WINNERS HAVE BEEN PICKED FOR THE PB BARS!!!!

OK, SO I TOTALLY SLACKED OFF YESTERDAY!!! I didn't pick winners for the Out-of-State PB Bars Winner!! My apologies to all who have been anxiously awaiting the exciting moment of the big announcement! So to all of you involved, I am here to let you know that the winners have been picked!!! Together, Marty and I put all ten (windytots doesn't qualify b/c she lives not too far from us, sorry!!:) names in his good 'ol USC hat and HE did the honors of drawing--not one....not two....but THREE NAMES!!! I numbered you in the order of your comment. The three names picked are:
#6 Stephen and Angeline
#2 Coordination Queen
#3 Mommy J
Congratulations to the three of you and thanks for your participation to everyone:)
***If you will just email me (majoyn@juno.com) your mailing address and also, if you aren't home yet, tell me when you'll be home, then I'll have your PB Bars on their way!!

If you didn't win this time, never fear, I will be holding more yummy drawings in the future!!

Our Argentine Christmas Eve!!!

Years ago when we moved far, far away from family, we had the opportunity to start our own, new family traditions. One of them is that every year for Christmas Eve dinner we eat some of the Argentine foods that Marty ate while serving his mission there. It's kind of an all day thing to make it all, so this is the perfect way to insure that we get a taste of it at least once during the year!! Milanesa, Empanada's & Chimi Churri are our all time favorites and are what we made this year!! I also whipped up a batch of Enchilada's, salad, Tina's homemade salsa & chips.
Final shot of the Empanada's & Chimi Churri (vinegar based sauce that you eat with the Empanada's...VERY addicting!!).
I cooked up the filling, but Marty (with a little help from Brant) assembled all of the Empanada's! I was sooo grateful for him!! These things take forever to put together! He made 35 of them, which is only half of the filling!! Marty totally wanted to make them himself and it made life so much less stressful for me!! B/c I knew he was taking care of that, I was able to get everything else cooked / baked without feeling overwhelmed. Thanks Babe! I love you!!
Marty found these Tapas to use for the shells! What another time saver!! In the past I have used Eggroll Wraps, but the homemade version taste better. These Tapas tasted and cooked more like the homemade ones and saved half a day's work!!
Brant wanted to learn how to assemble them, so Marty gladly taught him. They had a lot of fun doing this together and it was neat to hear Brant ask questions about Argentina and Marty's mission. I'm thankful for the experiences that Marty had there serving a mission that is able to share with us.
Brant has learned the Argentine Ways!! ...at least as far as making Empanadas go!!
Santa's Little Elf
Our neighbors, Jessica & Brian and McKayla & Bella came to share Christmas Eve dinner with us! They are actually moving next week, so it was a little bitter sweet for us all. They aren't moving too far away, but it's not the same as being across the street from them! We will miss them so much!!
Rissa loves playing with McKayla and is going to miss her tons!!
Rissa has been camera happy a lot lately!! She's always saying "Cheese!" and posing, so...I just keep taking pictures:)
Brant & Rissa after dinner.
Jacob making a mad dash from the camera!
Rissa...smiling and posing.......
Cute little McKayla:)
Finally!! A picture of Jacob where he's not running from the camera!! Thanks for the pose Jacob!

