Snow Storms

We've had some pretty outrageous weather here in Meridian, Idaho lately. I don't think I've ever seen so many days in a row when it has snowed. Don't get me wrong, it was nice to have a white Christmas but I am kinda glad that it's over for now at least. I was at Walmart the other night with the family and I couldn't believe how bad it was snowing. Rylan and I decided to stay in the car and have a mini photoshoot while Daddy and Grandma ventured into the store. We also decided that this is the year that we needed to purchase some sort of a snow blower. We couldn't afford the one we really wanted but we were able to get a power shovel which works pretty darn good. I think our shoveling time has been cut in half using the new power shovel. Roger just loves to shovel snow. (LOL!!!) Here's our house with some of the snow that we got. It may not seem like very much to those of you who live back east but it's alot for Idahoans to handle. We didn't put up very many Christmas decorations this year but you can see the few that I did.
We had also gone out to look at Christmas lights that night which was a lot of fun. We went to this one house that has an animated light show. You park in front of the house, turn your car radio to a specific channel and enjoy the lights and music without having to leave the comfort of your warm car. It was cool.

Recent photos of Rylan

I've been a bit behind in some of my blogging and photography. Here's some photos that I've taken of Rylan about a month ago.

My Blog into a book

So I've been so excited to finally be able to turn the 2007 part of my blog into a book... just one catch. I'm having problems finding software that will let me do it. I'd been looking into Blurb because I've known people who have used it in the past. However, they use Booksmart software which isn't currently supporting Blogger. So if anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them...

Post-Christmas Memo #1

Hello! I hoping that you all had a wonderful Christmas! I did. I can't believe that Christmas got here so quickly and now it's over... doesn't hardly seem possible to have this year be over soon... I have been neglecting my blog quite a bit this month but it's been such a busy month for me. I've been so very blessed to have Mom McQ come back for another visit and it's been absolutely awesome to have her here during the holidays. We will all be so sad when she goes home Saturday morning. We've been able to do ALOT of fun things... haven't taken nearly enough photos but I'll try to get some posted soon... I am also very excited to have the ability to publish my blog into a book this next month. I can't wait to see how it will turn out... Well, enough for now but I'll post more soon...

Christmas Recipes: Fudge

Here's a few Christmas recipes that I looked up and think I might try... Not sure which fudge recipe I'll try but I'll let everyone know...

EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Ingredients
Makes about 3 pounds
4 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup (one stick) unsalted butter, plus more for fingertips
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chopped nuts, such as pecans or almonds (optional)
Directions
Line an eight-inch square baking pan with wax paper. In a heavy medium saucepan, whisk together sugar and cocoa. Add cream, butter, and corn syrup; cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until bubbling around the edges, about five minutes. Continue cooking, without stirring, until mixture reaches the soft-ball stage on a candy thermometer (238 degrees to 240 degrees), 12 to 15 minutes; wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming. Remove pan from heat; let mixture rest in pan, undisturbed, until it has cooled to 160 degrees, about 40 minutes. When temperature reaches 160 degrees, quickly pour fudge onto surface, using a rubber spatula to gently empty pan while holding pan very close to surface to prevent spattering. Spoon vanilla extract over fudge; let cool until fudge is almost at room temperature, about 15 minutes. Using a long offset spatula, being pulling fudge in a figure-eight motion, moving from the bottom right, then up and over to the top left, before pulling back down to the right. Repeat, moving from the bottom left, then up and over to the top right, before pulling back down, pushing fudge onto itself. Continue in this manner until you see a sudden change in appearance of fudge, from glossy to matte, 12 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped nuts, if desired, and stir well to combine. Spread fudge onto a wax-paper-lined baking sheet; flatten with lightly buttered fingertips. Cover with wax paper; let stand at room temperature until set, at least four hours or overnight. Cut into squares before serving.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE

Tools and Materials

9-by-5-inch loaf panWaxed or parchment paperNonstick cooking sprayMeasuring cupsMeasuring spoonsMedium saucepanWooden spoonKitchen timerChef's knife
Prep: 20 minutesTotal: 3 hours and 20 minutes
Ingredients
Makes about 24 one-inch square pieces of fudge
FOR THE FUDGE
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups mini marshmallows
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
FOR THE MIX-INS (OPTIONAL)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup crushed peppermints
Directions
Line 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with strips of waxed or parchment paper; coat evenly with cooking spray. Set aside. Combine sugar, salt, butter, cream, and marshmallows in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan. Set over medium heat; cook, stirring, until butter and marshmallows are almost melted, 5 to 6 minutes. Bring mixture to a boil; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. An adult should remove the pan from the heat. Add chocolate chips and vanilla to saucepan. Stir until chips are melted and combined. If you like, mix in 1/2 cup peppermints or nuts. An adult should pour hot fudge into the loaf pan. Top with remaining mints or nuts. Cool fudge in the pan, at room temperature, 3 hours. Grip paper, lift out fudge, and place on cutting board. Discard paper. An adult should cut fudge into squares. AMAZING SHAPES You can use cookie cutters to delight your loved ones with fudge shaped as snowflake or bite-size "drops." Instead of using a loaf pan, pour a double batch of fudge into a lined and greased 9-by-13-inch pan; let cool, remove from pan, then cut with cookie cutters. For the snowflakes, dust the fudge with confectioners' sugar. Pack it in a box lined with waxed paper to avoid sticking. The fudge will keep at room temperature for ten days in an airtight container.

