Winner (or runner up....well second runner up!)

Check out my winning recipe! I entered a recipe contest through www.gorgeouslygreen.com and Sophie Uliano, the author featured my recipe on her site. I am so excited to be featured on her site. I am receiving a bake ware set!!!

Update...

So my Grandma is doing amazing and is going home either today or tomorrow. My mom shared with me that my Grandma was experiencing chest pain about 2 weeks ago, went to her doctor and was giving some medication to help with the pain. Well she experienced the pain 3 more times, the first two the medication took the pain away but the 3rd time not at all. So my Grandma called 911, they took her to the hospital where they performed an Angio and also put 3 stents in. And then yesterday she had her heart attack. I have to believe that because my Grandma went to the doctor when she first experience the chest pain and was giving medication, that is why she has recovered so fast. I think if she would have ignored the pain she could have had a worse heart attack. I am so relieved to hear that she is doing so well and will be returning home shortly. Thank you to all who have sent your kind thoughts and prays.

Grandma Alice...

Great Grandma Alice with Cousins Silas, Charli and Dale

Her sweet Great Grandchildren.

Grandma Alice made this jacket for Charli.

Isn't it cute!

My mom learned how to sew from her mother

So my sewing skills go back to my Grandmother.

I am so thankful for her for this.

Charli and my Grandma meeting for the first time

Shortly after she moved to Chico from Alaska.

I just got word today that my Grandma Alice, my mom's mother had a heart attack today. She lives in Fort Bragg, CA and was air lifted to Santa Rosa. My middle name being Alice is after this Grandma and I have always felt like she has held onto the old time traditions, which is something that has always been intriguing to me about her. She has always sent birthday cards to everyone, no fail, so amazing! Shortly after Charli was born my Grandma Alice moved back to Chico from living in Alaska for many years. I was so excited to introduce the two for the first time. There is something so great about an innocent child and their Great Grandparent. Both being frail and so sweet. Here are some pics that I have of my Grandma. Please pray for her. I don't have many details on her situation at the moment.

Our 1st SNOW....

When your child puts on their snow boots and starts making snow angels on the kitchen floor....You know it is time to let them go outside and play in the snow.

Eating the 1st snow of the season!!!

Look at the happy face.  I don't think her smile could get any bigger

We got our first snow of the season yesterday, and we all enjoyed the snow, cold weather and the fact that it was a Sunday and had nowhere to go.  Well sort of....Charli's preschool class was scheduled to have a Christmas Singing Performance.  Due to the snow fall it was cancelled.  We were pretty bummed, especially Charli.  But staying home allowed us to get our Christmas baking completed.  Once the snow started falling, Charli got very excited and decided to shove her feet in her too small snow boots.....laid down on the kitchen floor.....and attempted to make a snow angel.....on the cold hard tile.  At that point I decided it was time to bundle Charli up and let her play out in the snow.  I did discover that this is the last year she will be fitting in her snow clothes.  Next year we will be investing in bigger ones.  Chad went outside with Charli for a little while....put her on his snow board and pulled her around a little.  Charli was convinced that Chad and I needed to get our skis out and go skiing.  I stayed inside and took some video.....and Charli told me to close the door and that she would let me know when she was ready to come in.  So that is just what we did.  Our child happily played in the snow and the parents stayed inside and watched through the window.  

CHRISTMAS BAKING....

Charli and Chad hammering the candy canes

Look at all those bags of marshmallows, peanut butter cups, and brown sugar

Dipping dried apricots in melted chocolate

Mommy's little helper...

So Charli and I did our Christmas baking yesterday.  We baked from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm!  We were sugared out buy the end of the day.  I don't think Charli actually consumed any nutrition the whole day, nor were we ever really hungry do to all the tasting, baking, and smelling all the goodness going on in our kitchen!  We made Peanut butter cookies with peanut butter cups, peppermint rice crispy treats, chocolate dipped apricots and carmel corn.   Yummy * Yummy * Yummy

Now we will package them up and send them off to all the lucky recipents on our treats list.  

Unfortunately it snowed yesterday, I have no 4 wheel drive and all the schools are closed today... so the shipping will have to wait until tomorrow.  

1st Annual Kids Christmas Party and Taylor's 3rd Birthday....

We had our 1st annual Kids Christmas Pary! Now that our group of friends has expanded by about 10 more bodies it has become apparent that we need to do a kid friendly party. We all had a blast and I think the adults had as much fun as the kids. The party was hosted by The Kennedy family. Taylor Kennedy's birthday is Christmas Eve so we also celebrated his birthday at the party. We thought it only fair to do his birthday first and then start the Christmas party. So.... Taylor got to open his presents, eat birthday cake, and enjoy his birthday evening and then we started the Christmas party. The kids drew names at our 1st Annual Thanksgiving Dinner with Friends. So at the Christmas party they exchanged gifts. The kids did fantastic and were so interested to see what they all got for eachother, and also what they were getting themselves. Charli drew Keegan's name and she got him a Lightning McQueen race track. Paige drew Charli's name and gave her a baby My Little Pony, that Charli has just fallen in love with. Tayor got a dress up trunk as one of his birthday gifts and that became a huge hit with all the kids. As you can see Charli enjoyed transforming into Cat Girl, with just her Dora panties and sparkely red socks, and also a Knight. Us adults also did a gift exchange. The night was really a lot of fun and we plan to continue this tradition.

RESULTS....

Just thought I would throw this in for funnzies!!!

Zilba has chronic issues with his ears 

Lately he has had a head wrap on 

to prevent scratching.

We like to call him 

Mother Theresa.

Charli got the honors of 

mixing up the names of the people 

who entered my 

first Charli'z giveaway

Close your eyes 

and pick a name

No peeking!!!

And the winner is.......

ERIKA

Yeah for you Erika

I was so pleased with my first ever giveaway.  I had a lot of fun doing it and got 19 comments.  Pretty good for little old me.  So fun.  Thank you to all of you for entering and I plan to do more in the future.