Little piece of heaven

We made these today and they are SOOOO yummy. Better than we even hoped for considering we used a shortcut..a box mix! If you need to impress...take these somewhere.

Pumpkin cupcakes

Pillsbury pumpkin muffin mix
Make as directed for muffins then add 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Bake in muffin cups. Then add the best part...

Cream cheese frosting:
1/4 cup softened butter
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 pound powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Mix all ingredients on high until soft and whipped. Spread onto completely cooled muffins.



These two don't really go together but I finally got my dad to write down his chili recipe and I wanted to share. Like most men, he cooks on the grill and then has a few other specialties, chocolate chip pancakes and chili. It is SO good on a cold day! It's a large recipe...definitely could cut in half.
5 lbs. lean ground beef
2 bell peppers, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 large & 1 small can tomato sauce
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can Rotel
Brown hamburger, season fairly generously with salt, pepper, and chili powder. Saute bell pepper and onion. Combine all ingredients and cook in crockpot at 300 for 2 hours. Enjoy!

First Haircut

Averi had her first haircut and loved every minute! She is Miss Priss...loves everything girly, and loved looking at herself in the mirror while Jennifer cut her hair. I had a few moments of sadness as the baby curls were snipped off but she is so precious with her new do!

Mom's night out

Prayers for friends

Tomorrow (the 12th) my friend Robyn will be having her baby boy Jackson and my friend Allison will be saying goodbye to her hubby while he is deployed. If you get a chance...say a little prayer for them.

The most wonderful time of the year...

Christmas is definitely a wonderful time of year around our house. I married Mr. Christmas! Adam is all about Christmas. I am too but he really is. He starts the music in November and always wants new traditions every year. So it is extra fun around our house. Some of the highlights of our holiday season (pics to come when I finally get them uploaded)...
...Santa brought Carter a blue fish that he caught at the North Pole and named after his favorite reindeer Prancer.
...After surprisingly making it through the first night at our house, Prancer traveled for a week in a small tupperware container, got sloshed all around, and is safely back in his home. Santa caught a tough fish.
...Averi is now called the octomom because of all the babies she got for Christmas that she tries to carry around at the same time.
...We played more gin tournaments this year than ever before.
...We were blessed with a Suburban full of gifts (2 huge bean bags yeah!!) and bellies full of yummy food (got to try the Knotty Turtles (below)).
...Adam did NOT wreck my dad's new scooter this year...first time ever.
...Lots of cousins to play with...finally a cousin on my side to play with :)
...AND the biggest highlight of our vacation, my brother, Allen and Carrie got engaged!!! Yippee!!!

Knotty Turtles
mini knotted pretzels
Rolos
pecan halves

Put one Rolo on each pretzel and place on parchment paper. Bake at 200 for 4 min. Press a pecan half on each Rolo. Yum! I ate a record amount of these over the holidays.