Matching Monkeys

I saw this way cute monkey flannel at Wal-Mart and had to get! I made them all matching Jammie's with appliqued shirts(Maddens was dirty). They came out sooooo cute! I have to make mister chunker a bigger size, silly me thought he could ware a 6-9 size, but with those thighs and diaper he needs a 12 month size!

Chocolate fix in 5 minutes!

Okay, this recipe for 5 minute chocolate cake has been floating around the web, and well knowing me I had to try it!

Now I can get my chocolate cake fix whenever I need it! And I don't have to make and eat a whole cake by my self!

I have these big mugs so it didn't go all the way to the top, but it still came out good, I think I am only going to do it for 2 minutes next time, I think my microwave cooks real high. And I like a moister cake. All in all I will be making this whenever I need cake!

Five Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Directions:Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes.The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

Cream Cheese Pasta

My mom used to make this for us when we were kids, I don't know if there is a recipe or she just made it up, but its yummy none the less!

For 1-2 servings I put about 1/2 cup cream cheese(use low fat if you want to cut the calories) Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese, I like fresh but you could use the can, sprinkle a little garlic powder and some parsley.

Add some pasta, about 2 cups. I used ww to try to make it a little healthy.
Let the hot pasta melt the cream cheese, then stir it all together!

Quick, good, easy, Mmmmm.

Porcupines + Dogs = Big $

Yep that's right, our dogs decided to play with a porcupine Saturday night. We didn't know until we got home from church(we have the 9am). Justin was going outside to grill some hamburgers and saw the dogs. We tried to pull some of them out with the pliers but they were to deep and painful for them. So we called the vet ER number and he told us to bring them in. They have to put them to sleep to pull them all out and this is all times 2! It took about an hour and then Justin brought them home, they were so groggy it was kind of funny, but then there muzzles were swollen and it was sad to see them like that! They couldn't even drink water, Jack had one on his gums. I learned a lot about porcupines, besides the fact that they are horrible to mess with. There quills have little burrs down them and they are sharp on both sides,I learned that first hand while we were trying to pull them out. And that you have to put your dog to sleep in order to pull them out.
And the vet bill? about $300! Good thing we love our dogs, it was so much more because it was an after hours, on the weekend, guy by himself, both dogs, gonna poke your eyes out kinda of a thing. But we couldn't have waited until Monday when they were open it was just horrible to see them like that, I was going to get a picture but thought that might be to cruel to make them wait for a picture instead of trying to get them out or take them to the vet.
There all good now, they were able to eat there breakfast. I think they are a bit groggy still because they are not running around wrestling with each other. I hope they learned there lesson not to mess with another porcupine!

Would that be another minus for the country?

For Mama Shelley

Haven't done a video in a while, and my mom wanted to hear him growling, so here he is with all of his cuteness!

Soccer Girl!

Annalyse has been wanting to play soccer for a couple years now, and I finally got her signed up. Saturday was her first game, after just one practice. She did real well, I was so surprised! She was a little timed at first but then she got into it and her little competitive side came out(which she gets from her dad not me!) and she was going after that ball! She almost made a goal she was so excited about that! Her team, the Neon Chicks(my idea) won !

I am so excited for her doing something she thinks is fun.

Grateful Sunday

I am home from church today with an ear infection, man they hurt! Now I know why kids scream when they have them! Its just me and M this morning so the house is quiet. I was just thinking of how blessed I am and thought I would do a post of some things I am grateful for, I don't think I have room for everything so I am just going to put a few I was thinking of right now!

Thankful for

My baby's smiles and giggles, melts my heart every time

My husband who is always there for me

My children's hugs

The privileged life I live

All the wonderful people waiting for me in Heaven

Modern medicine and an Urgent Care clinic in our small town

Family

My lovely home(even though it has scorpions sometimes!)

That I can stay home and raise my children

Pictures, what would we do without them!

Memories

Family time/family outings

Prayer

That is only a few! I could go on all day! But the thing is, I am really grateful for my life and everything that goes on in it, good or bad because whatever it is that is happening in your life you learn and grow from it, so not all bad things are bad, you get good from them. And I have learned that first hand. Trials actually help you if you want them to or not! Just keep what you treasure most(family) close and whatever you have to go through you will make it!!

I guess this was my spiritual lesson for my self for missing church!

I should stay home and do this every Sunday! (j/k, a little :)

I think its time for more meds.

Amen

and I forgot to say I was thankful for chocolate!

