tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315217942012-02-16T06:23:58.757-06:00<a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/paradisefinal-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.comBlogger7501100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-79042269483850701332010-10-27T18:27:00.005-05:002010-10-27T18:38:42.068-05:00

Well for me it’s getting to be that somewhat dreaded time of year again- no not the Holiday’s-but time to send out Christmas cards! I don’t know why- but it’s something that I don’t particularly enjoy.Last year though I did something different and it drastically helped! I ordered photo cards from Shutterfly. I used to spend a lot of time picking out the right card and then have to print out

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-76594724423861077682010-02-27T17:44:00.007-06:002010-02-27T18:21:31.298-06:00

I bet you're glad you're sitting down when you see that I'm actually posting aren't you!!Mark and I spent a good deal of the day comparison shopping between 3 stores.Since my store that I used to go to is closing I wanted to check my options.We went to Walmart, Meijer and Aldi. I was really surprised with the results between Walmart and Meijer. Here's the breakdown:Savings going to Walmart over

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-21291416952174977132009-11-05T06:20:00.001-06:002009-11-05T06:20:48.421-06:00

THE MAMA TEST I was out walking with my 4-year-old daughter. She picked up something off of the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that. 'Why?' my daughter asked. 'Because it's been on the ground; you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, And probably has germs,' I replied. At this point, my

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-45979267686941809942009-10-11T12:54:00.002-05:002009-10-11T12:59:03.604-05:00

I found this recipe for "best chili ever". It sounded promising so I tried it this afternoon.Wow!!!! It doesn't lie. The flavor is just incredible. I was worried at first because I tasted it before I let the flavors simmer and it was NOT good!Let it simmer the whole time and wow- I was floored!!!! I'm not a real heat lover so I toned it down with some tomato juice. I think you'll love it as

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-40253779657191390042009-09-28T17:24:00.002-05:002009-09-28T17:27:22.807-05:00

I put this on facebook so most of you have seen this already- but this is so cute I decided to post it here too:Halle started reading her books and I looked over and saw this:How cute is that! She's convinced he likes to listen to her read. I think it might have something to do with that box of cheez-it's sitting right next to her!

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-38946777727551160032009-09-01T15:23:00.003-05:002009-09-01T15:31:36.195-05:00

Yes- I'm actually posting!!I made this recipe for supper tonight and it's so good I wanted to share it.This came from Kraft's Food and Family magazine. I love that magazine- they have great recipes that are always inexpensive, easy and they taste great. This recipe didn't dissapoint.It's meatballs- 2 ways. You make the batch of meatballs and it's enough for 2 suppers served different

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-5618932189584882942009-08-09T15:44:00.002-05:002009-08-09T15:47:05.532-05:00

Friends of mine have started an awesome ministry in Haiti. They are doing a fundraiser to support this cause and they have a matching donor right now.For more info please go here:http://www.chipin.com/mywidgets/id/b6a454f679f902ea They would truly appreciate any support you could offer.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-77253836568377925412009-07-13T18:53:00.003-05:002009-07-13T19:01:59.547-05:00

This is a quick easy delicious brownie- love those kind of recipes:French Cream Mint Brownies1 pkg brownie mix1/2 c. margarine softened2 c. powdered sugar1 T. milk1 tsp. peppermint extractFrosing:1/2 c. margarine6 oz. chocolate chipsPrepare brownie mix for a 9x13 pan as directed on package and bake. (I used the chocolate chunk brownie mix) For cream filling, mix together margarine and powdered

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-4851113487908424762009-07-08T14:34:00.003-05:002009-07-08T14:40:24.820-05:00

Mark is working on the deck today so I wanted to make him a special treat.I saw this recipe and it looked delicious so I tried it today. It's delicious- you HAVE to try this one. I would double the recipe for a family.3 1/2 c. water1 3/4 c. sugarstrips of zest from 2 lemons1 pint (16 oz) strawberries- hulled1 1/2 c. fresh lemon juice- about 9 lemonsIce cubes for servingPut 1 1/2 c. of the water

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-1665960175322083052009-06-26T08:54:00.002-05:002009-06-26T09:01:21.133-05:00

A couple of people requested a recipe I made last night for supper. Unfortunately this is one that I just put together myself so here's as close to the recipe as I can get.Cheesy Broccoli Casserole:1 pd hamburger1/2 pkg. egg noodles1 pkg frozen broccoli8 oz co jack cheesebread crumbscream of chicken soupcream of celery soupBrown hamburger, seasoning it with salt and pepper and onion powder.Cook

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-46427899530278316012009-06-21T03:31:00.002-05:002009-06-21T03:35:02.814-05:00

This story touched my heart and you just have to go check it out!For whatever reason the link button isn't working so copy and paste this address:http://www.godsnotfinishedwithusyet.com/2009/06/post-office-at-its-best.html

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-70135182951702546102009-06-18T16:24:00.007-05:002009-06-18T16:30:16.815-05:00

