Tuesday, June 28, 2011

To Mom and Dad


I re-do this at some point and be more particular about the pictures that go in. BUT I was really proud that i was able to get dad singing the song....what a rigamarole it is to get a song from itunes into Animoto!!!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Oreo Craze!

Both of my rugrats love Oreos! So I thought I'd document it!

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Saturday, June 25, 2011

The newest Sparks family member

Jacob Dillon...so cute!

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This little outfit was Jerod's when he was a baby, made by grandma!

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And big brother, Teagan.
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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Thursday, June 16, 2011

True Story.

When I was a kid, we had a turkey. It was kind of my turkey. My dad won it at some sort of deal at the Moose. I think it was a bid for a turkey and so he bid on it, as it was close to Thanksgiving time. So we wins the bid! He's so excited because he got this turkey for Thanksgiving for a very good price. When they brought out the box with the turkey in it, out popped a head...!!!! It was a live turkey! Dad thought he was getting a frozen turkey for dinner! I think that story in and of itself is hilarious! But frankly, to me, anyway, it gets better. Here is my turkey...

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I loved that turkey. That turkey was hilarious. Every morning Dad would stick his head out the door and gobble, gobble, gobble to the turkey and it would gobble back (some day I'll write about Dad's dog barking incident...it's another good story!).

What I think is great is....guess what my turkey's name was????????

Wait for it....

Wait for it....




Wait for it....





I named that turkey JERRY!!!!!!!   I like to write to my kids when I teach about how I had a turkey as a child...my story went something along these lines (remember it's 2nd grade!)

When I was a kid, I had a turkey!
It was such a fun turkey. It would gobble gobble gobble at my dad.
I named that precious turkey Jerry! And when I grew up, I MARRIED A TURKEY NAMED JERY!!!!

The End

ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Freezer Meat and Pasta Bake

Oh, soooo good!!!! I guarantee it...make it!

2 cups bowtie pasta, uncooked
1 lb ground beef
1 onion
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 t. garlic salt
3 cups spaghetti sauce
8 oz. cream cheese
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup parmesan cheese

Cook bowtie pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside. Brown beef, onion and garlic until beef is no longer pink; drain. Add spaghetti sauce and garlic salt; simmer for 10 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese and milk, Microwave 1-2 minutes on high, stirring once. Stir with a whisk until blended. Stir in sour cream and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Place cream cheese mixture in lined 9x9 inch casserole dish. Spread cooked pasta on top of cream cheese mixture. Top with beef mixture and remaining parmesan cheese. (I also added some mozzarella to the top, too). Freeze, using foil and plastic wrap or gallon size baggie.

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Cooking Day:
Remove from freezer and allow to thaw to a slushy state. Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 25-30 minutes, covered. Uncover and bake 5-10 more minutes until bubbly.

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Oh yum!

Obviously, I didn't use a 9x9 pan. I used loaf pans because then I could divide the original recipe in half, eat one half and freeze the other half. That's all my family will eat in one meal any way.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Lemonade Cake

Oh, yum!!!

1 lemon cake mix
1 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 cup powdered sugar
1 container lemon frosting

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare and bake cake as directed on package in a greased 9x13 inch pan. Cool 15 minutes.

Stir together lemonade concentrate and powdered sugar. Poke holes in warm cake with fork. Drizzle lemonade mixture evenly over cake. Refrigerate cake until cold.

Spread frosting over cold cake. Cover and refrigerate leftover cake.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Memorial Day BBQ

We typically don't do anything on Memorial Day...Jery always has to work, but this year, he was off at 2:00 so we had mom and dad come over to eat. We were hoping Great Pa and Great Laura would be able to make it, too, but Laura has been sick. Hopefully next time...

Please let me hold you, Kia...
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My bird is 17 years old. She is doing very well. She is my sweet little neglected bird...when you have a cat, and two little kids, she doesn't have the run of the house like she used to. I have to keep her safe.
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Just doin' a little dancing!

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It was cold enough outside to have a fire and wear coats...

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Whoops!!!!!

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I got to listen to Pa sing...whoop! whoop!

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BayLea has been quite taken with makeup lately...I only let her wear it when we're going to be hanging around at home.

I got flowers....that they picked from the neighbor's yard...luckily it is an abandoned house...empty for months...someone needs to enjoy the flowers, right?
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Dance Recital

These last few days have been completely busy...Bay had her dance recital, so Tuesday we were getting the costume (which ended up NOT being the costume we got on Thursday for the actual dress rehearsal, thank goodness), Thursday we were at dress rehearsal, and Friday and Saturday night we were at the recital itself. It began as complete chaos this year, it seemed, but in the end, all pulled together for a very nice recital. BayLea did well, and acted like she had an awesome time! She was wound up tight afterwards...can you say 'banshee mode'?

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She is soooooo danged gorgeous!!!!!! I love her!

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I love everything about this shot...well, except for that she is slightly out of focus.

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This is her hip hop pose.

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Can you tell I was enjoying taking her picture?????

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I was pretty thrilled that i got this picture...woo hoo ME!