My baby shower!

On Saturday my friends, Jennie, Liana, and Lindsey threw me a baby shower. It was really nice. We had yummy waffles and fruit and dip. It was nice to visit with everyone. Thanks so much for a nice shower. Here are some photos from the event.

Las Vegas

The weekend before Thanksgiving we drove out with my parents to Las Vegas. My Grandma, Aunt, Uncle, and cousins all live there from my Dad's side of the family. We had Thanksgiving with them on Saturday a little early. On Sunday we went to see Taylor's roommate from college and his wife. It was fun to catch up with him. On Monday we went to downtown Las Vegas and went to the M&M factory which we thought would be way fun. All it was, was 3 levels of expensive items and candy. They did have a 3-D movie but it wasn't working that day. We proceeded to the Coca-Cola Factory and it was about the same. They did have this thing where you could pay $7 to try 14 different kinds of coke from around the world. We didn't do it because everyone around us said how gross they were and left most of the glasses completely full. We kept walking down the strip with my parents and the kids and we had to keep our eyes straight ahead because there was pictures of undressed women all over the ground. We then decided to go back to our car and my feet were so swollen by the time we got back. Taylor found this free circus act at the Hotel Circus Circus. We got there and waited about 30 minutes and it was pretty cool of the 10 minute show we saw. We tried to make it memorable but I just felt dirty from all the filth we saw and tired from all the walking. But we did have a great time visiting with my family. It is always good to catch up.

New Moon!!

Yesterday was the midnight showing of New Moon. We went down around 2:00 and waited in line until 8:45 and then they let us in the theatre and waited some more until 12:01 p.m. The time went a little slow but not bad. We played some games,chatted with one another, and went and got some dinner. New Moon was so awesome. Jacob!! Oh man was he cute. I can't wait until June to see Eclipse. Here are some pictures of us waiting in line and in the theatre. Excuse my closed eyes in one of the pictures. In every picture someone took my eyes were closed. The movie theatre was so dark and the flash was so bright.

Our train ride to San Diego

Here are some pictures of inside the train. On the back of one of the cars it had a huge glass window to look out with stadium seating. It was really cool. Then their was a total of 3 different cars you could go on. We had a lovely lunch and the train and then everyone just visited. We stayed in a hotel in San Diego that night and had dinner and then the next day had breakfast and headed back on the train to L.A. We had a nice time.

BNSF business trip to L.A. and San Diego

Taylor and I left the kids with my mom and went on a business trip with BNSF Railroad. We drove down to Los Angeles and had a yummy breakfast at the Doubletree Hotel. We then got on a boat and took a tour of the Port of L.A. and Port of Long Beach. It was very interesting to know that all the things we buy at the store come in there and then are shipped onto trucks and then destibuted throught out the U.S. Here are some pictures of us on the boat and of our tour. We then proceeded to the Executive train cars and took a 4 hour train ride to San Diego. It was really nice.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

For dinner on Halloween night we had yummy bread bowls from Panera Bread and then we made different kinds of soup to go in them. My friend gave me this recipe. It was so good.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

4 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
1 onion, chopped (I used minced onion flakes)
2 cups sliced carrots
2 cups chopped celery
3 cups chopped broccoli
1/2 cup butter
3 tbs flour
1 lb. velveeta, cubed
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp pepper
3 chicken boullion cubes

Boil all veggies EXCEPT broccoli in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes. Add broccoli and boil for 10 minutes. Do not drain. In saucepan, melt butter. Add flour. Add milk and cook, stirring constantly until thick(coats back of wooden spoon). Add cheese and other ingredients. Mix until smooth. Add to undrained veggies and heat together but do not boil.

Trunk or Treat party!

On Tuesday night was our Ward Trunk or Treat party. The kids had a fun time. I took a few pictures before we headed out. Callie was Strawberry Shortcake and Preston was Superman. Callie loved her pink hair. She wouldn't stop talking about it and Preston hated his costume. I had to bribe him to make sure he didn't take it off.

Monkey bread

I love to make this for breakfast and made it for Callie's school for a parents meeting. I forgot how good it is. Excuse the picture, it fell apart because I was trying to hurry and didn't let it completely cool.

Monkey Bread

2 Cans refridgerated biscuits (Pillsbury is what I used)
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 stick butter, melted

Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. Mix sugar and cinnamon together and put into ziploc plastic bag. Put biscuit pieces into bag and shake until all are coated. Dump mixutre into a greased bundt pan and pour melted butter over the whole thing. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Let cool and pour onto plate or eat it out of the bundt pan.

