New Years Eve

What will I do in 2009 that I didn't do in 2008? Hmm

1. Well one thing is I am going to try to pull my family back together. There is allot that happened in 2008 that I would like to forget but at that same time they were learning experience's that I wouldn't want to do with out or again.
2. I would like to spend as much time with my parents as I can.
3. Go to camp more.
4. Take the kids to the park more.
5. Work on my Christmas goals
6. Go away for a weekend with dh.
7. and of cource I would like to shed some pounds.

What goals do you have?

Snowman craft

This is so cute and adorable.

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/snowpeople/ss/buttonsnowman.htm

If you make it please share picture.

For the person that Loves Snowmen

Here is a really cute outside snowman.

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=12097&campaign-NLC-NL_Wkdr&link=Feature%20Photo

After Christmas Goals

Christmas is over and I wish it wasn't. I love to give to others and see there faces light up. I have goals I would like to set for Christmas next year and there is no better time but the present to start on them. I will need you to help so if you have any ideas to help me please pass them on to me.

Here is what I want to do.

1. I would like to be able to help one other child have a great Christmas morning.
2. I would like to make more gifts.
3. Start my Christmas shopping in Feb.
4. Start decorating my house begining of Nov.
5. Get my Christmas cards made before Nov.

I don't feel like I have pressured myself at all. Do you have any goals you would like to do for Christmas 2009?

My Christmas Letter

This year Christmas is a little different around here. We didn't have the money to buy alot of gifts but we have the love to share and that is more inportant then any gift.

There are loved once that are not able to be here with us but they are here in are hearts.

At Christmas time there are know rules, you make the best out of what you have. We have are family and friends and we are the lucky once to have each other.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Tree 2008

Decorating the tree is always fun with the kids.
This year Alan cut the tree down, put it in the stand and brought it in the house.
The kids were so excited, they couldn't wait.
I put the lights and the beads on it.
And here is the kids having fun.

Holiday Tip

Tempted to give your teens gift cards?
Go one better: take them shopping.
They'll get what they want, and more importantly, you'll get time together.

http://www.bhg.com/

Holiday Tip

Use lighter-colored cookie sheets to keep cookie bottoms from over-browning. Or, line dark cookie sheets with parchment paper.

http://www.bhg.com/

Holiday Tip

Is it looking fabulous? Take a photo. You can use your photos next year as a guide for what worked beautifully, and what you might want to tweak.

www.bhg.com

Holiday Tip

Make sure you got all your batteries and film for your cameras and toys.

Christmas Concert

We had a great afternoon watching the kids sing. They put so much work into learning there songs.

Holiday Tip

Add a personal touch to your decor by stringing your prettiest holiday cards on bright ribbon and draping over chair backs, along mantels, or over doorways.

www.bhg.com

Holiday Tip

Add a sweet family touch to gifts:
pick up plain wrapping paper and let your kids decorate it with drawings, cutouts, stamps, and glued-on pom-poms.

www.bhg.com

Make a Snow Flake

http://snowflake.bhg.com/?sssdmh=dm17.351879&esrc=nwwr25_09&email=847010344

Christmas Tree

Today is the day we get ready to get the big Christmas tree.

Three years ago today we adopted 3 wonderful children. On that same day we try are hardest to get are tree and have pizza while we decorate it. It is always a fun day and its a day we all don't want to forget.

Young Children always bring so much joy to Christmas. All the other children are grow so what a joy to have the chance to start over again.

I Love You Guys

The Day We Adopted You
Submitted by: akr7677
Author: Unknown

If we had it to do over again
Adoption is what we'd choose
We got more than we had hoped for
The day we adopted you
For you have given us more in life
Than we could ever want or need
You made our house into a home
And made our family complete
We love you more than life itself for all the things you say and do
And if we had it to do over again
You'd be the only one we'd choose.