LaLoma Ward Christmas Party 2008

So here are a few pictures from our Ward Christmas Party. It was last Friday Night and our family really enjoyed it! The food was so yummy, Hawaiian BBQ!! We have always wanted to eat there, but never have and it was so good! Jacob took a bite of the steak and kept grunting and moaning while he was eating. Next thing we know, he's standing up shouting, "I LOVE BEEF!! UUUMMMM! I LOVE BEEF!" I think he made it three rounds before he put the fork down!
I LOVE Allyson!! She's one of my closest friends and I appreciate her friendship so much!
Peter and baby Brock!! I have to really concentrate when I say his name! I'm learning to spit it out and say it fast b/c if I say it too slowly it comes out, Barack! I just realized I haven't dedicated a post to him!! I will get some cutesie pictures from Allyson and do that soon.
SAY WHAT?!! Marty ...well, I'm not sure what was going on here.
Brian & Brant being goofy~~
McKylah looked so, so stinkin cute!! I had to snap a shot of her! She looks like a little Gap Baby here!!
this was a fun time of the night. We all sang the 12 Days of christmas. Each section of the cultural Hall had a different day. These are the kids in our group waiting for their moment to shout out "SIX GEESE A LAYING!!" ..at least I think that's what our group had. Anyway--it was fun once everyone joined in!
Marty and Peter (background) with their babies...Marty's baby ain't a baby anymore though...:( that's so sad how fast our babies grow!





~~ Brant's Honor Choir Christmas Concert & Party!!~~
The Night of Our Christmas Concert
Kiera, Brooklyn, Emily, Ashlyn, Tyler & I. These kids are all in our ward. It is so nice to have such great kids for Brant (& Jacob) to associate with!! I totally love them and have fun watching them together!


Brant posing on the floor...I don't really know why, except that when all of these kids get together, something weird happens that causes them to do strange, strange things!

Rissa the Reindeer & Brant after the concert.


Jacob, Hayden, Tyler & Brant after the concert.



Hayden & Jacob Jacob is in love with Hayden!! Sometimes this strikes up a little contention betweem Brant & Jacob b/c Brant & Hayden have been really good friends for a couple of years now. This year they have several classes together, too. Jacob is just starting to realize this and is learning "we can all be friends"! I am always reminding him that "you cannot have a girlfriend until you are Daddy's age!". Now when he wishes on a star, he wishes he could 'be daddy's age'!!


At home after the conert...







The last day of Choir for 2008--cupcake party after school
This is everyone discussing who will hold Rissa next as well as how long they each have with her. Hayden and Hannah had her the most. They all love Rissa and go crazy every time I bring her up to the school!


Hannah trying to steal Rissa from Brant...she did that alot but Rissa didn't seem to mind! Honestly, I think she just loved all the attention from the girls (and just a guess, but I don't think Brant minded the attention either!)


Hannah & Rissa


Hayden & Jacob. Hayden is really an awesome girl! Jacob wanted to give her something for Christmas, so he gave her a little bracelet with Christmas pictures on it. She gave him a stuffed snowman. She wrote him a note that said 'You are my best friend'. I don't think she'll ever realize how much that meant to him.



All the girls pushed Brant in the stroller and treated him like cute little baby!






Tyler tried to hop a ride on Brants lap but slid right off! Hayden pushed Brant all around the room while the kids all followed behind, laughing. It was a bit ridiculous but pretty funny to watch...the kids were having fun anyway!!

What did I do last week?

Last week was a Super busy week for me!! I pretty much spent the week in my kitchen baking!! I had tons of orders, most of which, were just down right huge orders!!! I was very overwhelmed at one point and thought I'd have to hire Allyson to help me fill my orders!! Somehow I was able to get it all done and squeeze in making 4 doz cupcakes for Brant's Honor Choir Party as well--and Teachers gifts! Here are a few of the things I was busy making:
Mrs. Flynn, the Honor Choir Teacher, approached me about making a cake or cupcakes for the kids as a surprise. So Shelly, Julie & I (Honor Choir Moms, which is fun b/c we've all been friends for several years) got it all together for the kids. Julie and I made cupcakes and Shelley took care of drinks. There are nearly 80 kids in the group this year!!!
We'll just call this "Death by Chocolate!!". I made 10 of these bunt cakes. Some were for Marty's co-workers and the remaining 6 were for the kids teachers & principal. It's chocolate with shaved chocolate inside. I poured a Chocolate Gan ache with chocolate chips on top. Oh, just for fun, I cut the cakes in half and threw in a layer of whipped Butter Cream icing! I didn't taste them, so I hope they were ok. I didn't take a picture, but I wrapped them in cellophane and tied it off with a bow and candy cane. (I liked the plates, I found them at Basha's for .45 cents!)

