Yummy

I just made the yummiest

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

All that you need is one Betty Crocker Brownie Mix and one Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie mix. Follow the directions on the box for making the brownies and pour into a greased 13 X 9 pan. Make the cookie mix as directed on the pouch and drop by rounded tablespoons into the brownie batter. You'll want to press the dough down lightly. Bake for 35-40 minutes in a 350 degree preheated oven. When they're done, take them out and let them cool completely. For about an hour. Once cooled frost with the Chocolate Ganache.

Chocolate Ganache
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
6 Tbsp butter

• In a small saucepan, heat cream and butter until just before the boiling stage.
• Pour over the chocolate morsels.
• Let stand about 20 seconds and stir until smooth.
• Pour over brownies and let set before cutting.

This might not be anything new for a lot of you, but we all really enjoyed it. So if you haven't tried it you definitely need to give it a try. Just thought I would share a sweet treat.

Happy Birthday Brookie

Where has the time gone...

4 years old

5 years old6 years old7 years old8 years old9 years old10 years old11 years old

Where do I begin. I love this little girl more than anything. She has been such a dream daughter. Everyone should have a chance to raise a daughter like Brooke and I count my blessings everyday that I was given this privilege.

Brooke has always been very mature for her age. I have never had to worry about her behavior, grades, or friends. She has always been a straight A student who thinks of every ones needs before her own. She has been such a great example not only to her brothers, but also her parents.

Some of Brooke's favorite things right now:
Sports: soccer, basketball, flag football, and tether ball
Activities: art, computer, music, games, reading, and friends
Food: baked potatoes, steak, and anything sweet

For her birthday Brooke got an ipod. She has been asking for one for a while so she was very excited. She also got some scrapbook stuff, clothes, books, and some new cooking supplies. She is always so grateful that it is very easy to spoil her well as much as we can.

Cute Boys

I had to get my camera out today. Now I am like most everyone who has a hectic schedule and there is not not much down time. Don't get me wrong I love my crazy busy life filled with kids, school, and sports. So when there is a little quiet time I love it especially when everyone is happy. Spencer and Tyler are great big brothers to Jake. I know there are many times that he drives them crazy, but they are very patient. Jake loves to spend every waking minute with them. He wants to be big enough to do everything they do. He looks up to them so much and I love the examples they are for him.

Star of the Week

Most kindergarten classes have a star of the week and of course Tyler's class is no different. This was his week to be recognized and he loved all the attention. So as I sat down with Tyler and put his poster together I learned a lot and thought I would share a little of what Tyler loves. His favorite color is red, favorite food is pasta, and his favorite animal is a monkey. Tyler's favorite place to go is Lake Havasu. Which cracks me up we have only been once with Mike's family for a little reunion and now that is all he talks about. No exaggeration he asks me weekly when we can go back to Lake Havasu and go on Uncle Ricks boat. When Tyler grows up he wants to be a Jedi. I think that my family has single handedly kept George Lucas's bank account rising with all of our star wars purchases. One of Tyler's favorite things to do is play basketball except he calls it shooting some hoops. He is out in our front yard daily for hours on end having a full game between himself and the other team. Now the other team consists of Darth Mal, Darth Vader, and any other star wars character. So since I watched him play these crazy basketball games I decided it was time to introduce him to the Lakers. He now loves to watch every game and gives you the score after EVERY basket. I'm hoping the next time I watch him play he is playing against Kobe, Bynum, and Ariza instead of star wars guys. If he had one wish he said he would wish to be able to play with his friends all the time. Tyler is a great friend and he loves playing with his friends and cousins.

Champions

This past weekend Brooke's coach handed out the first place medals for being undefeated and winning the championship. It was very cold a rainy as you can see from the pictures, but the girls loved every minute of being recognized. Now that being said this season should bring a new challenge to the team. Since we came in first we are now moving up to next level of harder teams. Our team was in the bronze division and now they will be in the silver should be fun! Brooke loves everything about soccer and we all enjoy watching her play.

Pine Wood Derby

Spencer and Mike had their first pine wood derby race last week. I thought it was going to be so much fun for the two of them. Little did I know that Mike was dreading it. The only reason I think that Mike didn't want to do it was probably all of the pressure to win and not let Spencer down. So as soon as they started building Mike asked Spencer what his expectations were about the race. Spencer just said I don't need to come in first, but I just don't want to come in last place. After that being said they went right to work because Mike new for sure they could come in somewhere in the middle. I had no idea all the pressure that was put on this race, but I guess thats what you get when all the Dads try and out do each other.

Spencer had a ton of fun building and painting the car with Mike. He loves to build and create so this was perfect for him. That night at the race I was home with the other kids and Mike texted me that in the first 4 races his car had come in first twice and second twice. So in the end Spencer's little car came in fourth place. He was thrilled and so was Mike it was definitely a successful night. This is only the first of MANY pine wood derby races to come with 3 boys.