WHERE THE TIME HAS GONE?Baby Nick:Halle with Grandpa and Uncle Duane:Arianna and Halle:Arianna with Grandma:Arianna:Baby Halle with the donuts:Sorry there's only 1 of Nick- I was in the old file and it was mostly the girls.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-55654541537668658552009-06-14T20:59:00.015-05:002009-06-14T21:12:30.659-05:00

Mark got free tickets to the Nascar race today so off we went! We've always wanted to go but never have. We had so much fun! It was so cool to see it in real time. You know the cars go really fast but it's pretty amazing to actually see it!Here are some pictures from our day.Here is the entrance to the grandstands:During the pre-show they did a parachute exhibit. I loved this one because he

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-6463159002372751342009-06-13T17:03:00.014-05:002009-06-13T17:15:08.509-05:00

Today was a big day for Mark. He completed his first Triathlon! This is something he has always wanted to do but after he got meningitis in Russia he never had the stamina.Well at the beginning of this year he really dedicated himself to get fit and conquer this goal and today he did!His goal was to do it in 2 1/2 hrs and he completed it in 2 hrs and 25 minutes so he made it!I am so proud of

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-79101860089096341242009-06-10T15:02:00.003-05:002009-06-10T15:10:52.729-05:00

This note came sliding out from under Halle's door last night after she went to bed:It says:I love my mom. She is the best mom. She is the bestest mom in the world. She is my mom. I dedicate this note to my mom. Love HalleRight before bed she had asked to look at her baby pictures. She wanted to see the pictures of when we got her and saw her for the first time. So we had fun looking at

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-34521295463622197352009-06-09T14:42:00.009-05:002009-06-09T14:51:59.223-05:00

I saw a link for this craft idea on Sandra's blog a long time ago. I tried it today with the girls and it was a huge hit!Puffy PaintMix 2 T. flour2 T. saltfood coloringenough water to make a think paste. The kids can use the paste to paint pictures on thick pieces of cardboard. Then you microwave it for 20 seconds or until dry.The girls absolutely loved it and had a great time with it!Here

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-67424112044025218062009-06-09T08:36:00.003-05:002009-06-09T08:44:13.162-05:00

Joanne requested this recipe so I'm just posting it here:1 pd ground beef1/2 pd sausage1 small tomato paste1 can tomato sauce (small size)1 T. parsley1/2 tsp. oregano1/4 c. onion- diced1/4 tsp. salt1/8 tsp pepper1/4 tsp worcestershire sauce3 crescent rolls1 c. cottage cheese1/4 c. paremsan cheese6 slices mozzeralla cheeseBrown ground beef and drain fat off. Add tomato paste, tomato sauce,

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-24650419640993810602009-06-08T16:29:00.003-05:002009-06-08T16:48:22.954-05:00

Well remember awhile back when I told you change had come and I was starting work at Arby's? Well change has come again and I'm back home- (where I belong!)As badly as I thought I wanted to get outside of the house and work I soon discovered that it was not where my heart was. There were several things that brought about my change of heart. First- Arianna is dealing with some issues and God

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-62742526318475899972009-06-02T06:58:00.002-05:002009-06-02T07:03:24.670-05:00

Anybody out there have any cures for ants? I've occasionally had ants before but I could always put the ant traps out and it would take care of it. With Oscar in the house I can't do that. However, I've never had ants like this before- it's driving me nuts. They are coming in my french doors in the kitchen. I've cleaned and cleaned- you could eat off my floor! Mark has sprayed over and over

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-64227192144542032582009-05-17T16:20:00.014-05:002009-05-17T16:32:41.757-05:00

Today we went to Hemlock Crossings Park. What a wonderful place. It's a park with beautiful trails! The girls loved it and so did Oscar.Such beautiful scenery:Oscar just loved being able to full out run!After that we went to the Park where Mark is doing his Triathlon in a few weeks so I would know where to go. I've never been there before, but it's a beautiful park too. They had brand new

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-57979273700480687952009-05-13T15:35:00.000-05:002009-05-13T15:37:52.264-05:00

I just wanted to quick let everyone know that I'm not sure how much I'm going to be blogging for awhile. I'm just not feeling any inspiration to blog lately. Not sure why....I'll update as things come up but it probably won't be much.I do update on facebook daily so if you want you can catch me there. I will still be coming around to check out your blogs and comment so you'll know I'm still

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-13687666678444744202009-05-10T10:39:00.012-05:002009-05-10T12:03:44.213-05:00

Arianna's class got to sing the National Anthem for the White Caps this Saturday so we went for a fun night at the ball park.I love going- it's a fun night and it was special because we only took Arianna since the whole family is going again in 2 weeks and it gets pricey going there.I was so proud of the kids that sang- they sounded so so good! She's the third one in the front row. Don't look

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-88178628666472164332009-05-04T18:10:00.002-05:002009-05-04T18:14:32.762-05:00

You heard about the wonderful deal I got on carpet and I promised you pictures of the new paint when I got it done.Here you go:Mark just has to put up the trim and register covers yet.She loves it so it's a success!

