I'm still here...

I can honestly say since I started facebook, this blog has been a distant memory. But, there's just something different about a blog and I've decided to rejoin the land of blogging.

There is way too much to catch up on in the last six months so I'll just start with this week and as important memories/events surface since my last post, I may blog on it or not.

Yesterday we dropped Ashlyn off at camp for the very first time. She has been so excited and couldn't stop talking about it. She made us teach her camp songs and tell her all about what would happen while she's there. While we know she's having a great time, we are kind of mopey at home. We keep looking at the clock and wondering what she's doing. It's so strange to think she's old enough to go to camp by herself. Where did the time go? We pick her up on Thursday and I can't wait!

Just a couple pictures I'll include of our family!

Creamy Coffee Punch

I have had no motivation to write a blog lately, so I decided to write down one of my most requested recipes.

Creamy Coffee Punch (this rivals Starbucks any day!)

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup instant coffee granules
1 cup boiling water
8 cups milk
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened (go cheap, since quality won't matter here!)
1 quart chocolate ice cream, softened (same as above on cheap factor!)

In a small bowl, combine the sugar and coffee; stir in boiling water until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Just before serving, pour coffee mixture into a 1 gal pitcher. Stir in milk. Add scoops of ice cream and stir until ice cream is melted and creamy. Serve immediately or freeze and then thaw out before serving. If freezing and thawing out, punch will be slightly more granular than if you were to serve immediately after making! Enjoy!

The year in a Quick review

Well the beginning of 2008 started off with a quick family trip to Branson. What a wonderful time just to get away. Winter flew by and spring was quick to follow with baseball for Carter and Ashlyn and birthdays for them as well. Ashlyn has turned 7 and Carter had his big 5 birthday. By this time, Braden had made his 2nd trip to the ER and I had injured my neck. Summer was spent with more games and swimming lessons. I had neck surgery and Braden broke his leg all within a few weeks of each other. I still insist he takes after his dad and not his accident prone mommy. Braden celebrated his 3rd birthday at the end of July and August came with the excitement of school starting. Ashlyn started 2nd grade and Carter entered Kindergarten. Fall was quick to pass with soccer for Ashlyn and Carter and a trip to San Diego for my sister Michelle's wedding. Back to the daily grind filled us up in November and Christmas came in with a rush to finish off the year with lots of celebration and joy! We've had ups and downs but such a wonderfully blessed year! May 2009 be filled with even more joy and blessings for all you!

Sew Much Fun!

While many of you know how much I love to cook, and do other "homey" things, sewing is not one of them. And I will freely admit that many times I gave away or threw away things based on a missing button, undone hem, etc. Well no more! My girlfriend has taken pity on me and is teaching me to sew. This is my first project that I completed!

And a big shout out to Jenny, my partner in crime about this: If I can do it, you can do it! Tell B, she'll be so proud!

And Danna, you can tell Mama Sue that she doesn't have to be shocked anymore by my lack of needle knowledge!

BOO!

ER speedpass?

Well for our 4th visit in ten months, I wonder if you can guess which child it was?

If you guessed Braden, you are correct!

I'm copying from hubby's blog since the story is to the point and oh so true!

I guess everyone has or has had some desire to be well known or famous at some point in their lives. But I never wanted to be well known for taking my children to the emergency room.

Once again the youngest made a visit. I had just laid the kids down for bed and was walking out the door for the ever exciting midnight shift when I heard a "thump" and a cry come from the boys' room. Braden. The last time I heard that noise Braden had put his teeth through his bottom lip. So I went in to investigate.

I have never in my life seen something like this. The boy had a hole in his forehead. Literally. The skin wasn't broken but it looked like he had a 1/4" hole about an inch above his nose. I believe he was playing around and was flopping his head down on his pillow...and missed. I think he hit it right on the corner of his wooden bed. Thank goodness I am in the profession that I am in or else I probably would have flipped out at the sight.

So I "calmly yelled" downstairs to Melanie and we were off to the ER (after dropping the kids off at a friend's house-Thanks Mike and Valerie!) We went because the injury never swelled and it appeared to be swelling to the inside.

After a few hours in the ER and an x-ray later Melanie and Braden got to go home. No hole in the skull; no concussion; nothing else wrong. Just a great looking bruise.

So, this is now the fourth time with Braden. Stitches in the lip, French fry up the nose, broken leg, and hole in the head. I love you buddy!!

My New Hobby

While those of you who know me, know I love to cook, I've never ventured into the canning arena! Well now I have, and I think I may be addicted. I've been working on apples for the past week and have successfully canned a 1/2 bushel! While I'm definitely late in the season for other things, I'll be ready next summer!