It's a BOY!

I had my ultrasound a few weeks ago, but I keep forgetting to announce it here on our blog. I figure Christmas Eve is a very fitting time to officially announce we are having another boy! So baby Meikle #4 and baby boy #3 will be due sometime around April 15, 2009 and we are thrilled! We are still debating names; so far Wyatt, Ethan, and Will are the winners. I guess it is a good thing we have a few more months to decide.

Caroling, Christmas Party, and Friends








I had to shamelessly steal these pics from Annette's blog because I neglected to bring my camera to both the caroling and Ward Christmas parties! I did not even get snaps of my little angels with Santa. That is definitely bad mommy syndrome.

We had a blast with the caroling and the ward party. Daniel was a cute shepherd boy and Mia was one of Mary's helpers (I didn't know Mary had help in the stable) and her light up snow boots were very visible as she waled across the dark stage.

Straight No Chaser




My new favorite Christmas song!

Spiderella






Spiderella came to visit Mia's class before Halloween and Daniel's kindergarten class came over for the fun too! Mia has already figured out that Spiderella is her very own aunt Kiki, but Daniel is still a believer.

15 Minute Warm and Hearty Taco Soup from Picky Palate!

http://www.picky-palate.com/2008/12/15-minute-warm-and-hearty-taco-soup.html

Jenny over on Picky Palate has done it again. I love tacos and I love soup, but I have never been able to find a taco soup I like or can even stand to eat. I saw this on her blog and decided to give it a try. YUMMY! Dave and the kids love it too (well not Daniel, but he will eat nothing EVER!). I just served it with cheese and fritos and I think we have another "regular dinner" hit. I used less ground beef a pound is a lot for us and I used mince garlic from the jar (which I always do to save time and money).


15 Minute Warm and Hearty Taco Soup

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 15 oz cans chicken broth
1 oz pkg Lawry's taco seasoning (or 2Tablespoons of your own taco seasoning mix)
1 oz pkg dry Ranch Dressing Mix
2 10 oz cans rotel mild tomatoes
4 oz can diced green chilies
1lb can or frozen corn, drained
15 oz can black beans, drained
15 oz can red kidney beans, drained
15 oz can white beans, drained

Garnish With:
Sour Cream
Frito's
Cilantro leaves

1. Place oil into a large 5 qt dutch oven over medium heat. Saute onion and bell pepper until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add beef, salt and pepper; cook until brown and crumbled. Add remaining ingredients until well combined. Simmer on low until ready to serve. Top with sour cream,Frito's and cilantro leaves if desired.

8 large servings

No-chill Cutout Sugar Cookies

No-chill Cutout Sugar Cookies
This is a nice sugar cookie which doesn't require that you chill the dough before you roll it out. Just roll the dough out between two sheets of waxed paper to prevent sticking.

Makes about 24
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add baking powder and flour one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Dough will be stiff. Do not chill dough. Divide dough in half. Roll each half about 1/8 inch thick. Dip cutters into flour before each use. Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet on middle rack of oven for 8-12 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned.

What a Mess!



Mia's Primary teacher gave her some homemade play dough a few Sunday's ago. And Dave... allowed the kids to play with the homemade goo in unsupervised in their Sunday clothes. I was dumbfounded WHY? WHY? WHY? Would you give kids homemade play dough and let them loose with it?

After getting the gross substance all over themselves and their clothes, they left it in the tree house and the squirrel got into it too. Let's just say tree house fared much worse than the kids hands and clothes. It was so gross.

Daniel with Witchey and Pokey



Daniel's Kindergarten teacher Miss Emily is quite amazing! For the Halloween party his class made apple witches (my hands were covered with hot glue gun burns for a week). Daniel named his witch "Witchey" and he lived on our mantel until the Christmas decorations went up. We have saved 'Witchey" for next year and I am sure he will be making an appearance every Halloween from now on.

Pokey is his other new friend courtesy of Miss Emily. She grew gourds in her garden at home and glued eyes on them. Then each student was sent home with a gourd to name, decorate and write a story about their gourd. Daniel name his "Pokey" and wrote a very cute story about Pokey and Witchey becoming friends and living happily ever after.

Reflections




Daniel and Mia has the chance to go to Disneyland with my sister Rebekah in November, but the night before they left they finished thier entries for the PTA Reflections contest. The topic this year was "Wow". Daniel choose to do a Barn Owl and Mia wanted to do a lion, They were both painted with acrylic on illustration board. And both kiddletts won honorable mention. Good Job Guys!

Back Blogging

I have been so sick and busy lately that I have fallen behind with my blogging. I am now trying to catch up so some of my upcoming posts will be out of chronological order!

Cranberry Cake

Okay, can you tell I love cooking in December? Here is another awesome dessert.

Cranberry Cake

Cake:
5 Tbs Butter
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
pinch of salt
1 cup milk
2 cups fresh cranberries

Cream togther butter and sugar. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Batter will be thick. Pur into a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350* for 30-45 minutes. Serve sauce!

Sauce:
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup whipping cream

Pour into a sauce pan and let dissolve on low heat stirring occasionally. Serve sauce warm.

Yummy Trifle

I love this trifle, but it is most definitely a "eat in moderation" dessert!

