Something New...

So, I thought I'd try a different approach to my blogging. Since my obsession with Pinterest has flourish in the past month I've been inspired to make and create a whole lot of goodies for my family and friends. I love finding new and creative ideas, to think outside of the box and make being a stay at home Mom look cool! So to begin my newest venture in the blogging world I will start by sharing a dangerously wonderful recipe with you: S'mores Cookie Bars. I found this recipe on Pinterest which led me to Lovin the Oven's amazing S'more Cookie Bar recipe I warn you now, these are AMAZING. I pretty much ate the whole first (and second) batch that I made. Try them and let me know how they turned out! Enjoy!

 These are how my turned out...and they taste even better than they look!

S'more Cookie Bars
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 king-sized milk chocolate bars (e.g. Hershey’s) *I used Lindt Chocolate Bars*
1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff (find them with the ice cream toppings in the grocery store)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined.
Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough. 2 king-sized chocolate bars should fit perfectly side by side, but break the chocolate to get it to fit in a single layer no more than 1/4 inch thick. Spread chocolate with marshmallow creme or fluff. Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff (most easily achieved by flattening the dough into small shingles and laying them together) Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Noah

I am back! With the birth of my third addition, Noah Ryder, to this wonderful family of mine already over 7 weeks behind me, I am starting to think I should keep better track of my life. Time goes by too fast (cliche I know, but it's so true!)
Things have been crazy...and when I say crazy I mean YIKES! Having a third child has seemed to challenge me more than I had expected. It's taking time and with lots of help from supportive family and friends, my sanity has remained intact. So a big thank you to all those who have went out of their way to make our life a little easier. Don't get me wrong, I love the craziness and chaos that is our life. I love to squeals of joy and laughter that comes from my children. The smiles, the hugs, the kisses. My kids are amazing and I am blessed to have them. Mikhayla and Tanner are two of the proudest big brother and sisters I know! They love their little brother and have plenty love to share with him. Now if only I could bottle up their energy and use it, I'd have it made!
On that note, I should probably sneak off to bed while the going is good! Cheers! xo

And Then There Were THREE!!!!!

Well, it's officially official. Someone decided we were not done having children and we are blessed to be preggers with baby number three!! Yikes!
Should be interesting having two in diapers that's for sure!
At the moment, I am not sure how far along I am. On November 4th, I go in for an ultrasound to find out just that. We figure late June, early July. Thankfully this time, I won't be pregnant during the summer!! Yes!!!
So that's my big news!! Until then, I must figure out a lot of things! Such as rooms for instance. We had thought about creating a room in the basement for Mikhayla at the bottom of the stairs so she isn't so far away, but that idea was put to rest by Mikhayla. Apparently she's cool with sharing her room...yeah...right!! Back to the drawing board we go!!

Fun Halloween Decor

I found this while looking up some crafts for kids for my day home I will be starting up in a few weeks. They're a little too tricky for little ones, but older kids (including myself) would enjoy this. They are very cute! I think they just may  be my new favorite Halloween decoration. I made mine from baby food jars. Tealights fit right inside them. But bigger jars can be used. Mikhayla loved making her ghost, it's the one on the far left with the square eyes and rectangular mouth :)
Crazy Domestic - Monster Jars

Sooo Cute!

If this doesn't make you want to go all Martha Stewart, I don't know what will! What a great
idea! I think this would make an awesome gift for Christmas...or maybe just a fun thing to have
around the house. What better way to play memory with your kids than with your own personalized

memory game!

http://jamiesdigidesigns.blogspot.com/2008/12/photo-memory-game.html

Winter Wonderland....

On this lovely summer morning, yes, it's still technically summer lets not forget, we woke up to a nice blanket of snow on our front lawn. So, not only has mother nature teased us with our one week of really really nice weather, she is now throwing in some early September snow...gee thanks!
On a more positive note my lovely daughter will be turning 7 next week. Though it kind of makes me feel old, I am proud of all the things she's accomplished over the first 7 years of her life. Overcoming a lot of challenges that were thrown her way throughout the years.
It has been a fast 11 1/2 months on maternity leave, but sadly, my time off is coming to an end! As most of you know, I am starting up a day home and watching kids which makes this end of my time off a little less sad. I still get to stay home with my little man and do something I enjoy doing, hanging out with kids! This has prompted me to research crafts and fun stuff to do with the kids and in doing so, I have found some crafts of my own to do. The internet is full of amazing sites with some really great things to make. So don't be surprised if you get a Christmas gift from me this year that's hand made.

Lately, I've been on this DIY kick and wanting to do and make all these great things I find. It's a bit of a challenge to find time to do this with a 6 year old and a 10 month old, but I think I can manage. I have decided to start posting these on my blog to share.
Anyway, nothing really interesting to say here, just thought I'd update since I haven't written anything in quite sometime. It is also a challenge to write a blog when you have a little one. At the moment, he is distracted with an Arrowroot cookie...so that should spare me a minute or two!
I promise my next post will be more entertaining!
 Happy Tuesday to you all!! xo

Where Is The Year Going?

So December is here and I haven't the slightest where the year has gone. I know it has in fact been a busy busy one. Since September hit it seems like the time has gone by twice as fast as before.
Mikhayla has done very well in school so far. Even with her speech and fine motor skills that are a little further behind than normal, she loves school and works very hard at learning new things. It's amazing what three months of school have done for her. She's made quite a few new friends and has already been to two birthday parties. On the 17th, she'll be preforming in her first Christmas concert. I am so proud of her! Of course, what parent isn't proud of their children. I just feel that she has a lot to overcome and has the strength and courage to do it.
Work keeps me busy and when I am not working, I am at photography class or taking pictures for someone and when I am not doing that I am taking care of my family at home. On that note, I guess it's not hard to see why at the age of 25, I have several gray hairs....yes, SEVERAL gray hairs. And all I want for Christmas is to not grow any older. In fact, I wouldn't mind going back a few years. Wishful thinking, I know. But a girl's got to try!
Chris is doing well, he's working up north at the moment and back tomorrow night. He's been in between jobs as the other job he was at has slowed down quite a bit!
Kind of scary, but shall make due. Thank goodness for those shut-downs!
Well, that's about it for the moment. Although I've left out a few months worth of news, seeing as my last post was in August, I must being getting to bed. Somewhere along the lines I stopped staying up so late. Still, I am not a morning person. Never really have been and I don't think I'll ever be one. Though who knows, now that I have gray hair, things could change drastically around here.