Yummy Stuff

I found two incredibly easy and delicious recipes this month! I love baking and trying new recipes and sharing my treats with my friends and family. These two recipes were a hit and I will definitely be whipping them up again very soon.

I

Easy lemon cookies made with a lemon cake mix, cool whip & 1 egg.

 

Beat the egg, add cake mix and 2 cups cool whip.  Mix altogether.  Batter will be sticky.  Roll into balls in powdered sugar.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  If you like lemon you will love these! 

 

Berry Cobbler

I love berries and this is a very simple cobbler that is a snap to make and so delicious. 

In a 8 x 8 pan add 4 cups frozen mixed berries (I used the Costco brand) 
In a bowl, mix 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar with 6 Tablespoons Butter.  Pour over top of berries.  Do not mix into berries.
Bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until golden brown.  (I like my topping to be crunchy so I cooked an extra 5 min)

I love to READ!

Who knew that I loved to read?  I didn't.  (I'm pretty sure the Kindle Fire Erin gave me for Christmas has helped)  I have never read that much - maybe in a good year I would read one book that took me several months to complete.  You see, I have a very short attention span and I can't just sit and read for longer than about 15 minutes!  Since I have not been working and I have more time on my hands and very little stress, I am finding that I can relax now and sit down and actually enjoy a good book.  I am on my 4th book since January!  I find myself not wanting to finish each book because I am enjoying it so much.  The four books that I have read have been very different but I have enjoyed all of them equally.

I have read several of Nicolaus Sparks books but this is one of my favorites.
Full of suspense and a great love story.  (The movie did not do it justice)

I have followed this blog for a couple of years now so I decided to read her story.
Very inspirational about a young couple with 4 children who are in a plane crash and
the wife is burned over 80% of her body.  It is so sad but so inspiring and hopeful.

This book takes place during the depression and it's about a
young librarian who delivers books in rural Kentucky.  Lots of
  drama and suspense in this one.  I had a hard time putting it down!

This book takes place during WWII and is about 4 women who
work in a ship factory while their boyfriends/husbands are off to war.
I'm not quite finished but I love this book.  A great look at the 1940's
during the war and a great love story.

 
I think I am going to read some of the classics next... next up is Grapes of Wrath then Great Gatsby.  Being able to get books instantly on my Kindle is amazing!!

Fun with my Grandsons!!

Jackson's first Pinewood Derby.  There was a lot of excitement leading up to the race.  Jack won for his age group but came in 4th overall thus the sad face.  I guess he wanted to win it all.  Lincoln entered as well but his races didn't count since he was not a scout yet.  He also has a sad face because his car came in last place.  These boys have a lot to learn - I guess it's not a bad thing to be competitive.  We'll get em next year boys now that you have some experience!!

Every Friday I pick Coleman up while Megan works in Jack's classroom.  We do lots of fun things together and I love spending time with him.  This particular Friday Jack and Lincoln got out of school early for Parent/Teacher conferences so I took all 3 boys to lunch and then to 'Castle Park' in Lexington Hills. It was 75 degrees on this day and the park was swarming with kids.  The boys had a ball and I enjoyed soaking up some sun and watching them run wild! 

OWEN TIME!

I had such a great time in Utah with my sweet, adorable, funny and smart little grandson, Owen!  It was great spending six days with him just playing, singing, dancing, cuddling and going on walks.  He is such a joy and so much fun!  I was afraid that he might not be thrilled to see me since he doesn't know me very well yet, but he took to me easily and quickly. 





I arrived on Sunday afternoon to freezing temperatures and lots of snow!  This California girl is not used to this kind of weather.  I found Jordan's car in the parking lot and as you can see there was quite a bit of snow that I had to deal with.  I had to scrap the snow off the windshield and back window before I could leave the airport parking lot.  There were a few flurries as I was driving but the roads were clear.  I white knuckled it all the way to American Fork and was very happy when I arrived safely!  Quite an adventure (for sissy me anyway)!

Luckily Owen is not a picky eater.  He ate pretty much everything I gave him.  Here he is eating green beans, grilled cheese and pears for lunch.  (He is staring at the TV as he eats here watching his favorite show, Cailliou!

BATHTIME ....These pictures are a little blurry because he never stops moving!

He spotted this hat in his drawer and insisted on wearing it even though it is too small and we weren't going anywhere.  I have to admit he looks pretty cute in it! (Another blurry picture)

One day I got brave and ventured out for lunch at Chick Fa La.  He loved the play area and following all the kids around.  Every little boy he saw he called Jack!  One little boy got chased all over the place with Owen yelling Jack Jack.  Finally the little boy yelled back and said "My name is not Jack!"

