I am a HUGE Bruno Mars fan. I love his voice and he is just this cute little guy. His videos are clean too, which is a big plus. This is Grenade.

Cabin Fever

After snow snow snow, we finally got the three older back to school and mommy and Hailey back to Panera.

And boy is their yogurt and mac and cheese the best.

Stuck In The Winter Funk

I HATE winter..... not only is it cold and you just can't get warm, you have to deal with staying indoors. I hate that it always looks so gloomy and that it seems to last forever. My husband has pointed out recently that I am in a moody winter funk. I can't seem to shake it. Don't want to do anything, don't want to go anywhere. Feel like just opening the door to the house is a chore. It is a good thing I make myself go running, because I am pretty sure I would become part of the decor around here if not. Can you believe they even have a term for winter depression....SAD. Great huh?

So I am trying to think of ways to make the winter a little brighter and warmer for me. Does anyone have any ideas? I sure could use them. I have never been so desperate for spring as I am this year. I am really rooting for the groundhog to not see his shadow here soon.

80's Night Done Right

My closest friend here (Christy) threw a little 80's party get together. Talk about a blast from the past. She thought it would be great fun to have us all get dressed up in our 80's best. The most embarrassing part for me was that I had most of the get up in my closet. All I had to get was the leggings and the leg warmers. Everything else I found at home. I love to wear my red belt on regular occasions as well. It really was so much fun. I felt like I was going to a Halloween party. We also did white elephant gifts but I forgot to take pictures of that part. I really should have because I found a gem of a gift at a flea market here. We had tons of good food, danced to dance central, played trivia games and just talked and laughed about our experiences. It was a great way to spend my Friday night. Thanks Christy for such a memorable evening.

Aw yeah, my grunge out look.
I used A LOT of hairspray and lots of teasing to get my hair like that. Makeup was way fun too.

Christy in her 80's shoulder pad dress. You can't tell because of the dress but she is expecting in July....yeah.

aww Jenn, sporting the mom bangs from the 80's. So hot.

Then we have the nice ugly sweater from the 80's and the best part was the turtleneck was attached to the shirt.

Poor Judy...she is also pregnant and expecting soon and she said this is all she could find to fit. She still looked awesome.

New Blog

I just created a new blog that follows my training for my first marathon. You can click on the link on my sidebar or you can just click here to check it out.

New Year Goal

Every year since I really cared about setting goals I have always set a weight goal. How ironic that this year I don't have to do that. So I was sitting here thinking about what goal I need to do. Weight is so much simpler without having to really dig into your self and improve the inner stuff that needs tweaking. This has been the hardest year by far for me. So many things have happened to me in 2010 that I was actually happy to see it go. I feel I can sort of start over this year and make it better.

If I really am honest with myself I need to do better at my calling in church. I have been so lax and horrible I am surprised that the president hasn't just given up on me and replaced me. I feel that if anything needs to be improved it is my calling. It is hard here in MD, not a whole lot of active people so it makes things that much harder to get done. I get frustrated and upset because I feel like people are just lazy and I just want to say do it yourself. But then I wouldn't serve and goodness knows that is what R.S. is all about. I have always hated service...(I hope I don't get struck with lightening for admitting that). But it is the honest truth. I avoid it at all costs. I just have always tried to do everything by myself and I just expect people to do the same. It is funny that I don't feel that way about my family or close friends who I would drop everything and do anything for. So I know I have it in me, now I just have to learn to apply it.

The other goal is to actually pick up my phone when people call. Not that I don't want to talk to the people calling, I just don't like to talk period. Sometimes I just sit there with the phone in my hand while it is ringing debating if I should pick up or not. Then as I am debating I don't catch it in time and I secretly am delighted that I didn't even have to make the decision in the first place. So no matter who it is, I will pick up and hope that the world will not come to an end.

And since I need a physical goal in there somewhere I have decided to go for the marathon in May. I have done a couple of half's and I feel that I would really like to accomplish a full. Although after running 13 miles I always cringe to think of running double that. Don't worry Mom, I will be healthy doing it. I have a great running group here to support me so I feel prepared. The race is May 1st so hopefully I will be ready to go by then.

Here is to 2011, a New Year for me to strengthen myself and make things better for everyone around me.

Bread Bowls and Tomato Soup

I made this for dinner tonight and I just have to share with everyone. These are the best bread bowls and so easy to make. My friend Christy made them for us one time and I stole the recipe from her. I found this tomato soup recipe in a new cookbook I bought. It is so creamy and good. All my kids ate it and even asked for seconds. Give them a try together for the best dinner ever.

Bread Bowls

5 1/4 c. Bread flour (I used all purpose and mine turned out fine as well)
1/4 c. Sugar
1/2 TB salt
1 1/2 TB rounded of instant yeast
2 c. Hot tap water

Mix dry ingredients. Add water and mix for 1 minute then check consistency. If too dry add a little more water, if too sticky add a little more flour. Mix for five minutes. Spray pan and counter and separate and form into loaves or whatever you are making with the bread. Let raise for about 25 minutes. Cook in a 350 degree oven for around 25 minutes. I had to cook a little longer on mine.


Tomato Bisque

10 oz container of Alfredo Sauce of your choice
1 C. chicken or vegetable broth
1 1/2 C. whole milk (I used 1 percent instead)
2 (14oz) cans diced tomatoes undrained
1/2 ts. dried basil leaves
1/4 ts. dried marjoram leaves


whisk together with wire whisk in a heavy pan Alfredo Sauce and broth. Whisk until smooth. Add milk and stir. Cook over medium heat for about 2 to 3 minutes.

