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baby shower

February 11, 2008

baby london finally got her shower.
we tried to have this shower in october before she was born.
london had other plans.
now that she is 3 months old…
she was ready to party.

my neighbors helped me host this pink party.
we had chocolate fondue and fruit
and lots of little girlie pink snacks.
london’s aunt brought a pretty pink cake.

mmmmmmm…..

all of her presents waiting to be opened.

jen….london’s mama.
london is so lucky to have you as her mommy.
i hope she always knows how much she was wanted
and how cherished she is.
she is a precious gift from God.
you are so blessed.

she woke up.
she couldn’t miss her whole party.

baby stuff is always so fun to open.
(and buy….and look at…and touch)

i got to hold her too!

pink everywhere.
amy made this absolutely adorable diaper cake.
it is built out of diapers and covered in blankets, washcloths & ribbon.
it was so cute.

jen i am so glad we could celebrate london with you.
i look forward to watching her grow up.
we love her and we love you.

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meg duerksen - hi ladies.
finally getting around to answering your questions.
the pink marshmallows are Jet-puffed strawberry flavor. i get them at walmart. they also have chocolate (they tast just like hot cocoa…seriously) i also saw a bag of them in the section of mexican foods with a spanish label. they had white and pink i the same bag.
the food was chocolate fondue with fruit…brownie bites…creampuffs (frozen section at sam’s)…pink candy and pink wafer cookies…
the wands were just for decoration.
if i had started decorating earlier i would’ve have tried to hang them on ribbon from the ceiling but i ran out of time.
they were from hobby lobby in the princess party seciton.
my serving pieces are all a mix of things from my grandmothers…neighbors…antique stores…garage sales.
we would’ve had a pink drink but what we had planned turned out to be as dark as tea. so we served that and lemonaid.
and i was out of pink lemonaid!
typical me.
thanks for all the nice compliments ladies.
-meg

karla nathan - So pretty, I loved the wands in the champagne bucket!

Cheryl - I just found your blog today and I must say I LOVE your style! I bookmarked it for baby shower reference!!! Would you mind posting a list of all your goodies? like others mentioned I’d love to know where you got pink marshmallows, and what’s on the dish underneath the little chocolate brownies? What did you do with the wands? were they just for decoration? I LOVE all of your serving pieces too!! the flowers in the vase of marshmallows was too cute!!!
Oh, and we can’t forget what a BEAUTIFUL baby London is!! What a very lucky family!
Have a sweet weekend!

Katarina - Hi. I found your blog today and you have a great blog! I love this post,bcause you are showing everybody that party can be healthy! Thank you for that.Have a nice weekend and sorry for my bad english.. 🙂

Angela (Cottage Magpie) - What a beautiful shower! Very pretty and London is a beautiful baby. Thanks for participating in the pink challenge!
~Angela 🙂

Jenny Pocknall - I love the cake and all the pink.
Adorable bub too.

chris - Would you please humor me on a side note, I am noticing the mouldings above either a window or door to the left of the kitchen run, it reaches to the ceiling , would you take a full picture of that area for me to get a good look at , I have two windows in my family room that are screaming for something more , and you may hold the answer.
Please ,
Chris

amy - Chocolate peanut butter ice cream with bananas and chocolate syrup? Now I love you even more, Jenn! 🙂

michelle - What a beautiful baby shower! Everything looks so yummy!
I remembered that you had posted a picture of your church tea where you hosted a table and I’ve been searching through your blog trying to find it again. Our church is going to be doing one and I was hoping to show them that picture to show that we can attract the “younger” generation. Would you mind telling me which month you posted that? Thank you! Thank you!

Jenn - Okay Amy, yes there were only 4 items at that moment when the picture was taken but you did miss the big bowl of chocolate peanut butter icecream with bananas and chocolate syrup I had last night right before bed.

Jennifer P. - I love all the pink. I’m usually more of a red person–but all that pink mixed with a baby girl was perfect! I think all the big white lanterns hanging up were divine. I would have another baby if you’d come throw my shower :)!

amy - So I’m figuring out why Jenn is so amazingly skinny already… she’s got 4 things on her plate. Seriously, Jenn. C’mon.

