Good and Easy

Intriguing title! But really, it's about food. Easiest dinner and extremely delicious.

Boom...Turkey Breast

Boom...Apple Cider

Boom...crock pot on low for 8 hours

Seriously so good. Maybe all you people do this on a regular basis, but I just discovered it. So delicious. Enjoy!

Macy Jane....4 months young!

Can't believe we have reached the 4 month mark. Here is my gorgeous girl about a month ago in her blessing dress. She is a pure joy. She giggles and laughs and stares at you until you laugh back at her. She is into extreme emotions right now...happy one minute, screaming bloody murder the next.

I love this little girl!

Yummy!

Happy 4 months...you are my dream baby!

Quinn cubed

The mighty Quinn has turned 3 (with the attitude of a 12 year old). Here are the highlights:

It started last weekend when Grandma Newman took Quinn to Build-a-Bear for his chance to make a bear. All was great until the stuffing machine scared the be-jeebies out of him!

(just minutes before the horror)

But all was soon well and he made an adorable fireman bear named "Burnie".

His birthday was on Monday, so it was kind of low-key. McDonald's playland, brownies, and getting his cool "shake and go" racetrack. Honestly, I ache to play with this toy. It's so fun!

Friday was his first real party. Of course it was Thomas...

(cutest train ever!)

Li-Li was in attendance, as well as a few boys from the neighborhood

We made train cars to go to the "Island of Sodor" (ie, my dance studio). I had done this party for Parker when he was 3 and we drew train tracks on my gi-normous driveway. This still worked, but we had no tracks.

Bill was the conductor. This was the night train (notice the light...we were getting desperate!) There aren't too many pics of this, as I was being the tunnel with my dad.

They decorated cute little train cars as their cake....this was my mom's wonderful idea. This way I didn't have to recreate a Thomas cake. My cousin Ashley can attest to the trickiness of that! Hers was gorgeous and I could not recreate it.

So...I feel like he's been properly celebrated. He is my child who can go from uber-sweet to screaming tantrum in 10 seconds flat, but I love him dearly. Happy Birthday, gorgeous!

The December Marathon....I survived!

I must confess...I'm kind of glad it's January. December wore me out!

We made gingerbread cookies at my mom's house.....

Emi danced as a reindeer and as a Polar Express child (not pictured)...

we partied with the bishopric (that's non-alcoholic by the way)....

we wrote and delivered letters to Santa....

we mugged for the camera....

multiple times.....

we went Christmas caroling with our neighbors...

and played great at the Christmas recital (Parker's giving himself a thumbs up)

Quinn and Derek were bribed with a ride on the mall train for coming on vistiting teaching visits....

we saw the lights at Thanksgiving Point and enjoyed their live reindeer. This is the "Charlie Brown Christmas" moment. Notice the little tree? They are pretending it is the little tree in the show and doing the "Hark the Herald Angel" OOO's from the show.

We made a great gingerbread house!

Bill and I were lucky enough to get away for a day to go snowmobiling with our neighbors...

and we giggled the night away at the annual "Girl's Night" white elephant party up at a great cabin.

We saw Temple Square...wet cold mittens were the cost for this picture.

we built a small, lame snowman (the snow wouldn't pack). Drive by my house now. We have a WAY better one.

Bill taught Emi and Quinn to make his famous fudge....it's amazing. I can't believe I was lucky enough to marry someone who makes killer fudge.

We donned Christmas jammies

and loved Christmas morning!

Macy got a dolly...

and Emi loved her Zu-Zu pet from cousin Caroline.

Believe it or not, there was more, but I won't subject you to even more. It was a wonderful Christmas with my wonderful family!