Cherry Cheese Pie (YUMMM)

Thank you to Sarah for this recipe! It is an excellent pie!

Cherry Cheese Pie

Graham cracker crust
8 oz. cream cheese
½ cup sugar
2 cups Cool Whip
Canned cherry pie filling

With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar together until creamy. Turn the mixer down and add the Cool Whip. Mix until it's thoroughly incorporated. Pour filling into the graham cracker crust, and top with the cherry pie filling. Refrigerate several hours before serving.

Christmas Survey

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love wrapping presents! Plus, I love un-wrapping presents.

2. Real tree or artificial? Real, but we have an artificial one we use just because.

3. When do you put up your tree? This year I put it up a week before Thanksgiving because we were having company for Thanksgiving and I didn't want to have a mess when they were here. Usually we put it up the day (or weekend) after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take it down? Sometime after Christmas. When I get to it!

5. Do you like eggnog? NO

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I think I would have to say Big Jim, my huge bear I got from my Aunt Marie one year. I still have him sitting on the bed in the guest room.

7. Hardest person to buy for? James, usually, except this year! He knows what one of his presents is, but doesn't know the other! :)

8. Easiest person to buy for? Jet, my dog. Just get him a squeaker and he will love you forever! :)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. Two years ago when I was working at Hallmark I bought a really really nice one that sits on top of my piano.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I like to mail them, because I know people love to get mail since it is so rare these days!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I try to push those memories out of my mind... aka... I have no clue!

12. Favorite Christmas movie? You know, I don't know if I have one. I guess I would say Rudolph the Red Nosed Raindeer.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The day after Christmas (that is when you get the best sales on ornaments and other stuff for Christmas) or once we get Christmas lists from everyone.

14. Have you ever regifted a Christmas present? Um... i think I probably have. I don't remember though.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Butterhorn rolls (for Christmas and Thanksgiving) they are usually the only times we get them in the year.

16. Lights on the tree? yep, i like straight white lights. i really don't like multi-colored strands.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night. For some reason I always get teary eyed, but I love it.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Since we don't have family we spend Christmas with here we love to go places. I really don't think we will be having Christmas on our own till we have a couple of kids!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes, because of the song!

20. Angel or star on top of the Christmas tree? We have a star, but I would like an angel.

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? We open one on Christmas eve and the rest on Christmas morning. It satisfies the urge to open them at night, but keeps the surprises for the next morning... you still have to wait for most of the presents!(Kristen, this could solve your problem!!)

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Santa! Not that I don't like him and I will have this tradition with my children, but I hate the fact that people seem to "worship" Santa more than worship Christ at this time of year!

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? Each year, after Christmas, James and I go to Hallmark and pick out an ornament (on sale) for the next years tree. We don't open them, they just get put away with the other Christmas decorations and we get them out the next year and are surprised. It is something fun we like to do! :)

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Usually turkey or marinated steak. (of course with the Butterhorn rolls!!)

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Kitchen Aid Mixer, parafin wax foot/hand thing, Kung Fu Panda DVD... ask James or my mom... they have my list! :)

This idea just might work!! **Warning-politics**

I think this is so funny, and it could just work. I got this over the email.

Bush should resign now.

Then Dick Cheney becomes President (that would really PO the liberals)!!!

Then he appoints Condoleeza Rice as VP.

Then Cheney resigns two weeks later and Condoleeza Rice, A Republican,
becomes the first BLACK President and the first WOMAN President !!!

Which one should we use for our Christmas Card??

So I am trying to decide on which picture to use for our Christmas cards. I would like you opinion. Let me know which one you like best, 1, 2 or 3!! Thanks.

1.) James and I (from the pictures by Tina)

2.) James and I (2nd picture by Tina)

3.)

5 Questions

1. Four places I go: work, church, grocery store, Gillette

2. Four people who e-mail me regularly: Mom, James, Elizabeth, spammers

3. Four of my favorite places to eat: Taco Johns, Johnny Carino's, Hoong's Palace, Pizza Hut

4. Four places I would rather be right now: in bed, Gillette, Rock Rapids, Somewhere warm!!

5. Four TV shows I watch: Chuck, The Biggest Loser, Law & Order: SVU, Days of Our Lives

First actual website!!

If you click on the title to this post, it will take you to my very first ever website!!! I am so excited about it and the conference it is promoting. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

I guess I am a Redneck!!

We have enjoyed the red neck jokes for years. It's time to take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, family, country and God. If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up. Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- that's what rednecks are made of. I hope I am one of those.

You might be a redneck if:

It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God.'

You might be a redneck if:

You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if:

You still say ' Christmas' instead of 'Winter Festival.'

You might be a redneck if:

You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a redneck if:

You stand and & place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a redneck if:

You treat our armed forces veterans with great respect, and always have and always will.

You might be a redneck if:

You've never burned an American flag, nor intend to.

You might be a redneck if:

You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if:

You respect your elders and raised your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if:

You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

A savings of about $130 bucks!!!!

So, I teach piano lessons to two little girls. One of them is getting pretty far in a book and the book starts her on the pedals of the piano. The problem is, she is about 8 inches too short!

So, I looked and looked to see if i could find a pedal extender. Here is a couple of the ones I found. (Foot Pedal Stool) (Foot Pedal Stool) (Pedal Extentions).

So, the stools are about $120-$150 or the extentions are $75. I looked at them and thought "I can do something like that on my own... so... here is what I made.

I know!! Really really primative... but it works... Really it does! I am going to put a shoe box sized box under it so her foot has something to rest on.

I thought it was fun making it. Fairly easy too. a 2x2 cut about 8 inches. A 1x2 cut and sanded to the shape of a pedal. then a noch cut in the 2x2 for the clamps. I drilled some holes in the 2x2 and the back of the pedal and glued dowels into the back of the pedal and glued that into the 2x2. It is all glued together and works like a charm!!! :)

Halloween!!!

