Food in Jars

I thought it would be fun to make soup in a jar for Christmas gifts this year, so searched long and hard for good recipes. When I finally found one that looked good I decided to do a trial run before I gave it out to all my friends. Well it's a good thing I did, because it was awful!

So then I decided to do cookies in a jar. They are not as healthy as soup, but that failed, so I had to move on. When I finally found one that looked good I didn't have time to try it out. So I only gave a few jars out and crossed my fingers that they would be good. Fast forward a few weeks and the reviews came in: they were fantastic! So I had to try them myself, and sure enough, they are wonderfully delicious! So here is the recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cowboy-cookie-mix-in-a-jar/detail.aspx .

Try them and see what you think.

A Little Reminiscing...

This is how big my sweet Olivia was when we moved to Oregon in July 2007! She was just a little baby!

I also found this absolutely delicious little jem of her sleeping on the stairs, of our then brand-new house.

And this is her now... Happy 8th Birthday Olivia! I CANNOT believe how time has flown in the past 5 five years!

Here's a bonus pic of the 3 kids in 2007. Why, oh why, do they have to grow up soooooo fast! It's really one of the great cruelties of life. But, I guess I do want them to grow and learn and be the fantastic people that they are. I LOVE MY KIDS!

Christmas Fun

We love to swim in the morass of wrapping paper and bows (that always get chucked across the room, as tradition).

This was the first year that Daphne got into the excitement, and took her turn opening presents with pure joy. We all take turns so everyone gets to see what everyone else gets (and so it lasts longer).

Olivia was so excited to get a Fijit Friend from Santa!

Best of all was the last 2 presents, one for Savannah and one for Liam. They were each wrapped in 4 different boxes, and when they got to the last one it was an iTouch! They were obviously thrilled!

The very last gift was marked "From Jesus". Inside was a sheet of paper that said, "Eternal Life". This is the greatest of all the gifts of God. I am so thankful for my Savior and His humble birth. Because of His life we can return to live with our Father again. Mery Christmas!

A full November...

Daphne had her third birthday!



...Complete with bounce house, crafts and games!



Savannah turned 14!!! She and Daphne celebrated together.



Olivia sang in her school talent show!!!!!!! I'm so proud of her!



We went to Shore Acres in Coos Bay to see the fabulous Christmas lights. It was so beautiful!

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Oh yum!!!! A friend of mine put this recipe on facebook a while back and I finally made them today. If you like pumpkin at all, you will love these. I ate like 6 or 7 of them today. I kept saying, "ok, this is last one", and then I would walk by them in the kitchen and eat another one.

1/2 c softened butter
3/4 c sugar
1 egg
1/2 c pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger (I actually used cloves--I like cloves better with pumpkin)
Cinnamon Sugar for dipping

Mix in order. Mixture is very sticky. Drop balls into cinnamon sugar and then to pan. Flatten a little with the palm of your hand. Bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes.

(I put in chocolate chips in half of the batter and baked them without the cinnamon sugar. Very yummy too!)

Enjoy the taste of Autumn!

The Fall Fairy

Oh how I LOVE Autumn! The leaves, the pumpkins, the hayrides, the spicy-sweet smell of cinnamon and fresh apples and the crisp-cool weather are a few of the things I enjoy about fall. I love it so much that I have created a new holiday. A few years ago I decided that September 23 (the first day of fall) is Fall Fairy Day. Every year the harbinger of the new season, The Fall Fairy, comes and leaves a special fall treat for the kids with a personal note for them. It's simple and easy and the kids love it! Of course, for me, any reason is a good reason to make every day special.

Back To School

I always have such mixed feelings about my kids going back to school. I have so much fun in the summer playing with them! Although it is, at times, exceedingly difficult I still really, really love being with all of my kids. Things I love about back to school: 1. Buying new clothes for the kids. (I really love this part!) 2. Settling back into a schedule with regular bedtimes. 3. Dan giving the kids a father's blessing to start the new year. 4. Having a calmer atmosphere at home during the day. 5. Being able to go where I want, when I want without the kids coming, or complaining about me being gone too long. Things I am reticent to leave behind with summer: 1. Being with my kids most of the day. 2. The exploring of parks, farms, fish hatcherys, rose gardens, waterfalls, swimming pools,and dollar movies. 3. Hiking, biking and going for walks all together.