Email Notifications for blog

I added all your email address that I have to the blogger email feature that will automatically email you when something on the blog is posted by anyone that way you won't feel like you've missed something if you haven't checked it for a while.

If you want me to take you off the email list for our blog or put you on if you're not, let me know!

Hope finals are going well for everyone and that you are enjoying the start of the holiday season!!

Marissa

Nativities From Around the World

Hey- on Monday (Dec. 8) some of us are getting together to go to the Nativities From Around the World exhibit at 3:30 p.m. We figured that husbands might not be able to come but bring them if you want!

Here's the info if you want to come. We'll meet at the church. Hope to see you there!

Holiday Events

I found a few holiday events going on here in Spokane and thought I would share. All the husbands are busy studying and it's nice to find free stuff to do.

Downtown by Riverfront Park offers free horse and carriage rides from 3-8 on the weekends. Click here for the details. There is also a free Christmas tree viewing at the Davenport Hotel starting Saturday.

Liberty Lake is having an event Dec 5th, 6th, 12th, and 19th with carriage rides (these ones cost $) and pictures with Santa for $1. The times are 5-8 pm and takes place at 22710 E. Country Vista Dr. (City Hall).

Also, one of the LDS stakes has a huge nativity display with over 700 nativities this weekend from Thursday the 4th through Monday the 8th. It is completely free and open to the public. Every evening there is a short concert at 7:00. The hours are 3-9 pm weekdays and 12-9 weekends...not sure about Sunday hours with church going on. The address is 1620 E. 29th Ave.

I am going to the nativity display and the pictures with Santa tomorrow if anyone else wants to come. If not, I'll have fun with my boys. I hope everyone is surviving this crazy week before finals!

Wingers free dinner!

So I called Wingers they are doing ladies night. To get the free dinner you have to print off the add under the events section on craig's list. She said that it gets pretty busy. So I was thinking we should probably be there at 8:30 so that those that are going to twilight can eat and get in line so they are there on time. Let me know if that works for everyone we can be flexible or change things if needed. The only thing I am unsure of is how late Wingers is open. Let me know what you think and if you plan on coming?

Thanksgiving 2008

Hello girls! So thanksgiving is just around the corner ( NEXT WEEK!) And I know there is alot of families staying here in Spokane for this fun Holiday.... And the wonderful Crandell family ( Shelci) has offered to have it at their home that afternoon. I've made a list of things that need to be brought.

Please let me or Shelci know as soon as possible to find out more details! My number is 360-608-6697. We would love to have lots of people there... However please just let me know so we can get everything organized.

Winger's

So I was on Craig's list event calender looking for things to do for date night and came across a ladies night at Winger's. It has a coupon to print off and every Thursday night the 6th-20th they are giving away free dinner for women. I don't know if this is for real but get on Craig's list and see what you think. If it is for real then we should go to dinner and then those interested could go see Twilight. Anyway I might call on this add so we don't show up all embarrassed but get on and see if you think this is a real add?

Twilight...The Book

So I told Dave how many of you were raving about this book at the recipe exchange at Tiffany's house and I told him I wanted to read it too. So he took me to the book store and bought it for me, wasn't that nice? Anyway, two days later I finished it. I have never ever read 500 pages in two days, not even for Harry Potter! It was a great page turner. The only problem is that my book had a sneak peek of book 2, (the first chapter) and I read it and now I'm sooo anxious for book 2!

I looked it up online and found that the author is a lot like us, and it surprised me. She had never written anything else before, except a few unfinished chapters for other things and she wrote with three young boys. In fact, she wrote Twilight while her baby was still not sleeping through the night, I can sympathize with that. So I thought that was neat to see. Her Story is interesting and inspiring, you can see it here http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight.html

Anyway, Thanks for the recommendation. And I recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it yet. I can't wait for the movie! I can't go to the midnight viewing, cause of my baby not sleeping through the night. I don't want Dave to deal with that alone. But I wish I could be there!

