Angel Craft

I bought this craft at Hobby Lobby at a great clearance. It would be cute in the right room, but that room isn't in my house. So I added some paint and scrapbook paper and turned it into this -

I love this angel that my mom gave me years ago. It has been sitting on my dresser and I've been afraid that it will get broken. This angel reminds me of Larisa when she was little. I love that is has a new safe place.

Potato Sharp Cheddar Chowder!

Did you know that Tiana is obsessed with cheese??? She talks about it all the time! She made a cover for her notebook that says, "Cheese Rocks!" Whenever she doesn't know what to say, well, she talk about cheese! She has come up with a lot of winners that I will remember forever! She said that she refuses to marry anyone unless his name his mouse for example. I cracked up while eating lunch with Tiana at school and it was quite for a second, and one little girl looked at Tiana and said, "say something about cheese!" They all started laughing in anticipation of what Tiana might say. The funny thing - it's not something we usually munch on at our house. So in her honor, I thought I would post one of our favorite soups - made with cheese! This is a really easy recipe and it is quick and warms you up on a cold day!

Potato Sharp Cheddar Chowder

5 cups frozen southern style hash brown potatoes, thawed

1 cup water

1 can cond. cream of chicken soup

1 1/2 cups 1% milk

1 cup light cream (I've uses half n half and just milk)

1 teaspoon garlic or onion powder

1/4 cup pre-cooked crumbled bacon

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

I always add italian seasoning for added flavor and color

Place thawed frozen potatoes and water in saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook 5 -15 minutes or until cooked.

Whisk together soup, milk, cream and garlic powder; stir in bacon and cheese; add to cooked potatoes and stir; heat until cheese is melted and chowder is hot.

Enjoy!

My Favorite Valentines!!

This Valentines day I have felt very blessed for the love that I have felt during my life! I have been so blessed to be born into a home where I always felt loved. I have also been blessed to find my dear husband who I love so much. Then add on the blessings of my sweet daughters! So, I just wanted my family to know how much I love them and how thankful I am for each of them. I thought that I would write a few of the reason I love my little family and maybe someday I'll even have to write it for my parents and siblings!

Chris

I love that you love me for who I am and don't try to change me. I love it when I do something silly and you look at me with a big grin that says, "that's the girl I married!" I love the grin of success you get when you've teased me and I give you the reaction that you want! I love that you sometimes come home from work to no dinner and don't say anything to me about it, but go into the kitchen and start making dinner. I love watching you play with your daughters. I love that I get free therapy - you didn't know all your training was for me! I love that you make me feel safe. I love that you honor the priesthood. I love that we get to be together forever!!!

Larisa

I love that you always want to do what is right. I love that you are kind and thoughtful! I love that you come home and do your homework with out me saying anything. I love that you come home from Young Womans excited about what you've learned and share it with me. I love that you love everyone - you see everyone equal! I love that you love spending time at home and are content to spend time with just family. I love watching you tend children and see how kind you are! I love you for who you are!

Tiana

I love that you are sunshine in my life!!!! I love that your hugs squeeze any sadness from me. I love that you are always worried and concerned about me. I love that you stand up for the right. I love that you like to make sure others feel happy! I love that you make me laugh every day! I love that you are creative and come with such fun ideas! I love watching your friends light up when they see you, some even start laughing, just knowing you will make them laugh! I love you for being you!!!

Valentines Dinner

For Valentines Day we had our traditional breakfast for dinner. The girls love the pink heart shaped pancakes and strawberries. I love the bacon!!

Daddy's girls and the tulips that Chris gave me for Valentines Day! Such happy memories!

Better Late Than Never

My gorgeous and kind friend Kasey, put together these craft kits for me months ago! I actually slipped them under my couch and thought I would do them later - so it took awhile! I didn't know where I wanted to put them or how I wanted to do them. I really needed to put something by my clock in the sun room. I have a picture over the mantle of the girls together in these dresses (Tia's sealing) and though their individual shots would look good in the same room. I made A LOT of mistakes on them, but I think they turned out okay! I thought I'd share them with you! Thanks for your work and idea Kasey!

