The Raspberry Patch

I haven't really wanted to can any vegetables or fruit this year because of all the work that goes into it, but last night at an Enrichment, after having yummy homemade bread, topped with delicious freezer jam, I decided I could do it! Morgan didn't have school today, so I was trying to think of something fun we could do. My friend last night had told me about a raspberry patch about 5 minutes from our house where they let you pick your own fruit. So, this morning I called my friend Nicole & we were on our way. I told the kids we got to be kind of like Strawberry Shortcake and go and pick berries. They had a blast! Hallie was so funny! She started picking the berries, and they immediatly went to her mouth. We soon worked out a good system. I would pick and hold the berries in my hand, she would then "softly" take them out of my hand to put in the bucket (which she would not let go of) :) The raspberries were starting to slowly grow in our bucket. Morgan & Jackson loved having their own little buckets and filled them up really quick. We all had such a fun time and I decided to make this a yearly tradition. It was fun, a great price, and delicious! Morgan said her favorite part was picking the berries. Hallie's was eating them, and Jackson's favorite part was feeding the reindeer an apple. (yes, actual reindeer... I think ) :) In the picture with the 3 of them, they were too busy watching the deer, and then they noticed the cows so they started saying "MOOOOO." I love that Hallie is laughing while Morgan & Jackson are yelling "MOOOOO." After our berry picking we went to the store to get some ingredients for the freezer jam. Morgan & Jackson were such a big help mixing up the berries. Morgan wanted to keep her bucket of berries and the sweet lady, Joyce, got Morgan her own little container to take home. Morgan immediatly hid them in the back of the fridge so no one (especially me) would eat them. I love fall! I am so excited to start this new tradition. It was a great day in the berry patch and now we have yummy freezer jam & fresh raspberries for raspberry shakes tonight. Mmmmmm. :)

Sisterly Love

I loved having sisters growing up, and even though we didn't always get along, I loved watching movies with them, doing their hair, staying up late talking, & everything else that sisters do. Every girl needs a sister. I love seeing Morgan & Hallie's love for each other & the good sisters that they are. Today my friend dropped Morgan off after school. When I opened the door, Hallie was pleasantly surprised to see Morgan standing there. She ran to her and Morgan scooped her up. Hallie then wrapped her arms around Morgan's neck and laid her head on her shoulder. It was the cutest thing! Sometimes Hallie hates being carried around by Morgan, but Morgan is such a good big sister, and does such a good job at being Hallie's friend & taking care of her. The other day when Morgan came home from school they were both sitting at the little table eating a snack and they had their arms wrapped around each other. Morgan said, "Look Mom, we're friends!" I love my girls so much!
And, she's ready to be put down. :)

This is what happens when you fight a toddler all morning to go down for a nap. In the 2nd picture, Morgan & Jackson had just walked in & this was the sweet face she gave them... "who disturbs my slumber?" :)

Favorite way to take a bath & digital scrapbooking

The other night I had told the kids if they were really good during the day they could take a bubble bath in their swimsuits. (their favorite way to take a bath) They were so excited all day & actually really good. We put Jackson's Spiderman bubbles in and the kids climbed in as fast as they could. For some reason Brian didn't want to join them even though he was invited. :) I'm not exactly sure what Jackson is doing in this picture. He said he was being funny. :)
Hallie loved being in the bath. She gets so excited for any bath, but especially this one with bubbles.
Jackson once again acting funny. :)
On Sunday after church Jackson decided to dress up in Daddy's clothes and shoes. What a handsome kid. :)

What I've been up to with digital scrapbooking.

I started digital designing back in February, and I LOVE it! My only problem now though, is instead of catching up on scrapbooking, I'm designing instead. :) This is my newest kit though for fall. Morgan LOVES rainbows right now and is constantly drawing them everywhere. To Morgan and Jackson, everything in the world is so beautiful and they don't focus on stresses or the evil of the world, so I did this kit after the song "What a Wonderful World" for them. For those of you who are interested in digital scrapbooking, but don't even now where to start, I highly recommend the software program " Memory Mixer 3" it is amazing and SOOOO user friendly!!!! It was just rated number 1 for the best digital scrapbooking software too. The nice thing with the program is all the things you can do to create scrapbook pages, and you can also do movies/slide shows using your scrapbook pages you make (great Christmas idea) I love it! Oh, and it also includes hundreds of papers, embellishments, etc too. Seriously, it is the best program. Now for my exciting news... I am one of their designers! Yay! :) I applied a month ago, but consider their designers amazing and wasn't sure how my designs would compare. A girl e-mailed me back and told me they would love to have me as part of their team. I have thought so highly of their program & company, and am so excited about being a designer there. Oh and another cool part, the program is extremely affordable! If you live close to a Roberts, you can use a 50% off coupon and get it for around $45.00 or I saw a similar price on QVC. Anyway, you can see more of my designs at http://www.memorymixer.com/ and http://www.iscrapbook.com/ Oh and of course since I love you all you can have this kit for free (but don't tell anyone) :) just leave a comment with your e-mail address, and I'll send you the link for the download. Now I just have to find a balance between this and the rest of my life. :)

