Orange-a-licious!!!!!

I've unknowingly been on an "orange kick" recently. I was unloading groceries from my recent store run and noticed alot of the same colors popping out of the plastic sacks. I bunched them all together and realized that I have a fettish for orange.

I didn't know this about myself!!!!

This is my new favorite room spray.

Wanna know a secret? I've been spraying it on me........ on purpose....... (shhhhhh)....... as a perfume!!!!

I'm so afraid someone will ask what scent I'm wearing. I'd have to admit that it's Wal-mart brand Cranberry Mandarin Odor-Neutralizing ROOM SPRAY.

Please don't tell.

I also bought something else with an orange package.

It's to make this......... Reese's Brownies

If you know what is good for you, you will not click on that link.

WARNING..... WARNING..... WARNING!!!!!!

No fears..... I will not partake. :(

Through The Eyes of Gracie

Yesterday didn't start off so well.

I was doing my "normal" morning ritual. Pry my backside out of bed. STRETCH!!!!!!!!! Let the dog out to potty. Then go herd the monkeys out of their cozy beds. Ryan and Ian are usually first. (although I never have to wake Ian up, he gets up with the roosters. He is usually dressed and reading when I go upstairs.) Then I make a right hand turn to Gracie's room. When I said, "rise and shine". She said, "My tummy hurts mom". I embarrassingly mistook this for, I don't want to go to school. Boy did I learn my lesson quickly when she ran to the bathroom vomiting! Eeekk!!! Needless to say, Gracie got to stay home.

Normally when one of the kids are sick, it's a snuggle day. However, I am knee-deep into a painting project in Ian's room. So, she took in a lot of TV time yesterday. I feel so guilty about that.

Anywhoo, after 12:00 p.m. she started feeling much better and was bored out of her mind. So I gave her my camera and said "snap away". (Her only rule was, no mommy pictures. No make-up, black paint in the hair, not pretty!!!)

I think for 8 years old, she did a fab job. All the photos below are Gracie's. She would love for you to comment below and tell her how wonderful she did.

Gus standing at the back door. This usually means, "I need to potty".

These are crosses hanging on the wall in the hall bathroom. Gracie said she liked their design. (gasp........ she IS my child!!!!!)

Our deck. Or what used to be our deck!

Yes, this is pretty Gracie!!!

Her Waterford crystal horse that Aunt AltaLou gave her.

A pretty rock. Notice that she balanced the rock in one hand and the bulky camera in the other. Very impressive!!!!

Congo Bongo laying on my Bible bag.

This maybe my favorite photo of all. Not because it's the best photograph that she took, but because she staged it. She came into my room and asked to borrow my phone. When I asked why she said because it would look good next to the flower. By golly, Gracie, it does. What an eye for details, I must say.......

I hope that you enjoy my budding artist. I'm off to the dentist today. Hopefully he'll fix the achy tooth I've tolerated for months.

blog candy

Please send help........I am being tortured!

Would you consider sugar on your toast to be "a sweet"?

How about a chocolate protein bar?

(Even if the protein bar tastes like this......)

Or a hot mocha from McDonalds?

MY FAMILY DOES!!!!

They are relentless!!!

Not only am I having exceeding caffeine withdrawls, my taste buds have kicked into full gear for a bowl of mint chocolate ice cream. Honestly at this point, I would settle for a handful of jellybeans..... gum balls...... cherry sours...... sweet tarts..... (sobbing uncontrollably)

Because the monkeys are home from school and the considerable snow fall yesterday, we have no groceries. It's hard to find something palatable when you have no milk, eggs, or bread. Then to top it off, you cannot have pop or ANYTHING SWEET!

Why-oh-why do I do this to myself?

I'm holding strong though. I haven't let ANYTHING touch my lips that might be considered sugary, candied, and dare I say... delicious!!!

Would you like the recipe for this? I KNOW you do!!! Because I'm nice and I love you, I will share. However.... if you make it and bring it to my house, I may have to poke your eyes out!!!

Peach Crunch Cake

24.5 oz jar of sliced peaches in light syrup (throw it all in, including the syrup)

1 package yellow cake mix

1 stick butter (1/2 cup), cut into small pieces

1 cup brown sugar (because it isn't sweet enough)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (because you aren't nutty enough)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Layer ingredients in a 9 X 13" dish, in order starting with the peaches.

Bake for about 40 minutes. Easy Peasy!!!

Serve warm or cold... with or without ice cream. But really, won't the ice cream taste divine?

This is a version of a DUMP CAKE. My mom called it that when we were kids. Seriously, who would name a cake "DUMP CAKE".

Come on kids, here's the DUMP CAKE!!!!!!

We will call this cake.... "Peach Crunch Cake"

My inner child MADE me add this picture!

My crafty side made me add this one. (they are chocolate buttons) You can find them here.

all my photos came from HERE. My new favorite cooking website.

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

It's the most BEE-U-TIFUL snowgirl I have ever seen!!!!!

Rhino is up to something!!! Hopefully he isn't eating yellow snowballs!!!!

This is the 246th snow of Winter 09-10.

Slight exaggeration!!!

It snowed and snowed and snowed yesterday!!!!! I was beginning to think that we needed to build an ark. Oh wait, that was rain!!! Nevermind!!! The fact is I haven't seen this much snow since........ maybe EVER!!!!! Gus has that "help me Jesus" look!!!!!

