Chocoholics Anonymous-Halloween

Look at all my little chocoholics in training, a mother couldn't be more proud. Just one of many perks for having 7 children, 7 HUGE bags full of Halloween candy! Too bad dad isn't a dentist, I'm sure we'll be visiting our dentist in the near future.
I know I'm just a tad warped, but I love how this looks, oodles and oodles of candy scattered on the table. Brings those childhood memories rushing back. I vividly remember one Halloween when we lived in Wisconsin, right down the street from my grandparents. My Uncle Bob and Uncle Bill were trying to convince me that I really didn't want all my chocolate, yea right! They didn't know of my deep love forming for chocolate.

And this is what my little ladies dressed up as, Molly was a Twilight Vampire(haven't read the books, don't really know what she's talking about), Katie was Pocahontas, Miss Emma was Tinkerbell(all 5 of my ladies have worn that costume now), Grace was Shirley Temple(for the life of me we could not get her hair to stay in banana curls), and Hannah Nana was Super girl(she's still obsessed with superheros). I love having a teenager! Molly walked all the lady monkeys around the neighborhood, woo-hoo for Molly!

And the boys! Jack, the man, is obviously Superman and Ben went as a nerd, aka himself. Thank you Tingey family for walking my boy monkey's around the neighborhood, they had a blast!(minus Ben losing Jack)

No chocoholics recipe for this week, I'm swimming in chocolate, can't think of anything else. Hope everyone had a spooky Halloween!

Conservative Humor-Don't click if you're a Democrat

Too funny to pass up!

Chocoholics Anonymous-Coma Hot Chocolate and a Super Duper Chocolate Chip Cookie

This is my Katie, my genuine, 100% tween. She loves to dance, cheer, sing, talk about boys, giggle, drink Mountain Dew, and watch High School Musical! Everything about this child oozes airhead. I love her!

Today my love goes above and beyond, I promised this perky little cheerleader that we would go see High School Musical 3-Senior Year. Yes, those crazy Wildcats are at it again. Now before you think I absolutely despise the HSM movies, I do admit to joining in on a good round of "We're All in This Together". I'm a sucker for a musical, do you remember Newsies, Loved It, have the movie and CD! I just cringe at the thought of screaming teenie boppers, mine included(man she can scream high and loud).

To prepare myself for this huge event I shall consume a large amount of Glenn Beck's Coma Hot Chocolate. Yes, I'm a sick twisted freak, I know it, I love Glenn Beck(my boyfriend Duane calls him)! Even if you have no earthly idea or your despise him this hot chocolate just reduces you to a puddle of chocolate bliss! Coma in a cup my friend, coma in a cup. And that's why I will enjoy.....

Glenn's Coma Hot Chocolate

5 pints of LIGHT CREAM, 1/2 & 1/2 or Whole Milk

12 Hershey candy bars

Slowly heat cream on stove, break candy bars in small pieces and slowly add to warm cream. Stir until melted candy is fully mixed.Serve ASAP and try not to go into a coma.

WARNING: DO

NOT EAT WITH TURKEY OR YOU MAY NEVER WAKE UP.

As an added reward for my superior mothering I whipped up a batch of these cookies from Baking with Boys . Now don't be afraid, it took me at least 2 weeks to muster up the courage to make cookies with hard boiled eggs. They are moist and yummy, and HUGE!

Enjoy your weekend.

I'm running all over the playground!!

Tag, I'm it, 3 times in a row! Man, I need to run faster. No, just joking, this is fun, hope you find it fun too. I'm going to combine the three tags from Lindsay, Bobbi Jo, and Mamarazzi, the 8 things, to know about me, that make me happy so here goes...

Places I like to eat:

1. Outback



2. Carabba's



3. Pei Wei



4. Ted's



5. Hideaway Pizza



6. Olive Garden



7. Panera



8. Chick Fil a

Shows I watch

1. Lost



2. Heroes



3. Dr. Who



4. Medium, is that still on?



5. AFV



6. Wizzards of Waverly Place, the kids sucked me in



7. Jimmy Neutron, secretly love this show, no sucking needed



8. Jon and Kate plus 8

What makes me Happy

1. Food, I have issues with chocolate, Sonic's diet Cole w/ lemon, and peanut butter.



2. Watching my girls dance(shhh, even my boys), recital and Nutcracker time just make this mama want to bust some buttons. They look so confident, something I always struggled with as a kid.



3. Family vacations, spending time with my kiddos and husband, minus the asthma attacks, crying babies and out of this world costs, Silver Dollar City and Colorado have been the happiest I have felt in a long time.



