If You Like Peanut Butter....



 We were invited over to a friend's house on Saturday evening for dinner and I offered to bring dessert.  I tried a new recipe that I had printed a while back.  I often try something new for other people...which doesn't make a lot of sense.  I should go with a tried and true recipe...but I think I get some kind of rush waiting to see if my dessert will turn out okay.  And, thankfully it did!  It was almost like a cookie on the outside and warm and dense on the inside.  The peanut butter glaze that went over the cake was SO good!

I made a huge mess with the peanut butter glaze.  It ran down the cake stand and all over the counter.  I put it in the freezer for a few minutes to harden, and then I was able to transfer the cake to a different cake stand.  No harm done...our little secret.

You can find the recipe for this cake over HERE.  I hope you try it...it's a keeper!

Growing Up



Growing up, basketball meant everything to me.

I barely made the middle school team.  I was terrible.

The coach told my parents I would probably not make the high school team.

I spent hours and hours a day playing basketball in the driveway the summer before I started high school.

I remember sleeping with my basketball...and dribbling everywhere trying to become a better ball handler.

I watched college basketball and the NBA all the time.  I knew all the players and all their stats.  (Because that's important, right?!)

My parents would often suprise me with an NBA Digest on the end of my bed when I got home from school.

My favorite Christmas gift ever was my Lakers t-shirt and matching shorts.

I played basketball all four years of highschool.

Every summer my parents allowed me to go to an out of state basketball camp that they probably couldn't afford.

I held the all-time three point record at my high school for a couple of years after I graduated.

I would have done better in college if it weren't for my basketball distraction.

I vowed that the man I married would need to have a "shot" almost as good as mine.  (Can you believe I thought that was a quality I needed to have in a husband?)

It's funny, looking back all those years ago...I thought basketball was my life....and maybe it was then. 

But today, basketball isn't even in my top 50 list of favorite things to do in life. Unless of course you count shooting with this little guy or watching his basketball games.  Isn't it funny how our interests change as we get older....and smarter!  I can certainly understand Brady's passion for tennis.  I wonder if he will always love it...or if that will change for him too as he gets older.

By the way, my husband has a great shot!

I guess I got pretty lucky!



Sharing My Tunes



My husband gave me this cd for Christmas and I have enjoyed it everyday since.  

He calls it my island music. 

 It's kind of a mix of country and reggae. 

When I listen to it, it doesn't feel like winter! 

 It feels like the middle of July on a sunny beach without a care in the world. 

 Yep, I'm in my own little world over here.

I thought I would share my tunes in case you needed a little help too getting through this cold winter! 

 You're welcome. :)

Some Beach             Blake Shelton

Two Pina Coladas     Garth Brooks

Rhythm of Love        Plain White T's

Live, Laugh, Love     Clay Walker

One More Drinkin' Song    Jerrod Niemann

Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven   Kenny Chesney

No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem   Kenny Chesney

Pass the Dutchie        Musical Youth

One Love                   Bob Marley

Red Solo Cup             Toby Keith

Toes                            Zac Brown Band

Knee Deep                  Zac Brown Band

Three Little Birds        Bob Marley

I'm Yours                    Jason Mraz

It's Five O'Clock Somewhere   Alan Jackson

I was going to link all the videos...but then got lazy decided you could find them yourself on youtube if you wanted.  It really is a happy little cd.  Just don't get confused looking over the song titles and think it is my "drinking" cd!  It is not.  Although, if we get a big snow storm, I might think about bringing my beach chair into the livingroom and having that sweet husband of mine whip me up some pina coladas!

~Kerri

Flashback Friday







I miss this little guy.  Sure, he was a lot of work...but he definitely made those long winter days more enjoyable.  We took lots of walks up to the Amish neighbor's house to visit the chickens.  On really cold days we would stay in our pajamas and sit by the fireplace and read books for what seemed like hours.  We played toys and cars and did puzzles.  We had lunch together everyday.  We waited by the big window in the playroom to wave to Daddy when he got home from work.  I don't ever remember "looking forward" to the day he started school.  Why did those first five years go so fast?

What's Red and White and Pink All Over?

      Valentine's Day at our house!



As most of you already know...I will find any excuse to celebrate!  What's that quote?  Life is a gift so go ahead and celebrate.....or something like that!   And, being the only female member in this house...it's not too often I can get away with all the pink stuff without any complaints! 

