Fun Cleaning the Yard

It's a lot of work, but it sure is fun when we're out there working together. Especially rewarding at the end of the day, with a beautiful sunset like this one. We're so happy out here in Franklin, it's nice to be outside (so we're excited for the weather to warm up around here! Cai's especially excited to take his bike outside...I make him ride around the house, where it's warm!)

Kentucky Family Fun~Happy Birthday Leila!

The fun times happened last weekend at the Millers-- We visited Opryland (Cai loved the waterfalls), played lots of fun games, fed the horses, went to Oliver, and enjoyed Leila's birthday celebration with the family.

On Sunday, January 18th, we celebrated Leila's birthday! It was so much fun...we had Charlotte's amazing home-made Chocolate Moose Cake before a fabulous Gyoza dinner. I like it that way--dessert first, just in case there isn't room for it later!

Gyoza making is intense, as you can see everyone's in deep concentration--you should try it.

Of course, where's Cai through it all? Hiding. He loved playing under the Kitchen counter...and with Toby and Stewart (the dogs) and Buddy (the rat) and Ty and Ryan (the brothers). What a blast!

p.s. Leila's got some great shots on her Blog too!

Special Recipe - Hometeacher Brownies

Hometeacher Brownies (Based on a true story)

 

Ingredients:                                                                Preparation time: 20 – 30 days

1 package of milk chocolate chips

25 large marshmallows

2 cups of sugar

1 cup of butter

Walnuts or pecans as desired

2 eggs

1 ½ cup of flour

1 pinch of salt

1 sprinkle of powdered sugar

 

Melt the chocolate chips, sugar, and marshmallows in a saucepan over medium heat.  Stir well.  Pour into a greased baking dish and decorate with nuts as desired.  Place in refrigerator overnight to allow the mixture to set up like fudge.

 

The next day, you will find the mixture hasn’t set up because you forgot the butter.  Scrape mixture back into the saucepan, place over medium heat and mix in the butter.  This time it should work for sure.  Pour the new and improved mixture into a greased baking dish – you may use the same one as before, just be sure to re-grease it.  Place in refrigerator for 48 hours just to be sure it sets up like fudge.  (You may want to begin this recipe by December 20 if you plan on serving the fudge on Christmas Day.)

 

After the mixture has taken up your fridge space for two nights, pull it out.  It may not have set completely, but may have taken on a sugary texture.  Perhaps it needs to reach a higher temperature – pour the mixture back into the saucepan and bring it to a soft-boil, stirring constantly.  Now that it has reached a high temperature, it may set up in the fridge after an additional 24 hours.

 

The next day (Christmas Eve) you will pull the mixture out of the fridge to find it is still more of a liquid than a solid.  To test this, attempt to cut it into squares.  If the cut lines merge together and disappear within 3 minutes, it may still be considered a liquid.  At this point, get it out of the fridge.  It’s not worth the space any longer.  Place 80% of the mixture in a large Ziploc baggie.  The other 20% should fit in a glass jar and may be used as an ice cream topping.  (Results not guaranteed.)

 

After a minimum of 20 days (and removal of the Christmas tree), take the mixture out of the freezer in a last-ditch effort to make something yummy for your friends and families.

 

After warming the mixture in the microwave for 1 minute, it should regain it’s completely liquid form.  Add the 2 eggs and stir well.  Sift a pinch of salt with the flour and add to the mixture.  Stir completely and pour into a greased baking dish or cookie sheet.  Bake for 15-20 minutes in oven set to the standard 350˚ F.

 

After the hometeacher brownies cool, you may top with sprinkle of powdered sugar.  Another really nice touch is to add some powdered sugar to the pseudo-ice cream topping that you saved from the original mixture (just use whatever’s left), and spread it on top of the brownies as a frosting.

 

Your hometeaching families will feel very special knowing that you prepared them a treat that took more than one month from start to finish.  (Results may vary – be tactful when offering them this recipe.)

Playing in downtown Franklin

So, even though we've all been a little sick, we went out the first Saturday of the New Year, January 3rd to visit downtown Franklin before they take down the Christmas decorations.

It was nice to get out for a little bit--it's kind of hard being couped up all sick with colds!

I love this picture, with the American Flag, the red berries and bows! I'm going to miss this season and all its beautiful decorations!

Cai is just getting so big! He's close to walking, but not quite there yet. He much prefers pushing his own stroller rather than being pushed in it! We love this kid!

Little bit of Franklin history--notice the date of the fire that destroyed our downtown...what else firelicious happens on the 26th? Need I turn into Elana and remind you someone's 30th birthday is coming!!

The New Year

Jarad flew out to Utah for Becky's wedding--visited family and Frosty, but

he brought home germs! He was sick for a week and now, Cai and I have it. It's no fun being sick, but I can't complain...it'll go away, plus we've been reading lots of awesome books, Jarad finished 1000 piece puzzle in a day, and we've had plenty of fun playing with Cai's Christmas toys!