some unjuicy tidbits...

• First, just letting everyone know that Monty is in Kuwait now. And no that does not mean he'll be home soon. He is still slated to come home sometime after the New Year. He has some special HAZMAT training and certification and needs to stay and watch the navy load their stuff. Yippee! However, Kuwait is much safer than Iraq. So, we'll take it.
• I added a new song. Of course no list of my favorite songs could be complete without JOSH GROBAN!! Anyways, love this song. As it really is how I see him-Monty not Josh Groban. He is my hero, my angel. Although he'd say differently...he really is more than just a man. And despite his taste in jewelry-he is my eternal companion and the best choice I could have ever made.
• The quarter is almost over! Lots of work to do still, but I am looking forward to our department dinner and dance (dec 12th) and spending a couple weeks going to bed early for a change.
• Confession: tonight for dinner I had two cherry cokes, a huge bowl of mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. AND I DID NOT FEEL BAD!! I loved every bite and sip! WHOAAA! REBELLION!! TAKE THAT SOPHOMORE SLIMDOWN!! HA!
• Favorite movie line for the week: From the LDS verison of Pride and Prejudice..."just read it or you are going to find hair begone in your shampoo bottle!"

Ok, seriously I think that is all I needed to get out before I put my nose back in my sociology book... see ya!

gingerbread houses...ok so it's graham crackers...

We tried. We mixed up two separate batches (different recipes) and baked them. And while they were delicious to eat, they just were not stiff enough to build with. So, plan B, the ever trusted and faithful....graham crackers!

Here are the kids mixing the batches of cookies and doing some cutters.

Later that night we decorated graham cracker houses...it was a mess but they both loved it! And were so proud of their creative little homes.

Our End Results...besides the candy, sprinkles, chocolate chip and icing vomit explosion on the floor...

Peter-Leo and Kody Nov 2008

one last birthday video!

Ok, here is one more video (and some photos) from today. We celebrated Kody's 2nd birthday we had a small chocolate cake! She had a blast all day!

Daddy's new ATV arrived this afternoon and while I don't have video I took the kids all around our yard a few times (ok it was like for a hour...but whatever-it has headlights!)

Kody and her 3 wheeler!

This year we got Kody a radio flyer tricylce. She loves it!

Enjoy!

And let the birthday begin.....

Ok, so Kody turns the big 02 on Sunday. And we are very excited. We are just having a family dinner, nothing big. Today, my Dad's (Grandpa Leo) present to Kody arrived. I knew what it was, so I let her open it a few days early. Enjoy the pictures and captions.

Kody was so excited...until she realized it was just money!

She was quiet for a second. And I gave her the actual gift...

She was in shock! Yes, they are stickers...not money..

She was so excited....

So many stickers....so little time!! And where to put them all?

Our daughter loves, loves , loves stickers! So, I told my Dad instead of buying her something big...just send a bunch of stickers! I bet she went to sleep dreaming of putting stickers everywhere!!

building a penguin and a monkey

today I took the kids to Build a Bear at the Savannah Mall. Kody picked out a monkey (to match her blanket and purse) and Peter had to have the penguin. After that we had lunch at the Food Court and they were so excited. I guess we need to eat out more often!

Here are some pictures!

peter and his penguin

kody, her monkey and her pink monkey blanket (Aunt Jenn made her last Christmas.)

Cider Donut recipe for ya'll

For those of you that have been wanting me to post the cider donut recipe here it is as well as the link to her blog page with other really great recipes!

Cider donuts
1 gallon of apple cider (for baking and drinking)
1 cup sugar
¼ cup solid vegetable shortening
2 large eggs
½ cup buttermilk
3 ½ cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. nutmeg
Vegetable oil or shortening for frying
Boil 1 cup of apple cider in a small saucepan for 8 to 10 minutes or until cider is reduced to 1/4 cup; let cool. In a large bowl, beat sugar with solid shortening until smooth. Add eggs and mix well, then add buttermilk and cooled cider. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Add to liquid ingredients; mix ingredients just enough to combine. Transfer dough to the lightly floured board and pat to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with a 3-inch donut cutter; re-roll the excess donut holes and cut scraps back into the dough. Refrigerate formed donuts on baking sheets for about 20 minutes to help firm the dough prior to frying. Add enough oil or shortening to fill a deep (3-inch) pan; heat to approximately 375°F or until the oil is bubbling. Fry several donuts at a time, turning once or twice until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove and place on paper towels for draining and cooling.Once the donuts have drained and cooled a bit, shake up the donuts in the bag of cinnamon sugar. Finished donuts can be placed on a wire rack to continue cooling.

The link.... http://grannygrumpstable.wordpress.com/

Happy eating!

DONUTS! A new fall tradition

Tonight for FHE (Family Home Evening) we made Apple Cider Donuts! Yummy! We had a lesson on controlling our tempers (The Temper Turkey) and being patient with others and then made our super yummy donuts. They turned out really well and I decided to make them every fall! Here are some pictures from our FHE adventure.

Love to all!

Peter was the responsible roller tonight. He did a great job! Kody on the other hand was having too much fun!

Kody and her ball of squished dough!
Flour over board!!

Down the dough goes!

Look at the beautiful mess I made!!

And after all the fun...we got to eat the donuts and have some hot cocoa!

And of course, during the mixing process, flour had to be thrown-everywhere!