Lexi's NEW look!

Lexi has now lost both of her front teeth. And, I think she looks great! I also think, that the expectiations of the tooth fairy have gone WAY up!!

Laughter

Have you ever laughed so hard that tears roll down your cheeks, your stomach aches, you make this funny snorting sound in the back of your throat, and you ALMOST pee your pants?
Well, I did. A couple of weeks ago, at work on best friend Friday. I laughed, and laughed, and laughed. And you know what? It felt SO good. It reminded me of how good it feels to really laugh hard! Great memories were made that night, and by laughing, it made me not so sad to be leaving such a great place. It made one of my last nights a lot better! Laughing can make a lot of things BETTER.

It also reminded me of a time when I was younger, and my brother and sister and I were sitting in church. My mom was next to us, and my dad was up on the stand in the bishopric. I am not sure what we even started laughing over....but we COULD NOT stop. Even knowing the heap of trouble we were going to be in when, and IF we made it home, we could not stop. It was so fun!!

I am so glad to have laughter. Today, it is one of my most grateful things in my journal. If you haven't laughed lately, and I mean REALLY laughed, you need to. You'll like it!

Friday's Food for Thought

This recipe is my kiddos favorite after school snack. I have to agree it is one of my favorites as well. There are many other "not so good" food choices in our house as they come home and rummage through the cupboards as if they haven't eaten in a week! Very easy, and very Good!
Thanks to my friend Holly for this great recipe!

Chocolate Chip Muffins

1/2 c. butter
3/4 c brown sugar
1 egg
1 c flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
3/4 c applesauce
1 c oats
1 cup chocolate chips
Cream butter, sugar, and beat in egg. Add dry ingredients to mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Place in muffin tin, (I like to use the paper cupcake holders) and bake on 350 for 18-20 minutes.

**I like to double the recipe to make a little over 2 dozen. I freeze a dozen for later!!

"I look out the window and what did I see..."

Kids, go outside and play....It's Spring Break!

Easter Egg Hunt

Grandma's backyard was the host for hundreds of eggs filled with candy, balloons, and other prizes. All of the grandkids had a blast! Some of her kids had a blast too!!

I'm so Lucky!!

I seriously have to be one of the luckiest people in the world when I look at my beautiful family. I have the best husband, and three beautiful children who love me! Who could ask for anything more!

Happy Easter!

We tried to snap some photos of the kids before church in their Easter outfits.

When they woke up they came running out into the family room to find some clothes that we had bought them...No Easter baskets! They looked around and tried to find some glimmer of hope. I told them that maybe the Easter Bunny felt they weren't being very good lately. (which they were not) Before Lexi began to cry hysterically, I pointed at a little note left on the fireplace mantel. It was from the Easter Bunny. He told them he had left eggs all over the house with clues inside that would lead them to their baskets. After reading 12 clues, found in 12 eggs all over the house, they all found their baskets and we happy!!

So, so spoiled. Since when does the Easter Bunny leave presents? They got movies, Wii games, flip-flops. and other toys! Guess its better than candy right?!?

Friday's Food for Thought

I am wondering while I titled this post "Food for thought." Then it came to me, that food helps me to think, it also helps me to clean, be outside, read a book...you get my drift, I LOVE food! I am always trying new recipes found in magazines, and on TV cooking shows.

Last week during one of the snow storms, I was really craving the sweet rice from Bajio's. I did not want to go out, so I let my fingers do the walking. I searched on line, and read through several recipes, and chose two that seemed like they sounded the closest. This one was my favorite...Let me know what you think!

P.S...if you already have a sweet rice recipe that is more like the Bajio's rice than this recipe please share!

Sweet Rice

1 T vegetable oil

1/2 white onion

1/2 bunch of cilantro

1 1/3 c. white rice

3 c. chicken broth

1/4-1/2 white sugar (I only added 1/4 and it seemed plenty sweet for me)

Chop onion and cilantro very fine. (I put them in my food processor). Saute onion in oil until soft. Add cilantro. Add rice and stir until light brown. Combine chicken broth and sugar, letting sugar dissolve in broth. Add to rice mixture. Bring to boil. Cover and let cook on med-low heat about 25-30 minutes until rice is done.

Thanks Grandma!!

In response to our troublesome night last night (see next post "Last the best of all the game"), Jordan came home from school to find a note attached to a 5$ bill. It read:

Dear Jordan,
I understand you raced your car at the pinewood derby last night. I know you didn't win the race, BUT you did a great job in making your car and trying your hardest. You did your best, and that is being a BIGGER winner. I love you and so does Grandpa.

There is also a prize for doing your best. Here is 5$ to get you a treat!

Love you so much, Grandma

"Last the BEST of all the game!"

Whoever came up with this phrase needs to come over and console my eight year old son, who happened to come in last place 3 out of 4 of his races last night. The 4th race he came in second to last. I felt so bad for the little thing. I watched from across the track as he lost the first race, his eyes filling, almost as if he was going to cry. It didn't help my pain to have Lexi come to me after he lost the third race and say, "Mom, I've been watching Jordan, and he hasn't even smiled one time!"

What do you do? We tried to console him, and tell him that he did an awesome job on his car, and that it didn't matter if he won or lost, he still had an awesome car. We tried to talk to him about having good sportsmanship, and explaining that someone always has to lose! Nothing helped...I guess at eight, it is a hard lesson to learn.

Jordan, I still think you are a winner!!! Love you, Mom

"America"

Jordan's third grade performance was about America. They could dress up in any "era" they would like. I thought the "hippie days" would be the easiest costume to make. I made the shirt, and they took a pair of his old pants and cut slits in both sides so I could insert matching fabric to flare! He looked awesome. It was so fun to hear them sing the songs that I remember singing in elementary school....Good Job Jordan!

The Home Depot...

You can do it...we can help! Yes, Jordan went to the Home depot with his scout friends and made a really cool mini-pinewood derby track. They made the two tracks and each received two cars to race down the track. He even got his own "Home Depot" apron with his name on it! Scouts are great...I am sure my friend Janice, who used to be a scout leader misses it tremendously!!!

Friday's Food for Thought

Alright, so I know its not really Friday....but I was so busy last Friday that I forgot to post this fabulous recipe. Plus, it gave me the idea for my new Friday post. I love to cook, and try new recipes, so on Friday's, I will post something new and fun I have found!!

Fried Ice Cream:

1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream - take out of freezer to soften while topping is baking.
1 cube of butter-melted
In a separate bowl:
2/3 c. brown sugar
1 1/3 c. coconut
1/3 c. pecans
Pour melted butter over and stir.
Then add:
2 1/2 c. rice krispies
Spread out on cookie sheet and bake on 300 for 21 minutes. Stir/turn every 7 minutes to brown topping on all sides! Divide in half and place half on the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan. Slice ice cream and spread evenly over crust. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 of mixture on top. Freeze overnight.
Cut into squares, and top with chocolate or caramel ice cream topping.

If you like fried ice cream, you'll love this. It is very easy, and can be made ahead of time.

This Friday I will be posting a recipe that is similar to Bajio's sweet rice. If you like their rice come back and check it out!