Thanks Grandpa

For Christmas I got this marble contraption for Spencer. He loves to build things and I thought the boys would have a fun time building and rebuilding it to make many different designs. Little did I know that this thing was VERY complicated. So since my dad loves to build things as well I enlisted his help. Last weekend Spencer had a sleepover at my Mom and Dads house where Spencer and Papa were going to build it. So they started it and didn't quite finish it so dad kept it and he was going to work on it during the week. It took my Dad about 4 days and he finally finished it so Spencer and Tyler went back out to their house to check it out. Of course they loved it. As dad was building it I told him to glue the pieces together I didn't want it falling apart. I had good intentions I just did not know how hard it was going to be having over 350 parts.

Good thing for Grandpa's because if I would have tried to build it I know I would have gotten frustrated and probably thrown it away. Now my only problem is Jake. He loves it and wont leave it alone. I am so paranoid of him messing it up. I am keeping a constant eye on it.

Thanks again Grandpa!

Saving Money

All right well most of you that know me no that I am always looking for the best deal and I never like to pay full price for anything. So lately I have been complaining about my grocery bill. I think every week prices are going up. I remember when a full shopping cart used to be under a $100. Now it's double that and I am tired of feeling like I don't have any control over it because we all still have to eat. So the other day I found this website called grocerygame.com and I decided to try it anything had to be better then what I was doing currently. The just of it is you choose the store you go to most frequently and every week between Sunday and Tuesday they post all of the sale items in that store. As well as every coupon available either in the newspaper or online to give you the final lowest price.

Now I hate the newspaper always have I think it's the texture or who knows why just one of those funny weird things about me, but most of the coupons are in the LA Times so I now have the Sunday paper being delivered to my house and it only cost $26 for the year. To get the list from the website every week they charge $10 for 8 weeks, but you can trial it for only $1 for the first 4 weeks that's what I did.

Well to make a long story short It works and I saved a lot of money. Today was my first attempt so I went to the store this morning and my total bill after my savings was $170 and I saved $ 130. Now that's worth it! To me I think the extra time it takes to find all the coupons and a little extra time in the grocery store was well worth it for me. So if I can do that every week I will end up saving about $500 a month.

Just thought I would share this if any of you out there are having the same frustrations as I have been having with rising food prices.

Jake's 1st day of preschool

I can't believe my little guy is growing up already. I have many mixed emotions this week as Jake is now in the sunbeam class at church and just had his first day of preschool on Monday. It makes me a little sad to think this is it. I won't have anymore toddlers in nursery and this will be the last first day of preschool for me and my kids. Jake is so independent and a little stubborn I know there will never be a dull moment with him. He has been so sad ever since school started in August when he was left home alone with just me and the other kids all went to school. He always wants to be with his brothers and sister always in the middle of everything. So obviously he was very excited to start school so he can be a big boy like Spencer and Tyler.

I was a concerned that when I dropped him off on Monday that he would get cold feet and not want me to leave. That was not the case he did great and was OK that I left as long as I put a small candy in his pocket for later. When I picked him up after school his teacher said he did very well for his first day. He had a hard time sitting for circle time and was kind of all over the place, but that was to be expected. All of the other kids had already been there since school began in Aug. and Jake was the youngest. I am sure he will get the hang of the new routine very quickly and have a ton of fun while learning all sorts of new things.

Time is moving along so quickly and I am trying to make a conscious effort to hang onto every memory and experience I can with my family. That is one of the main purposes of my blog is to capture all of these memories so they will not be lost to my horrible memory. I only wish I knew how to do this blog thing earlier, but better late then never.

Christmas with Family

We got together with my side of the family and had fun as all the kids got a present from Grandma and Grandpa which was very exciting for them. Spencer got his first pocket knife which makes me a little nervous I'm sure he will be very careful right? Jake and Tyler got this very cool magnetic gears electronic toy which fascinates them and keeps them very occupied great gift thanks to Papa's late night infomercials. Brookie got a cute scarf that matches her blue eyes and a cute sunflower snow globe. Thanks for the thoughtful gifts! We were also very excited when Esther made it after being really sick in the hospital. It would not have been the same without her.

We go to Mike's parents house after Christmas every year to celebrate with them. The kids always love going to see their grandparents and great grandparents. Mike's Mom Kay was very brave and hosted a delicious dinner for 52 people. We had a great time visiting and catching up with everyone. Spencer got a chess set and challenged Uncle Rick to a game they both say that they won so I guess a rematch is on the way. The kids loved their gifts. Brooke got a gift card to Macy's and a snowman snow globe. Spencer and Tyler got very cool RC cars, and Jake got some tools since he loves helping Mike around the house.

Thanks again to our wonderful families for all they do for us. We are truly blessed.