Should I stay or should I go?

back to the city that is! I had a rude awaking this morning at about 6am (30min. before I had to be up!) I reached down to pull the covers up and got stung on the thumb by a SCORPION !!! I jumped out of bed to find it on me but couldn't so I turned the light on next to my bed still wiping my self to find the (insert bad name here)! I found him crawling on my back! It was a baby to, which means mom is somewhere. So I was fully awake and shaking this morning! The worst part is Z came into my bed earlier and Madden woke up like 5 times last night, I am so glad it didn't get on them! I have no idea if they are allergic or not and don't want to find out! I'm not, thank goodness, that's like the third time getting stung.
But not to worry! I found mom on the wall in the kids bathroom! I think I said a bad word like, the thing that keeps water back + it. And then proceeded to whack it with a shoe. A was in there brushing her teeth and asked me, "what was that word you used when killing them?" I told her it was a bad word so don't say it! I was already in a bad mood from getting stung first thing in the morning in my bed, the one place you should feel safe and comfortable!
I just need to get out of Texas!!!
Oh and the nice post about having the nice weather and opening up the windows? Well we all have allergy problems now, even baby M has a runny nose! So closed the windows and turned on the air, I was just trying to save some money and enjoy the cooler weather and air out the house! And look what it did! Gave me a big headache, runny nose, sneezing and possible a scorpion bite(if that's how he came in).
I do like it out here in the country, I just can't stand all the stinkin bugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Justin keeps saying they are coming in is because or house is still new, its three years old they should be done coming in by now!!!!! Go bother they other new homes in the neighborhood!
I know God created earth and all the little bugs and stuff, but why scorpions? They give me the creeps!!!
Okay I feel better, sorry for the long complaining post!

Pros for staying in the country:
no close neighbors
3 acres for the kids to go play on
lots of big oak trees
room for a horse some day
cooler then city
quiet and peaceful

Cons for staying in the country:
BUGS, VARMINTS, WILD ANIMALS
15 minutes from town
one friend out here

Pros for the city:
could get a bigger house, its more expensive in this little town that we live in!
friends close by
stores close by :) could be bad for the wallet though!!
less gas money

Cons for the city:
neighbors to close
not a big yard
hotter then country
lots of noise

What do you think?

Am I being rational or doing this all in a fit of rage against all things creepy crawly?

I'm gong to Home Depot to get some Home Defence spray for the house!

Rub a dub dub

Z and Chunker in the tub!!!

This should read "slippery when wet!" he was sliding all over the place!
We had spaghetti for dinner, which means Z gets a bath when he is done, you can still see some on his face!

Fall is in the air :)

I was able to open up the windows this morning! After five months of being closed they were a little stuck, but they are open now and a wonderful breeze is flowing through the house! 

I feel like I can breathe again! Its not even that cold, about 70 degrees, but it feels heavenly! This is just a tease though, we still have some more 90 degree days ahead, but for right now this is the first day of cooler weather to come, it relaxes me and lets me know that more is on the way. And I will be able to put the sweltering hot stickiness away for awhile. We will venture out into the world again! The kids can play outside, we can go to the park or Zoo and not melt, oh the the wonderful things that come with the fall! Ideas for our pumpkin party in Oct. are dancing around in my head! I think instead of calling it a pumpkin party I should call it a fall celebration party because that's what it is to me! A celebration that it is finally here! 

Just breathing this cool air is refreshing and energizing! It makes me want to have a bonfire and roast some squishy marshmallows until the are melting off my stick. And sit on the deck all morning with my mug of soul satisfying hot chocolate, and new book or magazine in hand, while the children run around the yard. Life is beautiful in the fall! I think we might have dinner out  on the deck tonight! We have to soak up all that we can before its gone!

Right now

I am sad that we are not getting ANY rain from that massive hurricane Ike, now I cant go out side and get muddy, I have to water my plants before they die, and can't go anywhere because they jacked up the price of gas to $8 a gallon and they are running out because all of the evacuees are here.
Another bummer weekend................

Okay, gas was not $8, Justin said somewhere it was , but it only got to $5 at some places.

At least I had chocolate cake! 

Remembering

A slice of chocolate decadence!

I think she likes to bake so she can lick the bowl!

(no those are not fake lashes, no she didn't get them from me!)

Doesn't he look happy to be in there?

After every baby I have something major happens, maybe I should stop having baby's!!

First was Annalyse and 2 months latter was 9/11. I had just bought tickets to go up to Utah the day before, so I was a little scared to fly after that.

Next was Zander and 3 months latter it was Katrina.

And now there is Madden and 3 months latter my sister passed away and we have a huge hurricane about to hit the coast of Texas. Coincidence? My luck? Another challenge to over come? I don't know, but I better stop before the world falls apart! the first two didn't directly impact me, but still, after each child there has been something huge that happened!

And today being 9/11 I was just reminded of all of those things.

Life is still good though, I have beautiful healthy children, a wonderful husband, a nice house to live in(even if it is in TX!), and of course the gospel of Jesus Christ.

*******

On a way different note, Annalyse is loving 2nd grade! She always says she had a great day at school. She is also wanting to learn to bake and cook, which is happy for me to see, wanting to be like her mom!

We made the quad. chocolate cake again yesterday after school, it is just to good and I was still craving it, so made it again! I made some into cupcakes and they came out in a yummy little snack size, to tempting to just sit there, had to eat 3 before dinner, ooops!, I mean its okay because I'm the mom and an adult and can do what I please! DO what I say not as I do children! ( I let A have one :)

And we got the high chair out of the attic, cleaned it up and plopped the big boy into it and he enjoyed being up high and watching all of the action! Hope it will help when I am trying to clean the kitchen or make dinner!