4. Holding a newborn baby, oh it makes my heart just go pitter patter, and this is why I have 7 monkeys in this jungle.



5. Harry Potter!!! I'm in stinkin' love with this whole phenomenon, movies, books, muggles, Hogwarts, Griffydor, Doby, and could go on and on.



6. Fall weather, 50-60 degree temperatures, sun shining, leaves falling off the trees, perfect!



7. My children, Molly, Ben, Katie, Jack, Grace, Hannah, and Emma. I love every little piece of their stinky, dirty, cuddly, soft, and amazingly cute bodies. OOHHHH they can drive me insane, but when the dust settles most of what they do is just so silly and laughable.



8. My love and eternal companion Duane. He is the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thing I think of at night. Even before cancer he was the light in my life, I didn't need cancer to remind me how incredible he was, I always knew. No one could ever make me more happier, no one.

That in a nutshell are three tags summed up into one. I'm tired of running, I won't tag anyone else, time for a kool-aid.

Muffin Tin Monday-A Ghostly Tale

I love the fall. Just look at all the orange! This weekend we did our traditional pilgrimage(15 miles) to our favorite pumpkin patch, and it's an actuall pick your own pumpkin, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" pumpkin patch. We love it!
We had a great time, can't you tell, Emma's modeling the back of her head just like Charlie Brown, and Hannah just wants to let it all loose, oh baby! But seriously I was so much fun and the kiddos worked up a big appetite. Just perfect for this weeks Muffin Tin Monday challenge- Halloween over at Sycamore Stirrings.
Looks a little ghoulish, this mad scientist did a little digging and created a ghostly tale to scare my little goblins. As the tin was passed around the Tale of John was recited and each child touched and even tasted a piece of my dear departed friend.

Here lies John, my dear late lamented friend. I know he wished he could be here before the end. John was a fun man, a giving man too. He wanted to share his body parts with you.

John was a jolly man with a great big gut. Let’s pass around his intestines, just your luck! Fresh from the grave, wet and cold Just a little slimy, just a little old. Twisted and shriveled in a bunch Just like they were after his lunch. (cold cooked spaghetti)

His skin was fair, almost pure white Let’s pass around a piece, no need to fright. Fresh from the grave, wet and cold. Just a little slimy, just a little old. Pretty greasy and dirty, he lived in a cave. Never really had time to ever bathe. (shredded tortilla)

One eyeball went left, the other went right. See poor John had very bad sight. Fresh from the grave, wet and cold. Just a little slimy, just a little old. Handle them gently as they roll John wouldn't like it if they fell from the bowl. (peeled grapes)

Now John wasn't a very smart man. We found his brains stuffed in a can. Fresh from the grave, wet and cold. Just a little slimy, just a little old. You'll feel there isn't much to them Shows the kind of man he'd been. (cold cooked cauliflower)

One thing John was proud of was his pearly whites A good set of choppers kept him fed right. Fresh from the grave, wet and cold. Just a little slimy, just a little old. See his teeth were strong unlike his sight Just be careful when you touch that they don't bite(white cooked corn)

With all his pieces back safe and sound. Time to put him back into the ground. So now you've met my dear lamented friend That brings this haunting to an end.

To round out the muffin tin and complete the Tale of John I added a little liver(spam), maggots(rice), heart(peeled tomato), vomit(bean and corn salsa), finger tips(hot dog tips) and broken bones(shaped bread sticks).

Are you still with me? I know a little gross for the younger crowd but my older monkeys loved it, Jack was enthused about eating all the "body parts", Grace was a tad spooked and Hannah was clueless. The rest were impartial. I had fun!

Chocoholics Anonymous-Sipping Chocolate

Mr. Mustache seems overflowing with enthusiasm for this over the top chocolate concoction. Guess who didn't get a big mug full? Hannah on the other hand, ah, a girl after my own heart. She loved the chocit-a-milk, as she calls it.

It was a tad bit nippy this morning, my family would say it was down right freezing. Is 66 in the house cold? I don't know, nothing beats bundling up, cozy warm with a blanket, breathing in that cold morning air and hearing everyone go "brrrr, brrr, mom it's cold!" That's a debate we have every fall/winter, guess who wins! Darn tootin' I win. Especially when I offer a truce with a mug of yummy hot chocolate. Over the next few Chocoholic Fridays I will offer up some different variations on Hot Chocolate and maybe a few cookie companions to dunk.

