I love Zucchini!! I love it sauteed, stir fried, pan fried, deep fried, in Pie, in Cake and most definitely in Bread. I grated and froze some of our bounty the year before last and some other people's bounty last year. It is a yummy reminder of the summer ahead to pull out a fresh batch of Zucchini Bread in the middle of the winter. Here is my favorite recipe.
3 Eggs
1C veg. oil
2 C packed Brown Sugar
3 tsp. vanilla
3 C grated zucchini
1 Tbsp. molasses
4 C unsifted flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. ginger
Preheat oven to 350° F. Beat eggs, add oil and brown sugar, beat well. Add vanilla, grated zucchini and molasses. Beat well. Mix dry ingredients, then add to wet mixture. Beat well. Bake in greased loaf pans for 1 hour. Cool slightly then remove from pans.
♥This recipe is also very yummy for Pumpkin bread. Just leave out the zucchini and add 1 can of pumpkin and 1/3 C. water
1.30.2009
1.17.2009
Post-Holiday Holiday Party
Every year (almost) someone in our group of friends has a holiday party for the adults only. We all get sitters and get together for a fun night of games and and a white elephant gift exchange. No one had volunteered their house this year, so Dave and I decided to host it, but we opted to wait until after the holidays since December is always so busy. We ended having 21 people in all and it was so much fun. We had yummy foods, played some hilarious games and had our gift exchange.
Some of the funniest gifts were an old plastic lawn ornament snowman* that may or may not send out sparks, a box of antidiarrial medicine called Cork-It, A shocking pen and binder clip, a box of flip flops, a framed picture of someone, a BeDazzler, and some KY Yours and Mine.
There is this one guy, Mike, that is such a party animal. It seems like he showed up in every picture. He really gets around. ;)
Mike and Kim... and Mike
Mike opening a present.
Mike peeking over Megan's shoulder
Mike sure is a special guy
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(**The real pictures are posted in the slideshow below)
Some of the funniest gifts were an old plastic lawn ornament snowman* that may or may not send out sparks, a box of antidiarrial medicine called Cork-It, A shocking pen and binder clip, a box of flip flops, a framed picture of someone, a BeDazzler, and some KY Yours and Mine.
There is this one guy, Mike, that is such a party animal. It seems like he showed up in every picture. He really gets around. ;)
Mike and Kim... and Mike
Mike opening a present.
Mike peeking over Megan's shoulder
Mike sure is a special guy.
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(**The real pictures are posted in the slideshow below)
*The reciever of the Plastic Snowman decided to leave their present behind, so we made sure to return it to them the next day by wiring it to the front of their van during Church.
** Certain photos in this blog post may or may not have been altered. The decision to alter photos was based solely on the fact that Mike was unable to attend the event due to illness. We missed you Mike!! We hope the pictures help you feel like you were there!! :)
** Certain photos in this blog post may or may not have been altered. The decision to alter photos was based solely on the fact that Mike was unable to attend the event due to illness. We missed you Mike!! We hope the pictures help you feel like you were there!! :)
1.15.2009
New Years Eve Sleepover
This Year for New Year's Eve there was an activity at the church for the Youth (Dave is the Young Men's leader) It ended at 10 and then the Young Men were coming to spend the night at our house. He has to have another leader with him at any activity. One of the other leaders happens to be one of our good friends, so we invited their whole family to sleep over as well. The kids and Kris came over early, while the guys were at their church activity and we had yummy snacks and played games. This kids had so much fun. When the guys got back it was about 11 and all the little kids were still up (even 1 year old Harrison.) We all stayed up playing the Wii and snacking and then the little kids went to bed upstairs at about 1:30. This was the first year that Ady adn Tayden had stayed up until midnight on New YEar's. Kris and I stayed up a bit longer then we headed upstairs as well. The boys ended up watching Wall-E and staying up almost all night. The next morning we made a big yummy breakfast and then everyone went home by 10 am.
Our kids were very excited to have their first sleep over with friends. Kris and I had a lot of fun chit chatting and playing games with the kids. They will be moving in the summer and we will be sad to see them go!! Morgan is one of Ady's best friends and their son Tyler is so fun to play with for the boys!! Hopefully we will be able to still have fun play dates once in a while!!
Ady and Morgan ready for bed.
Dave reading a bed time story to the boys.
1.12.2009
Chuck E Cheese
Our good friends have triplets with a birthday the day after Kyler's. Since it is such a hard time of year to have a birthday party, for the last two years we have gotten together over the break to celebrate a combined birthday together. They have kids close to the ages of our kids and all the kids get along so well together. They have a son about a year older than Kyler, triplets Tayden's age and a little girl a few months younger than Ady. This year we took all 8 kids to Chuck E. Cheese together and had a terrific time.
