i had a little visitor,

in the shower.

she couldnt wait for me to rinse my sud covered body to take her pjs off.

she wanted in and i couldnt stop her.

stinker.

a warm lunch

it has been chilly here lately (compared to our 80 degrees we were enjoying) so, i made this soup the other night. it turned out pretty yummy. chicken cream cheese soup. it was creamy and filling. you could also leave out the chicken for a meatless meal and still be satisfied. i pulled the leftovers out and had it for lunch yesterday. so good with toasted sourdough on the side.


Chicken Cream Cheese Soup
1 lb chicken (breasts or combination)
1 onion, diced
1-2 Tb butter
2 handfuls baby carrots (about 2 cups sliced small)
4-5 potatoes, diced small (i used red potatoes, whatever you have on hand)
1 c milk
1/4 c flour
8 oz package cream cheese
1. Put chicken in pot and cover with water; boil until cooked. Take chicken out of water but keep the broth. When chicken is cool, shred.
2. Saute onion in butter. Put onion in pot and add carrots and potatoes. Add 3-4 cups of broth or enough to cover vegetables. Add bouillon cubes or soup base for flavor (I add 4 bouillon cubes). Bring to a boil and simmer until veggies are tender.
3. Mix flour with milk and add to soup. Soften cream cheese in microwave then add to soup in little pieces and stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper.



stay warm

our book recommendations

all i can do is giggle. me, a book recommendation!!?? i have never been big reader. it makes me tired, i am slow, so it takes me forever to finish the book. but.... since we got rid of our cable, things have changed. i have been reading more and liking it. i just finished a really good book. which leads to my book review....



The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright. a very good book about families, love, and forgiveness. it was a very fast read and has a twist. you can find it at Amazon, Deseret Book, Barnes and Noble (at this website you can read a synopsis), or check your local library, they just might carry it. me and my mom have been buying books and sharing them, she bought this one this time around.
give it a try, i dont think you will disappointed.


Addies Recommendation....

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr.
Addie says she likes the pictures in this book. This book is a classic with wonderful illustrations and leaves the kids in suspense. it helps them learn their colors an animals as well. you can find this book at your local library and any book store.


Callies recommendation.....

anything with a Little Golden Book spine. especially the Rudolf one, that one has Santa, her newest infatuation.

happy reading everyone. i have started a new book called

The Incredible Gifts of Women. i will let you know how it is.

so far, so good. :)

an interview with miss addie

( with no encouragment from me)

who is your best friend?

callie

what is your favorite dinner?

noodles

what is your favorite fruit?

blueberries and then strawberries

what do you like to do with daddy?

go to the park

what do you want to be when you grow up?

a princess

what scares you?

A BEAR!!! AHHH

whats your favorite game?

hide and seek

purple or pink?

purple

what is your favorite book?

fancy nancy the butterfly one

what do you like to do at home?

play with my dress up clothes and read lots of books





what is your favorite word?

Alabama

what is your favorite number?

sixty twenty

you are.....

a special girl

new items

well, some of them at least.

here are a few loverly rings and earrings just added to my shop.

go take a look see.

quiet time

in the corner of the kitchen.

in her own little world.

a cozy chair.

and new colored pencils.

ruby red ballet slippers

addie received these red ballet slippers

for Christmas

from her bud, Triston.

pretty much every girls dream,

to dance in real, RED ballet shoes!

and addie pointed out that her and Fancy Nancy match,

see.

in addies words, now, shes stylin!

country talk

we have a new equestrian center in our part of town.

basically, meaning we will be going to some rodeos this spring.

we went to the opening on saturday. we got our boots dirty, smelled bbq, watched horse races, and enjoyed the country life for awhile.

speaking of country, lets talk a little music. i am a fan of all kinds of music. all genres, all types. but you all know that country is at the top of the list. the Lady Antebellum cd has been on repeat in our van since Christmas(my gift to mark). i love them, my new favorite country band. you may know them by hearing this song on the radio(if you listen to country music that is).

my fav song on the cd right now(and for the past few weeks)

is run to you, their new single. o i love it.

if you like these songs, this is another favorite.

and if you are a fan, and like footage,

check here for their webisode wednesday.

mark, i run to you.

yummy amped up oatmeal

banana pecan oatmeal

1 cup 1% lowfat milk
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2/3 old fashioned oats, uncooked
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 mashed banana

roasted, chopped pecans

In a small saucepan, bring milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a simmer (watch carefully); stir in oats. Return to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Cook 5 minutes for old fashioned oats, or until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.Remove oatmeal from heat. Stir in vanilla. sprinkle chopped, roasted pecans on top (not optional).

i am not a plain oatmeal person. i usually eat it with berries, vanilla and milk. but this new recipe is so flavorful and yummy. i didnt think callie would like it, she devoured it. 2 bowls for her. addie gagged, story of her life. when she was younger, we used to think she was bulimic, kinda.:) anyway, thats another story.

forget the gagging part and make some
healthy good oatmeal for your family.

right now, this very moment

in comfy clothes.

after a long day at the

post office,

library,

park,

target.

deciding what to make for dinner.

not wanting to fold the pile of laundry on the couch.

i am loving on my girls today.

not that i dont everyday, but today i just cant get enough.

they are so precious and beautiful to me. they are tender, sweet, irresistible.

i cant wait till tomorrow,

my husband took work off ,

:)

what do you have planned for the weekend? do share.

toodle loo,

jessica

ps. i am ever so excited that nie is back. i have missed her o so.

being ok

addie heard this song this morning on

pandora radio.

she was singing it all day.

and now its in my head.

i love this song.

today i know i am ok. :)

one of the few things i like about the desert

remember this green fruit on my tree out back, well now it is bright yellow and ready for the picking. this is one of the goodness's of this icky, hot desert.

i stayed home from church with callie (still sicko) and made lemon bars. if i sniff in through my nose while eating this yummy desert.... i can taste it. :)




callie didnt like it so much. maybe its too tart or sour for her.... ya think. well i did add a little extra lemon juice, i like it extra tart.

she did however love having the princess castle and kitchen all to her little self.

and she thoroughly enjoyed tearing the whole box of tissues into little, tiny pieces. not pictured.

:::

:::

:::

yum a dum dum.

make some lemon bars.

2 C. flour

1/2 C. powdered sugar

1 C. butter

4 beaten eggs

2 C. sugar

1/3 C. lemon juice

1/4 C. flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

Sift together 2 C. flour and powdered sugar. Cut in butter until mixture clings together. Press into an 8 by 8 in. pan. Bake at 350 for 25 min. or until lightly browned. Beat together eggs, sugar and lemon juice. Sift together the 1/4 C. flour and baking powder. Stir into egg mixture. Pour over baked crust. Bake at 350 for about 25 min longer. Sprinkle with additional powdered sugar. Cool. Cut. Enjoy.