It's February?

 

2013 seems to be moving right along in our neck of the woods.

Since Christmas...or even before, our lives have been "on the go"

CB is playing basketball and that has been the main attraction! 

With practice being 5:30 to 7:30pm  and 2 games a week. That is about

all we get done, besides work. 

Let me clarify that I'm NOT complaining...just stating a fact.

I absolutely LOVE watching my boys do ALL their activities!

 

It has been so much fun to watch these boys grow this season

We played today in our league tournament and there has been some

great improvement since the beginning of the season!

We won today and will play again on Monday evening.

Go Vikings!



On the 17th of January, CB turned 13

He had a basketball game that night so afterwards we went out for supper at our favorite

mexican place here...and he enjoyed his birthday Wonderlita!

 

Then over the weekend I made this cake.  An oreo, double layer cake. It was yummy and he

LOVED it!  He was so excited when he saw it...he told me "mom, it looks just like the picture in the magazine!"  It was fun.  And if you are counting the candles....there are only 12.

I wasn't driving to town for 1 candle.  He was totally ok with that! lol

 

 

I did some digging thru old pics and found these...oh how I miss my little boys!

 

 

 I can't believe how fast time is going...

 

 

It seems like just yesterday I was snuggling this big haired baby boy!

 

 

 

 I had some crazy idea that I was going to be better at blogging this year.  It is NOT because I don't want to, it has everything to do with t.i.m.e. or lack of.  AND the fact my computer would hardly load these pics AND I couldn't load some I wanted.  *sigh*

Did I mention I have hardly had my camera out?  *sigh #2*

 

My family and I received some GREAT news over Christmas...the exchange student that lived with my folks nearly 20 yrs ago...from Denmark...

Is coming to KS....in March...with her family(husband and baby girl)

 

We are sooooooo Excited!!!!

 

It has been several years since she has been here and it's going to be awesome...her little one turned 2 in November...we will finally get to meet her! Cannot wait....it's going to be awesome~I get teary eyed thinking about it!  Yes, I'm a sap.

 

I need to hit the hay...blessings friends!

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Recipe Friday

Homemade Granola Bars

2 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup flax seed

1 cup flour

3/4 cup choc chips

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup canola oil

1 egg, beaten

2 tsp vanilla

Mix dry ingredients together-(i mixed mine with my mixer), make a well, put in all wet ingredients and then mix all together.  Place in greased 9x13 pan, pat down evenly and bake at 350 for 18-22 mins.  Let cool and cut to desired size.

I have been looking for a granola bar recipe for awhile now...my boys LOVE choc chip granola bars and I HATE buying them.  So.  I proceeded to find a recipe that would suit my family.  I feel good, first recipe I tried was a HIT!  These are so easy to make and they are delicious.  The original recipe called for 1/2 cup wheat germ which I did not have so I decided to try flax seed(new ingredient for me) and I liked it...alot.  I also had vegetable oil, not canola. 

These are going to be great to cook up and take to the lake for snacks.  Or for anytime.  I seem to have a couple of boys that are boTTomLeSs PitS and constantly GraZiNg. 

I have MANY pics to share, my folks are cutting wheat and we are in MAJOR destruction/construction right now at my house.  Oh Boy.  Going to be good...eventually, but not so fun to live in right now...and it's 95 degrees and we can't use the attic fan or A/C ;) 

More later, have a wonderful Memorial Weekend! 

Recipe Friday

I'm sharing a recipe I made for my Mother's Day supper last weekend.  Everything was yummy and I will be making all the new recipes again!  The dessert Lime Bars were YUMMY~I got this recipe off the Food Network, Down Home with the Neely's. 

Neely's Lime Bars

Cookie Crust:
1 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
pinch of kosher salt
*i didn't have unsalted butter, so i eliminated the pinch of salt*

Lime Topping
4 large eggs
2 cups sugar
6 Tbsp all purpose flour
1/4 cup PLUS 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice(i used bottled)
2 tsp grated lime zest(don't have a zester)
confectioners sugar for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray the bottom and sides of a 9x13 inch cake pan with non-stick spray.
To make the crust, combine the butter and confectioners sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 mins, until light and fluffy.  Add the flour and salt, and mix another minute until well combined.*cook's note:  you can prepare the dough up to 2 days in advance, then wrapped in plastic and stored in the fridge.  When you are ready to bake the bars, simply bring the dough to room temperature and pat out into pan.
Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, and pat out to an even thickness over the bottom of the pan.  Bake the crust for 20-25 mins, until lightly golden.  Remove from oven, and cool on baking rack.
To make topping:  whisk together the eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl.  Add the flour, and whisk until just combined, then whisk in the lime juice and zest.  pour the lime topping over the cooled crust, then bake for an addtitional 25 mins or until the filling is set.  Allow the bars to cool completely.  Generously dust with powdered sugar and cut into squares.  Leftovers will keep for 2-3 days at room temp or up to a week in the fridge. 
*my personal note:  Next time I make these(i will make again!)  I would use a little green food coloring just for sake of being pretty~and I would refrigerate leftovers since it's getting so warm out.  Also, I don't have a mixer with a paddle{sad face} but I used my mixer anyway...it was fine*

Have a great weekend!!

Recipe Friday

I am  having our mom's over for supper on Saturday night to celebrate Mother's Day.  I will be trying several "new to me" recipes and wanted to share one with you.

Fresh Corn & Avacado Salad
4 ears of sweet corn
1/2 red onion, diced
2 very firm avacados, diced
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
1/2 hot chili pepper, seeded and finely diced
juice of 1 lime
salt, to taste
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 tsp sugar (optional)
Slice kernels off the corn, combine with all remaining ingredients in a bowl.  Cover and refrigerate before serving.

I will change this just a bit...I'm going to use frozen corn and maybe a combo of canned corn with the red peppers already in it.  I won't use a hot chili pepper and I'll make this a double batch!  I am sure this will be a hit...we like EVERYTHING in this salad!

My menu for Saturday night is:
Chicken Enchiladas(sour cream)
Spicy cole slaw
Corn & Avacado Salad
Lime Bars for dessert

I'll let you know how it all turns out. 
T.G.I.F.
Today is my oldest boys' last day of school...he will be a sophmore next year.  EEEKKK.  Am I that old??? lol  Last night was the FFA banquet.  He was so handsome in his dress clothes even though the first words out of his mouth were...."I don't want a job where I have to wear a tie everyday!" lol

Monday is my youngest boys' last day...then Tuesday, the 6th grade class gets to go on an overnight trip to OKC and visit the Zoo and Science Museum.  They actually spend the night AT the museum.  I got to go with ZB and it was pretty fun...won't get to go with CB.

Have a wonderful weekend~I'm looking forward to it and will be cooking away tonite so I can relax tomorrow!