I didn't mean to go so long without posting...

I've had so many great post ideas this week- but then I would run out of time.

My work schedule was different & it just threw me off.

So this post is just a little bit of everything.

What my phone looks like.

The wallpaper? A photo of Jack & Brian the night before Jack left for Brazil.

I made a delicious baked spaghetti that I found on Pinterest one night for dinner.

I've thought of making this before, it's really easy & there in melted cream cheese in the noodles. YUM

(my view walking into work)

Last week at Trolley Square they were filming a movie for ABC Family.

It's a Christmas movie. It was so strange to have Christmas decorations going up everywhere. Customers would come in & ask why they hadn't taken down the decorations yet. Um -- these are new. So weird, since Christmas was like... yesterday, wasn't it?

(my view of filming on my way out from work)

Does the blond girl look familiar?

It's Tori Spelling. 

It's so interesting to watch filming- the sound is all off. The dub the sound in later. 

  

There were loads of "extras" standing around & a Kraft Services truck. 

At work we were wondering if they would've let us slip in line for lunch?

Of course, we were too honest scared to try that! Ha- it was so slow at work with all the commotion- I don't know how other businesses did but it really slowed things down for us! sad

I made buttermilk biscuits & broccoli cheese soup for dinner-

 after we got 5" of snow.

It's been a snowy week!

On Dr. Seuss's birthday, a sweet 5 year old friend of Chloe's made her these "Lorax" inspired trees.

Chloe made two different compound butters to go with almond encrusted French toast for dinner Friday night. Oh boy.. so good.

(almond encrusted French Toast with honey pecan butter)

The highlight of the week was having Johnny come visit!

This is Johnny & I playing on the floor.

(I mopped this week- my least favorite household chore)

Isn't he cute!

He's starting to look like a kid, not a baby- wow. 

He was so much fun & made me even more excited to have the boys (Charlie & Joey) here soon!!

They will be here 5 days before jack gets home & for over a week after. 

Today: I went to sacrament meeting then off to work to teach a class on cooking with citrus. I made this & a few more things... it was so good. You should try this recipe while oranges are still in season. Can I say this week-- I am grateful for my job, that I love it. I am grateful for health insurance- we had several doctors appointments. I am grateful that Megan's kidney stone is out, yes she had a stone & now she is recovering- I wish I was there to help. I am thankful for my sweet heart! we got to meet for lunch one day. Good week.

november

Is it just me or does it seem impossible to you all that it is now November?
And now...
tomorrow is November 15th?
How is this possible?
The holiday season hasn't even officially started & I already feel behind?
I'm hoping that's all in my head?

For our family, the holiday season always starts with the Nutcracker. I better "get cracking" because this is it-
Nutcracker Week!
Dress rehearsals start tomorrow.
I am so excited for Chloe & can't wait to see it!

Thanksgiving is Brett's favorite holiday- so that makes it extra special for us all. I am planning some really delicious- yet traditional foods for our Thanksgiving Day feast. I asked my kids what they want to eat besides the obvious:
Turkey & Mashed Potatoes
what did they say?

Campbell's soup green bean bake

Really?
that's what you want? more than anything else you can think of?
huh? really?
okey dokey then.

I am finalizing my menu & I will publish it here- soon.
I wish you could all join us for dinner- but then- that would probably kill me.

rainy day baking

Yesterday I baked-- a lot. Well, cooked & baked really. I've kind of gone crazy with the homemade theory.

(home made tortillas - recipe/tutorial here)
Have I told you my theory?
I haven't??

(Michelle's miracle bread I substitute 2 cups of fresh ground wheat flour for 2 of the cups of white & use brown sugar instead of white. follow all the rest of the directions for a 2 loaf recipe. DELISH)

Well, I'm thinking that I'm sick of eating chemicals & I want to have most things homemade & organic. The most health ingredients I can find & afford. NOt that I'm quitting the diet coke or occasional trip to McDonald's--- haha- don't get me wrong!? (I'm not that crazy)I am just trying to take a more healthy approach to our everyday eating by planning & working ahead.

(make ahead lemon poppy seed breakfast muffins- I LOVE these)

I'm not really sure my theory is anything more that just a lot of work for me?

I had to clean my kitchen aid bowl out three times... blah.

NOT to mention all the other everyday dishes & cooking mess. BUT- I love rainy day baking. I really love it- so maybe it's not all that much work- or maybe the work is worth it?

(Halloween Monkey Joey 2011)

Gotta say- I wish I could bake for this little guy!

don't you think he would love some banana bread?

upside down ice cream & a new favorite

I have changed- I have turned a corner. I have become a new person when it comes to

ice cream

I have been making a 2 qt. batch 2-3 times a week since July now. And... there is no end in sight. My whole life I have been lactose intolerant. Now-- not so bad, I just have to watch my portions. I can't help but wonder what really caused the problems.... the dairy or all the chemicals in the ice cream that's been making me miserable? Do you know how many crappy chemicals are in ice cream? Honestly I just quit eating it or only ate it a little bit at a time. Until now. {blogger- why won't you let me turn this photo?}

This is one of my favorite stand by quick recipes but there are others!
My partner in ice cream making

Working away

It's really wholesome & pure & beautiful.