Everyday we tried to get outside.  Owen loved it!  He loved tramping around in the snow and eating it.  This was taken towards the end of the week when the snow was starting to melt.  He insisted on dragging around that nasty bucket!

 

Here he is in his funny little hat again.  He spotted it as soon as he woke up from his nap.  He also loved my cup.  I had to hide it from him, but he kept finding it!

 I love this picture.  He had just woken up and was watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  I wish I could have gotten more pictures of him smiling, but he is not easy to take a picture of and since my camera is on a 20 second delay it really is hard to capture any decent pictures.

Love this little boy!  I cried all the way to the airport.  I miss him so much and can't wait until I can spend time with him again. 

Crazy - Busy - Wonderful JANUARY

This is going to be a great year!  I can feel it.  It started out not so great but I will never let a little cold get me down!  Being retired is a feeling that is hard to descibe.  I knew I was going to love it, but I didn't now how much.  It is amazing just doing what I want to do everyday without worrying about having to be somewhere and have someone breathing down my neck all the time.  I highly recommend it to everyone!!

My dear sweet friend Bonnie Smith had a little breakfast gathering at the beginning of the month to celebrate my retirement. 

Megan was a good sport to come  and hang out with all my "older" friends. Most of them have known her since she was a little girl!

Bonnie Smith, NancyEdwards, Pam Garvin, Margaret Fairchild, Kris Day, Nancy Anderson, Kris King and me

The middle of the month I took a much anticipated trip to Disneyland with Megan, Justin and the boys.  We had so much fun for four days.  I have never spent that much time at Disneyland. I realized how old I am getting.  Every night when we returned to the hotel, my poor legs would hardly hold me up they hurt so bad!  I spent lots of evenings soaking my feet and legs in the bathtub.  We had a great time and since a picture speaks a 1000 words here goes....

 

 

 

Coleman was a BIG fan of the merry go round 

Lincoln, Jack and I tried really hard to pull out that sword!

I saw the World of Color for the first time and it was amazing

Of course all three boys got picked for the Jedi training and loved it

Lincoln sitting on the pirates treasure on Pirate Island (formerly Tom Sawyer Island)

What can I say about this picture?  Not my idea but I tried to be a good sport!

Love this picture with Pluto at Toon Town



Coleman all strapped in on the Buglife ferris wheel.  Coleman and I enjoyed Bugs Life while everyone else went on Tower of Terror!!

We all loved the newest attraction at CA Adventure - Cars Land!

The first two days it was very cold as you can see by the layers that Megan and Justin are wearing
 

 

Taking a break in front of Small World

Megan - Lincoln - Coleman on the rockets

See you in a couple of years Disneyland!!

I have spent a lot of time watching basketball games!  Really brings me back to all those basketball games I watched Shauna and Jordan play.  I have missed them and now I get to relive them again with Jackson and Lincoln! 

Did I mention how much I love being RETIRED??!!
 

Christmas Videos

The first video is of me opening the canvas Shauna had made of my four grandsons. Of course I cried and everyone laughed! The picture is the cutest ever! The 2nd video was taken on Christmas Eve of Lincoln singing "This is the Season"

Christmas 2012

We had a great Christmas this year.  Three of my four children came to Folsom to celebrate the holiday.  Megan's family (yay they live here now), Shauna came from LA, and Jordan's family came from Utah.  We really missed Erin a lot!  We spent lots of time together doing all kinds of things from Jordan's birthday dinner at Chicago Fire, lots of shopping, baking and cooking, lots of lunches at La Bou, lunch at Pizzaria Classico, and Freebird, dinner at Red Robin, movies - Le Miserable, and lots of friends and family visits. 

Megan and Lincoln catching up on celebrity news!

Kristine whipping up a meal for everyone

Jordan and Owen enjoying a quiet moment on the Ipad

Three cute boys playing a video game

Our families favorite cookies - a Christmas tradition.  Shauna made all these cookies and we loved everyone of them!

Christmas Eve at Grandma Lewis'

Jordan's family with Grandma Lewis

Me, Shauna Jordan and Megan

Some of the Lewis clan

Christmas morning

 

Jack and Owen

Jordan and Owen opening t-ball from Aunt Erin

Owen is a big fan of balls just like his Dad was!

Coleman reading his book from Aunt Shauna

Christmas Breakfast

Lincoln lounging on his giant stuffed dog!
 

We all needed a Diet Coke after opening all those presents!!