2010...where did you come from?!?!

Isn't it crazy how fast the years slip by the older you get? Our kids are growing like crazy..involved in everything...and life never stops. But we really wouldn't have it any other way I guess. Speaking of busy, that's what the last 2 weeks have been around our house. The kids last day of school was December 22rd. The beginning of Christmas break. Why do they call it a "break"? They should call it "Christmas crazy-tired-running around all over-never going to slow down time". That's how it feels sometimes at least. Our "break" began at 8:00 on December 23rd. For some unknown reason I thought that it would be a great idea to schedule dentist appointments for all the kids and myself at 8:00 in the morning the first day of our "break". I don't know why I did it...but I did. So we went with it. Found out that Cody had lost a filling and needed another. Can't leave out that it's a strong possibility that Halie will need braces on her front 4 top teeth in the next year or so. Thankfully Hanah rounded us out with a clean and squeaky "a-ok" from Dr. Brooks.

Then it was onto Christmas Eve. We didn't do a darn thing except bake cookies, go to church and watch it snow...and snow...and snow. It was a blizzard!! Crazy winds. Not a lot of snow...but a lot of wind. Unbelievable!! We seem to have lost our "For Sale" sign in front our house during the lovely breeze.

The week inbetween Christmas and New Years was busy also. Craig spent most of his time sitting in a tree hunting for the deer that never came. Poor guy. I think he had fun trying though. Hanah came down with the flu that totally knocked her for a loop. She thankfully recovered within a couple of days to participate in the Jones Christmas on New Years Eve.

All in all it was a great break. Busy but great. Lots of family time. That's what it is all about anyway. Hope everyone else had a wonderful "break".

Ode To Halie

She's firey.

She's lovable.

She's adorable.

She's cuddly.

She's daddy's little girl.

She's wild and ready for adventure.

She's the one that plays nurse when anyone of us is sick.

She's ready to speak her mind at any given moment.

She's absolutely precious.

We are very blessed to have her in our lives. Happy 9th

birthday my sweet sweet child. We love you very

much and wish you all the best that there is to

offer.

Christmas Eve

I just wanted to take a moment to wish eveyone a very Merry Christmas. I doubt that I will be able to post much over the holiday break. Having Craig and the kids home will be very busy. I look forward to spending a lot of movie time and play time with them. have a great holiday everyone!!

Ashlei Ann Matthews

There are some people in our lives that have such a profound effect on us that we don't even realize that they are the reason for where we are today. That one person that enters your life in such and innocent way and completely redirects you towards your future and destinany that you didn't even know you had. Everyone has people like this in thier lives. Today, I celebrate one of my precious, wonderful and gracious people. My Ashlei. I didn't meet her until the summer of 1997. She and I were chosen randomly to become roommates our freshmen year in college. Little did I know that God would put us together to have her completely change my pathway in life. I owe my husband, children, and most everything that I have in my life now to this woman. She introduced me to Craig on sort of a whim. (Drew helped, but hey this isn't his day.) And within a 10 year time span we've accumulated 4 children, a warm home and a ton of other accomplishments that don't even need mentioning. She's been there for me through awful times, sad times, and the best of times. We've stood up for eachother at weddings and at funerals. We've been there for eachother through childbirth and raising the littel rascals. She' the reason I'm here today. Doing what I'm doing. Literally. I'm writing this because of her. See, it's Ashlei's birthday. And she deserves to be celebrated...have a blog written all about her. Happy birthday my dear sweet friend. I wish you the happiest and joyful day possible today and everyday!!

Pumpkin Bread

This is the sugar, shortening and pumpkin. I know that it doesn't look very pretty, but it's going to taste awesome!!



Here come the dry ingredients.



Now the eggs and water. Btw...I can't believe that Sadie has actually slept through all of this..so far!




I didn't mention this in the recipie. I always use a fluted pan greased with butter crisco and then floured. That way my pumpkin bread just slides right out of the pan after it's cooked.




On our way to the oven! See you in an hour after you bake at 350 degrees!!

Banana Bread

Here they are!!

I thought that it may be easier if I just added a new post for every item baked instaed of updating my original post. So, here we go! First off...banana bread. When I was putting everything together it occured to me that Sadie, the baby, has never had banana bread before. This will be wuite a treat for her!

Here are the 2 loaf pans all greased up and ready to go.



First off I creamed together the sugar and the butter.



Next are the eggs!




Now for the buttermilk, vanilla and mashed up bananas. These are bananas that I had previously frozen.



Adding the flour, salt and baking soda.




Divide the dough evenly between the 2 pans and bake it at 350 degrees for 1 hour.




I'll post pictures when they are done!!

Baking/Freezing Day

Alrighty! Here is the menu for the day and the recipies. I'll be updating with pictures and blurbs throughout the day. Right now I have the pumpkin, turkey and bananas thawing out.

BANANA BREAD
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. mashed very ripe bananas (about 3)
1/2 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

1. Move oven racks to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 350. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans with shortening.
2. Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Stir in bananas, buttermilk and vanilla; beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Divide batter evenly between pans.
3. Bake about 1 hour. Cool 10 minutes in pans on wire rack.
4. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 hours, or refrigerate up to 10 days.

Pumpkin Bread
2 2/3 c. sugar
2/3 c. shortening
16 oz. pumpkin
2/3 c. water
1 tsp. clover
1/2 tsp. baking powder
4 eggs
3 1/3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix sugar and shortening. Stir in pumpkin, water and eggs. Mix in flour, baking soda, salt, cimmamon, cloves and baking powder. Bake at 350 for 60 minutes.

Turkey Tetrazzini (I won't be baking this, just tossing ingredients together to freeze and bake later)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
8 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 Tbsp. non-fat dry milk
1 1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 chicken bouillon cubes, crushed
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. onion powder
pinch of nutmeg
2 c. cold water
3 c. cooked turkey
6 oz. broad egg noodles, cooked tender
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheeese
paprika

Heat olive oil in skillet; saute mushrooms just until tender. Combine dry milk, cornstarch, chicken bouillon cubes, salt, pepper, onion powder and nutmeg with cold water in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens and begins to bubble.

Arrange noodles in a 2-qt. baking dish. Spread mushrooms in a layer over the noodles; top with a layer of turkey. Pour sauce over all, then sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and paprika. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until hot bubbling.

Turkey Noodles Casserole (I won't be adding the cheese until I am ready to bake this another day)
1 package (10 oz.) frozen peas, thawed under running water
2 c. diced cooked turkey
1 1/2 c. cooked noodles
butter
1/4 c. chopped onion
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c. milk
salt, to taste
1/4 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 c. cheddar cheese

Combine turkey, noodles, and peas in a buttered 2-quart baking dish. Melt 2 tsp. butter in a saucepan. Saute onion and mushrooms until tender; blend in soup, milk and seasonings and cook, sitrring, until well blended and hot. Pour soup mixture over the turkey and noodle mixture; top with shredded cheese. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes.