HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR TRACI, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!



To my beautiful sister, Traci:

I know you will have a fantastic birthday, surrounded by family and friends that love you so much! I am so thankful God put us together as sisters! God's plans are PERFECT! Not only are you my only sibling - you are my friend, my support, my role model, and you mean more to me than you will ever know. I hope you know how much I love you and how blessed I am to have you as my sister! Happy Birthday, Sis!

Love,
Snow White (well, at least that is what YOU wanted to name me)

Having some Holiday Fun

The girls and I got creative today. We dressed Bismark in his best Christmas sweater and and started snapping the shots! I was amazed at how well-behaved Bismark was. When you see the positions we put him in, you'll understand!

We started out simple with Kate holding Bismark


Then we got our creative juices flowing and placed him on the bench. He literally sat there and posed for the camera.


Where's Bismark?


He was so cooperative that it seemed strange.

And of course, I snapped some random shots of the girls...

Kate spends more time on the piano than any of us


And Ashlan walking down the stairs


That was about the extent of our excitement today. It was a laid back sort of day. It's amazing how much fun you can have with a camera and a dog! Especially when that dog is as perfect as Bismark!

Preparing the Menu

I've been getting my grocery list ready for Thursday. We will be eating at
my in-laws and I'm bringing two side dishes. Brent asked me to make my Chili Cheese Corn recipe. I've only made it once, and he loved it, so I wasn't surprised when he asked me to make that again for Thanksgiving.

Of course, no Thanksgiving is complete without Green Bean Casserole. I've been asked to make that, as well, and I have the best recipe.

Here are the recipes in case you are interested:

Chili Cheese Corn
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, cubed
2 tbsp butter
4 cups fresh or frozen corn, thawed
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

-In a lg saucepan, combine cream cheese and butter. Cook and stir over med. heat for 4-5 minutes or until smooth.
-Stir in remaining ingredients.
-Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through.
-Serve with a slotted spoon.
-Serves 6


Green Bean Casserole
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp white sugar
1/4 cup onion, diced
1 cup sour cream
3 (14.5 ounce) cans French style green beans, drained
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crumbled buttery round crackers
1 tbsp butter, melted

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
-Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth, and cook for one minute. Stir in the salt, sugar, onion, and sour cream. Add green beans, and stir to coat.
-Transfer the mixture to a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Spread shredded cheese over the top. In a small bowl, toss together cracker crumbs and remaining butter, and sprinkle over the cheese.
-Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden and cheese is bubbly.

And for an additional dish, I'm going to bring Broccoli Dip. My friend, Sarah, gave me this super delicious recipe about a year ago. I can't tell you how many times I've made it. Try it - you'll LOVE it!

Sarah's Broccoli Dip
1 box frozen chopped broccoli
1 (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 (8 oz) sour cream
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1 packet dry, Italian dressing (Good Season's brand is recommended)
Pumpernicket bread

-Thaw broccoli and drain
-Combine all ingredients; mix well.
-Pour into 8 or 9 in. glass pie plate or square baking pan
-Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until bubbling and toasty on top)
-Serve with Pumpernickel bread!

What does Thanksgiving mean?

Thanksgiving is ALMOST here! Has this year flown or what?

Starting today, Ashlan is on Thanksgiving Break from her school. So it made sense when she woke up this morning and asked what time we were going to eat for Thanksgiving. I had to share with her that Thanksgiving isn't today, but that her school gives her a week off to enjoy the holiday. The actual holiday isn't until Thursday. And here is the conversation that followed:

Me: "Ashlan, let's talk about Thanksgiving and what we are thankful for. What are you thankful for?"

Ashlan: "Cats. But not real ones"

Me: "You mean you are thankful for your stuffed animals?"

Ashlan: "Yes, and I really like Amanda's mommy cat" (Amanda is our next door neighbor and they have a real cat)

Me: "I am thankful for my family and friends."

Ashlan: "Me too"

Me: "Ashlan, what does Thanksgiving mean?"

Ashlan: "It means you sit around the table and eat chicken!"

Me: (laughing) "Chicken?"

Ashlan: (very seriously) "But Mommy, this year I really want to eat sausage."

**So I guess I need to make some minor adjustments to my Thanksgiving menu. ADD SAUSAGE **

Christmas List

We are going to have a very busy house for the entire month of December, so I'm starting to decorate now! Our first Christmas Party at the house is December 1st, so I have no choice but to start decorating NOW! We're already started playing Christmas music around the house and baking Christmas cakes and cookies. Yes, we have! I love everything about this time of year!

Another thing I'm getting done early is Christmas shopping. I am shocked at how much I've actually gotten done.

I have to share this funny conversation that Ashlan had with my mom this past week.

(In the car, on the way home from dinner)
*Remember, Ashlan is only 4 years old

Ashlan: (in the backseat) "Whew, I had a long busy day today. I really need a massage."

Memomma: (laughing) "You had such a busy day today that you need a massage?"

Ashlan: "Yes, I had a hard day at school today."

Memomma: "I'm sure when we get you home that your mommy will give you a nice warm bath, then you can get your pajamas on and be ready for a good nights rest"

Ashlan: "And then mommy will give me a massage because I need one"

Memomma: "So, Ashlan, what is on your Christmas List this year?"

Ashlan: "I don't know. I think I want something different this year."

Memomma: "What do you mean by something 'different'?"

Ashlan: "A 4 year old man."


Enough said.

Hope you are getting excited about the Season!

The Fighting Irish

We spent Halloween weekend in South Bend, Indiana...Home of the Fighting Irish!

Brent grew up in South Bend, so he has always been a FAITHFUL Notre Dame fan! I have never known a more true, die-hard fan than Brent is of Notre Dame. His Irishman tatoo is proof of that:



So to travel back to South Bend and spend the weekend on the campus and at the football game (not to mention spending time with his gracious, kind and incredibly fun family whom we adore!) was a dream come true for him!

I have never seen a school so absorbed in tradition... And believe me, I've been to some college football games where the tradition is very strong...but nothing like Notre Dame. They hold onto some serious tradition! And we loved being a part of it!

Walking the campus before the football game. We are in front of the gold dome.


The library. That is also 'Touchdown Jesus'. The library faces the stadium and you can see Touchdown Jesus through the goalposts. Well, you can't see it from the inside of the stadium now because the stadium has grown in size.





Such a beautiful campus, not to mention, a beautiful day!







At the beginning of overtime the field sprinklers came on... I'm sure if you were watching the game on tv, you saw this. Sooo funny!


We had such a memorable time that we plan on making this an annual tradition...What a fantastic weekend!

Thank you to Uncle Ron and Aunt Ruthie for opening up their home to us. You couldn't have been better hosts! We miss you Ron, Ruthie, Kim, Kurt, Haden, Brittany, and Allison!!! We will see you all again SOON!

GO IRISH!