Valentine's Day 2014

 We celebrated Valentine's Day a bit early this year at our monthly family dinner.

I LOVE Valentine's Day

I made Manicotti for Brett when we were dating on Valentine's Day, so I always make that or some type of Italian dish. This year it was Lasagna & the whole family was together to enjoy it.

We are so thrilled that Aimee & Sean have moved back to Utah as of January so they will be here for our monthly family dinner too! We are so blessed- really.

Our other Valentine's Day tradition is to have Chocolate Fondue.

I'm not sure how this started- but let me tell you--

Don't ever underestimate the power of dessert.

Everyone was so excited about this. I was surprised how much the anticipation of the dessert permeated the group. I will not forget this anytime soon! I asked all the couples to bring something to dip into the fondue and they did NOT disappoint. Brian took this extra serious & googled fondue ideas. Nothing like googling to figure out what is up?!  

(Laura's plate)

(Brian's plate)

There was strawberries, bananas, donuts, rice crispy treats, cheesecake pieces, pretzels, twinkies... shoot I know I'm forgetting something. It was fun- and really good.

The kids got into it- Here is Charlie & Lola 

It's hard to get a picture of a kid who is serious about eating chocolate.

  

The twinners & a chocolate faced- Joey. 

I love how he kind of looks guilty in this picture.

On the real Valentine's Day

I woke up to find this in the kitchen:

It's been a rough 12 months to say the least but through it all-

we have each other. 

(we spent the next few days critiquing the chocolates)

Family & Chocolate Fondue

What else can you ask for?

scenes from our Christmas dinner 2013

Not all of us could get together on Christmas Eve or Christmas day-

So we met up last Sunday for a Christmas dinner & gift exchange for the kiddos.

Making gingerbread cookies-

What the boys like to do most at our house- 

Trent drew Laura's name. 

He painted her name on a block of wood that he cut out - out in the garage, "his workshop."

She is a keeper & was so kind- while the boys were happy Trent didn't draw one of their names-- real family, that's what we are.

Chloe had Hailey's name & found a piece of pottery by a local artist with a chicken on it- Hailey loves all things chicken & it was perfect for her. She even started to tear up- one of my favorite parts of Christmas this year.

Hailey had Jack & even though she ordered a gift for him weeks ago

an email came earlier in the week saying it was not going to be here on time.

She printed a picture of the gift-

HIlarious & perfect for him!

-the gift can be found here-

Now he can cuddle inside & outside with his malaria.

It was really fun to see what the kids had picked out for each other.

Plus-- the cousins did some exchanging too.

Gosh- we are so lucky to have the Brittany's, Marcus & kids so close!

Marcus will be graduating from BYU Law School in 2014 so we may not be so lucky next year.

These two cuties are growing everyday-

For some reason I again didn't get many photos!?

When will I learn?

It was a wonderful Christmas-

More Christmas at the Messer's house to come.

I can't think of a title?

Last night was Hailey's last H.S. choir concert for the year.

To do my duty- (okay, okay mostly to save myself the $5 ticket fee) I signed up to be an usher.

(hailey & friends, isn't she cute!)

I was asked to cover the west doors, then given direct, specific ,instructions NOT TO OPEN THE DOOR- except between choirs. The choir director is very intimidating (to say the least.) Helping people find their seats is a breeze- after years of having students in the music program- I know the auditorium by heart. But, as soon as the concert started & the doors shut-- things got scary.

People. wanted. in.

I had to hold the door shut & keep whispering just a minute. Finally, banging on the door ensued. I was sweating profusely & absolutely sure the choir director would stop the show to wait for me to calm down the idiots on the other side of the door.

(hailey, tiff, taylor & andrew)

I didn't really see much of the show...

I spent my time wiping my brow & fending off the parade of never ending late parents & grandparents. I wanted to say- hey, get a clue!? Were you born yesterday? You can't come late & expect to get right in you dimwits! I don't think I will be volunteering to usher again soon?!

Yesterday a very dangerous- yet exciting thing happened in our town.

A Little Caesar's Pizza place opened up!

I'm not a huge fan of their pizza, but it's hard to beat the hot-n-ready $5.00 pizza.

We have now eaten it- two nights in a row & the kids are seriously hoping I never go back to cooking dinner. Frankly, I'm thinking it's a great idea!?
You would think by trent's reaction, that a Toys R Us had moved in next door. He is very disappointed Brian didn't apply for a job there. I mean what could be better than bragging to your fourth grade buddies - that your older brother works at the new pizza place?

brian- kill joy.

After school I ran Hailey & trent into get haircuts. The stylist asked trent if he wanted his hair spiky? He said yes, then she asked me. I said, I don't care as long as you don't cut his bangs too short. (Jack once told me trent looks like Jim Carey in dumb & dumber with short bangs, & he was right- I've been careful about it ever since) She obviously didn't listen well, but his bangs do spike up now with the use of hair gel. He was so excited when he came home & is again worried that people will get him confused with Jack?

He told me just before bed, "my life is better with spiky hair."

"How so?" I replied.

"It's just different & so good now."

"What's different?"

. "I think I'm stronger?"

I have to admit- I've had a few haircuts myself that felt life changing.

what a funny guy

the most important hour of the day

Dinner time. On Mondays I have been really putting extra effort into dinner.

I want dinner time to be a gateway into family night.

Today I made a couple of lasagnas. One for dinner, one to freeze for later.

I tried something sneaky & it worked!

I put a cup of water in the sauce...

then

didn't cook the noodles!

