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~