Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts Recipe

This is really YUMMY and so easy! It is even good the next day! I found this recipe on Kraft Foods. I didn't follow the directions exactly but I put what I did, along with the real recipe, above. For example, I used half the amount of stuffing (comments said there was way too much stuffing) and I couldn't find the right dressing. But it turned out great! Hope you like it!

Hey - I am in search of a GREAT from scratch pancake recipe. I remember in 7th grade Home Ec making the BEST pancakes ever. I would love to find a recipe that I love. So, if any of you have a great one, PLEASE share with me!

Closet Organizer

I don't know about the rest of you, but my house does NOT have enough storage - especially for all the gloves, scarfs, and hats/beanies that we use in the winter (something very new to me since I grew up in AZ). So, when I saw this on Good Things Utah (I think that is where I saw it) I had to try it. It is a shoe organizer that hangs on the back of a door. I got it for around $10 at Wal-Mart. I hung it on the back of one of the hall closet doors. Each of the big 4 boys (and Ed and I) has their own row to store their stuff in. So, when they are in a rush out the door to school, etc., they know exactly where to find their stuff that will help keep them warm. So far, it has been FABULOUS!

Almond Chicken Dijon Recipe

Here is a recipe that I found on Kraft Foods the other day. It is SO EASY and good (espeically for the effort it took to make). The dijon mustard and mayo mixed together is really yummy. My kids even liked it. It is a nice addition to my list of main dishes. It is really great for those days when at 4:00 you don't know what you are going to do for dinner - not a lot of ingredients and super fast and easy to make! Hope you like it!

I have another recipe I will try to put up this week that I just made that was also really good.

Already 7 Months Old!

I can hardly believe that Cameron & Kesley are 7 months old! Actually, they are 7 months and 5 days old now - Kesley had a fever on the 12th so we had to wait a couple of days to do our little photo shoot. They are such SMILEY, HAPPY babies - that is until I sit them on the couch side-by-side to take pictures. It definitely is getting harder to get a good picture of the two of them together - but I will keep trying!

FYI - Brecken is feeling much better, not great, but a huge improvement!

Brecken has the CROUP!

My poor little Brecken! He has had a rough couple of days (hence the reason for no new posts for a few days - that and Gavin has been sick and Kesley had a fever for 2 days). He had a cold but then yesterday he got worse. He already doesn't eat much or many different foods so when he wouldn't eat the few foods he likes and he wouldn't drink anything, I got worried - I could tell his throat was closing up. I took him to the Pediatrician's After Hours (thank heavens for after hours) once Ed could be home. By the time I got Brecken to the doctor, his croup was getting bad. So they gave him a steroid shot. When we got home, he fell asleep on me (which he NEVER does) so I ran to Wal-Mart to get a new humidifier (for Brecken). While I was there, Ed called and said he was really worried about Brecken's breathing. Luckily, Ed sat on the deck with him in the freezing cold and that helped. Ed brought him in and he did good (clinging to me) for a while and then it was back to the deck - but this time with me. It was a really really long night (especially since the twins decided to both get up TWICE - not normal)! But so far today he seems better and is able to breath! I hope it is a better night!

All Aboard the Polar Express!

Here is another one of our favorite Christmas traditions (3 years and counting). The kids (just the big 3 this year - Brecken will go next year) get all bundled up in their new Christmas pjs and we head up (usually in a snow storm) to Midway, UT where we board the Polar Express (okay - the Heber Creeper, but close enough). The kids love getting to be on a real train. Santa's Elves are on the train with you (adorable teenage girls & boys) and we read the Polar Express, eat a cookie, drink hot chocolate, tell jokes, and sing songs. Oh, and if you are my boys, you have staring contests with the Elves. Once we get to the "North Pole", Santa gets on board!!!! It really gets the kids excited for Christmas!

Sledding in the Backyard

Almost a month ago, after a big snow storm (and when Ed was in Europe for work), the kids were wanting to play outside in the snow. To their DELIGHT, our good friend Jason T. came over with his 4-wheeler (and his 3 cute kids) and pulled my big 3 boys (and a little neighbor boy Tappin) around our backyard on a sled. They had a FABULOUS time. It is amazing to me that they can stay out in the snow and cold as long as they do. I stayed inside, only going out to take some pictures, and had hot chocolate ready for them when they came in. Thanks Jason!

Family Christmas Party

At Ed's family Christmas party this year (his parents & most of his siblings live up near Ogden) each of the daughters and daughters-in-law were suppose to come with "something to entertain everyone for 20 minutes". I had all the kids (20+) decorate 3 of the dads/uncles like Christmas trees using nothing but red and green crete paper and aluminum foil (thanks for the idea Mom). It actually turned out to be a lot of fun. All the kids (from 12 years old down to 2) really got into it and had a good time!

Breakfast with Santa

So I am just getting around to scrapbooking all the fun things we did for Christmas this year - I love that there isn't much going on in January. It gives me time to get catch up (if that is possible) and time for me to try to get organized again (I have a lot of closets and cupboards that need to be cleaned out).

One of our favorite traditions (this is our third year) is going to Breakfast with Santa at Thanksgiving Point. You get to go and eat a yummy breakfast, sit on Santa's lap, sing songs, do crafts, play games, get your face painted, participate in a dance contest, and hang out with some of Santa's friend (the Grinch, a Polar Bear, and a Gingerbreadman who for some reason Gavin was fascinated with). It is a great way to spend a Saturday morning right before Christmas!

Christmas Cuties!

The twins finally got to wear their cute new Christmas outfits this past Sunday (yes, after Christmas - but either they had colds or someone else was sick so they hadn't been to church in a few weeks). Of course, they did not want to cooperate when I tried to take cute pictures of them. Kesley HAD to have her dress in her mouth - if I managed to get it out, she immediately was looking down and trying to get it back in. And Cameron was only happy if he had his pacifier in his mouth - which does not make for very cute pictures. Oh well. I tried and they are still cute! Dallin was more than happy to help by holding them. He is such a good big brother!

Gavin - Not Feeling so Good

Yesterday Gavin said,

"I have a fever."

I felt his head and it was not hot. I told him he didn't have a fever. He then said,

"No, my tummy has a fever."

He was fine the rest of the day but then this morning he came down and while eating breakfast he said,

"My tummy hurts."

I asked how it hurt and he thought about it and then said,

"My tummy is tired."

He then went and laid down on the couch (seen in pictures). Poor little guy! I think he really doesn't feel well today. I think he actually fell asleep (and it is only 8:30 in the morning).

School Christmas Sing Along

Every year our elementary school does a "Sing Along" where each grade learns 2 Christmas songs and sings them for the parents on one of the last days of school. Luckily, Cortney was able to come and watch the youngest 3 kids so I didn't have to take them out in the freezing cold and snow. Gavin wanted to watch his brothers sing so he came with me. It is so much fun to watch all the kids sing - especially the first graders. Their songs are so much fun and they are all so full of energy. And Dallin is a whole head taller than all the other third graders. He is fun to watch - he waves to everyone he knows!