No-Waste Gift-Wrapping Ideas

• Wrap the gift in a drawstring bag and use an inexpensive luggage tag for the gift tag.
• Decorate oversized gifts with just a bow that can be used again.
• Put toy animals in a cowboy hat and wrap a cowboy scarf around it.
• Use a jewelry box for some flea market 'jewels.'
• Use a knit hat to wrap a small gift. Close the hat with a barrette or a decorative hat pin.
• Games or toys for a child can go in a new backpack designed pillow case.
• For a person who is handy, wrap a gift in a tool box.
• Put blouses and other gifts in decorative hat boxes and tie with a hair ribbon.
• For the sewing enthusiast, wrap a gift in a fabric remnant and tie it with a piece of lace or ribbon.
• Any kitchen gift can be wrapped in a colorful dish towel. Kitchen utensils can pop out of an oven mitt.
• Place home-baked cookies in a reusable tin box, a kitchen container, or a decorated oatmeal box.
• Use a colorful tablecloth to wrap dishes or dining room gifts.
• For a reader, wrap a book in a reusable canvas shopping sack.
• Wrap tools for a gardener in the pocket of an apron, planter, or bucket.
• Hang earrings, bracelets, or necklaces right on the Christmas tree, or put them inside or around an open ornament.
• Search the flea market, garage sales, and thrift stores for interesting old boxes that can be used as decorative packages.
• Search the attic for old family photos and mementos and give them to your favorite relative wrapped in grandma's old hat and a lace curtain.
• Salvation Army and Goodwill thrift shops often have good prices on leftover holiday wrapping paper.
• Purchase gift bags from your local dollar stores and reuse them each year.
• Used, but attractive, gift baskets are often offered at local thrift shops.
• Christmas-theme fabric, with Velcro strips attached, can become reusable holiday wrap.

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/publiced/holidays/NoWaste.htm

Oyster Cracker

Fun snack to make with the kids.

2 bags of oyster crackers
1 package of dry ranch dressing
a dash of dill (to taste)
a dash of garlic powder ( to taste)
1 cup of oil

Mix all ingredients in large bowl

Cinnamon and Pie Crust

My kids call these poptarts.

All you need is to make a pie crust, roll it out, cut into rectangles
put butter, cinnamon, and sugar on half of it
the other half is to cover the butter, cinnamon, and sugar
use a fork to seal the edges and bake until brown.

Its make a good breakfast or snack.

Biblical Birth-day Verse

http://www.mybirthverse.com/

Mine is:

Matthew 5:9 NIVBlessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes:

4 large sweet potatoes peedled and sliced (my father gives me his sweet potatoes and when I say large, I mean large)

3 large Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and cubed (or your favorite sweet baking apples)

1/4 lb butter melted
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c apple juice (I just use water)
1 t. cinnamon1/2 t. nutmeg (optional)

The Recipe says:

Layer sweet potatoes and apples in slow cooker. Mix melted butter and brown sugar, spoon over the top of the sweet potatoes and apples. Pour the apple juice or water over the entire mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Cook on low 6 to 8 hours.

Stir and serve.

I admit it - I'm lazy when it comes to cooking - and I like quick recipes without a lot of prep time so I usually don't bother melting the butter and mixing it with the sugar, I just cut up the butter and put it, the brown sugar and cinnamon on top of the layered sweet potatoes and apples, pour the water in and stir everything about 1/2 way through cooking. My crock pot has a low, high and autoshift setting (the setting I use) so my cook time is about 4 hours. It comes out like a dark apple sauce and can be eaten hot or cold. My boys eat this as a side dish, I have a small serving in place of my desert.

Recipe by dcfrances (Butlercafe)

OVER NIGHT SWEET ROLLS

6 pm, mix together
½ cup lukewarm water
2 tsp sugar
2 pg dry yeast

Let mix and stand for 10 minutes

Add 4 cups lukewarm water
1 ½ cup sugar
1 egg
3 tsp. Salt
1 cup oil or melted margarine
15 cups flour

Knead 8 to 10 minutes

Place in greased bowl, cover & set aside
Let stand 2 ½ to 3 hours or 9 pm
Shape rolls, put in pans, cover well, but not tightly,
Let rise on table overnight.

Bake at 350 degrees till brown, when you get up

Depending on how you shape, you will get between 4 and 5 dozen.

Recipe by Lenora (Butlercafe)