I am a Builder--- Primary Activity

Yesterday our ward had a construction Primary activity. This year we have been focusing on building stronger families. We were so excited to have these fun aprons that Home Depot donated to us. The kids loved them. We had the yellow construction hats for the leaders that my kids had to try on before the activity started. I'm not sure what look Jackson is giving. Hallie wanted to join Morgan & Jackson so we gave her an apron too. :)
Morgan wanted to pose for a picture all by herself.
Here are my sweet & amazing counselors! They do so much for me, and I couldn't have done it yesterday with out their help. They have so many good ideas & I know I can always count on them. My mind has been so spacey (?) lately, and they are always helping me remember things without feeling to dumb. :) I love each of them and I am so grateful for all they do.
We had around 55 kids come yesterday! They were all such little sweethearts, and so well behaved. When they first came they all came in the gym so I could talk to them about building. I even got to somehow strap Brian's HUGE tool belt around my belly. It was kind of nice though because it helped balance my body out. Instead of weight just in the front I had it on both sides. :) We sang "I am a builder" which is the cutest song about building families. Then they each split up into different groups with their building permits. In one room they went on a family scavenger hunt. In another room they learned about the sealing power of the temple and got to eat rice krispie treats, in another room they got to meet with Captain Moroni, who even happend to give them autographs. :) They talked about the importance of families and how they would defend their families, and then in the last room, they had a family relay race where the dad had to build using boxes, the mom had to make toast and eat it, the brother had to build a tower with blocks, the sister had to paint her fingernails (which Morgan was so excited about) and the baby had to drink a bottle and crawl across the floor. The whole activity was so fun! At the end we gathered the kids together and I told them that anyone who wanted to could come and be in a picture. I was shocked when all of the kids came over for the picture. We then sang the builders song again and we could all feel the spirit as these sweet children sang about strengthening their families. I feel so blessed to serve them in Primary. They are all such good kid & make primary & life enjoyable.

The best Peanut Butter Bars

Brian & I met 8 years ago this past Wednesday. It feels like I have known him longer than that, and our journey together so far has been one exciting roller coaster. We have had ups and downs, but have both been strengthened individually as well as a couple. I am so grateful for him. He has served me so much this week & even stayed home a little longer in the morning the other day to help take care of the kids so I could sleep. I have felt overwhelmed & tired this week with all that I feel I need to do, and Brian has been a huge support & help. The other night he even went and got shakes for us (our first date) to celebrate being together for 8 years. So today I decided to make him is favorite peanut butter bars. These are the BEST peanut butter bars. I got the recipe from a friend in my ward, but Brian adjusted the frosting a little bit so it's perfect. Here ya go...
Oh, and they are VERY addicting. Even my Grandma who hardly ever eats sugar can't resist these. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Bars
1 Cup Soft margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups oatmeal (to make it somewhat healthy so you don't feel guilty) :)
2 cups flour

Beat margarine, sugars, eggs, & peanut butter, then add vanilla, soda, salt, flour, & oatmeal, and beat.
Spread onto a greased 10 x 15 cookie sheet
Pat out with wet fingers
Bake at 350* for 15 minutes
Cool for 15 minutes, then spread a thin layer of whipped peanut butter on top and let cool completly.


Frosting:
1 cube butter or margarine
1/3 cup milk
3 Tbs. cocoa
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. powdered sugar

Mix all together (except powdered sugar), put in microwave for 30 seconds, stir, put back in microwave for 20-30 seconds more and blend. Add powdered sugar and blend again. Spread on top of cooled peanut butter bars and Enjoy!


