November 27, 2012

Thanksgiving

 
We spent Thanksgiving with the in-laws this year.
 
My children love it when all of Hubby's family gets together because between the nine siblings in that family, there are oodles of cousins to play with! And it just so happens that this year, almost all of them came in for the holiday.
 
My kids were so happy they were choking the life out of each other.
 
Now that's love.
 
 
We drove in Thursday morning and the kids spent the entire day just playing.
 
The rest of us spent the majority of our time eating.
 
Naturally.
 
 
You know in big family gatherings such as this, I am so glad that my children set the example for good manners and behavior.
 
 
 
They also encourage their cousins to follow their example.
 
 
They also take great care of their surroundings.
 
 
What I can I say?
 
Even I'm amazed at their skills.
 
 
Look at these cute little nephews of mine!
 
 
I admit it; I confess it!! I'm super jealous of their bright blue eyes.
 
I always wanted pretty eyes. *sigh*
 
 
And just what is so darn fascinating?
 
 
Heh, should have known.
 
 
 
This was also an exciting Thanksgiving as we got to meet the newest soon-to-be-addition to the family.
 
Hubby's brother Mike is getting married!
 
 
Marcy is down-right awesome and I liked her instantly.
 
She fits in well with the rest of us nutty girls.
 
Let's not point out that I may very well be the only nutty one in the bunch but hey, I didn't want to make any of them feel bad by leaving them out.
 
I like every one of my sister-in-laws, and in a large family, I'd say that's pretty darn good.
 
We had a mini some-what impromptu bridal shower. Since up to then, most of us hadn't met her, no one brought any fuzzy handcuffs.
 

I like to think that secretly she was a little disappointed.

 
We also had a mini family baby shower for Hubby's sister who, after struggling for over ten years, was finally having her first baby!
 
I don't know why I don't have any pictures of it. Sad day.
 
She actually ended up going into labor on Friday and had her baby Saturday via emergency c-section a whole month early.
 
By last report, mom and baby are doing good.
 
 
Soon, the party was over.

 
This is for all my sister-in laws.
 
Save them.
Print them.
Encase them in bullet proof glass.
 
But here are pictures of the guys cleaning up.
 

It's a sister-in-law thing.


The next day we squeezed all the kids into Grandma and Grandpa's house while the guys spent most of their time outside helping around the farm.


 
Late that afternoon, most of the adults decided to go out on a long four-wheeler ride, but we stayed since we needed to leave for home.
 
Hubby had to work all day Saturday. *insert huge frown here*
 
But it was good we didn't go so we could celebrate my mother-in-laws birthday!
 
Which I forgot about AGAIN... but which isn't nearly as bad as Hubby forgetting his own mother's birthday AGAIN!
 
I really need to invest in a calendar.

 

The cake was Barbara's surprise from her dad.


Savannah loves, loves, loves her great-grandpa.


As much as I love this picture, my niece there on the side makes me laugh.

Claira is helping herself to another piece of cake! Only in this case, I have no clue who's it was to begin with.

 
She definitely gets her silly sassy-frass from her dad.
 
I'm sure of it.
 


And just because I wasn't in any of the other pictures (okay, so Hubby did take one of me but it was so bad I didn't dare post it) here is proof that I was there too.


And yes, that is a hickey. Though you can't tell from this picture, it was a rather large one and Hubby's brothers would not give up on their endless teasing about it.

Over and over and over and over and over.

Well for heaven sake! I'm married! We all know what happens when you're married so I am more than allowed to have a hickey! Jeesh!

Hickey. Hickeyhickeyhickey!!!

So there.  *humph*


When we finally got home, well, let's just say I had a lot of unpacking to do, and three of my kids were sick.


Regardless, it was a good holiday.

The End.

November 26, 2012

Neglected

My poor neglected blog.

I think it's mad at me.

 It feels rather miffed, cast off, forgotten.

I've tried to explain that while I may have lost my bloggy groove, even my not-so-famous bloggy sense of humor, it will always have a special place in my life, right up there next to my chocolate addiction.

And I will always blog, even if it does happen rather sporadically at times.

Alas, I think it's still mad at me.


But I will give you the scoop on our Thanksgiving and other life happenings soon.

Just as soon I finish unpacking.



We will also have a couple fun giveaways coming up next week! Pretty exciting stuff! So hang in there with me!

In the meantime I'm going to:
  • wipe up the bowl of spilled cereal
  • start the second load of dishes
  • figure out where to hide the bread because the half dozen half eaten pieces laying around the house are driving me crazy
  • do more laundry, as in all the bedsheets from all seven beds
  • pretend to think about cleaning the bathrooms
  • eat some chocolate chips
  • vacuum up the pile of crushed crackers
  • organize all the closets
  • update the budget
  • finish up several custom craft orders
all before the kids come home from school so I can focus on homework and chores!

