At the carwash...

My kids love the car wash! They actually call it, "The monster's tongue!" I think it's pretty hilarious, because if you go into it thinking that way you can see how it might really be a monsters mouth that you are entering, and a giant monsters tongue cleaning your car. I mean really. Once the car was back to it's shiny self we vacuumed out the car while blasting Jimi Hendrix and dancing with paper towels and windex. I love the faces on Andin and Cam in these pictures, no matter how many times we go their level of excitement with a bit of fear never changes.

The Polar Express....

We had so much fun riding the Polar Express with Anna, Heidi, Emmi, and Jake! It was very magical, and the kids were overwhelmed with pure joy. We didn't make it there early enough to get photos in the daylight, so all of my photos are regretfully in horrible lighting! Oh well....what can you do!? We spent the day driving up to Williams, Az I got to sit by Jake for most of the ride and loved every minute of it. I even got to cuddle him and scratch his arm to get him to fall asleep, he is so sweet. We had a delicious dinner at the Grand Canyon railroad buffet. Devin was totally loving it, that is so his thing. Then we went to write our letters to Santa, and the kids all sat on Mrs. Claus's lap.







The whole clan...



Next thing you know the conductor was calling, "All aboard the Polar Express!!" The kids were bright eyed, smiley, and full of wonder as we boarded. We had hot chocolate, cookies (made my Mrs. Claus herself), read the story of the Polar express, and sang Christmas carols. Andin couldn't stop looking out the window and could swear that there was snow! We made it to the North Pole where Santa came on board to visit with all the children. It really was fun, and felt so cozy and Christmas like. I loved being in my pajamas with a hot cup of cocoa, cuddling Devin, with the winter weather outside our window. It really got me in the Christmas spirit...even if it was much too early. But we were all so happy to have one last adventure with Heidi, Emmi, and Jake on their last night in Arizona.
















We got home late last night, the kids were all of course sleeping the whole way home. This morning we had to say goodbye, it was so sad. Jake kept calling my name, wanting me to kiss hims again! I couldn't help but cry, we will really miss seeing them so often. But we wish them a safe trip, and know they'll love it there!

Because I love them.....

I made another Ruby doll! I am addicted, it's true. This one was for my sweet niece Emmi, who is moving to Indiana tomorrow. I am going to miss her, but hopefully Ruby will remind her of us when she's so far away.

Pecan pie muffin bites....

These little things are unbelievably good! I found the recipe in one of my gooseberry patch cookbooks. There aren't many ingredients, they're 100 percent easy, and they taste like the real thing! I added chocolate chips, because I am a huge fan of Pecan pie with chocolate chips mixed in. Enjoy them while they last!



1 c brown sugar, packed
1/2 c flour
1 c pecans, chopped
2/3 c butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
(Chocolate chips, optional)

Combine brown sugar, flour and pecans and set aside. Combine butter and eggs; mix well. Stir into flour mixture until moistened. Fill paper-lined, or greased mini muffin cups, 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until they test done. (Don't over cook or they won't be moist with that sugary gooey layer like Pecan pie should have! I took mine out when they just barely started to brown.)

Meet Sister Erin Knudsen....

And she's off! Well, it wasn't quite that easy....we were up until 2 am trying to stuff far too many Mary Kay bottles, and other miscellaneous toiletries into her two suitcases! (Which we had to remove 8 lbs out of each suitcase at the airport to add to her carry on, or Delta would charge $90/bag! How do they sleep at night?!) We were laughing and laughing, and we talked and talked, and cuddled and cuddled, and cried and cried. I love her so much, I am so proud of her, and I can't even begin to explain the void I already feel now that she's left. But I know that she is doing exactly what is meant for her and I can't wait to hear all the adventures she has at the MTC, and especially in Brazil. She has always been my best friend and confidant. Now I need to figure out a way to get by without our daily phone calls, or her random stops or sleepovers at our house. I know that the best way to forget yourself is by serving others, and that is what Erin will be doing so I am going to try to do the same. She is a great example to our whole family, and I love how much she means to my children. After she was set apart the other day Andin gave her a huge bear hug and started crying on her shoulder. Erin was sobbing and Andin was sobbing, it was possibly the sweetest thing I've ever seen. They have always had such a great relationship, and Andin is just going to miss her so much. We all are. I feel so lucky to have the family I have, we just have so much love. Keep her in your prayers if you can! I am in charge of her Missionary blog while she's gone, if you are interested!





For those of you who don't know what I am talking about with this mission thing....my sister just left on an 18 month mission for our church, 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints." If you are interested in learning more about what she'll be teaching please visit mormon.org

This is some serious apple bread.....

This bread is just delicious! I took an apple bread recipe and added cinnamon, and a brown sugar topping and it basically made the most gooey, moist, and amazing bread ever. I know so humble about it....but just try it and you'll see. Andin helped me chop the apples, and we also made a yummy applesauce recipe that his class made at school! It is made in a crock pot and is very good, if anyone wants the recipe let me know! We decided the bread could be even more tasty with drizzled caramel or a thin glaze on top, if you can handle it any sweeter!



4 eggs
2 c sugar
1 c vegetable oil
1 t salt
1 t vanilla extract
1 t baking soda
3 c flour
1 tsp cinnamon
3 c apples, sliced

topping
mix about 3 T butter with enough brown sugar to make a crumbly mixture, add 1/2 c chopped walnuts or pecans.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine all ingredients and mix with an electric mixer. Pour batter into 2 greased loaf pans, or 4 mini loaf pans. Bake until cooked through, and top is bubbling. *If the topping gets too brown just cover with foil until the center is done.

Just remembering this.....

....one of those moments you will never forget!

Some more photos of the leaves back when we stopped in Chicago to visit my dear friend Amanda and adorable Ethan! Missing you two already!