SWORDS...BOOK LABELS...and a RECIPE...

Random title I know :) But, I have not really been in the mood to blog lately...just been SO tired and busy trying to get my house unpacked and get everything ready before a certain someone arrives. That is IF she ever decides to come out! I am 37 1/2 weeks now which is considered full-term and dilated to a 5 and 95% thinned out! And let me tell you it is not fun to sit at home and dilate for weeks with these REALLY painful contractions. Ever since I got a TB shot to stop my labor a few weeks ago, I can't go into full-blown labor now. Don't get me wrong- I am SO GRATEFUL that she has been in here and didn't come early like my other kids, but it has just been a pretty difficult month and i'm in a lot of pain....so, I hope she decides to come out soon :) If any of you have labor inducing tricks...PLEASE SHARE! Except you Megan...hehe. I can't believe you went past your due date, I have a new found respect for you :)

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Ok- so on with my post...I have been trying to spend lots of time with my kids before Piper gets here, so we decided to make some She-Ra & He-Man swords yesterday because they LOVE that show...so did I when I was a kid. And yes- I know we are super ghetto and the swords look crazy funny. But, the kids LOVE them and it was something fun and different to do.

Funny lookin' swords:) But see how much they love them. Look at the big bruise on Mckay's forehead...he got it from in his own words, "running into the most beautiful girl in the world that I love". I think he has found his first crush in preschool :)

We will see how long they last with all the fighting that is going to be happening. They are only double layered cardboard, tin foil and shiny jewels :)

And of course we had to make them sword holders just like in the show so they can carry them around on their backs.

This is Kylin with her sword watching She-Ra...All day I have heard "I AM SHE-RA" and "I HAVE THE POWER!"

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Also- I thought I would share something made recently. We are big readers in this house...at least when we have time and we loan out a lot of our books to family & friends. So, I decided to make these labels to put on the insides of all our books so that they hopefully will get back to us after we loan them out.

There is a Microsoft word file you can DL, which you can just print out on labels (Avery 8163) that you can get from any store OR you can just DL the JPEG file and print them on normal paper, cut them out and glue or tape them on the inside of the book yourself. Maybe some of you are book loaners too and could use them :) Here are the download links:

WORD FILE

JPEG FILE

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Lastly here is an AWESOME recipe from my mother in law that I LOVE and we had for breakfast!!! So, I am sharing I hope she doesn't care :)

Yummy!

We made these for breakfast this morning and they were SUPER tasty and easy, so I thought I would share :) Perfect for a beautiful Sunday morning.

6 oz. orange juice concentrate
about 6 fresh strawberries, cut up
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
10-12 ice cubes

Piggies....Decorating Projects....& Yummy Treats!

Since we have been stuck home a lot we have been doing lots of crafts lately. Here was one of Mckay's favorites that we got from "Martha Stewart's crafts for kids". He LOVES collecting money, so this was the perfect project. his favorite part was punching the holes.Here is how you make it:

1. Get a small water bottle and cut a slit in it fot the money
2. Wrap in construction paper (or I used felt cause my water bottle was a little rounded) cut slit in that also to match slit on bottle. Glue...I used hot glue gun, but you could probably use regular glue if you wanted.
3. Cut ear shapes out of paper and punch different colored dots with a hole punch (Mckay's favorite part) glue dots on ears and 2 dots for nostrils.
4. Fold ears under at the bottom so that you can glue them down.
5. Glue pipe cleaner around the edges (tuck ears underneath) to hide ear folds.
6. Glue on googly eyes and feet. You can use bottle lids (we have lots around our house) or you can use REALLY big beads. TADA done!

Quite the mess, but worth it :)

The finished piggie!


So, you all probably know that I LOVE to decorate...and a new place to live gives me a reason to change things up. So, I sold our other TV stand and coffee table and bought this for about the same price. Thank you Ikea :) It looks like a built in so I really like it. It is still a work in progress, but this is what I have so far. It has been really fun!

Since I can't paint I lined the back of these book shelves with poster board and painted them. Adds a little color to this side of the room.

I am in really into birds, and vintage stuff, and those vintage colors and patters right now. I am sure it is just a phase, but that is the nice thing. It is only pillows and a few accessories if I ever want to change it...cheap!

One of the fabrics I used to make my pillows for the couch. Like I said....really into birds right now :)

Not quite sure how to arrange the pillows I made yet...or if I will even use them all, but here is what I have.

My fun metal bird. Don't know why, but I love the thing.

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Last, but not least....Do you guys check "Bakerella?" Well, she has the YUMMIEST recipe on there the other day. I was invited to FHE at a new freinds house on monday, so I decided it make it. I and let me tell you...it was DELICIOUS and SO EASY! You can get the recipe from here--
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH BROWNIES

If you want to see more pictures and step-by-step check out bakerella :)

Our Holiday...

