Pepperoni Chicken and Brussel Sprouts

For those of you who don't like brussel sprouts you might like them with bacon. Try this recipe from cooking light. It was delicious. Buy only 3/4 lbs of sprouts or you will have too many. We also made the Chicken with pepperoni sauce. Use an entire jar of sauce. Brent and I thought it was terrific. The kids loved it too!!! It was the first meal Baker has eaten what we were eating in months. He had 4 helpings. Now I know how Auntie Helen feels when everyone loves your cooking. Cheers!

Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

Chicken with Pepperoni Marinara

Winter Park ice castle

Yesterday, Brent and Trey took Ava, Quinn and Liam skiing in Winter Park. Everyone had a great time. Trey took this picture of our family in front of the ice castle. Quinn was a little worried about going down the green hill but when he came home he told me:

"Mom, I smashed that mountain"

"Do you mean 'crushed it'?"

"Yeah I did that too"

While they were gone Andrea and I went to the gym, eat lunch, made granola bars and hung out. Very fun day for all of us. 

American Girl Valentine's Day Party

Ava and I worked on a Valentine's Day party for Grace and her American Girls. We made little pom pom teddy bears for the humans and a Valentine's streamer. Ava got out her tea set from Cristy and set it up the night before so that she could be ready.

"I wanna cheer for the Badgers just like Auntie Gigi"

Ava cheered at the Castle View basketball last night. She decided she liked cheering for football instead of basketball because there are more people watching you at a football game. She also said that her dream is to cheer for the Badgers just like Aunt Gigi.

This video is at Cheer practice. They had a contest to see who was the best at this cheer. Ava came in third but the girl who took first was really really good and much older. The kid who took second was a boy. I told Ava that most boys do not cheer so he deserved to have "boy points"-she wasn't having it. I was still so proud of her. It was so cool to have so many kids shout "AVA"

Getting ready for St. Valentine's Day

So my latest Pinterest project is this St. Valentine's Day garland. Made with felt and pom poms. I am very excited about it.

I also spent the morning getting things off my Bucket list. Kathy told me to wrap our Christmas books in recycled wrapping paper. I love this ideas then next year each night the kids can open a book. My goal is that it will make bedtime a little more fun. Thanks for the idea Kath!

Here is another surprise... Quinn is now reading. The book is called Snow-one of the early readers. He is so proud of himself and so are we.

Happy Birthday to me!

I will be having a very laid back kind of birthday today. Ava is sick, Baker is on the edge, Brent is still coughing and I am still stuffy in the head. Quinn is the only non-sicky for a change. Regardless, the kids gave me the best birthday gift ever. A spa in my own home. They ran a bath - set it with candles, bubble bath, tea and a Godiva chocolate dipped strawberries and bananas (that part was from Brent). It was the perfect gift since my head was about to explode. Ava and Quinn were so excited and they let me know that my wish is their command.

This is a video I took of the boys on Brent' s birthday...

Happy 38th Birthday Brent!

Today we celebrate Brent (and Haithem's) birthday! We are also celebrating that Brent is not as sick as he was yesterday.

skiing in Winter Park with the Larson's

Ringing in the New Year with the Bruce Family in Detroit