How much snow did you get?

All this snow fell yesterday. This is from our driveway... 9" with another storm in the works for today.

Snow Day Cinnamon Rolls

Here's another recipe for you. These are some of the best cinnamon rolls I've had (the rest of the crew loves them as well) AND they are super easy. I stole the recipe from one of my sister-in-law's in Florida, but since she never reads my blog, I can claim it as my own... :)

Super Soft Cinnamon Rolls

2 cups warm water
3 packets yeast (or 2T + 3/4tsp yeast)
1 white cake mix
3 1/2 - 4 cups flour
1 stick melted butter
sugar
cinnamon

Mix warm water and yeast. Let sit for 10-15 minutes. Combine yeast mixture and cake mix. Slowly add flour until dough no longer sticks to sides of bowl. Transfer dough to greased bowl, cover with towel and let rise for 1 hour.

Lightly sprinkle counter top with flour. Roll out dough into large rectangle. Spread melted butter over dough. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar (I like to use brown sugar). You can add raisins, chocolate chips, cranraisins, etc... if you like. Roll up length wise and cut into rolls. I make mine about 1" thick. Cover with towel and let rise 1 hour.

Heat oven to 350. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly brown on edges.

Don't forget the frosting!!! Here's a good cream cheese frosting recipe if you are partial to all things cream cheese like me:

Beat 8 oz. cold cream cheese (not rock solid, but it means you can use it straight out of the refrigerator) with 5 Tbsp. softened butter and 2 tsp. vanilla until combined. Gradually add 2 c. powdered sugar that has been sifted after measuring. Continue to add more sifted powdered sugar until you reach a consistency and sweetness that fits your taste.

Happy Eating!

Our Karate Kid

#1 has been taking Taekwondo for a few months now. A couple weeks ago he had his first advancement. No longer just a white belt, he is now a "senior" white belt. Apparently it's a big difference... what do I know?? He LOVES taking Taekwondo and enjoys coming home and using his newly mastered moves on Dad - and anyone else within a two room vicinity.

But, let's get real for a minute. Did our kids really ever have a chance? Anyone who knows Bryan knows he's a black belt and supposedly a legend in his day (that's what I hear at least, the stories get better every time). These poor boys have been brainwashed since birth with Kung Fu movies, swords, nunchuks... Daddy/Son playtime looks more like mock karate scenes. Even #3 can throw a punch and grapple with the best of them.

Being the only member of this household who does not have testosterone pumping through their veins, it's hard to relate sometimes (I've mastered the "duck and cover" technique quite well). I just hope I (and my house) live through it.

Thanksgiving Feast and Stuff

Thanks to my sister-in-law, Stephanie for the snazzy picture collages (and the awful pictures of me I might add)...I stole them straight from her blog...that's what you get when you have someone else take all of your pictures for you. :)

Our Thanksgiving was great. We had Bryan's brother Paul and his family over, along with our good friends the Hardmans, and oh yeah, my brother Mike was there too. Lots of rowdy children, plenty of food and tons of fun. What more could you want?

Enjoy the stolen pics!

Back in Business

Check it out!

mariecarmel.blogspot.com

Bryan is working on getting my website up and running again. In the mean time, I have posted every piece of jewelry I have on this new blog.

Prices are SLASHED, quantities are VERY limited.

Take a look. There are quite a few new pieces. If you see something you want, shoot me an email:

sales@mariecarmel.com

Jewelry makes a great Christmas gift. (Hint Hint Hubbies!!)

And The Mom of the Day Award Goes To...

ME!! ME!! and ME!!

I am taking this honor from my friend Sarah to whom it was awarded for making her kids spaghetti for breakfast one morning...read about it here. What did I do to deserve this recognition?

Well, thanks to the lovely time change, instead of my kids getting up at 6:30am they were ALL bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at, you guessed it:

5:30am

I have already been awake for 3.25 hours this morning, served breakfast, cleaned up play dough and laid Roman back down for his "afternoon" nap.

Bring it on.

Happy All Hallows Eve!

2(Link) + A Witch + Karate Guy + 1 Gooey Marshmellow =
Way Too Much Candy and 5 Extra Pounds

The kids had a blast. #1 and #2 both wanted to be Link from the Legend of Zelda. Where do you find a Link costume you ask? You don't find, you make. Yes, I actually made them, 6th grade Home Ec class finally paid off. Good thing the pictures are small, you don't want to look too close.

Between school parties, trunk-or-treats and the actual Halloween night, these kids were loaded! Anyone ever heard of overkill?? We spent Trick-or-Treating time with Bryan's family down in Springville - always fun and fattening... We all finally hit the sack around 10:30pm (VERY late for my kids - who of course still got up at 6:30 Saturday morning, does this ever change??)