It's About Time!

We have never been a family to get professional family pictures done.  I guess it's probably because it can be expensive and because there is a lot of stress involved trying to make sure everyone is happy, clean, cute and cooperating.

A few months ago we were lucky enough to win a free family photo session with my friend and very talented photographer, Bethany!!  They are priceless and I cannot wait to be able to get them up on my walls!

Snow!

haha.. just found this that I had posted from my phone... it still says draft so I guess it didn't work. Also added some pictures from the trip...

stuck. we are stuck. sitting in the car on I 17 south from flagstaff. i think we have traveled about a mile in the last 30 minutes. or maybe it is more like half a mile? traffic is so backed up. we had a whirlwind trip to flagstaff starting yesterday afternoon! we found out it was finally snowing in flagstaff and the kids have been begging to go see some snow all winter. we thought we had missed our chance until a big storm hit! we had a great (freezing) time in flagstaff! my poor deprieved kids have never played in snow  until now. and no, the manufactured snow at the zoo doesnt really count.it was funny to watch them play and dis cover the wonders of snow.

Hello Yumminess!

I've been on a diet for months now. Sugar is not allowed. Because of this, I spend a lot of time thinking about desserts and what I would eat if I could. Pitiful, I know. Yesterday we were invited to a Labor Day BBQ/swim party and Sage and I were excited for an excuse to bake! We leafed through cookbooks and all the yummy recipes I have saved for 'someday'. And finally just made up a recipe of our own. I can't believe I have never thought of making something like this before. It was too perfect. I think we'll call it S'more Bars (wow, that's really unoriginal... is that even a word?).

I didn't know how tasty they would be or I would have taken more and better step by step pictures. I wish my pictures were scratch n' sniff! Oooh or maybe scratch n' TASTE!! Now I'm on to something!

S'more Bars

1 Box Brownie Mix (Prepare batter as directed)

1 Jar Marshmallow Creme (Or just a bag of marshmallows! I think we'll use them next time)

1 Sleeve Graham Crackers

1 1/4 Sticks of Butter (melted)

6 Tablespoons Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Put the graham crackers in a big ziploc bag and roll/smash with a rolling pin or in a food processor and make them nice and crumbly. Pour the crumbs into a 9x13" pan. Pour the melted butter over the crumbs and mix until evenly coated and (dare I say it, Shannon??!) moist. Doesn't that word just give you the heebie jeebies??! Anyway, then you press the crumb/butter mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan. Prepare you brownie mix as directed on the box and pour the batter over the graham cracker crumbs. Looking good! Put it in the oven and bake according to the brownie mix directions. I think we baked ours for about 25 minutes... ?? But I can't remember, so check your box. Meanwhile, I scooped out the marshmallow creme into a bowl and added a little water and stirred (to make it thinner... but these brownies will not make you thinner!). I just got it thin and pourable. When the brownies were done and a fork (because I don't have any toothpicks!) comes out clean about an inch from the edge of the pan, I put them on the cooling rack for about 5 minutes. Pour and spread the marshmallow creme over the top of the brownies and admire your 3 layers from the side. pretty :) Turn on the broiler and put the pan back in the oven with the oven door cracked open so you can watch carefully (they will brown quickly). Just wait about 30 seconds to a minute until you're reminded of sitting around the campfire and the marshmallows are nice and lightly browned (don't wait until they turn into flame throwers like I always do at a bonfire!) Take them out and back to the cooling rack. If you want to use marshmallows instead of the creme, just pour them over the baked brownies and brown them under the broiler. Note: I lowered my top oven rack to the middle of the oven to broil these, otherwise I think they would have burned.

If you're living without sugar, like I am, I wouldn't recommend making these! They are very hard to resist. But if not, please enjoy them for the rest of us (um, me... ) !!

When I took them out of the oven, the marshmallow layer was perfect, but within a couple minutes it had shrunk so it wasn't as pretty anymore. With actual marshmallows it wouldn't do this and it would be gorgeous!

Side view of the layers of yumminess

There are only 3 left. Photo opportunity pickings were slim... but I think this one looks tasty!

Enjoy!! Let me know what you think!

Grace

I was looking through old pictures and found this one of Grace. I love it. :)

Random

Sage made some yummy (or so I heard) blueberry muffins

and she ate some blueberry muffins

we moved in march.. this is our new home :)

It's Labor Day and I spent several hours outside this morning laboring on the yard. It looks nice, so I took a picture. I am SO boring right now!

Dear Alex,

You are having your night terrors again. You haven't had them since we lost the house and had to move. I guess school is stressing you out. It breaks my heart when you wander around crying, still asleep. But Dad and I tuck you in, safe and sound with your 'bug' and 'man blanket', and give you lots of hugs and kisses. I love you so much, and will do whatever it takes to make you feel safe and sound 'all days'. I love you, my boy.

Love, Mama

(this picture is from when we went out on our first, official date recently)

School Has Begun... I Feel iLL

It looks like Alex doesn't feel too sure of this school stuff either... Luckily Sage is thrilled about school and will do great, I'm sure.

school days... i can't believe it starts tomorrow! yikes!