Just Can't Get Enough...

Lately, we've been looking for some healthy munchies to keep around the house. We've always kept cookies or candy around to munch on. It's good, but not good for us. Time to make some changes. So, here's a recipe of something we just can't get enough of lately. It's got sweet and salty. It's just right and actually has nutritional value. But, watch out! You might find your 4-year-old just picking out the M&Ms!

Homemade Trail Mix

1 large container of salted (or lightly salted) roasted peanuts

1 medium-sized box of raisins

1 medium-sized bag of plain M&Ms

In a gallon-sized ziplock bag, pour all ingredients. Close bag. Use hands to mix ingredients together through bag. Use trail mix for: school lunches and snacking on around the house. And, if you use seasonally colored M&Ms, I think it would also be a cute gift idea.

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Tonight was Monday Night for the Master. It was my turn to bring dessert for everyone. I looked through my old recipes and found one for Key Lime Cake. I got the recipe from a co-worker that I was at WRMS with. She won the bake-off with this recipe the year she brought it. I took it tonight and everyone raved! So, here's the recipe (slightly modified) from what I was given. I don't really believe in homemade frosting. I have no patience.

Key Lime Cake

Ingredients:

1 box lemon cake mix

1 1/3 C. vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 (3oz) pkg. lime jello mix

3/4 C orange juice

1 container of cream cheese frosting

3 T. lime juice

Directions: Cake-Preheat oven to suggested temp. on cake mix box. Grease and flour a 9x13 in dish. Mix cake mix, jello mix, oil, eggs, and orange juice. Pour evenly into dish. Bake according to cake box directions. Allow to cool completely.

Frosting-Put cream cheese frosting in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30-35 seconds. Add lime juice. Stir together. Spread on cake.

Redneck Sleigh Ride

Ummmm...I don't think any words are needed to describe this...

Today was a SNOW DAY!
But, this wasn't very fun snow. It was hard and icy. Not really snowman-making, snowball-fighting kind of snow.

But, that doesn't mean Allyson can't find some fun!

Looking all grown up!

But, Daddy has quite an imagination!

So much fun sliding down the ditch when you're only 4!

And, guess what! We get another snow day tomorrow. Looking forward to sleeping and staying cozy, but these days will have to be made up. :(

No Place Like Home for the Holidays

We had a wonderful Christmas 2010. It was nearly perfect!

Here's our tree with all of Mommy & Daddy's gifts on Christmas Eve. We exchanged our gifts first thing on Christmas Eve morning.

Mike gave me lots of nice things. I guess I've been good this year. I recieved an iPod Nano and a large storage ottoman. And, Mike has been good this year, too! So, I got him a Wii with lots of games and accessories. He said he was surprised. And, he LOVED it!

Allyson got to open one gift.
A Princess Snugii!

Then, it was time to make our gingerbread man.

We put hime in the oven.

But, when it was time for him to come out, he was gone! We looked all over. Allyson looked outside from the window and found him on Daddy's car. I had to go out and grab him fast before he ran away again!

Then, it was time to decorate him.

Allyson arranged the M&M's in a pattern.

And, what do you know! This gingerbread man is actually a girl.

That night, we went to Gray to my parents' house. My sister's family came, too. We had a tasty dinner of deli sandwiches, boiled shrimp, chips, and hot dips.

We all took turns having pics made in front of the tree.

Robbi, Brad, Caleb, & Carlee

My parents, Phyllis & Glenn

My mom found this cake at Publix. Too cute!

When, we got home, we put out the cookies and milk right after we sprinkled magic reindeer food on our front lawn. We put some red sugar on the milk and it turned pink. Santa still enjoyed it. :)

And, then Allyson was off to bed while Mike & I stayed up until a very late hour playing Wii. :)

The next morning, Allyson found lots of gifts that Santa had left just for her!

Someone at our house is a tiny bit Tangled crazy!

Having breakfast at her new Princess table.

Later that day, we went to see our friends Jody & Melissa. We had a gift for their baby Piper.

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New Year's Eve

Mike was off on New Year's Eve. So, we had a family day and went to lunch and to the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Macon. It was a fun and inexpensive day.

