Found one

One of my favorite things to do is shop thrift stores.  I just love finding a deal!  It is even better when it is one that I have been searching for for a while.

Well, I HAD to stop at Goodwill when I was in town the other day and FOUND one.  Packer jerseys are one of the things on my “watch for” list.  Really any jersey would make them happy, but my boys are big fans of the Packers.  It can pose a problem to find just one, but I have had my eyes open for Miles for a while.  He is still squeezing himself into a Gilbert Brown size 4 shirt.  It really needed to be replaced.  Here he is in his new Packer jersey.

He is VERY happy to have a *new* jersey and I am thankful to have “found one”

Tina

Awana Games

My husband had the privilege of coaching the boys team in this years Awana games. He is pictured below along with 2 of my m's.

As you can see, we took 1st place! Way to go boys and girls!

Thanks for the pics Heather :)

Yummy Cupcakes

Today I made Heather’s 6 Week Bran Muffins and while I was making them, the muffin tin reminded me of one of my favorite desserts. I haven’t made this dessert in a very long time because I have been known to eat the entire batch by myself a ton of them in one sitting. I just have trouble saying no.

We call them Yummy Cupcakes, but they may actually have a different name.

Don’t they look YUMMY? I can almost taste them :)

Yummy Cupcakes

8 oz Cream Cheese
2/3 c sugar
1 egg
¼ tsp salt
1½ Chocolate Chips
In a medium bowl, beat together until light and fluffy. Add the chocolate chips and keep in refrigerator till needed.

3 c flour
2 c sugar
2 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cocoa powder
2/3 c vege oil
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp vinegar
2c water

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, 1 teaspoon salt and baking soda. Stir in oil, water, vinegar and vanilla until blended. Pour mixture into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.

3. Drop a heaping teaspoonful of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each cupcake. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Allow to cool.

I like to freeze them and take them out as I need them. They thaw well AND taste yummy frozen.

My Bran Muffins turned out pretty yummy (thanks Heather), but I may be making cupcakes tomorrow :)

Tina

Window

My 5 year old lost a tooth today!

This morning it was wiggly and now it is her first window.

She is SO excited because she worked hard to get it out and she keeps saying

"It didn't even hurt one bit"

Way to go!

Pizza Night

It's Monday! Traditional Pizza Night at the m&m house!
Tonight, we decided to try something new:
Personal Pan Pizzas!

The kids really enjoyed making their own pizzas. There was freedom to lick fingers . . . and spoons he/he

Here is my SUPER easy and tasty pizza dough recipe, if you want to give it a try:

1C Warm water
2 1/4 tsp yeast
2T oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp honey
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

Preheat oven 400 degrees. Mix all and let sit for 5 min. Roll out on pan and add toppings. Makes 2 - 12 " round pizzas.

I usually double this recipe so we have leftovers.

Marshall's first word

I thought this would be a fitting picture to go along with Marshall's first word.

"Hi"

Although, it comes out more like " i ".

Dad sure thinks it is great to be greeted this way when he gets home from work.

In the background, Miles is thinking hard about his next move in Sequence.

12 Layer Cake. . . Yummy

One thing I have really enjoyed about blog following is all the new recipes I come across. I appreciate the tried and true practical recipes I find which keep variety in my meal planning.

Occasionally a chocolate dessert recipe will catch my eye and I will have to try it. Here is one:


The Smith Family's 12 Layer Cake.


It seemed like a more challenging recipe, but the sight of the oozing chocolate made me rise to the challenge.

This is the finished product along with two of my cuties.

And this is what it looked like when I cut into it. It was so pretty and so tasty.




Fortunately, a neighbor was having a birthday, so I was able to give some away.

These kinds of things left around my house get eaten up pretty fast . . .


by ME. :) Tina


Go here to see a really cool picture tutorial on how to make this recipe.

Almost walking

Most of my kids were pretty early walkers, so it was no surprise that my mini m&m was up and ready to take off. He is 10 1/2 months old and he has taken 19 steps in a row as of today.


A bunch of pictures turned out like this as he is pretty quick to turn away on me.

So I had DAD stand with him and got this one. Much better.

It has been exciting to watch this little guy as he balances himself and gets the courage to walk.

First Post

Here it is! My first post.

Since it is extremely late and I am new to all of this, it will be short and sweet.

I have loved stalking. . um. . I mean following so many blogs that I have always felt I would have nothing new to offer the blog world. Then a friend told me she started one. Her purpose was to share with family and friends AND to have a paperless record of her family's memories. Well, I have family, friends and too many empty scrapbook albums, so I really liked this idea. I have also been challenged to use this tool as a way of reminding myself of my many blessings.

So, if you are reading this, consider yourself one of those blessings in my life :)
Good night.