Thursday, December 23, 2010

This Evening we started Christmas a little Early!

 This year Christmas is going to be a little different for us. Instead of running around on Christmas day to our family's houses, we have had packages sent to us. And, so the kids won't be so overwhelmed on Christmas day, we decided to start a little early.
 So...... today we opened our gifts from Grand mom Sandy in PA. What a great start to our Christmas holiday!

Dylan got a small flashlight. This is great because he complains every night that he doesnt have a small light to be able to read, so this will be great!
 Emily received an envelope with $10 in it!
 She also got a new book, Queen of Christmas, which she thinks applies to her specifically!
 Dylan also received an envelope with $10 to spend.
 Deryk got himself a new bath towel.
 And, I got one to match.
 Hayden wasn't too excited about her $10.
 But Skyler surely was! He thought it was awesome! He also got 2 new balls to play with!
Hayden did like her new sweater that she got! She put it on right away!






Overall, the kids thought that this was a great beginning to Christmas. Thanks again Grand Mom Sandy.... AKA... Mom B.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Today we had a wonderful day celebrating Skyler's 5th birthday!!!!

 We have been asking Skyler what he wanted to do for his birthday, and he had finally came to a decision. He wanted to go to the skate park.
 So, we got up and ready this morning and loaded the bikes, skateboards and skooters into the van and headed out for the day! We started at the Auburndale Skate Park. Skyler was very excited to show off his tricks. We played for about a half hour and then decided to head out.
 We left the skate park and headed down the street to the Auburndale City Park. A HUGE park with a 3 level payground for the big kids, a smaller playground for the smaller kids, a rock wall, a train to play on, swings and lots more! The kids had a great time!
 After they played for awhile, we decided to have lunch. Of course I was prepared and packed us a picnic lunch. We sat under one of the LARGE umbrellas at a picnic table and enjoyed our lunch. Then the kids went out to play some more.
 Eventually we decided to give out our gifts. Skyler was so excited to get them all. Daddy got him a small pellet gun. Mommy and Hayden got him a pbs kids dvd  and computer game.
 Emily got him a pack of scooby doo stickers and Dylan got him a pair of flip flops with skulls on them.
 After gifts, we walked across the street to the Bakery where we let Skyler choose his cupcake. We all got desserts. Skyler chose a strawberry cupcake with buttercreme icing and christmas sprinkles. Emily got a expresso cupcake with mocha icing. Dylan chose a large chocolate chip cookie. Deryk got a gingerbread cupcake with vanilla icing. I chose a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing. Now of course, Hayden got the best of all... she shared with allllll of us!
 Unfortuately, they were not as good as they looked. Be we enjoyed them anyway.
 When we got home, one of Skyler's new friend, Timmy came over to bring him is birthday gift. It was a dirtbike. They had a great time playing!
 We let Skyler choose his dinner tonight, and his choice was Taco Bell. After we enjoyed our tacos, Skyler opened his other gifts. He got a Jet from Grandma Noel and a Action figure set from Nannie and Pop Pop. He was very happy with all of his gifts!
 Yesterday, Skyler and I went out to pick his cake. He decided to choose a reese's cake.
We all sang "Happy Birthday" and he blew out his candle! I just cant believe that my baby boy is 5 already! :(      Time sure does fly by fast!




:)     :)     :)     :)     :)     :)     :)     :)     :)     :)     :)     :)     :)     :)
Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I had a great 5th birthday!
Love, Skyler

Monday, December 20, 2010

A Sugared Evening.....


 Today we made LOTS of sugar cookies!
Skyler got himself ready by putting on his apron! He wanted to make sure that no flour got on his clothes :)
 We started out by making sugar cookie dough.
 We seperated it into 3 pieces. We left one regular and added food coloring to the other two.
 We made a batch of red sugar cookie dough and a batch off green sugar cookie dough.
 When we were finished, we decorated them and put some into little christmas boxes to send to some of our our family!
 Hayden didn't really help with the baking, but loved to play with the cookie cutters!
 And of course, the kids did a great job! They turned out beautiful.... and delicious!

Our year in Review!!!!


Sunday, December 19, 2010

We are Trying some new recipes that I have found. So far, they have all been wonderful!

 Creamy Bow Ties with Ham and Vegetables

Ingredients:
2 cups uncooked bowtie pasta                              
1/2 cup soft cream cheese
3/4 cup half and half                                              
1 cup baby carrots chopped
8 ounces asparagus, cut into pieces                        
2 cups cooked ham cubed
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions:
Cook and drain pasta. Mix cream cheese and half and half into 12 inch skillet. Cook over medium heat until melted and smooth. Stir in carrot and asparagus. Cook until vegetables are tender. Stir in ham, pasta and seasoning. Cook 4-5 minutes until hot.  Serve with bread and butter.



 Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons soy sauce                      
 1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon cornstarch                      
 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 can mandarin oranges                      
 1 can pineapple chunks
1 tablespoon vegetable oil                  
  1 clove garlic
1 lb boneless chicken strips                
  1 can baby corn
1 can water chesnuts                          
   2 medium green onions
Hot cooked chinese noodles

Directions:
Mix soy sauce, honey, cornstarch, red pepper, orange syrup and pineapple juice into small bowl. Heat oil in 12 inch skillet. Cook chicken and garlic until no longer pink. Add in sauce mixture and heat until boiling for 3-4 minutes. Stir in baby corn, water chesnuts, oranges, pineapple and green onions. Heat 3-4 minutes. Pour over noodles and serve.



 Beef Taco Rice Skillet
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef                                        
 1 packet taco seasoning
1 1/2 cups water                                        
  1 cup salsa
1 1/2 cups instant rice                                
 3/4 shredded cheese
1 cup shredded lettuce                              
  1 medium chopped tomato
sour cream, if desired

Directions:
Cook beef in 12 inch skillet. Drain. Stir in seasoning mix, water and salsa into beef. Heat to a boiling. Stir in rice. Let boil until tender. Fluff with fork. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Cover and let stand until cheese is melted. Sprinkle lettuce, tomato and sour cream if desired. Serve with flour tortillas. ( I sprinkled with tortilla strips and served the lettuce, tomato and sour cream on the side)

And of course...... Dessert!


French Apple Pie
Ingredients:
2 pie crusts                        
 6 granny smith apples, peeled and sliced thin
1/2 cup brown sugar          
  1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
Directions:
preheat oven to 425. Line baking dish with 1 pie crust. Lay out other pie crust and slice into strips. Set aside. line bottom of crust with apple slices, layered. In small bowl mix brown sugar, sugar and melted butter. Pour over apple slices. lay remaining pieces of crust over pie. sprinkle with brown sugar. bake for 45 min until brown.


These were some wonderful meals that our family has enjoyed this week! I hope that you enjoy them also! :)    

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Making Gingerbread Cookies

 Today We decided to make Gingerbread Cookies!!!


 It was alot of fun! We made the dough... rolled it out... cut it into shapes and then baked it!

 Emily had a friend over for the evening!
 After dinner, I let the kids sit and the table, I set out all of the supplies and gave them each 3 cookies.... 1 gingerbread man, 1 star and 1 christmas tree to decorate! They all had a great time! It was interesting to see their different designs.
They all turned out to be beautiful and the kids had alot of fun!!!!
Let the Christmas Festivities begin!