Toybox

When Morgan was about Zane’s age our neighbor gave her this toybox. It has shelves above the toybox and it looks like a giant dollhouse. Maybe that is why the kids always take the toys out and climb inside. The toybox has provided hours of entertainment – who needs toys.

This picture of Zane could be very valuable when he is older. I am sure he will do almost anything to keep me from sharing it with his high school friends. Hummmm…

Happy Birthday Grandma and Grandpa!

Morgan loves birthdays. Just the thought of having another birthday this year has her so excited that she can’t go to sleep some nights. She has a long list of all the things she wants for her birthday. When I reminded her that it was Grandma and Grandpa Berry’s birthdays this weekend she insisted that we make a cake.

We were a little late, but last night we made a Hummingbird cake (a great use for two very ripe bananas). Morgan was sure we were going to send the cake in the mail to Grandma and Grandpa. I had to convince her that it would be better if we ate it for them and maybe sent some cookies.

So, we raise this piece of cake to the best grandparents in the world! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. The cake was delicious!

Sending Our Love

This is a late Happy Valentine's Day to all our friends and family! I intended to post this on Valentine’s Day but we have been a little busy. We also want to say thank you to Uncle Rick and Aunt Sharon for sending the Valentine goodies. The girls love their pajamas and Zane looks pretty cute in his hooded sweatshirt. And of course – we have all enjoyed the candy! (How can it get any better than New York Cheesecake Hershey Kisses?!)

Scott and I actually went on a date this year. We drove with another couple to the temple in Idaho Falls and then went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse afterwards. It was our best Valentine’s Day ever!

Baking Bread

On a cold winter day there is nothing better than the smell of homemade bread baking in the oven. However, it is not always easy to find the time to bake bread. I have a recipe that is so quick and easy it makes bread baking possible for even busy days. Monday I used this recipe to make homemade hamburger buns for sloppy joes. I started making the bread at 5:02 and had dinner on the table by 6:34, with the cinnamon rolls ready to come out of the oven as we finished eating. I even had to make my own sloppy joe sauce. My family said it was the best sloppy joes we have had, and the cinnamon rolls were the perfect dessert.
So here is my secret recipe . . .

Easy White Bread

6 – 6 ½ cups flour
3 Tbs. sugar
1 Tbs. Rapid Rise Yeast
2 tsp. salt
1 ½ cups water
½ cup milk
2 Tbs. butter or margarine

Combine 4 cups flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, and salt in large mixing bowl. Heat water, milk, and butter until very warm (120 to 130 degrees); stir into dry ingredients. Stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Divide dough in half, shape into loaves, and place in greased loaf pans. Cover; let rise in warm, draft free place until double in size, about 30 minutes. Bake at 400 for 20 to 30 minutes, or until done. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack.

Happy Bread Baking!

Snow Day

Yesterday was another Snow Day. Brittany was thankful that she had one more day to work on her English project.

She also liked hanging out in her pajamas all day!

Morgan went sledding in the front yard and then spent the afternoon coloring and playing with playdough. Zane just wished he could go outside. We haven't gone any where since last Thursday. School has been cancelled. Church has been cancelled. Roads have been closed.

I am thankful we were some what prepared and haven’t run out of food or toilet paper.

President Hinckley

We watched the funeral for President Gordon B. Hinckley today and it was amazing. It is incredible that one man can be such a positve influence in the world. He touched so many lives, within the church and out of the church. He was truly a "giant of a man". What a blessing it is to have lived when he lived.

Crazy Afternoon

This is how we spent our afternoon yesterday. The sun was shining and there was only a slight breeze but it was 26 degrees. The kids were a little stir crazy and wanted to go outside! Zane wouldn't make faces with the others. He was too busy dancing to his favorite CD "Six Little Ducks". We baked some cookies and they decided it was okay to stay indoors.

Mountains of Snow

You would never guess that it only snowed an inch last night. With 50 mph wind gusts it didn’t take long for our house to be buried. Our neighbor showed up at 5:30 this morning with a loader to dig us out. (Scott didn’t make it to work by 6:00.) They scooped and pushed snow for an hour in our driveway and then worked their way down the street. Morgan wished they had left her sledding hill but it was also fun to climb the mountains of snow.

Sledding

We had our own sledding hill in our front yard and Morgan couldn’t wait to try it out. This was last night at about 6:00 when we had a slight break between storms. Morgan got in almost 10 minutes of fun before the wind and snow hit us hard again.

Drifts

Not only did the snow drift outside, but we also had drifts inside the garage. Brittany thought these formations were too adorable. It was actually snowing inside the garage as well.