Ian decided to make the most of it and shoot some snowballs. Say that five times fast!!!!!

I WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THIS IS PRETTY!!!!!!!

My husband is increasing his tractor search now since ours got stuck numerous times in the snow!!!! I've always teased Rick....... bigger/better/faster.

I cannot wait to take pictures of blooming flowers from this angle in the Spring. Melt snow, melt!!!!!!

Remember the movie "The Incredible Journey". For some reason this photo reminds me of that.

This is how Gus gets around in the deep snow. It comes mid-tummy to him. Imagine for a moment how you would get around in snow that came to the middle of YOUR tummy. My heart went out to him. We (my children) scooped a path for him so he could potty.

Imagine again what it would be like to try to potty in snow that came to the middle of YOUR tummy. Not pretty!!!!

Ian and Gracie decided to make another snowman. We have made more snowmen this Winter than the last 10 combined.

Such cuteness!

Again, such cuteness!!!!!

I took a little walk. I probably burned 1,000,000 calories. Between the chin-deep snow and the 40 pound boots I had on.

This is the path to our bottom ground! I was hoping to find a group of deer or turkey.

Instead I found our dog who is the size of a deer.

This is a creek that runs through our property.

No Love Like Gnome Love

Good day friends,

I just sent my monkeys to school. The house is quiet.......

That's good.

Cause I have a roaring headache!!!!

It feels a little like this.........

I have absolutely nothing interesting to share with you today. So I'm going to keep it short, simple and maybe a little random. Random means off the wall/crazy/anything!!! (note: that is my definition, not Webster's) So here goes.........

I LOVE GNOMES!!!!!!

All sizes, shapes, ages, and colors. They make me happy when I look at them. They make me wonder what they do at night when everyone is sleeping.

Do they hide the mates to my socks?

Do they spill water on the floor?

Do they leave the lid up on the toilet?

These are a few from my NEW collection. I cannot resist them. They make me happy.

My heart is yearning for weather that produces this loveliness.

Tootles!!!!

Not the lint out of the dryer......LENT!!!!

Today is the beginning of Lent. You know, the 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays). These 40 days represent the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. During that time He was tempted by Satan and stayed faithful to God. I have never in my life observed Lent.

I don't necessarily have an aversion to it. It just wasn't a custom that my family held to growing up. Frankly, until recently, I didn't understand a lick of it. I didn't understand how "giving up" something could add to your faith.

So, I've done some research. The Catholics require that anyone over the age of 18 and under the age of 60 abstain from meat. (unless God tells me personally to do that, it aint happening) But I would like to fast from something that could potentially bring me closer to God.

For example: Let's say I give up reading gossip magazines. Every time that I am tempted to read one, I focus on God. I draw strength from Him to not read the latest on Brad and Angie. That, my friends, is becoming more Christ-like.

So I say......... "God bless it!"

In case you're wondering, I have given up my subscription to People magazine. However, I decided to do that before Lent. So in good conscience, I cannot choose that to be my "thang".

Instead, I am choosing...... (drum roll............)

To give up any carbonated beverage. Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Diet Dr. Pepper, (oh, my heart is hurting) Diet Mountain Dew.

If you know me at all, you will understand the enormous sacrifice this is. The Lord and I will surely be BFF's after this is over.

So if you read this, please hold me accountable. If I crack the top to a can of caramel deliciousness, TAKE IT OUT OF MY HANDS!!!!! I may slap you........ I may curse you........ I may make horrific facial expressions, but please, TAKE IT!!!!!

My children have also willingly decided to participate. I am letting them choose whatever they would like. None of them have made a solid decision except Gracie. She says she will give up sweets.

So, in honor of my daughter's hardship, I will also give up sweets. Yes, you heard me!!!!!

NO POP....... NO SWEETS. FOR 40 DAYS!!!!!

(I just passed out)

(retraction: Since I wrote this, Gracie has slightly changed her mind. She said that she will only give up chocolate. Her reasoning was this...... "Mom, if I give up all sweets, then I won't be able to eat the lollipop that you gave me for Valentine's Day.")

If her and I make it through this, we are having one MAJOR chocolate and pop fest on Easter day!!!!! You will ALL be invited!!!

Baby feet

As I promised you, Gus eating his treat........

You must wonder if I'm running out of things to say?

No, not really. I always have lots to say. It's just that I thought Gus eating his treat would be more eventful.

It wasn't.

Sorry folks.

But I do have something to share that IS eventful.......... MORE TITUS PICTURES!!!!!!

It's so nice having a baby again in the family. Here are a few pictures of Titus from our recent trip to his house.

Gracie is a wonderful baby holder. She is gentle and sings lullaby's.

Ryan is also a super baby holder. However he isn't so keen on bottle feeding. Look at Ryan's hands compared to Titus'. Oh my!!!

I have great pictures of Ian with him but I cannot figure out how to get them off my phone. I will work on that.

His legs are so tiny. Well, everything about him is tiny. I was trying to do a wanna-be photography session with him. Titus had other ideas though.

He was hungry.

He wanted us to know that he was hungry.

So instead of baby bums, I took pictures of baby feet. The next best thing!!!!

ahhh! So precious!!!!