Homemade Hamburger Buns...

I decided to try this recipe and make my own hamburger buns. They turned out really yummy. The dough was such a nice consistency. I also tried making parmesan chips. That idea came after I had Kneader's chips that they make from scratch.

Ingredients:

• 
  1 1/4 cups milk, slightly warmed
• 1 beaten egg
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 3/4 cups bread flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

1 Place all ingredients in pan of bread machine according to manufacturer's directions.

2 Select dough setting.

3 When cycle is complete, turn out onto floured surface.

4 Cut dough in half and roll each half out to a 1" thick circle.

5 Cut each half into six 3 1/2" rounds with inverted glass as a cutter.

6 Place on greased baking sheet far apart and brush with melted butter.

7 Cover and let rise until doubled, about one hour.

8 Bake at 350° for 9 minutes.

9 Note: Oven temperatures vary so check after 9 minutes to see if done. Some reviewers baked these anywhere from 12 to 30 minutes.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-hamburger-buns-bread-machine-80413#ixzz1CNgO75Eo

• 
  
  

Bountiful Baskets...

I have never tried the co-op Bountiful Baskets. I have heard a few good things about it, so I thought I would give it a try. However on their site I did not really understand when they do it and I guess you sign up for it on a certain day. I am still looking into information on it.

In the mean time. I decided to do my own little bountiful basket. I went to Sam's club where I usually don't buy fruit but I picked me up some:

Oranges

Pears

Strawberries (Cole's suggestion)

Bananas

Pineapple

I thought it would not be like the co-op if I didn't pick up a fruit I don't normally buy and yes pineapple is that fruit.

I came home and put it out in a basket on our counter. It has been fun to look at and now I am seeing that we all are eating more fruit. Which is always a good thing. Right!

Baby Shower...

We threw a baby shower for Lizzy who is expecting her first boy any day now. It was fun to have everyone over and to see all the cute baby boy things.

We had everyone write advice in a baby book for her and also they could iron on onesies.

It was a fun little get together with great soup and bread bowls and yummy desserts.

I made this little pin wheel banner. I have been wanting to try to make pin wheels for a while!

Cole and stuffed animals...

As a kid I loved stuffed animals. I had so many and I would put them all over my bed. Than in my teenage years I started to hate them and didn't love it when people gave them as gifts to me.

Than as a parent I still didn't love them. But thought one or two was not bad.

When one of my niece's was born I bought her a soft, fluffy, pink bear. Oh she loved that thing. She carried it everywhere and I thought it was so cute! So Of Course. I wanted my kids to get attached to a favorite bear.

They didn't get attached to a bear it was "The blanket" which I loved too. However Cole loves stuffed animals. The other day it was really quiet and I thought "OH NO" but he was in his room talking and playing with all his animals.

~Jazz Bear

~Cozmo

~Giraffeee

~Chippy the dog

~Chameleon (as of just recent, a sweet cousin of mine gave it to him)

He made his bed and the picture above was how he arranged them. So Cute!

Love This Quote...

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. " ~Meldoy Beattie

Just thinking about this quote and how I would like to memorize it, than say it to myself when I need it! :)

Girl's Night...

The girls in my family are starting this year with a bang. We are going to have a girls night once a month. Where we can go out and do something fun or learn a new skill or craft. This time we went to this cute little place called The Chocolate Cafe. It was an old boutique turned into a little sweet shop where you can order a cupcake, a slice of cake or hot chocolate and go sit down on some couches and visit. Some people even do their book club their.

We had a fun time talking and laughing and visiting. I ordered this thing can't remember what it was called but it was two cookies baked into this little cake pan with ice cream on top. It was ooee and gooey. So yummy. I don't think I took a picture although my healthier sister got a fruit tart in which I did take a photo.

I sure love spending time with these girls!

I could tell it was going to be a Wonderfully very Good Day...

Today has been an all around very good, Wonderful Day! It started off with a trip to the doctor. Where we had another ultrasound. Yes it has been confirmed again that we are having a GIRL!

Man, could I sit there all day long and let them scan my tummy and watch this little girl wiggle away inside of me. Somehow seeing them up on that screen brings tears to my eyes.

I love it! She is healthy and growing right on schedule.

Than Cole had a cousin come over and play which he has been wanting to do for a while. And I had a nice visit with someone who I think of as one of my very good friends! She brought us these yummy enchiladas and a bag of my favorite valentine's treats which I can't wait to try. ok I had some of the treats but the dinner looks Capital D. All because she had too much ingredients.

Seriously she is the nicest person, so thoughtful and I need to be more like her. Love having her as a neighbor!

Than I get to just take time and play with my great kids. Than to top the night off I am going out for a girl's night with all the girlies in my family. We are heading to a cupcake shop. I can't wait.

A Sunny Tuesday...with Random Stuff to remember and share...

This morning it looked so nice outside that I bundled the kids and we went out for a morning walk. We went around the block. Cole rode his little dirt bike. It took us probably 30 or so minutes to go around the block. Ha. ha. And the Sun is a little deceiving. But it was so nice to be out doors.