THE PARTY

It is a tradition every year for us to throw a Halloween party. I LOVE parties and I LOVE Halloween. I didn't get to go all out this year cause I have been so sick and busy lately but, it was still a lot of fun. We did it the day before Halloween and the Howe's came over to celebrate with us. The kids watched "Icabod & the Headless Horseman" and they were all dressed up in their costumes (Mckay has been wearing his NON-STOP anyways). After we put them bed, all the adults watched "Cloverfield" which was dumb, but oh well. Next year Craig doesn't get to pick the movie :) We had a lot of fun and got STUFFED! Thanks Howe's for coming.

Not my best cupcakes ever, but the kids really liked them. Some had one-eye and the others two.

If you like Apple Cider, then this is a GREAT recipe! We LOVED it.

Ingredients

• 20 whole cloves
• 5 lady apples
• 1 gallon apple cider
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• Zest of 1 orange, removed in large strips with a vegetable peeler

1. Press 4 cloves into each lady apple. Place cider, cinnamon, orange zest, and studded lady apples in a large pot, and warm over medium-low heat. Let steep for 1 1/2 hours, without boiling, until aromatic and flavorful.

Deviled Eyes.

I still get a kick out of dry ice, it's so cool to watch and the kids really loved it.

FAVORITE PUMPKIN PATCH
Every year we go to the same pumpkin patch...Lyle Dabbs in Ogden. They have lots of pumpkins and they are such a good price, plus the kids LOVE going there. Here are a couple pictures from the trip. We didn't get a chance to carve them till Halloween though.

The "Pumpkin Head Man" aka. Lyle Dabb

Craig actually got them to look at me and smile by pretending to throw and pumpkin on my head...whatever works right?!

Mckay always picks small green pumpkins...not very easy to carve them.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT
I don't have any pictures from actual Halloween, but the kids had a lot of fun. We visited all the grandparents (except my parents who live so far away) and then took them Trick-or-treating. Ky had a melt down at every doorstep cause she wanted to eat her candy. But, as soon as we got her to put it in her bag, she would grab the bag from us and say "MINE" but it calmed her down to be able to carry her bag that she knew was full of candy. Mckay got tired and wanted to go home after about 20 minutes...but it was still fun. Halloween is so great with kiddos :)

Sister's New Blog

My sister just started a new blog...a RECIPE BLOG! So, I wanted to help get the word out there cause I pretty excited about it. I LOVE getting new recipes, so PLEASE contribute cause I know you all have some great recipes out there :) Here is how you do it:

Go to: http://goodtimesgoodfood.blogspot.com/
In top right hand corner sign in and supply password
Username: goodfoodswap@gmail.com
Password: goodfoods

It will take you to the blog dashboard, select new post and share your recipe...if you have any questions, just let me know. I really look forward to trying all your recipes! Even if you want to post something and don't have a picture...still post it :0)

New Aprons & Cookies

So, It was about 11 p.m last night and instead of playing World of Warcraft with Craig I decided to make the kids some aprons because they really love to bake with me. So I went to walmart last night at about midnight for fabric, and got these made pretty quick...they only took 1/2 hour. I am on a roll lately with making stuff...I am not the best but it works right? :)

I gave them to the kids the next morning and they LOVED them! Then we made some chocolate chip cookies, I have had a few of you ask for the recipe, so I put it below...they are soooo yummy and really soft. My FAVORITE!

We went camping for 3 days last week in Uintahs again, We got back on saturday night...Iwill be posting camping pictures in the next couple days.

Of course I had to buy the sponge bob fabric when I saw it for Mckay!

Look how Ky dumps the flour in with her hand all backwards...too funny.

This was Ky first time mixing...I am so sad my Kitchen Aid is broken so I have to use a hand mixer till I get it fixed :( I miss it!


Licking the beaters of course.

I love that our oven has a light in it.

Mckay is a dunker just like his daddy.

Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies:

4 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
4 Cups chocolate chips
2 cups butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 (3.4 oz) package vanilla instant pudding mix
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp. baking soda

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar & white sugar. Beat in the vanilla pudding mix until blended. Stir in eggs & vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally stir in the chocolate chips. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake for 11 minutes in the oven. Edges should be golden brown.

Yummy Recipe and Quote

I thought I would fill your tummy's and minds today. hehe. Here is

the tummy part...sooo tasty.

CREAMY ORANGE CAKE

Ingredients:
1 cup boiling water
1- box (4 serving size) orange flavored gelatin
1 box Betty Crocker White cake mix
3/4 cup frozen (thawed) orange juice concentrate
1/3 cup vegetable oil
4 egg whites
1/4 cup water
1 container (12 oz.) Betty Crocker Whipped vanilla frosting
1 container (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 for shiny metal or glass pan (or 325 for dark on nonstick pan).
Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray or flour.
In a small bowl, mix boiling water and gelatin until gelatin is completely dissolved. Cool slightly, about 5-minutes.