Twilight

I know we've been thinking about going to the midnight showing of Twilight on the 20th, and just a head's up: Fandango has a option where you can get the ticket for free if you sign up for a free trial of some arbitrary product.  Just go to fandango.com and look up the show times for twilight on the 20th, and there should be a link that says, 'want a free ticket?' (or something like that). I guess the only question is, what theatre are we going to?

Recipes

Thanks for having all of us over Tiffany! I really enjoyed it even though my boys were grumpy. I am posting the recipe I brought last night plus a couple of other recipes I said I would post.

Chicken & Wild Rice Soup

1 family size can – cream of chicken soup (about 30 oz.)
2 cups cooked chicken (or canned chicken with broth)
1 can chicken broth (about 14 oz.)
1 box long grain and wild rice soup with seasoning packet (Rice-a-Roni)
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup shredded carrots

Combine all ingredients in the crock-pot. Add more water or broth to desired thickness. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.


Shrimp Mango Quesadillas (as published on Down Right Delish)

1 pound raw shrimp, peeled, tails removed and chopped into 1/4" pieces
1 large, ripe mango peeled and diced
1 and 1/2 cups monterey jack cheese, grated
6 - 10" flour tortillas
2 Tbs. honey
3 Tbs. butter
1 lime
Salt & pepper
sour cream

Directions: In large skillet, melt 1 Tbs butter. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Add to melted butter and cook until bright pink, 2-3 minutes. Remove from pan and drain and juices that were released. In same skillet, melt remaining 2 Tbs butter and honey together, cook 2 minutes until thickened. Add shrimp back to pan, squeeze lime over shrimp, toss together and remove from heat.

In clean preheated skillet, sprinkle one side of the tortilla with 1/4 cup cheese, 1/6 of mango chunks and 1/6 shrimp mixture. Fold over and cook until golden brown on both sides. Repeat with remaining ingredients. serve with additional lime wedges and sour cream.

Tips: I like to add chopped red bell pepper,cilantro and green onions to the mango mix. Also cheddar cheese is yummy as well instead of the monterey jack.


Chalupa

3 cups pinto beans, soaked overnight
1 pound pork roast or 1 pound chicken
1/4 cup taco seasoning
2 cups salsa

Place all ingredients in the crockpot and cover with water. The beans should be covered or they will get dry. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Add water throughout the process to cover the beans as needed. Shred the meat when done cooking.

Serve this over tortilla chips or fritos. Top with lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, salsa, and guacamole.

Recipes

Thank you guys so much for coming tonight it was so fun to see everyone and catch up. I was so happy that we had so many of us, we didn't even get pictures for the blog opps! I did get a few recipes, however not everyones and I was so impressed so please post them when you get some time, and thank you so much for all your hard work. I think I ate too much but it's not every day we do that right!?

Pumpkin oatmeal cookies:
2 sticks of butter
1 C. white sugar
1 C. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1 C. pumpkin
1 C. rolled oats
2 1/2 C all purpose flour (can use have whole wheat)
1 t baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 t. salt
1 C. chocolate chips
walnuts optional*

Cream sugar and butter together. Mix in eggs, vanilla, and pumkin. Combine dry ingredients together with butter mixture. Bake ungreased sheet on 350 for 12-15 minutes.

Apple Crisp:
8 (or 6 large) granny apples peeled and sliced
1 C. liquid-mix water/apple juice/lemon juice/orange juice
1/2 C. Sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 t each nutmet & salt
Combine the above ingredients in sauce pan on low heat 5-10 minutes or until apples are crips tender transfer to 8x8 baking dish
Topping
1/2 C rolled oats
1/2 C. packed brown sugar
1/4 C. flour
1/4 t. cinnamon
1/4 C. butter, softened
Combine dry ingredients in small bowl-cut in butter till crumbs form. Sprinkle on apples and bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes

Taco Soup:
2 cans diced tomatoes (seasoned is good!)
1 can kidney beans
1 Can pinto beans
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can corn
1 can black beans
1 Lb hamburger (cooked with onion & drained)
1-2 packages taco seasoning
3 C. water
Cook hamburger with onion, Drain. Next drain all cans of beans and also can of corn. Bring to boil. After boils, simmer for 20 minuts on low
Toppings: Monterey jack cheese, little squeezes of fresh lime, tortilla chips (yum, yum!)

