Playing in the Snow

This was from yesterday when we played in the snow and it was 40 degrees out!

Monkey see...

Monkey do...

Sledding down the hill

Snow was a little patchy, but we found a good run!

Go up there, mommy!

Snowball fight

Hi-yah!

Building one of the snowball forts

It was supposed to wear them out, but it only wore me out!

Dinner in a (beer) can!

Beer Butt Chicken
(though there is probably a more appetizing term, it's really fun to say... hee hee)(adapted from Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:
Whole Chicken (4 lb)
1 (12 oz) can of beer room temp(or soda)
couple tablespoons garlic salt
Chunk of potato
Optional Chicken Rub on the outside

Directions:
1. Dump out half of the beer (or save for beer bread)
2. Add about 1 tablespoon of garlic salt to beer (it will foam up)
3. Clean out inside of chicken and rinse in cold water. Stick chunk of potato up in to the neck "hole" to plug it up (makes it extra juicy). Sprinkle chicken rub (or just garlic salt) on the outside of the chicken.
4. Slide Can up inside chicken "cavity" (we have this nifty holder that you put the can inside and the chicken rests on top, though you don't have to have) and put on deep-ish cookie sheet to catch the drippings.
5. To Grill- Cook over low heat for 3 hours or until chicken reaches an internal temp of 180 degrees F
Oven- Cook in preheated 350 degree oven for roughly 2 hours (20 minutes per pound) or until internal temp of 180 degrees (I cook the first 50 minutes at 375 so I can cook the Beer Bread at the same time)


Beer Bread
(adapted from Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:
2/3 cup of brown sugar
3 cups of Self-rising flour (or 3 cups regular and 1/2 tsp baking powder)
1 (12 oz) can of beer (room temp)
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 9x5 loaf pan.
2. Mix the beer and brown sugar until dissolved. Slowly mix in the flour (or flour and baking powder) to make a dough.
3. Pour the batter into the pan and Bake for 40 minutes.
4. Remove the bread from the oven and pour melted butter over the top. Return to the oven and continue baking until a knife poked in the center comes out clean (roughly 10 minutes). Cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing from pan. Let cool at least 10 minutes before slicing.


Yummy! Let me know if any of you try it!

Home and back to... nOrM@L?!

Hi there everyone, just getting this crossed off my list before the pics just sit on my camera and collect "figurative" dust!

Grandpa Bill (Bob's Dad) passed away, so we left a few days earlier to attend the funeral, so there are a few pictures with us dressed nicely. Then mostly pics of us hanging out, the kids dipping goodies into chocolate syrup (quick alternative to setting up the chocolate fountain, but still just as messy!), a few pics from escorting my mom and Bob to Iowa City (5 hrs one way) for one of my Mom's melanoma checkups, and then playing in my Mom's backyard. So here's the pics from our trip to Iowa...

Most of the group

Christopher very dapper in his suit

Ashlee, Christopher, Evan, Blake and Kacie

Chocolate anyone?

Kacie keeping it clean

Evan digging right in!

Christopher trying not to get his hands dirty

Blake, not worried about getting messy!

Christopher and Grandma Julie relaxing on the couch

Connie

Bouquet of flowers Jesse and Colton sent me, I think they missed us!

Riding on the carousel in Iowa City mall

Please, no more traveling!!!

(on the way home from Iowa City)

Kacie and Christopher playing with the lobster at Red Lobster

Grrr! I guess this is payback for the pic I put on her cell phone!

Hanging out in my mom's backyard

Kacie and Christopher blowing bubbles

Christopher

See ya soon!

Hey there everyone! Just a quick note to update you. Christopher and I will be heading to Iowa for my grandfather's funeral and will be there til the 22nd to support my mom. Our family is going through some trying times, but it only solidifies the relationships with each other and our faith in God, knowing that his plans are so much greater than our own. We have also recognized how important it is to love, apologize, forgive, support, encourage, comfort, respect and again love. Don't waste today and miss an opportunity to tell some one what they mean to you.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10- Two are better than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up, but is someone is alone and falls, it's very sad, because there is no one to help him.

John 16:22- So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.