Boys --

Today I have decided that I LOVE boys!
Yes, of course I really decided that when I decided to marry my favorite boy four years ago. But, being surrounded by boys all day long I am not always certain on my "boy love level". I will admit there have been times when I have wanted to sell both boys to the gypsies. I go crazy that pillows never stay on the couch, that there are cars EVERYWHERE and that there are stains on my cute chevron rug. BUT, when preparing for Mike's Birthday surprise party I couldn't help but wish that my four brothers were there to help set up tables and to let me order them around like slaves! Something they are always so willing to do. (0: They are the greatest most willing and helpful boys. I have always been impressed and proud of my brothers thinking that they were just special, that these were traits that belonged solely to my brothers and is a credit to my amazing parents. {{Which it is!}} This has made me worry about how in the world I will be able to raise my two boys to be like their father, uncles, and Grandpas...
Reason #1 why I have decided that boys are great!--
I was so happy yesterday at a R.S. activity to learn that there are actually other boys like my brothers!! I was shocked! I arrived late to the activity and didn't want to walk in in front of everyone, but all of the doors were closed so I didn't know which was the front. There were some young men in the hall way for mutual and I asked if they happened to know which door was the back, they didn't but one of them offered to look in for me so they wouldn't see me looking in if it was the front. All his idea. Call me sappy, but I thought that was SO thoughtful and nice! And, from a teenage boy! Wow! I was so impressed. {{We don't need to talk about how I was also on my period and extra sensitive...}}
Reason #2---
After the activity was over the same boys came in and asked if they could put all of the chairs and tables away for us. Now, this wasn't their leader telling them to do it. The YOUNG MEN came in on there own and asked if we needed any help. So nice! Again I was impressed and expecting the boys to pull of masks and actually be my brothers, but they weren't!
Reason #3---
I went to Walmart to get a few things and as I was walking out I heard a conversation of two boys walking in...

Skinny boy #1- "Slow down, my pants are falling off, they are falling down right now!"
Stocky boy#2- "haha! I wish I had that problem. My pants, they stay right were I put them!"
hahaha!! Boys are great! They don't care. If this were two girls it would have gone SO much differently. And, we all know how differently.

 I feel overwhelmingly inadequate to be the mom to these wonderful boys but at the same time, SO grateful that they are willing to be my little guinea pigs! I know that only with Heavenly Fathers help{{and Mike's of course}} will they be like these other outstanding boys. I know they will be!!

Easy Peezy and DELICIOUS!!

First of all I would like to thank my friend Jill Lewis for introducing me to these delicious treats! She made them yesterday for a party where I quickly ate 2 and then took home... a few more. (0: Today I was a little bit too happy to make them for a friend since I might have to eat some of the leftovers!! They are so good! THANKS JILL!

 

Hello Dolly Bars
*I have no clue why these are called Hello Dollies but really who cares what they are called, they are amazing! They could be called Dwight Shrutes and I would still eat them. (0:

 {{I have found that there are a lot of different ways to make holly Dollies, you could add nuts, fruit or do different kinds chocolate chips, so this is my version.}}

5 simple ingredients--

1 stick of butter or margarine
10ish graham crackers (pulsed in the food processor)
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup of sweetened coconut
1 can of sweetened condensed milk

Melt butter and combine with graham cracker crumbs. Press the crumbs into the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Top with chocolate chip, coconut and then drizzle sweetened condensed milk. Bake at 375 for 20-25 mins. Let cool for at least an hour.

He's the GREATEST!

We are So lucky to have this guy in our lives. He is such a good Dad and husband. He is so much fun. We love him SO much! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!!

 

Lasagna Soup

I made a few adjustments to this recipe that I found. As a result, my soup looks a  little different and my picture didn't turn out looking SUPER appetizing and perfect like theirs did. (This may also have something to do with it being taken on my phone?!) But, don't let it scare you away. This soup was SO yummy! Stu even tried it and he is anti-soup! He even liked it after Mike convinced him that his spoon was a digger and told him to dump the soup in his mouth. (0:

Lasagna Soup

Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 lb  Sausage (I used ground Sausage)
1 small onion, chopped
1 small zucchini
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
optional: 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 8-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
3 cups chicken broth
1-2 cups of cottage cheese
 2 handfuls of broken lasagna noodle pieces (or other pasta of your choice)
salt and pepper to taste
optional: shredded mozzarella for sprinkling on top (or if you only have cheese sticks in your fridge break those up and they work great too!)

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add sausage and cook until browned and cooked through. Add zucchini, garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Add tomato paste and stir well to incorporate. Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the dry pasta and cottage cheese to the soup in the last 8-ish minutes of cooking. Eat up!!

Family Pictures

When we were at the Ryan's for Thanks Giving we had family pictures taken! Yay!! I have been wanting some new pictures with Graham in them. I LOVE how they turned out. And now since Christmas is over, this wont spoil any surprises.

I am pretty confident that I am the luckiest girl in the universe! I get to be surrounded by these handsome boys every day! What more could a girl ask for.

 

 

Christmas --part 2-- with the Joneses

This year was Christmas at my parents house. It was fun to have so many of us there together again! {{Talon, Natalie and Lila we MISSED you TONS!!}} We also had some cousins come visit from Tennessee so it was a lot of crazy and a lot of fun! 

First Santa came! Stu LOVED it. he got really excited and ran right up to him to give him five!! it was so fun having him excited about Santa this year. - 

 Then we did the nativity -

 

Then we opened Christmas Pajamas -

 

 All of our Pj's were made with OLD fabric from my Mom's sewing room. It was fun to see fabric the we recognized! How cute are we??? (0:

This is the craziness I was telling you about... And, I love every single one of them. THANKS FOR THE FUN CHRISTMAS!!