my root beer float cake

Root beer float cake
Yum!
1 box yellow cake mix
2 eggs
2 cups root beer
1 3 oz box instant vanilla pudding
1 tsp. root beer extract
frosting

1 cube melted or soft butter, mix well, then add
1 cup powdered sugar,
1 tsp root beer extract, then add 8 oz whipped topping thawed.
mix cake in a big bowl pour into 2 round greased cake pans and bake at 350 for 30 min. let cake cool for 30 min. then remove to wire rack for 30 more min.
frost cake by spreading half on the frosting on bottom layer of the cake. add top of cake. top with remaining frosting. serve with vanilla ice cream to taste like a root beer float yum!

Hmmmm.....This is what I saw christmas morning.... brrrr... and wow that early. But we had fun!

And all the kids were so darn cute! They all had so much fun. They all got what they wanted (except the big kids, zach didn't get his x-box, alli didn't get her cell phone, competer, or tv, and joey didn't get his tread mill, imagine that) but other than all that they were pretty happy kids. Salt got his transformers, and pepper got her barbies, Sassy got her"all girl stuff" jo got some work out gear, and zach goe sport stuff, like I said they are quite the happy bunch. Christmas eve we always open 1 present this year we got them all robes. they all look pretty good in them, maybe they will stay warm in these cold winters!

And here is our annual visit from the big guy himself! The kids were pretty excited to remind him what they wanted from him that night.

first day of christmas break.

Yea!!! I slept in! What a great day to start the break. And ah the wonderful days of christmas break. So far these are the fabulous things I have heard today:
~can we make cookies?
~can we make popcorn?
~can we have a movie day?
~can I eat a candy cane?
~can we open just one present?
~can I eat a candy cane?
~when will it snow we want to make a snowman?
~can we make cookies, or brownies, or anything?
And my all time favorite today......
~Lets see who can put their socks on while doing a somersault!

That was fun to watch.
Merry christmas

Christmas party at grandma's

Making chocolates at grandma's Alli was the only one (besides me) that wanted to get messy in the chocolate! And let me tell you she loved it! Ah the memories it brings back from my own childhood! And the reward for working so hard!mmmmmm and yes that is chocolate on her forehead! true sign that she enjoyed herself.
this is grandpa trying to play go fish with the grandkids. He has more patients that me! And all the kids loved it. And all the adults enjoyed the entertainment.

Cute grandpa with Joey, zach and their cousin! wow these boys are growing so fast! watch out grandpa they will pass you up in no time.

It is no secret I have had a hard time getting in the christmas spirit this year. This has been both a wonderful year, and a hard year. The good things, all the successes of my kids, and there were many, abby came to our family, the fact that I have wonderful friends! and lots of other things I will kick myself in the butt for not remembering off the top of my head. But with every up there is a down for every good, there seems to be a bad. (darn that murphys law). Brian has has a very difficult time this year with employment, well lack of employment, which leads to many difficulties. Seeing countless dr.s for Joey, to no conclusion, and more funerals this year than in the last 10 years combined. Anyway, that is the background for my lack of x-mas spirit. But over the last few days, while my great neighbor has given us gifts,and scriptures to reflect on, and the fact that after owning the book 'the christmas sweater' I am finally reading it, I think the true spirit is entering my home. I don't need to stress that my kids are not getting all the things they want from their lists, I just need to take this unique opportunity to teach them why we have christmas, and what it does for a person to give, rather than receive. Now don't worry, they are all getting gifts, I just get to change the focus. I kind of wish I did this years ago. I get caught up in the commercial part of christmas, more than my kids, and forget why we actually get to celebrate. So thank you recession for making me broke, to refocus my life!!!!!I love chirstmas, I love my kids, I love my hubby, and I love my family and friends.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY

And as a sidebar, I am also grateful to be born in this day and age, because I would not have made it as a pioneer. Earlier this month I actually had to live without a computer and phone for several days ahhhhh not cool! And today I needed to chop wood. Now I have done this in the past, when needed, I just prefer not to. Well after a hefty bruise on my leg, a bruised hand, a sore back, and 4 tylenol later SUCCESS!!! I am pretty proud of myself. Now I am not finished yet, but its a start! :) How did those pioneer women deal with it, They must have all been insane. I love my modern life!

Pepper: Jack and Jill went up the hill to get a pail of water, Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.
sounds right, right?

Salt: Jack and Jill went up the hill to get a bunch of water, they both fell down and got broken crowns.

maybe this is the difference between boys and girls. The perfectionist vs. the abstract mind. makes you go hmmmm.

