one last look

one last picture for you all to see the house as it is. We are going to get new siding and new windows. I am so excited! I'm excited to be done with the decision making process and so excited to see how it will look. we are going with a clay color (get it??? we live on Clay st.--isn't that fun) and white trim, I won't know what to do with easy clean windows. Our windows now are original to the house (circa 1923)


I've decided that you know you are old when this stuff is what you look forward to.

ANOTHER winter storm coming at us. with ice and wind and all of that good stuff. I check the weather in Arizona every morning next Wednesday when we get there it is forecasted to be 88 degrees and "abundantly sunny" YA-HOO.

I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my Good ness! I can't believe it. I don't know what changed, but I am FINALLY able to post!!!! HURRAY! now I need to think of something good to say.

I'll give you the readers digest version of my last 3 months:

*survived Christmas & New Years

*Mike quit his job Jan. 5

*Mike left to go to California to become an actor Jan 11(to try it for 6 months at least)

*Mike came home Feb. 2nd (maybe he does like us!)

*Hale tore a ligament in hig leg on Jan 17th required surgery and a fare amount of $$$$) but he is completely recovered!

*went to IKEA...that is all that needs to be said about that!

Look at that tree!!!!!

I'm on a roll so we'll keep on a posting!

I just wanted everyone to be able to appreciates the sheer GINORMOUSNESS of our Christmas tree.

not as cool in the light but you can get a better feel for the size...BIG! I had to lopp off some of the top so the angel wouldn't break her neck.

Hale damage

He looks so innocent doesn't he? A little decieving I must say. I am not kidding when I say he walks around with a 5lb. dumbell in his mouth as a chew toy. We take it away from him and no matter what we do with it he ALWAYS finds it!

Anyway...14 wks old 27lbs. (18lbs at 11wks) Mike and I thought we were being so smart. We put up a zip line in the back yard running from the back door frame to the clothes line so that Hale can play a little while he is outside (without us freezing) We can't train him on the underground fence until he is at least 6 mos. old...so in the meantime the zip line was up. He liked it for about 2 wks, then yesterday Alayna comes upstairs and says"uhh, you guys might want to come outside and see what Hale did." So I went and this is what I found...

He pulled the door frame off. So on to plan B.......

Luckily that cute thing really works for him!

and for dessert

I couldn't leave you without dessert. This recipe is wonderful! and very easy...(you can do it Becky!--I have faith!!!) For those of you wondering YES I did take a picture of my bread pudding. I'm a dork like that.

BREAD PUDDING
3 cups bread cubes
4 cups scalded milk
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Butter an 8x8 inch glass baking dish. Soak bread in hot milk for five minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, salt, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour into the baking dish.
Line a roasting pan with a damp kitchen towel. Place baking dish on towel inside roasting pan, and place roasting pan on oven rack. Fill roasting pan with boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the baking dish. Bake for 60 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

While pudding cools, combine 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, cream, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a large saucepan. While stirring, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and stir 3 minutes more. Spoon over warm bread pudding.

Taco Soup

My cousin Becky had a blog that is WAY better than my and being the overachiever she is she keeps coming up with these fun little blog-game type things. I am supposed to post a good soup recipe and her blog links here so her people can see it....I'm telling you she is in the advanced blogging club, ALPHA, National Honor Society or whatever your high school called the smart people...she is in that club! Anyway, Here is my Souper (ha-get it?) good recipe!

(Hint: I made it by the recipe to the letter the first time, now I change it up a little every time..sometimes spicy, sometimes not)

SLOW COOKER TACO SOUP

INGREDIENTS
1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans, with liquid
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans with liquid
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, with liquid
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 cups water
2 (14.5 ounce) cans peeled and diced tomatoes
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chile peppers
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
DIRECTIONS
In a medium skillet, cook the ground beef until browned over medium heat. Drain, and set aside.
Place the ground beef, onion, chili beans, kidney beans, corn, tomato sauce, water, diced tomatoes, green chile peppers and taco seasoning mix in a slow cooker. Mix to blend, and cook on Low setting for 8 hours.

and for those of you on weight watchers like me:

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Servings Per Recipe: 8
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 363
Total Fat: 16.3g
Cholesterol: 48mg
Sodium: 1395mg
Total Carbs: 38.2g
Dietary Fiber: 8.7g
Protein: 18.1g

pumpkin farm

so, yes I know we are now well into the Christmas season, but I am a "slacker-blogger" so bettr late than never! The girls and I went out to Heritage Farms for their "Kirby Kangaroo" pumpkin party thing. Let me say it was SO cold! The girls loved it but there was cocoa to be had once we got home!