FRIDAY PHOTO FLASHBACK

I started "Friday Photo Flashback" because I have so many pictures from my PRE-digital camera days. I thought it would be fun to scan them and share them here with you. I'm having so much fun doing this, that I would love for you to join me, too! So dig out the photo albums and put your scanner to good use! Don't forget to sign in to MckLinky so we can all visit and comment on each others blogs!

1989

OH MY GOSH!

I can't believe I'm actually posting this picture!!!

Ewwwwww!!!! I have NO IDEA why my face had that expression on it. I look psycho!

BUT, hey, this was 21...yes, TWENTY-ONE years ago, and I just got off work and went to visit my boyfriend (now husband) at his parents house. Doesn't he look thrilled to see me? Well, according to my oldest daughter, we both look weird! Ha!

This picture brings back memories of his parents old house, and how many times we would hang out there. Good times.

37/52 PICTURES OF ME

I'm participating in a year long challenge, created by Carin at Forever In Blue Jeans. The goal is to be in one picture a week, for 52 weeks. Since us moms are always behind the camera, this gives us a chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. So, click here if you want to join in on the fun!

Yes, I know, this is very close up, but it's all I have in the last couple of weeks! Actually, I do have one that I was in from last Sunday, but because I didn't like the way "I" looked, I'm not posting it. :)

So, here ya have. Just me and my youngest, getting ready to head out! I think the only resolution I will make for this year is to be more creative with the pictures I am in.

WORDFUL WEDNESDAY

My boys love to go out to eat with their dad. Their favorite place to go is...you guessed it, Pho! If they ate there everyday, they would be happy!

My son Daniel LOVES TO EAT! And I'm not kidding, that kid can throw down!! He can eat like an adult. Thank goodness he's so active or we'd be in big trouble.

One day it was just him and daddy at their favorite Pho restaurant.

And I guess on this day, he was "starving" and the food couldn't come any faster.

Can he look any more impatient?

"Why is everyone else eating??"


Be sure to visit 7 Clown Circus for Wordful Wednesday

GREAT EATS ON SUNDAY!

After church on Sunday, we went out to lunch with a couple of our friends. It was really relaxing because our four older kids went to their friends houses, and we just had our youngest, Veronica, with us.

We ate at this place called "Taiwan", and it was good enough to curb the craving for Chinese food. It wasn't the most authentic, and the 70's soft rock music playing in the background didn't really seem to fit with the theme of the restaurant.

But, who am I to complain. It was a nice lunch, with even better company!

We started off with the typical Won Ton Soup.

Moo Shu Pork. If you've had this before, then you know it is served with thin "pancakes." Well, it was kind of funny when they served it with TORTILLAS!!! I was tempted to ask if we could have cheese to make quesadillas. But, I have to admit that it was pretty good.

I don't remember the name of this dish, but it was spicy beef.


Gotta have the fried rice! Do you see the moo shu burrito in the background?


Chow Mein...


And finally, Cashew Chicken.

When we were done, our friend Warren suggested we get some frozen yogurt just a couple of blocks away. Great way to walk off the food. But, doesn't the yogurt cancel that out afterward?

So many toppings to choose from!


Of course, every little girl has to have pink sprinkles.

THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR DESSERT

On New Years Eve, I decided I wanted to bake. I have some really great cookbooks, and wanted to try some easy recipes. What was the reason for this sudden "urge" to bake? Well, let's just say that I was craving for certain things. And no, not a pregnant type craving. I made Hidden Kisses Cookies, Lemon Bars, and Pineapple Cake. I was also going to bake a Red Velvet cake, but my daughter made a huge panda cake as well, and frankly, that would have been way too much! I would have loved to share a picture of her panda, but she was not happy with it and was very adamant that I do not share a picture here or on Facebook. She wanted me to delete it altogether, but I want it for a memory of her first "animal" cake! She saw a Betty Crocker lady on YouTube make it, and she was inspired to do one herself. In my opinion, it came out cute, and I wish I could share it with you!

If you are interested in any of the recipes, they're at the end of the post.

