Oh what a Test!

So This morning after cleaning up the house I went down stairs where Gabe and Jace were playing trains. I thought maybe I could play too and then read a few new Christmas Books I found.
Well sure enough Gabe was doing what he does best, playing trains. But Jace, He had taken a photo book that he loves to look through and ripped out at least 10 pages and counting. The pictures were pulled out and crunched and ripped. I about died. After a sleepless night of trying to sleep on the floor next to Jace who had an ear ache, I was faced with a picture disaster, by Jace!
So after a deep breath I unwrinkled all the pictures, I took the rest of the 200 pictures out of the book and put them all in a new book, then put them all up high.
Why do we as parents do this to ourselves? There is always something down low that we know isn't a good idea and we are just asking for a mess, but do we help make our life easier by moving it? For me, usually not!
Just wanted to share my test of the day!

OHIO

Our Trip To Ohio

So a few months ago we decided it would be fun to go see Todd and Meta and let our kids play. The vacation wasn't planned to be so soon as it was but it all worked out and what a beautiful time to go back east. We left October 16 and were gone for a week. We flew into Buffalo NY to see a few sites starting at Niagara Falls. WOW! perfect time of the year, very few people and nice weather. We rode the maid of the mist to get up close and then headed onto our next stop, Palmyra NY. We went to all of the church history sites in the area including; The sacred Grove, Joseph Smiths home, Alvin Smiths home, Alvin Smiths Grave, The Morley Farm, The Whitmer Farm, The Book of Mormon Printing Press, The hill camorah and the 4 churches corner. It was all beautiful and the spirit was great. The boys were troopers and traveled so well. We then drove 5 hours to Avon, Ohio where we found our main point of interest. Todd and Meta were so great to let us stay at their home and drive all over Ohio to show us a good time. It was so much fun, we went to Amish country (which wasn't what we expected, instead it was very commercialized and just looking for tourists). We bought some of their home made cheese and cookies and then drove home. Fun day of visiting and seeing the occasional horse and buggy.

We went to fun parks where the kids could just play and enjoy being kids, we say the Science Museum which was awesome and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland was a beautiful city and Mike was really excited about driving past the Indians and the Browns stadiums.

We spent our Sunday after church in Kirtland where we toured the temple and visited the LDS part of the town. All very interesting. We went to more farms around here including the John Johnson farm that was really neat.

Our trip to Ohio was fun, Gabe and Jace loved playing with their cousins. Gabe and Abby are great friends, they loved watching movies in the car together and mimicking each other. They also had a few tickle wars. Jace and Nate, so cute. They look like little brothers and they just chased each other around the house giggling, both with their Binky and blue blankeys. Catherine is just a sweetheart and happy to be there, what a sweet smile she has. Meta is a great cook and we enjoyed lots of her yummy food, she's a lot like me so life was easy. Our long talks in the car were so great, just catching up on life. Todd and Mike loved spending time together and got to be goofy brothers for a few days. A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!

Is this too close for comfort?
Amish country
Kirtland temple
The school room of the prophets
The Whitney store

Jacer and Nater
Me and Meta under a pretty tree
Gabe and Abby in front of an old castle (we heard it was haunted. . . Spooky)
Todd and his cute girls
This one's for you Terri, Chagrin Falls

The Mini Temple in Palmyra
The Hill Camorah, There is a monument on the top but I thought this picture was better, more realistic to how it was back then.
Mike and Todd being crazy teter totters with the kids!
All of us at a metro park on the other side of town
Crazies

More Pictures of Ohio

Still More to come, Will someone please teach me how to do this a more protuctive way!

The Palmyra Temple
The Peter Whitmer Home where the Church was restored.
Gabes favorite thing to do, he begged many times to watch a little movie
The color was Beautiful, this is near the sacred grove
The sacred grove

Under the falls
Gabes Tree, he's 4, it's 4
The Apple Orchard at Joseph Smiths Farm
Gabe Looking out through a window at Joseph Smiths house to the Sacred Grove
Our family at the Sacred Grove. Too bad it was dark, the trees were beautiful

In front of the Book of Mormon Printing press
This water was way more intresting than any of the history if you are 4 or 1.

Our first stop! Niagara falls Canada. We started our trip after a long day on a plane riding this huge skywheel. It was way fun and Gabe cried when it got over because of course, he wanted More!

Niagara Falls

On The maid of the mist. The boys hated this adventure. They didn't want to wear the plastic poncho so they screamed about that. Eventually we took them off and we all got wet. All part of the FUN!

Our trip to Ohio

This is the beginning of the pictures I will post from our trip to Ohio. I can't figure out how to put them in Chronological order so oh well. We took at least 600 pictures so I promise to narrow it down to the best 20! Cute Cousins, Jace, Gabe, Abby and Nate
Last stop The John Johnson Farm. This is where 16 revelations were given and where Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigden were tarred and feathered.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Mike plays a mean guitar!
Kirtland Ohio

Playing at the Science Museum
Gabe making the boat go!
Ralphies House!

Pumpkin Cookies

Yesterday I made Pumpkin cookies for the first time since last year and the smell filled my house, the smell that made it officially fall. I got to thinking that it might be fun to make my blog a recipe source. If I find a good one I will pass it on to friends that might enjoy, I know I would love a new recipe now and then. So here is my first stop to yummy.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream

2 eggs

3/4 c. margarine

1 1/2 c. sugar

1/2 Tbl Baking Soda

1 15 oz can of pumpkin

Mix in

3 c. flour

1 tsp each cinn, cloves, nutmeg

chocolate chips

Bake at 375 for 12 min. frost with cream cheese frosting if you want

When I made them yesterday I had to put extra flour, sometimes when the weather is cold cookies take almost a cup extra.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8 oz cream cheese

1/2 c. butter or margarine softened

2 tsp. vanilla

Beat together until light and fluffy. Add 2 c. powder sugar and beat. Then add 2 3/4 c. more sugar and beat until smooth.

So today I made another tasty meal that was such a kid pleaser all of you that struggle to get your kids to eat dinner need to try this one.

Creamy Chicken & Pasta

8 ounces penne pasta (I used curly noodles, they were fun)

3 small carrots, peeled and sliced into coins

2 cups broccoli flowerets

1 medium zucchini sliced (I didn't have any so I left it out)

1 c. frozen peas

1 lb chicken cut into 1 inch pieces

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 tbl oil

3/4 c heavy cream (I used whole milk cause I had it)

1 c. shredded Parmesan cheese

pinch nutmeg

Cook pasta in boiling salted water for 12 minutes. Add veggies except peas during the last 4 minutes. then add peas during the last 1 minute. Drain and put in large serving bowl.

Meanwhile, sprinkle chicken with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Heat oil in skillet over med-high. Cook 8 minutes, or until cooked through.

Add cream, cheese and remaining 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper and nutmeg to skillet. Boil for 2 minutes until thick. Toss with pasta and veggies.

The Blog has started

I have finally become computer literate. Thanks Meta. Tonight will be the beginning of a new me. Now I can start to show off my cute boys. Look me up every day!