Last Saturday we built a frosty and the kids were very excited. Although, it was mostly Jake and I building him while the kids ate the fresh snow. Frosty didn't last too long though because later that day it rained and the next and so now he is pretty much gone!!! But it was fun while it lasted!! 
Well I started round 2 of potty training about two weeks ago. I decided this time that I would just go with the flow, not get angry, and just be pleased if she went. Last week, she didn't do so well and I didn't remember so well to take her. But this week, she has been doing awesome!!!! She has been wearing padded panties (which are great) and she has been telling me when she has to go and only has a had a few accidents. I love that when she is actually going potty she says "Momma, it's still coming. still coming" as if I don't know. She gets rewarded in Starbursts and asks for an orange one after each time (which now that I think about it, am almost out of orange). It's funny cuz Sammy thinks she gets Starburst too for going, which usually I let her have one if she washes her hands (smart thinking eh? since she isn't too good at remembering to do that). The other day Sammy said "Mom, I just went stinky. Does that mean I get two Starburst?" and I said "Nice try, but no." Doesn't hurt to ask does it?
Well we will never know because our kids refused to sit on Santa's lap. Sammy actually jumped into the strolled and cried as soon as it was our turn. Maddie wouldn't let go of Jake and so this is the picture. The kids loved being there at the mall up until it was their turn to see Santa. There was fake snow and Mrs. Claus gave them a little stuffed reindeer. I watched dozens of families go before us with little and big kids happily sitting on Santa's lap and getting cute pictures-but not my little family!!! Maybe one day.....
I tried to get pictures before we left of the kids and the tree and Maddie of course was uncooperative, hence the no smile.
Sammy of course looking cute and happy as usual (I love this age!!)Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
3 chicken breasts
9-12 slices of swiss cheese
9-12 slices of ham
1 can cream of chicken
1/2 pt. sour cream
Cut each breast into 3-4 pieces. Roll each piece of chicken in cheese and then ham. Set in greased casserole dish. Mix soup and sour cream together. Pour over rolled chicken. Bake at 350 for 1 hour 15 minutes. Serve with rice or noodles. (I usually half this recipe for our family)
I made this last night since Jake was actually home and forgot how GOOD it was!!
Chicken Alfredo
2-2.5 lb chicken breast, cut into pieces and cook in frying pan
1 jar 16 oz. alfredo sauce
1 can cream of chicken
3 tbsp. ranch dressing
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. chicken boullion granule
1 1/2 tbsp. dried chives
1 tbsp. dried parsley
1/2 c. milk
Heat slowly all ingredients except for chicken. Whisk on low heat till bubbles and then add chicken and stir altogether. Serve with noodles. Makes 4-5 servings.
I just made this a few nights ago for a birthday bash at my house. And I am making it again tonight for a friend that has a new baby because i forgot how good it was.
FOR FREEZING: This recipe is also great for freezing. I would just cook some noodles, put in a pan and top with sauce. Freeze. To serve just pull out of freezer and cook on 350 for 1 hour and serve!!
Here is the lovely tree we hunted around for at Beck's Farm and then chopped down over Thanksgiving weekend. I think it's the prettiest tree yet. Sorry this picture isn't so pretty!
So I just love this time of year. The snow is perfect for December, so fitting and the kids are just loving it! I love Christmas lights, the smell of a real tree, furnace going, cold air, warm oven, Christmas decorations and goodies, and shopping. Sammy is so excited to count down for Christmas and she is just really excited for Santa. The other day it snowed quite a bit during the night and so after church, her and her daddy went to play (mostly he dragged her around in the sled because it was really cold)!Death by Chicken (good name huh?)
Bacon (12 slices)
1 1/4 c. rice
chicken (I usually do a 2-3 breasts cut into pieces)
salt and pepper to taste
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c. water
2-3 healthy dashes garlic salt
1 tsp. oregano
2-3 Tsbp. parsley flakes
1/2 c. mozarella or provolone cheese
Line a 9x13 pan baking dish with 12 slices of uncooked bacon. Pour a cup of uncooked rice over the bacon.