Again this weekend is going to be a bust! It is supposed to rain hard all day Sat. and Sun. So now I have to think of something indoors to do, besides nothing! I would go to the movies but there is nothing I am really wanting to see. Shopping isn't as fun when you cant buy the size you want to be, and you have kids in tow. Could rent some movies but we always do that. Any ideas? O000 maybe I will be able to go four wheeling in the mud!!! And get all muddy!! Don't ask me why that is so exciting for me! It just really sounds like fun!

The bebe is calling me so I have to stop typing and go tend to his needs, probably wants some milk, I'm telling you he has an addiction to that stuff, might have to do an intervention or something!!!

Got Postage?

Ready to be shipped!

Kids and boxes!

One Month

Hard to believe its been one month since she left, time does go by fast. Well for me at least, I have been so busy with my kids since getting home from the funeral I really haven't had a lot of time to dwell on it. Which is good in some ways, I do have my moments but then I think to my self, she wouldn't want me to be sad, so I cheer up and keep going! This picture is when Zander was about 1 month. She came down right after he was born to help out, and boy did she! Not with the baby but for me! I will never forget that summer, we had the best time, and Zander was a good baby so we got to do a lot like go the movies and shopping. I got to know her so much more and loved the whole month that she was here. That was also the summer she had to cut about 5 inches off of A's hair to even out the "trim job" she gave her self!! She was the best hair stylest, she always did my hair exactly like I wanted and styled it for me all the time. She did so much for me and I feel I hardly did anything for her. I still wish I could have done more. Now I'm getting all choked up! I miss you dear friend and sister!

Three little monkeys

I had put Madden on his little play mat and walked away, when I came back a minute latter- This is what I saw! All three of them under there! Helping? Playing? If one does it they all have to do it!!
I am looking for some energy today, can't seem to find any. These boys are being real clingy to. Z me and J all had sinus infections this past weekend, so it could be from that. So the weekend that J has 4 days off we all get sick, one right after the other, so we did nothing fun. Got nothing done around the house and basically had a crappy weekend.
And if that wasn't enough, Annalyse chipped a tooth yesterday at school, so I had to spend the afternoon at the dentist office with all three of them! She is going to have a crown put on it on Monday. I'm trying to think of nice things really I am! Maybe I should go eat some more of that sinful chocolate cake!
If I had a bookstore close by I could drown my self in magazines and books while Z plays with the train set.

When oh when is fall going to be here? I want to open up the windows and go out side!!

B-a-n-a-n-a-s

Its banana bread, in the crock pot.

I thought this idea of making tea breads in the crock pot to be very interesting so I had to try for my self. All you do is make our favorite recipe, put in loaf pan and put in your crock pot. I think it came out just like in the oven, if not more moist. The web site I got it from said to cook it on high for 4 hours, but mine only took 2 1/2 on high, so keep an eye on it and when a toothpick comes out clean its done. You also need to put a toothpick under the lid to let out some of the steam while baking. This Lady is making something in her crock pot every day for the whole year, some of the recipes are good and others? Well, look like mush. I liked making it this way so I didn't have to turn on the oven in 90 degree heat!

BTW-still snacking on the chocolate cake ;)

Yeah its that good!!!

Warning!!!!!!

This recipe is for die hard chocolate lovers only!!!!!
Any one else will not be able to handle all of this chocolate goodness!!

This is the bomb of all chocolate cakes! (hope I don't get monitored for using bomb in this post!:)
But DANG this cake is awesome! Its Nigellas Quadruple chocolate cake recipe, not double or triple but Quadruple!!! It is so moist and gooey good. I have been picking at it all day, and I am going to have to do an extra 30 on the elliptical :) but It will be well worth it! it not only is the best chocolate cake ever it is so simple to make! Try it and we can work out together!


Quadruple Chocolate Loaf cake
Cake
1 2/3 c. AP flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. cocoa
1 1/3 c. sugar
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
2 T. vanilla
1/3 c. sour cream
1/2 c. boiling water
1 c. mini chocolate chips

Syrup
1 tsp. cocoa
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. water

2 oz. dark chocolate, chopped or curled, for garnish

Equipment: Loaf pan - approximately 9.5 x 4.5 x 3 inches, lined with greased foil, overhanging at the top. Preheat oven to 325F and place baking sheet on middle rack.

In processor, add flour, baking soda, cocoa, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, and sour cream - blitz until smooth. Scrape down batter and process again while pouring boiling water down the funnel. Turn off, remove lid and add chocolate chips, using spatula to combine.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and place on baking sheet in the oven; cook for about 1 hour. The cake will be done when the loaf has risen, split down the middle, and a cake tester comes out fairly clean.

About 10 minutes before the cake should be done, put the syrup ingredients into a small saucepan and boil for 5 minutes (it won't thicken much).

When the cake is done, place it on a cooling rack (still in the pan) and pierce here and there using a kabob skewer, cake tester, or chop stick. Pour the syrup over the cake, letting it soak in. Allow the cake to come to room temperature, then remove it from the pan and remove the foil. Sprinkle with generously with chocolate garnish. ENJOY!