Today's version I just recently came across, thanks to Chemo Wednesday. I needed to distract my woe's so I scooted down to the closest store and found Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookies edition magazine. So many delights, so many calories. And this lovely Sipping Chocolate which they paired with a peanutty biscotti, I prefer pumpkin biscotti myself.

I hope you try this, dunk something in this, or use this as a truce, but mostly I hope you enjoy a great big mug of...

Sipping Chocolate

4 c half and half or whole milk

4 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 T dark-color corn syrup

whipped cream, optional

In a heavy saucepan, combine half and half, semisweet chocolate, and the chopped bittersweet chocolate. Stir in corn syrup. Cook over medium heat until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Serve in warm mugs with a dollop of whipped cream on top. Makes 4 one cup servings.

Ben-isms

Did you know that if you have just one pantyhose it's a pantyhoe? Just thought you would like to know. I'm not going to say what vile thoughts trickled through my head when Ben asked for a pantyhoe today, father forgive me for I have sinned.

The Secrets in the Sauce-Blogathon

Have you seen this button on the side of my blog? If you haven't guessed yet, I love blogging, and the SITS network is awesome! I have found some blogs that would have probably never come onto my radar. Where are my Angels just today won my heart with this funny post about giving Richard Simmons the old one two. Give it a click if you loathed Sweating with the oldies as much as I do. The Peterson's Go Public today posted a brutal confession of eating circus peanuts(you know the orange marshmallow thingies)for breakfast. Love that lady. Last but not least are the three blogs that sparked my creative bug, the three blogs that I look at every day Skip to my Lou, Make and Takes and Today's Creative Blog. All three are a treasure trove of useful, creative and sometimes yummy information.

Head on over today they are having a huge giveaway, one prize every hour, and yes I already have won a fabulous prize from the SITS gals, a gift certificate, from Sweet Funky Vintage, which I ordered the cutest outfit for Grace. Anyway give it a whirl today friends, good luck!

Chocoholics Anonymous: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

I actually took this Bakerella-esque picture, Yeah Me!
Hannah enjoyed the brownie batter, can you tell, she transformed into Little Orphan Annie

Just today I was blog stalking and came across a kindred spirit with a sweet tooth, Satisfying My Sweet Tooth is a yummy site full of lots of sweet treats! This week alone she dedicated each day to a different brownie, that's what I call a true Chocoholic! I knew at first glance that this was going to be this weeks Chocoholics Anonymous recipe. Maybe I should rename Friday Peanut Butter and Chocoholics Anonymous, I'm setting a trend here huh? Thank you Grandpa for my deep love of Peanut Butter(especially in oatmeal!).

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE BARS

1 box Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix

1/2 C peanut butter chips

1/2 C dry roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)

Peanut Butter Filling

3/4 C creamy peanut butter

1 C marshmallow cream

6 T butter, softened

3/4 powdered sugar

Chocolate Glaze

6 oz bittersweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped

5 T butter

1 T light corn syrup

Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9 inch square pan with foil, letting foil extend above pan on opposite sides. Coat foil with nonstick spray.Prepare brownie mix as package directs for fudgy brownies. Stir in peanut butter chips and peanuts. Spread evenly in prepared pan.Bake 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs attached. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

FILLING: beat peanut butter, marshmallow cream and butter in medium bowl until well blended. Reduce speed to low and add powdered sugar. Beat until blended. Spread evenly over brownie.

GLAZE: microwave chocolate and butter, stirring at 30 second intervals until melted and smooth. Cool slightly before stirring in corn syrup. Spread evenly over filling. Refrigerate 1 hour until filling is firm and glaze sets.Lift foil by ends onto a cutting board and cut 6 rows lengthwise and across. Store in fridge to keep firm.

*I posted this recipe before I made them, risky I know! They are hands down to die for delicious! You have to make these fellow chocolate lovers, they are worth the effort.

What would Jessie do? Part two

Have you heard the old saying "Goofy minds think alike", yeah I haven't either, but I just thought is sounded good. Anyway Grace and Jessie's daughter Miss M, Grace's counterpart, must be sharing mental vibes, and I stress the word mental. The next morning little Miss M came out dressed and ready for her day at school wearing the latest fashion craze.

Jessie so kindly e-mailed me these incriminating pictures and left this note. Hi, Becky—now you see why I laughed so hard over your blog today! Good thing that CFS (child fashion services) is not part of the DHS in Oklahoma. Feel free to publish or not. Enjoy!
So, what did Jessie do. She did exactly what I thought she would do, let her baby be free! Way to go you liberating mama. Time to bring out that color wheel and teach our ladies how to properly accessorize.

W.W.J.D.?-What Would Jessie Do?