Crab Wontons:
1 can crabmeat
1/2 t. salt
1 (80z) cream cheese softened
2 T chopped green onions
Wonton skins
Sauce:
3/4 C. chili sauce
2 T. brown sugar
2 T. vinegar
3/4 C. crushed pineapple with juice
cornstarch
Wontons: mix wonton ingrediets together. Put about 3/4 t. crab mixture into wonton skin. Moisten edges and fold either in a triangle or you can fold in half and then pinch the ends together to form a star. Deef fry until lightly browned in preheated peanut oil. Serve with sauce.
Sauce: Heat sacue ingredients together. Thicken with cornstarch. Serve warm or cold to dip wontons!

Christmas spinach salad:
1 bag spinach
1 chopped apple
6 oz craisins
4 oz. sliced almonds sugared*
Dressing:
2 T oil
2 T juice concentrate (orange, fruit, grape, ect.)
2 T salad vinegar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 C. Mayonnaise
Mix ingredients in large bowl. Whisk together dressing toss into salad as needed
*To sugar almonds: Melt 3-4 tsp sugar over medium heat in saucepan with almonds, stirring until sugar melts and coats almonds.


Thanks again guys that was so so much fun and we will definately have to do it again. It was fun to see everyone!

Recipe exchange...

So I don't know about you guys but Chris seems like he is studying more and later into the evening. I thought it would be fun to get all the moms together just to hang out, talk/vent, eat (you know things we do best!). I love the fall and all the yummy treats and goodies and I always love getting everyone elses fun recipes. I thought it would be a fun idea to do a recipe exchange. So everyone find your fav recipe whether it is a salad, soup, appetizer, treat whatever make it that night for the recipe exchange. Then bring your recipe and we can compile them and post them on the blog. I was thinking we could do this next Wednesday Nov. 5th at my place say 6ish. Let me know what you think or if this is even a good night? And bring the kids that way Dads can study and our kids can all play together!!

Halloween Party Update

Okay, so no one complained about the new time, so I'm assuming that tomorrow at 2 is a good time! Please tell me if your going so I know how many I need to prepare for with crafts. And so everyone else can know for food prep. Also, I don't know where unpaid parking is around there so at 1:30 I'm going to be at the law school and I'm going to take the stroller and walk there. It's suppose to be a beautiful day (like today) and it's a beautiful walk, so it will be nice. If any one wants to meet me there, let me know and we can walk together!

Thanks!

Cassie

Halloween Party

How about the Halloween party for our kids be on Wednesday afternoon at two o' clock At river front park by the big wagon slide.? It is a little late notice, so if too many people have a problem with this time then we can change it. Everyone bring their favorite fall/halloween snack or dessert and we'll have games and crafts. It's suppose to be 59 degrees and partly sunny, so perfect fall weather! Have your kids wear their costumes and come to have fun! If you want to help with crafts and games, let me know! And don't forget to invite all those who may not know about this site yet!

Pumpkin Patch Blast!

My family went to the pumpkin patch today and I reccommend it to everyone! We had a blast. At first we went to Carvers Farms by the Idaho border and that really dissapointed us. All the pumpkins were rotting and the corn maze was....I couldn't even tell it was a maze! So we left pumpkinless and bummed out. But then we went to Mead and tried Siemers farms and we had a totally different experience! (Thanks Sheena for posting about it!) There were tons of different pick-your-own farms around there and they were all competing against each other so the quality was a million times better. There was an apple fest where they had great photo oppertunities and different vendors selling their crafts, food and such. Then we went to Knapps Farms where they have a Pumpkin launcher where they shoot a pumpkin out of a cannon every hour. At that same place they had a corn maze, which was in much better shape than the one at Carvers but costs 1.00 to get in. They also had a hay maze for kids. There were chickens and ponies and donkeys to play with and the pumpkins are in great shape. At the apple fest they had horse drawn hay rides which looked fun, but there was an hour wait in the line, so we didn't do that. But anyway, if you are looking for a fun fall activity, I would go to Mead. But hurry, I think they close at the end of October.

