Orange Cream Fudge

Ben has always loved Scheel's orange cream fudge, so when we heard there was going to be a fudge contest at the ward Christmas party, we found a recipe and made a batch of our own.  It turned out smooth and delicious!

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 teaspoons plus 3/4 cup butter, divided

• 2 1/4 cups sugar

• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

• 1 package white baking chips (10 to 12 ounces)

• 1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow creme

• 4 teaspoons orange extract

• orange coloring gel

Directions

1. Grease a 13-in. x 9-in. pan with 1-1/2 teaspoons butter; set aside.
2. In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, cream and remaining butter. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in chips and marshmallow creme until smooth.
3. Remove 1 cup and set aside. Add orange extract and food coloring to the remaining mixture; stir until blended. Pour into prepared pan. Drop reserved marshmallow mixture by tablespoonfuls over the top; cut through with a knife to swirl. Cover and refrigerate until set. Cut into squares. Yield: about 2-1/2 pounds.

Overheard While in Bed this Morning...

Alyssa:  "I have 409 in my eye"
Holly:  "We HAVE to do our chores"
Tiago:  "shh...we don't want to wake them up"
Ayzha:  "don't walk there, it's still wet"

Without even asking them to do it, the kids mopped the kitchen floor and cleaned their bathroom before Ben and I even got out of bed this morning.  They said they just wanted to make us happy. Well, they succeeded!  Love these kids.

Night at the Museum

Thanks to the Orem Library summer reading program we got to enjoy the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point for mostly free.

Girl's Night Out!

Like I used to do when I was little, I took the girls to the Festival of Trees...

This was their favorite Gingerbread House

"Despicable Me" Gingerbread land

"Rockerfeller Center"

Loved this Christmas tree!!

This one was made entirely by the plastic holders that
hold six pack cans together.    My favorite!

First Snow of the Season

We had our first big snow storm yesterday and as any great step dad would do, Ben took the girls out and buried them in the snow.  They had a blast!

Q was not one bit happy about putting
on all that snow gear.  He didn't really love
the snow either.  

Thanksgiving

Deep down I really love this time of year. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  Not for the food or football, but because I love the idea of having a holiday wholly dedicated to giving thanks.  I believe that those who learn to have an "attitude of gratitude" are among the most blessed of all people.  They recognize the blessings they have received and are happy and content.  In our society it can be hard to be like this.  We often compare ourselves to others and see what we lack instead of being grateful for all we have. I'm definitely guilty of this, but I'm trying to do better, and somehow I would like to instill a greater sense of gratitude and appreciation in my children.

On thanksgiving morning Ben and I hit the gym for a Zumba class  It was crowded, but super fun!  (Ben is the best husband ever for going to with me.  Wish I had it on video.) Then we met up with Nick at McDonalds for breakfast.  There were two missionaries ordering food when we walked in, so we payed for theirs too.  I love opportunities like that!  Then we headed up to my parent's house.  This year we just had Qyntn with us for Thanksgiving and we enjoyed a lovely feast with my family.  Thanks to my parents and sisters for the wonderful food.  It was delicious!

Thursday evening we actually went out to do some Christmas shopping.  It was my first experience with "Black Friday,"  although it wasn't even Friday.  We found some good deals at Toys R Us and spent about 45 minutes in line waiting to check out.  Friday morning we went to another Zumba class (much less crowded and even more fun) and then hit up Kmart.  Happy to say that we are just about finished with our Christmas shopping and the presents are wrapped and under the tree, YAY!   Now hopefully I will be able to relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday season.

Friday evening we went to my brother's house for pizza, ice cream and ping pong.  Good times!

Ben won the family ping pong tournament...
these are his winnings.  

Halloween Happenings

Mummy and Pea Shooter...in case you couldn't tell.
The girls seemed to like their costumes this year.

Holly's second costume:  Zombie
and Reyn: a Punk

Ben decked out our patio!
At night we turn on a black light.
It's pretty sweet!

I wanted to boycott pumkin carving this year
but I put on my good mommy hat and made it happen.

Alyssa's Bat

Holly's Dolphins
complete with splash at the bottom

This was my visiting teaching for the month.

Halloween dinner...Alyssa said it looked "disturbing."