It has been so cold! We got a good couple inches of snow,and of course the kids have to go play in it, but they came back in so cold we had to wrap them in the electric blanket. Thank goodness for those blankets, they are a true blessing in my cold idaho life. snowball fight!

I got home the other night from running the kids around, and my dear sweet Alli had this waiting for me. It was my diet pepsi of course, hersheys kisses, some adorable notes, and the bread our neighbor brought over for us. How cute is she. I am so loved.

kids are growing up way too fast.

I absolutly love when kids say words that they hear, and they understand how to use them, but they are big words for them. Yesterday driving home from pocatello, Jason was very tired, and irritable. Abby was in the christmas mood and trying to sing christmas songs. Then I hear coming from my adorable 4 year old. Mom Abby is attitaing me. It took me a sec. to realize that he was telling me she was irritating him. And it was so cute. A few min. later Abby was still singing, and Jason said to me "mom this is so fruchfrating" LOVE IT!!! Even though Jas was attitated and fruchfrated I was giggling inside at how cute he was. Abby must have heard me telling B about it, because today when she was getting a little sleepy, she told me that her eye was attitating her, because she couldn't stop winking. I love this age!

First visit with santa of the year!

Our annual visit with santa!

Alli was telling the big guy that she wanted a computer, a cell phone, a tv, and anything girlie.

she doesn't ask for much.......... Abby had told me ALL the thing she was going to ask for before we got in line, but when it was time to tell santa what she wanted, she could only remember that she wanted a barbie! She was mad at herself after, but I told her she could write a letter to him, and she was happy then.
Jason who is everything transformer, asked for a train! I am so confused. but I think he may have had a little stage fright too. these kids are so cute!

LOVE THOSE CANDY CANES

Salt and pepper got into the candy canes on the tree, and it was so cute when they realized it made thier tongues red. And it was really cute when they realized they could stick their tongues out for a picture. I think they looked in the mirror for at least an hour. they are so funny~

You have got to be kidding me!!!

Ok, so I will start close to the begining. My table was old and dirty. Brian and I had decided to pull the table apart and clean all the cracks,and crevices. Well we did that and it was so clean it shined! We were pushing the table back together and SNAP it broke right in half, and the leg broke. We tried for quite a while to fix it, but in the end did not feel like it would be safe to use, so off it went to the dining room in the sky. This is our new table! well for a while anyway, till things get a little more comfortable, and we can buy another dining room table. But I have to say it does make for some fun and interesting dinners!! Life is such an adventure.
AND THEN.............to top off my day, my favorite spatula broke! And according to zach, it went to the lovely kitchen drawer in the sky. REALLY! I just wanted to scream out WHATS NEXT! Well I shouldn't have asked, my satelite on our tv went out. REALLY! Well we have a repairman coming out mon. and I bought a new spatula, we are still eating Japanese style, on th floor, buy I can live with that!

Well we survived! It was a wonderful thanksgiving holiday, with lots of friends and family, meeting new family, lots of good food, and of course those yummy pies! I did get to reflect on all the things I am thankful for, and it all comes back to family! My family is what I need in my life everyday. Even though I did not get to see my whole family, my sis, and bro did not make it this year, we had a woonderful time. Thanks for all my family, and for all everybody does for us. Thank you!!

Now on to the next holiday, thank goodness it includes pie too!

I have been enjoying reading all my friends posts about Thanksgiving, and about what they are thankful for. Well I decided that I should make my list, and ponder about thankfullness. So here it goes:

I am thankful for - Robitussin, triaminic, dayquil, nyquil, amoxcicillan, excedrin migraine, tylenol, motrin, sudafed, and my big warm comfy bed, with the electric blanket on it turned up to high. Happy thanksgiving! perhaps I will feel better tomorrow, and make another thankful list!

So take it or leave it!!

This is what 35 looks like.

Of course anyone looks better with 2 cute babies by their side. It is kind of funny, as I get older. I use to think 35 was getting old. Now, thats not old at all. I may have a few aches and pains, and a couple of stray gray hairs, but all in all, the last 35 years have treated me pretty good. Thanks to all my kids, and friends, and my wonderful hubby who have all helped make the transition of years that much sweeter! I love you all! I don't look 35 do I??????

First place! Both the girls took first place at their dance competition. YEA!! Great job babies. I am so proud!

The best dancers ever!

How cute are my girls? We had the first dance competitions of the year today, and they did so good. (I don't know what place they took yet, I'll let you know as soon as I find out).

Abby danced to the song hoe down throw down, from the Hannah Montana movie.
And Alli danced to boom boom. She did wonderful! I am such a proud mamma!