YEARS ago, I bought Paula Deen's, "The Lady & Sons, Too"cookbook off of QVC, and I made one of my favorite cookies recipes called "Hidden Kisses." They are so yummy, and perfect for the holidays because it calls for almond extract in it. You basically roll cookie dough around the Hershey's Kiss, and when it bakes, the kiss doesn't melt. When it's cooled off, you roll it in powdered sugar. So addicting! I haven't made these for a long time, so my kids were stoked to eat them!

I was also craving for lemon bars, and this is also from Paula's cookbook. They came out so good! The crust and filling came out perfect!

I got the Pineapple Cake recipe from a cookbook my sister sent me years ago, called "50th Anniversary Best of Our Favorite Recipes 1946-1996." It has the EASIEST recipes from people who live in Hawaii. This is the cookbook that has the Red Velvet cake recipe in it too.

Here's my little helpers hands (aka Veronica) pressing the lemon bar crust batter into the pan. I was going to take more pictures of her helping, but with me baking, and helping my other daughter, my hands were quite full!

And here are the following recipes for the desserts above. Yes, I know the pages look worn, and have stains, but that's a good thing, right?

SCRIPTURE SUNDAY

On Sundays, I usually post something random. But, besides doing that, I decided I would share a scripture with you all instead. I pray that it will be a blessing to whoever reads it!

"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."-Isaiah 53:4-5

BOYS NIGHT OUT

That's right, boys...not men.

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you may recall my good friend who has the girls tea parties at her house. She goes all out for them. Her tables are decorated the same way as if we were going to a Womens Tea. Here's a link to a post I did in October, just so you can get an idea of how much she gets into it. And she doesn't even have daughters. She has two boys, but just loves to do the girly thing once in awhile!!

She shared with me before how she will have "candle night" with her boys and her neighbors sons. They'll all eat by candlelight, and she'll make fake ticket stubs that they have to give her before they watch a movie.

Isn't that so creative???? And so simple. Why didn't I ever think of that?

Well, last week, she invited my boys to come over for a candlelight dinner/movie night. I was so excited for them, because this is the equivalent to a girls tea party, minus the tea! They couldn't wait to go to and see some of their friends, and just have fun! I wish I could have stayed and taken pictures, but I'm sure they wouldn't want my flash going off all night.

So, I just stole her pictures that she put on her Facebook!

When I walked in, she was getting all their individual tubs of popcorn ready. Every time I see those at Target, I tell myself that I'm going to buy them, but I never do! They are soooo cute! And as much as my family eats popcorn, this would be perfect! Oh, and I laughed when I saw the sign "Boys Only" because she had one on the door too. She's so cute like that!

Here is their "man" table..LOL. Where are the scones and cucumber sandwiches? Oh yah..not for them! It's pizza, breadsticks, and cupcakes!

Another great gesture she did, just like she does for the girls, is have their own place card, and scripture for them to read. If you look closely, you can see the word "Obedience" at the top, and it's followed by scriptures on obedience. She prints these out herself!

Here they are! They are all good friends, too! My sons are the ones in the green & blue striped shirt, and the one to his left with the gray t-shirt.

Well, I think I will head over to Target and get those plastic popcorn tubs before they run out! And for $1 each, that is a steal!

FRIDAY PHOTO FLASHBACK

I started "Friday Photo Flashback" because I have so many pictures from my PRE-digital camera days. I thought it would be fun to scan them and share them here with you. I'm having so much fun doing this, that I would love for you to join me, too! So dig out the photo albums and put your scanner to good use! Don't forget to sign in to MckLinky so we can all visit and comment on each others blogs!

Happy New Year!!!
1974'ish

This picture could not be more appropriate for this week!

I don't know the exact year, but by going by my mom's long, Cher hairdo, this was in the early 70's. That is her in the middle, and with two of her girlfriends. The one to the right (in the black dress) was super sweet when I was little, and I used to sleep over her house alot. She wasn't able to have children, so I think they enjoyed having me around. I don't remember the lady in the red, but I'm sure her and her husband were good friends with my parents as well.

Looks like a fun night don't ya think?