Plans for the Halloween Party

I haven't heard if we decided to have a Halloween party on the 24th or 25th like Shenna suggested below. Who's all up for it? My best time is the 24th during the afternoon. I would love to help with decorations and food prep! We still need to find a place to host it, though. Any volunteers or suggestions? The best I can do is see if my apartment can reserve its clubhouse for the alotted time but I live out in Liberty Lake and that may be far for most of you. Please reply with your best date and time and what you'd like to help with, if anything! Ideas and suggestions for it are great too! Thanks!

Picture Help

Before it gets too cold, I would like to get a family picture taken, but don't have anyone to take it. We were thinking about Sunday afternoon around 4:00 at Manito Park...if that works for anyone. Beggars can't be choosers so I am definietely flexible on day and time. I can either take pictures of your family that day to pay you back or make you dinner or whatever you can come up with. Any volunteers? Sorry I missed the nature walk. It sounded like fun!

Nature Walk Fun

The Nature walk was tons of fun! It was a great way to start off the fall season!

The boys were having so much fun finding sticks and sweeping them on the ground. Maddy had to have a stick of her own. But rather than sweeping the dried pine needles around on the ground, Maddy had a different use for her stick.....yummy.

The senery was amazing. This is my first fall in Spokane, and I was glad to see nature's crisp autumn here. We went to the woods at Liberty Lake and besides the warning we saw about bear sightings, it was a rather peaceful and fun walk!

It was a little chilly though! Hoodies for everyone! Too bad it just started to warm up right as soon as we walked back to the cars!

Halloween Party?

So, I'm just thinking out loud, but how does everyone feel about a Halloween party (maybe the weekend before Halloween)? I think it would be fun to let the kids wear their costumes and we can do a potluck-type party.  What do you think??

NATURE WALK

Here's the deal. I've asked around and around and everyone keeps telling me to go to the Liberty Lake trail. I guess it's pretty mountainous and pretty. So- sorry it's not out in a more fair location but I think that's where we're going to go tomorrow. If you want to meet at my apartment (Big Trout Lodge- need directions? Call me- 801-891-1532). Be here by 10 a.m. and bring a lunch or snacks if you want. Should be fun. Tomorrow is only supposed to be mid 50's in temperature so bring your jackets (or coats!!).

Hope to see many of you here!

Pumpkin Patch, anyone?

So, I finally have a Saturday off on the 11th, and I want to take Ka'ena to Siemer's Farm in Mead.  It looks like lots of fun--wagon rides, and pumpkins, and tons of stuff for kids to play on. So, if anyone would like to meet up, let me know! (also, I got a new number: 5092902369). Check out the website at siemersfarm.com.

Law school BBQ

Chris mentioned there was a BBQ tonight at the law school. I wasn't sure if it was for families or just the students, does anyone know? If it is for families and if it wasn't raining I thought I would go down early and walk over to the Downtown mall for a little while if anyone wants to come let me know.

Nature Walk

I was maybe going to go for a nature walk next week on Wednesday, October 8 to look at and collect the fall leaves with my boys. I'm not quite sure a place to go....thought about going to the Mt. Spokane area possibly. Does anyone know of a good place to do this? Anyone want to come along?

Manito Park

We had a blast at Manito Park! Thanks for everyone who came! Here's some pictures that a few have sent to have posted.

If you have photos, email them to me and I'll post them! We'd love all the pictures we can get!