Cornbread Cake

I love to eat cornbread with a good bowl of chili. I have done away with my old recipe. My friend gave me this recipe and it is so moist and yummy.

Cornbread Cake

2 cups bisquick mix
3 tbs. cornmeal
3/4 melted butter
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Mix all the wet together and add the dry ingredients. Don't over mix. Pour batter into 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Cut up into squares.

Peanut Butter Cheese Fudge

Yesterday we had Taster's Table where you bring your favorite fall dish. I really wanted to bring fudge but didn't have all the ingredients. I watched this recipe on Paula Dean a long time ago and thought gross. But I had all the ingredients and read the reviews and everyone gave it 5 stars. And surprisingly it is really yummy. You have to give it a try. I am telling you I was very skeptical at first too. It is very moist and has great peanut butter flavor.

Peanut butter cheese fudge
Ingredients
• 1/2 pound sliced easy-melt cheese (recommended: Velveeta)
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 2 (16-ounce) boxes confectioners' sugar
Directions
Lightly spray the bottom of a 9 by 2-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt cheese and butter together, then add peanut butter and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and add vanilla and nuts.
Empty confectioners' sugar into a large bowl and pour cheese mixture over sugar. Stir until completely mixed. Candy will be very stiff.
Using your hands, remove candy from the bowl and press evenly and firmly into the pan. Because of the amount of butter in this recipe, pat top of candy with a paper towel to remove excess oil. Place the pan in refrigerator until candy is firm. To serve, cut into squares.

Bees!! Ahh!!

The middle picture is of Callie's class in the pumpkin patch. The other picture is on the hay ride and of the hive of bees. The bees were terrible the whole time we were there. I was so nervous that the kids would get stung or me and I am allergic. Afterwards we went to eat lunch at a picnic table and we had to leave because they were so many.

Pumpkin Patch Photos

They really enjoyed petting the black cat and chasing it. I am not sure the cat liked it.

Green Spot Farms Pumpkin Patch

Today we went on a field trip to a pumpkin patch. It was fun. The kids really liked it. They gave us a tour of their farm. They learned about bees and how they make honey. They were able to feed goats and walk through a maze. We walked into an actual pumpkin patch and picked out our own pumpkins and then proceeded on a bumpy hay ride. I was able to get some cute pics of the kids. They even found a black cat that followed us all over the farm.

Cheese and green chile quiche

This recipe is from our good friend Kami Wallace. I made it for my friends baby shower and some people wanted the recipe. You don't have to add the bacon or sausage or chilies but it makes all the difference. Sorry, no picture.

6 eggs , slightly beaten
6 oz. evaporated milk(can use regular milk)
2 sm cans chopped green chilies, drained
1/2 pound grated monterey jack cheese
1/2 pound grated cheddar
cooked bacon or sausage
salt and pepper to taste

Mix eggs and milk together, then add chilies and cheese. Add salt and pepper and cooked sausage or bacon. Mix together. Pour into 9 x 13 dish. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Check before 40 min. Every oven is different. You want it slightly browned on top. Insert knife in middle and make sure it comes out clean.

Fresh Strawberry Cake

My sister has a food blog she and some other women from her ward post good recipes they make at luncheons they have or just because. It is called bellavistacooking.blogspot.com. This recipe is from one of my sister's friend. I made it last night and it was so good. Taylor loved it and he is a tough critic.

1 pkg. white cake mix
1/2 c. water
1 pkg. strawberry jello
2 heaping Tbsp. flour
3/4 c. vegetable oil
2 C. fresh strawberries or 1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen strawberries
4 eggs

Mix dry ingredients together. Add water, eggs, oil and berries. Reserving 3 Tablespoons of berries for the icing. Beat 3 min. at moderate speed. Bake in 9 x 13 for 35 min or until done. Do not overbake.

Icing
1/2 C. soft margarine
1 Ib. pkg. powdered sugar
3 Tbsp. thawed strawberries
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Dash of salt.

Beat until smooth. After iced, refrigerate. Does make a lot of frosting.

26 weeks pregnant

I was thinking that I haven't taken any pictures of how pregnant I am getting. Here are a couple pics of me and the growing belly.

Baby Shower!

A couple friends of mine and I threw our friend a Halloween themed baby shower. She is having a girl but wanted to do the Halloween idea. It turned out really cute. We all pulled whatever decorations we had and I bought a few things and the table turned out so cute. Just wanted to show you how it looked. For brunch we had cinnamon rolls, sausage, egg and quiche, fruit and dip, and yummmy muffins. The food was quite tasty.