Ashton 9.0

Ashton turned nine last week. NINE! I was just getting used to eight. Ashton is always so kind and helpful, and she didn't complain that we did our annual heart cake decorating on her birthday (any time with the cousins is a fun time). We are so happy to have our smart and beautiful girl in our family. HAPPY (very belated) BIRTHDAY ASHTON!!!

I think she's about 8 months here (sorry about the quality picture of a picture)

We went to Chevy's for dinner so Ashton could get sombrero and free ice cream

Hand Jive!

Last week Aiden's was in the "Fabulous Fifties" program at school. His class was featured in the Hand Jive and as Aiden put it his hand jive was "faster than all of track three combined!" The room was pretty packed, and we were in the very back so we only got a little bit of video. The whole program was very cute and Aiden loved being part of it.

Rasberry Brownie Trifle (or Chocolate Passion Bowl)

The last time I posted a recipe Kaylee told me I didn't really seem like the type to post recipes, but I think I will be doing it more often. The recipes I'll put up are ones I use often, so why not make them easier to find.

I found this recipe on kraftfoods.com and it is a hit every time I make it. I think it is DE-LI-CIOUS, so I only make it when there is a big gathering so I don't eat the whole bowl myself. Make sure you use the frozen raspberries with no added sugar so you whipped cream doesn't deteriorate.

Raspberry Brownie Trifle

3 cups cold milk

2 pkg. (3.9 oz each) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
(I use 2 tubs)

1 baked 9-inch square brownie layer, cooled, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 5-1/2 cups)
(I use a 9x13 pan of brownies)

1 pt. (2 cups) raspberries

BEAT milk and pudding mixes with whisk 2 min. Stir in 1 cup COOL WHIP.

PLACE 1/2 of brownies in 2-qt. bowl; top with layers of 1/2 each pudding mixture, remaining COOL WHIP and raspberries. Repeat all layers.

REFRIGERATE 1 hour.

Just call me Sandra Lee

For those who don't know the reference, Sandra Lee has a show on the food network called "Semi-Homemade" where she makes meals that taste like they're from scratch, but their not. While I don't create my own recipes, I did make a couple of semi-homemade dresses for my girls last week. I was at Target and saw this dress...

I thought it was very cute, and upon further inspection I realized I could easily make it myself. So I found some shirts on clearance, got some material on sale, and had a coupon for half off the elastic. I used the bottom half of a dress pattern I have for the skirt and viloa!

I am really happy with how they turned out, and once I learned a few tricks on the first dress, the second only took a couple of hours (that includes waiting for Kaylee to get home from school so I could do some measurements). I can hardly wait to make more!

My new favorite dinner

I found this recipe on mykitchencafe.blogspot.com, and I don't know this woman but I want to be her friend. We have loved most of the recipes I have tried from her site, and I often visit when it's time for the dreaded menu planning part of my week. I usually make these close to the weekend then double the recipe make the amount I need for that night then use the rest to make lunch on Sat. and Sun. I serve them with blender salsa (I use 1 can of diced tomatoes and a can of mild Rotel tomatoes and chilies instead of jalapeno) and we're good to go. I hope you enjoy!

*No need to think I'm fancy, I copy and pasted the picture and recipe from mykitchencafe

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps

*Makes 6 wraps*

1 cup cooked rice, warm or at room temperature
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 green onion, finely sliced (white and green parts)
1/2 red or green pepper, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
juice of 1 lime
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 cups shredded cheese (I used a combination of monterey jack and sharp cheddar)
Sour cream (optional)

6 burrito-sized flour tortillas

Mix rice together with chili powder, cumin and garlic salt. Add remaining ingredients except for cheese and sour cream. Sprinkle cheese over tortillas, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges, then arrange chicken and rice mixture down the center of each tortilla. (Optional: on some of the wraps, I dotted the cheese with about 1-2 tablespoons of reduced fat sour cream before arranging chicken and rice mixture down the center - it made the wraps delightfully creamy.) Roll stuffed tortillas, leaving edges open. Spray the tortillas all over with cooking spray.

Heat a large non-stick skillet (or griddle) over medium heat for 1 minute. Arrange 2 wraps, seam-side down, in pan and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining wraps. Serve.

Bloggers Block

I have a serious case of bloggers block. I want to write, I think I have things to write about, but it just won't translate to the page. But never fear we are doing well and getting back into our routine of work and school and trying to convince Dalin that pepperoni's and popsicles are not a balanced meal.

Kudos to YOU!

For those of you out there who sent out Christmas cards or letters or emails or even a did a "Merry Christmas" blog post before Christmas, I say good on ya! I have been a Christmas slacker this year, but I wish a Merry (belated) Christmas to you and yours. We had a fun holiday full of family and food and more food. We were lucky enough to have most of Chris's family in town and we missed the ones who live to far to come.

Grandma Lynne made a Santa pinata that we posed on Grandpa Hal before we busted it open. Luckily his face came through the ordeal in tact.

Can I have orange jello for Christmas?

I know I put a lot of Dalin quotes out there, but three year olds are hilarious! The title is his latest request for Christmas (it's his new obsession with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs). I told him to ask Santa.

I feel like I'm kind of behind on all things Christmas, but we made an effort to bring a little Christmas yesterday. And by we I mean Chris. He's good at getting us away from doing the boring stuff like grocery shopping. We went to the Winterfest in Henderson, where we caught the tail end of the holiday parade and checked out the craft fair. I learned later that all of the activities were free (ice skating, pony rides, petting zoo and carriage rides) but we didn't have a lot of time so we didn't do any of that. It was still nice to walk around and we found a small patch of snow on our way back to the car.

We then headed out to Boulder City for a ride on the Santa Train. It didn't go very far, maybe a couple of miles, but Santa and Mrs. Claus came through and visited with all of the kids which was pretty cute.

Dalin is a little impatient when it comes to getting my attention, especially when I am driving. He doesn't quite understand that I can't turn around when I am supposed to be watching the road. A couple of days ago he kept saying "Mom look at me . Mom look at this. Mom look what I'm doing. Mom see this. Mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom." You get the idea. I was a little annoyed, and when we finally came to a stop and could turn around my "whaaaat" surely conveyed that fact. His reply? "Mom look, I'm sitting like an old man." Hi-lar-ious! Where does he come up with this stuff?

Here's the old man on the train. I think it's so funny I keep making him do it.