I know, I know they sell no cook noodles- but they're twice as expensive & come in small packages (I love how one box makes two batches.) I always figure if I am making one lasagna I may as well make two- especially if I don't have to cook the noodles! The process is 1000 times easier. I was going to bake it covered in foil to ensure they would cook all the way through- but I forgot & they cooked just fine anyway.

For family night we watched a DVR'd conference talk & discussed our day around the dinner table. Chloe went to an extra dance class, brian had some plans & hailey had homework to do. You know how it is?

Family dinner & fAmily night

you've gotta be sneaky to get them both in

all packed up & ready to go

Last night in place of spending a day together before school starts...

there are no days that work left-

we went out to dinner.

Trent & the big kids had staring contests- trent won.

before dinner was even served trent & hailey had to switch places. They had to- or else my head was going to explode. Explode I tell YOU! My head is full of transformer facts that I don't even want to know. Trent & his Cannon Bumblebee went to sit by dad. Holy Moly, I think I'm officially ready for school to start & just in time.

On a positive note-

look what I finished yesterday!

The quilt & bumper pads for the baby!

They are all packed up & ready to go to the post office today.

They turned out so cute & I can't wait for megan to get them.

You can't tell from the photo, but the stitching is frogs sitting on lily pads- precious.

*are you ready for school?

*sometimes do you just get enough of it?!

president's day shocker

So for President's day we stayed home & caught up on a lot of stuff around the house... sounds boring I know but- since I've been sick we were really behind & we are having company this week. Not too exciting we cleaned & cleaned & you know- vacuumed behind couches-zzzzzz The fun part is that after all the work was done we ordered in Chinese food!

**warning**

(You may want to sit down when you read this next part)
Apparently EVERY FAMILY our kids know order pizza or Chinese food all the time! Even weekly- Sometimes twice a week!? We are the only ones eating home cooked meals- the horror.

It's like child abuse.

-I had NO idea we were such odd balls-

The big kids watched a movie & me & this guy....

played our favorite game!
-He won-
GREAT DAy!

*do you order pizza or chinese once a week?

annual Valentine dinner-

It's tradition at our house to have a special Valentine's day dinner as a family.

I always try to make something really fancy & decorate.

It's a lot of fun.This year- with Valentine's day being on a Saturday- we had our dinner today after church.

It wasn't the same.

We didn't have balloons on each chair & the food was good, but not fancy. I made manicotti with asparagus & french bread. My kids LOve asparagus. We did have special drinks & a fancy dessert.

I guess it just wasn't the same because...

I AM SICK AGAIN!

-dang it-

I got a cold just after Christmas that lasted for weeks then turned into a sinus infection, went on antibiotics for that & they didn't work- long story shorter- I'm on a new dose of stronger antibiotics plus a decongestant. I've missed church two weeks in a row now.

I made the manicotti - then layed down for a second- next thing I knew everyone was coming home from church so they helped with the rest of dinner.

it feels like someone parked a truck on my face.
Brett said last night that my face is a little swollen just above my cheek bones. I have sneezed over 1000 times which is followed by a quick run to the bathroom before I pee my pants. Sometimes I don't make it.

I want to know-

if I pee my pants when I sneeze can I stop having zits now?

It just doesn't seem right to have both issues

I'm wondering if Sundays will ever be the same?

blogger mom's Christmas party

It was Janae's brilliant idea that the blogger mom's & our husbands

have a Christmas dinner party.

It was a fabulous night.

Karrie's White Christmas slush,

and Kristy's appetizers... just before they were gone!

plus dinner.

Handmade rolls from Wende, Janae's salad, Parmesan mashed

potatoes & cranberry roasted pork loin.

Janae's home is so beautifully decorated for Christmas.

I'm sure Janae & Doug went to a lot of work to make this night

so special. Of course she would never admit that.

I think it's so great that they cook together. He even helped

her with the Thanksgiving turkey this year.

my contribution to the dinner...

Dessert of course!

I love to make desserts.

I don't really love cheesecake- I know, I know?

(I think it's just something I've had too many times)

But I knew everyone would love this one-

homemade & covered in fresh berries with a guava juice glaze.

Do you have a Christmas party you are looking forward to?

These recipes can soon be found on our cooking blog!

Sunday Dinner Is Served

Before...

After!

I've been really working on making dinner this past week.During the school year it's no big deal-but summer is a different story. It is kind of nice to have a relaxed schedule for the summer, I have to admit. But the routine of the school year is good too. Here is what we had tonight. My favorite from my 100's list~ vegetarian pizza. I love homemade pizza- it is the best. One of the secrets to making your own pizza is in pan. I have a pizza screen-love it- & they are only about $5-8.00 at a restaurant supply store. Make sure you spray them with cooking spray or the pizza won't come off, then cook your pizza on a high temp such as 425-450 degrees.
Any crust recipe will taste better on the screen but here is mine.The sauce recipe is great too because it is so easy & uses pantry ingredients.

Pizza Crust

1Cup warm water

1 Tblsp yeast

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups flour

Let yeast rest on water until mostly dissolved then wisk in sugar & salt . Next, stir in flour & knead on floured board just until getting smooth- only a couple of times. Let rest for 10-15 minutes while preparing ingredients. Next roll out & place on pan or screen. Cover with sauce & toppings starting with cheese then ending with a little cheese- just for looks. *Hint I always use Montery Jack cheese instead of mozzerella, of course mixing the two would be awesome. True Italians would hate me but it has more flavor.

Pizza sauce

1 small can tomato sauce

1/2 tsp sugar

2 tsp dried basil crushed

1 tsp dried oregano crushed

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 clove or 1/2 tsp chopped garlic

Mix together & let sit while you prepare other ingredients. The longer it sits the better/stronger the flavors.