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-87511093727548480102009-04-29T07:21:00.004-05:002009-04-29T07:30:18.780-05:00

Things are changing in my life. Tomorrow I start a new job! Nothing too major- I'm just starting to work at Arby's. I'm looking forward to it though. One of my friends works there and they people seem really nice so it should be good.I was working in real estate but obviously the economy hasn't been good to that line of work and I was really tired of having to be attached to the phone 24/7 and

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-45723350727746623152009-04-22T19:24:00.002-05:002009-04-22T20:14:44.763-05:00

It's time to draw a winner for the gift certificate for Wolfies and the winner is.....Ginger!!Ginger- privately send me your address and I'll mail you the certificate!!Congratulations!!

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-14372823258214617722009-04-22T06:59:00.003-05:002009-04-22T07:12:58.474-05:00

This morning in my devotions something really hit home with me. I struggle all too frequently with giving over my worries to God but then taking it back. This is what I read this morning:If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hands but would be safer in mine?!?Give your life, your hopes, and our prayers to the Lord, and, by

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-987145629851075382009-04-20T05:16:00.000-05:002009-04-20T05:16:00.453-05:00

Mari and I had such a nice day on Friday. We went to one of our favorite restaurants for lunch. You may have already heard of it- it's called Wolfies.It's in Zeeland and it's a wonderful family place to eat but it's also a nice place to go when you want a more quiet, cozy dinner. Mark and I also love to go here because it's just something a little different to enjoy. The girls love to go

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-59429729223474430822009-04-15T15:16:00.004-05:002009-04-15T15:27:21.694-05:00

Saturday I got the best deal I'm pretty sure will ever happen to me.We love Lowes. We go there and wander around frequently. I always check the carpet remnants they have and about 2 weeks ago I found some nice carpet that was the right size for either Nick's or Halle's room. The carpet in the kids room is original to the house and needed to be replaced. Anyway- they had it for $75. I thought

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-3642861798166588862009-04-14T18:26:00.004-05:002009-04-14T18:29:55.618-05:00

Finally the glasses have arrived and she is quite excited.I think she looks really cute. The only difficulty is having her remember to put them in the case when she's not wearing them so they don't get broken.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-58074989090485002882009-04-13T15:29:00.001-05:002009-04-13T15:29:50.982-05:00

We had a great time in Tennessee. Everything went well except the one day we had snow!!! Actually it wasn't too bad. It snowed a bit at night and on and off throughout the day but the next day it was back to nice weather.This is the day Mark and the kids went horse back riding through the mountains. I was a bit nervous about the girls doing this but they did great and all enjoyed it!I just

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-15708094509500187312009-04-12T12:02:00.009-05:002009-04-12T12:11:33.726-05:00

What a beautiful day we had to celebrate Easter and Mark and I's 18th Anniversary!The sun was shining so it was wonderful to be able to have our annual egg hunt for the kids outside this year.Arianna found the "golden egg". Every year there is 1 golden year and the kids have to take turns finding it. It has $5 inside so it is a real treasure to find!Each of the girls found one of these special

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-25279429345984118072009-04-02T07:20:00.000-05:002009-04-02T07:21:08.448-05:00

I am off to relaxation, nature, family fun, laughter, beauty, possible bears!!!!We're leaving for vacation to the Smoky Mountains. Be Back to tell you all about it on the 13th.Have a great Spring Break!

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-70951640907162812162009-03-30T19:13:00.004-05:002009-03-30T19:20:40.172-05:00

How can this adorable cuteness:Turn into this:Thank goodness within a few minutes he was dry and back to the cute little fluff ball again!I hope he doesn't hold it against me for posting him in this not so flattering light!

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-85664059458063288592009-03-30T06:13:00.000-05:002009-03-30T06:13:00.614-05:00

Oh the joy I feel (said with sarcasm dripping from my voice)Arianna's class has been doing a special section in school dealing with habitats, characteristics etc of animals. To help them with this they got frogs, snails and crabs delivered to school. The great news came when Arianna came home a few weeks ago and said they could have one of the animals to bring home! Oh how my heart leapt for

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-71796251408071442282009-03-26T18:42:00.009-05:002009-03-26T18:50:53.225-05:00

While we have Andy home we wanted to get a Birthday party in so last Saturday we all went out for pizza and did some celebratin!Looks like Bob's having a good time! (sorry Bob- I couldn't resist)Here's the whole gangThese 2 always have a great time togetherHere's AndyOne of the Birthday's we celebrated was my dads. Here he is opening our present to him. Nick made that clock for him.Here's a

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-19737637050621989082009-03-25T12:00:00.002-05:002009-03-25T12:10:14.701-05:00

For about 1 1/2 months now Halle has been having headaches. Scary headaches that she was telling me would make her vision blurred.I brought her in to the Dr and her neurological exam was fine and he thought it might be pressure from sinus issues.She occasionally still complains of them so the next step was the eye Dr.I just got home from the appt and Halle has glasses coming her way. She is a

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-89319876603130320802009-03-18T20:01:00.003-05:002009-03-18T20:05:31.475-05:00

A little team work:Makes for a lot of fun!!