Arrance the chicken over the rice. Salt and pepper the chicken.
Whisk together the soup, water, garlic, salt, oregano and parsley. Pour the soup mixture over the chicken and cover with foil. Cook at 350 F for 1 hour, the last 5 minutes take out and sprinkle with cheese and then put back in.
FREEZING: I usually cook this and then freeze it. Then to unfreeze cook on 325 for 1 hour covered.
Chicken Terrrazini
1 pkg. (7 oz.) spaghetti, break into thirds
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 c. chicken broth
1 c. whipping cream, half & half, or whole milk
2 tsp. dry sherry or water
2 c. cubed cooked chicken
1 can sliced mushrooms, drained (if you like them)
1/2 c. grated Cheddar cheese
Cook spaghetti according to package. While cooking, melt butter over low heat then add flour, salt and pepper. Cook until smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in broth and whipping cream. Heat to boil and stir constantly for one minute while boiling. Take off heat and then stir in spaghetti, water, chicken, and mushrooms into sauce. Pour into casserole dish and sprinkle with cheese on top. Cook on 350 F for 30 minutes uncovered.
FREEZING: Take out of freezer and cook at 350 F for 1 hour. (This also does 2 8x8 pans for me).
I also just made these tonight-hit the chocolate spot!
Fudge Chocolate Cookies
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. Cristco
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
Cream these together and add:
1 3/4 c. flour
2/3 c. cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
Blend well and add:
1 1/2 c. semi sweet chocolate chips
Bake on 375 F for 8-10 minutes. Don't overbake!
We just had this freezer meal for dinner tonight. So yummy!
Cubano Mac & Cheese
1 lb. elbow pasta
salt and pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
1 c. chicken stock
2 c. milk
1/4 c. mustard
3 c. swiss cheese, shredded (plus a little more for top)
1/2 c. pickles, chopped
1 lb. thinly sliced ham, chopped
a little parsley
Cook pasta just shy al dente. While pasta is cooking, heat in skillet butter. When butter melts, add flour and cook one minute. Whisk in stock, milk, and mustard and bring to boil. Stir in cheese in figure eight motion, saving some for the top (like 1/2 a cup). Fold in pickles and ham and season with salt and pepper. When pasta is done, drain and combine with sauce. Transfer to pan and sprinkle with cheese on top. Cook in oven on 400 F for 5 minutes.
FREEZING: Pull out of freezer and bake on 350 for 1 hour and enjoy! (This also makes 2 8x8 tin foil pans for me)
Cheesy Potatoes
Best Lasanga Ever
is what Sam always does, especially since the last two days I have been out of commission thanks to a nasty cold. Her and her friend have spent many hours today working on these little people creations. Not bad eh?
this week. but this was a cute picture I took of Sam at the pharmacy yesterday. She told me that she wished she could wear glasses all the time and i have to admit she does look pretty cute!
I was inspired by sister in laws wreath here and which is also found here. Mine obviously turned out a little differently because I improvised-just using what I had so I could make it today. Instead of having a frame, I actually made one out of cardboard and covered it with fabric. My leaves ended up being a little bigger than the frame but it still looks cute i think. It actually only took about 2 hours to make-not bad for a little Sunday craft.
my Maddie May is getting so much bigger everyday. She LOVEs LOVes watching and singing to Diego, playing outside (and today in the leaves), starting to potty train and then refusing to go ever again (yes I am giving up), wearing hats (can't you tell, hers and her friends), refusing to smile or be in pictures (yes we got luckY) and chattering away almost with real sentences. My silly little girl is growing up!
While the men were at the priesthood session of Conference, we went with our friends to the Discovery Park (close by our house) and then out for icecream afterwards. The kids had a blast at the park, and Diana and I had fun chasing after them all because it didn't take long to keep losing them in that huge park. So that was OUR girls night out (sorry Ryder you are the only boy)."Mom, can you go to dot com on your puter (computer) so I can play some games?" Sammy asks this morning.