It was a "lovely" day.  Brady got in bed with me early in the morning to wish me a Happy Valentine's Day.  He rubbed my back and told me how much he loves me.  (Not that this is different from any other morning...but he was excited for the day.)  Eric left me a card on the counter that made me cry.  We had a chinese lunch date...Eric told me he and Brady were taking care of dinner.  We had dinner by candlelight that was so good.  They made grilled chicken with cheese and salsa...and Eric made me a sweet potato with this carmel, marshmallow, brown sugar, buttery goodness on top.  Heavenly.

(or maybe he's trying to kill me?!) 

I am loved...I feel it everday.  I certainly don't need all that hype of Valentine's day.  But celebrating, and going out of your way for someone is fun and feels good.  I think my husband does a much better job of doing this for me than I do for him.  I'm going to work on that.  Dr. Phil often says that you should wake up in the morning and say, "what can I do today to make my spouses life better?"  I love that thinking.

~Kerri

A Love Story

That's my Grandma and Grandpa...Lee and Mary Ellen Smith.   I never met my Grandpa...he died of a heart attack when he was 41 years old.  I know from stories I have heard, that he and I would have gotten along well.  My Grandma died when I was 9 years old.  She was the kind of grandma you hope your children are lucky enough to have.  How I wish she was still here on earth.  I wish she could meet my husband and son.  She only knew me as a little girl, never as a wife and a mother.  Do you ever try and think who you are most like in your family?  I do, and I think I am most like both of my grandmothers.

My Grandma liked to scrapbook....way back before there was even such a thing.    Boy would she be suprised today!  She kept little momentos and pictures and compiled them into a book.  About ten years ago I found out that the scrapbook my aunt kept in her attic had some water damage.  I am working on redoing that scrapbook now and came across a few things that I thought were fitting for Valentine's Day. 

This was an anniversary card.





A football game they attended together.

This one made me a little teary....

Lee and Mary Ellen had two daughters...Marilee (my mom) and Bonnie.



 

Their life was short, but their love lives on everyday.

Lee and Mary Ellen have 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Happy Valentine's Day!

~Kerri

Last Minute Teacher Valentine Idea



It does not get any easier than this...I promise!

Only 2 ingredients.

I can of frosting.  I bag of white chocolate chips.

I used cherry frosting because it's pink.

Melt chips in microwave until completely melted.

Mix frosting in with the melted chocolate...(do this everyday and

you will have some nice arms!)

Spread mixture into greased 9 x 13 pan.  Refridgerate for 30 minutes.

Done!  Cut into squares or hearts.

Can you imagine the possibilities with all the different kinds of frosting flavors and the different varieties of chocolate chips?!

The manner of giving is worth more than the gift itself.

~Pierre Corneille



Ten on Ten: {February 2012}

Ten pictures in ten hours on the tenth of the month trying

 to capture the beauty in the ordinary moments of the day. 

This afternoon I went out to lunch and shopping with a friend. 

 It was just what I needed.  I don't often make the time to do

this...and it never fails...afterwards I always feel recharged.

The older I get, the more I realize how important my girlfriends are to me.  



Okay, back to ten on ten....here goes!

Breakfast for the boy.

Packing the lunchbox.

Brady and I always play catch while we wait for the bus.

First time at the Ulta store.

First time at Sublime Cupcakes.

Heading home.

Eric took this one with my cell phone.

Campout!

Go HERE to check out everyone's ten on tens!

Happy tenth everyone!

It's My Blog and I Can Brag If I Want...



Last week, on my birthday, I got a call from Brady's school saying that he was chosen by his teacher for Student of the Month for February.  I cried.  I knew how much it would mean to him.  Especially this year.  You see, we never have to worry about Brady academically or doing his best....no problems there.  However, Brady often comes home from school complaining about so and so being picked on or being made fun of.  One day he stood up for a boy who was told he couldn't sit at the lunch table with everyone else.  Brady now sits next to this student everyday at lunch so he has someone to sit with.  Because of this, Brady often becomes an easy target too.  (Kids say, "why are you friends with so and so?")  I have encouraged Brady to let his teacher know what is going on...but Brady refused until one day this student was pushed out of line and he fell back and hit the wall.  Brady finally went to his teacher.  (Kids seem to do most of their bullying during lunch and recess when there is less supervision.)

Brady came home and said his teacher told him.....

"It takes a strong person to stand up for yourself....and an even stronger one to stand up for someone else."

Last night we went to the school for the awards program.

That's Brady and Mrs. Ray, the principal.

Brady was so proud to wear his medal to school today!

It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

~J.K. Rowling

I'm so proud of you Brady!

  Congratulations on your Student of the Month award!

I love you,

Mom