Ainslie - WOW…what a delightful display of ‘pinkness’. That must have been the best fun to organise that party. My daughter’s fifth birthday party was a ‘Pink Party’ and it was my favourite of all her parties…eighteen little girls all dressed in pink, pink fizzy drink, pink food, pink decorations. You did a wonderful job here…especially with the decorations.

prairie daze - this is incredibly sweet. very, very pinky sweet.
what a beautiful mama and baby.

traci - what an adorable little baby girl. your decorations for the shower are just beautiful. the marshmallows in the vases with the flowers – wow. you have a wonderful style sense. i wanna be you.

chris - What a lovely shower, lucky girls. Where DID you get pink marshmallows?
Chris

jeanetta - what a cutie!
where in the world did you find pink marshmellows?
and i love the little wands.

Jenn - I must say she is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen! I am bias being her mother. Thank you so much for the shower, it was so girlie, beautiful, just like out of a magazine! And all those pictures for her scrapbook! What wonderful neighbors/family and friends to have in my life. Thanks again for all you have done.

traci - I LOVE the name London for a girl! Tried to get my sister to namer her daughter London but since she already had a Britan she declined..lol
Is your house grand party station or what??? Super Bowl party, birthday parties, baby showers, Im sure Ive missed something..lol
It looks like a beautiful party….I made a diaper cake for my sisters shower and it was a BIG HIT…they are fun and soooooo useful too.

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hot date

February 9, 2008

i had a hot date last night
with my most favorite person in the world.
it was so good to get out of the house.
and i even wore a dress!

nice blurry picture.

we were at a dinner with craig’s co-workers, his boss and their spouses.
the food was excellent.
we laughed so much.
everyone likes will ferrell movies and saturday night live as much as we do.
i was cracking up all night.

the waitress came to take our order and tell us the specials.
she said “other than what’s on the menu we also have the sea bass.“
my eyes got so big and looked around at everyone at our end of the table.
they all burst out laughing….
that’s how i knew it was going to be a fun night.
good times.

********************************************************
annie says from the other room….
“mom….guess what i found?”

talby’s make-up.
lovely.
i let her leave it on all day.
even at the video store.

********************************************************

at the sonic drive-thru at 8:30 AM
i say into the intercom “I’ll have a hot carmel latte please.”
she says “would you like a burrito with that?”
“uhhh….no.”

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Liz - I’m happy you had a fun date with your husband. Whenever I go to dinner parties they are always either blah or a blast. There never seems to be an in-between! Glad this one was fun. And I’m sure Talby felt quite ‘stylin’ at the store with her makeup on! 🙂

melissa @ the inspired room - Oh, boy do I ever need a date night! And somewhere to wear a dress? What fun that would be! Talby is looking fine. She can come do my makeup.
Happy Week!
Melissa

Sara - something must have been in the air, we had a hot date last night too. In Atlanta there is outdoor dining even in february. Granted, there were heat lamps aimed down at us and we WERE wearing jackets. So we decided it was a good time for frozen margaritas! ha ha.

traci - glad you had fun on your date. i think we -as parents – need way more of those.
burritos and carmel latte’s – my favorite combination!!

jennifer - Wow…Four children and a date night!!! Good for you guys! We get in a few “dates” here and there and I love every second of them!

danelle - A burrito!!!! HA!

cynthia - i can’t even think of the last time i wore a dress…(church around here is pretty casual)
sad huh ?
love yours, by the way!

traci - ahhh, you look soooo pretty for your date night!! I love that you let annie wear the makeup to the video store. Im SO TRYING to be that mom,,,,my first instinct would be to let them leave it on but when running errands it must come off…I know, no fun. Working on that one.
I will have to try the latte at sonic and barf city at a burrito with it..LOL

jeanetta - i suck at typing! ugg i meant planet instead of plant.

jeanetta - yak!!
on what plant does a carmel latte go with a burrito?!
i lived in san antonio for 7 years and that wouldnt even happen there.
:S

Jennifer P. - Woo hoo! You’re looking awfully spiffy there! And what a good mom to let her keep her makeup on! I use to let my kids wear a tiger costume everywhere–even when it was 100 degrees outside. You’re only young once, right?
A burrito with a caramel latte’–ha! ha!
Glad you had a nice night out!

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snow day

February 7, 2008

what to do on a snow day?
1. stay in bed as long as your five children will allow without fist fighting.
2. make a whole pot of coffee.