Raspberry, White Chocolate, and Almond Trifle

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups chilled heavy whipping cream, divided

12 ounces high-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Perugina), chopped

1 1/4 teaspoons almond extract, divided

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

7 ounces Boudoirs or Champagne biscuits (crisp ladyfinger cookies),* divided

1 cup raspberry jam, melted, divided

1 1/2 12-ounce packages frozen unsweetened raspberries, partially thawed, divided

2 6-ounce containers fresh raspberries

3/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted



Preparation

Bring 1 cup cream to simmer in medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool to barely lukewarm, about 10 minutes. Beat 2 1/2 cups cream and 1/2 teaspoon extract in large bowl to soft peaks. Fold in white chocolate mixture.

Stir sugar and 1/2 cup water in small saucepan over medium heat until sugar melts. Mix in 3/4 teaspoon extract; remove syrup from heat. Quickly submerge 1 biscuit in syrup; shake excess back into pan. Place dipped biscuit in bottom of 14-cup trifle dish. Repeat with enough biscuits to cover bottom of dish.

Spread 1/3 of melted jam over biscuits in dish. Top with 1/3 of partially thawed berries with juices. Spread 1/3 of whipped chocolate cream over. Repeat layering with dipped biscuits, melted jam, partially thawed berries, and whipped chocolate cream 2 more times. Mound fresh berries in center of trifle. Sprinkle almonds around edge. Cover and chill at least 5 hours and up to 24 hours.

Christmas Craft



I started making these this summer to give as neighbor gifts. However, after a bout of morning sickness and a 15 week, cold, flu, sinus infection I was lagging behind. I only managed to make about 15, so now these are going to the kids teachers and a few family members. They are actually really easy to make, about a half hour per cloth and you only need an ounce of yarn for each one. Enjoy!

Janelle's Star Dishcloth
Designed by: Janelle Schlossman
Rating: Easy - Medium

Materials: worsted wt. cotton yarn; size H hook size is about 9" from point to point

Instructions:
Ch 4; work 9 dc in first st of ch. Join with sl st to form ring. Ch1, turn. Row1: In next dc work * 2hdc-ch2-2hdc; skip next dc. Repeat from * 4 more times. Join with sl st. Ch1, turn
Row 2: Skip next hdc *sc in next hdc, 2sc-ch2-2sc in next ch2 space (for point); sc in next hdc, skip next 2 hdc, repeat from * around, join with sl st. Ch1, turn.
Row 3: Skip next sc; *sc in next 2 sc, 2sc-ch2-2sc in point, sc in next 2 sc, skip next 2 sc. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st, ch1, turn.
Row 4: Hdc in same st as ch1. Hdc in next 4 sc; *2hdc-ch2-2hdc in point, hdc in next 8 sc; repeat from * 3 more times. 2hdc-ch2-2hdc in point, hdc in next 3 hdc; join with sl st. Ch2, turn.
Row 5: Sk next hdc, hdc in each of next 4 hdc, *2hdc-ch2-2hdc in point; hdc in next 5 hdc, skip 2 hdc, hdc in next 5 hdc; repeat from* Join with sl st, ch2. Do not turn.
Row 6: Hdc in next 5 hdc, *2hdc-ch2-2hdc in point; hdc in next 6 hdc, skip 2 hdc, hdc in next 6 hdc, repeat from * around. Join with sl st, ch 2. Do not turn.
Row 7: Hdc in next 6 hdc, *2hdc-ch2-2hdc in point; hdc in next 7 hdc, skip 2 hdc, hdc in next 7 hdc, repeat from * around. Join with sl st, ch 1, turn.
Row 8: Sc in next 8 hdc, * 3 sc in point, sc in next 18 sc, repeat from * around ending with 9 sc after last point. Join with sl st. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Another reason to never move!


Living by an elementary school has a few advantages: We get to see the Halloween parade go right by our house, we never have to park to attend a school function, we get awesome valentines from cute kids in February, oh and this year I received several handmade "remember to vote" posters and flyers on my door. I love getting to see the kids and their community involvement, but today was the best gift of all.

This morning my doorbell rang. I assumed it was UPS leaving a package and was in no real hurray to answer. But when I opened the door I was surprised to see 24 children from Mrs. Lau's 3rd grade class smiling and singing to me. Amidst their happy faces, singing, and dancing I was so happy too. When they were done we were presented with the cutest handmade ornament and about 24 awesome hugs. My favorite were the kids who greeted me with a "HI DANIEL'S MOM!" I love my new title! It was a very cute and welcome surprise this morning.

Poppy Seed Bread

I love this bread, but for some reason I only make it for Christmas. We took this to our caroling party the other night and it went pretty fast. If you use mini loaf pans this makes a yummy and easy neighbor gift!

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. oil
3 Tbsp. poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 tsp. butter flavoring

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. With mixer, blend all ingredients until well mixed. Pour into greased and floured loaf pans. You can make 2 large loves or 6 mini loaves. Bake 60 minutes (less if using mini pans) or until tester is clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan.

Glaze:
1/2 cup orange juice
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. butter flavoring
1/2 tsp. almonds extract

Heat all ingredients until sugar melts. Prick bread with fork and pour glaze over while warm.