Heh..... okay. That's so not going to happen.

Maybe I'll just lounge on the couch, watch a chick flick and eat bon bons.

Since that's obviously what stay-at-home moms do all day.

Especially after getting up six times thoughout the night to put crying, coughing, sick kids back to bed.

November 19, 2012

The Gift of Giving - November Family Challenge


Ah... Thanksgiving.

My Facebook feed is filled with people's daily "thankful lists" as well as their outrage over the demise of Hostess and the great and powerful Twinkie.

As long as Cadbury is stable, I care not for such trivialities as no more Twinkies.

I always found those things to be too frightening to actually eat anyway. *shudder*

But during this month of Thankfulness, it is easy so sit down and say things we are thankful for. But how do we show it? And more importantly, how do we teach it?

How do we instill within our children a genuine desire to help others?

In my humble and un-asked for but you're going to get it anyway opinion, one of the greatest ways we can teach these principles boils down to: Service.

And we as parents need to set the example.

Hubby has volunteered at the local soup kitchen several times.

And I'll never forget the year when we were still living in an apartment, he gathered a whole Thanksgiving meal, put it in a large box, and left it on the doorstep of a family who's father had lost his job.

This past weekend, I took all five of my children with me as we teamed up with a small group of others and went around to several widows homes and raked the leaves out of their yard.

These may be small things, but I believe if we can be consistent in out service, our children will hopefully grow up with a service-minded attitude.


This month, The Family Network and True Aim Parenting and Education have challenged you to give back to your community as a family.

True Aim will be featuring some of your posts throughout the holiday season, so be sure to link up any and all ideas on how to give back with your family, favorite charities you support, or how to develop giving hearts.

Share your thoughts and ideas below by:
1: Commenting right here on the blog.
2: Jump on over to our Facebook Page and leaving a comment or a link for everyone to see!
3: Or simply share your ideas on your blog and leave the link to your post via our inlinkz tool below:


Brought to you by:
The Family Network
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Fun on a dime spring blog button play with your family

November 15, 2012

A Pig Hunter?


They say children are very perceptive.


Well, true to kindergarten tradition, Jacob brought home a Thanksgiving recipe cookbook, created by the kids themselves.



There was the usual cute, silly, and funny imaginative recipes. Everything from peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to going into your back yard to catch a turkey before cooking it for three minutes.

But Jacob's addition made me pause.



I recognize that I may not know every teeny tiny detail of my husband's past, but... a pig hunter? How did I not know this?!

When you think "pig hunter"do you imagine:

a) loin cloths and spears
b) camouflage and gunny sacks
c) "hey ya'll, watch this!"

I confess, all three of those images are mixing together in my mind and it is not pretty.


A pig hunter... man. Hubby and I are going to have one serious conversation when he gets home.

Just sayin'.

November 13, 2012

Super Quick and Easy Chocolate Toffee Cheescake



I signed up to make and donate a dessert for the local Festival of Trees Fundraiser. A cheesecake to be exact.

I confess to you now that I have never made a cheesecake completely from scratch. Not because I'm afraid, but because I hear that unless you have one of those fancy spring form pans, you're doomed for failure.

Okay not really, but probably.

Of course it could all be one great conspiracy in an effort to stop me from exploding something in my kitchen or starting a fire in my oven.

Eh hem... not that I would ever do such a thing! *awkward silence* Really!


Anyhow, me and the ole' No Bake Cheesecakes are great pals. I mean, we really get along great!

So, we have teamed up to bring you our super easy yet totally delicious: Chocolate Toffee Cheesecake!

Your jeans can thank me later.

Or... not so much.

Don't hate me. I'm sure there's another recipe like this floating around out there somewhere. You can be mad at them.

Super Quick and Easy Chocolate Toffee Cheesecake


1 box Plain No Bake Cheesecake
3/4 cup Toffee Bits
1 cup Milk Chocolate Chips (divided)
2 teaspoons Crisco (divided) I used butter flavored

In a 9x9'' pie pan, follow the directions on the cheesecake box and make up the pie crust.
Next, melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips and one teaspoon of Crisco by heating in 30 second increments until chocolate is smooth. (twice should be plenty) Pour onto the pie crust and smooth the chocolate until it evenly coats the bottom of the crust.
Following the directions on the box, and mix up the cheesecake portion until it is nice and stiff, scoop into crust and spread evenly.
Carefully add the toffee bits by shaking them over the top of the cheesecake.

NOTE: at this point you can either refrigerate the cheesecake and add the chocolate on top just before serving (which makes slicing it much easier) or keep going and add the chocolate. Just know that with the chocolate being cold, it will make the cutting a bit... smashing.  :) But it will still taste great!

Then melt the remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon of Crisco, again in 30 second increments until chocolate is smooth.
Using a spoon or a fork, drizzle the melted chocolate on top of the toffee bits.
Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.