3. wake up slowly by reading email and checking blogs.
4. let kids watch their 3rd hour of tv before 10:00 AM.
5. decide to go take a bath (because shower is broken)
6. realize how dirty bathtub is (very dirty) and decide to clean it.

7. clean out the bath toys (throw away half)….
cover tub and walls with soft scrub with bleach.
8. take off clothes because of the bleach
and scrub the tub in my bra and underwear.
seriously.
9. turn on the water to clean off soft scrub.
10. discover that the drain is clogged.
craig had fixed it the night before but now it was worse than it had been.
11. spend 25 mintues trying to fix it myself??
because i am so skilled in plumbing….
still in my bra and underwear.
12. finally get it to go a tiny bit….
enough to have a big cupful go down without stopping.
13. clean off the walls and tub one cup full at a time.

14. run my bath and discover my daughter has used all my bubble bath.
15. settle for other soap and take a bath…
with only four interruptions…there is no lock.
16. get more coffee (and a snack).

17. take a long time getting dressed & drying hair…
to avoid being needed by children.
18. paint toenails.

19. remember the valentines i bought 2 weeks ago.
20. provide an hour of tv free entertainment for 4 of my children.

22. continue day with same old stuff…washing loads laundry in my ~~freezer~~ laundry room…feed the kids lunch…snacks…more snacks…clean up valentines…make dinner…sweep up container of glitter off kitchen floor….bring the rabbit inside…take the rabbit back out…email…send kids off to wednesday night church.
23. relax?
yeah right.

note: i am not complaining about this crazy life.
i just thought it was an extra crazy day in my usually crazy life.

today the plumber had to come and work on the drain.
he tried four different things and then said “oh…that’s not good.”
water pouring all over the dining room floor.
ugh.
it turns out that our plumbing that was put in 100 years ago is getting old.
imagine that.
he called his boss.
there was one thing left to try other than replace plumbing…
(something with a shop vac and a plunger?)
and it worked!

now i have to clean the tub again.

*****************************************************************
annie asked during the memory game this morning….
“can the plumber play memory with us mom?”

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Angel - Too cute! I am excited to look more at your site- absolutely love the pictures! Thanks for stopping by my blog… I love new visitors!
Angelena
p.s. My 2 yr old son was sitting here looking at this post with me and saw the picture of the the painted toenails. He squealed, “Oh mommy! Look at those markered toes!” 🙂

Andrea - How funny….. I was just having lunch with a friend and we were talking about how when I was in college and my aunt was caring for her two young granddaughters….anyway, one day she was a bit frustrated and said, in a grumbly voice (and my aunt never uses a grumbly voice) someday I would just like to pee by myself! I thought geeez, what is her problem. Now that I have two children and a dog like her, I understand!!!!!!!!!

Candy - Wow…LOVE your blog..your house is pretty!!
Have a blessed day 🙂
Candy from Canada

Jennifer P. - So much to relate to! I am notorious for bleaching everything, and what better outfit to deal with all that bleaching power than your bra and underwear, right :)?!
Glad to know my plumbing will most likely need replace in another 80 years. I’ll start saving now.
Rabbit, what rabbit?!

Erica - Good to hear from you. Love reading your blog! I can’t believe how big Lauren is. And Annie. She seems really tall to me. I’m glad you guys are doing so good. I hear Jenny is coming or maybe she is already headed there. Good for you guys. Have fun. I want to see lots of pictures! 🙂

jeanetta - i couldnt find an email on here anywhere so i just thought i would leave it in a comment for you.
the black apron has sold already but i have all the supplies to make another. its $35 and if you want one i can put it up on esty for you.

Anna - Hi – Ran across your blog a few weeks ago – to cute.
Oh your whole bathroom episode – The only way I clean our bathtub and shower is in my underware – is this not normal? I once asked to have a cleaning lady come to only clean our bathrooms, and my hubby asked if I really wanted to see a very large older women in her undies cleaing our tub- this was his way of sayin NO!
Nice shade of pink on the toes – very valentineish!

jeanetta - that was the best post!! loved it!
been there with the bathroom too.

em loria - Being a mom is a great job isn’t it? I love to scrub tubs in my undey-pants. I am glad I am not the only one that lets my children watch a little too much TV sometimes… thank you!

diane - hey, thanks for the comment, i was just reading you blog, clicked back to check my email and saw your comment, thanks.
And I like many of your readers, clean our sad, sad, sad little bathroom the same way.