So I did these next two posts backwards, so make sure you keep reading so you understand where I am coming from . I know this is not the best pic, but I just wanted to show how BIG my kids are getting, well some of them. Just last year my boys were comparing heights, they were so close! Now, not so much. Joey has had a HUGE growth spurt, I swear I was buying him new clothes every other week. Now this is the proof how much he has grown. He is only an inch away from being as tall as me! And the poor kid is only 10 this is crazy!!! what to do, what to do. I may make him carry books on his head to keep him from growing, you think that would work?

What in the world is going on?

these pj's fit jason last week!!!!! Now look. It looks like he is waiting for a flood!

What is a mom to do. I guess I can stop feeding them or letting them sleep, but then they would just be cranky, so that won't work. Why do our babies have to grow up? It is just not fair.
Oh no where is the flood?

Ok so here is some inspriation, BAKING!!! thank you bakerella! now these are not quite professional yet, it was my first attempt at cake balls. But they were fun anyway. This was my tribute to veterans day!! I love the red white and blue! And they were really yummy. Thanks Lanie for the ideas, some have sparked my interest, and hopefully I will start blogging again!

ok so I have not been very good at the blogging thing lately, I have blog block! I have sat down at the computer several times to do a new post, but nothing comes out. I don't have any new pictures yet, and its hard to blog without inspiration. Its not that the kids aren't doing anything cute, they constantly are, or the medical issues, they are ever present, or school, or dance...... I just have a block. Maybe I need a muse. Any ideas???

CUTE, my babies just being cute together!The 3 oldest kids decided to carve pumpkins this year (I tried to get them to paint them this year) Zach and Joey attacking their pumpkins, and Alli playing with her pumpkin guts.

eeewwww gross.

Here is abby showing off her cute painted pumpkin

And Jason very proud of his artwork.

Off to the pumpkin patch

Gate city reality invited our family to be part of their annual pumpkin patch and trunk or treat. our good friend erick who works for gate city was our realitor when we bought this property!!!

The kids had so much fun, but they were sooooo cold, the party started at 11:00 am, and we were done and back in the burb on the way home by 11:15. fast and furious thats my babies!Even though she could hardly carry it Alli insisted on getting one of the biggest pumpkins.
Zach, my tough boy, who 'didn't need a jacket' is cuddling in my jacket because it was freezing!once him and Joey picked out their pumpkins they decided to make chairs out of them.

And there is my Joeman on his pumpkin chair.

Salt and pepper with their little pumpkins, they had a hard time deciding on the perfect pumpkin! But they did good.

Jason just pulling a really cute face, and trying to stay warm, and abby behind him couldn't keep her cute little witch hat on her head!

I'M BORED

Ok so in my house the kids are not allowed to say the "B" word (bored), But this time when salt and pepper kept telling me they were bored, I couldn't ingore them, I was bored too. After being broke for so long, and not able to go out, and have fun like we had been doing before, I have had to become inventive. Lots of home movies, with popcorn, game nights, etc. well I needed to change things up a bit for all of our sanity! So I came up with the brilliant idea to make edible playdough. It was a total hit, and lasted for hours!!!!!

This is how it started, a bowl of playdough, a couple rolling pins, and cookie cutters, and then let the kids loose! Here are salt and pepper figuring out how to roll out the dough.

Salt is really getting into it!

Pepper loved making the little stars, especially when I showed her that she can eat them too!

Don't mind the mess behind her, I have been VERY lazy, and have not put my halloween totes out of site, I figure now, why, I have to take down my halloween stuff next week anyway right?
Sassy even got in on the fun after she got home from school! I am telling you it was so much fun watching all the things they came up with to mold and create.

Recipe for edible playdough

2 c. powdered sugar

1 c. peanut butter

1/2 c. honey

Mix, mix, mix. and enjoy!

If I only had a brain

Now that we have the MRI results back for Joey, I guess it is only me that needs a brain, because Joey's is fine!!! MRI, and ultrasound both came back normal. thank goodness! Now on to the next step to figure out whats wrong with him. We will be getting an appt. with an endocrinologist soon. I will update you all as I can!

More medical updates. Zach aparantly does not have burcitis as he was first diagnosed with, now they think he has what is called severs disease, which is basically heel pain caused by an injury due to growth. I knew growing up was painfull, but come on this is crazy. At any rate, he is in a walking boot for a couple of weeks. and he may need to wear it off and on for the next year or so. As for the rest of the family, as far as I know we are healthy!!!!!

Wow 14 years!!!!!!!

