A Nice Recognition from our Church

Happy Valentines Day!

Valentines day was spent w/ some of my favorite people. We went out to dinner, ran the kids out @ the mall, and did some errands. Low key, but that's how I like it. We hooked Elizabeth up to Felicity in the stroller and she pulled her like a sled dog at the mall. ;) afterwards we played 'tractor' in L&M, pretending to check the oil & gas in them then 'racing'. It's the little things in life that are so special. Happy Valentines day, my family. 

Smooch!

02/07/2014: cut 1st tooth

7 months old & we cut our 1st tooth, just like big sister!

Busy Weekend: swimming Fri. & 2 parties Sat.

Daily Successful Habits

I read the book Rich Habits a while back.  I made my goals into a bookmark to keep in whatever book I'm trying to find time to read.  Start small & work your way up.  To start: Make a list of your downfalls or areas that need improvement and write a goal for each one.  Read them 3-4x/day.  (Two thumbs up on this book, BTW.)

Goals:

(in no particular order of importance)

• Say kind words.
• Choose silence when upset.
  • Breathe & Count to 10.
• Pray for others.
• Love those who are unlovable.
• Finish a task before moving on.
• Limit sugar intake to 1 t/day.
• Exercise daily.
• Read 15 min/day.
• Become a better wife, mother, dtr, OT.
• Smile.
• Avoid gossip.
• I will remember names & write them down.

Egg Bake

20 oz thawed hash browns
14 oz egg beaters
1 sml can mushrooms
1/4 diced grn pepper
1 sml diced onion
1 clove minced garlic
Handful of cheddar cheese
Salt, pepper, mrs Dash, garlic powder, or season salt to your tastes.

Mix together & pour into greased 8x8 pan. Bake @ 375 for 45-60 min. Serve w/ ketchup, salsa, or Tabasco sauce.

Marriage: Small Steps, Big Rewards

I just finished the book "Marriage: Small Steps, Big Rewards" by Dr. Ray Guarendi. Two thumbs up. As a reminder to myself, here's a quick summary:
1. Say "I'm sorry."  Just b/c you apologize doesn't mean you're claiming 100% of the blame. But an apology is still necessary.
2.  "Don't say it". Don't say hurtful things during a surge of emotion. Sometimes those words are permanent. Practice silence.
3. "Listen a minute." Give your spouse 1 interrupted minute to view their side.
4. "Ask a few questions." Ask for clarification from their side story.
5. "Accept it." Disagreements in marriage can be lessened by an honest effort to accept it, the other persons position or reasoning.
6. "dump the D WORD." "It's utterance alone can foster disillusion, detachment, or depression. It invites thought of the formally unthinkable."
7. "use your manners." It shows respect. Familiarity breeds laziness. We are often more kind to strangers and we are to those we love.
8. "Protect". Often times mothers are the disciplinarians. When a child fights back the husband should defend his wife to the child & the child must know (s)he cannot play one parent against another. Women allow your husband to be a strong disciplinarian as well.
10. "And a touch."  Check your body language. Hug. Kiss. Touch. Be responsive to your mate's touch.

Good Morning Routine

Elizabeth: is it good morning time?

Me: yes. Please go wake your sister. 

This is what I come in to find, #1 hugging #2 awake in her crib. And #2 tapping out. Lol. She'll appreciate it someday. 

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Windchill: -50. But I still have to say, I can handle this (short term) slightly more than 90 degrees & 100% humidity.

Goodbye 2013...Hello 2014

Sending Grandma Koney a birthday hello

Elizabeth helping take out the old dishwasher. 

Baby snuggle time. 

Shhhh...do you hear what I hear?

Listen & silent contain the same letters. I can spell. All I need to learn now is put these words into action. God gave us 2 ears & 1 mouth for a reason: to use in the same ratio? I think so. 

Christmas 2013

Baked Apples

Not much of a 'recipe' but just fun on a cold day:

Use a melon-baller to get top 3/4 of core out of apple (you don't want to go all the way through). Fill up w/ butter, sugar, & cinnamon. Pour water in bottom of pan.  Bake @ 375 for 30-40 min. (Or I used the toaster oven.) Num!

December - Baby it Cold Outside!

All smiles before beddy-bye time

Everything's better w/ polka-dots

 This has been a terribly cold month. -20 is for February, not December. Finally, the girls played outside yesterday when it was 33 (above), but again today, -16. Have to make our own fun indoors!

Rudolph, Frosty, Turban Santa & Holly

Chocolate Lasagna

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package regular Oreo cookies (Not Double Stuff) – about 36 cookies
• 6 Tablespoon butter, melted
• 1- 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons cold milk
• 1- 12 ounce tub Cool Whip, divided
• 2 – 3.9 ounce packages Chocolate Instant Pudding.
• 3 1/4 cups cold milk
• 1 and 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Begin by crushing 36 Oreo cookies.
2. Transfer the Oreo crumbs to a large bowl. Stir in 6 tablespoons melted butter and use a fork to incorporate the butter into the cookie crumbs. When the butter is distributed, transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you work on the additional layers.
3. Mix the cream cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add in 2 Tablespoons of milk, and sugar, and mix well. Stir in 1 and 1/4 cups Cool Whip. Spread this mixture over the crust.
4. In a bowl, combine chocolate instant pudding with 3 and 1/4 cups cold milk. Whisk for several minutes until the pudding starts to thicken. Use a spatula to spread the mixture over the previous cream cheese layer. Allow the dessert to rest for about 5 minutes so that the pudding can firm up further.
5. Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the top. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips evenly over the top. Place in the freezer for 1 hour, or the refrigerator for 4 hours before serving.

I need this a few weeks ago for A coworker's birthday. They loved it so much they asked me to make it again for our Christmas party/recipe exchange. Now all I need is my ugly Christmas sweater and I'm ready to go!

Here's mama's little kitchen helper. 

Thanksgiving @ Gramma & Grandpa Brooks'

Will post more pics when I get my other camera pics on here. Here's just a few from that wkend !

Baby Mini Me

I will hold him & love him & pet him and name him George. This baby gets around. 

5 months for Thing 2

I cannot believe 5 months goes by so fast. Here's my 90%-tile baby bathing :)

My Girls

The Last Brooks/Bulinski/Maki/Schaefer Family Dinner for the Year

Mmmmm...Gramma's Pie

6 Grand kids & 3 on the way

Miss you already!