Balls! Balls! Balls!! I think I calculated, like, five hundred-something cake balls that I made over the coarse of the WEEK! Red Velvet, Chocolate, Chocolate Mint, Oreo!!....
...I even got some blue balls made in the mix of it all!! hey..don't ask....I just found some pretty blue chocolate that's all:)

I also made 3 pumpkin rolls, several trays of PB Bars and some Brownie Bites. I was really glad to be so busy and glad people want to eat my treats...but by the time my last lady picked up her order @ 5:45 pm on Friday, I WAS ZONKED!!! I didn't realize how tired I was until we were sitting at church that night. At 6pm we left to go to the Church Christmas Party. As I sat at the table, waiting to eat, well, that's when it hit me! I've not baked since :) I'm now totally rested and ready to bake some more in the morning!!! This week won't be as full, because I'll only be baking Mon - Weds morning. I have enjoyed my little business.. I'm still trying to decide if it's really worth it. It's totally worth cost compared to profit, but TIME is the question. The crazy thing is that even when I was feeling so Zonked, I still couldn't stop thinking of 'What I was going bake next!". Does that mean I'm totally obsessed with baking?...Yes, my friends, I think it does! I think I need help!

OUT OF STATERS: DON'T FORGET ABOUT MY DRAWING FOR PEANUT BUTTER BARS!! check that post out if you have any questions! I will do the random drawing on DEC 26th!! (If you aren't going to be home until after the new year, don't worry, I'll send them when you get back!!!)

Christmas lunch and Fart Bombs!

Christmas Lunch...
Christmas Lunch w/ the boys was way better than Thanksgiving! Maybe it's b/c I picked up chick-fil-a on the way and we all ate that instead of the Cafe' lunch!!! I didn't get pictures of Brant but here are a couple of Jacob and some of his close friends!



The Ice Cream Man...

Ok--The ICE CREAM MAN doesn't sell what he used to!!! It used to be, back in my day, that when you ran after the ice cream truck to buy something, you'd COME HOME WITH ICE CREAM!! Yesterday when the Ice Cream Man drove by our house on his usual route, Brant grabbed all of his change a bolted out the door. This is what he came home with...a Fart Pack!!! Ok, so look closely at the picture on the front!! HOLY COW!! The other is a ...something bomb. The doesn't smell, it just blows up (& will scare the pee out of your dog!!) but boy the Fart thing is HORRENDOUS!!! I actually found out how bad they smell last week. After school, we ran over and picked Tyler up to come over, and as he and Brant were getting in the car, I noticed the mischievous looks on their faces. Next thing I know BOOM! in my trunk!! They had thrown the fart bag in the back of the car and it exploded!! That sucker stunk worse than a skunk playin in poop...in the hot, hot Arizona sun...in the middle of the summer when it's, like 120 degrees!! It was horrible!! I think Rissa started crying! They are fifty cents each and the Ice Cream Truck drives by my house everyday anywhere from 3:45-4:30pm if anyone is anxious to get their hands on one!! ...Brant's face cracks me up in this picture!! Nothin like a boy and his fart bombs!

A SWEET DRAWING for all of you 'Out-of-Staters'!!