14 years, and 5 kids later here we are......Ok so me and big guys 14th anniversary is today. I have been thinking of soooo many fun things we could to to celebrate, even though we aren't going to do anything, cause he is at work, it is so nice to imagine what we would do if he was here. So this is what I would have done had he been home. I thought I would share my thoughts, (and some ideas I found online) to celebrate our many years together!

1. Recreate Your First Date - Where was your first date?? The bowling alley? The park? Try and recreate it and remember the details. Remember the show "The Parent Trap"? The daughters recreate their first date at Martinelli's Italian Restaurant by doing it in their own home. And...they fell in love...all over again. Hopefully, you will too. Mine would include a lovely homemade speghetti dinner! yum. And a kiss to shut me up, because aparently I talk too much.

2. Plan A Romantic Getaway - This is always my favorite. My favorite getaway with big guy was when I won a night at a bed and breakfast in Midway. No kids, just the 2 of us. And one of the best cookies I have EVER had. I wish I could figure out how to make it. No kids is imperative.

3. Romantic Night At Home - You still need an over-night-babysitter for this one, but it's a lot cheaper because you're staying home. Isn't it weird to be home with absolutely no kids in the house??You've got the entire house to yourself...you can stay up late together, sleep in together, eat breakfast together, and just be together in the comfort of your home. Me and big guy love to cook together. I am not sure anyone would want my kids for a whole night so we may have to skip this one for a few more years.

4. Memory Treasure Hunt - This one would be extra work , but fun. You would have to plan ahead big time! Think of lots of different memories that you and your man have. I would put pictures all over the house, then send him on a treasure hunt. at the end you could have a nice hot dinner in the oven for the last clue, then sit down together ALONE for diner.Other ideas for fun anniversary gifts:
Camping equipment

Movies,

cuddle blanket,

treats

Board Games

Running shoes

Musical instruments
unfortunatley this year we are not together for our anniversary, so all my brilliant ideas are for nothing. but there is always next year!!!

ps. I promise this is not at pitty party post, I am very happily going to go make bread now:)

Happy Anniversary baby!!!
Posted by Carroll family at 12:19 PM 0 comments

wow

now this is yummy!

and so easy my sisters could do it (haha funny huh) peanut butter pie

first you make an oreo crust. smash(thats the funnest part) about 20 oreo cookies. Melt 4 tb. butter and mix into the oreos. line a pie pan with it.

Then mix 1 pkg cream cheese, 1/2 c. sugar, and 1/2 c. peanut butter. cream till creamy. Add 2 c. coolwhip. mix well, put on top of crust, and enjoy. you can top with hot fudge sauce, or since I didn't have any, I melted a few chocolate chips, and swirled them on the top.

Look how creamy!!! so delicious. I may have to make another one!!!

Bur..... what????

Zach has been complaining his foot has been hurting for a while now. (mother of the year, I kept telling him to get over it) well he wasn't getting over it, so we took him in to get it checked out. Turns out he has burcitis. He was put on limited activity, (he even got a note for p.e.) for 2 weeks, with anti-inflamitories, and ice 3 times a day. If its not better in 2 weeks, then we go see the orthopedic dr. which means, probably surgery,and a cast for a while. Is there no end. Lets just say that we are keeping him as still as possible for a 12 year old, so we can avoid further problems.

I am thinking that the medical black cloud has been hovering over my house for the last while. I am ready for it to leave!!!!!!!!!!

new perm!!!!

Not too bad for my first try. We decided to perm alli's hair last night. we wanted more of a wavy, than a curly, I think we did pretty good!!! what a cutie!~

We went up in the mountains the other day to get our first load of firewood, and let the kids shoot the guns, which is their reward for helping us gather wood, so here are Joey and Zach shooting, I have to say they are pretty good shots! Everybody doing their part gathering firewood, although Joey and Alli were more interested in chopping down trees, than gathering dead ones off the ground, but they were pretty cute anyway.
Salt and pepper worked so hard to carry this branch to the trailer! Good job babies!

OCD control.
Ok so I do have a little obsessive compulsive disorder! This is what I woke up to sunday moring. I was laying in bed, (I only slept in a little) and I could smell pancakes. I jumped up since I knew brian was still in bed, to see who was cooking, and this is what I found--(I had to take a few deep breaths, and try not to look at the mess, and just appreciate the thought) Zach, Jason,and Abby were mixing up the pancake batter, Zach also peeled some potatoes for hashbrowns. Joey was making over easy eggs, very impressive, and Alli got me a glass of diet pepsi!! I am so loved. And its ok that it took me 45 min. to clean up all the.....love.... that was spilled on the floor. That was the best breakfast EVER!!! l love my babies.