Get Outside!

We've had several nice days of warmer weather. It's so nice to be able to get out and run some energy out of the kiddos :)! The first group of pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago (before that wonderful ice storm hit).

Zane LOVES for Jared to push him on the swing. It goes out over this little hill so you're pretty far off the ground when you swing out. I like to swing on it, too ;).Lyddie enjoys a more peaceful ride. She doesn't like to go very high!!

Ice Storm=No Power!!

I have a whole new appreciation for electricity. We were without it from Tuesday until Tuesday. ONE WEEK! We have a small generator that powered our refrigerator, a TV (no cable but we got one channel thanks to Jared's rabbit ears and watched DVD's), a lamp, and one other item of our choice :). We were fortunate (blessed) enough to have two gas fireplaces so our house stayed warm (after closing off certain areas). We have an electric water heater so we bummed showers and baths from our sweet family and friends. I was told on Monday that we'd probably be out of power for another couple of weeks (I smiled and laughed about learning to take cold showers but then cried as I drove away!) so when our power came on the next day we were pleasantly surprised. We were very fortunate though. We didn't have any damage from fallen trees and we stayed WARM. After driving through town, I decided I'd rather not have power for a few extra days than have to deal with all of the mess. My parents have an insurance office so I've heard a lot of sad stories. Lyddie helped Daddy drag the generator thru to the back porch (which he moved to the yard).

We have two futon mattresses that we put in the family room by the fireplace. After a couple of days Jared and I moved to our room. The boys LOVED "camping out".

I wanted to make taco soup but needed to brown the hamburger meat. Jared had gone to get gas so when all else fails...read the instructions! I lit a propane burner with no help :). Bring on the woods. (I've camped but Jared always takes care of EVERYTHING) I put everything in the crock pot and it was good!!

While trying to figure out the burner I left Lyddie with a cup of yogurt :).

I love this picture of Harrison sitting on Jared's back watching tv.

Passing the time...it was actually REALLY good for us. The boys were AWESOME! They played together (with minimal fighting) and used their imaginations like they haven't in a long time. We are really going to cut down on tv and video game time!!

Jared's parents had a LOT of tree limbs down. We went over on Saturday and helped them.

Dinner AND a Show!

Last weekend we went to dinner with Aaron and Carrie. When Aaron was eating his salmon one of the bones got stuck in a pit in his TONSIL! It was really bothering him and he just couldn't get his mind off of it (I can't imagine why!) so Jared told him he would pull it out. He got out one of his hemostats (you just never know when those are going to come in handy), Carrie held the flashlight, and I took pictures. I could see that this was a blog post in the making :)!
This picture does not do that bone justice. It was big!

Better Late Than Never.....

I can't believe that I'm even going to post these pictures SO late. I may have my blog printed into a book (eventually) and I can't leave out CHRISTMAS! My parents came over the Monday before Christmas and we opened presents with them (the kids got a Wii!). We had our big annual Christmas Eve party at my parents house (with the ENTIRE family-around 30 people). It's always so much fun. We let the boys open one present when they got home before they went to bed. We woke up and Santa had come to see us!! The kids played with their Santa gifts and stockings. We got ready and went to Jared's parents house for lunch and stockings (and the kids had a gift exchange and the adults played Dirty Santa). We went home, had dinner, and opened OUR gifts. We enjoyed that part SO much. It was SO laid back and we weren't rushed. The kids played with every gift as they opened it. We weren't able to plan a time until the next week to open gifts with Jared's parents. It was fun to have Christmas last a little longer though :). This is a very abbreviated post but I just don't want to forget what we did!!

Every Christmas morning we put the camera on the couch and set the timer so that we can get a family picture. Never great but I love them!! Oh, and we usually do a silly one!

Notice the names on the package. It's become another one of our traditions (started by Jared) to make the gift from someone funny. I forgot on the first few and Jared had to go back and change them!!

On Christmas Eve, Lydia brought gifts to Jared one by one. I don't know how she carried some of them. She was very determined. We had to put them all back under the tree when she went to bed but it was too cute to watch.

Harrison on Christmas morning. I didn't get a good one of the rest of the crew.

Harrison hanging the stockings back up after we had emptied them.

Christmas night at our house. I don't think they've ever had so much fun opening gifts. They took their time and watched each other.

H got a remote control like Zane.

"You'll shoot your eye out!" I love this picture!!

Zane got a marshmallow gun. This is my mom with Lydia and my nephew Carter. I wish that I would've gotten a picture of them standing together. I just love this shirt!My niece Lexie got a Coach purse for Christmas. Lydia loved carrying it around and cried when I took it away. We're going to be in trouble. This girl has good taste!Harrison and my nephew Jacob. They are BEST friends. It's the sweetest friendship!!! Lyddie texting her friends!Harrison obviously loved the scooter that Mema and PaPa got him.Zane got an automatic air soft gun. He was equally excited (if not more so). I just didn't catch it in the picture.

French Dip Sandwiches

I LOVE finding quick and easy recipes. I found one that I had to pass along. I've noticed on a lot of blogs that I read someone will post a recipe occasionally and I love that! I'd rather make something that someone recommends than digging thru a cookbook or online.

French Dip Sandwiches
Roast (I usually get chuck tender and it's around 3 pounds but I think anything will work)
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 envelope of onion soup mix (I use Lipton)

I trim as much fat off of the roast as I can so that the au jus isn't greasy. Put the roast in the bottom of a crock pot. Mix the soy sauce and dry onion soup together and pour over the roast. Add enough water to just cover the roast. Cook on low for around 10-12 hours. The recipe said to cook for 24 hours but I only cooked it around 12 and it was done. If it's not done in time for dinner tonight I'll update this and let you know that it needs longer :)!
Take the roast out and slice it (it really just falls apart). I put it on white hoagie bread with provolone cheese and stick it in the toaster over for a few minutes. Use the juice in the crock pot for dipping. It is SO easy and SO good. Zane ate it 3 days in a row and Jared said feel free to make it once a week :).

Random December Pics!

Here are a few cute pictures that I came across as I was looking through our Christmas pictures (those will be posted on ANOTHER day!)

You can't leave this girl alone!

Jared bought this really nice Nativity scene but we didn't have time to figure out a good stable outside so we left it next to the tree. I was walking thru one night and saw that the boys had added their own touches!
"And Mama in her kerchief, and I in my cap..."
"Ok, I'm a little nervous but I think I can do this."

You know I like this one to post such a scary one of myself!! :)

Rock Band....

it's THAT serious!!(click the pic!)