In a large bowl, beat cake mix, 1/4 cup of gelatin mixture, 1/4 cup of the orange juice concentrate, the oil, water, egg whites with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2-minutes, scrapping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan. Reserve remaining gelatin mixture and orange juice concentrate.

Bake 30 to 35-minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Poke warm cake every inch with fork. Place 1 tablespoon of the reserved gelatin mixture in a small bowl; set aside. Into remaining gelatin mixture, stir remaining 1/2 cup orange juice concentrate; pour slowly over the cake. Cook cake completely and about 1 hour.

In a medium bowl, gently stir together frosting and whipped topping; frost cake. Microwave 1 T. gelatin on high 10-seconds. Using 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon, place small drops of gelatin mixture over frosting. With spoon or toothpick, swirl gelatin into frosting. Store covered in refrigerator.
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I have been reading this really great book lately, for probably a month now because it takes me FOREVER now to get through a book cause by the end of the day I am to exhausted to read. It is called, Everyday Parents Raising Great Kids. Great book, I highly recommend it. I read this perfect quote from it and it kind of has become my mission statement for how I want my home to be & how I want to raise my kids, so here it is:

"I really wanted my home to be a place where family members felt valued, encouraged, and loved, and where they could learn how to live well. I wanted it to be a place where each one could grow, develop, laugh, play and hug. I hoped it would be a place where they could make mistakes and feel someone was there to listen to them, help them, teach them, and set a good example for them. I did not want them to feel i devalued them because they struggled. I wanted our home to be a place that, when the time came to leave and head out on their own, they would miss it, and want to come back with their own children. I wanted each one to say they came to know service, caring about others, kindness, faith, and gratitude better because they lived in our home and were apart of our family."

Yummiest thing EVER!

You all have to try this recipe it is SOOOOO GOOD. My sis-in-law Sharlie made it and now I just HAVE to make it every week or day or something.

Molten Chocolate Surprise

4 squares Baker’s semi-sweet baking chocolate
½ cup butter
2 whole eggs
2 egg yolks
1 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup flour
12 Chips Ahoy chocolate chips cookies
½ cup thawed cool whip topping

Preheat oven to 425. Microwave chocolate and butter in large bowl on high 2 minutes or until butter is melted. Stir with wire whisk until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Beat whole eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and flour with wire whisk until well blended. Gradually add to chocolate mixture, beating constantly until well blended.

Line 12 medium muffin cups with paper liners. Place 1 cookie, upside down, on bottom of each cup; cover evenly with batter.

Bake 8 minutes, or until cakes are firm around the edges but still soft in the centers. Let stand 1 minute. Carefully remove cakes from muffin pan. Invert onto dessert dishes; remove paper liners. Serve with whipped topping.

* Substitute: Try using Oreo chocolate sandwich cookies instead of chocolate chip cookies.

Cafe Rio @ home

Craig and I, LOVE Cafe Rio. The only problem is that it is expensive! So, we found some recipes for their food. We made it last night and it turned out SO GOOD! It was a lot of work though and our kitchen was a disaster after we were done. But, well worth it and it was fun. It turned out REALLY close to the original. So, I thought I would share the recipes in case there are any Cafe Rio fans out there.

Café Rio Dressing
1 buttermilk ranch dressing packet (make per recipe)
2 tomatillos (tomato like vegetable with a husk around them)
1/4 bunch of cilantro
1 clove garlic
Juice of 1 lime
1 jalapeño (Use the seeds too if you like it spicy. You could substitute a few drops of green Tabasco for the jalapeno.)

Use a food processor to blend all the ingredients well. Refrigerate.

Cafe Rio Chicken
1 small bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
1 T chili powder
1 T cumin
3 cloves garlic—minced
5 lbs chicken breast

Cook all together in a crock pot for 4 hours, shred meat and cook 1 additional hour.

Cafe Rio Rice

3 c water
4 t chicken bouillon
4 t garlic –minced
½ bunch cilantro
1 can green chilies—or equivalent fresh
¾ t salt
1 T butter
½ onion
3 c rice

Blend cilantro, green chilies and onion together in food processor. Bring water to a boil and add all ingredients, simmer covered 30 minutes.

To Assemble: Put some black beans, Mozzarella cheese, some green enchilada sauce, the chicken, lots of juice from the chicken (from the crock pot), the rice, into a large flour tortilla. Fold up into a burrito. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and smother in the Cafe Rio dressing (my favorite part). Put in the oven on broil until the cheese is melted. ENJOY!