EXTRA EASY FUDGE
INGREDIENTS
2 cups milk chocolate chips
2 1/2 cups prepared chocolate frosting
1 cup chopped walnuts
DIRECTIONS
Line one 8x8 inch square pan with foil. Lightly butter the foil.
In a small saucepan melt the chocolate chips over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove the melted chocolate from the heat and stir in the frosting and the nuts stirring until smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and refrigerate until firm. Once firm cut in small squares.

REMARKABLE FUDGE

INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups evaporated milk
4 cups white sugar
DIRECTIONS
Line a 13x9 inch baking dish with foil and butter the foil.
In the top half of a double boiler combine the butter or margarine, evaporated milk and sugar. Cook on medium heat for 12 minutes or until it reaches a temperature of 236 degrees F (112 degrees C). Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips, vanilla and marshmallow creme. Stir until chocolate chips melt then mix in the chopped walnuts. Spread mixture into the prepared pan. Score into squares while still warm. Refrigerate until firm then cut along the scored lines.

Yummy Yummy!!

The other night we made spaghetti and I decided to let Rylan try to feed it to himself. I must say he did very well even if he did get it all over his face. It was so cute!

More Photos

Yummy Pumpkin Pie!!!

Rylan's first experience with an OREO cookie

Santa Photos

This year's experience with Santa Claus was not as good as years before. Rylan seemed to be afraid of Santa so we had to do a bit of tricking to get them in a photo together where Rylan wasn't crying. Here's what we got:

(I'm outta here!)

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom! Yesterday was my Mom's birthday. Rylan made her a homemade card and we got her another card and a balloon bouquet. I hope you had a great birthday Mom. Love you!

It's been a busy few weeks

It's been a busy few weeks lately so I haven't had a lot of time to blog but everything is ok. We're very excited because Mom McQ was able to fly back last weekend so she can spend a couple weeks here in Boise with us for the holidays! We're so thankful for that and Rylan is LOVING every minute. My work is keeping me busy as usual and I enjoy it so much. A couple of the girls from work wanted to go see Twilight the other night so we did that on Monday evening. Then Tuesday evening, Mom McQ and I went over to Clarissa's house for a Body Shop At-home Pedicure party. So we haven't been home very much this week. Over the weekend, we dug out the Christmas decorations and finally got them put up. I didn't put up as many this year as normal but maybe next year.

I have to also admit that I am so stoked about one of my recent purchases. I have to admit an addiction. I am SOOOO addicted to Scentsy. I started out with one little warmer and a few scents. I liked how good it made my house smell. I had purchased these scents: (This is the order of my personal preference- starting with my favorite) Thunderstorm (this one is amazing.), Snowberry (also another great one!), Cozy Fireside, Baked Apple Pie, Clean Breeze and Autumn Sunset. I have also added a few more things to my collection now. I was able to pick up 2 plug-in warmers and several new scents: Spiced Orange Harvest, Clove & Cinnamon, Coconut Lemongrass, Sticky Cinnamon Bun, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Peach Cobbler Cinnamon, another Thunderstorm, another Snowberry and Mediterranean Spa. So far, I have a plug-in in each bathroom and my warmer in the living room. Even though I have different scents in each one, they all seem to be complimenting each other so well that I am thrilled. I don't want to leave the house- it smells too good. I don't know if I would have taken the plunge and tried Scentsy if it wasn't for a great Blogging friend, Misty, who is a Scentsy consultant. I gotta give a shout-out to her website: www.scentsy.com/mistybarry. If anyone is considering trying Scentsy, email her, check out her site, you won't be disappointed. Well, I will post some photos in a separate entry so look for those and I'll try to be better at posting.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for this year that it would take too long to list them all but here's my top 3.

1. My family including this adorable little boy who makes me smile every day when he smiles and laughs.
   
2. My health
3. My Faith
   

My ABC's

I've decided to challenge myself

I have decided that I am going to teach myself Spanish. I have taken several different spanish classes throughout my school days but it seems like you really do lose it if you don't use it. I want to be able to translate at work and understand people who come in to bond people out. So here I go...

BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!

This is the best movie ever!!! I'll elaborate more later. You really have to see this for yourself.

Family Time

We're sad to say that Grandma McQ* went home to Las Vegas yesterday. We've had a terrible time today trying to adjust and I'm hoping that she can come back soon.. Here's some recent photos to share...

I'm so addicted

I have to apologize for not writing alot this week but I've been a bit busy with family and reading. I have to say that I'm so addicted to the Twilight Saga books. I started reading Twilight Thursday of last week and finished it within 24 hours. Then I read New Moon and now I've finished Eclipse. I'll start Breaking Dawn tonight. I never thought about reading these books but so many people have read them and encouraged me to give them a try. I'm excited to say that I'm glad I did and I want to see the movie when it comes out this weekend. I guess I'm a hopeless romantic... I just love the idea of Edward and Bella!!