Puree tomatoes in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add to saucepan along with seasonings and stir well. Heat soup over medium heat stirring frequently until mixture comes to just a simmer. Enjoy.


Since our kids eat tons of this I doubled mine. The original recipe calls for onions which I opted out of. I don't hate onions but they sure hate my husband. And I enjoy kissing him on occasion when he is not reeking of onions or garlic.

Things I am liking right now...

I have made two discoveries this week and this doesn't happen that often with me. My buddy Christy invited me over to do Dance Central with her yesterday.....I LOVED it. I had such a good time I almost didn't make it home in time for my kids to get off the bus. I had tried Kinect at my Mom's house and liked it, but this game makes it all the more enjoyable. I can't wait to get my own now and get down at home. Everyone should give it a whirl.


The next like is the movie The Backup Plan....ohhh such a funny cute romantic comedy. I laughed several times throughout. I really like Jennifer Lopez and think she is so cute and funny. And the guy.....nice abs is all I got to say. Christy and I both agreed that he has some nice abs going on in this picture. So if you haven't seen this movie I think it would be a great pick.

Unpacking....still

Will the unpacking ever end??? I feel like I am drowning in possessions and we have nowhere else to put them. I have been reorganizing to fit everything somewhere. It has been a lot of work. Plus, our mail was a nightmare. Who would have thought two weeks of mail would be such a a headache. Thank goodness I have had time to just sit down and get things in order. Tonight I can finally just sit.....and eat some ice cream.
Isn't this beautiful? I know almost everyone has a Kitchen Aid, but I did not. And my hand mixer broke so I was mixing everything by hand. I didn't complain though. I always would look at the price and cringe and say forget it. So it was a surprise when my hubby gifted me with this for Christmas. I have used it a lot already and I love it. Perfect gift for someone who loves to cook like me.

So Hailey has decided to grow up on me all of a sudden. She has learned to climb out of her crib so we graduated her to Lexie's queen bed. I was worried at first, but she has done great. When the lights go out she just lays there and falls asleep. Even if she is pure trouble awake I have to say she has been the easiest when it has come to sleeping in a big bed.

This is where the crib used to be, so much more room for the toys we have.

Hailey sitting on her side of the bed. What a big girl she is becoming.

I had to part with my crib and put it in the trash. That crib has seen a lot of babies and has held together all right. We would pass it along, but we have had to piece it together with our own screws and such over the years. I don't think I would give it to someone else and have it fall apart. No more cribs for our family.......and I am happy about that.

Merry Oklahoma Christmas

What a great Christmas this year!!! Somehow Corey was able to get two weeks off work so we decided to drive down to OK to spend Christmas with my folks. My littler sister Stacey and her hubby and cute little baby were coming already. So we figured why not add to the madness of Christmas with our crew.

I hate long driving....hate hate hate. I normally avoid it at all cost unless we are moving. This trip is 18 hours and boy does it seem like an eternity. We left Friday around 4pm and drove straight through till we got to my mom's around 10am the next morning. I know the reason I hate driving so much is I can't sleep in the car. I have tried everything and it just can't be done. Plus, I have a deformed bottom that allows my tailbone to stick out and sitting long periods of time really really hurts. Plus, for some reason my legs fall asleep and tingle the whole time. (Don't worry, this is the only bad part I promise I won't complain this whole post).

I thought I should get some nice pictures of us after 18 hours trapped in a car together:

Seems happy enough...doesn't look too shabby.
Me on the other hand...yikes.

The kids were fine, they can sleep anywhere.

While we were there, we got a surprise phone call from Josh's family saying they decided to drive down as well. So we had three families there and it was so much fun. I think this Christmas has taken the cake for me. It was nice compared to Maryland weather so we took a night walk around to see the lights. That wagon was a miracle in itself.

Thought I would bring back some 80's boom boxing for you.

I was upset this turned out blurry.

What Christmas would be complete without a trip to Bass Pro Shops Christmas. Just as a tip if you go during the week in the middle of the day there are no waits for anything. Plus you get a free picture with Santa which I can't post since I don't have a scanner.

Usual response for Hailey when pictures are involved.

That tree was huge.

The kids mesmerized by the fish.

Stopping by the North Pole, notice Gabe is pouting in the background.

We also made our way over to the Rhema lights and I love them. They had them blinking to Christmas music which was my favorite part, that and the pond with the ducks.

The Rollins and Esquibel cousins are back together again.

See....isn't that pretty.

Christmas Eve was a bunch of excited kids running around. They always get to open PJ's from Grandma Rollins and they love it every year. They always look so cute together. And since we didn't have cookies to give Santa this year, Sally stepped in and did some monkey bars instead.

All the kids in their PJ's

Hailey in hers

Lexie

Gabe with his too cool for you pose. All his idea.

Logan doing a gun pose of course.

All the presents after Santa came....we had to extend to the front door. I really have never seen so many gifts under one tree. It took us all morning to open them.

Logan digging in his stocking

Hailey and Bailey opening gifts....

Mom LOVED playing Santa this year. She was in heaven.

There is Stacey and Jason early for them. Still on California time. Sorry guys.

Gifts gifts...I think Stacey and I look alike here.

I wish I would have taken more pictures....I do that a lot. But we loved all two weeks and I loved being with my mom again day after day. It was hard to leave again. And it was really hard to want to ride in the car for another 18 hours. But we made it home safe and sound and we are trying to get back into the idea of our regular lives. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year.