Elena Manwaring - Oh goodness! That post cracked me up. It sounded much like my own day yesteday. Only mine involved a toilet. Hope you get more relaxation in today.

Brenis - Oh Meg, too funny! Sounds like you took a day out of my life. (I too clean the shower in my undies – no bleach splotches that way :D) So much for going straight to a relaxing bath, huh? And yes, the other day in the middle of all the craziness, i chose to stay holed up in my bathroom after my shower and painted my toenails, and plucked my brows – anything to stall going back to “reality” that day! LOL It’s a wonderful way of coping, isn’t it? 😛
Definitely loving those boots! 😀
Praise God the plumber figured out another option besides replacing all the plumbing!!! Holy cow that would be a horrendous cost and imagine the mess of ripping up walls!!!! :

traci - what a day!! don’t they make you smile. my days are kind of quiet now – even when the do have a snow day – and i miss the little kid stuff. and valentines – i really miss doing that with them. i can relate with the old house and plumbing issues – ick, i hope that does the trick for a long time. thanks for the peek into your day. love it!

Jenny Pocknall - I love it! Mums are the same the world over. (Except we don’t have the snow!)
It sound like a day I would have.

Shannon - Glad to see Scott likes the Life is Good shirt. I guess anything basketball would be fine for him — would make Hunter proud.

carissa - noggin… sprout… disney?
i tend to have a mixed viewing preference over here!
i am just glad noggin is now on past 5pm now(i know mother of the year)!
we had a snow day yesterday… i was in my jammies LATE! hee hee
you bring a bowl of smiles every day! thanks!

cynthia - i’m a bra and underwear shower cleaning kinda girl too! glad to know there is another…
and that first picture made me want some boots!

eef - would love to have some snow here it is only gray at the moment 🙂 Love your red boots 😀

prairie daze - that’s how we used to clean in college.
i’ll have to try it again.
: )

Pattie - Bathtub interruptions. Oh,the days. Valentine’s cards are a thing of the past too. I am really missing little kids thanks to you.
Here in Texas snow days are few and far between but we sure do love them. Of course our whole area shuts down with just the threat of ice or a half inch of snow. The world ends and the grocery shelves are empty.
Wanted to let you know that I made the chicken enchiladas and cream puff dessert this week. Both were a huge hit in my house. No leftovers at all! I added another can of green chilies (we are Texans, of course) Absolutely Yummy!

Shelly - that ended with a nice double negative…
but I think you will be able to understand =)
LOL

Shelly - I really do love reading about your days…
Some things are so similiar to my days – – –
I too, clean the tub in my bra and underwear… just seems easier, you don’t have to worry about your jammie pants getting any bleach-stuff on them.
My eight year old still has valentines that she is working on… she wanted to be more crafty and decided to make her own vs. store bought this year… so far, so good. She is starting to take pride in putting things together on her own, it is great to see her have fun with things like that.
Some days I dread what the teenage years will be like…
I have three daughters, the oldest is eight, the middle one will be two on Saturday, and her baby sister is not too far behind, she will be one on Sunday. So… to think of all the hormones that will be bouncing off the walls when I have a 17, 11 & 10 year old… fun, fun, fun!!
It’s a crazy life… but we have fun, and I couldn’t imagine not having this much craziness =)

Tammy Fischer - Okay. My bags are packed and I’m coming to live at your house (you don’t mind if I bring my two boys along do you?). I love a girl who can find time to paint her toenails while gracefully free falling into the looney bin…fantastic shade of pink by the way! p.s. – I clean the shower naked, you’re one step higher up on the civilization chain than I am.

chris - Snow day sounds good !, but since I run a daycare my two little ladies would make me crazy by now, I really love your desk area how nice, love the door/desk ,off to walk in 2 ft deep snow to pick up 6 kids from school while the other two (yep that’s 8 seems normal to me)stay in with my snowed in hubby. oh Canada!
Plus for today some kind “neighbour stranger” snow plowed my sidewalk, and the sun is shining for the first time in months. Ahhh sun!
Happy birthday to Lauren , love that name , we were one idea away from naming our first born Lauren , sometimes I still wish we had, its so pretty , as is your Lauren, we went with Mason for our big girl who will be 13 in 3 and a half years, yikes.We are already experiencing some hormones.

danelle - Tell her the cleaning lady would play memory with her!

