Don't feed the animals...

Kindergarten activity.

Kinda silly, but cute none the less.

Costa Rica trip

Last night we made travel journals for

our trip to Costa Rica. It seems so

surreal to me right now

that we are leaving on a vacation...

for sooo many reasons,

but I know that once I get on that plane,

all my worries will fade and I will enjoy an

incredible journey. Thank you Grandma Margie

for taking us on this amazing trip!

8

We plan on taking tons of photos

and keeping a daily journal - which

I hope the kids will share with their

classmates at school when they return.

Wishful thinking Mom....!

Family portrait

(Art by Logan - age 6)

8

I just love this drawing Logan made of

our family.

Pretty cool outfits we're wearing huh?

So funny that he writes DOG for Harley.

He is becoming quite the artist.

Quiet night

8

It was a quiet Saturday night.

Opened a bottle of wine and watched

a movie, "Public Enemies". You would have

to ask D how it ended...I fell asleep.

zzzzzzzz...

Oh baby....

We have a little visitor here
this weekend...

Life like baby from Chloe's
"Teens and Teaching" class at School.
Each student takes a turn bringing the
baby home to take care of. It cries,
needs it's diaper changed and needs to
be fed. There is a monitor inside that
tracks how Chloe does, and then she
is graded on it. It has been quite
amusing to watch her in action.

Hopefully this gives her just a little hint of
what a big responsibility the real thing is, and
we won't be seeing one of these around here
for a loooongggg time.

Wine & Cheese Party anyone?

Oh, how I love these photos from

Pottery Barn....

8

They make me want to plan a

wine & cheese party.

I could live off this menu...

Today I will just dream about it.

hmmmmm...

Recipe to try

*

This recipe for

Meyer Lemon Pudding cakes

look scrumptious!

I will be trying this one - and soon.

Bonne Maman

I have been trying to just eat yogurt

and fruit for breakfast, but this

combination is so good, I can't stop

eating it. Toasted English muffin,

preferably the honey wheat variety,

peanut butter, and Bonne Maman

cherry preserves - delish!

Clean & beautiful

These beautifully packaged cleaning

products make me want to clean the

house - no?

Rock House

* It was a beautiful day yesterday.

Logan and I hiked at South Mountain with

Uncle Mike & Aunt Debbie.

Then watched the Cardinals game,

what a great game!

Breakfast

8

Breakfast this morning:

Vanilla yogurt, blueberries and

a drizzle of honey - mmmm!

Menu planner

8

8 The kids are back to school and the house

is quiet - messy, but quiet. I have been feeling

a bit under motivated these past few days, perhaps

a little after the holiday blues. The Christmas

decorations are all neatly put away, so at least

that is done, but the house feels a mess and I

feel out of sorts.

The fridge desperately needs to be cleaned out,

and there are piles of laundry to do...

...as always really - ugh!

I am trying my best to snap out of it and

get back into the swing of things.

One of my goals for this year, besides finding

a new part-time job, is to be more organized with

my grocery shopping and meal planning.

I found some great ideas here, along with

the above menu planner - which I love and

plan to use.

Lego Batman Cake

Logan requested a Lego Batman Cake

this year.

8

I think it turned out great.

8

I think he did too.

Make a wish...

Chocolate Pot de Cremes

Made Chocolate Pot de Cremes for

desert over at Mom's the other night. They

were delish! Got the recipe here.

Everyone loved them - even D who typically

does not care for desert.

Served the cherry jam next to the
whipped cream in case we didn't like it,
but it was very good, so I would
mix it in next time.
Yum!

Six!

Happy Birthday Logan!

Six years ago today you were born.

Your favorite things right now are playing with

Lego's, coloring (we did a lot of this over the

holidays), Batman & Star Wars action figures,

playing Lego Batman & Indian Jones on your PSP,

and going to the park.

You are smart as a whip and very sweet

and sensitive.

0

We Love You very much!

Recipe to try

Tuscan Chicken Simmer
4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts
8-oz. pkg. Cream Cheese, cubed
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup pesto
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes
1 cup Finely Shredded Italian Five Cheese Blend

*
HEAT large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on

medium-high heat. Add chicken; cover. Cook 5 to 7 min. on

each side or until done and lightly browned.

Remove chicken from skillet; cover to keep warm.
ADD cream cheese, water, pesto and tomatoes to skillet.

Cook, uncovered, on medium heat 2 min. or until heated

through, stirring occasionally.
RETURN chicken to skillet. Cook and stir 1 min. or until

chicken is coated and heated through.

Sprinkle with shredded cheese.

*
Sounds easy and I think the kids will like.

A New Year!

Well, we made it through 2009.

Welcome 2010!

I am hopeful that it will be a good year.

Perhaps with a few challenges and big

changes, but hopefully all for the better!

o

"Dreams are renewable, no matter what age or

condition, there are still untapped possibilities

within us and new beauty waiting to be born"

~ Dr. Dale Truner ~

o

"Never give up, for that is just the place and

the time that the tide will turn"

~ Harriet Beecher Stowe ~