American Toast

 Sadie and I LOVE French Toast.  One day Kevin made up an express way to make it for the kids and Sadie just LOVED it.  It is perfect when you don't have the time for the real deal.

Sadie has requested for me to put it on my blog.  "I hope people look at your blog Mom."

She is so excited to share this recipe with you.

1st: Toast your bread to your liking.

 2nd:  Butter one side.

3rd: Lightly brush Olive Oil on the other side. (the one without butter on it)

This will help the syrup not soak into the bread.

My favorite Syrup.  I have a hard time finding it. 

It is yummy and low calorie!

100 calories every 1/4 cup

Compared to 210 calories every 1/4 cup

My husband likes it too.  Which is saying a lot.  

You know how men don't like low calorie, fat free anything.  

Not with this syrup.  Trust.  

 Cut and Serve.  

Sadie's favorite way for French Toast.

Which she has named American Toast.

"We" hope you like it!

"Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come from a Store"

I just read a beautiful account of the Savior's birth written by Elder Holland on my friend Kelly's blog.

You can read it here.

  It is so touching and will definitely get you in the spirit of the season.  

It is for this baby that we shout in chorus: “Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn king! … Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die: Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.”

Dipped Oreos...yum yum!!

I saw these yummy dipped Oreos at Make It Do and thought they would make great and easy holiday treats for my kids school friends.  

The dipping process was a little messy so I dipped while the kids sprinkled. 

The white chocolate ones look pretty but these milk chocolate ones taste divine! 

Especially because we used these yummy mint Oreos.

The  dipped Oreos were not as time consuming as these Santas we made a few years ago.  

But the Santas were still cute.  

Santa Cookies

I found these cute free printable tags here, printed them off and had the kids sign the back.

Fun, quick and easy.

It made for two great advent days.  

Make the cookies one day and package & deliver them the next. :)

My kids loved it! 

Frankie's New Mittens

My darling friend Anneliese made these adorable mittens for Frankie.

Image source: Aesthetic Nest

Frankie liked them the minute we put them on him.

Straight for the mouth.

They are so cute on him. 

I love when Frankie has bare feet, (which is not that often in the winter) he loves to put his feet together.  

I've been wanting to feature my friend ever since she made her creative blog public last May.    

It is always so fun when we get together and share our latest projects. 

She is super creative and I am constantly blown away by her talent. 

Image source: Aesthetic Nest

Anneliese's blog Aesthetic Nest, is filled with ideas, patterns, downloads and tutorials.  

Sewing, crochet, painting, cooking, and design.

Her blog is so fun and not to mention her pictures are wonderful too. 

 I'm in love with this cute bandana table cloth she made for her daughters Fair Day Birthday Party.

Oh, her party ideas...fabulous!

Image source: Aesthetic Nest

I can't wait to make one as a picnic blanket.

Image source: Aesthetic Nest

This is from her Forty Fiesta birthday party.  

Sadly I missed the fun event due to Frankie's early arrival.

Image source: Aesthetic Nest
This is one of the many cute dresses she has sewn for her girls.  

Her taste is so refreshing.

Image source: Aesthetic Nest

If only I knew how to crochet.  I love this ruffle skirt.

It was so hard for me to choose which of my favorites Anneliese has shared on her blog.  I love everything she does.  I just had to show you a little bit of it.  

Thanks Annelise for the darling mittens and all the fun and creative ideas you share!    

Wish List

Sadie loves to pretend to be me.  Last year she got a Salon for Christmas and when I do hair sometimes she likes to pretend to work by my side.

This year is no different.

I love Sadie's Christmas wish list.

Camera

Laptop

I Pod

Sewing Machine

Baby

How cute that she wants to be just like me.

A New Tradition!

Ever since Kevin and I have been married, He has always talked about taking his family to cut down a Christmas tree.  His dream finally came true.  He bought the permit, scoped out the area before hand and very frequently checked the weather to plan out our day. 

He was so excited.

We had a BLAST!!

My Dad came and brought his ATV and sled.  

I had to sit on the front of the 4 wheeler on our search and ride up the mountain, that was a lot of fun.

 It was such a beautiful and warm day!  I don't know why Cole is shrugging his shoulders, he was so warm.  

I felt bad for MaryJane, we left her puffy coat at home.  We tried our best to keep her warm.

 Grandpa.  

It was so much fun to sled behind the 4 wheeler and search for our tree.  

It was absolutely beautiful and quiet on that mountain!

We got started later than we wanted and it was just starting to darken after we cut our tree.  

The snow wasn't too deep.  There was a trail we would follow.  We'd stop occasionally to wander from the trail to search for our tree.  Having the 4 wheeler was perfect.  I don't know how we could have done it without it.  

 Getting ready to cut down our tree.  

It was starting to get dark so my pictures are blurry without the flash.

We cut two.  Cole and Sadie each got to help.

  I love Cole's face here.  So surprised that he actually cut down a tree.  

MaryJane started to get cold so I gave her my coat.  She just wanted to go back to Nana's.

Nana was having her own fun snuggling up with Frankie at home.

MaryJane cheered up.  We rode down the whole mountain on the sled without the 4 wheeler pulling us.  She would say "weeeeeeee, wahooooooo!!" the whole way down.

I love knowing where our tree came from.
(and yes, no squirrels came running out from it)

How did it work out that we ended up with my favorite kind?
Tall and skinny.  They were everywhere up there!

This adventure was so. much. fun!!!

We are already making plans for next year! 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

around here.  Finally.  

We got our tree over the weekend and it was exactly what I needed to get into the spirit of Christmas. 

   

 Our favorite little elf Jingle has arrived.

 It is so fun to see this tradition come to life year after year.  The kids just LOVE Jingle.

I love the Magic Christmas brings!

Our Advents are in full swing.

I own 4.  I love them so much, I could collect a new one each year.  

 Here is a link with some great advent ideas.  

Do you see what I see?  Mary has gone missing.  

 She took off with the Shepard and the Angel to the North Pole.

Silly MaryJane calls them her "people".

She loves to send them on train rides.

 The train is all set.  

Cole got it for Christmas a few years ago when he was obsessed with the Polar Express.

   I just love it.  Every tree needs a train around it.  

(Santa got this one at Sams Club for a great deal)

 Why is it so fun to take blurry pictures of Christmas lights?

I LOVE colored lights. 

Which do you prefer, White or Colored?

Half

 I can't believe my baby is six months old today!
I just love him to pieces!!!!!!!!!!!!

My mom gave him this adorable blanket that we use for tummy time everyday.

He's getting much stronger at holding his head up while on his tummy.

Taking a little break.

When I lay him down, he loves to stick his feet straight up in the air.  It's so funny.  

He even did it in the bath the other night.  Love it.

How's this for muscle tone...

Frankie likes to do this for his attempt to roll over.  

He's like a little show dolphin from Sea World.

He can roll from tummy to back and back to tummy now.  

I'm one happy mama.  He's doing so well.

This is one of his favorite positions.

He also loves his rattle.  He just shakes and shakes the thing.  Music to my ears.

  

I have to post these cute pictures that are in my header...

Cole was my helper in propping him up.  

I LOVE his little round face!  So kissable!

Kelly Hampton is right, there is magic in that extra chromosome.

In honor of today,  I'm posting my new cute Frankie button.

Made by Angela Williams

I just love it!

Feel free to take one.  

Just grab the HTML code on my sidebar and create a gadget for your sidebar.