Masto Mom

I have been reading masto mom for several months. She has amazing attitude. They have a amazing story. She has recently started doing blog make overs to help cover some of the medical bills they have. She is hosting a give away right now. Please take a minute to go visit her blog. www.mastomama.blogspot.com

cake pops

I have wanted to make these for a long time. My husband assures me I have made them before but I do not remember. I will say in theory they were really easy. The white went as planned then I added red food coloring (like i would use in my frosting) and it became a paste and was un use able. So I threw it out and then I used regular food coloring and it was not good either. Please let me know what you used. I had some red chocolate that I could melt.
Okay the recipe is simple. It is on bakerella, wwww.bakerella.com
Bake a chocolate cake mix as normal, when it is done baking put in food processor. then add the cream cheese frosting, about a cup. which I got from mckmama's site that I use all the time. www.mycharmingkids.net
8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

6 T. butter, softened

1 t. vanilla

1T. cream (or milk)

3 cups powdered sugar

roll into balls and chill. while it is chilling melt the chocolate. dip and DONE. YUMMM

wordless Wednesday

Who said make up couldn't make you prettier!

dog biscuits

When we were looking for Christmas cookie cutters we found a dog bone. Well actually Rob did. So I was on the search for a dog biscuit recipe. Honest they are a little too big for our little dog so next time we will roll them thinner but our big dog WOW. Every night before we lock him up we give him a treat, a hotdog, piece of leftover dinner or something. Now we give him these, he loves them.
I did not have spelt flour so i used all whole wheat. i am on a hunt for a small dog bone cookie cutter. I know I could they do not have to look like dog bones but I think it is cute

2 cups whole wheat flour, or as needed 2 cups spelt flour 2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats 1/4 cup flax seeds 2 1/2 cups warm water 1/2 cup natural peanut butter


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Combine wheat flour, spelt flour, oats, and flax seeds in large bowl. Stir in water and peanut butter. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface, mixing in more flour as needed until dough is smooth and no longer sticky. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut with small cookie cutters into desired shapes, and place 3/4 inch apart on greased cookie sheets.
Bake 40 minutes. Turn oven off; leave biscuits in oven until completely cool.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peanut-Butter-Dog-Biscuits/Detail.aspx

sugar cookies

I made some awesome sugar cookies this week. they seemed kinda weird because they had oats in them. I really want to blog about it but i can not find the blog I got the recipe from. If it was you can you PLEASE let me know. I do not want to do it until I can give credit to where it belongs

Not Me Monday

Have you checked out MckMamma's blog recently. just another manic Monday, I do not know why that song popped into my head when writing this.
I love airing my dirty laundry and this week there is lots of laundry laying around. okay well there was until my in laws said they were coming for a visit so I quickly caught us up. I would never have to do that because I always stay on top of my laundry.
I love getting a pedicure and manicure so on Christmas eve when I got stressed I did not run out to the store and stop to get a pedicure and manicure. I would never spend part of a Christmas eve splurging on myself instead of at home with my family.
Yesterday when my husband took me to the movies I most certainly did not take my shoes off in the theatre and really relax, and even if I would do this I definitely would not have put my feet on the seat in front of me because if I saw someone else doing this it would make me angry. What a gross thing to do.
My wonderful daughter did not wear my only pair of boots to ride her bike and destroy the toe of both boots and even if that happened my husband most definitely did not witness this and then allow her to continue to do it.
This week I did not attempt to make 6 or 10 or 100 different batches of sugar cookies for them not to turn out. my dear husband did not refer to one of the batches of cookies as dog biscuits. I am a better cook than that and my husband definite watches what he says better than that.
Because I am so organized I did not have to run out to the store to pick up last minute things at least 10 times in the last week.
This week my husband did not list for each child to do and then look at my four year old and say and GRACE you just set there and look cute. We treat each of our children the same.

Is it a boy or a girl

No I am not pregnant. But I saw this, this morning and could not believe it. I watched the video on the doctors show. www.intelligender.com

gingerbread house

Michael won a gingerbread kit. Michael put it together. Honest this picture was taken after several kids picked at it.

cinnamon rolls

My wonderful friend Becky sent my the Pioneer women's cookbook for my birthday. Honest it is like the best gift i have been given all year. The pictures are amazing. I could not wait to make the cinnamon rolls. The best part is that after you make the dough it can be kept in the fridge for THREE days before making or you can make them right then. I actually left mine in for 3 days and they were amazing. we did not make the frosting she did because i can not stand anything that taste like coffee but if i was going to take these anywhere i would have. i just can not get over how easy they were. I am not listing the recipe because I would love you to visit her blog and follow her recipe www.thepioneerwoman.com

Twas the night before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give
And to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind
A sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, so dark and dreary,
I knew I had found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.