We got home with cold hands and were greeted with the smell of freshly baked bread (we threw the ingredients into the bread maker before we left). I made homemade bread a few weeks ago not in the bread maker. I like doing it both ways but I think I prefer the oven way. I think it looks better and I feel more domestic!

Last night we went to the car show at the Expo center. My sis-in-law gave me the idea and we got discount tickets from them. We had a good time. Cole absolutely loved it. He ran from car to car opening the doors and getting in. He would be on to the next car yelling; "Let's check this bad boy out". Such a guy thing to do. Than we went to dinner where we were enjoying dinner until our little gager (is that a word) Dailey put to much food in her mouth and started choking and that always seems to lead to throwing up all over. So of course Kev and I are trying to catch it all in our hands. Sorry people all around us. No she doesn't have the flu. :)

Yes I want to even remember the times we are getting puked on.

Anyway back to today. This is a conversation I had with Coleman....

Cole: Mom, what do you want for your birthday?

Me: My Birthday is a long time away.

Cole: But what do you want? Maybe flowers?!

Me: I like flowers.

Cole: Ok I will tell Dad. It will be a surprise. But I just said it to your face!

I love random conversations with my awesome 4 year old.

Kung Fu Cole

For Christmas Cole got the new Karate Kid movie and he loves it. He also has some cousins that teach him some pretty sweet moves. Here is a short video of Cole kickin' some butt!!

His grandma also made him this great Karate costume too.

Cole is such a great kid and he makes us smile and laugh every single day!

Poor Little guy...

My little guy has been sick since Monday or was it Tuesday. Man he has been coughing and his head has been hurting. I really hate to see little ones sick. I do like however, how he can tell me what is hurting. That sure makes it easier than when they can't tell you.

This dang cough better leave our house soon! Tis the season for it but let's hope it leaves us quick and skips the rest of us.

Dailey doesn't do well with coughs. She already has such a quick gag reflex. People are learning that more and more at church it seems. She always gags and throws up right during church! Lately Kevin has been the recipient of it all over him.

Lucky Guy!

Wait Till they can Wipe by themselves...

Cole called out to me "Mom I'm ready to wipe" I walked in and he said " You don't want to look at the poop, You really, really don't"!

I laughed pretty hard. Than I thought of this that my Brother once said "Wait Till they Can wipe by themselves it will bring a tear to your eye" He may have been quoting someone else but I thought it was pretty funny.

Goal for 2011 wiping without help!!!

Love the smell of bread cooking...

I made bread today! Usually I only make bread under my Mom's watchful care. It usually is yummy wheat bread but today I used this recipe below and it turned out really good. The loafs didn't look perfect but heck it tasted pretty good.

I sure love the smell of fresh baked bread.

90-Minute Bread

From my Aunt Mary Jane

4 C Warm Water 4t Salt

4 Cake Yeast 4T Melted Shortening

8T Sugar 7-8 C Flour (or a little more)

Dissolve yeast in water. Mix in the rest. Cut into 4 pieces-Let stand 15-20 minutes. Knead 1-4 minutes. Form 4 loaves. Let stand 30 minutes, then Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Simple Abundance...

I have a whole stack of books on my night stand by my bed just waiting for me to read. This one I got last year from my Mom. I read a few pages here and there last year. But it has an entry each day and I thought I can keep up with that. So here goes...

Today the title was "This isn't a Dress Rehearsal" it talked about how so many times we save our fine china for a special event or we don't get dressed up if we are staying home that day. We hold back like an actress does to concern her energy for opening night when in fact this is it!

She talks about how it does take more effort to set an inviting table, but it enhances our enjoyment of eating.

While I love a good lounge day in my pajamas. I loved reading this!

Love the little moments...

Last night Cole was excited for Family Home Evening. He wanted to learn about the Gold Plates.

So that is what we learned about tonight. I sure love these little moments. I do say moments because our lessons don't last long but hey we are trying. Ha. ha.

I had to snap this pictures right during lesson so I can remember this when I'm old.

Dailey was having her own lesson with Dr. Seuss.

CTR

So now Cole is no longer my little sunbeam. He is now in CTR 4. He has great new teachers and he is way excited about it. In church he got the CTR ring which he thought was pretty cool. But doesn't love wearing.

Well this morning at breakfast he was telling his sister how she was not choosing the right. She was crying and he said you are being grumpy and not choosing the right. He got his ring and told her you need to "CTR Dailey" it was so dang funny.

Lucky Girl!

Warning... I am going to brag about my husband and how I am such a lucky girl because man did I score big when I married him.

I knew I was marrying a great guy. But sometimes I forget or take for granted just how great he is. The other night I was reminded once again.

I needed to make teacher signs for the chairs in primary, since it's the beginning of the new year.

Well I decided I wanted to make them into these little pennant flags.

Silly idea, totally not necessary. A simple piece of paper with the teacher name printed on them would have done the job.

Anyhow. We started the project at 11:30pm and he stayed up with me and helped me glue them together into the flags. Seriously it was late when we went to bed!! I love how he goes along with my silly last minute projects. And he is never grumpy about it. He always helps me with my calling. He is so dang great. Man am I a lucky girl.