(...milk not included) :)
Ok, So I need a little help from an 'out-of-stater' or two!!! My PEANUT BUTTER BARS want to take a trip! I'm interested in seeing how they do on the road. I want to RANDOMLY pick TWO of you to send FREE PEANUT BUTTER BARS TO, to see if they can survive shipping. SO---If you DO NOT live in the state of ARIZONA and are interested, just leave me a comment. I will randomly pick Two Winners the DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS...DEC 26TH (I'm thinking that mail will be some what normal again:) The only thing that I ask, is that whoever get chosen, if you could just email me when they arrive and let me know if they are dried out or smashed into a million pieces or whatever. I've had a couple of people ask me about shipping some for them to family/ friends and I don't want to have anyone pay me for them if they are crap at the end of their journey--so anyway, this will give me a chance to send them on a test run:) oh---and to my INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS: yes, you can join in the fun too!!! I might send you some anyway, just for the fun of seeing how they survive across the ocean!! When you comment, please leave your name, blog link and/or an email and why you think you should get a package full of yumminess!!!

Bedazzled Jock Straps For Sale!!! (Picture of Jenny's Calender Added!!!)

***Warning: This post is not for the super shy, easily embarrassed type! You may cry, you may turn red and Tracy & Dawn: you just might pee in your pants, so take precautions!***
Tonight was the Annual Cookie Exchange Party that Tina, Jenny & Shelley host every year!! This year for my WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT, I made this CUSTOM DESIGNED JOCK STRAP!! I wanted to 'Bedazzle' something, so I figured, "why not a Jock Strap?"! Before I left party I had three people interested in purchasing one!!! Maybe there's money to be made in the Bedazzled Jock Strap Industry!! I wonder if I could, like, sell them at Wal-greens or something...even better, maybe I could sell them with my balls! -CAKE BALLS PEOPLE!! ya know, buy 20 balls and get a bedazzled Jock Strap for 2.99 (3.99 for XL)! Tina wants one that looks like a Santa Hat...
I hadn't told anyone what I had brought and I tell ya, I was DIEING when Julie picked my gift!! Quiet, Reserved, Mature Julie!! I had to yell for her to hold it up b/c I was pretty sure she was gonna put it back in the bag and throw it across the room!! {Julie and I work together in Nursery and I just love her to death!!}
Sarah ended up stealing it from her and took it home with a smile on her face!!! She and her family are moving to Italy soon, with the Air Force, so we determined that this Jock will soon be an International Jock! What a full life, exciting life it will live!! I hope it doesn't lose any of it's stars during it's travels.
Allyson got Jenny's gift...a 2009 Swimsuit Calender! The swimsuit model: Jenny!! I should've gotten some snapshots of Jenny in her bathing suit...riding a quad..on the slide...reading a huge book on the stairwell (?)...Jenny, I think you should go National with it!! Let's go into business together...A calender of you & Jim..You in your swimsuit, Jim in a bedazzled Jock Strap...eating cake balls by the pool, eating cake balls on your quad, eating balls while sliding down the slide (although we'd probably have to put baby powder on the slide for Jim!) or while reading big books on the stairs!!!! We'd totally make a killin' selling them at Wal-greens!!
Here's a little sample of the Calender!! I'm not sure what month this is, but I'm guessing one of the cooler months, b/c she's able to pose on the slide w/o it burning her tush!
Jenny laughing and taking pictures of Allyson's expression as she opens it. I laughed so hard that my throat was hurting and my ab's were sore! Awesome gift Jenn!!!

Natalie got Tina's gift..she didn't quite know what to think of it at first! It was a T-shirt with one of Shelley's high school pictures on it. Shelley didn't know about it which really made it funny. Here's Tina laughing at Shelley's expression when she realized what was on the shirt! Brea was sitting beside me yelling, Tiff, take a picture of Tina! Take a picture of Natalie! OOO look at Shelley!!! Get a picture! Get a picture!! It was all so crazy and absolutely hilarious!!....When it was all said and done, I failed in getting a picture of Shelley's reaction!


It was a great night out!!! And it was great timing-I've been stuck home with a sick baby pretty much all week, except for today to go get my 'jock supplies' and medicine! Thanks T,S & J and everyone who showed up!!! It was another great Cookie Party --great food and great company!!!!!

*****One thing missing this year was Lindsay and the infamous PURPLE SCRUNCH ONE-SIZE FITS ALL SHIRT!!****