I heard stories about them, I had to see more
So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.

And there he lay sleeping silent alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home.

His face so gentle, his room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan,
I soon understood this was more then a man.

For I realized the families that I saw that night
Owed their lives to these men who were willing to fight.

Soon ‘round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the day,
Because of soldiers like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone
On a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The solder awakened and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa don’t cry, this life is my choice;

I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more,
My life is my God, my country, my Corps.”

With that he rolled over and drifted off into sleep,
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still,
I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
And I covered this Soldier from his toes to his head.

And I put on his T-shirt of gray and black,
With an eagle and an Army patch embroidered on back.

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
And for a shining moment, I was United States Army deep inside.

I didn’t want to leave him on that cold dark night,
This guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, whispered with a voice so clean and pure,
“Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas day, all is secure.”

One look at my watch, and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night!

I wish I had the original author's name

Rob's graduation

Friday Robert graduated from phase two of Warrant Officer School. It was a smile graduation. The kids and I went and had a good time. I am so proud of him. The current plan is that he will leave Jan 7 for Airborne school. When he returns we will pack up and move to Fort Bragg. We have been told that 4 weeks from arriving he is expected to join his unit in Iraq. We have heard they may be extending. Please pray about this. The difference would be him being gone for 5 months or 11 months. If they would let us know what the plans really are it would help us know what to do. If he is going to be gone 11 months then the kids and I would most likely stay here. We have support and friends and a church. It is a hard descision to make. Please pray for us as we decide what to do with our family and that we can make the right descision for our family.

Not Me Monday

What a wonderful week this has been. I have not been able to keep a list and even if I had I would not remember where i would have put it. If you know me I make not me about my whole family.
This week while trying to find a white hair bow that was not stained (how do hair bows get stained) I did not decide to just use a a build of bear hair bow. I am so ahead of the ball game that I would never have to do such. And even if I did do this I would never make sure I asked for lots of extra hair bows the last time I went to build a bear for just such days.
My son who I love so dearly would NEVER and I MEAN never find my CHRISTmas list and then read it to the girls so that they all know what they are recieving for CHRISTmas. He most certainly did not find this list in my Bible (at least he was looking at it) and I most certainly would not have this list in my Bible because I wrote it out during church last week.
When visiting a friend last week who had DHR doing a check at her home because she does foster care. My daughter did not announce to her that she puts bugs in her pillow case and underwear drawer. Then she did not announce "oh, it is okay I do not do that anymore, now we freeze them".
My cute little girl did not stick her hand out to stop traffic so she could cross the parking lot. Surely I have trained her better than that.
OKAY ONE MORE
I do not sneak and buy donuts and eat them before the kids wake up. I would always buy for everyone and as over weight as I am I would not eat donuts.
Okay when buying said donuts the register did not print out lean cruisine.WHAT A WAKE UP CALL, when a machine gives you lean cruisine coupons you know you have a problem

family pictures

This morning I was getting everyone dressed for church and realized that most of us were wearing something blue so I changed a couple of outfits so we would kinda match. Then we left for church and i could not help but have pictures taken. I know it is very ovious that we have not figured out how to use out new lense very well. I think we are going to have a great day. We went to church and now everyone is napping (of golfing). We have a CHRISTmas party this evening and then we going to attempt making sugar cookies again. maybe the 10th time is the charm