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-52453364705832677842009-03-17T14:48:00.004-05:002009-03-17T14:57:27.156-05:00

Before Christmas I contacted Halle's teacher and asked her if the class would be interested in writing letters to a soldier who was serving and was away from home at Christmas. Of course I had 1 particular soldier in mind- Andy!!She was very excited about this and the class wrote such cute letters to him.When I found out that he was going to be home before school got out for the year, I asked

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-53837042305332299812009-03-16T19:25:00.002-05:002009-03-16T19:28:09.032-05:00

I happened to glance into the kitchen while Arianna was doing her homework and this is what I saw:I had to take a 2nd look because I thought she had grown a tail!!Apparently Oscar got roped into keeping her company while she did her homework.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-67705177610890714322009-03-15T16:49:00.011-05:002009-03-15T17:06:38.887-05:00

After over a year of not seeing my nephew- he returned home on leave from the Army Sunday. Our whole family gathered at the airport to see him come in. The girls have been anxiously waiting for him all week so they could hardly wait!Here he is arriving:Heather:Laura:Halle running into his arms:Arianna:The whole family:My dad and Andy:We've got him here for 3 weeks- I hope he enjoys every minute

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-37371942458153897512009-03-10T19:46:00.002-05:002009-03-10T19:51:50.059-05:00

Well our vacation is quickly coming up and I'm trying to get some things figured out.We will be driving to Tennessee.That means 11-12 hours in a car with 3 kids. We've got the dvd thing covered already but I'm trying to figure out some other things for the kids to do in the car.I'm going to go to family fun.com because I know they have some print outs that will be fun for the kids.Anybody have

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-53821482832483475672009-03-08T12:20:00.003-05:002009-03-08T12:39:28.874-05:00

I thought I would update you all on what's been going on with my "sickness."I have continued to struggle with not being able to eat without getting sick and I finally have a diagnosis.IBS- Irritable Bowel SyndromeThe reason I'm posting this is because I'm looking for help. Does anybody out there have this also or know anybody that does?The GI Dr said I had an infection or food poisoning that

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-59029829677050480342009-03-04T17:52:00.001-06:002009-03-04T17:53:42.033-06:00

No smart alec comments!!!!!You Are a CashewYou are laid back, friendly, and easy going.Compared to most people, you have a very mild temperament.You blend in well. You're often the last person to get noticed.But whenever you're gone, people seem to notice right away!What Nut Are You?

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-41319588643532700062009-03-03T06:26:00.000-06:002009-03-03T06:26:00.667-06:00

Well I don't know about you, but I'm so tired of only hearing bad news.Trust me I am very well aware of the economy and how everything seems to be fallingapart everywhere we look these days.I want to shift focus today. Here's what I'm thinking.I'm asking everyone that visits here today to leave me a comment of something positive.Share your good news. It doesn't have to be anything huge-

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-82647363897451162092009-03-02T06:02:00.000-06:002009-03-02T06:02:00.755-06:00

Mark and I have been trying to have a date night for a couple of weeks. He had it all planned out on Valentines Day but that night I was sick and last week Saturday didn't work either so finally we got to go out this past Saturday.We didn't have anything fancy planned- it's just nice to get out without the kids once and awhile.The guys at his office started dieting this year and he's melting

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-36909116312372603712009-02-26T05:47:00.000-06:002009-02-26T05:47:00.767-06:00

Our school spreads out the kids programs that they put on through the grades which is great. So Halle didn't have a Christmas program this year she had a Spring Program and it was last night.It was only the 1st graders and they did different songs and Haiku poems about the different seasons. I am so impressed with our music teacher- he does a great job. He really gets the kids going and again

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-49752304352879924322009-02-25T05:53:00.000-06:002009-02-25T05:53:00.876-06:00

Saturday it was blustery and snowing here and that always puts me in the mood to bake.Arianna happened to be reading a Laura Ingalls Wilder book and at the end they had her recipe for gingerbread and Anna asked me if we could make it.I thought it was a great idea so the baking started:It was fun while baking this to think about the Ingalls family making this verysame recipe all those years

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-48524831671653984872009-02-24T05:56:00.000-06:002009-02-24T05:56:00.717-06:00

I can't tell you how good it is to finally feel good again! Thanks for all your prayers! I am savoring every bite of food because I was really starting to wonder if I'd ever be able to eat something other than crackers!I made a delicious soup for supper. Mark's work always does a soup cook off every year and this was the winner:Taco Soup2 pds hamburger1 green pepper chopped1 onion chopped2 pkg

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-24305494221484469952009-02-16T13:16:00.003-06:002009-02-16T13:23:46.765-06:00

Well I just wanted to update you. I just got back from the Dr and he says it's 50/50 on this being a horrible virus or food poisoning. He said this isn't necessarily fitting what he's been seeing and what he's been seeing hasn't lasted this long however it's not a classic case of food poisoning either.Here's where I'm at. I had to get blood work done again because he's concerned about my