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thirteen

February 5, 2008

holy cow.
how did this happen?
how do i have a teenager?
it seems like i was just meeting her.
just looking at that dark hair and dark brown eyes.
seeing how totally adorable she looked in hot pink.
figuring out what to do with a baby.

and one more..

my grandma holding lauren who was not even 1 day old.
ahhhh…..that’s the good stuff.
i wish i could hold her like that again.

but that would be difficult….
since we are the same size.

this is me giving my best 7th grade face for the camera.
i should have given the peace sign also….

there you saw it…she smiled.
you did see it right? i am not just imagining it?
a real smile and even laugh was overhead at that moment.

time for cake.
shirts are optional.

“she’s a pretty pretty pretty pretty
such a pretty girl….”

why are her arms waving?
i don’t know…
she’s 13.

this was a funny one.
i guess she was just far enough out of the candle light to disappear.

geez…big enough piece of cake or what?!
talby is holding a candle in her mouth…not smoking.
we don’t let anyone smoke in the house.
and think how funny that iPod will look some day.

thirteen.
big time stuff.
she has the whole world in front of her.
that is exciting.

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Kate of all Trades - Yes, very pretty girl indeed! She’s had those beautiful eyes since the day she was born.

amy d - Happy Birthday Lauren!!! Woof Woof 🙂 Love ya, Molly

Sara - Meg Meg Meg,
I so TOTALLY remember when you were pregnant with her. I was so amazed that someone I knew was going to be a Mom. You have really done so much and look how amazing ALL your kids are! And you have such a super sweet sister. hee hee. My husband calls me crazy for always checking in with your life, but I do SO enjoy it. Happy Birthday Lauren!

traci - when I was a young, unmarried, childless lady I heard people say all the time how fast their kids grew up and thought..”yeah, whatever, blah, blah”. Now that I have kids I SERIOUSLY HAVE NO IDEA where time goes!!!!! My stepson who was 8 when I married his dad 11 yrs ago is moving out on his own TODAY at 19. Never thought it would happen….jeeeeesh, its just amaing.
Your daughter is indeed just gorgeous. I had to giggle outloud at shirts are optional and making a big deal about her smile..lol
Oh yes and the idea we might think your kids are smoking..lol

amy - Happy Birthday, Lauren!

carissa - oh my gosh… no… you do not seem like you could be mom to a teenager! fun & I am sure challenging too.
she IS so pretty… and has the world at her feet! BIG 13! wow! happy birthday!

Becca - This post was so fun for me today! Today
(2/6)is my 36th Birthday. I cant even rememer what was going on in my world at 13….but it was fun to peek into her world on her special day! Thanks for sharing!

Mom - Hope Lauren had a great 13th birthday! What fun things did she get?
Snow, Snow, Go Away – It’s just way too Gray!

Jennifer P. - Happy Birthday Lauren! What a pretty girl! I can see the resemblance to you and your husband. Such a fun party too. And a gorgeous cake. And I love the “smoking” picture!!!
Sorry I haven’t been around to comment on your last couple of posts–I’m sure you missed me :). Been one sick puppy. Starting to come out of the worst of it now though.

Blanca - Happy Birthday to Lauren. I know how it feels my daughter turned 14 a week ago and I can’t beleive next school year she will be in high school!
Hope you enjoyed the cake.
Blanca

lorel - oh Lauren! That baby picture for some reason made me feel all emotional. I remember the night before you were born. Kevin and I were not married yet, but he came to Wichita to meet you anyway. We were down in Grandma Ranney’s basement talking and I just started crying, feeling fear and excitement and joy about your upcoming birth. Kevin was not very emotional – he first became an uncle at age 8. 🙂 But I am so glad you are in our family – so smart, so beautiful, so funny, so creative. And now you are a teenager. Wow! Happy Birthday girl!

Jenn - Happy Birthday Lauren! To one of the prettiest girls on our block. We enjoy having you down the street. Just think one more year and you can start driving 🙂 Have a great day off from school today and enjoy that snow and sleeping in.

traci - happy birthday lauren. 13 wow. she will smile alot again real soon. i promise ya!! that looks like a really yummy cake!!

jeanetta - oooo you are scaring me. my oldest will be 10 next year in nov and i am not dealing with that well now! i am really dreading when he gets taller than me.