Digging for fossils

There's a mini zoo.

And, we came home to get ready for our annual New Years bash at church. There were lots of yummy goodies and we played games until pretty late. Allyson was determined to welcome the New Year, but she fell asleep in my arms around 11:50. I was just glad my husband was home for a kiss!

Happy New Year 2011!

This was so funny! Allyson got to take a bunch of balloons home from church the night before. She rode her trike around our driveway saying, "Balloons for Sale! Balloons for Sale!" I had to grab the camera!

This was such a great Christmas! Everything was so magical for Allyson. Four is the perfect age for believing in everything. I wish she'd stay like this forever!

Happy New Year!

An After-Christmas Recipe

If you find yourself sick the day after Christmas, which I did this year, you can make a delicious soup to help you to feel better. Or, you may just need to do something with all your left-over mashed potatoes! :)

After-Christmas Potato Soup

You'll need:

1 can chicken broth

3-4 heaping tablespoons of mashed potatoes

4 oz of shredded turkey

4 oz shredded ham

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar

Stir on medium heat and let simmer until hot. Serves 2.

Hopefully, I'll be all better tomorrow. I gotta check out all the after-Christmas deals! :)

Hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Fast "Paced"

I am quite behind in updating my blog, so guess what. This post goes back to...

Halloween!

We went to Gray so that Allyson and Caleb could trick-or-treat together. First, we had some supper.

Then, it was time to get CANDY!
Random pic of Allyson napping on my shoulder as I sat in our recliner.

Back in November, we went to see Disney Princesses on Ice.

At the end, all the princesses came out in golden ball gowns. Allyson loved it all!

We spent Thanksgiving Day at my mom and dad's. Here's my sister and me with our kids.

Later, we took a walk by the pond. There are huge rocks that Allyson likes to climb.

The day after Thanksgiving, while I was shopping, Mike and Allyson went to see his dad, Grandpop.

Earlier this month, we went to our church Christmas party. We have it at a nursing home each year. We pass gifts out to the residents and enjoy cookies and punch. The kids get to have a picture made on Santa's lap.

Ironically, Laney & Ella wore the same shirt Allyson had on. Apparently, their mom did a little after-Christmas shopping at Belk last year, too. :)

Last weekend, we went to Hailey's birthday party. She had a Polar Express themed-party. It was a lot of fun and all the decorations were so cute. Allyson said she wants a Polar Express birthday party for when she's 5. But, her Dad and I explained that it won't be a fun theme in August. And, maybe a Barbie party would be more appropriate. She agreed.

Hailey's dad punched everyone's ticket.

At the party, there was a Hot Chocolate Bar. It was stocked with whipped cream, marshmallows, choc chips, mini candy canes, and sprinkles. I tried to take pictures of the festive beverages, but they were all out of focus. :(

Well, Mike & I just graduated from FPU, Financial Peace University.

When you get a credit card application in the mail, you should run away like a gazelle from a cheetah!

Here's a picture from one of the most highly anticipated days at our school, Pajama Day AKA Polar Express Day. Allyson had her PJ's picked out for weeks.

Daddy gives us a ride home from school most days and sometimes he plays with Allyson on the playground. This is her favorite thing in the afternoons.

This past weekend, we had some family on my mom's side come visit from out of town. So, we were all together at my mom's.

I am so in love with this sack-a-sugar!! Carlee is the sweetest baby and she's always up for some lovin'.

Here's my Uncle Steve, cousin JJ, and Aunt Janice, my mom's sister. They all live in Columbus, Ga.

That night, Mike had a work party. Our friends' daughter, Kelsey, babysat for us. We were surprised to come home and find that they had made a gingerbread house.

Sunday night, Allyson had a couple friends spend the night. We had breakfast at Burger King Monday morning. They had fun, but Mom & Dad did not get much sleep!

Yesterday, we went to my mom's to do some holiday baking. I love this picture of Allyson and my mom making cookies.

We are ready for Christmas, except for some laundry, grocery shopping, and basic house cleaning. Are you? :)

Merry Christmas!

Love, The Paces