Happy New Year

What a crazy loud evening with lots of food. We had puppy chow, M&M cream cheese dip, cupcakes, stuffed jalapenos, hot wings, queso, cheesy hot bean dip and sparkling juice.

Dylan B, Dylan and Ryan

Brittany, Cass and Alissa

I walked upstairs because I heard screams and running feet and I found out that they were just filming a scary movie

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Happy New Year

Happy 2012

Preparing for New Year's Eve

We have been preparing for New Year's Eve. Cass and Dylan are inviting two friends each to spend the night so it will be Michael and I and 6 children. YIKES!!!

We made homemade sugar cookies.

My friend Mary gave me some homemade colored sugar and stencils for part of my Christmas gift so we used them to decorate our cookies.

PARTY

My dad gave me a cupcake plunger as a stocking stuffer so I had to try out my new gadget!!

I made homemade cream-filled cupcakes.

We also took a trip here. Don't ask!!!

Then Michael and I decided to have some alone time before the house is filled with loud and crazy kids! We had a nice quiet dinner tonight at Anthony's Restaurant and Lounge.

Well, I have lots of goodies to make tomorrow also. I better go to bed early tonight because I have a feeling tomorrow night will be a late one!

I Love Winter Break

These are the things that I have accomplished in two days.

Made Gnocchi Mac and Cheese last night

Semi organized the pantry

Made crockpot parmesan honey pork roast and mashed potatoes gratin tonight

My friend Stacey went with me and the kids to see WE BOUGHT A ZOO tonight and it was an excellent movie.

This week I have also seen WAR HORSE (great movie), and ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (cute movie). OK, guilty!! I took the kids to see ALVIN and the CHIPMUNKS and it was not all that bad!

I love winter break!!!!!!!

Busy Unpacking Gifts and Redeeming Gift Cards

Well, many of my gifts belong in the kitchen or are food related items. My Mom and Dad got me a cool 9x13 glass Pyrex dish with handles and a lid. I have never seen this before and I was so excited about it but my Mom kept yelling at me "the sides, look at the sides Nicole". Oh, I finally figured it out.

One side says NICOLE

The other side says SWEET TREATS

I loved it so much that I went today to get the 8x8 glass dish. Maybe I should get that one personalized also!!!

Michael got me a 6-quart camp oven. We will have fun trying new recipes while we are camping!

My work friends and office mates will be happy with this years daily recipe calendar.

Cass and I have been busy today redeeming our gift cards. My sister got me a Bed, Bath and Beyond gift card and I bought myself the glass lock containers that I have been wanting but just did not want to spend the money on them. Thanks Sister!!!

Cass got a gift card to Claires from her wonderful dad to get her ears double pierced. (by the way Michael told her there was no way she was getting her ears pierced again) Michael took her out to lunch and then to the mall today. She is very happy!!

Santa left Cass a gift card to design her own Nike shoes and this is what she came up with.

What a busy day so far! I have also taken down all of the Christmas stuff!

Back Home from a Wonderful Christmas!

This year for Christmas we drove to Oklahoma and spent it with my sister and her family and my parents. On our way down we stopped by to say Merry Christmas to Great Granny!

Christmas Eve~ the children thought they heard Santa

Getting excited about Santa

Santa definitely stopped by and left us some goodies!

Dylan got his electric scooter that he had been begging for.

Santa left Cass a gift card to NIKE ID which means she gets to design her own pair of Nike shoes and it will take 4-6 weeks for them to make her shoes just the way she wants them.

Opening stockings

Well, we had a little trash after Christmas!

One big disaster area

Cass and Dylan playing a new game called HEADBANDS.

Cass and Dylan got quite a surprise when they opened together an XBOX 360 and KINECT.

We had a wonderful Christmas! Thanks sister for letting us spend Christmas with you and your family. We took some family pictures which I should get this week and I will post them.

On the way home we stopped in Wichita and Uncle Robert and Aunt Janice took us out to lunch at Doc Greens. Thanks for lunch, it was delicious!

We finally made it home a couple of hours ago and Michael and Dylan started putting Dylan's popcorn machine together.

I hate spiders except for this one. Michael got mom and I each a spider podium for our iPads. I love it!

Cass unpacking her goodies!!

I even had time to run to the store and come home and make roasted garlic chicken pizza.

I forgot to post some recipes so here they are: Lemon blueberry coffee cake

Reeses stuffed oreos

Here is a list of other recipes I have tried in the last few weeks that I have enjoyed and I hope you enjoy them also:

1. Peppermint Patty Brownie Cups

2. Pot Roast Stroganoff

3. Macaroni and Cheese Lasagna

4. Million Dollar Spaghetti

5. Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes

Winter BBQ

My lovely friends Katie and Ann S. planned a winter BBQ at my house. Katie wanted to see her old friends from work so they thought a winter BBQ was a good idea. Michael smoked ribs and brisket and everyone else brought goodies to go along with the delicious meat.

I miss you Katie!! I am so glad we could see each other while you are home from Chicago!!