Crystal - it’s a day late but happy birthday to lauren. still 1 1/2 years to go before we get the joy of having our first teenager in our home.

Ainslie - Happy Birthday to Lauren. What a gorgeous girl…especially when she smiles!!! I bet those twelve years have flown by. Hope your celebrations are special and full of happy memories for you all.

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random happiness

February 5, 2008

today my heart felt full.
happy.
content.
grateful.

the sun was shining!
what a difference that makes.
and other random happy things…

super bowl parties are fun.
even if you never watch one second of the game or even a commercial.
i didn’t burn down the house (almost) when i made these.
they were so yummy.
in my opinion…
and everyone brought lots of other good yummy stuff.
30 kids and nothing broke…that i know of.

i took annie with me to this antique store.
it’s a small store that is packed…
like my giant purse almost knocks things over at every turn.
first you wind through the store of all the breakables & things in glass cases
to get to this….
open the back door to his garage.
(angels singing…bright lights)
this kind of stuff gets me so giddy.
there is so much stuff in there. good stuff.
we were the only people in probably all day i am sure
so he gave annie the grand tour.
he plugged in the electric piano and let her play it.
it lit up when you hit the keys.
he showed her the baby pianos…like Schroeder.
(can you hear the charlie brown music in your head?)

then he showed her the cuckoo clocks.
she burst out in squealing laughter.
i think she made his day.
he gave her a quarter on the way out.
she shouted “bye…hope you has a dood day!”

these were there.
old railroad nails? they looked so graphic.

lauren has a ball game today.
it’s very enjoyable to watch her do something she really likes.
it’s good to see her work hard.
she’s the one touching the ball.

annie is really good at memory.
seriously.
scott quit playing with her yesterday mid-game
because he realized he was going to lose.

and this isn’t really a happy thing…
this wallpaper is awful.
it doesn’t want to leave.
but what IS happy is that there is only one wall left.
it’s ridiculously strong for as old as it is.
jenny…i fear your room won’t be done.
will you still come anyway?
i promise not to wear my $2.34 tinkerbell pajama pants when you are here.
if that helps my plea.

and this was the picture lauren took of me at the super bowl party.
she said “i want a picture of you in your apron.”
hmmmm…what is odd about this photo?
yeah.
where’s the apron?
and why black and white?
i don’t know…she’s 13.
today.
birthday pictures tomorrow.

which reminds me…
i have to make a birthday cake now.

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patch - what antique store is that?

Deann - You Make my Day – and I’m passing on my blog award to you!
I’m not sure if I’ve commented before, but your daughter really brings a bright spot to my day and I sent my (pastor) mother a link to her reciting the bible 🙂

Lisa Wakely - I actually meant you “always” look so cute and put together, but I guess “also” works too 🙂

Lisa Wakely - Love the way you repeat exactly how your little one speaks. Have a dood day. Gotta love it, and the last picture of you is adorable. You also look so cute and put together and to think you are the mother of 5. You go girl!

christine - happy day Lauren Enjoy your cake!

jeanetta - ooo seeing that wallpaper being stripped gave me a shudder. bad memories i had burried really deep. lol. good luck with it

Kate of all Trades - Oh…kind of sad to see that wallpaper go. Why do I like it so much? Anyway, please tell me you took some beautiful pictures of your girls in their Easter best in front of it. It just seems timeless and good for photos.

traci - LOVE, LOVE , LOVE your house!!! Do your neighbors just gush over your house or do they have as awesome as style as you do? I also JUST LOVE going antiquing…soooo much fun! The picture of you is GREAT…your hair is shiny, your smile is beaming, just lovely. You look like the nicest lady ever.

Lee Ann - Would LOVE to walk through that antique store with you. That would make my heart so happy!
Feel for you and the wall paper. Been there. Seriously I don’t think we would purchase another home with it on the walls. Well…maybe if we could hire someone to remove it.

em loria - I love junk stores, espically those that treat children well?? What a fun place, most of them glare at you like “Why are you bringing those rat bags in here with you.” LUCKY GIRL!
I also love the B&W, it’s classic.