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-42909380514935245992009-02-14T07:25:00.001-06:002009-02-14T07:25:51.739-06:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-49677360253837783692009-02-12T16:19:00.003-06:002009-02-12T16:25:00.506-06:00

Update:I'm back from the urgent care. Good thing I went I guess- I was very dehydrated and my potassium was low so they had to do an EKG. That came back good so I'm on potassium and have to get that rechecked next week.The fluids helped a lot- I felt better already when I left. Now I just need my GI tract to settle down enough that I can keep things in me- so far not good yet, but the Dr

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-80839202874358975202009-02-12T10:28:00.003-06:002009-02-12T10:45:16.548-06:00

Sorry it's been awhile since I posted but I've been sick since Tuesday.Yup- it's been a fun 3 days now.Flu plus a cold is not a good thing. Halle had a touch of it too- I'm so hoping no one else gets this.I actually called the Dr this morning because I was starting to wonder if I had eaten something with peanuts in it and had the salmonella poisoning since the flu usually doesn't last this long.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-22017166767941638592009-02-10T07:00:00.000-06:002009-02-10T07:00:00.986-06:00

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-19056423799060984762009-02-09T06:57:00.000-06:002009-02-09T06:57:00.598-06:00

Did any of you see the sunrise Friday? It was so pretty when I went out to the bus stop I quick grabbed a picture of it.Mark was gone this weekend. The guys from his work planned a weekend at a cabin up north. One of the guys owns this cabin and it's so nice. They were going to be snowmobiling, but that didn't happen because the weather warmed up so much the snow melted too much. They still

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-29438087550133906702009-02-06T06:38:00.003-06:002009-02-06T06:41:09.100-06:00

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-73801935838369004502009-02-04T17:47:00.004-06:002009-02-04T17:50:22.304-06:00

Arianna came home with this note today and she was all smiles and giggles about it.She's 10- wish me luck for the next 10 years!!

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-56136611682540478182009-02-03T16:19:00.002-06:002009-02-03T16:29:42.743-06:00

quick answer- not a whole lot! I guess I better break it down a bit to get a post made!In the backyard: Halle pestered Nick long enough that he finally gave in and is outside playing in the snow with her and shoveling. I guess it's not genes but what kids live because Halle has certainly inherited Mark's love of shoveling. The funny thing is Nick- absolutely not (might be the age too :) )

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-78236114990259898922009-02-02T07:14:00.002-06:002009-02-02T07:30:18.593-06:00

We've been trying to figure out where if anywhere we would go for Spring Break this year. Thanks for all the ideas you guys sent in.We were down to Branson Missouri and Gatlinberg Tennessee. We ended up deciding on Gatlinberg. We will be going with my sister Terri and her family. I found an absolutely gorgeous place to rent a 5 bedroom house so we will have plenty of room to have our own

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-6664648704997251972009-01-30T06:20:00.002-06:002009-01-30T06:27:42.736-06:00

I am using an old devotion book and my devotion for this morning fit so perfectly for the times we're in I thought I'd share a bit of it:Hebrews 10:23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. For He who promised is faithful.God's word contains promises upon which we, as Christians can and must depend. The Bible is a priceless gift, a tool that God intends for us to use in

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-33294635757798675682009-01-28T18:35:00.002-06:002009-01-28T18:43:21.280-06:00

I need to pick your brains. We are debating about doing something over spring break. We are trying to figure out all options. There is an animal safari that we are thinking about that is in Ohio and we've heard really good things about it.However, I am really longing to see some green grass and go somewhere a bit warmer- not hot but warmer. I don't want it to be way down south because we have

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-48864595932793075802009-01-28T05:14:00.000-06:002009-01-28T05:14:01.138-06:00

I think this is so cute. Halle made this poem for her busdriver Mrs Liy.I'll translate it for you:Roses are redviolets are blueI can never havea better bus driver than you.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-64648857102432705702009-01-27T06:50:00.000-06:002009-01-27T06:50:01.129-06:00

While we were at the cabin, I found this quiz in a magazine. I decided to try it with Mark. We thought this was fun to see how we did. I did better than Mark and had fun telling him it was because he didn't "listen to me"You and your spouse have to answer these questions for yourself and how you think they will answer and then compare.We actually did pretty good- let me know how you guys do!1.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-17981155790466911782009-01-25T15:39:00.003-06:002009-01-25T15:59:49.174-06:00

We're back from a wonderful weekend. I just love it there!We went to a beautiful home in Traverse City and it didn't dissapoint.Here are some pictures of the home:The log cabin:This is our bedroom- it's the upstairs loft:This is the basement- complete with pool table:The kitchen:This is the wonderful living room with fireplace:On the way up we ran into some freezing rain. It wasn't too bad on

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-3033201685998566292009-01-22T07:32:00.000-06:002009-01-22T07:32:00.881-06:00

