Saturday, February 13, 2010

Superbowl Sunday (just a week late)

For most people, Superbowl Sunday is a great day to get together with friends and cheer on their team. For me, it is just one of many days that provides me with an excuse to bake and cook. Knowing we would not have school the Monday after due to the record-breaking snow storms Virginia has been enduring, I pulled out Mom's baking supplies and baked. Throughout the day, I made peanut butter blossoms, homemade brownies, homemade chocolate chip cookies, and sugar cookies. Of course, we took plates of them to the neighbors. I also chopped up some celery for the wings, and made a delicious buffalo chicken dip. Superbowl Sunday food was a success.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Homemade Brownies

Football Sugar Cookies

Chicken Wings before Baked

Most of the snacks!

One of four different flavored wings.

Celery Sticks!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Babysitting

I love little kids. I have ever since I was little, when I began dressing baby dolls, feeding them bottles, and changing their diapers (even applying diaper rash cream on their fake plastic butts). I have tons of opportunities to babysit. First, for my own family, of course. Second, for other families.

When I was in either the sixth or seventh grade (I can't remember), I had my mom put up a flier at work. She works on the labor and delivery floor, and knew most of the people there with children, and figured it would be okay. So my mom posted a babysitting flier up on her floor, and there began my great and wonderful "job". It didn't really do all that much. Only one or two families called me, but gradually, news spread.

I now babysit for tons of people, and I love it. I love little kids. I love having them help me make lunch and dinner, and think I am so cool because I am a teenager, and them helping me create cute little valentine hearts, and having them help me make pudding desserts. Plus, the pay is great, too. Most people either joke that I will have no kids, or lots of kids. Probably tons.

Little kids are the greatest.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Heaven and Babies

"Hey mom, where do babies come from?"
"Ryan, they come from Heaven."
"Mom, how do you get to Heaven?"
"You have to die."
"How do you die, mom?"
"You can die lots of different ways. Some good, some bad."
"Well I wish you would die and go to Heaven and come back with a baby."
[conversation between 3-year old Ryan and mom]

"Megan and Gray, do you want the rest of this?"
"Mom, you need to eat that. You barely touched it."
"Yeah mom, don't you remember, you are eating for two. Feed that baby!"
[humorous conversation between Gray, Mom, and I at lunch one day]

Lately, there's been lots of talk about babies. No worries, mom is not pregnant, nor will be anytime soon. We all want mom to have another, but she is done. She and dad say the next kid will have to come from either Gray's family, or mine. Who knows. It has been 3 years since we've had a little baby in this house. Ryan grew up fast. In fact, we often question if he ever was a baby. That kid is way too smart. However, he wants a baby sibling. I guess he will just have to face disappointment.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Cooking Dinner

I love to cook! Growing up as the oldest girl in a large family, I had to learn to cook. I also love to bake. My mom stocked up on flour and sugar back in November when everything was on sale, and between my mom and I, we have used all of it!

I have cooked and baked with Ryan since he was old enough to help out and watch. When he was two, he helped make his own birthday cake. I think he enjoys it. He has helped bake countless amounts of cookies, banana breads, pumpkin breads, brownies, cupcakes, cakes, and even dinners! Last night, he finally helped cook an entire meal for the family! He had a blast!

The Menu:
Fresh, homemade Italian Meatballs
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Ziti Noodles
Italian Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Corn
Heart Sugar Cookies for Dessert





Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Weather Channel Forecast

Sometimes I love weather men. Then again, a lot of times I hate them. It seems that everytime I want the forecast to be correct, it is not. It was supposed to start snowing here this afternoon, and it didn't. I'm really, really hoping that it starts soon, as the forecast says 100% chance of ice/snow. Weathermen, please do your job and be right.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Worst News. Ever.

The new computer system that we set up in our house is not working properly. My Dad thinks it is the hard drive failing. What this means to me, is that potentially all of my pictures from Christmas until present may be lost. It is not positive, just a possibility. I feel HORRIBLE, because a family in our ward's baptism pictures may be completely lost. Ever since I've been promising to make a CD for them, the computers have not been working. Basically, I have worst person ever status as of now. I am hoping and praying Dad's ingenious brain will recover those pictures.