***This is also a shout out to my best friend Melanie who's birthday is tomorrow. I know she would love these, and I would love to send them to her, but somehow I think they would get to her in one goopy mess of chocolate, peanut butter, and oatmeal. So instead she gets the lovely picture & the recipe. :)

Jackson's 1st day of Pre School

Jackson is going to the same Pre School that Morgan went to last year, and he has been really excited to start school like Morgan. He got his big backpack all ready, and even wanted to do some homework. When I dropped him off, I carried him in since his leg is still sore & he sat down and played for a little bit before the class started. I'm excited for the fun things he'll learn, and for the kids he'll meet. All of the little kids at the school looked cute, but in my mind, Jackson is the CUTEST boy ever! He is going to have such a fun year.
I left after taking this picture and quickly thought, "wow, he's old enough to be in pre-school" I can't believe my 2 oldest are in school. I'm excited for all that they will get to do this year, and at the same time... I GET "ME" TIME! Yay!!!! On Tuesdays & Thursdays Morgan and Jackson will both be in school from around 8:45-11:05 which means I get 2 hours with just Hallie, and I'm training Hallie to take her nap at that time. I was trying to decided what I should do today, as my first day with only one at home. Here were my thoughts.... "I should go back to bed & sleep (since I have been sleeping so terrible at night)," "I should lay in bed and watch a chick flick with a big bowl of ice cream (and not feel guilty at all)" :) or "maybe I should take a nice warm bubble bath & watch a movie, while eating icecream," or "maybe I should work on my secret Christmas presents since the kids aren't home." So, what do you think I did? As much as I wanted to return to my nice warm bed, (which kept saying, "Melissa, come and lay down, just close your eyes for a minute,") or go to my nice bath tub and watch a fun movie, I figured I would use the time wisely and get something done. I'm so glad I did because I got a lot done, and now instead of feeling stressed about my Christmas project, I feel excited. So maybe next week I'll be sleeping or relaxing, but for now... my motto is "I am the energizing bunny... must keep going" :)

After my 2 hours of projects, I went and picked Morgan up and then Jackson. Jackson gave me a big hug when he saw me and laid his head on my shoulder. I asked him if he had fun and he said yes. Then I put him in the car and he laid his head down like this. I could tell he was so tired. Who knew Pre-School could be so exhausting.

The Cast is Off!

Yay... the cast is FINALLY off!!!! I'm not sure who is more excited- Jackson or me. I think Jackson was excited because now he can run, play, swim, go to the bathroom by himself, wear pants without having them stuck to his leg, being able to take his pants & pajamas off without having to fight the cast, WALKING, wearing his new running shoes so he can run again, being active, and did I mention WALKING, which means, not having to be carried by Mom or Dad anymore. (as you can tell, these reasons are for both of us) :) Jackson was anxious to get his cast off and did great while the guy cut it off with a special saw & then cut the material inside. Jackson didn't cry at all & just said that it tickled. As you can tell in the picture, Jackson wore right through the bottom & heel of the cast. We are definatly ready for it to be off.

Yay it's off! Look at that cute leg, and it wasn't as dirty as I thought it would be. We went home & Brian gave Jackson a nice warm bath, and hopefully in a couple of days Jackson will be running around again. Right now his leg is so sensitive from being in one position for the last 5 1/2 weeks that it hurts to move it, or put pressure on it. Each day gets better & he's able to move around more. He has been so patient while it has been on, & has been such a little sweetheart. Hopefully no more breaks for a while.

Will you be my friend?

Morgan is LOVING kindergarten!!! After that first little cry the first day, she has loved it. She loves her teacher & the responsibility of going to school. She comes home so happy every day, and always has a positive & happy attitude now... the sassy little girl hasn't visited our house for the last week & a half... (I'm sure she'll come around soon) :) I was kind of nervous to have her in morning kindergarten, but it is actually working really well with all 3 kids. We are all dressed and ready for the day by 8:00 and it's really nice to have a fresh start each day. My favorite thing right now is saying a prayer in the living room with the kids before we get in the van to go. I feel like it is the best thing we can do before we start the day and Morgan leaves, and it helps me be a little more calm. :) Morgan loves everything about school right now. The 2nd day of school she came home and said, "Mom, at recess, a girl asked me if I wanted to be her friend!" I asked her what she said, and she said, "I said yes!" The next day the same thing happened. She was so excited. Yesterday she came home and said, "Guess what Mom! McKenzie is my friend now!" "She is?" I said, how is she your friend? Morgan than said to me, "I just made her my friend." "How did you do that?" I asked Morgan replied, "I said will you be my friend, and she said yes!" Wouldn't it be nice if it was just as easy now as it is when your in kindergarten. You know? You see someone you like or that looks like they would be a great friend and instead of waiting to find out more about them, you just go to them and say, "Will you be my friend?" What are we so afraid of? Brian said that if someone said that to him, he would think they were a little off. :) When I told Kaylie (who is a junior in highschool) about Morgan and her friends, Kaylie wished it was that easy in highschool, especially now that she is going to a new highschool where 3 different cities have combined. Anyway, I love that Morgan is in school. When she gets out of the car she goes and gives Hallie a hug, Jackson a hug, and then me a hug and tells us all goodbye. She then runs into the school and turns back to wave. I LOVE HER!

