My longest birthday celebration....ever!

So, I must say I felt quite spoiled this year when it came to my birthday! It started on Saturday, when I opened my door to four darling friends carrying a huge Birthday cake and singing happy birthday! I loved it!. That evening, Jud wanted to take me out to a favorite restaurant and shopping for my present--a new sectional for the family room. We had a great time, and I felt like my birthday was complete (but wait, it wasn't even my birthday yet! Sunday was the big day!) So Sunday morning came, and I was greeted with breakfast in bed and all sorts of hugs and kisses from the boys. I was showered with more presents--each boy gave me a part of a new easter outfit, and Jud gave me...tickets to the Michael Buble concert (and my sectional we found the night before)! It was a great day, complete with my favorite German Chocolate cake! I thought my birthday was complete! But, girlfriends are wonderful--and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I had 3 different birthday lunches with 3 of my great friends! So much fun! But wait, that's not all! The next Sunday came, and my brothers and their wives and my parents held yet another birthday party! Yummy food and fun games and gifts! And my sister-in-law Caroline made the most fantastic chocolate cake! Yum! Then last night, I completed my birthday celebration! Jud and I partied at the Michael Buble concert! We had a great time! He sang my 3 favorite songs of his and I reveled in what a fantastic birthday I had this year. Thank you so much to my great family and friends! I love you!

Winter has come...and gone!

It's so fun to have the sun shining outside lately! But as excited as I am for the beautiful spring weather, we really had a fun winter! I think my favorite thing about the snow this year, was our own FANTASTIC sledding/snowboarding/skiing hill right in our own backyard! Even though the snow was in full force, the kids loved to be outside! They made themselves a jump for their sleds, and a rail for their snowboards. So much fun! Now, I didn't say that I took advantage of that great hill...but I sure loved watching the kids. Last summer we excavated the back yard, had a rock retaining wall built and in the process, put in the neighborhood sledding hill!

Fall Fruit Stuffing and Chops

I haven't posted any recipes for a while, so here's a fun fall recipe. We had a bunch of apples given to us from a neighbor, so I modified a recipe I already had to create this one. Enjoy!

6 pork chops (1/2 inch thick)
6 oz. package of your favorite herb stuffing
2-3 medium tart apples
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 green onions, sliced
2/3 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup olive oil or melted butter

Brown the chops on each side in a saucepan on the stove, season with salt and pepper. Mix the remaining ingredients. Place half the stuffing mixture in a medium size slow cooker. Place browned chops on top of the stuffing. Then put the remainder of the stuffing on top of that and put the lid on. Cook on high for 2.5 hours. Yum! Serve with fresh steamed broccoli.

Chase and Keaton are becoming very good pianists. They recently were involved in Duet Federation where they each received the highest rating (Superior) on both of their songs. I wanted to post these videos, so their favorite piano teacher (in Africa) can see their progress!

Family Pictures

While in Washington state, we couldn't pass up taking some pictures on the picturesque railroad tracks. Here are my favorites...

Family Vacation

Each year one of my personal goals is to plan a fun, adventurous vacation for our family. It's such a great time to bond as a family and really enjoy each other. We always come back closer as a family, so I feel it's a worthwhile tradition. Some of our previous adventures have included Sai Pan, Australia, San Diego, and fishing the awesome lakes of Minnesota. This year, over fall break, we adventured to the Great Wolf Lodge in Washington state! I cannot possibly do justice to how amazing this place is! A grown up kid with a lot of money was definitely the mastermind behind this place. Let's start with our room...there was an adult space, with a nice bed, couch, fireplace and TV, and then within the room there's a cabin built for the kids with bunk beds, their own TV, game system, and wildlife art everywhere. Next, is the giant indoor waterpark....amazing! All indoors is a waterpark with about 10 different slides, a giant torpedo ride, a wave pool, a kiddie land (even equipped with jet skis), a HUGE water dropping bucket, and more. So much fun! Then they have an interactive quest throughout the lodge that takes the kids on a scavenger hunt to collect different tokens to earn different adventures (all of the older boys became Master Magis). The older boys loved the gr8 gaming room complete with wiis, nintendos, play stations, and every game you can think of, as well as a huge screen where they show movies at different times of the day. Landon loved the cubs corner, where he was the Bingo king. I loved the enormous candy counter :) where they make their own fudge, cinnamon coated nuts, homemade cookies, cupcakes and ice cream. And I think Jud just liked having a few minutes to call his own (he was also a fan of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice hot chocolate). Our last day in Washington we stayed in Seattle where we enjoyed the sights of the big city. Mmmmm...loved the fish and chips and clam chowder. All in all, I'd have to say our adventure was a success! Maybe I'll give it a few months, and then start thinking of next years trip..... I'd love suggestions!

First Day of School

The first day of school was a first for all the boys this year. I thought I might have a stress attack as I sent all of my boys to new schools. Keaton started Jr. High, Chase and Brooks moved over to our boundary school, and Landon started pre-school. They have all adjusted amazingly well...why did I doubt??? They're all great kids and make friends so easily. Here are the first day of school pictures, such handsome boys!