New Menu Board

Our new menu board (It might be a little overkill but we like it)

The all time favorite question in our house is "what's for dinner?" The kids now love being able to know what's on the menu each day, and Shane loves to change something if he is not in the mood for what we are having.

A Grapevine Christmas Wreath

One of the dear sisters in our branch invited us over to do a craft night she and her husband provided fresh grapevine's for us to twist, braid, and turn into wreaths than decorate. When I first arrived there and saw the grapevine's and a wreath she had been working on, I thought I don't think I can do this. It looked hard and I am not good at making things round or straight. She soon had us get our vines and taught us what to do and eventually this 14 ft vine became this lovely wreath. I had so much fun, and it was such good company.

My Dream Box

We are going to be homeschooling our children after our move, and I have been looking into storage options and found this awesome cabinet ("scrapbooking storage") , I have a million and one ideas dancing around in my head of all the things I could organize in this baby. It is kind of pricey, but I can dream, right?

Leftovers make Cupcakes

I had left over pumpkin from when I made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies the other day. And left over Apple Juice from the Doughnuts. SO made cupcakes!

Instead of adding the egg and oil that the box asks for I added pumpkin (half can if its the large can and full can if its the smaller) then instead of water (just to add more of a kick) I added the juice. I didn't know how they would turn out so it was a gamble. Then cool and frosted with
cream cheese frosting! They are EXTREMELY moist and do need to be cooked a little longer then on the box so watch them. I preferred them chilled!

(to make the pumpkin cookies just mix spice cake mix, 1 can of pumpkin (the smaller on if using lg just use half of it) the add Chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 13 mins. EASY and something simple the kiddos can help with!)

Sunday Dinners

Looks DE-LISH huh? We got a pork pic-nic butt roast over the weekend ($1.48 a pound) and I roasted it for 5 hours at 350. I sprinkled Moms favorite seasoning of all times....OLD BAY and that was it. It reminded me of all those wonderful Sunday Dinners that would bring us all together. And not just our immediate family...everyone could smell our parents cooking and everyone enjoyed it until there were NO leftovers.
One summer we had our family (parents plus 6 kids) and our Moms sister's family (parents plus 6 kids (they were visiting for TX for a couple of weeks)) so meal time at the house was a HUGE ordeal. One morning they made a MASSIVE amount of pancakes and eggs and bacon and toast..you name it if it was a breakfast food it was on the table. Mom was teasing one of the older boys (a Nephew) that the last one form the table had to finish everything! There wasn't room in the fridge for all the leftovers. SO needless to say he was the last and he finished eating everything on the table. It was one thing that mom and him remembered to talk about EVERY TIME they got together. She would always ask if he wanted pancakes! (I think he still turns green if you mention them!)
Great food, Great company and most of all GREAT memories.

Who says a Doughnut has to be Round?

Mom always told everyone that I NEVER did things by the book. It would get done.. but in my time and the way that I wanted. Mom was also a perfectionist. For example her sewing, She would have to have the PERFECT stitch in place before continuing on. ME on the other hand would keep serging the neck hole til it feel off my shoulders (which it did and in the 80's it was the style. I would just put on a tank top under it!)

I wonder what she would say about the shapes of my yummy Doughnuts that I made. I know what she would say.. "These are delicious. You need to make them every time I visit." Which I would respond.. "uh-huh, Right on top of that Rose" (from the movie Don't Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead...I have said that ever since I saw the movie... its the perfect line!)

These are Apple Cider Spice Doughnuts I found them on the Our Best Bites Site. Mine aren't as cute as theirs but the are pretty darn good. And I agree with them. They do taste better the next day! I love this site they have some de-lish recipes. I am going to try these tonight!

Guess What I did...

Yep it is so true.. I took ALL 3 of my babies (ages 3, 2, and 11 mo) to the Dentist today. I know you are thinking that I am insane to do this little venture all by my lonesome. But think about it. Which is worse? Making 3 separate apts and having to cancel one of them because someone is moody that day or sick (and yes, that someone is ME!) then is gets put off for who knows when and then the poor child or children have already lost all their teeth because I failed to get them in every 6 months for their cleanings. WHEW! I am already exhausted just thinking about that outcome. But I sucked it up and was the BRAVEST mother I could be and what a sigh of relief... its done! And the best part was that it was so painless.

The Dentist and his staff are amazing. They are all so patient with the kids and really took the time with each of them. After the Dr was finished with each child he went over how I can help them with their flossing and brushing while he was doing that the Techs took turns playing tag with my girls while I was getting tips on how to do my part. Its a real fun office. The girls loved watching Disney movies over head and they each got to pick out a new toothbrush. After the visit we received Report cards and inside were coupons for some yummy treats. (Ice cream cone from Arctic Circle and A free kids meal form Del Taco)

From this experience I hope to keep up on my kids treatments so that thy will have a healthy smile and not be afraid. We are taking baby steps and starting at a young age. Check out Little People's Dental on their site they have Videos on how to brush and floss and also how to prepare your little ones for a positive visit. Also one thing that was very helpful for me was the new patient forms were right there for me to print out. Since I filled out 3.. that saved a lot of time. Call them and make your little ones apt. You wont be disappointed....Your little ones are catered to! And that makes me one happy Mama!