Conversation on our way to the park tonight
Sammy: Mom, are you going to die before I get growed up?
Me: I sure hope not, that would be sad.
Sammy (very matter of factly): If you had superpowers then you wouldn't get died!
Me: Nope, no superpowers here. Just a plain old mom.
Samy: Well I think you need to get superpowers and then you can get all the bad guys in town.
I guess she thinks pretty highly of me and my kung fu fighting skills or something! What a silly Sammy Jane!
and still going strong! Maddie loves going on her little potty. This week she has stayed pretty dry a few days (minus nap and bed) and the last two days has even told me when she has to go (sometimes). and baby days are over.....
as she got her own toddler bed and we put away the crib. She only came out of her bed a few times the first night and since then has done great! She loves it and I love that she loves it! Although I haven't loved the 6:00 a.m. waking days when she appears at my bedside wide eyed and bushy tailed. Today was better though and so I am hoping it will stay that way.
and Sammy of course has to help her break in her new bed! 
Yep I now have a preschooler. She loved it. Too bad she had a little cold today or she probably would've loved it more. Still so cute....and no I did not cry (almost last night though).So I have been on a sewing craze lately. Sammy has desperately needed some new dresses since she has grown out of everything lately. Yes, she definitely hit a growth spurt and grew two inches in the last few weeks! Anyhow, check out this creation! I did copy a pattern but man, I wish I could make it in my size!
P.s. doesn't she look old? 
Well here is to six great years of being married! My parents were gracious enough to take our kids for two nights so we could enjoy ourselves this weekend. We went to the temple, out to eat, played tennis, watched Knight and Day which I loved, shopping, and to Seven Peaks. It was fun to have a little break and my hubby all to myself (which doesnt happen much)! Here is to another great year!
Today while I was cooking dinner, Maddie and Ryder wanted to wear princess shoes (don't tell his mom or dad please!)
This is Maddie's attempt to smile for the camera
Them eating snacks and watching Elmo a few days ago (they could make a cute couple when they are older just saying)
(and yes they are sporting the new headbands I made last night!)
but they are eating so much it's driving me crazy! "Mom, I am hungry" is a line I hear ALL day long!! I used to think maybe they weren't eating enough at each meal, but trust me they are! I am thinking serious growth spurts here. Let me give you the current rundown of each day:and this is the best we got! Why can't kids just cooperate a little more when you want a good picture? And yes, Sammy picked out a dress today that was long-sleeved. It was not a battle worth fighting for!
This face reminds me of the other day when Sammy passed some gas. Jake said "Sammy, what do you say?" and she said in a funny voice "excuse my butt!" We tried really hard not to laugh and it took all we had to look serious as we explained that's not what you say. I don't know where she got that from but she is always saying something ridiculously funny.
Maddie is really such a little bookworm! She always has books and is carrying them around talking jibberish and Sammy says "Mom, she is just learning how to read like me!"
Silly girl! I just love her. She is my happy patch. I heard that phrase recently and it fits Maddie to a tee. She is always making us laugh by her silly little personality. I just want her to stay little forever!
We found this little beauty at DI for $5. Totally worth it, has kept Sammy busy for many many hours this last week. 
Maddie then got the hand me down bike which she loves! I didn't realize she would like riding it so much. She loves to say "bike" and cries when she has to come inside!
And yes, they are riding in the garage. Neither Sammy or Maddie have quite mastered the brakes and our driveway is downhill-not a good combo. So they have been riding in the garage this week (it is a little cooler that way). 
Riley is nine months old and I think even he liked seeing the animals today!
Riley and momma
Isn't this a great spot for them? 
Sammy was feeling brave petting the cow!
Maddie loves animals. She was so excited to see the horses but once I put her on one, she didn't really like it. I couldn't get her to hold on so good thing I was holding onto her!
Tay picked the biggest horse to ride!