Home By the Creekside

 So what happens when you get seven inches and a lot of wind? 2-3 foot drifts in the driveway and yard AND a snow day! Last Monday, I was in heaven and so was the rest of the family. Clay couldn't even get out of the driveway until after 9. It took a long time to bust thru. The roads weren't even plowed as well. One of the perks of living near farm fields is the drifting snow. :) Another day off and another four day work week. I have not worked a whole five days in a row since before Christmas. Oh, how is cool is that? I have next Thursday off. So next week will be another four day work week as well. And the next and the next. It is just awesome.

  Disclaimer: Only you know how your crockpot works. So the times for this might not fit your own crockpot because it didn't on mine.  1 chocolate cake mix 1 - 3.9 oz instant chocolate pudding mix 2 cups sour cream  4 eggs 1 cup water 3/4 oz oil 1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips. ( you can use milk chocolate or even dark) (MUST have either vanilla ice cream on hand (the good stuff) or whipped cream. 1.Combine cake mix, pudding, sour cream, eggs, water, and oil. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips.  2. Pour into a GREASED slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or high 3-4 hours. OR until toothpick inserted near center comes out with moist crumbs. My crockpot cooked it in 3-4 hours on LOW. 3. Serve with the expensive vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. 

I have got to admit that I am not a fan of the science fair when it comes to having to really persuade my son to get off the couch and do an experiment. The first experiment we were going to do was to see how long it took for the rabbit's water to freeze in the garage. That didn't take off very good because the temperatures rose and it didn't freeze in the garage anymore. So after searching of something easy, we (who are we kidding.) I decided  to see if the cookies are fluffier and softer when the dough is refrigerated or not. We had no problem finding testers from the family of a friend in the ward. It was unanimous that it was better to refrigerate. Brayden didn't place but got a ribbon for participating. Next year when he comes to fourth, we are not going to make them mandatory but optional.

I no longer plan and hold the activity days for the 8 and 9 year old girls. After doing that for over a year and half, someone else gets to do it. Yay! I can't tell you how much I am going to miss doing activity days. I enjoyed the girls and bonded with them. Now I am onto bigger and better things. I get to share a calling with an awesome lady in my ward teaching 14 and 15 year olds. I'm glad that I don't have to teach every weekend. The church has updated the curriculum and I am in love with it. I love that it takes the responsibility of the learning to the kids and helps them come more converted unto Christ. The teenagers are great (well some of them need a kick in the pants). I taught them for the last two weeks and I am off of teaching them for two weeks. I searched sugardoodle.net for some ideas and I had the students create a notebook to bring back and forth so they can write their thoughts down during the week. Some did partake of that some didn't but that is o...

I have been busy this month and I am not going to lie. Over Christmas break, my mom and dad were here. I gave my dad the task of helping Brayden carve his car out. Last year, we bought it already shaped and all Brayden had to do was paint it. I liked that! He loved this car. He picked the colors and he designed it as well. He never placed first but he got second, third and fourth many times. All I care about is that he had fun and he did.

My baby girl turned 8 last Monday. On Saturday, she was baptized. This was a very special and exciting day for her. This is a very important event in the life of person who is in the LDS faith. It is spiritual occasion and filled with tears of joy and happiness.  She wore a beautiful white dress and white shoes. This is to symbolize the purity. When you are baptized, all sins are erased and you are clean. White represents that serenity.   One of my friends made this cake for Lyndee. It was so delicious. Under the fondant, it was a white cake with a raspberry filling layer.  We are getting ready to go to the church for it but we had to do a photoshoot.  Her grandma had this towel made for her on this special day. At Lyndee's baptism, she had to be baptized twice because her feet came up. It was a good experience and the girl after her had it done too. Lyndee was presented in front of the congregration and she also bore her...

 Yesterday, Brayden played out in the snow and decided to use the snow brick maker. He lined our sidewalk with the bricks. Today, we went over to my brother's house and he pulled the kids on a sled behind the four wheeler. I am not going to say how I had him pulled me and I wrecked and fell on a pile or two of rocks.