Dear Blog readers

Dear blog readers I know you all have days like this so I will tell you about mine and you can laugh or cry right along with me.
Let's see the day itself was normal, wake up, go to husbands graduation from phase 2 of warrant officer school but that will get it's own post. come home and cook food for DH to take to work party, take a child to appointment while DH takes daughters to piano. come home and straighten up kitchen for the wonderful quiet evening we are going to happen. So we eat leftovers for dinner instead of our friday night dinner.
OH WAIT, i run to kroger to pick up meds because the on post hospital is closed for a CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. WHAT??????????
So i decide that i will buy myself a little debbie cake for tomorrows breakfast (sh, do not tell, i will eat it before anyone wakes up) and as it rings up the register prints out a coupon for lean cruisine. NOW EVEN ELECTRONICS ARE SAYING I NEED TO DIET.
oh yeah the other reason i had to go to kroger was because i over cooked the butter and my sugar cookies did not come out. so DH was insistant i buy at least enough pre made cookie dough for the kids to try tonight (we never got around to it). So i come home head lowered holding my coupon. Eat dinner and turn on the movie i have been waiting to see Julie and Julia. At some point my son comes in and throws a pillow right into the CHRISTmas tree. When the movie was over I decided to go to bed. This is a luxory i have. DH stays up with the kids on friday nights and lets me go to sleep early and i let him sleep in on saturday mornings.
So i sneak off to my room before the kids will see because if they realize i am gone they want to join me.
Well I walk into my room to see safety pins all over my bedroom and bed, some open and not open, no blankets or pillows on my bed, papers and clothes and dress up clothes all over my room. So I decide to tell DH about our room. But first I make a pitstop in the hallway bathroom to notice that someone has broke the NEW soap dispenser that WAS glass and it is all over the floor with the soap and there is torn up paper everywhere and things like wet towels in the bathtub. so before i loose my temper i ask the kids to straighten up the livingroom that has cleaned ten times today. Hope tries to empty the vacumm only she spills it all over the kitchen floor. The dog has a band aid stuck to his foot, grace has set in a dirty pull up for a hour. do not even get me started on why my 4 year old is back in pull ups and cookies did not get made.
so for tonight i am going to be smile and be grateful for my blessing that are called faith hope and grace and michael. i am going to head to bed.
i hope everyone else had a great day.

want to hear a story of forigiveness and win GREAT prizes

Then head on over to www.mycharmingkids.net and then check out www.grammiemommy.blogspot.com
first i have to say i love the name grammie mommy. so stinking cute.
if you know me you know i LOVE taking pictures and could use both of these things. so go and enter and then if you win you can always donate to me.

Banana bread

I love giving teacher and friends baked good. I love baking. I have made a TON of banana bread and pumpkin bread the last couple of weeks. I use my friend Debbie's banana bread recipe. I found it in my MOPS cook book. Speaking of cookbooks, what is your favorite cookbook and why. I have to say I love the way Pioneer Women's cookbook is set up with all the pictures. My most used cookbook is my MOPS cookbook. I should take a picture of it so you can see how much it has been loved.
Here is the recipe I use
1/2 cup shortening, butter or margarine 2c flour
1 cup sugar 1t. baking soda
2 eggs 1/2 cup nuts (optional)
3-4 very ripe bananas mashed 1t vanilla (optional)

1. cream shortening and sugar
2. add eggs and banana
3. combine dry ingredients
4. fold in nuts and vanilla
5. Grease one large or 2 small loaf pans
6. bake @350 for 40 minutes.

This recipe freezes well.

The cookies in the background are my jumbo 3 chip cookies which are on my recipe blog

what is your favorite cookie

I love cookie swaps. I love seeing how everyone decorates there bags. I love trying new recipes. I would love to be able to bake and cook all day just for fun. This past weekend my friend hosted a cookie swap and although I could not attend she allowed me to participate. What is your favorite cookie recipe. and do you share. I am attempting sugar cookies tonight but honestly the dough is setting on the kitchen table because i am can not get them to roll out and i do not love messing with dough

Operation Teddy Bear

Every year we attend a CHRISTmas party made just for military families. I cry every time I talk about this party because it is so amazing. Honest I did not go last year because Grace was in the hospital and I did not go this year because I was at a wedding but Rob took the girls both times. He tells me it only gets better. So I will tell you about my first year so you can understand why it was so special. Rob was in Iraq and I was lonely. I walk in with a baby in the stroller and 3 kids. From the moment I walked in there was someone at my side hugging my children, helping me push the stroller, picking up dropped items and holding hands. By looking at the pictures you can tell that the amount of volunteers is amazing. I can not explain that these volunteers are there because they want to be not because they need to be. Everything is set up to run smoothly. I have never felt as loved as I do when attending operation teddy bear. Thank you so much to every person who set up table, provided food, provided gifts and teddy bear, who cleaned up afterwards, who helped my husband who was there by himself. Thank you for making the military community feel loved.