Shabby Miss Jenn - OMG I loooove your eye candy here!!!!

Liz - As always, your pictures are just lovely! And who needs the sun with those cheerful, sparkly chandeliers in your kitchen! 🙂
Glad you had fun. Good luck with that wallpaper. The older it is, the more stubborn it is!

Meredith - Hey…I hope you has a dood day too! 🙂
Mere

Di - Had fun at the party…just got a chance to catch up on your blog. Loved the colorful pictures of ordinary stuff – although you always make it look extraordinary!

Andrea - What fun. I always enjoy your pictures. I feel for you……the wallpaper. Sometimes it just doesn’t want to come off….Yuk. Hang in there you are almost done?

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WINNERS!!!

February 4, 2008

lee ann

prairie daze

shawn

jilly

congratulations girls!
send me your address so i can send you a gift.
(cdduerksen@yahoo.com)
i printed all the comments and cut them up.
then craig closed his eyes and pulled out 4 for me.
he is such a helpful guy.

thank you to EVERYONE who commented!
that was so much fun.
i was surprised by many of them…
a former cheerleader high school classmate…
friend from IL. i haven’t talked to for years (and whom i miss)…
my favorite family i baby-sat for in high school….
my jr. high boyfriend’s wife (lucky girl)….
my little cousin who i haven’t seen in years…
our youth pastor at church…
and many more.

so much fun.
and see how easy it was?
feel free to leave 110 comments everyday.

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Shawn - I’m just recovering from a hard drive crash. Finally got my computer back yesterday and taking a little break to check on some blogs and is that me shawn?? I never win anything! How fun is this?! And I even had plans to do a giveaway this weekend. What perfect timing. 🙂 What a cute way to announce the winners. And since I’m catching up no WAY do you have a teenager. Looks like you had a fun party. 🙂 Kay, better get back to work. Lots of catchin’ up to do after being computerless for over a week. Hope you’re having a great weekend so far. 🙂

traci - wow. that is awesome – 110 comments. good for you. and what a cute way to show the winners. have a great one!

traci - what a fun way to showcase the winners. You are sooooo creative meg. Im dying to know what the prizes are…do tell

kari & kijsa - So funny- a former cheerleader highschool classmate commented on ours as well…we won’t say how long agoooooo that was!!!! Congrats to all the winners- we do love those giveaways!
blessings,
kari & kijsa

prairie daze - hee hee hee
tell craig i’ll give him his $20 sometime. just kidding, not rigged at all.
but oh, so happy am i.

melissa @ the inspired room - Isn’t it funny how many people are actually out there reading but so few ever leave comments? Too bad we have to bribe them to come out and play. I love when people comment so I know I am talking to someone real! 🙂
Oh, well. At least you know who some of them are (wow, your junior high boyfriends wife even!)
xo
Melissa

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cream puff

February 1, 2008

i hesitated posting this recipe
for fear you’d see how simple i am.
but maybe one of you has never made this…
and so this is for you.
as i was making it i was reminded of how much we love it.
i had to share….
easy cream puff squares.

gather your ingredients.
and you will also need…3 squares of baking chocolate.

you start by melting the butter in the water
bringing it to a boil.

add in the flour all at once.
stir about one minute until it looks like this…

remove from heat and let stand five minutes.

place in a mixing bowl
and add in eggs one at a time;
blending throughly between each one.

now you will have a thick yellow batter.

spread it in a 9 x 13 pan.
if i were you…
i’d use a much nicer pan than this throw away aluminum one.
i am using it because i brought this to friend’s party.
and to be polite i planned on leaving it there.
(secretly hoping they would beg me to take it home)

place it in a preheated oven (400)
for 20 minutes.

when you open your oven in 20 minutes…
it’s so exciting!
it looks all puffy and fancy.
prick it with a fork about 10 times,
then stick it back in for another 5 minutes
until it’s golden brown.
the first time i made this…i thought i was an amazing chef.
it sure felt that way.
let crust cool completely.

for the filling…
add cold milk to a mixing bowl and add in pudding mixes.
whisk about 2 minutes until thickened.

fold in 2 cups whipped topping.
(this is almost the entire container minus a few T. for the topping)

spread the pudding mixture on top of the beautiful golden brown crust.
refrigerate 1 hour.