And wal-la! Scrumdidliumptions!


As for me, I'm going to sit here and feel sorry for myself as I try really hard not to eat it right here and now. I can't believe I lacked the foresight to get two boxes of no bake cheesecake!


Wait... yes I can.



I hope who ever gets it at the fundraiser appreciates my great sacrifice.


November 12, 2012

I'm Cheating Today.

 
Due to the somewhat emotional and chocolate binge causing type week I had last week, I am calling today a "cheat" blogging day.
 
If you already follow this page on Facebook, I apologize for some repeat. If not, enjoy.
 
~~~
 
Best part of my whole day:  

At breakfast, Jacob starts to lift his bowl up to his lips to drink the rest of his cereal milk when he pauses. Then in full on girly-opera voice sings, "true LOOOOOOOOOVES kiiiiiiiiiiss".
 

Then continues to nonchalantly drink his milk.
 
Gotta love the movie "Enchanted".
 
~~~
 
It was Jacob's turn to say the family prayer. Once we miraculously got the kids settled down enough to do it, Jacob starts off in song, 

"Dear Heavenly Faaaather, thank you for this daaaaaaaay! Please help us to listen and obeeeeeeeeeey."
 
I don't think he even realized what he was doing because he looked surprised when I burst out laughing.
 
I tried not to, really I did.
 
But I think that only made it worse.


~~~
 
 
Umm....
 



You'd think they had never played Angry Birds before. Yeesh.

~~~~

Claira, my 17-month old, managed to call 911 last week not once, but twice!

The first time she at least had the decency to turn on the speaker so when I heard the "911 what's your emergency", I was able to snatch the phone away before they sent in cop cars based on the extent of loud screaming going on in the background.

Heh....

The second time was when the kids had no school on Friday. I was trying to sleep in a few extra minutes while all the kids were eating breakfast so I didn't realize Claira was next to the bed or playing with my phone until I heard, "911, what's your emergency".

I sat up so fast I think I still have a headache from over-exertion.


~~~~


(When I posted this, I was informed that any Brit or Harry Potter fan knows that "snogging" means "making out". But I'm okay with my 5-year old not knowing that yet.)
 
Jacob was walking around the kitchen singing, "Nephi's courage." (a song the kids learn in Primary)

"Laughing and snogging they said he should not try....."

Me: Uh, Jacob? I think it's "mocking", not "snogging". 

Jacob: Nuh uh! It's snogging! 

Me: Oh ya? And just what does snogging mean anyway?

Jacob: Snogging is when you go like this. *he demonstrates a huge and exaggerated sniff* That's snogging. 

Huh, who knew? Now I know what snogging means.

And so do you.


 


You're welcome.

November 7, 2012

Just Because

 
It's true.
 
I'm one of "those" moms.
 
I mean, I try really, really hard not to be one of those "do as I say, not as I do" people, but when it comes to sugar, I fail miserably.
 
It's my one weakness.
 
Okay, and maybe the whole, "making the bed thing" isn't a strong point either.
 
........ Fine, nor is the concept of putting all your stuff away as soon as you're done.
 
But I digress.
 
Besides, this blog isn't about me! Wait......
 
 
While I can scarf down half a bag of chocolate without blinking an eye, I keep a close watch on how much my children consume at one time.
 
And just the mere thought of my kids eating sugar first thing in the morning makes me cringe.
 
I know, ironic coming from the girl who sneaks chocolate into the shower so I don't have to share.
 
I never ever buy sugar cereal unless it's for a special occasion, (like Christmas) and when I do make pancakes, it never really gets more interesting than regular ole' homemade maple syrup.
 
So occasionally, you just gotta shake things up and do something special for no other reason other than, just because.
 
Saturday morning was one of those times. Everyone was downstairs so they had no idea I was up to something.
 

 
Try not to be too jealous of our plastic folding kitchen table and fancy paper plates.
 
I know it's tough, but do try.
 
 
Maybe this is completely normal for you and you're looking at me all strange (not that that's new) wondering what kind of weirdo blogs about pancakes.
 
But hey, they had chocolate chips on them!
 
 
It was almost better than Christmas for these little monkeys.
 
 
I bet you can't guess which one's mine.
 
 
I know, I know! I told you, my one weakness.

 
 
It was such a fun thing for them and it put them all in such a good mood, that when we went off to run errands as a family, it was actually really fun!
 
Right up until Hubby decided he wanted to go look at four-wheelers and left me stranded in the store with five children while he went off joy riding on a test run without telling me and I had to run around and keep track of all of them and keep them from climbing onto anything and everything they saw and to make sure I knew where they were at all times as they ran off in five different directions!
 
*huge intake of breath*
 
But don't worry, I'm totally over it.
 
Really!


P.S. Hubby really did sheepishly apologize. He just got caught up in the moment.

Boys and their toys, you know?
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