Ethans World... of crazyness

Ethan has been drawing lately, but... he is using our home as his canvas... I guess if your a little artist, he thinks he can draw anywhere.  He also loves making funny faces!

Soccer Season has started.

Well, Soccer has started and the kids are loving it....  They have been practicing hard and finally had their first game.  Logan scored 3 goals... {and he started out not liking soccer!}  Parris is really enjoying it too... she is staying focused to this sport and wants to play Middle School Soccer, so... she is becoming aggressive!  This is Jacobs 1st year playing and the kids ROCKS!!! Elizabeth tells me she will stick out the season but after her first game, she's hooked! So glad my kids all enjoy playing the same sport!

                                                      ELIZABETH

                                                       JACOB

 

                                                   LOGAN

                                                         PARRIS

Girls are back to school!

 Well....  I have re-enrolled the girls {only} into school again.... They are back at Cascade!!!  I have many mixed feelings about this... Hoping that all goes well for both of them!  Parris is now in the 5th. grade... I am having a hard time thinking that next year she will be in Jr. High! REALLY!! *geesh* Parris has begged and begged to go back to public school and she told me she just was not a "homeschooling girl"...  Let's be fair... it was very hard homeschooling 4 children, having a toddler run around while trying to teach 4 kids...4 different grades, keeping house, running errands...ect, you get the point!   So, I allowed the girls to go back! Elizabeth was not ever taken out last year, so she was just ready to go back. The boys had an option... but made it very clear that they would like to continue with TNVA K-12.  This will be much easier, almost one on one learning.

 Parris was very excited. She has class with 4 of her friends from our small town, so she was happy to know she would know a few kids already!  The night before we did nails, straightened her hair, picked 5 different outfits then {FINALLY} narrowed it down to the one in the picture. *She does look mighty cute*

                                      {My beautiful 5th. grader}

 Elizabeth was ready! She is very easy going *sometimes*  with what she picks out to wear.  She has her clothes picked out for the week already! She let me know that 2nd. grade would be harder and she had to have easy mornings.

                                 {My Beautiful 2nd. grader}

Peanut Butter & Netulla Cookies

Calling all cookie lovers!  Do I have a cookie for you.  These Peanut Butter and Nutella Cookies are nothing short of fabulous.  They are moist and flavorful, not dry like many peanut butter cookie recipes I’ve tried.  And the combo with Nutella is amazing.  I love Nutella.  I really discovered it studying abroad in Jerusalem.  I ate it every day with apples or bread…  can you imagine? It’s amazing I didn’t gain a hundred pounds!  I’ve now backed off on my insane intake, I still love the stuff.  I like experimenting with it, and I’ve got a few other good recipes in the works.  I had to make these cookies a few times before I got it right, and believe me… they are now just right!

Peanut Butter and Nutella Cookies
Submitted by Mindy ~ The Sisters Cafe

1 cup butter (2 sticks) room temperature
2/3 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy – I like crunchy)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 2/3 cup flour
2 tsp soda
1 tsp salt

heaping 1/3 cup Nutella

Cream butter, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla together until smooth. Combine flour, soda and salt and add to butter mixture. Add Nutella in dollops over the top of the dough.  Use a butter knife to swirl the Nutella through the dough.  Do not over mix.  Chill in fridge for 15 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  Bake until slightly brown at edges.  Let cool a few minutes on cookie sheet before transferring.

Crockin 'Girls

I LOVE this website!  I cam across them last year when their was a big stink about the name they first came up with "The Crock Pot Girls". They had over 1 million facebook likes, but "Crock Pot" had an issue with the name, they made the switch to Crockin' Girls... and are awesome! 
They have amazing recipes... from Appetizers  to Stews...

http://www.crockingirls.com/

You should check them out. Browse the crock-pot recipes.. I am going to try "Mady's Big Mess" I will have  to triple the recipe but sounds so yummy! 

Family Photo Time

Well.. I thought it would be a great idea to do another set of family photos. It's been since Ethan was about 2 months old (if that). I love taking pictures of my family.. I feel like you can never have to many pictures of kids, family and your life... they are records of your history.