(Haley hit the Jackpot!)
We went as soon as it opened on New Year's Eve and we were pretty much the only people there until lunch time when we left. It worked out really well. The kids had so much fun together and they didn't have to worry about waiting for turns on anything. Our CEC had been expanded since the last time we were there so it felt like we had a lot of room to run and play as well as play the games. Megan brought a cake for all the birthday kids.
(Tayden playing a game)
(Kyler and Max on a "Roller Coaster" ride while Nicholas watches)
(Ady loved this one, she cracked me up turning that little
wheel as fast as her little arms would go!)
Some of the games/rides at CEC take your picture, so I gave the kids extra tokens to get those done. (Otherwise they wouldn't "waste" their precious tokens on them!)
Here are some of my favorite ones
Tayden riding with Chuck E.
Ady Decided to Kiss Chuck E. for her next picture. What a silly girl! :)
There was a new thing that the kids loved. It takes your picture and then puts it on these little cards that the kids were pretending were Driver's licenses. Here is Kyler's
There is also one that takes your picture and then turns it into a drawing.
Tayden's
Kyler wanted to make his a silly one
Me and Ady
(Haley hit the Jackpot!)We went as soon as it opened on New Year's Eve and we were pretty much the only people there until lunch time when we left. It worked out really well. The kids had so much fun together and they didn't have to worry about waiting for turns on anything. Our CEC had been expanded since the last time we were there so it felt like we had a lot of room to run and play as well as play the games. Megan brought a cake for all the birthday kids.
(Tayden playing a game)
(Kyler and Max on a "Roller Coaster" ride while Nicholas watches)
(Ady loved this one, she cracked me up turning that littlewheel as fast as her little arms would go!)
Some of the games/rides at CEC take your picture, so I gave the kids extra tokens to get those done. (Otherwise they wouldn't "waste" their precious tokens on them!)
Here are some of my favorite ones
Tayden riding with Chuck E.
Me and Ady with Chuck E.
Ady Decided to Kiss Chuck E. for her next picture. What a silly girl! :)
There was a new thing that the kids loved. It takes your picture and then puts it on these little cards that the kids were pretending were Driver's licenses. Here is Kyler's
There is also one that takes your picture and then turns it into a drawing.
Tayden's
Kyler wanted to make his a silly one
Me and AdyChristmas Day
Because my family gets together on Christmas Eve, and Dave's family doesn't live close by, we are able to spend Christmas day home together all day!! It is such a lovely, relaxing day. No travels, no major cooking, just enjoying each other. The kids get to enjoy all their new toys, we get to play with the new games together. (I get to rest up for a big day of post holiday shopping!!)
We get home from my family celebration pretty late, so the kids usually will sleep in a bit. This year I made it a point to have all the presents wrapped ahead of time so Dave and I aren't up half the night getting presents out and wrapped and we don't risk bumping in to Santa ;) We just had a few last minute things to wrap up and then we were able to get to bed as well.
We had such a lovely day. The kids were very happy with their gifts and excited to give gifts as well. They had each bought presents for each other and us and were eager to give them to us. We got lots of "Thank you"s and a few "I ALWAYS WANTED THIS!!!" We did just the right amount this year. I cut back a little (in quantity, not cost!!) and it was nice. They got things they really wanted and the spread was pretty even. Each one of them got (from us) a Lego set, a Wii game, a DVD, a new game, a Webkinz, the boys each got a ball and Ady got a Princess music CD.
From Santa Ady got a My Little Pony Roller Coaster, Tayden got a Sled, and Kyler got a 973 peice Lego Castle. Also they got some little things in their stockings along with their favorite treats.
We also opened presents from Dave's side of the family. Ady got a beautiful toy chest that Dave's mom painted. She absolutely loves it!! She was super excited to find another gift wrapped inside it. She and Tayden thought that was hilarious! Tayden adn Kyler got remote control vehicles which they both loved. We also got Mario Kart for the Wii from Dave's brother's family.
The entire Christmas break was very nice. We played lots of board games, watched lots of movies and played all our new Wii games. We thouroughly enjoyed each other. Last year I ws eager for school to start again, but this year I didn't want the break to end. I feel so content and happy this year. I feel so lucky to have such a lovely home, beautiful, loving children, a fantastic husband and so many wonderful friends and family. We are so blessed.