Mark and I have been wanting to go somewhere for quite awhile and Friday morning is the day!We are heading off to Traverse City for a weekend with no kids!Take a look at where we're staying:Isn't it beautiful! Mark and I both just love log homes- if we had unlimited funds that would be our dream home.We don't have anything real specific planned, we're just going to see what we want to do when we

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-71323439933518894012009-01-22T06:23:00.000-06:002009-01-22T06:23:00.504-06:00

You might remember last year I posted about walking in the woods that are by our house.Mark, Mack and the kids went again Sunday afternoon.I had a hard time narrowing down the pictures because they got really great shots. There are quite a few coming so bear with me:Look how deep the snow is on Mack:Halle is obviously enthralled with something in that ice:Look at the cool formations the ice made

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-78230215162134769042009-01-21T06:11:00.000-06:002009-01-21T06:11:00.255-06:00

My post counter tells me that this is post #700. How did that happen?Since I'm feeling so uninspired lately I'm going to open it up to you. You can ask me anything and I'll answer your questions.Please be kind with your questions :)

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-61462749544149055202009-01-19T07:02:00.000-06:002009-01-19T07:02:00.989-06:00

I hope you're not sick of recipes because I've got another one for you.I've seen recipes for Russian chicken over the years and it just never was something I jumped at making. Well Saturday when I was making my grocery list I saw this recipe and I knew since it was called Russian chicken my girls would love it so I decided to try it. I was still worried about it until I smelled it baking and

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-91507932186196121402009-01-17T14:48:00.009-06:002009-01-17T14:56:05.145-06:00

We took a trip to the beach today and most of you who know me already know that I prefer a trip to the beach in the winter over the summer!Well I got more than I wished for today. It was 15 degrees and with the wind it felt like -15!It was freezing. Halle and I didn't last too long but we still enjoyed the scenery from the truck. Mark, Nick and Arianna were tougher than us and they went

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-5796536934026696432009-01-15T12:36:00.000-06:002009-01-15T12:37:05.771-06:00

Since it's cold out and I'm making a lot of soup I thought this was a fun test to do:You Are Chicken Noodle SoupYou are a traditional and conservative person. You value the past, and change frightens you.You are very loyal, especially to your family. You prefer a low-key life, with lots of time spent at home.You like soup because it's easy, quick, and cheap.You tend to have a favorite soup you

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-34186883819298272052009-01-13T19:14:00.004-06:002009-01-13T19:18:34.512-06:00

I made a recipe I've never made before for supper tonight. It's Corn Chowder. I didn't know how I would like it but it was really yummy!Corn Chowder:6 strips bacon- chopped1 c. sliced celery1 medium onion, chopped1 clove garlic- minced3 medium potatoes, pared and diced2 c. chicken stock2 1/2 c. corn kernels1 1/2 c. milk1/2 c. half and half1 tsp worcestershire sauce1 tsp. salt1/4 tsp. pepperFry

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-74456473533425427942009-01-12T20:15:00.002-06:002009-01-12T20:23:07.863-06:00

Just a quick update here on Mack. So far so good. The pants seem to be really helping. The sore is improving and he's so much happier than with that dumb cone on. It's difficult for Mark because he always has to change the pants when he gets home so I can wash them and have them ready for the next day.I know it sounds ridiculous but we love Mack and if this helps him then we'll do it!On a

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-86702190106400668662009-01-07T20:45:00.008-06:002009-01-07T21:00:36.678-06:00

Mack is a much happier dog tonight. The collar just wasn't working- he was miserable and had already broken off 4 big chunks of it. With the collar on he couldn't go through his dog door to get to his kennel. We had to come up with another solution.So I went to our local 2nd hand shop today and bought him a pair of sweat pants.His sore is on the top of his leg so we had to find something to go

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-60988934352420539082009-01-07T13:12:00.003-06:002009-01-07T13:18:18.177-06:00

I love banket but I always hear what a pain it is to make. If you love it too I've got a recipe for you!This is so yummy and it's such a snap to make. Enjoy!2 c. flour1/2 tsp. salt1 c. margarine1/2 pd. almond paste2 c. sugar1/2 tsp. almond extract2 eggs1/2 c. chopped nuts optionalPreheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease 9x13 pan.Combine flour and salt- set asideShred almond paste or cut into small

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-53591401534210455482009-01-06T18:22:00.004-06:002009-01-06T18:43:28.897-06:00

I feel so bad for Mack. He has a very very bad sore on his leg that isn't healing partly because he keeps licking it. We've been to the vet the past 2 Mondays. Last week it was the size of a golf ball and this past Monday it was the size of a tennis ball. He is on antibiotics but it probably will have to be surgically removed-however that will be expensive so they want us to try a collar

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-31457306209455567212009-01-05T07:19:00.004-06:002009-01-05T07:29:22.270-06:00

Well the kids are off to school and the house is quiet again. We had a wonderful break. I took the 2 weeks off work and Mark had the majority of it off and it was wonderful to just be able to concentrate on our family and having fun together. We saw The Tale of Desperaux movie. It was very cute. We also got movie tickets as a family gift from Mark's sister so we also saw Bedtime Stories.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-65116007449077779602008-12-29T14:45:00.005-06:002008-12-29T14:55:03.128-06:00

