Snow Ice Cream

I found a recipe in a magazine for snow ice cream.  I was skeptical, but kept it so we could try it on a snowy day.  I was surprised how easy and good it was.  Here's the recipe.  Give it a try, and don't worry, you don't actually eat the snow!   Next time I want chocolate!


1 cup milk or cream (we used skim)
3 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
SNOW
1/4 cup salt


Mix milk, sugar and vanilla in a small ziplock bag, seal bag.  Fill a gallon size ziplock bag halfway with clean snow and add salt.  Put smaller bag inside bigger bag, squeezing out the air.  Knead bags until milk mixture solidifies, 5-10 minutes.  (You might want to wear gloves:)  Open bigger bag and remove smaller bag.  Rinse outside of smaller bag in cold water then open and squeeze ice cream in to a bowl.  Grab a spoon, or if you are like Kaleb skip that step and just start licking!  

Old Dogs

Sam & Sasha

smaller collar bones

I was attacked by a neighbor's dog when I was 5 years old, my dad had to strangle the dog to get it to let go of me, and I was left with scars (beauty marks:) on my face and head.  Needless to say I did not grow up being very fond of dogs.  I wanted to get married and have babies, and these are the babies that I got!  I love these guys like crazy, but have noticed after being blessed with a real human child, that they now live more like "dogs".  Not enough walks, home alone, nothing to do.  They bark, shed, and puke on the carpet, but I still love them!  I don't think there will be any more pets in our future, so we will cherish these two for as long as possible.    This Christmas we wanted to do something special for them, so I dug out my dog bone cookbook, and we made them a frugal present, smaller collar dog bones.  Maybe next time we'll do bark-b-q!

Let Earth Receive Her King

Rose and Kaleb

marshmallow baby Jesus!

I would have to say that Christmas Eve was the best day we had this holiday season.  We spent the afternoon in Kirtland Ohio.  We saw nativity sets from all over the world.  Big ones, tiny ones, beautiful ones, silly ones (marshmallow baby Jesus).  It was a nice way to remind us what Christmas is all about.  This room was just for kids, and it was great!

Number Eight

Welcome
Alonzo Christopher Guerrero
Born 12-21-11
5 lbs 15 oz
19 inches 

Keith and I now have 8 nieces and nephews as we welcome my little sister Kristen's newest little one.  Kristen's birthday is in December, and her daughter, Layla was born last December.  My sister will always be extra busy during this month with birthdays and holidays!  My sisters are keeping Kory Harward busy as he will deliver a baby boy for my sister Kelly in the spring.  We are looking forward to our trip to Utah in April to see all of these little ones!  

Naughty List

Christopher comes every year on Thanksgiving day

He really helps Kaleb stay off of the "naughty list".

He "pops" in every morning in a different spot.

Looking for him is so much fun!

He made an appearance at the museum downtown,  The kids can touch this one.

A real reindeer, cool!

We found him upside down on this particular day.

We found a lot of upside down things that morning.  Kaleb said, "don't worry mom, I'll help you clean it up", and he did!  What a good kid.

I wonder if Santa's elves ever get on the naughty list?

 's

I'll bet "Christopher" was nervous when he did this, worried that Kaleb might wake up.  I'll bet Kaleb stirred right as "Christopher" finished, "Christopher" probably made a run for it and it reminded him of being in high school, doing the same thing in "his" neighborhood, getting caught, and then getting picked up at the police station by "his" dad at 2am:)  

Christopher Pop in Kins is one of Santa's elves who really wanted to see real boys and girls.  Santa gave him a special job of popping into children's homes to keep an eye on them until Christmas Eve, when he reports back to Santa.  He cannot be touched and everyday he is in a different spot.  This year he brought Kaleb a mailbox which is sometimes filled with notes, candy, coins or small toys.  Kaleb really loves this little guy, and it really helps him focus on good behavior.  Kaleb has quite the imagination, but mom is running out of ideas:)  We never know what he is going to do next!  It's been a long time since I have t-p'd anything, and yes it was me who was picked up at the police station.  My dad was really mad that I got caught!

Breakfast with Santa

Breakfast with Santa up at Akron Children's Hopspital has become a tradtion for us.  What a great way to kick off the holiday season.  They always have the neatest trees and the funnest displays.  You wouldn't believe the hours people put into decorating and then donating their work to charity.  We all loved the manger scene tree.  I didn't get as many pictures as I would like to, but dad's favorite was an Ohio State themed tree, my favorite was a tree that came with $500 in Giant Eagle gift cards, and Kaleb's favorite was a blue WalMart tree with Wii games of course!

Hannah, Ryan and Kaleb

Real bacon!  (mom always buys turkey)  What a treat.

Giving the big guy his wish list

One of our favorites.

Happy Holidays!

Keith Beth & Kaleb

They always have the cutest trees.

A great day!

Pillow Pets

Marissa and Sasha

 We have had our dogs for about 13 years so my nieces have practically grown up with them and they are very close.  They have a lot of fun playing with them when they come over.  Sasha is always with one of the girls, getting dressed up, in a blanket or curled up asleep right next to one of them.  Sometimes I find her in the most interesting places doing the most interesting things.  Sam loves the girls, but doesn't get into it like Sasha.  Maybe it's a girl thing.  They put on shows, do "experiments", and just love to play.  So sweet!  

Victoria and Sasha

Sasha loves the attention

I find her in the most interesting places

The girls were pretending Sasha had surgery and they were taking care of her. 

dressing her up

Sam usually hides from the kids and I found him here, trying to blend in.