JV Basketball Game

Tiana had a fun experience last night. Her basket ball team played at half time during the JV Girls Basketball game at the high school. She was very nervous to play in front of a lot of people, but she did great and it was only an 8 minute game. I am sure that it would come to no surprise to you that she is usually the tallest player and so she has great potential to be a great defender!

Each girl had to take their turn sitting out.

She is getting good at not letting the person she is guarding get through. It is crazy that third grade is getting to be a late age to have her start playing - we are so crazy!

Grandma M and Megan were supposed to be here this weekend and were unable to make it due to illness. Tiana was sad that they weren't going to be there. She also just needed a little help to feel comfortable at the game. Then, in came in Ms. Gillmore, a special helper in Tiana's class. Tiana loves her, and I can tell that she loves Tiana too! She came up and wished Tiana well and Tiana said she could hear her cheering for her. After Tiana played she asked if she could take Tia over to the snack bar and buy her a treat, like a sucker! Well, Tiana came back with a sucker, popcorn and a drink! We then watched Ms Gilmore's daughter play and Tia had to sit by Ms. Gilmore! She talked about how much she enjoys Ms Gilmore all night. I really felt like Heavenly Father blessed us to have someone make Tia feel so special on a night that she felt so insecure.
It just makes me feel happy and blessed!

9 Wonderful Years!!!

I can not believe that my little baby girl turned 9!!!! She is growing up too fast! She is so much fun and is such a sweetheart. She is always writing me cute little notes and is so thoughtful! She melts my heart, makes me laugh and is a great buddy to me! I finally took her 9 year old pictures and here are a few of them!

She is such a sweetie!

Tiana always has a big smile on her face!
She was proud that she came up with this pose!

We went shopping the other day and she was so excited about this hat! She fell in love with it and she purchased it with her own money! She was so excited when I told her I would take pictures of her wearing it!

I think it is darling on her!!

We feel so blessed to be able to have such a wonderful daughter!! We love you Tia!

Play Date

The other day my friend called and asked if I would tend her daughter while she worked on her church calling. I had a great time with Olivia. She remembered making cookies with me and I just mentioned it and she went right to cupboards and started pulling everything out! She was cute about it and she remembered every detail from making them earlier.(Smart little girl!) I took a couple of pictures and then she wanted me to warp one of her pictures like mine on my cabin fever post. She was a little scared seeing her picture. She talked pretty much non-stop the rest of the time. She was so excited for her mom to come and see her "scary, funny but scarry picture on the computer! She will laugh and say what happened to my livy? Than she will put my shoes on and off and on and off!" She made me laugh, a lot!! Then she wanted me to do her hair. I put it in a lot of ponies and tied ribbons and then dug up a dress I had waiting to put in the keepsake bin. She was feeling so pretty, so of course, I had to take pictures!!! The dress was big on her but she looked so cute!

I thought it would be fun to post a picture of my girls in the same dress. I made these for Easter one year. This is a picture of my girls, my mom and my nephew Nicolas! They grow up way too fast! I am so thankful for pictures and how they help me to remember all of their precious moments!

Recipe Book

I have always wanted to put together a book of my favorite recipes for my girls. The task seemed huge and overwhelming to me, so it's on my list of good intentions! Well yesterday the thought came to me, "Why not blog a recipe a week or more, then send all of the recipes over to be printed into a book!!" Ah, maybe I can take it off my good intention list and on to my working on it list! So I will give it a go and see how it works! Of course, you have to know that most of my favorite recipes involve chocolate, but I will try to include other recipes too!

I made these cookies the other day and they really are yummy!

Larisa said, "I like these cookies because they always taste like they came fresh out of the oven!"

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups chocolate chips

In a medium bowl, stir together the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda, gradually stir into the sugar mixture. Fold in the Chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto the cookie sheet.(I always line mine with parchment paper, They don't break apart.) Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

Going Private!

I have decided that I am going to have my blog go private. If you would like to continue to view my blog, I hope you will, please let me know. If you are already on my email list, I will send you a view email. If I don't have your email - you can email it to me, call me or leave it on my comments. Thanks!