Here's the final step of our kitchen I was talking about.See this picture:See the white area under the wood? There used to be another piece of trim there, but the new counter top was higher than the old so we had to take the trim off.We were just going to paint it but then I had an idea. I remembered seeing small tiles and I thought we would be able to find some for not very much money.I was

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-38344294108333291092008-12-28T17:47:00.011-06:002008-12-28T18:09:48.946-06:00

I have to show you my Christmas present- well actually it's all of my Christmas presents wrapped into one.We give gift cards on my side of the family so I asked for Lowes. Then I had asked for something different from Mark which he got me. However, it wasn't as great as I had envisioned so I returned it and got the cash for it. I also had given Mark a Lowes gift card which he lovingly gave me

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-87384389605661928762008-12-26T06:48:00.000-06:002008-12-26T06:48:01.038-06:00

I'm so sorry I'm late. I got busy with Christmas and forgot to draw a winner for the gift certificate.The Winner is: Random Integer GeneratorHere are your random numbers:14 Patty!! This works great for me as well since she's right across the street! I'll get you the certificate Patty and enjoy the pizza- Maybe for New Years?

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-43500248133048367322008-12-24T05:56:00.000-06:002008-12-24T05:56:00.246-06:00

This is my last post before Christmas so I just wanted to take a minute to wish you all a very blessed Christmas. I hope you make wonderful memories with your families and see the real joy of Christmas in your childrens eyes as we celebrate baby Jesus' Birth.Sending Holiday Hugs from my house to yours!

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-89124055113294112732008-12-23T06:40:00.000-06:002008-12-23T06:40:00.708-06:00

Mark took the kids sledding on Saturday morning. It was great because while he took them, I went to get grocers- ALL ALONE!I had him bring the camera along to get some pictures:They all had a great time and no injuries!

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-30443146120511963132008-12-22T10:13:00.000-06:002008-12-22T10:13:00.680-06:00

So Sunday on our snow day I was going to make home made cinnamon rolls with the girls. When I pulled out my yeast much to my dismay it had expired.Time to come up with plan B.On to the internet I went and found a recipe for cinnamon rolls made out of crescent rolls. We decided to try them.They are so delicious! Better yet- they are so easy!1 can crescent rolls1/4 c. softened butter2 T. brown

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-64433662600459961732008-12-22T06:34:00.000-06:002008-12-22T06:34:01.286-06:00

Mark absolutely loves the chex mix or nibbles as he calls them that his mom makes.Every year she still makes enough to give to all of her kids.Mark loves them so much that he has a hard time sharing them with the kids, because they also love them and they disappear rather quickly.I walked into the kitchen this past week and something caught my eye. When I looked up this is what I saw:Yes- that's

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-74180085486461215852008-12-21T18:26:00.002-06:002008-12-21T18:35:48.203-06:00

I saw this on Jodi's blog and thought this was such a great idea- I had to pass it along!Copy and paste this link... http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/soldier/sendasong.shtml (for some reason it won't link to it for me)to send a few free songs to a soldier. Add a personal message and hopefully you can put a smile on someone's face! Hurry, it ends DECEMBER 31st!!!

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-57471655834823874682008-12-21T12:18:00.007-06:002008-12-21T12:34:13.972-06:00

We had our Christmas party on my side of the family on Saturday. Once again we had a great time, but I have to tell you about a very special present I received from my brother in law Bob.If you read his blog or Mari's you know he is a very talented wood carver. When I opened the gift I really couldn't believe what I saw.Bob found a picture in the newspaper of some Russian women and in the front

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-69047766520117240252008-12-20T21:21:00.003-06:002008-12-20T21:34:17.273-06:00

Ginger tagged me to do this meme.You need to list 5 things you love about Christmas. The difficulty for me is keeping it to just 5. You see Christmas is absolutely my favorite time of year!1. The obvious one first- that we get to celebrate baby Jesus' birth. To imagine Jesus becoming human to come to this earth to save us is really amazing. So often I take God's incredible plan for granted.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-47384228832242375312008-12-19T12:19:00.013-06:002008-12-19T12:27:30.552-06:00

YEAH- it's a snow day. We've gotten about 9 inches of snow and this is what it looked like when I woke up this morning:After we blew out the driveway, I thought it would be the perfect day to decorate our gingerbread house.The girls and I had so much fun. There is something so wonderful about being snowed in- I just love the feeling of being "stuck" in my house. It just makes me want to bake

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-55446920142856472632008-12-18T05:32:00.002-06:002008-12-18T05:32:00.503-06:00

You probably all know about this place already, but I'm just finding out about it.My Aunt told me about Papa Murphy's on cookie day and we decided to try it out on Saturday.I LOVE IT!It's take and bake pizza and we all thought it was really goood.Here's our pizza before baking it:Here's our pizza after:Here's the kids pepperoni pizza after:It's very reasonable- about the same price as Digiorno

