Sunday Breakfast

     A few years ago or more, Daren discovered a recipe in the 3rd ward cookbook for Puffy Pancakes by Linda Hall.  It has become a favorite of the kids for a hot Sunday breakfast.  It's so yummy and so easy to make!

Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Melt a stick of butter in a 9x13 pan (we use half a stick) in the oven.  Mix 9 eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk and 1 1/2 cups flour in a bowl.  Pour onto melted butter in pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.  (Sister Hall's recipe says 15-20 but we usually go at least 20 and sometimes longer.)  Top with your favorite pancake topping! (syrup, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, etc.)

Now our family is big enough and hungry enough that we have to make 2 pans to feed everyone!

The Temple and Magic Mountain #2

     Since this is a 4 day weekend, we figured it was the perfect opportunity to do another temple and Magic Mountain trip.  Natalee didn't come with us this time because her best friend was having a birthday party on Saturday.  She spent the night at their house so she could be there for the party the next day.  We left Friday the 15th and headed to the temple.  We stopped at Costco on the way to get some new tires and hopefully to find a baptism dress for Mackenzie, so we didn't get the temple in time to do a session that evening.  So Daren got up early Saturday morning to go to the 5:30am session and I went to the 7:30am session (which happened to be in Spanish so that was kind of fun).  This meant that for about 30-45 minutes, we had to leave the kids alone.  Avery was awake when I needed to leave so I woke up Haylee to take care of her.  Kelsey had woken up too right before I left, and Daren says they were all awake by the time he got back.  But Haylee did a great job taking care of them and it all worked out great!  It was nice to start the morning with the sweet spirit of the temple.  Then off we headed to Magic Mountain.
     The first thing we saw when we entered Magic Mountain was Batman and Green Lantern taking pictures with people.  Nate has some Batman pajamas and I thought he would think it was pretty cool to take a picture with him.  He's a little scared of taking pictures with the characters but this time instead of absolutely refusing, he just stood by them, keeping his eyes averted.  But he spent a good part of this morning staring at the picture on my phone and talking excitedly about Batman. :)  We mostly stayed in Bugs Bunny World this time, but not completely.  Daren and Haylee went on the big roller coaster called Goliath!  Since our Moffitt cousins also have season passes, we ended up being there at the same time for just a little bit.  The kids got to go on a few rides together but then it was time for us to go home.
     We missed having Natalee with us but we all ended up having a fun time yesterday!

 

Mackenzie trapped in Tweety's cage!

Avery was either sleeping or happy the whole time! Such a good baby!



Nathan and Kelsey trapped in Tweety Bird's cage!

Cousins! Jacob, Kelsey and Audrey

Happy Valentine's Day

     You know how every kid brings valentines to school for each of their classmates?  We have a huge bin with boxes and boxes of store-bought valentines with popular TV show themes or cute animals for our kids to choose from. (I bought them on clearance after Valentine's Day a few years ago.)  They can usually fill them out in half an hour since all they write is their name and a classmate's name on each one.  If we go all out we might make a homemade valentine but still they just write two names on each one.  (I have thought about doing this but I don't believe I've ever actually done it.)  Well, this year Mackenzie received this valentine from a girl in her class.  I don't know this girl or her family situation.  Maybe they couldn't afford store-bought or fancy homemade valentines.  Or maybe her family just forgot it was Valentine's Day and this is all she could do.  But I will say that this was Mackenzie's all time favorite valentine that she has ever received.  Because Sandra took the time to write a genuine compliment to Mackenzie, it meant more to her than any store-bought valentine.  It made her feel so good.  It just goes to show what really matters in a valentine.

Finally Five!

     This girl has been dying to turn five every since she turned four last year.  I actually have this vague memory of feeling the same way when I turned four. :)  Well, February 1 finally arrived and she is officially five years old!
     For Kelsey's birthday we got her a few more outfits with matching doll clothes so she could match her doll Melissa more often.  We also got her a little remote control car for her Lalaloopsies to ride in.  My mom made her an apron and she made a matching apron for Melissa.  Kelsey and Melissa are sure going to be well-dressed!  It's a cute apron with ladybugs on it since Kelsey really likes ladybugs too.  I hope our sweet Kelsey had a wonderful birthday!  We are so blessed to have her in our family.  She is such a cheerful little girl with a great sense of humor.  She always makes us so happy.  Happy Birthday Kelsey Rose!

She was smiling more in a different picture but you couldn't see the cute ladybugs at the top of the apron in that one.

Looking Good for Church

     Nathan looked so handsome last Sunday in his tie and vest that I had to take a picture.  Kelsey thought she should get her picture taken too and she looked pretty adorable as well.  What cute kids I have!

Kelsey-isms

     Last night was family home evening and Natalee chose the treat.  She made a cherry dump cake with chocolate cake mix for the top.  I got some vanilla ice cream to go with it.  We sat at the table and I dished everyone some of the cake and ice cream.  Kelsey was happily eating her treat when she said with a smile, "Mmm...this tastes like barf."  Kelsey has quite a sense of humor but she seemed very sincere in her comment.  "Do you know what barf is?" I asked her.  "No," she answered me.  "Barf is throw up," I told her.  "Oh," said Kelsey.  I asked her if she still thought it tasted like barf and she said no. :)

     Kelsey and I have been planning her birthday party.  She's been planning her 5th birthday since about a week after she turned 4! :)  She wants to have a Lalaloopsy birthday party.  I was sitting in the recliner talking to her about her options and she was kind of hopping from one foot to the other.  I asked her if she needed to go use the bathroom.  "No," she answered," I'm just doing a happy dance!"

     I think I blogged about Kelsey trying to "bribe" us to do things for her by saying, "You'll be my favorite mommy (or daddy)."  Her new thing is to say, "I'll buy you a present for your birthday." Kelsey hardly ever spends her money so she is kind of rich, especially for a 4 year old.

Avery's Blessing Day

January 6, 2013

     Our sweet little Avery was blessed by her dad on January 6, 2013.  Some highlights from her blessing were that she was blessed that she would be a peacemaker.  And she was also blessed that her joy would be a light to others to help them learn about the gospel.  Many family and friends were there for her blessing.  Grandma Bobbi and Devin came all the way from Colorado.  Aunt Julene, Uncle Jeff, and cousin Sam came from Gilbert, AZ.  Moffitt and Poetschlag family along with our good friends the Cannons and Grovers came over from 3rd ward.  After church we had a dinner at our house to celebrate little Avery with all our friends and family.  It was a sweet day and we absolutely love this sweet little spirit that has joined our family.

Avery and......

Grandma Moffitt

Grandma Bobbi

Uncle Jeff, Aunt Julene, and Sam

Daddy

Great Grandma Poetschlag

Dad and Mom

Mommy

Great Grandma Poetschlag, Grandma Moffitt, and Mommy

Grandpa Moffitt

Grandpa Moffitt and Mommy

Grandpa and Grandma Moffitt

Daddy and Grandma Bobbi

Brent, Grace, Ronelle, Joey, and Katie Cannon

Jared, Torstun, Zeik, Vadie, and Alyssa Grover