Winter!

Kathleen and I went out to take pictures for winter. This one was one of my favorites. BayLea was getting a little silly by now! But I love the look on her face!

And some of my other favs! I love that girl. Even if she isn't really wanting her picture taken (like today) she still does an awesome job!

Again, thank you to Kathleen and all her props!

Overnight Egg & Sausage Casserole

This is seriously the yummiest morning sausage casserole I've ever had. Flavors blend perfectly!

6 slices of bread, 1 inch cubes
10 eggs, beaten
2 cup milk
3 cups cheese (I use a mix of sharp cheddar and pepper jack
1 lb browned sausage (sometimes I mix regular and hot sausage
salt and pepper
1/4 tsp. dried mustard
1/2 can - 1 can of green chilies

Place cubed bread on bottom of a greased 9x13 inch pan. Spread sausage and cheese over bread. Mix eggs, milk, salt and pepper, and chilies in a bowl and pour over sausage and cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Italian Roast Beef recipe for the crockpot

This isn't my recipe, but one I got from a twopeasinabucket gal, who calls herself Burning Feather. It really is a yummy recipe and so I don't want to have to hunt it down every time I want to make it!

Mix in Crockpot:
1 (1.25 oz) envelope dry onion soup mix
1 t. oregano
1 t. red pepper flakes
1 t. basil
1 t. dried parsley
1 large clove garlic, minced
3/4 cup water

Place on top of mixture:
3 lb chuck roast

Cook on high all day, or until meat is tender.  Turn it over every now and then if you can!

Yum, yum!

my 2010 Yearbook!

All 288 pages of it!!!!!

Sparks Family Yearbook 2010 | Make Your Own Book

2011...Bring It On!

I totally love this shot...I really, really do! I'll be doing more bokeh shots next year with Christmas lights...I will, I will!

Sledding...sort of..

Actually got some snow today! And there was more snow out at Mimi and Pa's than there was here on the Redlands. So we packed up and headed that way!

And then of course you must have hot cocoa and toasted marshmallows! Yum!

Christmas 2010!

Christmas time has come and gone...unbelievable how fast time goes!

Mimi and Pa (with my help a little) put together a Winter Wonderland for the kids. They were so surprised and they loved it! 

 Uncle Josh was here for Christmas this year...my kids always love hanging out with him.

 My little Miss Creative made gingerbread people for the Winter Wonderland.

 And she decorated cookies for Santa.

 Breccan isn't too into the crafting thing...he played and then watched a Christmas movie on the ipad.

 Christmas Eve...some final pictures with the tree...

 And time to open their annual Christmas Eve presents, which are always new jammies...

 I was surprised at how they loved them. There was NO complaining that it wasn't a toy!

Christmas morning brought a new kitty...Kringle is his name. BayLea was so cute because the first thing she noticed when she came down was the crate that had the kitty in it, and she said "Oh look. Sassy got a new crate!" and then she noticed the kitten! 

 A cupcake maker for BayLea...

 Legos for Boo Bear.

 Then we headed to Mimi and Pa's...where they bought received guitars.

 Uncle Josh got a new apron from us and some meat rub...cuz he rubs his meat! BEFORE HE COOKS PEOPLE!  :)

 Making a gingerbread house.

 Tuning the guitar.

This picture was DARK...flash batteries went out! Gotta love photoshop! 

 Mimi and Pa. Such a cute picture!

 BayLea made up her own recipe for a fruit salad and dished it up for us for dessert.

 Her gingerbread house.

 Such a long, hard day...

Driving the Wii.