So, I learned something new on this Halloween. James has never, ever, in his life, dressed up for Halloween and gone door-to-door trick-o'-treating!!! I was just flabergasted when I learned that.

So, Jet and I dressed up to show James how much fun it would be!!!

I decided this year that I didn't want to torture Jet with an actual costume, so I painted a stripe down his back. Here is our little skunk!!!!

And here is me in my home-made costume!! I thought it was fun. This first picture I had the mask on.... I realized after I took the picture that the mask didn't quite work. So, I changed, check out the picture after this one.

Triplets first time in the Jumperoo!

Aria's First Time in the Jumperoo

Levi's First Time in the Jumperoo

David's First Time in the Jumperoo

THey are getting so big... (Comparison pictures)

Here are the babies at 1 week, then at 5 months! See how much they have changed. They are sitting beside the same bear in each picture!

David

Aria

Levi

Triplet pictures

fun... and funny!!!

RULES:
1. Put Your itunes, windows media player, MP3player, etc on Shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.


Are you male or female? Happy Face - Destiny's Child


Describe yourself! All You Can Eat Buffet - Trenchcoats

What do people feel when they're around you? Hey Mama - Black Eyed Peas


Describe your current relationship. This Kiss - Faith Hill


Where would you like to be now? That Ol' Wind - Garth Brooks


How do you feel about love? What a Way to Wanna Be - Shania Twain


What's your life like? Gaston - from Beauty and the Beast

What would you ask for if you had only one wish? Live for Today - Natalie Grant

Say something wise. I Ain't Goin' Down - Shania Twain

If someone says "is this okay?" you say...? Please Remember - LeAnn Rimes

Our Wedding

What were your wedding colors?--Periwinkle and yellow

What was your wedding dress like?--strapless, beaded with Swarovski crystals, had a boned corrset in it and it laced up the back. It had a sweatheart neckline and a chapel train.

Can you name your bridesmaids?--Jami, Elizabeth, Amy, Kristen, and Mary

What about your groomsmen?--Chris (James is in his wedding in a week!), Austin, Joe, Dave, Doug, and Jackson (our nephew as the ringbear)

Do you still talk to your wedding party?--Of course... ALL OF THEM!! I am related to two of them, Jami and I still talk about 4 times a week (some more, some less), I don't get to talk to Amy, Kristen and Mary as much as I would like, but when we do talk it is like we haven't been apart much. As for the groomsmen, as you can see James is in Chris' wedding, he was an usher in Austin's wedding and we talk to them a lot. Joe calls and talks when he is not engulfed with his girl (happy for you Joe!!), and we got to see Dave (and Austin) when we were up in Fargo a month or so ago. James is going to see his sisters and Jackson and Caroline (our neice who was only 1 year old the year of our wedding) the same weekend of Chris' wedding.

What was the biggest "disaster" of the wedding?--hmmmmm.... I guess the only thing I could possibly consider a disaster would be that I could hardly stand up straight during our pictures. So my chiropractor friend came in and gave me an adjustment before the wedding started. You can see the video here. It was all better during the wedding, but if he hadn't helped, I wouldn't have made it through the weddding!

Who were your ushers? Can you remember?--Dave Winegar and Dan Nebelsick (I think there was only two!) or was Henry (my cousin) one too.... hmmm... I am going to have to go look at pictures... how frustrating!

Who was the music at your wedding?--Let's see.... James' cousin Susan played the piano, Diane played the organ, Douglas, Brian, and Alex sang a trio, Marie sang, Douglas and Elizabeth sang a duet, and my bridesmaids sang. I then had the bells toll us out of the sanctuary! (did I miss anyone?)

What was the reception like?--It was at Twin Spruce Junior High in their "new" lobby area. We had food, and punch (except the punch ran out before we got there!) and an cake with a fountain in it! We danced, mingled, and then went on our way!

Was rice thrown?No, we filled the fabric "roses" with birdseed. The church wouldn't let us use rice. (I was still finding birdseed in places in my car and suitcase 2 years later)

Who traveled farthest to get to your wedding?--Probably James' family from Louisiana

Did you have a recieving line?-- Yep, the parents and us only.

Transportation?My aunt and uncle took us in a white Mustang convertable around town before we got to the reception, and then to our hotel.

Your favorite memory of the wedding?--how much fun the whole weekend was. We did so much. It truly was a whole wedding weekend!

How many weddings have you been a part of?--hmmmm.... the first wedding I was a part of was my sister's, i was Maid of Honor. Then I was a bridesmaid in Kristen's; singer in Mary's; and Matron of Honor at Jami's. I am waiting for my bro to get married so I can have another one on my list (no pressure Doug!!! :-)

If you have a blog, you should copy and paste this and fill in your own answers. This was fun Kristen!!

Club Level @ the Broncos

Sunday we went to the Broncos/Buckaneers game. We got a pair of club level tickets from James' company. We can't wait to get them again.

Fun out and about in CO

We went on an adventure today! We decided to go up to Estes Park. We got there and went straight to the dog park with Jet. He got to swim, as you can see in the video at the end of this post. Estes was packed with people!!! So we decided to take CO Hwy 7 to Central City. There was some amazing views on the way! Just take a look at all the pictures.

Here is James and Jet playing at the dog park

Here is the creek by the bridge that we have pictures of. It was beautiful!!!

Camp Wyoba

I went to my favorite place on Earth on Friday. I had never been to Camp Wyoba in the fall when the leaves have changed and it is chilly. I walked the whole camp taking pictures for an archive for my office. Here are my favorites and a video of the creeek.