Merry Christmas 2009

Recipe Rut

You all know what kind of rut I'm talking about...the one where you are trying to make your grocery list or dreading the dinner hour because you feel like you make the same rotation of meals over and over again.

Well, I'm in the rut, but I came up with an idea. To the bottom of this post I'm going to add the recipe for one of my more original (I hope) dinner ideas. I'm hoping that many of you will be willing to post a recipe on your blogs and leave a comment on mine so that I will be able to get some new and different meal ideas. Sound good? Okay then....here's mine!

Cranberry Sauced Pork Chops

4-8 pork chops

1 tbsp. butter or margarine

1-1 1/2 cups apple juice

1 can cranberry sauce

3 tbsp. cornstarch

3 tbsp. brown sugar

pepper

In a large frying pan or skillet melt butter/margarine. Brown pork chops adding pepper to each side. Once brown, add apple juice to skillet (more or less depending on number of pork chops). Cook pork chops through, turning occasionally. While pork chops are cooking, combine the cranberry sauce, brown sugar and corn starch in a bowl and set aside. When chops are done cooking, remove them from pan. Add cranberry mixture to the apple juice in the pan and heat on low until it reaches the consistency of a sauce. Serve sauce over or on the side of the pork chops. I usually make smashed potatoes to go with the chops. Enjoy!!!

Our Snowman

AKA, Sam the Freeze

AKA, Annabelle

AKA, Sammie the Snowman

AKA, Frosty

A Bowling We Will Go

Last week we took our family bowling for the first time. We had a blast! I think we would be smart to get 2 lanes next time. It got hard for some of the kids to wait through 5 people for their turn to come around again! Keith barely won, edging Rachael out by one point. Me, I didn't even break 100. But we had fun spending time together. Maybe we'll have to try it again over Christmas Break! Enjoy the pictures!

Ten Years Down.....Eternity Still to Come!!!

Today is our 10th wedding anniversary! This is by far my favorite picture from our wedding day.....It took a lot to get me up on that piano in my big dress!

The last 10 years have brought us so many different things. Lots and lots of wonderful stuff and our share of not so good stuff. There are many emotions I'm feeling today and to refrain from being too mushy I'll just say this...

Keith, you make me want to be a better person! Everyday you help and challenge me to try and be a little bit better than I was yesterday! Although I have quite a ways to go, I know that I am a better person now than I was 10 years ago. I've learned and grown so much and it's all from knowing you. And I know that as long as we're together, I'll be a better person 10 years from now....and into eternity! Happy Anniversary, Keith! I love you!

Beauty Is...Part 2

Last night was the Reflections Assembly at Rachael's school. She won the Award of Excellence in Literature for the poem she wrote. Now her poem will go on to compete at the next level. I received the call about a week ago informing us that she was getting this award and we kept the surprise from her (it's funner that way)! Congratulations to my Rachael girl!

Trapped on the Moon

Tonight Rachael's 3rd grade class put on their long awaited opera. I was very impressed. They came up with the concept, storyline and words to the music themselves. The story in a nutshell is about 5 different groups of creatures who have become stranded on the moon. Together the Aliens, Astronauts, Surfers, Ninjas and Police Officers discover that if they work as a team they can all get off of the moon and back to where they belong. My daughter, the Alien

Rachael and her Grandmas

My crazy crew

Rachael and the other Rachel

Her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Hardy

Beauty Is...

Today, at the Reflections Assembly at Dustin's school, he was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Liturature category for a story he wrote about his friends. It was quite an exciting surprise! Congratulations, Buddy!

Halloween Picture Overload

My Little Snowbunnies

My First Crocheting Project

I made a scarf for Rachael. Next project....a matching hat!

Just Because....

I went out this afternoon for a little while and came home to these!!! I love you, Keith!

To Lagoon on a Whim

On Saturday morning, we were on our way back home from a short visit to Keith's parent's house when we both decided to bag all the work we had planned for the day and pack up the kids and go to Lagoon. Yeah, so unlike me. It was a great day to be there. We only had to wait in 2 maybe 3 lines and the weather was perfect. Rachael and Dustin were able to go on any ride they wanted and Claire and Hillary were little daredevils. We took all our kids on the Tidal Wave, Rattlesnake Rapids and some other pretty scary rides. What a super-fabuloso-fun day!!! I'm so grateful for Keith who helps me be spontaneous!!! (Again, lots of pictures)