Sweethearts dance

Uhhh...not ready for this one to turn 16 and be dating. Here he is checking out his room that was decorated by a cute girl asking him to the Sweethearts dance. He had to find the balloon with her name on to find out who was asking. He responded with a tub of ice cream and re-labled it saying, "Ice screamed when I saw my room. I would love to go to sweethearts with you." What a fun time of life. Wonder if he'll mind if I tag along:) JK!

Awe and Ahhh!!!

I think it's time for another post on gratitude. This is what I see out my windows on January mornings. Those mountains are awe - inspiring! They give me hope somehow. See the gray dull down below. Good to look up sometimes. The light on the peaks are eye candy in a sometimes mundane day. Ahhh...everything will be ok.

Cards

Each year I give out between Thirty to Forty-five birthday cards. That does not include Thank You's, Christmas, etc. The cost is huge for a stay at home Mom, so throughout the years I've come up with this idea to save me literally hundreds of dollars. Throughout the year, I take photos of random things, mostly nature, and then I attach them to pre-cut cards from the craft store. A pack of 50 cost between $5 to $8, and the photos on a good day cost 10 cents. So far I haven't found anything else to beat the cost...besides e-mails...or not doing anything at all. My mother is great at keeping touch with people snail mail and I think it is awesome to get something in the mail. So...I will keep up the tradition as long as I can.

I would love to hear your ideas of what you do. This is the time of year I get them all ready to go, so any advice would be useful.

Ice Cream Cake

I know, I know, we are all on diets right now...but, it's my dear husband's birthday today and he loves his ice cream cake. So...because blogging is all about sharing, I'm sharing the recipe with you. And, yes I'll be having a small piece. Here is the recipe for...

Ice Cream Cake
1 bag oreo cookies crushed and combine with 1 stick a butter or margarine
Save a little of this mix out to go on top.
Press this mixture in the bottom of an 9x13 in cake pan.
1/2 gallon box of ice cream - soften and spread on crumb crust
*Freeze
1 cup hot fudge cooled - drip over ice cream
Remaining crumbs - spread on very top
*Freeze
Hot fudge (recipe at bottom) or I used Hershey's

Optional - we have added on occasion, caramel, or peanut butter cups.

Homemade Hot Fudge
1 can evaporated milk
12 oz. bag chocolate chips
1/2 cup sugar
*Heat these to a boil remove from heat then...
*Add
1 Tablespoon margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla

Klondike 2011

It pretty much amazes me that anyone would go sleep out in 8 degree weather. Anything lower that 65 degrees makes me freeze clear through. But, here we have the scouts annual Klondike and no one complaining. It does look like they had fun, and I do appreciate the leaders who put up with it all.

Sled racing (fastest time!)

Fire starting (not:)

They didn't have time this year to do a snow cave, maybe they'll have to do one in the back yard.

New Years Resolutions

I know for most people this is a dreaded event. Most people last about a week and go back to their old ways, but I feel like it is important to believe that we can change and we can improve. Yes it is difficult and takes considerable effort, but it is important to always evaluate how we can become a better person. Baby steps is my motto (just like the movie). Very small changes drawn out over long periods of time work the best for me. I usually work on a month to month system, instead of a year to year system. I'm re-evaluating that often. Some months I have to just survive. I don't count those. I hope we all choose at least one thing to work on and just hang in there. Any encouragement from you will be appreciated.

Here's a start(I copied this from someone...?):

I resolve to laugh every day,
eat more chocolate,
sleep in on Sundays,
make dinner an event,
breathe more deeply,
and spend more time with the people I love.

They Gave Up Their Christmas

Snowman Fun!!!

We got some great snow the other day, so my 17 year old went to town making snowmen. This is the first out front.
Then he got a wild hair and made this lovely thing out back. He is actually fun to look at. I'm pretty sure the table is done for tho. It was worth it.

December Happenings

Here is the daughter at her first piano recital. She said she was nervous, but I couldn't tell.
Here is Son #1 with his date for the Yule Ball. So handsome! And I've gotta get me a dress like that. It was so beautiful.

Free Time!

I leave the house for 10 minutes to take someone to tennis lessons and this is what my 13 year old does in his free time. Save me! I had told him there would be no electronic games on Saturday. I guess I can't complain. I did laugh tho. Don't worry all is well and the redness went away.