Christmas Eve with the Cousins
(Warning this post is long, if you just want photos, there is a slideshow at the bottom. If you are related to me, you are required to read the entire post, though. There will be a quiz!) :)
Every year for Christmas, my side of the family gets together on Christmas Eve to celebrate. It is a gift giving extravaganza!! We spend hours opening gifts. This year it was hosted by my sister, Cara. There was lots of yummy foods, fun games, and loads of presents. Cara did save us all a bit of time by having the gift area nice and organized so that the gift opening could go a bit faster. As we walked into her house there was labeled zones for where to put presents for each person. As you brought gifts in from the car the kids put them where they belonged. Then when each person's turn came to open gifts, they were all together. The kids all had a good time seeing all their presents in a stack and counting how many they got.
While we were waiting for more family to arrive we played some fun games. Kelly got the kids going in pretending to be "interviewed" It was cute to see what they would say. Kelly and Sydney ( age 10) are so sweet with Ady and Tayden and do a good job including everyone in the games. Tanner (13) is the oldest and has been very patient with the younger kids playing with his things and messing up his room. He always gives everyone the best hugs!! This year Kyler and Kristen (age 7) were having a lot of fun with the nerf guns. My brother, Mike is a kid at heart and joined them. Of all the kids, he got into the most mischeif, aiming the guns at his wife!! He will never learn :)
While we were waiting for more family to arrive we played some fun games. Kelly got the kids going in pretending to be "interviewed" It was cute to see what they would say. Kelly and Sydney ( age 10) are so sweet with Ady and Tayden and do a good job including everyone in the games. Tanner (13) is the oldest and has been very patient with the younger kids playing with his things and messing up his room. He always gives everyone the best hugs!! This year Kyler and Kristen (age 7) were having a lot of fun with the nerf guns. My brother, Mike is a kid at heart and joined them. Of all the kids, he got into the most mischeif, aiming the guns at his wife!! He will never learn :)
For the past several years Dave and I have been making Gingerbread houses to take to Christmas Eve for everyone to decorate. This has become a fun tradition.
Another fun tradition that is just getting rolling is to sneak in some gag gifts. This year we had some great ones. My mom had spent a lot of time making her gifts to each of us beautiful. Lots of pretty bows and wrapped very nicely. Well someone (Mike!) snuck in to the pile of gifts while she wasn't paying attention and added dog biscouts to each package as a decoration. Each of us got a lovely dog treat with our gifts and my mom kept saying "No, that part's not from me!!" This year "Santa" left some gifts for Mike. He got some Back Hair remover,
and some Kandoo Wipes for Sensitive skin
My sister and my cousin, Jenny, have a little rivalry going over who is the "Best Little Girl Ever" or BLG. My aunt started this by saying it was my sister, and not her own daughter, Jenny. For several years now there have been little gags and jokes about it. T-shirts have been made, poems written. This year was hilarious though. Jenny gave my sister a framed photo of herself
My sister's gift topped them all. She made a BLG Book for Jenny telling her how to be the true BLG it was very funny. My Aunt's reaction was so funny!
Another fun tradition that is just getting rolling is to sneak in some gag gifts. This year we had some great ones. My mom had spent a lot of time making her gifts to each of us beautiful. Lots of pretty bows and wrapped very nicely. Well someone (Mike!) snuck in to the pile of gifts while she wasn't paying attention and added dog biscouts to each package as a decoration. Each of us got a lovely dog treat with our gifts and my mom kept saying "No, that part's not from me!!" This year "Santa" left some gifts for Mike. He got some Back Hair remover,
and some Kandoo Wipes for Sensitive skin
My sister and my cousin, Jenny, have a little rivalry going over who is the "Best Little Girl Ever" or BLG. My aunt started this by saying it was my sister, and not her own daughter, Jenny. For several years now there have been little gags and jokes about it. T-shirts have been made, poems written. This year was hilarious though. Jenny gave my sister a framed photo of herself
My sister's gift topped them all. She made a BLG Book for Jenny telling her how to be the true BLG it was very funny. My Aunt's reaction was so funny!
This year we had so much fun!! I am so thankful to be in such a fun loving family that loves to spend time together!
1.08.2009
My little Cub Scout
Kyler is now in Cub Scouts. He is so excited and looks forward to doing all the fun things they get to do. He keeps asking when he will get to go to camp (daycamp). Its not until summer, but already he is anticipating it. Last night he had his first official scout meeting and came home in full garb. (below) He is excited to work on memorizing the motto and pledge for next time. They meet twice a month.
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