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-5744742499688090042008-12-17T05:29:00.000-06:002008-12-17T05:29:00.555-06:00

Oscar's early Christmas present:

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-36112529044935218042008-12-16T19:07:00.002-06:002008-12-16T19:10:45.390-06:00

Dawn requested this recipe so I thought I'd just post it for all of you:Pumpkin Bread:2 2/3 c. sugar2/3 c. shortening4 eggs2 c. pumpkin2/3 c. water3 1/3 c. flour1/2 tsp. baking powder1 1/2 tsp. salt1 T. Cinnamon1/2 tsp. cloves2 tsp. sodaMix all together till smooth. Bake in greased loaf pans at 350 for 1 hour or till knife check comes out clean.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-50023916194456901192008-12-16T05:24:00.000-06:002008-12-16T05:24:00.621-06:00

Halle would play outside in the snow everyday if she could. Before supper on Saturdayshe headed out to play. After awhile Mark went out. Just a few minutes (like literally 5-10) Mark came in and told me to come out with the camera.This is what I found when I went out:Before Mark got out there- Halle had made the whole bottom ball by herself- it's almost as tall as she is! She was so excited.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-13527315920894658832008-12-15T06:32:00.000-06:002008-12-15T06:32:00.234-06:00

The youth group had an outing on Saturday- Paintball!Nick and Mark were very much looking forward to this and it didn't disappoint.They had so much fun- Nick can't wait to go again. I have to admit- I even think it looks like fun- well all except the welts you end up with if you get hit!Here is Mark and Nick all ready to go:Some of the other guys:Looks like Jimmy didn't fare too well:Here's one

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-30773003923726345892008-12-11T08:19:00.002-06:002008-12-11T08:22:59.261-06:00

I put my decorations up the day after Thanksgiving and thought I'd give you a peek into my house.Here are my stockings. I'm fortunate because I have a talented sister. Terri made the kids stockings and they are treasured keepsakes for sure. I also love my stocking holders. I love Santas and I've collected a few. The tall one is my favorite- it's also Oscar's favorite as he's been trying to

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-23770913944230360802008-12-10T08:43:00.002-06:002008-12-10T13:32:49.966-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCardsPS- if any of Nick's friends mom's are seeing this- please don't pass this on to the kids- I got in trouble with Nick for posting embarrassing pics of him- don't want to embarrass him again.

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-22307788143739857862008-12-09T06:28:00.000-06:002008-12-09T06:28:00.971-06:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-7679091144072535822008-12-07T14:21:00.014-06:002008-12-07T15:31:47.993-06:00

Saturday I wentover to my mother in laws for the famous cookie making day.I've heard about this for years but I've never been able to go because they always did it during the week and I had daycare kids. Well since I'm not doing that anymore and this year they did the baking for 2 days I could come.I have to say, even though I've heard so many stories about this day I wasn't prepared for what I

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-84147969235642844152008-12-05T06:39:00.000-06:002008-12-05T06:39:00.383-06:00

It's time for some yummy Christmas treats to be around the house. Today I got busy and made sugared almonds, Chocolate Caramel candy and chocolate almond truffles.Here are the sugared almonds cooking away. Mari posted this recipe on her blog so I decided to try it. They have a bit too much ginger flavor for me so I would exclude that next time- still pretty good though:Here are the steps for

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-59854097718339110522008-12-04T07:23:00.009-06:002008-12-04T07:46:50.190-06:00

We had our wreath making night last night. Every year Mari's sisters in law host this very fun night. You bring some supplies and they also provide some supplies and then you get to work. Here's Mari and Heather starting theirs:Here's Karla- one of the hosts- she's the bow maker and she's making mine:We finished up our wreaths and then Laura showed up:After you finish your wreaths they also

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-42936198017860171932008-12-03T08:19:00.001-06:002008-12-03T08:21:10.963-06:00

Just a quick one to apologize for being a bad blogger. I truly got nothing to blog about right now- I'm in a serious blogging black out!I'll work on it and see if I can get inspired about something soon!

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-13915206012537691412008-12-01T06:08:00.002-06:002008-12-01T06:08:00.462-06:00

I read some important info on my friends blog and I wanted to share it with everyone.Apparently the sweetener in sugar free gum is extremely toxic to dogs. A very small amount will kill dogs in a very short amount of time. If you have a dog please copy and paste this link and read the information. Sorry- I tried to insert the link- but it's not working!http://activerain.com/blogsview/811128/

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31521794.post-71871970778010208392008-11-29T14:28:00.002-06:002008-11-29T15:12:00.060-06:00

I just had to post this real quick.Arianna and I went to the grocery store today and there was a young man checking out in the aisle right next to me. He had torn up clothes on and a back pack on his back. All he was buying was a loaf of bread and he was having to fumble through his pockets to get enough change to pay for it.When we got out to the van I asked Arianna if she had seen the young

Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350979855715095268noreply@blogger.com11