after time in the refrigerator
cut cream puff into squares.
(don’t bother to cut small pieces…no one can eat a small piece of this)

now for the topping.
melt chopped baking squares and cool whip in microwave
for 30 seconds.
stir until smooth.
if you cook it any longer…it will scorch.

place a small ziploc bag over a glass
(like how you line a trashcan)
or if you have someone to hold the bag…go for it.
fill the bag with the melted chocolate.
close the bag.
cut the very bottom corner off of ziploc bag.
(homemade pastry bag)
decorate each cream puff square with some chocolate.
***now you could skip this whole step and use chocolate syrup…
but it’s not nearly as good. serioulsy.***

ENJOY!
keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

craig loves this dessert.
and so do i.
once i made this just for the 2 of us and we ate the whole thing over a weekend.
easily.

*recipe in the sidebar.

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cheryl - Here’s a link to the full recipe —
http://megduerksen.typepad.com/photos/recipes/img_8708.html

cheryl - Great sounding recipe — but — PLEASE INCLUDE measurements to the ingredients!!!

denise - HELP you dont have a list of the amts of each ingredient, ie. the flour, water, and milk! Can you pass that info along! Thx!

Judy Binzel - The recipe was not on my page can you send it to me. Thanks

northern cottage - ohhh nooo dearie! I’m in serious trouble with this recipe! thumbs up from me as well! xo

Janmary, N Ireland - Yummmm! Don’t have the same sort of vanilla pudding mix here but I’m sure I’ll find something!

Mrs. Fox - That looks delicious!

Meredith - Thanks for visiting my blog! 🙂 I love the look of this…definitely going to try it out on the hubby! I just posted a recipe too! White chocolate cranberry cookies!
🙂
Mere

Meredith - Hey! Thanks for visiting my blog! I love the look of this recipe! My husband loves cream puffs, but I haven’t really had success at making them…I’m going to give this a try! 🙂
I just posted a recipe too! White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies!
Mere

Lesli - Wow – now I am really hungry!!! Thanks for sharing your recipe!

Ainslie - Hi Meg, Now THAT looks delicious!!! Thanks for the recipe. I’ve just nominated you for the ‘You Make My Day’ award on my blog. I LOVE your blog so I thought you were very deserving of this award.

Pattie - Ok, my Friday night consisted of two hours of reading your blog. I found it by chance and I have to say I love your family. I have two who are high school age and one in college and believe it or not, I would trade places with you in a sec! You seem to have such a great time with all the kids and hubby too.(yelling and screaming at them is all part of the life ha) Hang in there with your oldest daughter! Middle school is awful and they become human again for a couple of years and then senior year hits and they think they’re grown. I swear God makes them so cute when they are little so that you have that to cling to when they are so horrible. Thanks for the exciting Friday night ha! It was great getting a peek into your fun household! You/re doing a great job.

traci - YUM…first I love the way your lemons are displayed. Simple? It isnt brain surgery but in my book if it consist of more than dump and stir it isnt simple..lol…oh yeah and if it has more than 3-4 ingredients..lol
Looooks yummy and I will definately try this.

Brenis - I’m so glad you posted this, as I have never made it – and my family would love it! Thank you!! 🙂
And I love your jars of lemons and apples!
blessings, bren 🙂

Gabrielle - Wow…that looks yummy….I’m glad you posted it…we will be making that..and I like the glass demo…that’s how you put it in the bag..didn’t know that.

traci - that looks amazing. thanks for sharing!!

kari & kijsa - Delicious!!! Mmmmm…we could sit an munch on that yummy all weekend too!!
Have a great day,
blessings,
kari & kijsa

Jenn - You know by posting these recipes on your blog means I now have the means to make them at home. I don’t have the excuse that I don’t have access to the recipe and that Russ needs to stop by your house to enjoy it. mmmmmm I know this is a yummy one and so are others – my favorite that you have introduced to us is still Blueberry Buckle!!!

Jennifer Peterson - Ooooh! I would be eating those for breakfast if I could! I would not call you simple–that’s smart cooking woman! I think Rachael Ray has made her fortune off of smart, quick cooking.
Funny that you should have them an aluminum pan. I just posted a recipe today as well and the goodies were baked in…..an aluminum pan :)! (only I wasn’t taking them anywhere!).
Thanks for sharing and for making it all look so beautiful along the way.

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