I have a fabulous best friend, who happens to be a fabulous mom! These are the moments that I ask myself "What would Jessie do?" Sweet Grace came downstairs yesterday dressed and ready for school. One look at the fashionably challenge child and I couldn't help but ask myself "do I or don't I let her exit the house ready for the circus". Jessie is so awesome when it comes to these parental dilemmas, not that I'm saying her kids are more fashionably challenged than others(love you guys!) I'm just saying she would let her children be their own individual.
So...What did I do. Do you really have to ask yourself that silly question? I made her change of course! I'll be accepting that oppressive mother of the year award now, thank you very much. Is there any hope for me Jessie? Nah! I'm a lost cause.

Well, We Tried

Do you have a love/hate relationship with General Conference? Twice a year we try our darndest to watch, listen and learn from the leaders of our church as we watch the broadcast on TV. Twice a year different methods are used as we try to include the children in the spiritual experience that we often have felt while watching the speakers. Twice a year we at some point fail to capture the attention of several of the children as it becomes to much of a temptation to giggle, laugh, and play as they sit comfortably in their home. This year Hannah-Nana did not help, watch, listen and learn why she is such a nut head!

After this Wild Woman finished coloring it took 30 minutes to stop laughing hysterically. Thank goodness for the DVR.

Chocoholics Anonymous-Reason #159 why I'm a chocoholic, Identity Theft

Bad picture, I know. Sorry no chocoholics recipe this week, just reason number 159 why I eat chocolate in abundance, Identity Theft!

See this dork boy? I gave birth to this child, amazing huh. This past week my middle schoolers were given a 6 week grade check. Nothing for the record, just a report of progress. Ben had one grade that was less than acceptable. We chatted about the problem and I decided to e-mail his teacher to discuss the matter. In the e-mail I invited her to give me a call if she wanted. Well she did.

And....... this is how it went.(Duane did the chatting, I was getting the elementaries from school)

Teacher: "Mr. Summers I got your e-mail and I understand you had a talk with Ben last night. I was hoping that when Ben got to class today he would have a better attitude."

Duane: "OK"

Teacher: "But when Ben came into class today he had a carefree attitude."

Duane: "Really?"

Teacher: "Ben has been very talkative and disrupting the class. He feels he has no friends but that is because he talks so much and tries to be the class clown so much, that none of the other students can get their work done."

Duane: (in shock thinking, Ben has crossed the line, he's being a dork everywhere, he can't stop) "Uh-Huh"

Teacher: "He was even talking while I was trying to teach the class. He was so disruptive that he did not get his work done. This will lower his grade even more."

Duane: "I'm sorry, we'll have another talk with him and I'll have Becky give you a call when she gets home."

So during Duane's father son chat with the boy the teacher calls back yet again.

Teacher: "Mr. Summers I need to apologize and eat a little crow."

Duane: "OK"

Teacher: "I have two Ben's in my classes throughout the day. I mixed your son up with the other Ben. Your Ben is a delight to have in class, he's actually kind of quiet. The only reason his grade is so low......"(sorry our beeswax)

Duane: "Thank you very much."

Identity Theft comes in many forms, this one had us rolling on the floor with laughter. Thanks Mrs. L, your mishap was priceless! Chocolate anyone?

Recipe Box Swap-Lunch

It's the first of the month and that mean Recipe Box Swap time at I Have to Say. October's monthly them is lunch, and one of my favorite lunch time treats, is chicken salad. I love a mean chicken salad sandwich(Chick Fil-a and my friend Lisa kick butt in the sandwich dept.) but this is the recipe with noodles and fruit. Feel free to add curry if you're feeling spicy that day. I love, love, love this recipe. It's even great if you cheat and buy one of the rotisserie chickens. Enjoy!

Chicken Salad

5 chicken breast, cooked and diced

3 c celery, diced small
3 c green/red grapes, halved

3 c mandarin oranges
3 c pineapple tidbits

1 12oz pkg small shell macaroni

Combine salad ingredients and chill in refrigerator for several hours.

Dressing: 1 ½ c mayo

1 ½ c sour cream
6 T dried parsley

6 T green onion, chopped
3 T lemon juice

1 1/2 t salt
1 ½ t pepper

Mix dressing ingredients and chill. Pour salad and mix well.

But if we're talking lunch, ladies, I have to plug our favorite lunchtime treat Muffin Tin Monday. Every Monday this blog hosts the Muffin Tin Mommas. I have a blast coming up with creative ways to feeds the monkeys in my zoo. This lunch was shape themed. Fun, huh?