheese and mix on high for 1 minute. Then add more milk for preferred consistency.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
This Week
In between Conference sessions on Saturday, we headed over to our neighborhood park to get some wiggles out. We have been enjoying the weather, although for this time of year is still out of the ordinary...warm! 
Mark helped the kids on the teeter-totter. He's such a fun daddy, because I don't do that when I go to the park with the kids! Thank goodness for daddy and all the fun he has with the kids! 
I got a Dragon costume for Maddox this year for Halloween. It's definitely too small for him already, the kid is a tank! I wanted to try it on to see how bad it was, and I think we can pull it off with Halloween only a few more weeks away. It was the biggest size I could find, and barely fits!! Maddox, would you please quit growing up so fast? You are my baby and I don't like it one bit!! 
When Bryanna saw Maddox all dressed up, I told her he was going to be a Dragon for Halloween. She said, "He's going to be a DRAGON FLY?" LOL!!! So, now poor Maddox is not only wearing a costume on the small side, he's a dragon fly to his big sister too!! 
Maddox has really started to just do some really funny things lately. I have this funny feeling he might be the class clown when he goes to school. He's always making us laugh! 
Bryanna is constantly playing dress-up. From the moment breakfast is over til we have to go somewhere, she is in one of her dresses...changing outfits a dozen times a day...I'm just curious to find out how long this stage will last...its cute and fun, until I find her clothes strewn all over the house! 
Mark helped the kids on the teeter-totter. He's such a fun daddy, because I don't do that when I go to the park with the kids! Thank goodness for daddy and all the fun he has with the kids! 
I got a Dragon costume for Maddox this year for Halloween. It's definitely too small for him already, the kid is a tank! I wanted to try it on to see how bad it was, and I think we can pull it off with Halloween only a few more weeks away. It was the biggest size I could find, and barely fits!! Maddox, would you please quit growing up so fast? You are my baby and I don't like it one bit!! 
When Bryanna saw Maddox all dressed up, I told her he was going to be a Dragon for Halloween. She said, "He's going to be a DRAGON FLY?" LOL!!! So, now poor Maddox is not only wearing a costume on the small side, he's a dragon fly to his big sister too!! 
Maddox has really started to just do some really funny things lately. I have this funny feeling he might be the class clown when he goes to school. He's always making us laugh! 
Bryanna is constantly playing dress-up. From the moment breakfast is over til we have to go somewhere, she is in one of her dresses...changing outfits a dozen times a day...I'm just curious to find out how long this stage will last...its cute and fun, until I find her clothes strewn all over the house! 
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