Jackson has been COMPLETLY bored with Morgan gone. Usually I work on the computer while Hallie sleeps and Morgan is at school, but the poor kid will come and lay on the floor in the computer room looking bored out of his mind. The only thing he wants to do is watch a movie, or play PBS kids on the internet, so I try to be creative. Thankfully Pre-School starts next week, and he gets his cast off on Tuesday! Yay!!!!! I wonder what it will be like to carry him around with 20 pounds less. :)

And Miss Hallie Belle... the girl is full of it! She too loves to pose! Her favorite thing to do right now is brush her teeth, but not just at morning at night, she brushes her teeth at least 10 times a day--I am not kidding! She is constantly finding any toothbrush in the bathroom drawer, she grabs it, along with the toothpaste and comes and says, "Teeth" to me and waits for me to put some toothpaste on whichever toothbrush she has chosen at the time. We always try to close the bathroom door, and she still manages to find a random toothbrush. At least it's a good habit to start, and her breath always smells minty. :)

A few of his favorite things...

How can you not help but LOVE & SMILE at this kid! Like I've said, "He's full of personality!"
I went to the store the other night and got a new backpack for him for Pre-School. When I showed him yesterday morning, the backpack didn't leave his side, and went everywhere with him. At one point in car, I looked back to see the backpack sitting right next to him, and the nice mask (which goes along with a costume on it's way to DI) on his head as he was rocking out to his favorite song "The Boys are Back" I couldn't help but smile. :) Hallie had a doctors appointment and afterwards we went to a kids store where they sell 2nd hand clothes at a great price. I found this shirt for Jackson for fall, and as soon as I showed him in the car he wanted to wear it. I told him he could wear it tomorrow, So today, this is how Jackson dressed. I love the way this 4 year old thinks, and all the things that are so important to him. :) Doesn't he kind of look like a safety kid. ha ha ha :)
Brian said that a picture like this is what his wife will love when he's married. :) He makes us laugh so hard & is such a sweet little guy.
Now for one of my favorite things. With my other pregnancies I have really only craved Mexican food, at least with the girls anyway, with Morgan I craved one thing that entire pregnancy and that was rice krispie treats. I wanted the real Kelloggs brand of rice krispies, and the jet puffed marshmellows. I remember it was around 8:30 at night when I had this sudden craving, so Brian went to the store for me, and I ate the WHOLE PAN that night. Thankfully that was the only craving I had, and the only time I made rice krispie treats during the pregnancy. Now with this pregnancy, I want to eat anything. Last night after we finsihed dinner, I told Brian I felt that the baby had just eaten, and now I wanted to eat, as I still felt hungry. (No, I didn't eat, thankfully, or I would have been up with heartburn all night) With this pregnancy, I have craved sweets, but especially CINNAMON ROLLS!!! I don't know why, because I have usually never liked them, and I also like drinking milk now, and I have always hated milk... weird I know. :)
So after many different kinds of cinnamon rolls, I have come up with the perfect recipe from 3 or 4 different recipes. Here it is, and the pictures don't do it justice to the warm & yummy treat. I just have to be careful to not eat the whole pan. :)
Melissa's Cinnamon Rolls
2 1/4 cups hot water
1/2 cup oil
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 eggs (I only do half of the recipe so I don't have the option of eating 48 cinnamon rolls.) :) (So if you double it, use 3 eggs)
1/2 Tbs. salt
1 1/2 Tbs. yeast
about 5 1/2 -6 cups of flour

*Mix everything together, but yeast. Add a little flour (about 1 1/2 cups) to cool water, then add yeast. Add flour until it scrapes off bowl. (about 5 cups) Beat for 5-10 minutes. Place in oiled bowl. Let rise 30 minutes. Divide in 1/2; roll each half as individual rectangle. Roll 1/2 inch thick. Put sugar, cinnamon & butter on dough.

Melt 1/3 cup butter so it's soft and then evenly spread on rectangles.
Combine 1 cup packed brown sugar with 2 1/2 Tbs. cinnamon, then evenly spread on top of butter

Roll up like a jelly roll and cut & place on large cookie sheet. Let rise 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Bake at 375* until light golden brown, about 15 minutes. makes 2 dozen.

Icing.
8 T. butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup cream cheese (2 oz)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt
little milk
little more powdered sugar to your taste and consistentcy

These rolls are DELICIOUS! They are big and soft, and oh so yummy! Enjoy!