Just milk, cream, sugar & vanilla - oh & a little vanilla bean powder for specks. Oh Yes the specks of vanilla bean- I LOVE them.

My favorite ice cream & ice book- you can find it here!

Thanks to Megan sending me a link: my new favorite main dish OH MY GOSH I've made these twice in the last week!

on this day

This was my view out the front door.

9 new inches of snow

Hooray- Brian was home this morning to shovel.

{7:00 AM March 7, 2011}

I made my new favorite Breakfast Recipe -

so he came in to hot muffins & fresh orange juice.

***

Wende stopped over this morning & after some other plans fell through,

we made an impromptu, long trip down to IKEA.

Lucky for us we got to drive Brett's new company car & listen to Sirius radio- the clean comedy channel- & laughed our heads off the whole way there & back. Gosh, I love that Sirius radio. After the free six month trial... life won't be the same ... because I just can't stand the thought of paying for radio?

Lunch at IKEa- mmm good

The meatballs are FanTastiC

the

Mac & Cheese

just as good!
It's been a busy, but Great day.

In case you are wondering- the sun came out & the roads were absolutely clear driving. It's very rare that the roads are bad after the snow. Here in Utah we are totally equipped for snow. It's during the snow that you don't want to be out!

I won't go into all the other stuff that I did today- I just want to say- it was a good day.

* do you have Sirius radio?

*how do you feel about paying for radio?

creative thursday

There is really nothing better than Creative Thursday....

except Creative Thursday with these amazing cookies!!!

Janae made these today & brought them to us

-oh Heavenly Day-
They are so, so good.

Janae has serious baking skills.

You can find the recipe here & thank me later.

I brought enchiladas for us to share & they were good too.

I could have taken a much better photo, but forgot until it was almost too late.

These are the best enchiladas. I have been working on the recipe for a long time. I finally got it just right & make them all the time now. I will post my recipe the next time I make them.

(me, karrie & owen)

The best part of all was having this dream boat Owen here with us. He is such a sweet baby- so smiley & alert. He just watches us & smiles all day....

I was so busy finishing my quilt binding, that I didn't even realize until I got home-

that I didn't get a chance to hold him!?

What!?

I call first next week, okay janae?

granola

today I made this...

it's really, really good!

catch the recipe here at

Blogger Mom's Cook

what to do after swimming all day?

Dad is at a meeting-

sisters don't come home for 5 more days-

jack is out with friends...

So we,

sit on the porch & light sparklers, of course- 4 boxes-

while eating bing cherry cobbler & ice cream

... after mom reads her new favorite cookbook.

lucky for him-

we saved our last three to do together!
I love SUmMer

what's up

Yesterday Wende took Jack's senior photos-

I hung out as the assistant & smile maker.

She didn't need help especially after calling him America's next top model over & over.

That got him laughing.

This is just a simple shot from my camera....

You can just imagine how cool hers are-

I am so excited about these

and he...

could care less- or at least that's how he tries to act-

secretly I think he is pretty excited about them too.

I bought plants this morning for our garden.

This is the first year, I think... that we've gotten a garden in before June. I am so happy about this- I just can't believe how great it feels to get this done. May is always the busiest month of the year. I still have a bunch of things to get done in the garden & I know it will be a summer long project ... but I am still excited to have the basics in.

For family night we had my favorite strawberry shortcakes & finally came to a conclusion on our family mission statement that will soon be over our front door.

be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

There were a lot of contenders- but this scripture won out.

It's nice having Hailey home after school- no more play practice. I'm doing loads & loads of heavy duty laundry (happiness), getting ready for a bridal shower, sewing some baby things...

what's up at your house?

happy st. patrick's day

So I did it!

I followed the advice of the 2 clever mom's & bought Lucky Charms for breakfast-

then made the cutest ever

green lunches for my kids.

I took GReen loaves of bread to my VTeachee's & made a quick

but yummy GReen dinner. Besides all that it was our R.S. birthday party.
I had signed up to decorate a cake
I opted for taste over St. Patrick themed...

and went with my favorite chocolate cake
Black Forest Style
I LOVE this cake
SO EASy & SO darn moist & good!

Every RS activity involves the Young Women in our ward.
It's the BEST Idea for Relief Society EVer!
The Young Women leaders get to come to the R.S. activity & the girls get to hang out with the women & their moms. They are just so fun to have around- all the women gush over them.

After the party I ran to Target to grab a couple of things...
while I was waiting for a RX to be filled I ran into these
CUPCAke SAndaLS
They are so cute!
Too bad Chloe & Hailey won't wear them- they won't fit me either!
-Bummer-

On a not so happy note-

today wasn't my best day...

I had a long Community council meeting with the worst cramps-

(holy hell- when is that going to be over??- I'm talking about the cramps)

came home to two sickos, then got ready for a scout service project.

Let me just put it this way- I only swore once.

I may be getting released from scouts....?

At least it was just two boys overhearing me say -

what the hell were you thinking?

to my own kid-

but still--- I'm pretty sure swearing is frowned upon.

getting nine year old boys to do work is really not easy, especially my own scout who sat in the car & pouted & now is throwing a huge fit because he didn't get the scout treat.

LESSON LEARNED:

**PMS & CUB SCOUTS do not mix**

*does your local bakery bake GREen Bread?
*do you consider Hell a swear word????

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!