Food Critic...

Last night we made a new dinner...soooo easy!!! It was amazing!!! We had drumsticks that were cooked in a bag in the oven, roasted potatoes in the microwave and cinnamon fried apples instead of a veggie. Here is the recipe for the apples if anyone is interested:

5 or 6 medium to large tart apples, peeled and sliced into thick pieces ( I used 2 rather large fuji apples)
2 tablespoons of butter or margarine
3 tablespoons cinnamon-sugar, or to taste (cinnamon-sugar: combine 1 cup sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon. keep the rest on the shelf for cinnamon toast.)

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, fry apples in butter or margarine till crisp/tender, stirring frequently, about 5 minuntes. Add cinnamon-sugar; stir to combine. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes longer or until tender but not mushy, Serves 4 generously.

ENJOY!!!

Merry Christmas Morning!!!

Christmas morning the kids woke up around 830 and came in to tell me Santa was here because the cookies were gone from the plate on the counter. Richie and I got up and headed downstairs to see if he left anything for the family. Yep he did, he left Seth some planes...

Grace a Strawberry Shortcake toy...

and the family a Rockband set!!!

Next we went upstairs and had cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then on to opening the presents under the tree...

Christmas Eve at Nina and Grumpy's...

Christmas Eve we head over to Mom and Dad's with the entire family and eat lots of good food and open presents. This year was someone's first christmas!!! Baby Ben...

Christmas with the Ott kiddos!!!

The day before Christmas eve I watched Hayden and Carson while Aimee and Kevin were at work. Hayden insisted that they open presents that day because we wouldn't see them again until after Christmas.

Pizza Dinner

There are some advantages to having a birthday around the holidays. You get a birthday party at the end of November, then cupcakes on your birthday at the bowling alley, then a birthday dinner at home of your choice. Grace picked homemade pizzas like Seth did. Nina and Grumpy came over to help with the festivities.

Happy Birthday Grace!!!

Today is Grace's birthday and we had our last week of bowling today also. Since we had her birthday party earlier we took cupcakes to bowling with us for the team. Mom brought Erin and Pearl to the bowling alley for some pizza and cupcakes. Aimee, Hayden and Carson were there to celebrate with us too. They are on our team but have had indoor soccer games the past few weeks, so the kids were very excited to actually be able to bowl together.

We have been wanting to take a picture of these two together, they look so much alike, it is scary!!!

The All American Kids!!!!

School Christmas Musical...

This year the school has a new music teacher and she did an excellent job with the Christmas program. The kids were active and didn't leave much time in between for the kids to get bored and into trouble...The program was called "December Around the World". They sang songs from all over the world.

Kids Being Kids...

In November, Aimee and I had the kids pictures taken by Molto Bella Photography, soon to be McPeek-Smith Photography in 2010. Aimee had to work that day so I loaded up the kids and met Stacy at a park in O'Fallon, IL. Hopefully in the next year, we will find a day that Aimee doesn't have to work and we can both get in on the pictures with the kids... :) I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you. Stacy brought some great toys (props) with her for the kids. They played pirates and Candy Land...

This is may FAV!!!!! All personality!!!!

Portable North Pole...

Aimee sent me this website...HILARIOUS!!! I did it for Seth and he was actually having a conversation with Santa on the computer...He is completely psyched about Santa coming and can't believe Santa knew what he wanted and that he actually had a picture of Seth!!!

www.portablenorthpole.tv/

4th Annual Ornament Exchange Party...

This friday was Aimee's annual ornament exchange party!!!

Things are getting under way with all of us eyeing what ornament we want to "steal" from someone...

Andrea thinks she is going to hide while she opens her...LOL

It was a lot of fun and look forward to next year's. There is always good food and great company!! Thank you Aimee for another great year!!

Spaghetti Tacos Anyone???

So, if you have ever seen iCarly on TV, you will know how these came about. If not, here is the low down on iCarly. The show is about a girl and her two friends who have a webcast that they do from their loft. Carly's older brother is her guardian (he is an artist in the show) came up with Spaghetti Tacos for dinner one night. This is the like the signature dish of the show. So, I asked the kids the other night what they wanted for dinner and they both yelled, "Spaghetti tacos"!! Really???? And guess what we had for dinner. Seth inhaled two of them and Grace ate one...Here is the proof!!

Happy Birthday Abby!!!!

Today was Abby's birthday party and it was so much fun for everyone. All the girls raided Abby's dress up clothes. There were a lot of princess strutting around the house today!!! They decorated picture frames and crowns (or visors for the boys).

Some even tried roller skating on the carpet!

Abby in her beautiful snow white dress...

Playing stick the princess in the castle...

More decorating...

Olivia and her Goggy...

Pinata time!!!!

CANDY!!!!!

The whole gang!!!!

Thank Abby, Grace and I had a great time!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!