Home Cookin'

I recieved a 7 QUART crockpot fo Christmas.  I am SO loving it.  I have used it once a week since I have had it (except for last week - which made me really SAD).  Feeding a family of 10 (half adults and half children) the HUGE size works great!
The first week - queso of course! 
The second week - Pork Roast
The third week - Homemade Chili - mmmmm

This week I am planning something - maybe shredded bar-b-que (pork or beef) sandwiches.  Hmmm. 

Last week I bought a book titled - 101 things to do with a CROCKPOT.  Today while looking through it I saw a recipe for a Triple Chocolate Cake.  (Made in the crockpot - can you believe that?????)  So, I am interested to try this.  Maybe next weekend when Brennen is home to enjoy too. 

By the way, on a side note - Brenn finished last semester out with all B's and an A in PE.  WoW!  I am so very proud especially after the trouble he had the year before.  He is so GREAT! 

Mardi Gras to bring 2011 to a close

Well, after such a great Christmas we decided to throw the kids a little New Year's Eve party.  I stopped "PARTYING" on this night many years ago. Well, by many I mean like 6 or 7 years ago.  But as I was just doing some random shopping earlier that day just so happened that our Dollar Tree had all of their Mardi Gras stuff out.  So, we bought it.  Door Banners, Ceiling flag banners, masks, hats, noise makers, BEADS, everything. 

We stayed home that night and made dinner.  The kids kept asking, "is it 11:00 yet?"  It is a really long time when they keep asking.  We didn't let them put thier masks on until then for very obvious reasons - mainly because when they tore them up early while playing and didn't have them at midnight we did not want to hear them crying.   

Anyway, we spent some family time and drank a little wine (ok, actually I am the only one that drank wine before midnight). 

Then it was time -------oh, the anticipation.  Here are a few pictures:

The girls attempt at throwing PEACE signs

The girls and I ready for 2012

Amber masked and ready to party

Me in of course - purple

Kili, Nakomus, and Liah - 3 masked bandits

 So, HAPPY NEW YEAR's!!!!!!!

"Betty Homemaker" invaded my house!

Let me just start by saying what a VERY BLESSED Christmas I had.  I was well reminded of how many blessings I have been given.  It was been a while since I have been just overcome with the amount of love that surrounds me.  Thank you to everyone.  Especially thank you for all of the small "insignificant" stuff.  This is where I seem to find the most JOY!!!!!

Now on to BETTY HOMEMAKER....I decided that instead of buying a bunch of stuff from the store I would make all of the desserts and snacks for our family for the entire weekend of Christmas.  My menu included:

apple pie
2 different sweet potato pies
jingle bell pizza
rice krispie treats
both sugar and peanut butter cookies
both sugar and peanut butter cookie bars
chocolate covered pretzels
chocolate covered oreos
fudge

Let me tell you....the goodies were good.  We are still eating pie though.  I think the jingle bell pizza was the kids favorite (of course - it has chocolate chip cookie, marshmallows, m&m's and chocolate syrup! What kid doesn't dream of that???)  Except Brennen whose favorite was the chocolate covered oreos.


Not only did I make goodies but 2 of the kids, Gladys, and I actually made homemade snowflakes that decorated lots of the house.....

It was being able to do these small things and the time that I got to spend with my family that made this such a special holiday.  I got to spend a great evening with my mom and Scotty one evening as we celebrated Christmas (a little early).  I even got to put up two trees this year.....my own big one 

and my mom's small one .  There is just something I love about putting up trees.  Ok, well, since this post has been started like a month ago and edited twice I will close here.  Hope everyone had a great Christmas.