Jessica. By Katelyn age 10 1/2 (have to put that in)

I own a baby doll that is of great value to me but isn't worth a lot of money. I have had my baby doll since I was one year old and lived in Michigan. I got it as a gift for my first birthday and have kept it ever since. She is a girl and her name is Jessica, because I liked that name when I was one. She sleeps with me every night and in the morning I put her on my bed in between my two pillows. My mom got a sewing machine for Christmas and said she will sew a new body for Jessica because she has so many tears in her.
When I grow up and have children, if one of them is a girl, I will let her have Jessica. Jessica isn't worth much money, but she is worth a lot to me!

Reindeer facts

Reindeer Facts, by Jacob Centers Age 8

Reindeer are really cool. First , Reindeer are also called Caribou. Second, the Reindeer's life span is about ten years long in the wild. Next, the Reindeer can grow up to four feet tall.
Also they can grow to be six feet long. Did you know that reindeer are plant eaters? Both male and female have antlers. The reindeer are domesticated in Europe, and the hooves are really wide.
Well, tell your friends about these facts and they will think you are a genius!!

Winter Break

Winter Break
By Katelyn centers Age 10 (challenge was to not use the same word twice)

I love winter break.
Building snowmen is lots of fun.
Mine has a carrot nose.

Sledding down the sparkly snowy hill, chilly wind whips my hair back.
Hats cover children's heads as they sip hot chocolate with me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! WELCOME 2010

New Years resolutions!

Katelyn: Be be a good sister to Emily and Jacob. Be better at tennis.

Jacob: Spend a lot of time with Daddy.

Emily: Get better at reading. (at first it was go to Chuck E cheese)

Carissa: No judging! Appreciate and be really good to the few really great Friends that I have. Really and truly appreciate my Husband and Family more.

John: Doesn't have one.

What are Presents?

What are Presents?
By: Katelyn centers, Age 10

Presents are the soft, sweet, homemade sugar cookies piled high with icing and sprinkles.
Presents are the magnificently shiny ornaments all unique in their own special way.
Presents are the remembered moments of past finding their way back into our minds.
Presents are the mud-stained snowman we tried to make.
presents are the smells of cookies, pies, cakes and cocoa all coming from the kitchen at the same time.
Presents are the familiar decorations around the house that everyone admires.
Presents are the sound of my Dad reading Twas the night before Christmas, before we go to bed on Christmas Eve.
Presents are the roller coaster of feelings running through me as I sit and take in all the wonderful Holiday sights.
Presents are the fresh taste of candy canes that wouldn't fit onto our crowded Christmas Tree.
Presents are the oblique strands of lights making the ornaments on my tree glisten.
Presents are the taste of hot cocoa against my tongue as I watch Holiday specials on T.V..

Whats for dinner?

It's a question not only the people in my Family ask me on a daily basis, its a question I ask myself! I grocery shop with meals in mind and plan out my week as to what I am going to make according to our schedule. Our kids are not busy yet, but even one activity can have you out of the house and home later in the evening than you would like.
I try to think of good, quick meals that everyone likes. One likes this, the other likes that and one is always trying to watch what they eat. Me, I just like to eat!
keeping these things in mind and the fact that I am NOT a five star restaurant or a short or cook, ONE, QUICK, YUMMY meal is all you get in this house!

When john is home (which is pretty much all the time now) I really try to make a "meal" and feel actually really good when its all done and I haven't spent hours in the kitchen, the food is still good and everyone is happy.
LOVE to see his face when he comes in the house and he can smell something yummy!
I wanted to share a couple recipes that I have made that seem to work for our Family. They are not MY recipes, but are easy, yummy and did I mention easy?


Chicken and Dumplings:
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breast
3 tablespoons of butter
2 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 large can of chicken broth (maybe 1 and 1/2)
1-2 large onions (depending on how much you like them)(I use 2-3...)
2 pkg refrigerated biscuits (cut each one into 4's)
salt and pepper (to Taste)

Put ALL the ingredients into the crock pot EXCEPT the biscuits and cook on high for 7-8 hrs. the last 30 min of cooking, add the cut up biscuits.

This stuff is REALLY HOT, so make sure you let it cool for a while before handing it to the littles!!



Pot Roast:
One roast (your choice of roast)
1-2 pkg lipton onion soup mix (depends on size of roast)
1-2 lrg onions (cut into rings)
Kosher salt
blk pepper
1/4 c. red wine
1 t. olive oil

heat your crock pot on high
heat a skillet to high and add the oil.
pat your roast dry with paper towels and rub with the salt, place the roast into your heated skillet and carefully sear each side of the roast until it is brown and crisp.
remove the roast and put it in the crock pot
if needed, add more oil to skillet and add your onion rings, let them sear also so that they have that nice burnt, caramelized look to them. (heat should be high so this happens fast) add your wine to them for the last bit of cooking.
sprinkle onion soup mix on top of roast and then add the cooked onions to the top.
I add potatoes and carrots as well, but this is optional.
I fill it with water and let it cook ALL DAY!!

What got me thinking about this post was the fact that I have cooked every day lately and last night I decided to just make Tuna sandwiches and mac&cheese and my Family's reaction was so funny! They LOVED IT, went on and on about how we should have a sandwich day every week!
I guess quick and easy really is the way to go!!