No reason why you can't be silly in your photos... This one, our friend Lyal, caught me in the act of imitating Devin... he ended up be faster at the click of the camera than I was at showing Devin his photo skills...

Sometimes, you may have a little one who just wants to do what he thinks is fun... it's litt;e pictures like this I love. He just wanted to do his own thing!

Girls are much easier! (and so beautiful!)
They have all been full warned, that we will be doing more pictures in about 6 months together as a family! Now, to go and edit my beautiful photos, Develop them and add new photos on our Family wall!!!

Animals... zoo #2

Just a few of my favorite animals we saw.... 

Do the Zoo #1

We had a great Monday. Our family decided it would be great to get our local area Missionaries together and take the to the Nashville Zoo on "P-Day".  We also met up with some missionaries that we picked up that use to be in our area!
We ended up having 12 Missionaries, 6 kids and 2 married couples!!!  It was a great time.  Their is NEVER a dull moment when you have this many people around.. and you NEVER realize how many church members are out until you have this many missionaries with you!
On our way into the zoo, a lady and her child was walking out... members!  while in the zoo, we ran into at least 6 other members!

My kids LOVE the missionaries... especially Elder Mitchel Hyde! He is always giving the kids rides on his shoulders! I think they like him so much because he is a "grown" kid! Ha!  ... I think they were most excited about one who use to serve in our ares, Elder Logan Carlson.... He is kinda like a big brother to the kids!  I mean, really... he served in our ares for so many transfers and was here for Ethan's first steps!

everyday life

Elizabeth being a Noodle Pool hog.

You're never to big to sit in your dads lap

Jacob doing a belly flop.  His stomach was very red after.

Ethan does not like his food to touch (picky  at such a young age) ... I think it's time I invested in a little boy plate that separates food

Our Confederate soldier

All Natural Dog Treats

These all natural, wheat free treats made from rice, chicken and cheese and come in their own cute cookie jar. Just because your dog has a sensitive tummy doesn't mean he can't have treats! These are great for the dog on a bland diet, because cheese is a flavor that dogs love.
These cookies are made with all natural, human grade ingredients and never any sugar. This includes 25 two-inch treats in a decorated 'cookie jar'. The 2" size is perfect for smaller dogs, but we also make 3, 4 and 5 inch sizes.

 Perfect for the peanut butter lover in your life! These peanut butter pupcakes are made with our all natural handmade & hand-pureed peanut butter as well as topped with a dollop of carob and an adorable little peanut butter chip! Doesn't that sound perfect for your peanut butter loving pup?!


These peanut butter heaven pupcakes are all natural and made with human grade ORGANIC ingredients.
((If the mood should strike you, you could eat them as snacks, yourself!!))

♥NO Salt
♥NO Corn
♥NO Sugar
♥NO Artificial Colors
♥NO Artificial Flavors
♥NO Byproducts
♥NO Preservatives

These treats come in a vacuum sealed 6 oz. containers which is 12 mini pupcakes.

These treats have their "lip smacking" seal of approval of my 4 dogs! :)

♥*♥ All treats are MADE TO ORDER! ♥*♥
(As soon as an order is placed, it will be whipped up and sent out - - no stale treats here!)

  Parmesan rye bones are all natural and made with human grade ORGANIC ingredients.

New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies (modified slightly from the New York Times)

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt (I used kosher salt)
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped into chunks
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, grated
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
sea salt

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Stir all chocolate into dough using a wooden spoon. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. The original recipe recommends using 3 1/2 ounces of dough per cookie and baking six cookies per baking sheet, but I thought that made for an entirely too large cookie. So I dropped the dough by tablespoonfuls on to the prepared cookie sheet, then sprinkled lightly with sea salt and baked until golden brown, but still soft, 10-12 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 3-4 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day.

Blueberry Pickin'

Devin and I took the kids to the Blueberry farm on  Memorial Day.  The trees are still very young, but we were able to get TONS of berries, we even decided to pick more Strawberries!  Like the first time, I think Ethan was more busy EATING the fruit than picking it!  I am sure he ate more than 30 blueberries and about 6 strawberries.